LAST BATTLE
RAGNARÖK & THE WORLD SERPENT
In Norse Mythology, it was prophesized that Loki’s children would bring about the death of the gods. So in order protect the realms, Odin, King of the Gods, cast Jörmungandr, the World Serpent, into the sea. But the serpent grew, and grew… until it was so vast it could encircle the entire world.
As the end of days drew near, Jörmungandr would rise from the depths to taunt Thor, God of Thunder. Thor came close to catching the beast, but the serpent’s fate was already written: at Ragnarök the two would finally face off in a battle to the death.
Thor struck down the serpent, but took only nine steps before falling, overcome by its venom.
And yet… that was not the end.
Ragnarök is not a story of finality, but of rebirth. The serpent, an ouroboros (tail-eater), has long symbolized the eternal cycle: endings that feed beginnings, destruction that births renewal.
Now do I see | the earth anew
Rise all green | from the waves again;
The cataracts fall, | and the eagle flies,
And fish he catches | beneath the cliffs.
In wondrous beauty | once again
Shall the golden tables | stand mid the grass,
Which the gods had owned | in the days of old.
– Völuspá, stanzas 59–60
Take action:
The totems of Odin, Thor, and Jörmungandr stand here as more than gods & monsters. They are archetypes of wisdom, strength, and the wild unknown. Reflect on these mythological forces as you rake through the volcanic black sand.
As the heat rises, envision your own Ragnarök and the rebirth that comes from it. Contemplate your relationship to the monsters and unseen natural forces in your world. Which have you tried to cast away, only to watch them grow stronger?
Let this dark, ancient force remind you: true transformation often wears the face of destruction, paving the way for something entirely new. Embrace the cycle and discover the renewal that lies beyond.
