As I wrote my post for Artemis, another Huntress was in my brain, wanting a post, too.
Years ago, like in the early 00's, possibly late 90's, I had a dream that's still stuck with me. In the dream I was sitting on a mound or an igloo, with two polar bears. A silent male and a talkative female. In my experience, animal spirits don't use human language, but the Deities disguised as animals do. In the dream, I joined the female and we walked and talked. The quiet male stayed on the other side of the mound.
I still can't remember what we talked about. I thought the Deity in disguise was Artemis, but it wasn't. For a long time, I didn't know Who these bears were.
2014-15, I was introduced to Loki through a story where He tied his balls to a goat in order to make a Jötunn laugh. It was so ridiculous and it remains my favorite Loki myth. The Jötunn who laughed was Skaði--a bow wielding Wintery Giant of Hunting and Skiing, accompanied by wolves. Like a bigger, buffer Artemis and her hounds.
At the time, neither Norse Deity spoke to me. My husband was a Norse Pagan, so I continued to make offerings on his behalf, as a Hearth Keeper do--care for the home temple and all entities within.
But over the years, that Polar Bear from the dream would pop up--the Not-Artemis didn't give a name, though, but would just pop in once in a while.
Then I found myself not seeing the wolves, but associating Skaði with polar bears. Every Yule, I'd add a Polar Bear (one that I used to keep on Artemis' shrine) for Her, alongside of Óðinn.
How I see Skaði
Sometime over the last few years, I had begun meeting Skaði in tundras, only Her as a mature giant huntress, armed with a bow and arrow, with Antlers. Artemis also appears to me with antlers (Elen of the Ways with reindeer antlers, too). Only with Skaði I'm not sure if they're a part of Her of hood or skull, whereas the other two Antlered Goddesses, the are definitely part of Their skulls. I also hadn't seen Skaði on skis--She's usually just walking in the high snow, wearing fur and armor, and like Artemis, definitely not in a dress or skirt. She's dressed appropriately for the tundra, not as a sexual object for the male gaze, with gigantic tits and bare skin. Fashion and make-up seem to be the least of the Jotun's concerns.
Over the last year, now I see the wolves running alongside of Skaði. Sometimes She shapeshifts into a wolf or bear, but She mostly prefers Her humanoid form, carrying bow, quiver, and skis on Her back. Sometimes wearing snowshoes.
My name "Foxlynx" is actually from Freyja and Skaði. During one journey, I had met with Freyja who transformed me into a lynx. Then I ran up a snowy slope where Skaði was waiting for me on a cliff. Laughing at the gift from Freyja (joy, not jest), She added the fox to my form, and both of the Goddesses called me "Foxlynx", which I've shortened a tad to just "Foxlyn" (I still use Foxlynx from time to time. Also 'lynx' is a play on words for my psychic ability--Lynx - Links - Psychic Links.).
A Myth
Skaði--Daughter of Thiazi, ex-wife of Njörðr--often considered a Goddess of Winter (although I think that title goes to Ullr). Skaði's domain is over hunting, nature, and is often depicted as a expert archer on skiis, as some archers are skilled on horses.
Like Artemis, She's a Guardian of Forests and Animals, who's willing to bless ethical hunters.
Her father was killed for stealing Idunn. Skaði was furious, as one may be. Unlike Artemis, She demanded a husband--She hoped for Baldr. The Aesir agreed--sort of--She could only select her new husband by their feet. The rest of Them were hidden. She picked the one with the cleanest feet--believing them to belong to Baldr, but they were the feet of the Vanir Sea God, Njörðr.
Feeling tricked, Skaði demanded that the Gods make her laugh, which is where Loki, His testicles, and the goat enter the picture. The Trickster was successful.
The union between the Mountain Huntress and Sea God wasn't compatible. She longed for the forest and He for the waters. Eventually They divorced.
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Remembering the Polar Bears from a decade or two ago, I asked Skaði if they were Them--They were!
I haven't worked a lot with Skaði yet, but when it snows, I often thank Skaði (and Ullr) for the appropriate weather that Ohio's supposed to have during this season. I love snow. I'm looking forward to working more with this Deity. Like Artemis, I'm hoping that camping will further build that relationship, as I delve deeper into seiðr.
As a spiritual and survival goal this year, I'm learning how to make and tend fire. I'm also slowly collecting four seasons camping gear, so one day I can do some winter camping. I know some people hate camping in bad weather, but I love it--rain and snow? Sign me up. The fire stuff is a devotional action for my Hearth Kindreds, as well as the Wild Ones.
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Some Skaði Correspondances (UGP and Traditional):
- Family: Thiazi; Njörðr. Possibly the Mother of Freyr and Freyja. In some stories, after Njörðr, Skaði married Óðinn...
- Domain: Hunting, Archery, Skiing, Winter, Vengeance, Balance, Independance, Determination, Strength, Darkness, Death...
- Hall: Thrymheim
- Fauna: Wolf, Polar Bear, Elk...
- Flora: Pine, Birch...
- Colors: White, Blue, Silver, Black...
- Symbols: Bow, Arrow, Snowshoes, Skiis, Antlers, Snowstorms...
- Stones / Gems: Flint, Obsidian
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Resources:
- Andersson, Karl. Nordic Perspective: Skaði: Norse Goddess of Winter, Mountains & Hunting. 5 December 2022. https://nordicperspective.com/history/vikings/skadi-norse-goddess
- Gornichec, Genevieve. The Witch's Heart. 9 February 2021. Myth Retelling.
- Holub, Joan. Skade and the Enchanted Snow. 10 March 2020. Children.
- Kaycee. Dark Goddess Collective: Anthology to Skaði. 9 February 2024. https://darkgoddesscollective.com/2024/02/05/anthology-to-skadi/
- Pirso, Anette. Gonzalez, Israel. The Goddess Atlas: An Illustrated Guide to Female Deities, Myths, and Sacred Feminine Stories from Around the World. 2 December 2025.
- Wolf, Lady. Skadi: Mother of Wolves and Goddess of Winter. 2 August 2022.
Thanks for all of the support!
Face to the Sun.
Trust in Joy.
Follow the Foxes and the Bees...
- Priestess Foxlyn