We are not of today or of yesterday - we are much older than that. ~ C.G. Jung
|
|
| | Idun and the Golden Apples |    |
| | Author | Message |
|---|
Naema
Admin
Posts: 608
Join date: 2011-05-16
Age: 64
 |  Subject: Idun and the Golden Apples  Mon Oct 03, 2011 5:30 pm | |
|  artist: Arthur Rackham
The Islandic Edda, the book of Norse mythology, contains a story about Idun. Idun (Iduna) was the goddess of spring and rebirth. She and her husband Bragi, the god of music and poetry, lived in Asgard, the home of the gods.
Idun took care of the golden apples that the gods ate to remain immortal.
Idun watches her husband Bragi sing for her
Snorri, the narrator of the Edda tells us about her in Gylfaginning 26: "She keeps in her crate the apples that the Gods have to eat if they want to age; they will become young again and that is how it will be till Ragnarökkr." One could compare these apples with the ones that the Hesperides kept and which Hercules had to collect. These are the apples of the tree of life.
Hercules
One day Loki, the trickster god, was captured by a giant named Thjazi. The giant refused to free Loki until he agreed to bring Idun and the apples to Thjazi 's home. Loki gave his word and sped off to Asgard. He invited Idun to bring her apples and walk into the forest, where he knew of some even more precious apples. Eager to compare her special fruit with that mentioned by Loki, Idun joined the trickster. But as soon as they reached the forest, Thjazi, in the form of an eagle, dove from the sky and seized the goddess and her apples.
Idun and Loki by John Bauer
Without Iduns' apples, the gods in Asgard began to age. They became bent and feeble and demanded that Loki rescue Idun from Thjazi. Loki flew to the giant's home disguised as a falcon. He changed Idun into a nut and hid her in his claws. As he flew back to Asgard, Thjazi became an eagle again and followed him. However, as soon as Loki and Idun were inside Asgard, the gods lit a fire on the walls of Asgard. Thjazi's wings caught fire as he crossed the flames, and he dropped to the ground, where the gods killed him.
Arthur Rackham
This story in the Edda is set in pre-Christian times, in the time that Idun had to present the Asen with 'the apples of life', otherwise the gods would not be able to guide mankind in the way of thinking about the meaning of life. They would grow old and renewal would not take place - which would mean that mankind would stand still in its development and therefore would not be able to develop Love. So Idun has to stay in Asgard. But instead, through Loki, she arrives with the giants, which means that the gods can't reach the apples anymore. One can imagine the pressure Loki was under to get Idun back. And how Thjazi, who was so happy with Idun, falls into a rage which kills him.   |
|  | | Joe
Posts: 505
Join date: 2011-09-03
| | Subject: Re: Idun and the Golden Apples Tue Oct 04, 2011 8:49 pm | |
| Naema Thank you for this colorful Norse mythology. The story is also reminiscent of the apple from the Tree of Knowledge in the garden of Eden. Except in Eden one was immortal but clueless before eating the apple, and after eating the apple Adam and Eve had Knowledge but were subjected to death, disease and decay! I think the story throughout the ages became twisted. It is interesting that the symbol of the apple is used, and here in the Norse mythology they are the “golden” apples of Immortality. I like to think of this story as a fable with a deep hidden message, perhaps for my personal interpretation. The “golden” apples represent our true inherent consciousness, our divine nature. They provide immortality because we truly are immortal. Our physical form undergoes birth, disease, decay and finally death, but our true Identity, who we really are, is eternal. The keeper of the golden apple is Iduna, a young female, not heroic Hercules or Zeus, but a young maiden. What this tells me is that the way to the knowing our true Self is through the feminine path, the yin principle of gentleness, love, and letting go of things. It also feels significant that she was a goddess of spring and rebirth. When we awaken to our true divine nature it is as if we are reborn and life is renewed. It was also the female in Eden that first ate the apple from the Tree of Knowledge. The male figure, Loki, is interesting because he first betrayed Idun to the Giant, but later redeemed himself by rescuing her. There is a story of redemption by the trickster god who is typically up to no good, but in the end is a hero. The Giant to me represents the egoic mind that is unconscious. It seeks happiness from the immortality conferred by golden apples but attempts to do so by force, and by taking things that he perceives he doesn’t have. Likewise, we think we do not have love, peace or joy, so seek these things as if they were possessions in the outer world or through other people, when what we seek is all within our hearts. I enjoyed reflecting on the story. Love Peace Joy  |
| | | | Hawkwood
Admin
Posts: 158
Join date: 2011-05-16
Age: 65
Location: The Netherlands
| | Subject: Re: Idun and the Golden Apples Wed Oct 12, 2011 1:44 pm | |
| Dear Naema, this story speaks to us so powerfully because, like all great mythic archetypes, it goes on being true! Although it's interesting that it contradicts the Genesis 'tree', in that in the Nordic version, it is the withholding of the apples which causes ageing and mortality, and in the Genesis version, it is the very eating of the fruit which causes this! But was it an apple in Genesis? It has become such an ingrained assumption that it was - but this is never actually mentioned in the Bible! So what do we know about this? Joseph, your own interpretation is beautiful! 'Works for me', as they say! I wonder if you have ever read the Book of Enoch? This source is one of my own great touchstones, and it has many passages of intense beauty. Why it was never included in the canonical Bible is a story in itself - and ultimately something of a mystery, because there are many references to it in both Testaments, and it was clearly a highly thought-of work in those times. There are certain passages in the Genesis story which seem abruptly truncated, or even directly contradictory. Where are these lacunas? In Enoch! In fact, from Enoch we learn that the fruit of the tree was 'like a tamarind', and tamarind fruits look far more like peas in a pod - certainly nothing like apples at all!  Tamarind fruits - the real 'fruit of the Tree of knowledge'!  |
| | | | dreambrave
Posts: 340
Join date: 2011-06-15
Age: 51
| | Subject: Re: Idun and the Golden Apples Wed Oct 12, 2011 2:18 pm | |
| Dear Naema, Joe and Hawkwood all what you say and share is very interesting -thank you very much. Yes, the Bible only mentiones the fruit - no specification. also like the book of Henoch, there are other scriptures that never made it to the canon of the Bible, but still contain very interesting wisdom. I like your interpretation very much also dear Joseph, to think of how we truly are all immortal and that true self lies in our hearts, with a female aspect of life energy.
|
| | | | | | Idun and the Golden Apples | |
|
Similar topics |  |
|
| | Permissions in this forum: | You cannot reply to topics in this forum
| |
| |
| |
|
