break free

Names:

Fenrir (Fen-Dweller)

Fenris (Coming from "Fenrisúlfr")

Fenrisúlfr (Úlfr meaning Wolf, Fenrir's Wolf or Fenris-Wolf)

Vánagandr/Vanargand (Monster of the River Van)

Hróðvitnir (Fame-Wolf)

Appearance:

Fenris is said to appear as a Ginormous Wolf, with Black Gur and Red Eyes. However, for me personally, his fur appears as more of a darker greyish color. :)

Mythology:

All of these are going to be kept as short as I can, while still keeping them accurate and informational. (Low Energy for those who don't like to read as much or are having a hard day and out of spoons!)

Birth and Prophecy:

Fenrir was born to Loki and Angrboða, among of course, his other siblings. (Jördmungandr and Hel). The Æsir had heard of these births, along with the prophecies that came with them. Fenrir was to swallow Odin, the "Head Ruler" of the Æsir, and the other children to add their destruction with the bringing of Ragnarök; the End of Worlds. Now it would be obvious the Gods didn't like to hear about their own endings, so the effort was put in to try and hold off Ragnarök.

Jördmungandr was thrown into the deepest depths of the Ocean, curled around Midgard (Earth). Eventually he grew large enough to bite at his own tail, and the Ouroboros is a common symbol used to represent him.

Hel, Fenrir's other sibling, was set to rule Helheim, land of the Dead.

Meanwhile Fenrir himself was raised by the Æsir in hopes he would grow to favor the Gods. However as he grew larger and more ferocious, the Gods began to fear what he would become, and Fenrir was tricked into being bound in fetters (leg bindings).

The Binding of Fenrir:

At first, Fenrir was tricked into bindings, told by the Gods that it was a game, a test of his strength. He was first bound with Leyding, created by the Gods themselves. It was the strongest chains they had created, however Fenrir broke it with a single kick.

The Second Binds were known as Dromi, also made by the Gods, and twice as strong as before. Fenrir struggled a moment, but in under a minute he had broken free.

The Third and Final Binding was Gleipnir, which roughly translates to "Entangler" by most sources, though other sources have argued a few different translations.

Gleipnir was crafted by the Dwarves from 6 "impossibles" (The Sound of a Cat's Footfall, a Woman's Beard, the Spit of a Bird, Breath of a Fish, Roots of a Mountain, and Sinews of a Bear). Light and thin, Gleipnir appeared as merely a ribbon. However the Gods had sensed its power, and none of them had proven able to break it.

So from there Gleipnir was presented to Fenrir, with the Gods challenging that he could not break it, as none of them had been able to. Fenrir had scoffed, as ripping such a seemingly small thread would not be as impressive as thick chains.

However he sensed a trap, and agreed with caution to allow the ribbon to be tied around him as long as he had the assurance he was safe, which required the Gods to sacrifice their own safety as well. Tyr, (who had been feeding and caring for Fenrir as the Gods grew more and more fearful of him, and the one Fenrir trusted most) was the only one brave enough to volunteer. He placed his right hand into the jaws of Fenrir as the great wolf was tied.

Fenrir struggled and kicked, but the ribbon only tightened around him. The Gods mocked and laughed at Fenrir for being unable to break himself free. In the rage, Tyr lost his right arm to Fenrir, the sacrifice for binding the wolf.

Gleipnir was fastened to a large stone, which was then anchored to another, larger stone. A sword is then forced through Fenrir's jaws, keeping him trapped.

His children, Sköll (Sun Devourer) and Hati (Moon Devourer) were the only ones who attempted to free him. However the ribbon proved unbreakable, and the children were punished with chasing the Sun and Moon until Ragnarök, when the planets will be swallowed.

Location:

According to Myth, Fenrir is said to be bound on the Island "Lyngvi", in the Great Lake "Amsvartnir" (roughly translated to Pitch Black).

Personal communication with him sets more of a woodsy location, he is usually within a large circle of trees.

Things that Remind Me of Him:

The rush of adrenaline after doing something you're proud of

The burn in your muscles and lungs after a run or working out

The strength in standing up for yourself and defending what you believe

The smell of the Woods and safety of the darkness

Embracing the darker parts of yourself, whether it is simply to acknowledge them, or work on healing them

The rage associated with something being unfair or inequal

Rebelling against the "Norm"

Being unapologetically "You"

The Cyclical Events and Beginnings and Ends in life

The harsh heat of Flames

The scent of fresh-brewed coffee

Protection Magick

Caring your Mental and Physical Health

Putting yourself first in times of need (not selfishness, but times where you are needed to be put first)

Emotional Pain (Sorrow, Anger, etc. Offer it to Him too!!)

Dark Colors, Makeup, and Outfits

Bloodstone, Obsidian, Petrified Wood, Smokey Quartz, Tree Agate, Lapis Lazuli, Howlite, Hematite, Carnelian, Onyx, Black Moonstone, and Fossils (for my Crystal Focused Practitioners)

Mugwort, most types of Roots and Barks (White Willow, Oak, Birch, Burdock, etc), Yarrow, Yew Berries, Pine Needles, Turmeric, and other "Woodsy" Plants (for my Herb-Based Witches)

Parents and Siblings:

Fenris was born to the Jotuun Loki, the Trickster God, and the Jotuun Angrboða, Mother of Monsters. Along this were his Siblings, Jördmungandr the World Serphent, and Hel, Ruler of Helheim, the realm of the Dead (which is also a part of Niflheim).

