I never expected to feel drawn to Iduna. In all my explorations of mythology, I was always fascinated by the fierce warriors, the cunning tricksters, the gods and goddesses who carried fire and storm in their hands. But Iduna? She seemed quiet, subtle. A keeper rather than a fighter. Yet, as with many things in life, the deeper I looked, the more I found myself pulled into her story.
I first encountered Iduna in passing—a brief mention in a book about Norse myths. She wasn’t described in great detail, just as “the keeper of the golden apples,” the one who ensured the gods remained young and strong. At the time, I moved on quickly, dismissing her as unremarkable in comparison to the mighty Odin, the thunderous Thor, or the enigmatic Loki. But, as with many overlooked things, Iduna’s power wasn’t in her presence alone—it was in what she represented, and how deeply her role touched everything around her.
The First Encounter
It wasn’t until years later that I truly saw her. I was rereading the myth of her abduction—the story where Loki, tricked by the giant Thjazi, lures Iduna out of Asgard and into the clutches of her captor. Without Iduna, the gods begin to wither. The invincible, the mighty, the immortal—they all start to feel the weight of time. It struck me how fragile their power actually was, how much they depended on her, even if they rarely acknowledged it.
That was the moment I realized how much she had been overlooked—not just by me, but by the mythology itself. She wasn’t a warrior or a ruler. She didn’t boast of her strength or demand attention. Yet, without her, even gods would falter.
It made me think about the quiet forces that sustain us in life. The people who cook meals, who listen when we need to talk, who tend to the small details that keep the world turning. The things we take for granted—the sunlight, the fresh air, the sleep that restores us. These are Iduna’s gifts.
Understanding Her Power
Iduna’s power isn’t the kind that wins battles or topples empires. It’s the kind that prevents them from collapsing in the first place. She holds something more fundamental: renewal.
In a world where even gods fear time, Iduna is the keeper of continuity. Her golden apples aren’t just a remedy for aging—they’re a symbol of something much deeper. They represent cycles: death and rebirth, depletion and restoration, loss and renewal. She is the reminder that power is not just about taking—it is also about sustaining.
This made me reflect on my own life. How often do I focus only on moving forward, pushing harder, achieving more—without stopping to restore myself? How often do I forget that strength doesn’t just come from effort, but also from renewal?
Iduna’s story asked me a question I wasn’t prepared for: What are my golden apples?
What It Means to Work with Iduna
I don’t claim to have a deep, personal relationship with Iduna, but learning about her has made me more mindful of the ways I connect to renewal in my own life. If I were to work with her, I imagine it would be less about grand rituals and more about small, meaningful acts of care. She doesn’t demand worship, but I think she would appreciate mindfulness.
Here’s what honoring Iduna might look like:
- Honoring the Body – Eating nourishing foods, moving with care, getting enough rest. Recognizing that taking care of yourself isn’t selfish—it’s necessary.
- Tending to the Mind – Engaging in things that refresh your spirit, whether it’s reading, writing, creating, or simply taking time to reflect.
- Caring for Others – Iduna’s role reminds me that the ones who sustain others are often unseen, yet invaluable. Checking in on friends, making sure loved ones are cared for—these are quiet but powerful acts.
- Embracing Nature’s Cycles – The changing seasons, the ebb and flow of energy, the way nature renews itself constantly. Iduna exists in these rhythms.
She teaches that healing and restoration are sacred. That taking time to renew is not a weakness, but a strength. That we, too, can hold golden apples for ourselves and for those we care for.
A Goddess for These Times
We live in a world that glorifies exhaustion. A culture that tells us that rest is laziness, that we must always be striving, always be achieving. But Iduna offers a different lesson: sustaining yourself is just as important as pushing forward.
She is a goddess for those who feel burned out, for those who need permission to rest. She is a reminder that care is not passive—it is active, powerful, essential.
As I learn more about her, I find myself thinking differently about what it means to be strong. I used to believe strength was about endurance, about how much I could push through. But now, I see that strength is also about knowing when to stop, when to replenish, when to hold onto the things that nourish me.
Iduna whispers that it’s okay to pause. That renewal is not a luxury, but a necessity. That even gods must take care of themselves.
And maybe, just maybe, so should we.
Reflection: What Are Your Golden Apples?
If Iduna teaches us anything, it’s that we all have our own version of golden apples—the things that sustain us, that bring us back to ourselves, that keep us whole.
So I’ll leave you with a question: What are the golden apples in your life?
Are they people? Places? Moments of solitude? Creative passions? The rituals that restore you?
Whatever they are, cherish them. Because even the strongest among us need renewal. Even the gods needed Iduna.
And maybe, in our own way, we do too. 🍏✨
Have you ever felt drawn to Iduna or a similar figure? I’d love to hear your thoughts—what are the things that restore you? What keeps you going when the world feels too heavy? Let’s talk in the comments. 💛
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