In all traditions there is a belief that most of the suffering in our life experience derives from a set of destructive emotions. They are sometimes called Sins, sometimes Poisons, Enemies (of the mind), Afflictions, Thieves, Hindrances (from wisdom), Unwholesome Roots or Passions, depending on tradition, location of origin and perspective.
In all of these various traditions these poisons or sins are said to be the cause of suffering in life and death, often also referred to a cycle that extends beyond death. Some traditions hold that the individual is reborn, others, such as the old Norse only the principles are reborn in the descendants and/or in their new world.
In the Old Norse tradition, it is recognized as Etter or Atter.
Etter or Atter, is an older Germanic term for "poisonous bodily fluid" such as pus from a wound. It also refers to the venom of a venomous animal (usually a dragon or a serpent) as well as bitter substances, such as bile.
The oldest literary etymology hints it to relate to swelling, bolds and inflammation.
Poetically, Etter also relates to corruption or corruptness of the mind/soul (hugr) or a poison to the mind/soul (hugr) such as evil, anger, envy, hatred, as well as destruction and death.
Etter is regarded as one of the foundational elements inherent in matter itself (matter is made from the body of Ymer, the primordial giant).
In Gylfaginning, Etter is described as forming in Ginnungagap, which gives rise to the giant primordial being Ymir. In the saga Vafþrúðnismál, the wisest of giants, Vafþrúðnir, tells Odin that the Etter is behind why giants are generally very hostile, evil, destructive and fierce:
"Ór Élivágum stukku eitrdropar,
svá óx, unz varð jötunn;
þar eru órar ættir komnar allar saman;
því er þat æ allt til atalt."
“Down from Elivagar did atter drop,
And waxed till a giant it was;
And thence arose our giants' race,
And thus so fierce are we found”.
Thor is known for his anger, and throughout the sagas his constant enemy are the giants and the Midgaard Serpent. In the end – Ragnarök – Thor dies because the Serpent breathes or spews Etter upon him. Considering that the main association to Etter is anger, this looks very much like a way of retelling exactly what is said in other traditions – the Sins are mortal. They will hold you in death and rebirth. And the reasons for it can be found within our own actions and the response from the world. In the case of Thor, his own tendencies to express the Etter of wrath and aggression is what eventually kills him. A similar relation can be found between Heimdallr and Loki concerning the flame and fire of Passion and between Odin and the Fenris wolf concerning Greed.
Interestingly enough, most wisdom traditions put these three as the top reasons for suffering and death: Anger, Passion and Greed.
The development of modern mythology of Western culture has somehow elevated Greed from a poison to a virtue. The one who assembled most wealth and fame, is regarded as a cultural Deity. One does not even have to be a very good Siare or a Völva, to be able to predict where that is heading.
Written by: Johannes B. Gårdbäck.
Souces: Google it.
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