With temperatures as low as -4C in Beijing, 4C in Shanghai and 12C in Hong Kong, today marks Winter Solstice and I thought it was only appropriate to profile a goddess who would be use to such cold weathers. And it’s not me… I am all rugged up in my winter woolies but definitely not prepared for the winter to be upon us so quickly.
So as we move into the cold darkness of winter we move into the realms of Goddess Skadi. Goddess Skadi is known as the Viking Goddess of Winter and her favourite pastime is skiing and shoesnowing. The goddess, for whom Scandinavia was named, dwelled high in the snow-covered mountains. Her name is said to mean shadow or shade.
Herstory: Skadi
In Norse mythology, Skadi is the daughter of the giant Thiazi. It is said that Thiazi kidnapped Youth Goddess and while the God, Aesir came to rescue her, he killed Thiazi. Skadi wanted revenge for the death of her father.
When she found Aesir, they agreed she would not kill him if one of the gods could make her laugh and that she could pick a god to marry. The first condition was met when trickster Loki made her laugh. To meet the second condition she was only allowed to look at the god’s feet to pick her partner. She was secretly in love with Balder as he was the most handsome god of them all, so she went for the cleanest, best looking feet and was disappointed to find they were not Balder.
Instead she had picked the sea god Njord and not long after, married him. Their marriage was difficult and after a while they separated because he loved to live near the sea, whereas she loved the mountains. Later in life she remarried but there are conflicting stories of who she married – Ullr, the God of Skis or Odin, the God of War and Death. Skadi ruled over mountains, wilderness, winter, revenge, knowledge, damage, justice and independence.
When do you call upon Skadi? Call upon her when you need help moving from the dark into the light.
Her image: She is often seen hunting while on skis or on a snow capped mountain.
In Norse mythology: Skadi is a huntress, a dark magician and in some stories she is depicted as a troll woman but Skadi is not an evil Goddess, she symbolizes the many dark times that we all go through.
Pronunciation: Kaw-dee
Alternative Names: Skade, Skadhi, Skathi