Járnviðr

Isn't it funny how you can live in a space for years and forget to explain why you chose the name on the door? A good friend asked me the other day about my feelings on Jarnviðr and it hit me that I have never actually written a dedicated post about the namesake of this blog. I’ve touched on the "Iron Wood" in bits and pieces, but I’ve never sat down to articulate why this specific, dark corner of the cosmology holds such importance for my praxis. The academic lens usually views Jarnviðr (The Iron Wood) through the narrow window of the Völuspá because as most things very cool and dark, there is not too much written about it other than a backdrop to the villains of the myths. It is portrayed as a dark, eastern nursery for the forces of destruction, a place where the monsters are bred to facilitate the end of the world. "Austr sat in aldna í Járnviði ok fæddi þar Fenris kindir..." (In the east sat the old one, in Ironwood, and bred there Fenrir’s offspring...)   V...

Sage of darkness, Sapient of the otherworld, Matron of decay, Empress of demise, Breath born of lies and deceit. Bathed in the moonlight of the Ironwoods, Embers of the blackened heart sustain, The outcast find sanctuary, welcomed, accepted, embraced, We find ourselves in your presence. Eternal Mother, Guardian of the Exiled,  Matron of Rejects, Lady of the forsaken, We find community in desolation. Illuminating the darkness with fires of defiance, The wolf and the serpent envelop us, Pain, sadness and discontent burns away, Trees of the Ironwood protect us, Hope, ambition, rebellion are left in the ashes, The pale face of death reminds us there is still work to be done. We are needed, we are loved and we belong.  Hail Gullveig, wise one, old one, first one.  Hail Angrboða, bright one, loud one, fierce one.

Introduction We gather here to pay reverence to an understated but significant goddess, Angrboða. The protector of the protectors, cultivator of the powerful, and devoted mother to her children. Fostering strength and guardianship for those who safeguard the realms, defining what it is to shield and defend. Angrboða is the very essence of strength itself. In contrast to the ordered and predictable world of the Aesir gods, Angrboða embodies the untamed aspects of the world and reminds us of the wild and often dangerous nature of existence, and in that we find perspective and solace. Ode Angrboða, mother of night, from the darkest of shadows you shine so bright. Your nature is chaotic, fierce and wild, Resembling endearing qualities of a child. Simple and pure, without morals guiding course Enigmatic and potent, nature's vital force. You and your children they say are untamed Yet throughout all the stories, they still whisper your name. You gave us the serpent, protectively circling ...

Angrboða / Angrboda  distress bringer Previous post in this series:  Aurboða - Gullveig Part 3 I think the relationship between Angrboda and Gullveig is the easiest to demonstrate, and has most solid evidence to support it. In this entry, we will tie Angrboda to the growing list of connections to Gullveig. Now, for someone so important in the myths - parent of the World Serpent, the Wolf that is said to destroy Odin, and the Ruler of the Underworld - we don't really hear a lot about Angrboda. I went over this in the intro post, but I believe that this is at least in part due to the time these poems were transcribed, and witchcraft being generally taboo... much more taboo than just a changing religion. Let's start out with what we do know about Angrboda: Voluspa in skamma 11 & 12 [ 11 ] The wolf did Loki | with Angrbotha win, And Sleipnir bore he | to Svathilfari; The worst of marvels | seemed the one That sprang from the brother | of Byleist then. [ 12 ] A heart ate Loki,...

ANGRBOÐA RITUAL written by DISTRESSED JÁRNVIÐR -ritual best set at night, and if possible in the woods- INTRODUCTION We gather here tonight under the light of the moon to pay reverence to an understated but significant goddess, Angrboða. The protector of the protectors, cultivator of the powerful, and devoted mother to her children. Fostering strength and guardianship for those who safeguard the realms, defining what it is to shield and defend. Angrboða is the very essence of strength itself. In contrast to the ordered and predictable world of the Aesir gods, Angrboða embodies the untamed aspects of the world and reminds us of the wild and often dangerous nature of existence, and in that we find perspective and solace. ODE Angrboða, mother of night, from the darkest of shadows, you shine so bright. Your nature is chaotic, fierce and wild, Resembling endearing qualities of a child. Simple and pure, without morals guiding course Enigmatic and potent, nature's vital force You and your...