#jarnvidja

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.

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.

• JOTUNHEIMR•

ancient realm of the jotnar (giants) that hangs east of midgardr in the branches of yggdrasil (the world tree). it is a home of mountains and iron forests, tempests and thunderous winds.

it is the seat of the jotnar or “devourers”. these are the spirits of nature, the kin of jörð (giantess & embodiment of the earth) that embody natural forces outside human control. it is the aesir and vanir who concern themselves with human matters.

the jotnar are no enemies of midgardr. a thunder storm is not evil. the rain nourishes the earth just as the winds break down our homes and the water floods our roads.

• A N G R B O Ð A - J Á R N V I Ð J A •

Járnviðja needs no introduction. This aspect of Angrboða is the powerful gýgr many of us have come to know and adore.

This particular aspect of Angrboða shows her as the guardian of Járnviðr, a protector of women, and the mother of wolves. She is a creatrix, a sorceress, and a powerful völva. Járnviðja commands attention and respect. She is as kind and gentle as she is intimidating and stern. As a teacher, she is hard on her students, guiding them through taxing initiations and arduous lessons. Despite this, she is a mother at her core and deeply nurturing, serving as a great source of comfort to her followers. She is embodied by the grey wolf. This is her most widely-known aspect just as the image of the grey wolf is the most commonly seen. She often comes to me as a very deep, charcoal grey, reminding me of how she survived her three burnings as Gullveig.

She is known to some as the Mother of Monsters and the Mother of the Apocalypse. I find neither of these titles to ring true. I understand why they are and respect those that use them but I do not utilize them within my practice. Instead, I refer to her as the Mother of Wolves or Wolf Mother as well as her other heitir.