This article was posted by CrystalWind.ca.
Njord and the Story of Skadi
- Details
- Written by AndEl
Njord is of the race of Vanir and is the father of Freyr and Freyja. He is the god of the sea. He calms storms, aids ships in distress, and causes favorable winds to blow. As with the other Vanir, Njord is a fertility god, capable of providing good fortune in the form of safe sea voyages, wealth, and land.
When hostages were exchanged at the end of the war between the Æsir and the Vanir, Njord and his two children came to live in Ásgard with the Æsir. The mother of Freyr and Freyja was probably Nerthus, Njord's sister. Æsir disapproval of such practices prevented her from coming to Æsir with the rest of the family. Later, Njord married a second time. Snorri Sturluson tells the story in Skáldskaparmál.
When Tjazi, the giant who kidnapped Idun, did not return home after giving chase to Idun and her rescuer Loki, Tjazi's daughter Skadi began to worry for his safety. Soon, she realized that he must be dead. Swearing vengeance, she took up her father's arms and traveled to Ásgard.
Heimdall saw her approach and sounded a warning. Several of the gods went out to meet her. Having no wish to prolong the feud, the gods asked if she would accept wergild (gold as payment for her father's death).
Skadi said she would settle instead for a husband of her choice from amongst the gods. The gods agreed, provided that Skadi chose her husband by looking only at his feet.
Skadi agreed, and Ódin arranged for all the gods to gather. With Skadi's eyes shielded so that she could see only the gods' feet, she made her choice. She chose the most shapely feet, thinking they were Baldr's, the most handsome of the gods.
To her horror, the god that stood to meet his bride was not Baldr, but Njord. His skin was weathered from his long time at sea, and he smelled of salt.
The second part of the bargain was for the gods to make Skadi laugh, something she thought they would be unable to do. Ódin called for Loki to make the woman laugh. Loki began to tell a tale of taking a goat to market. He tied one end of a thong to a goat's beard and the other end to his own testicles. The ensuing tug of war caused Skadi to laugh in spite of herself.
Ódin decided to please Skadi further. He brought forth two liquid orbs, which Skadi recognized as her dead father's eyes. Ódin threw them up into the sky, where they became two stars.
Njord and Skadi decided to live for part of the year in Skadi's frozen hall in the mountains of Trymheim, and part of the year in Njord's hall on the sea at Nóatún. But Njord didn't like the cold and the howling of the wolves in Trymheim, while Skadi couldn't tolerate the motion of the sea and the noise of the harbor at Nóatún. They agreed to live apart.
Source Here
© CrystalWind.ca 2025. All content (articles, imagery, fair use) & design protected. Written permission required for copying. All rights reserved.
Join the Conversation Now! Comment Below!
Spirit Animal Totem Of The Day!
Crystal Of The Day!
Latest Articles
The Crystal Wind Oracle
Myth & Magic Card Deck!
Details Here!
NEW Expanded
Printed & Boxed!
Now with 58 cards!
CrystalWind.ca is free to use because of
donations from people like you.
Donate Now »
Unlock Your Light: Join Lightworkers Worldwide on CrystalWind.ca!
Follow Us!
Who is Online Now
We have 20646 guests and no members online
Featured This Month
Skadi: Norse Goddess of Winter
The Viking goddess of winter, Skadi is the embodiment of strength, courage a... Read more
Yule - The Winter Solstice
In the Pagan and Wiccan traditions, Yule, or the Winter Solstice, is celebrate... Read more
Using the Winter Solstice for Manifesting
I live in the Northern Hemisphere, and for me, the Winter Solstice occurs in... Read more
Gods and Monsters of the Winter Solstice
Because Santa Claus has presided over the Yule festival for the last two hundr... Read more
Winter Solstice - A Season of Giving
CELEBRATING THE WINTER SOLSTICE The December solstice is also known as the ... Read more
Yule By The Hedgewitch
Yule Yule is a solar festival and one of the Minor Sabbats. This is when the ... Read more
Earth Renewal Moon
Snow Goose – Quartz – Birch - White December 22 to January 19 The Earth Rene... Read more
The Birch Tree - December 24 - January 20
Celtic Symbol : The White Stag Zodiac Degrees : 2º00` - 29º59` Capricorn Read more
Sun in Capricorn
An Overview of Sun Sign Characteristics for Capricorn Capricorn, whose cons... Read more
Holda - White Lady of Winter
Mother Holda (Frau Holda) is a highly revered and very misunderstood Teutoni... Read more
Yule Blessings
Yule The Winter Solstice or Yule is one of the Lesser Wiccan Sabbats, and it ... Read more
Twas The Night Before Yuletide
Yule Chant Brightly burns the Yule log tonight Magic dances in firelight Ho... Read more