Also called Hela, Hella.
Their story
Hel is Loki's daughter by the giantess Angrboða, and Odin gave her rule over the realm where most of the dead go, those who die of age and illness. When Baldr died, Hermóðr rode to her hall to beg for his return. She agreed to release him if every thing in the world would weep for him, which was fair, but one giantess refused.
Best times to give to them
- Winter Nights
- the dark moon
- Yule and the long nights
- after a death
What they like being given
- bread and porridge
- dark ale, or dark fruit juice
- bones or antler found naturally
- dark candles
- a spoken memory of the dead
How to honour them
- Keep a photo or name of a loved one who has died near her candle.
- Speak honestly with her about your fears of death.
- Tend a grave or a memorial with care.
- Sit with grief without rushing it, in her presence.
How they can help you
- grief and bereavement
- caring for the ancestors
- peace with mortality
- endings and letting go
- comfort for the dying
Symbols
- her hall Éljúðnir
- the gate of Hel
- the hound Garmr
- bones and roots
In the sources Hel is not a place of punishment but the ordinary home of the dead, and its keeper is best approached with respect rather than fear.
More Norse goddesses
- Frigg Queen of Asgard, keeper of the hearth
- Sif The golden-haired, wife of Thor
- Freyja The Lady, mistress of seiðr and love
- Iðunn Keeper of the apples of youth
- Eir The best of physicians
- Sága Keeper of stories, who drinks with Odin
- Gefjon The giving one, ploughwoman of Zealand
- Fulla Frigg's confidante and keeper of her casket