#asteroid176

idun, goddess of youth (asteroid 176)

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Idun - also written as Idunn and Iduna - is the goddess of spring, youth, and rejuvenation. She is commonly referred to as Bragi's wife. Idun is the keeper of the "apple (similar to the garden of Eden in the Christian Bible - we love the smell of appropriation, no? yes, well we can find her myth (pre-Christianity) in the poem "Haustlöng" from the Prose Edda - modern day we consider Idun's fruit an apple but it may have been another or similarly fruit in general) of immortality” which is thought to keep the gods young (Ambrosia, is that you?) in Norse mythology. She is thought to carry this apple in an ash wood box called an eski. A popular myth in which she plays a bigger role is one in which Odin, Hoeing, and Loki were traveling in the mountains of Asgard. During this trip the gods tried to cook oxen meat on a fire but found that the meat would not heat. An eagle revealed itself to be the source of this issue - it had been using magic to prevent them from eating as it too wanted a meal. When the gods finally allowed the eagle to eat with them, Loki tried to strike it but the eagle grabbed hold of him and took him far away. Loki learned that the eagle was a giant named Thjazi - the giant had a new demand that the goddess that created the gods' youth be brought to him in exchange for Loki's life. Loki quickly agreed and was returned to the group. When the gods returned home, Loki soon lured Idun into the forest where the eagle would be and sure enough Thjazi grabbed her and took her to Jotunheimr (the home of the giants). Immediately, the gods began to age and became upset that they're precious Idun was missing. Since Loki was the last god to be seen with her they threatened him into telling them what had occurred. Loki was quickly released and lent a cloak from Freya then sent off to retrieve the stolen goddess. Loki flew to the land of the giants and when he found her alone in the Thjazi's hall he transformed her into a nut and carried her home. Thjazi soon discovered the goddess missing and saw Loki fleeing towards Asgard - he pursued the trickster. When the gods saw the two approaching they set a large fire around the gates of Asgard - while Loki just made it, Thjazi was not so lucky. Thjazi in his eagle form burned to a crisp at the doorway to Asgards and Idun was welcomed home as she returned youth to the gods. IN MY OPINION Iduna in your chart can represent a) where you can find a more youth version of yourself or revisit your youth, b) where you are wanted for you gifts/talents, c) where you are gullible (especially if iduna aspects mercury or loke), and/or d) where you are always welcomed with open arms.

i encourage you to look into the aspects of iduna along with the sign, degree, and house placement. for the more advanced astrologers, take a look at the persona chart of iduna AND/OR add the other characters involved to see how they support or impede iduna!

OTHER RELATED ASTEROIDS: loke (4862), brage (4572), odin (3989), and wodan (2155)!

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