Abstract This paper explores the Norse mythological figures Geri and Freki as archetypes of psychic hunger and transformation within a Jungian framework. Beyond their role as Odin’s companions, these wolves symbolize the restless appetite of the psyche, embodying the paradox of psychic digestion, wherein the ego must sacrifice parts of itself to foster renewal and growth. Drawing on mythological, psychological, and cultural perspectives, the analysis highlights how Geri and Freki represent the shadowy processes of internal sacrifice and transformation occurring beneath conscious awareness. Their hunger reflects the ongoing tension between destruction and creation, instinctual drive and ego integrity, challenging the individual to confront and integrate primal forces rather than deny them. The paper further contextualizes these archetypes within Danish Bronze and Iron Age ritual symbolism, where depictions of wolves and sacrificial feasting underscore cultural understandings of death, transformation, and the sacred appetite for renewal. Ultimately, Geri and Freki embody the paradoxical feast necessary for individuation, emphasizing the sacrifices required for psychic wholeness. The closing reflection poses a lasting question: What wild hungers must one face to achieve true freedom? Keywords: Geri, Freki, Jungian archetypes, Norse mythology, psychic hunger, individuation

DescriptionThis paper explores the wolves Geri and Freki, companions of Odin in Norse mythology, as archetypal symbols of hunger and transformation. Drawing on sources from mythology, Danish archaeology, and Jungian depth psychology, the study interprets these figures as embodiments of instinctual drive, shadow energy, and psychic renewal. By situating the wolves within both ancient ritual contexts and modern clinical perspectives, the analysis highlights their enduring significance for understanding individuation, cultural memory, and the dynamics of the unconscious. This study forms part of a multi-paper arc series, The Wolf in the Viking Era: Exploring Jungian Norse Wolf Archetypes in Germanic Myth, from Denmark, which examines mythic wolf figures across Northern European traditions. KeywordsNorse mythology, Odin, Geri and Freki, Viking Age, Jungian psychology, archetypes, shadow, individuation, Danish archaeology, ritual feasting, wolf symbolism, Scandinavian folklore, transformation, myth and psyche, Germanic myth