#jotunheimr

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.

(wip) amelia

Let me tell you a story. Once upon a time there was a woman who had probably grown up hating Frost Giants like everyone in the Nine Realms. One day, this woman’s husband took home a baby Jotun with the purpose of guarantee peace between Asgard and Jotunheimr.  Maybe she was not that happy about it, after all the baby was no son of her, he was blue and his eyes were as red as blood, but she accepted him anyway. 

She grew fond of him day after day. When she found out the baby -now a boy- was not a warrior like his bother she thaught him magic. But she didn’t reject him. She truly loved him and, even though she had never told him about his true nature, she never decieved him, not once. And, unlike everyone, she had faith in him, for she new he was smart enough to be a good and fair ruler (had he only been a bit less lonely).

You know what? Even though she cared about her adoptive son she never, never forgot her other child, because she had love enough for them both.