Shrine to the Vanir

SKADI

Skadi, daughter of the giant Thiazi, is the goddess of winter, skiing, and hunting. Her father, Thiazi, kidnapped Idunn, the keeper of the apples of youth. Loki stole Idunn back and flew to Asgard in the form of a falcon. During the pursuit, Thiazi transformed into an eagle but was ambushed by the gods, who set a trap and burned his wings. He fell from the sky and was slain. 

Seeking vengeance, Skadi armed herself and stormed Asgard. The gods were impressed by her courage, so Odin cast Thiazi’s eyes into the heavens, where they became stars. The Aesirs offered Skadi greater compensation : a husband of her choosing. But there was a trick: she could only pick by looking at the gods’ feet. Hoping to wed the radiant Baldr, she chose the most beautiful pair. To her dismay, they belonged to Njord, the sea god.

Their marriage was doomed from the start. Skadi longed for the snow-covered mountains of her home, while Njord loved the salty waves and the cries of seagulls. In the end, they parted ways. Skadi later married Odin and bore him several sons, some of whom founded dynasties in Scandinavia. 

Fierce and vengeful, Skadi played a role in Loki’s punishment. When the gods captured him for Baldr’s murder, she chose the venomous serpent to be placed above his bound body, its dripping poison tormenting him until Ragnarök.

(Text by Delia Gosforth, Illustration by Ellen Artistic)

I am the artist! Do not post without permission & credit! Thank you! Come visit me over on: instagram.com/ellenartistic or tiktok.

These illustrations all made it into a Norse Goddess Coloring Book!

(Print Copy)

There are also PDF copies available!

Okay, here's another question for You Rune Readers that don't have a good relationship with Odin: Which deity or Deities do You call on for aid and support when You are doing a Rune reading, if not Odin, and why? I'm in the process of figuring out which Deities to turn to with support and aid, as I want as little to do with Odin as possible this point. I acknowledge and am resigned to the fact that I will have to interact with Him on some level at certain occasions, but I am keeping My distance from Him from now on outside of those specific occasions and situations.

Gerd.

Jötunn goddess of fertility.

Daughter of Gymer and Aurboda.

Wife of Yngve-Frey and Mother of Fjölner and founding mother of the first Swedish royal line.

I always imagen her with diffent hues of brown in her hair, like the layers of the soil.

Also wearing a lot of gold, because after a lot of nagging to marry Frey, she might as well get the best out of from the wealthiest family line amung the gods. Also she tells skrinir she is allready from a wealthy family and holds just as much wealth as her father does so.

And, when I think about Gerd I also often picture a very strong and confident woman, not in the Freya way with power over love and death and magic, but more like; "yeah, Im fine af, and thrive like the plants in my soil and I know it".

Like just, confidence!

Gerðr is daughter to Gymir and Aurboða, wife to Freyr, queen of Alfheim, honorary ásynjur. Gerðr means “enclosure,” she is considered a goddess of gardens, fertility, fruitfullness, and  protecting crops. She symbolizes the frozen earth, which is warmed by the sun at the coming of spring, and then which is plowed and made fertile for the growing season(historian Hilda Ellis Davidson  compared her to the likes of Persephone). In Heathen tradition, we are said to be descended from the gods, Gerð and Freyr are said to be the parents of human dynasties in Sweden. Gerðr is attested to in the Poetic and Prose Eddas, and Heimskringla. She is also attested to in archaeological artifacts.

Use the runes Ehwaz, Othala, or Algiz in your altar or practice.

Leave your window or blinds open on a sunny winter day and appreciate how the sun looks reflecting off snow.

Plant flowers or bushes in your garden that aid pollinators(bergamot, aster, marigold, sage, basil, geranium, lavender, etc.).

Read her stories in the Poetic and Prose Eddas, and Heimskringla.

Go for a hike in the winter or early spring!

Help build enclosures and fences for you local community garden, your neighbors garden, whoever needs help! 

If able, keep a small (alive)plant in your home.

Believe in yourself and your value!! Freyr gave up the sword that could’ve won the Aesir Ragnarok for Gerðr. Don’t settle for less than you deserve.

Give aid to those who have lost children through their choice or not.

Honor her for the jötunn she is, not just as honorary ásynjur.

Use the colors white, brown, green, or gold on your altar or offering(I’ve found she’s also a big fan of soft blues +greens).

In the winter, decorate your home with dried flowers.

Practice loving yourself!

She is honored through farmlands, orchards, gardens, greenhouses, etc. if you’re like me and don’t have the land for that try Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing, Harvest Moon, etc. a game that lets you design the perfect little outdoor world for her!

Volunteer at your local nature reserve or community garden.

Wear scents or oils that are floral or make you feel confident!

Use the crystals petalite, moonstone, blue chalcedony, sugilite, snow quartz, snowflake obsidian, or selenite in your altar or practice.

So far today, I have been looking into various pieces of heathen lore and trying to find any other mentions of family connections between Gerd's and Skade's families outside of one mention I found in one story. So far, My search has proven fruitless. That's okay, as it got Me thinking about Gerd anyway, and I realize I need to work on strengthening My relationship with Her.

I realize when I read the few blog posts or website entries about Gerd that My relationship with Her seems to be different. Yes, I honor Her as Lady of the Garden, but after finding a small list of Kennings related to Her, and getting to know Her through personal experience, I tend to honor Her first and foremost as a Gatekeeper and Hearth goddess.

I honor Her first and foremost as guardian of the Fence and Wall in ritual. Sacred fire is carried around My ritual space in Her name, like the fire that guards and wards Her family's home. I honor Her as one of the Deities of warding in general, and warding My home as well.

Yeah, I honor Frey as Lord of Frith, and I honor Him alongside Gerd, but I tend to honor Her first in ritual and then Frey as the keeper of the Frith established and maintained within those fences and walls.

I'm still going back and forth between honoring Loki and Gerd in equal measure when it comes to the deity of the Hearth. I'm still trying to figure out the dance of these two deities in My personal practice.

(The title is a work in progress)

Freyja.