Frigg

Frigg p

Appeal: women, destiny, earth, weavers, nurses, family, wisdom, caretakers, secrecy, motherhood, love

Because of the fragmentary nature of the Norse Eddas and Sagas, there are conflicting views of Frigg. Besides her portrayal as a devoted wife and mother, Frigg also appears as a sorceress who wears a falcon skin and sees into the future and a woman who covets gold and jewelry and the love of men. She and the Goddess Freya have a lot in common. Some believe they are various facets of the same deity.

As the chief Aesir Goddess, wife of Odin, Frigg is also called Earth Mother. Belief originally had it that Frigg had originated from a much older and more widely worshipped Earth Mother Goddess, associated with other Earth Mother Goddesses that included Jorth, Fjorgyn, and Nerthus.

Many different symbols are associated with Frigg and the spindle is one of great importance. When people would see at a spindle, they would automatically think of Frigg, in much the same manner that whenever they saw a hammer, they would automatically think of God Thor.  Frigg has often been described or pictured holding a distaff, which ties her closely to the Norns.  The distaff was an implement used in weaving. It was also a symbol of major importance, because Frigg’s use of the distaff indicated that she was a Weaver of the Thread of Life, and by wearing that role, Frigg was placed in charge of that which rules life itself. In other words, while she may have had the ability to see into the future, she never uttered a single word about what she had seen, and by withholding that knowledge, Frigg’s actions became those of a knowing silence.

No matter how you associate Frigg (Frigga), she is a major Goddess in Norse paganism.  The English term Friday derives from the Anglo-Saxon name for Frigg, Frige.  She is associated with love, marriage and motherhood. Frigg is frequently pictured as being very beautiful, wearing a girdle hung with household keys and weaving clouds on her spinning wheel. Eleven handmaidens attended her in her hall, Fensalir or "Marsh Halls," in Odin's Heavenly Kingdom of Asgard.  Frigg was believed to travel in a chariot drawn by a pack of dogs, perfect symbols of fidelity and faithfulness.

Frigg was the mother of Balder, and, according to some sources, she was also the mother of Thor, the thunder God, and of Hodur, the blind God who unwittingly killed Balder.  Odin was well-known for his extramarital affairs, so the family tree can get crossed.  Frigg had great patience and tolerance, often defending Odin when his actions were questioned.

She is the Queen of Asgard, the All Mother. Frigg appears primarily in Norse mythological stories as a wife and a mother. She is also described as having the power of prophecy yet she does not reveal what she knows. Frigg is described as the only one, other than Odin, who is permitted to sit on his high seat Hlidskjalf and look out over the universe.

She was known, as well, as the Goddess of the Sky; legend tells us that it was through her art of weaving, she created the clouds. Frigg was also known as the Goddess of Love, Fertility, Marriage and Motherhood and when her name is translated, we can see that the name Frigg means “beloved”.

Frigg was an important Goddess, whose greatest role was that of the Goddess and Patron of Women. It was in that particular role that she taught young women the skills that they needed to know when they would become old enough to enter into the adult world. Frigg was always there for them, by protecting them and giving them inspiration. She was always there for the adult women, as well, and she inspired and protected mothers and housewives alike.

Frigg also protected her worshippers by bending fate. When you combine that with her spinning, it becomes easily apparent why Frigg is considered to be one of the most powerful Goddesses in history, as she used her many diverse powers to help all of mankind.

A series of events occur where the Gods take revenge upon Loki by binding him and thus furthering the onset of Ragnarok, though Frigg is not mentioned further.

The blessing of Frigg is still invoked for birthing women with a white candle that last burned during the winter solstice being used as a charm to ensure a safe delivery.

Divine Friends

Divine Tree

Frigg

Frigg's Day

Handfasting

Love

Mother Goddess

Mother's Day

Sexuality

Who Are Your Divine Friends?

Frigg, devoted one,
Goddess of fireside and home.
Teach me the lessons of commitment

and contentment, service and celebration.
Warm me within and throughout.
I light this candle in fiery offering to you,
Frigg, Goddess of Home.

Many Blessings.