Last Updated on October 13, 2024
Sköll and Hati are two powerful wolves who endlessly chase the sun and moon across the sky. Their pursuit drives the cycles of day and night. Sköll, whose name means “Treachery” or “Mockery,” chases the sun, while Hati, “He Who Hates,” pursues the moon. These wolves are children of Fenrir and a giantess (some texts say she is Angrboða, but that is Fenrir’s mother), the mighty wolf bound by the gods. Their presence in the sky is essential to maintaining the balance of light and darkness.
Sköll and Hati are not just forces of nature; they embody the relentless passage of time. The sun and moon move across the sky because of the wolves’ constant hunt. Their pursuit is eternal until Ragnarök, the great battle of the gods. At Ragnarök, Sköll and Hati will finally catch their prey, devouring the sun and moon, plunging the world into darkness. This signals the end of one world and the beginning of another, emphasizing their importance to the cycle of life, death, and rebirth.
Though Sköll and Hati appear as harbingers of chaos, they also serve a crucial role in the natural order. Without them, the sun would never set, and the moon would never rise. This balance underscores their dual nature: they are both destroyers and maintainers of cosmic balance. Their presence reminds us that destruction and renewal are two sides of the same coin.
Sköll and Hati in Asatru
In Asatru, the wolves hold significant meaning. Their eternal chase represents the cycle of time and the inevitability of change. Followers of Asatru honor Sköll and Hati as symbols of cosmic forces that maintain balance in the world. Many see their pursuit of the sun and moon as a metaphor for the human struggle to achieve balance in life. Their presence in the sky is a reminder of the eternal cycles of nature that govern existence.
While Sköll and Hati do not have a specific rune associated with them, the Elder Futhark rune Eihwaz often represents the forces of life and death, a concept closely tied to their role. Eihwaz symbolizes yew, a tree linked to endurance, transformation, and protection. The yew tree represents the connection between life and death, much like Sköll and Hati’s role in ensuring the continuity of day and night until Ragnarök.
In modern Asatru, Sköll and Hati are revered for their role in keeping cosmic balance. They remind us that life is cyclical and that even destruction leads to renewal. As we honor them, we acknowledge the cycles of our own lives and the importance of perseverance through hardship, knowing that every sunset is followed by a new dawn.
