Frigg or Frigga is referred to as the 'foremost among the goddesses' in Norse mythology. She is the queen of Asgard, the land of the gods, and the wife of Odin.
She is mostly associated with the Norse pantheon but she has Germanic counterparts that were worshipped in Britain and on the European continent. The Romans associated Frigg with the goddess Venus, and the planet Venus has been called friggjarstjarna (Frigg's star).
Frigg is the goddess of practical, homely knowledge, fertility, motherhood, love and marriage. It's easy to understand how in recent times the more seemingly independent minded Freyja has become the most popular Norse goddess to refer to. I believe it's because in modern Western society, the traditionally feminine attributes that Frigg is associated with are not seen as independently valuable.
If we understand that in another time in history these areas of life were most likely highly sacred and revered. These feminine areas of life and knowledge are intrinsically valuable and may even be more important or fundamental than the traditionally masculine parts of life that society is now holding up as more important.
Even so, the story goes that Frigg is very involved in political affairs of Asgard and shared the throne with Odin, overlooking the Nine Worlds. This could be a reflection of Germanic societies in history where the responsibilities of a noblewoman included acting as a counsellor to her husband and as a peace-keeper and diplomat. In other words, the feminine role as the 'protector of the home' included a lot more than what we might imagine now.
Frigg has her own dwelling called Fensalir (Hall of Mists or Sea Halls), which she manages. She also oversees the Asynjur, a group of goddesses or deities with different attributes and roles. They are sometimes described as being different aspects of Frigg. She has connections to the Earth and in some respects is seen as an Earth goddess, but not of wild nature but instead of lands that are cultivated.
When we look beneath the surface of some of the divine feminine archetypes in our ancestral cultures, we realise that there is so much more to them than commonly believed. They have so many dimensions to them and they are powerful beyond measure, just as we are.
Connecting to these goddesses and deities can help bring out more of the divine feminine power within ourselves that has sometimes been forgotten.
Art by Amanda Lindupp
