#Norse myths

[blessedscavengers]

one day I’ll catch up

terfs fuck off

made in 2023

[thefugitivesaint]

Olaf Willums (1886-1967), 'Illustration to Old Norse Ballad', ''The New Woodcut'', 1930 Source

[snigepippi]

I cannot recommend Heimskringla.no enough

Every original Norse text is digitalised and uploaded. All translations that are creative commons are there. More modern folktales and oral stores are there. Several research papers, analyses, commentary and opinion pieces have been added. And they offer very cheap physical prints of many things that are out of print.

They now have 7600 texts!

Of course most texts are old Norse, Icelandic, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish and Finn. But you can find English papers and translations too.

If you want to learn one Scandinavian language I recommend Norwegian. Then you can read Danish and understand Swedish.

[gifts-of-heimdall-runes]

Source: VK.com

Artist: Sjors van Helmond [ArtStation]

Original posted 27th December, 2021

Created by Photoshop

"In this artwork, I wanted to display the mystery and wisdom associated with the All-Father of the Norse gods. The artwork features Odin with all his attributes, his ravens, his wolves, his spear, his drinking horn, his hat and his magic ring. The illustration also features various references to stories related to Odin like the three shields in the bottom. The first shield shows Odin sacrificing his eye to the well of Mimir for wisdom, the second shield depicts Sleipnir Odin's eight legged horse and the third shield shows how Odin and his two brothers carved the first two humans Ask and Embla out of wood."

Re-posted respecting finding the original on ArtStation.

[newrealityworld]

Inktober day 10: Hel, goddess of death and ruler of Helheim.

[thedawner]

Some small, traditional Loki doodles

[broomsick]

The Ramsund carving, believed to have been carved around 1030, was found close to Ramsund, Sweden. It is considered part of the “Sigurd stones”, a group of eight or nine runic inscriptions which can be found in Sweden, with all pertaining to the myth of the hero Sigurðr. The Ramsund stone depicts scenes from the Völsunga Saga, which go as follows:

Sigurðr preparing a fire to roast the dragon Fáfnir’s heart, as instructed by his uncle Regin. Having burnt himself in the process, Sigurðr sticks his finger in his mouth. He is soon to discover that the dragon’s blood which stained his finger gave him the ability to understand the language of birds as they sang.

The birds warn Sigurðr that Regin intends to kill him and take the dragon Fáfnir’s treasure for himself.

This prompts Sigurðr to end the life of his treacherous uncle, whose body now lies next to his smithing tools.

Sigurðr’s horse Grani now carries the dragon’s treasure.

Depiction of Sigurðr killing Fáfnir: having concealed himself in a hole outside the dragon’s lair, he waited for it to crawl outside and towards the river to go and drink so he could stab upwards into the beast’s heart.

Depiction of the three brothers, Regin, Fáfnir (whose greed turned him into a dragon), and Ótr, who appears along with his brethren at the beginning of the saga.

[ryebread-x]

I'm more inclined to believe/prefer the theory of Sigyn being a war related goddess rather than the theory of her being a valkyrie/former valkyrie

It just makes more sense to me, and I feel as if it gives her individualism as possibly a victory and loyalty goddess rather than having her be connected to the valkyries

[notthesomefather]

Modern Heathenry 101

Hi folks! I've updated my blog to include a heathenry 101 tag. I also worked on summarizing how I view modern heathenry from a US-based, progressive perspective:

Who is allowed to practice heathenry?

Everyone!  Heathenry is not a closed practice.  Regardless of your gender, age, orientation, race, cultural background, physical or mental abilities, or any other factor–you are welcome, appreciated, and loved by the gods.

What is heathenry?

Heathenry is an animistic belief system where we honor our ancestors, gods within the Norse pantheon, and the elemental spirits all around us.  There is no one centralized heathen faith, and traditions will vary largely depending on community, region, and era.  There are no sacred texts, though many heathens read the Poetic Edda and Prose Edda to get an introduction to our gods (as they are depicted in myths and sagas).

Who do you worship?

Details vary based on the individual or community, but generally speaking heathens honor gods within the Norse pantheon. 

This pantheon includes: Odin, Frigg/Freyja, Freyr, Thor, Tyr, Njord, Loki, Hel, and many more.  Each of these figures is dynamic and cannot be boiled down to a simple “god of ___” label.  Some heathens exclusively worship patron deities to whom they feel a special connection and sense of dedication, while other heathens maintain relationships with numerous deities.

