#etin

Musings on the “Mother of Monsters”

I often see Norse practitioners refer to Angrboða as the “Mother of Monsters”, whether they worship/work with her or not. It’s especially present in Þursatru circles.

As I understand it, this title is taken from Hellenic mythology’s Echidna.

In working with Angrboða over the years and devoting myself to her, I’ve found this title does not ring true. People may use whatever they’d like in their practice, but I find it odd to refer to the ruler of the Underworld (Hela), the embodiment of change and growth via destruction (Fenrir), and the embodiment of cosmic cycles (Jörmungandr) to be referred to as monsters or even monstrous.

Die Bürokratie muss kaputt gegangen sein

Die Steuererklärung war fällig. Am 14.5. hab ich sie volldigital abgegeben.

Dazu nutzt man ein Programm, das sich mit einem elektronischen Zertifikat und einem komplexen Passwort gegenüber dem Finanzamt identifiziert.

Das ist eine weitere Erleichterung, ähnlich dem Belegabruf, mit dem ich meine Gehaltsbescheinigung (”eTIN”) und nahezu alle Versicherungs- und Geldanlagedaten vom Finanzamt geliefert bekomme und nicht mehr selber eintippen muss.

Bislang habe ich danach noch immer die Belege nachgereicht, die in die Neben- und sonstigen Kosten eingeflossen sind. Dieses Jahr habe ich das zum ersten Mal nicht machen müssen.

Normalerweise dauerte die Bearbeitung 4-6 Wochen.

Am 29.5. bekam ich eine eMail von der Finanzverwaltung, dass mein Steuerbescheid am 31.5. zur Abholung auf deren Systemen bereit läge.

Während ich den Bescheid am 31.5. per Webportal abrufe, schickt meine Frau mir ein Foto des am selben Tag im Briefkasten angekommenen ausgedruckten Steuerbescheids.

This is the first post in a series concerning my research into Angrboða as a divinity. Since there’s so little about her in the mythic corpus, I have turned to archaeological to inform my studies.

The image stone pictured here is DR 284 of the Hunnestad Monument in Skårby, Sweden. This is a gravesite. This image is universally acknowledged as representing Hyrrokkin, the giantess that pushed Baldr’s funeral ship when not even Thor (the strongest of the Æsir) was able to. In my scholarly research, I have identified as an aspect of Angrboða.

• V I Ð Ó L F •

Viðólf : Wood-wolf

Viðólf is an elder. She is a mentor and mother of seeresses. She is only mentioned in the Völuspá hin skamma, described as the progenitor of all völur. Viðólf is a patroness of the sacred mysteries and a source of hidden knowledge. She is a spirit of seiðr. She is a figure similar to Heiðr, the sorceress who traveled Miðgardr sharing her wisdom with women. She stands with her hand outstretched to willing seekers as a wellspring from which ancient magics flow.

• A N G R B O Ð A •

Angrboða : grief-bringer, she who offers sorrow

Angrboða is a jötun/gýgr and the leader of the járnviðjur (giantesses of the ironwood). she is the mother of three powerful jötnar, Hela, Jormungandr, and Fenrir. she is said to be a mother of wolves, werewolves, and wolf-shaped giants.

different aspects of Angrboða are revealed throughout the sagas and eddas under different names and kennings. these figures can be identified as Angrboða due to common symbolism, associations, and behaviors. they are Hyrrokkin, Hyndla, Járnviðja, and Viðolf.

• JÁRNVIÐJA •

járnviðja : ironwoodite (feminine)

a járnviðja is a gýgr, a giantess of the Ironwood. it is a term we see used sparingly in the sagas and eddas, but each instance of its use speaks to its connotation.

járnviðja is present in the Nafnathulur, listed as a name for a giantess. Snorri Sturluson uses it to refer to the gýgjar that dwell in the Ironwood (the kin of Angrboða). The jotun goddess Skaði is also described as a járnviðja in the Háleygjatal.