Skadi: Mother of Wolves and Goddess of Winter

In order to really get to know anyone it is important to become acquainted with the landscape they grew up in. Though her story is brief, Skadi is said to be a Giantess from Jotenheim (yo-tun-hame) meaning world of giants. In Norse Mythology there are nine worlds, with each world being home to different beings. These nine worlds are often depicted as being held on the end of branches and within the roots that offshoot from the World Tree "Yggdrasil." Jotenheim is the world in between the realm of gods and the realm of men. Known as a vast, untamed, unknown wilderness that is grim, uninviting and home to the most feared of the Norse giants the "Jotuns." Historically the Giants existed long before the gods and even other worlds came about. It was the Giants who were known to be the originals. It is said that many of the gods we know of in Norse mythology are the descendants of the Giants, even Odin himself. Skadi was one of the Frost Giants. The word Giant has been used interchangeably with the word trolls in some circles. In myths and legends the Jotuns are described as hideous, fierce and ugly monsters that survive off the flesh of men. They represent chaos and the more destructive forces of Nature. Whether one sees them as frightful or a much larger in size depiction of the Gods is really up to the individual working with them. It is safe to say that they can be both and as both they possess superhuman strengths. While the male giants were often described as having green skin and fangs, the giantesses were said to be of exquisite beauty the kind of beauty that many of the gods would seek to conquer, marry or enjoy. Their landscape features deep hidden forests and high mountaintops. Very much the realm of the unknown and a place one could get easily become lost or forgotten, if not swallowed up by the landscape and never to be found again. Is there really a land of giants? Something in our real world must have inspired the early civilizations to believe in something greater than themselves. If you have ever found yourself standing on top of a mountain and looking out the vast wildness you know what I am referring to. You know that there is some kind of force you can feel it as your heart beat races, tears come to your eyes and you just know that there is a greatness that far surpasses our mere mortal existence. In Norway there is a National Park called Jotunheimen "Home of the Giants." NO, I have not actually been. At least not in this physical form and body that I have now. But when I looked at images there was a stirring within my soul, an awakening or a remembering. Maybe in a past life I stood on the top of one of those mountains and looked out and knew I was in the land of giants. It makes sense that Skadi (Ska-Thee) is of the Jotuns. Her strength and ferocious temper is well known throughout the Eddas and Myths of the Norse. But what about her love, compassion, devotion and loyalty? After all Skadi is the daughter of Thiazi Frost Giant Shapeshifter and son of Olvaldi. While little is known of Thiazi's attributes he is widely known as the Father of the Great Giantess Skadi. One's of Skadi's most incredible stories is that of her revenge for her father's untimely death. Her short mention in the old stories is of giant stature. She made an impression! She was elevated to the status of Goddess. In the book The way of Fire and Ice- the living tradition of Norse Paganism by Ryan Smith he has this to say about Skadi "One of the most well-known of the Jotnar. Her great wisdom is in the example of her strong, independent personality and willingness to take direct action to achieve justice. If you seek Skadi's guidance, she will urger you to act while helping you find the strength and best way to achieve justice." Diana Paxson who is best known as the one of the most influential experts on Norse Paganism describes Skadi in her book Essential Asatru Walking the Path of Norse Paganism as "patroness not only for hunting but also for all sports and is especially dear to independent women and those who do jobs usually associated with men." When I first encountered Skadi it was through Loki, that mischievous God of chaos. When I prepare for any kind of ceremony or ritual there is much preparation work that occurs. Time is invested in researching, energy is spent gathering, meditating and then there is the actual creating that must occur. That tangible experience that a Priestess offers so that those attending feel something other than the mundane, they step into the magical. While preparing to welcome chaos as catalyst for change it was Loki who kept pestering me. It felt like chaos and Loki were one and the same. While engrossed in embracing Loki as master of being unpredictable I came across the story of how he was able to soothe the vengeful Skadi and get her to laugh. There was something about the visual in my head when I pictured this muscular woman fiercely determined to march towards her own death in the name of justice laughing, rolling on the ground, holding her stomach laughing to the point of tears streaming down her face. It was in that moment that I knew I had to get to know this woman.