Fenrir is the wolfson of Loki and the giantess Angrboda. He was born along with Hel, Goddess of Helheim and Death, and the Midgard Serpent. When he was born, the Gods of Asgard heard a prophecy that Fenrir would grow to an unimaginable size and strength, and bring about destruction. To prevent this, they took Fenrir away from Loki and kept him in Asgard. They attempted to tame him, and placed the God Tyr in charge of feeding him.
Fenrir's Story
His story, as summarized by Hexen_Feuer: "When Fenrir grew in size, the gods all [became worried that he would fulfill the prophecy and they devised a plan to bind him. They produced a chain and presented it to Fenrir, challenging that he wasn't strong enough to break the chain.] Fenrir accepted this challenge, and broke through them with ease. The gods then turned to a magical chain fashioned from six strange materials by the dwarves. Those materials consisted of: fishes breath, a cats footstep, roots of a mountain, a woman's beard, the sinew of a bear, and a bird's spittle. The magical chain, Gleipnir, was so thin and soft that many would doubt it's strength.
Fenrir was less eager to break the chain, he said there was no pride in breaking such a chain. Fenrir agreed, though suspicious of treachery, he asked for the gods, as a token of good will, to place a hand between his jaws, and only Tyr agreed. Fenrir struggled with the thin chain, and no matter how hard he tried, he could not break it, so he bit off Tyr's hand in an act of revenge. The gods, being very pleased with the results, carried fenrir off and tied him to a rock, Gioll, which was a mile within the Earth. They then put a sword between his jaws to keep him from biting. [Two rivers of blood ran him Fenrir's mouth and formed Van(Hope) and Vil(Despair)] .
On the day of Ragnarok, Fenrir will break his chains and join the giants in their battle against the gods. He will seek out Odin, and devour him. Vidar, Odin's son, will avenge him by killing him. "
Honoring/Working With Fenrir:
Fenrir is not typically worshipped, honored or worked with by most Heathens. However, Rokkatruars (who honor the Rokkr pantheon, of which Fenrir is a part of) honor Fenrir and include him in their workings. Part of the Rokkatru ethics/lessons is dedicated to Fenrir:
Fenris's Rule: Shadow. Learn to love and find sacred all the parts of yourself, even the darknesses. Honor them by making a safe place for them, where they can neither be harmed nor harm others.
Fenrir often teaches the lesson of morality, and accepting the "wolf within" so to speak. In many ways his nature reflects our own. He teaches the lesson of being yourself, as he would not be bound if he could chage his ways- but he would never change his ways because he is proud of who he is.
Some Heathens like to include Fenrir in practices such as Berserking. Berserking can be an excellent way of dealing with pent up emotions and anger, of which Fenrir is very accustomed to feeling. Channeling Fenrir is not unheard of, though it is very uncommon in our practice. As Raven K says, " Horsing him is usually done as an offering, as tribute, and to "feed" him. To do it for any reason outside of that is not wise. He enjoys voluntary pain. He enjoys fresh meats and blood. He also enjoys the emotion of fear, like Hel.He is often called the "God of Last Resorts" and he is called that for a reason. To work with Fenrir is to unleash a part of yourself that most people spend their lives trying to bury or get rid of. He is extremity, the very definition of it. And he often wears his horses out. "
Offerings to Fenrir vary, since there isn't anything traditional. Normally he is not made an altar, rather you use something in nature, something primal, to give offerings on. I personally have a tree stump in my yard that I've dedicated to him. Offerings to him include freshly killed animals, raw meats, blood, red candles, red cloth, emotions such as pain or fear, and things related to wolves.
I'm glad you found it interesting! Fenrir is one of the main deities I include in my work, so I figured I'd throw some information on him out there. I think he's very misunderstood, but I cannot discuss that aspect of him until I first explain who he is.
Sounds like a self fulfilling prophecy. If they treated him kindly or if only normally rather than binding him against his will in such a terrible manner he would have no reason to act as the prophecy dictates. Sounds as if they brought his wrath upon themselves but fear can drive any being to desperate acts. Loki is one of the more...intriguing Norse gods and I found this post very interesting. Thanks Personified.
Here's an explanation for it that I enjoy:
"Fenrir, like the Wolf's Hook Cross, is a representation of unchangeable fate. There is an aura of fatality surrounding him that the gods sense, and none more so than Odin, because it is primarily his existence which is subject to Fenrir's whim. Odin, having heard the prophecies of the Volva (Fenrir's own mother, Angrboda) knew that his son Balder would be slain, that his brother Hodur would do this act. That the Rkkr forces would break free of their bonds, and destroy the gods. And that finally he, Odin, would die within the massive jaws of Fenrir. Thus, the binding of Fenrir with Gleipner is nothing but a postponement of the inevitable. It is merely an instance of the gods, and Odin in particular, performing, and realizing, their role. For, although the Fate incurred by Fenrir may be unavoidable and unchangeable, it does not necessarily mean defeat or resignation. One of the great lessons of the Rkkr is that this life is nothing, that there is no integral meaning to it, and that it can all so easily be consumed by Fenrir. The purpose of living, then, is to realize this truth, and then to build ones own worth and meaning from existence."
http://shadowlight.gydja.com/fenrir.html
I have no quarrel with the Aesir, and in fact have honored some of them from time to time. But they are not my first pick, so to speak. I mainly honor the Rokkr, and Loki in particular. I find no trouble in honoring Aesir, Vanir and Rokkr.