Ancestor work can be general or highly specific.  Heathens may offer prayers to the Disir, female spirits of the family who help carry traditions, memories, and connections alive throughout the generations.  Heathens may also opt to honor individual ancestors with whom they share a strong connection.  In any instance, it is love not blood which constitutes ancestry.  Many heathens feel drawn to honor “cultural” ancestors rather than blood-relatives (example: a heathen who is Black or LGBTQIA+ may feel drawn towards honoring a deceased activist or fellow community member).

What are some things which constitute a modern practice?

Many heathens practice group ritual while others are solitary.  Every group will follow different traditions but common ones include:

holiday rituals

symbels (opportunities to toast one another and our accomplishments)

blots (specialized rituals dedicated to a specific deity)

ceremonies (weddings, funerals, and things of that nature)

In their day-to-day lives heathens will often wear a Mjolnir pendant as a reminder of the gods’ most prized gift and the source of their protector’s strength (Thor’s hammer).

Heathens will typically have at least one altar space in their homes.  This can be used to honor deities, ancestors, or other figures.  Altars vary dramatically in terms of appearance–some are minimalist and simple while others are lavishly decorated.  This depends largely on personal preference, budget, availability of materials, and personal security (unfortunately, some heathens cannot safely set up an altar in their current living situation).  Another option is the use of a pocket-altar, sometimes called a travel-altar.

What holidays do you observe?

Holidays historically varied depending on location.  Typically these holidays relate to concepts of growth, gratitude, and reflection. There is not one set list of holidays which all heathens celebrate, but there do tend to be commonalities:

Holidays that take place in spring will tend to honor gods who represent youth, new beginnings, and hope. 

Holidays in summer tend to celebrate growth, hard work, and fertility. 

Holidays in the autumn are typically opportunities to celebrate the accomplishments we’ve made throughout the year as well as to prepare for the darker, colder times ahead. 

Holidays in the winter tend to relate to reflection and thinking about things we can shed or invite as the new year begins.

Holidays can be celebrated individually or as part of a group. Here are some of the holidays my group observes.

What are some common symbols or visuals related to heathenry?

Many heathens view Mjolnir (Thor’s hammer) as the main symbol signifying their faith.  This is typically worn as a necklace, though heathens may wear one in a myriad of different ways or not at all. 

Elder futhark runes are also common symbols associated with heathenry.  The futhark are representative of the sacred runes our god Odin learned during a journey of self-sacrifice and searching for spiritual wisdom.  Many heathens use these runes for divination purposes or to receive messages from our gods and ancestors, while others do not interact with the runes in a spiritual sense.

There are other symbols associated with heathenry that have been appropriated by white supremacists.  These include the runes Othala, Sowilo, and Elhaz; the Valknut; and sometimes even Mjolnir itself.  These images are not inherently harmful, and many heathens feel it is our duty to combat this appropriation by showing these symbols in their proper, progressive contexts.

What are some books I can read to learn more?

Here are a few books about the Norse myths I recommend:

The Poetic Edda by Jackson Crawford

The Prose Edda by Snorri Sturluson

The Wanderer’s Havamal by Jackson Crawford

The Havamal by The Asatru Community

Essential Asatru by Diana Paxson

Norse Myths by Kevin Crossley-Holland

The Viking Spirit by Daniel McCoy

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

And here are some books about runes I recommend:

The Way of Fire and Ice: the Living Tradition of Norse Paganism, by Ryan Smith

Rudiments of Runelore, by Stephen Pollington

North Sea Rune Poems, by N. Solheim-Davidson

Norwegian Runes and Runic Inscriptions, by Terje Spurkland

Taking Up the Runes, by Diana L. Paxson

[apolloslyrics]

Lazy "Wards"

So today, I was lying in my bed, and I was thinking about how I desperately did not want to refresh my wards. I was feeling tired, burned out, frustrated, and just generally awful. I knew I needed to refresh them, but I also knew that it was going to take so much effort that I didn't have. Thus began the thought:

Is there an easier way to ward my space?

Turns out there is! Now, I know wards are normally random things you put in your room and re-do every once in a while, but ✨️these ones are fun and cool✨️. I compiled a list of the five easy wards I do for when I'm feeling absolutely AWFUL. Here they are!

Morning and Night Playlists

Make two playlists— one that you'll listen to as soon as you wake up, and one that you'll listen to right before you sleep. They don't have to have any specific genre; just do what you feel like you need during those times. Maybe even create a playlist cover photo if you're feeling inspired!

Turn your fan on

I am dead serious with this one, folks. It could technically be considered cleaning, but FUCK IT. Open your window and/or your door and turn on a fan. Let that air flush OUT the energy from inside and pull IN the good shit from outside. I would probably do this like once a week. Have fun with it! Maybe even play those playlists and have a whole dance party!