Children: Sköll and Hati [Though some mythology speculates They and Fenrir are the same being(s)]

Disclaimer:

These retellings and translations are by my own words and own research, I cannot promise 100% accuracy on it all.

Decentralized - Norse Paganism is practiced in many different ways, with no way being more correct than another. It doesn’t have holy books, scriptures, or key religious figures that guide practices and beliefs, nor does it have doctrines, creeds, or dogmas. This spirituality is dynamic and can be made to suit a practitioner’s needs.

Animistic - In Norse Paganism, all things are thought to have a unique spiritual essence to them, without separation between the sacred and the mundane. The divine is viewed as a property of existence, rather than a condition to achieve or a presence to earn. Because of this, there’s no such thing as “sin” in Norse Paganism.

Pluralist - Norse Paganism acknowledges that things can hold many truths and that there are many dynamic forces in nature. This is different from a dualist approach (the view that things are either a product of good or evil / one thing or another) or a monist approach (the belief that all things are an expression of one thing).

Polytheistic - Norse pagans acknowledge multiple deities and regularly interact with these deities in many ways, without a need for a mediator.

Orthopraxic - The focus of Norse Paganism centers upon the cultivation of practice and spiritual experience, as opposed to orthodoxy, or rules about what to believe and the intensity of one’s faith.

The Great Wolf lay there, howling in rage and humiliation as the laughter of the Aesir  rang  in his ears. Fenrir knew accepting to be bound with an obviously magic chain was a bad idea. So why had he done it?

Perhaps his pride was the answer: he couldn’t bear the shame of being mocked for fearing such a flimsy-looking gold ribbon. He’d staked his reputation on his courage and strength and that reputation was all he had to gain him respect among the accursed Aesir, wasn’t it? No, he knew he wasn’t that fragile or desirous of their company. He was better than them, wasn’t he? He snarled at them all. “ Of course I’m better than them,” he growled to himself. There was no question about that. Then why had he done it? His gaze settle on Tyr, the only other one whose sides didn’t shake with cruel mirth.

Perhaps it was him. No, not him, but the trust Fenrir had held in him, surely that was the answer. He was the only one who’d been straight with Fenrir, the only one with the courage to even be near him. Fenrir had come to trust him, that was his mistake. How could he have trusted one of them, the people who’d stolen him from his home, his family, and then shunned him as a monster? He strained harder against the slender golden band Gleipnir only to cause it to tighten further against his body, threatening to bite into his flesh if he dared to thrash much more.

But the bite of gleipnir further enraged the wolf. He howled abuse and slung curses at the surrounding Aesir.

“His whining is obnoxious. Shut him up,” one of them said. Fenrir thought it was Odin but he couldn’t be sure as the celebrations of the Aesir made it hard to hear clearly.

He prepared to hurl more curses when suddenly a sharp pain cut through his jaw. A sword was jammed into his maw, forcing his mouth permanently open and gagging him simultaneously as it pierced his tongue and held it in place. Fenrir jerked his head back and shook it in surprise and pain, spraying bloody slobber everywhere. Simultaneously disgusted by the foam and content that the binding was completed, the Aesir left to have their celebration far from Fenrir’s tormented thrashings. Fenrir watched as even Tyr left him to lay there alone and in agony.

Eventually his struggling ceased as he lay there exhausted and miserable. “This is it,” he thought, his mind clouded in despair and pain. He lay there, watching as slabber steadily poured forth from his now permanently agape jaws. The saliva was frothy and pink as it was mixed with blood.  The sight of his saliva mixed with his blood transfixed the great wolf. Suddenly, something clicked in his head, lighting a fire that burned away his momentary self-pity and defeatist thoughts. His blood, his essence, mixed and became one with his saliva, a symbol of desire. His desires and his being were one now. He would wait, endlessly if he had to, for his moment to seize his desires: freedom and vengeance. He knew the time would come and when it came, he would be ready.  Drool continued to ooze forth from his mouth, eventually running clear just like his purpose.

This great stream of saliva fell to Midgard, forming a new river. This river was named Ván which means hope. Hope stems from the great wolf lying in Asgard, waiting for his chance. Those who drink from hope are imbued with the wolf’s determination and strength, lighting the way with fire. Hope is not a promise that it will be easy as true hope only came from blood and pain; it is a promise that despite the darkness you will come through and seize your prey like Fenrir one day will seize his.

before the doors of Hel;

the wolf will break it's bonds and run.

Don’t let anything hold you back.

Be tenacious in your everyday life.

Leave offerings of meat and bone for Him.

Break the bonds that keep you from expressing yourself.

Do not allow your sorrows to devour you.

Allow yourself to enjoy solitude.

Trust others, but do so with reserve.

Express yourself in His honour; create poetry, art and music.

Embrace your anger, but do not let it consume you.

Burn earthy scented incense like sandalwood and patchouli.

Forgive but never forget.

Know your strengths and build upon your weaknesses.

Dress yourself in blacks, tans and other earthy tones.

Have a deep respect for all - even those who have wronged you.

Honour not only Fenrir, but his family as well.

Keep your word no matter what.

Pick your battles wisely and fight for what truly matters.

Recognize that nothing in life is purely black and white. Existence in and of itself is a grey area

Stand up for those who have been taken advantage of.

Fill your space with pelts, dark colours and bone. Perhaps devote it to Him.