An Altar for the World Serpent

by Raven Kaldera

Colors: Sea-Green

Altar Suggestions: Watery-colored cloth, with something circular representing the Big Snake (ideally a green serpent with its tail in its mouth) surrounding a stone or potted plant or picture to symbolize Midgard. The rune Ior. Bistort, ivy, willow withies. There are also many lovely carved wooden snakes that actually move, and can be used as multiple figures of Hir. If you have nothing else, use rubber snakes. If you find shed snakeskins, you can keep them here.

Food and Drink: Fish.

Service Offerings: Help someone who has trouble with boundaries enforce one.

Contraindicated: Don’t expect Jormundgand to talk to you in words. S/he is nonverbal and communicates in images. Don’t put Thor’s hammers near this altar.

Swedish Midgard Serpent

Photo by Nasko. Midgårdsormen (Swedish:The Midgard Serpent) by Björn Therkelson is a sculpture that was erected outside the town hall in the small town of Floby in Sweden in 1996. The sculpture caused a public outcry. Religious groups accused it of encouraging paganism. Other groups thought the Midgard Serpent looked more like a non-erect male organ. Despite the criticism, the sculpture still stands in front of the town hall and public library.