Stuffed Animal of the Month

That's right. You heard me. Choose a stuffed animal that will protect your space for a month. Next month, choose a different one. Repeat that for, like, forever or whatever. The important thing is that you choose a stuffed animal, you tell them "Hey, I need you to guard my shit," and you give them LOOOOTS of cuddles in return. I love this one a little too much.

Tape a picture of a sigil on your door

This one's for the people who are able to be out as a witch. If you can't do a sigil, even putting a picture of an animal or object is good enough! Just tape it to your door, either facing you or the outside, and let it do its thing.

Incense and screaming

This is more of a cleansing method than a ward. DO IT. Open your window and/or your door again, light that shit up, and scream out all the energy that you've been building up. Tell it to get-the-fuck-out or you'll roundhouse its ass. But also find the good shit and ask it to join you!

I hope yall like this post. I really liked making it!! These methods are probably not all new, and I'm most definitely not the one who invented them, but STILL. I like them and I hope you do too!

[little-drop-of-water]

I want to bring back this post I reblogged years ago because today I remembered it, read it again and the only conclusion my delulu brain came up with was "Finnish people descend from Loki!"

And before I knew it, I made this:

So, yeah...

[thenightling]

Why is Loki Called Skywalker? Answer: No, it is NOT a Star Wars reference! You have it backward!

Answer for Why is Loki called "Skywalker" in The Sandman: Season of Mists?

I've seen this questioned a lot lately.

"Why is Loki called Skywalker?" "Is it because he's dressed like a cross between Hon Solo and Luke? Lol! Love it!"

Eh... No. (though I admit he does look like that in that artwork, doesn't he?)

Loki actually had the title before Luke. George Lucas was the one making a reference to Loki, not Loki making reference to George Lucas.

Darth Vader was from the Dutch to mean Dark Father. And Anikin meant a type of giant. Get it? Giant Dark Father. Father of Loki... I mean Luke. It was George Lucas who made the reference. Loki had the name first.

It's a bit like when younger people get weirded out to find out "Canon" originally was used to mean "What is considered true within the Catholic religion." The Catholic church used it first before the word Canon was applied to "Is it true within this work of fiction." In fact canonization is the term used to mean officially acknowledging someone is a saint.

Now... To answer the question of why is Loki called Skywalker?

Well, he is the trickster God.

Skywalker (sometimes translated as Sky-treader) means Loki could travel fast and easily between realms. (Yes, without need of the Bifrost.)

One explanation for this power was given later with the concept of the Seven-League Boots.

A popular trope in European folktales are a magical pair of boots known as The Seven-league boots (roughly twenty one miles as a league is three miles). The boots could let you travel twenty one miles with a single step and could allow the wearer to walk on anything including shadows, mist, and moonbeams.

You could pass from one world to another such as the realm of Faerie with a mere thought.

One of my favorite mentions of the Seven-League boots is in Goethe's Faust Part 1.

In Marvel's Loki: Agent of Asgard, Loki has the Seven-league boots and this is cleverly tied to the Faust depiction of them becuase Loki stole them from Mephisto (who is also the demon from Faust, besides being an antagonist in Marvel comics).

Some more contemporary variations of the Loki myths suggest he's always had seven-league boots, which accounted for his unique ability to travel easier than the other Norse Gods.

[letsyapthenightaway]

I wanna have a green thumb so bad. This is what I want my home to look like.

Something that I love to do, especially with flowers is look up their myths and legends from all different places.

[matrinaola]

Something from norse mythology Loki and their daughter Hel sillyyy

[thedawner]

Loki brooding in a silly position

[broomsick]

“The rowan is the salvation of Thor.” Reynir er bjorg Thors (Icelandic proverb)

This drawing, made by Lorenz Frølich, depicts the God Thórr on his way to the castle of Geirrøðr, where he was heading to avenge wrongful treatment Loki had been subjected to at the hands of the giant. He had made the trip entirely unarmed. It was the giantess Gríðr, mother of Víðarr the Silent, who took pity on him and offered him a staff, as well as two of what would become his most prized possessions: the belt of strength and the iron gloves Járnglófar. As he crossed a river on his way to the abode of Geirrøðr, he was ambushed by one of the giant’s two daughters who sought to drown him. He managed to get out of the river by holding onto a rowan (sometimes rowan branches, sometimes a cluster of rowan trees) and climbing on shore. Thus, rowan is said to be the deliverance of Thórr and can be viewed as his sacred tree!