Frigg

Myth and origin

Frigg's name derives from Proto-Germanic *Frijjō, meaning "beloved" or "wife," cognate with Sanskrit priyā. Friday (Old English Frīgedæg) is named for her, though the day-name in Scandinavian languages (Old Norse frjádagr) can also be traced back. Her cult is attested across the Germanic world: the continental Germans called her Frija, the Lombards Frea, the Anglo-Saxons Frige. Scholars have long debated whether Frigg and Freya are doubles of a single original goddess (the so-called "Frigg-Freya complex") or distinct figures; the Eddic poets treat them as different, but their attributes overlap.

The chief sources are the Poetic Edda—especially Vafþrúðnismál, Grímnismál, Lokasenna, and Baldrs draumar—and Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda (c. 1220), where she is called "the highest" of the goddesses and described as knowing the fate of all though she speaks not. The History of the Lombards (Paul the Deacon, late 8th century) preserves an old myth of Frea's clever advice to her husband Odin to grant the Lombards their name—evidence that her foreknowledge and feminine cunning were celebrated across the Germanic world. Continental sources also place her in the second Merseburg Charm.

Attributes and stories

You recognise Frigg by her distaff and spindle (with which she spins the clouds, which on clear nights become her constellation, "Frigg's distaff"—now called Orion's Belt), her keys (mark of the matron and mistress of the household), her crown of woven wheat or feathers, her grey or white robes, and her attendant maidens—Fulla, who keeps her ash-wood casket; Gná, who rides the messenger horse Hófvarpnir; Hlín, the protector; and others, each personifying an aspect of her sovereignty. Her household includes spinning, weaving, and prophecy: she is the great matron of the divine realm.

Her most famous and tragic myth concerns her son Baldr, the bright god whose dreams foretold his death. Frigg journeyed throughout the nine worlds asking every being—every creature, plant, metal, stone, illness, water—to swear not to harm Baldr. All swore, except the mistletoe, which she thought too young to bind. Loki, in disguise, drew this admission from her and crafted the deadly dart that killed Baldr through the blind Höðr's hand. Frigg then attempted to bargain with Hel for his return, and almost succeeded—every being wept for Baldr except an old giantess (Loki disguised), and so the bright god remains in the underworld until after Ragnarök. Frigg is also the protector of marriages, invoked at weddings; her wisdom is sought by Odin himself.

Modern reception

Frigg has been less spectacular than Freya in modern reception but is increasingly central in Heathen and Ásatrú spirituality, where she is invoked as the great Lady of the hearth, the matron of marriage and motherhood, the keeper of household magic, and the patron of prophecy. Wagner's Fricka (Wotan's wife in The Ring) is heavily based on her, though Wagner darkened her into a stern moralist. Marvel's Frigga (Rene Russo) brought her to global cinema. Her cult has been substantially reconstructed in contemporary practice by scholars and practitioners drawing on the Eddic sources.

In contemporary practice Frigg is patron of married women, mothers, weavers, spinners, midwives, and household magicians. Astrologically she corresponds to Venus in her maternal aspect (Friday, marriage, love), to the Moon in her foreknowledge, and to Jupiter in her sovereign queenship. She has strong affinities with the runes Berkana (the birch, mother-rune) and Perthro (the lot-cup of fate). The mythological deity test can reveal whether her spindle calls you. Continue with Odin and Freya.

Symbolic depth

In the tarot, Frigg corresponds most clearly to The Empress (III) as the great mother, to The High Priestess (II) as the keeper of hidden knowledge, and to The Emperor's consort, the queen who shares the throne. She also informs The World (XXI) as the woven completion. The Queen of Pentacles carries her household abundance, the Queen of Cups her loving care. On the Kabbalistic Tree of Life she resonates with Binah (the Great Mother, understanding, the womb of form) and with Chesed in her merciful queenship.

Jungian readings see Frigg as a great Mother archetype distinct from Freya's lover-warrior energy: she is matronly wisdom, the woman who has integrated her power into the building of family and realm. Her shadow is the matron who would protect her child from all harm and so cannot release him to his fate—her terrible bargaining with mistletoe and Hel is a study in maternal love that cannot let go even of what cosmic law demands. To work with her is to learn the patience of weaving, the courage of foreknowledge held in silence, and the strength of the woman who reigns by knowing rather than by striking. Return to the main glossary.

Also known as

• Frija
• Frea
• Frige
• Allmother
• Queen of Asgard
• Lady of Fensalir