Frigga: Mistletoe: Resurrection

 

 

Frigga, a Norse goddess, did not completely disappear into early Christianity.  Her name became “Friday”.  She is the winder of fate and weaves clouds.  She is found with falcons, hawks, and ravens.  In ancient times there was a plant used to sedate women in childbirth.  We have lost that knowledge.  She is all about change as she weaves events in our lives. Each weaving is unique and when completed is an object of beauty.  Her dedication to her children was powerful.  Love for family, for home was woven with wisdom and prophecy. 

One story, that has survived about her, is how her beloved son Baldur, who was a twin to a blind brother Hodr, was killed by Hodr by being tricked.  Frigga had asked of each plant and animal of nature to protect Baldur. Accidently, she forgot the mistletoe.  Loki, the evil character of the story, tricked Hodr, by giving the blind boy a spear made of mistletoe.

You see, Baldur had had a nightmare that was all about his own death.  His mother, Frigga had the same dream.  Odin, Frigga’s husband and Baldur’s father immediately knew this was a sign.  He went to Hel (the realm of the dead) to find a wizard that could tell him the true meanings of the dreams and was told that they would come to pass and all would grieve.  Frigga was devastated and set about to make sure that the dreams did not come true.  She went to everything on Mother Earth and made them all sign contracts that they would not harm Baldur.  To no avail.  Loki fooled the blind boy and turned him to such a way that the spear would hit Baldur.  It did and Baldur was mortally wounded.  As I said, she forgot the mistletoe, the plant of death.  A younger brother to the twins flew to Hel to ask that Baldur be made alive again.  The only part of the agreement was that all things in Creation were to weep for Baldur.  All did, but Loki.  He was immediately relegated to Hel forever. Odin, though, had some magic himself.  He used all his powers and some intuition that since it was the mistletoe spear that killed his son, it should also revive him.  It worked and from that time on, Mistletoe would always be known as the plant of love rather than death. 

When the moon is full and the sky is dark, and it looks like a spinning wheel has spun clouds over the moon, Frigga is there.  Where there is silver, there is Frigga.  Where there is mistletoe, there is Frigga.  On such nights, she throws her runes and there is resurrection of many kinds. 

Cover your altar with green, with mistletoe, with silver bits and bobs and invite her in to remind us that there is always possibility for change.

©Carol Desjarlais 12.10.22