Modern Norse

WG – Does Norse mythology have any influence on today’s society, like Greek mythology apparently does (i.e., Nike shoes, Midas Touch car shop, etc.)?

KS – Just look at your cell phone. The Bluetooth symbol is a bind-rune, which means that it is formed from two runes that are merged together. Runes are the ancient Norse letters that, according to mythology, Odin discovered and gave to gods and humans. Runes actually exist and were used for over a thousand years. They were letters (used to spell things) and symbols (each symbol stood for a specific word or concept). Harald Bluetooth (circa 935-985) united Denmark under his rule; the Bluetooth technology unites different devices under its “rule.”

If you take the rune for “H” –

 

and combine it with the rune for “B” –

you get the Bluetooth logo –

Also, next time you use the restroom in a public place, look at the paper towel dispenser. Chances are, it will have this symbol on it –

which is the logo of Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget, a Swedish paper-goods company. It’s based on a symbol that is associated with Odin in ancient carvings like this one –

Detail of the Hammars Stone in Sweden (8th century)

So, think of Odin the next time you make a phone call or dry your hands!

 

http://www.norsemyth.org/2011/11/high-school-student-asks-about-norse.html

Modern Norse

Norse Wicca?

Notes on Nordic Wicca

Pagan Timeline

Pagan Roots in America

Svartalheim

Svartalheim

In Norse mythology, Svartalfheim (Svartalfaheimr) is the underground realm of black elves, or dark elves, ruled by the dark elf Modsognir.  Svartalfheim is in the middle region of the nine worlds, on the same level as Midgard.  These creatures were not allowed to come to the surface of the earth during daylight hours under penalty of being turned to stone.  The counter part to the dark elves are the Light Elves who live in Alfheim.

The elves were a race of mythical beings, who were, in a way, lesser deities. They weren't exactly Gods in the normal sense, but they did possessed powers.  The truth is that the writers in the Norse myths don't have much to say about the elves. Their roles were developed more later in folklore, fairy tales and in the world of fantasy novels, such as by the novelist J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.

An elf is a type of supernatural being in Germanic mythology and folklore.  Elves are first attested in Old English and Old Norse texts and are prominent in traditional British and Scandinavian folklore.  Elves were originally thought of as ambivalent beings with certain magical abilities capable of helping or hindering humans, but in later traditions became increasingly sinister and were believed to afflict humans and livestock in various ways.

The races that comprise the Dark Elves are: dwarves, gnomes, goblins, kobolds and trolls.  The Dark Elves, are evil creatures who grew from the maggots of Ymir's flesh.   The dark elves could be hideous and could be a great nuisance to the humans, many described them as being extremely annoying. The dark elves were nothing but trouble. Many believed that dark elves were also responsible for the nightmares. These dark elves were called mare.  A mare would sit on a sleeping person’s chest and whisper bad dreams to haunt the person.  A mare could also haunt animals, especially horses. But they could not be exposed to sunlight, if the sun’s rays reached them they would immediately turn into stones.

Dark Elves are sinister and often use their magic to evil ends.  Farmers often complain of them riding their horses all night until exhausted.  They are also blamed for poor milk cows, missing shiny objects sure as money, rotten food and smoke billowing back down chimneys.  Generally they are not called on for magic works.  If you do great caution is given and may you find protection in your path.

 

Ruler of the universe,
who closes my eyes in sleep,
my eyelids in slumber.

Let no disturbing thoughts upset me,
no evil dreams nor troubling fantasies.

Peace of sleep is all I ask.

Thank you and Good night.

 

Alfheim

Asgard

Dwarf

Helheim

Jotunheim

Midgard

Muspellheim

Niflheim

Svartalheim

Vanaheim

Yggdrasil

Midgard

Midgard

Midgard, Middle Earth, is the name for the world inhabited by and known to humans in early Germanic cosmology and specifically one of the Nine Worlds in Norse mythology.  Pictured as placed somewhere in the middle of the Yggdrasil tree, Midgard is surrounded by a world of ocean, that is impassable.  The ocean is inhabited by the great sea serpent Jormungand (Midserpent), who is so huge that he encircles the world entirely, grasping his own tail.  God Thor is its Guardian.

This abode of mankind, is made from the body of the first created being, the giant Ymir.  According to legend, the Gods killed Ymir, rolled his body into the central void of the universe, and began fashioning Midgard. Ymir's flesh became the land, his blood the oceans, his bones the mountains, his teeth the cliffs, his hair the trees, and his brains (blown over the earth) became the clouds.  His skull was held up by four dwarfs, Nordri, Sudri, Austri, and Vestri (the four points of the compass), and became the dome of the heavens. The sun, moon and stars were made of scattered sparks that were caught in the skull.  God Odin and his two brothers Vili and Ve, created the first humans from an ash log, the man and from an elm log, the woman.

Midgard is situated halfway between Niflheim on the north, the land of ice, and Muspelheim to the south, the region of fire.  Midgard is joined with Asgard, the abode of the Deities, by Bifrost, the rainbow bridge.

According to the Eddas, Midgard will be destroyed at Ragnarok, the battle at the end of the world.  Jormungand will arise from the ocean, poisoning the land and sea with his venom and causing the sea to rear up and lash against the land.  The final battle will take place, following which Midgard and almost all life on it will be destroyed, with the Earth sinking into the sea, only to rise again, fertile and green.

Mannaz is the conventional name of the m-rune m of the Elder Futhark.  It is derived from the reconstructed Common Germanic word for "man".  Mannaz represents all of humanity who dwell on the Earthly plane Midgard.  It is about those with whom with have intimate relationships, such as our immediate circle of family and friends, to the wider community. It also extends to our connection with nature and our instincts to be social creatures. Mannaz represents our connection with the Universe and nature, as well as the lifecycle of birth, death and rebirth.   

 

Be happy in life.
Bring happiness to your friends and relations.
Yet be aware that death is always waiting.

 

 

Alfheim

Asgard

Dwarf

Helheim

Jotunheim

Midgard

Muspellheim

Niflheim

Svartalheim

Vanaheim

Yggdrasil

Creation

Truth

Truth

truT

A free and responsible search for truth and meaning.

 

Principles and Guidance: Truth has a variety of meanings, such as the state of being in accord with fact or reality.  It can also mean having fidelity to an original or to a standard or ideal. Honesty and authenticity as a subset of courage means more than simply telling the truth. It involves integrity in all areas of one’s life and the ability to be true to oneself and one’s role in the World across circumstances.  In a common usage, it also means constancy or sincerity in action or character. 

 

Various theories and views of truth continue to be debated among scholars and philosophers. There are differing claims on such questions as what constitutes truth; what things are truth bearers capable of being true or false; how to define and identify truth; the roles that revealed and acquired knowledge play; and whether truth is subjective or objective, relative or absolute.  Religious views on truth vary widely between different religions.

 

The Four Noble Truths are the most fundamental Buddhist teachings and appear countless times throughout the most ancient Buddhist texts, the Pali Canon. They arose from Buddha's enlightenment, and are regarded in Buddhism as deep spiritual insight.

There is no unilateral agreement amongst the different denominations of Judaism concerning truth. In Orthodox Judaism, truth is the revealed word of God, as found in the Old Testament, and to a lesser extent, in the words of the sages of the Talmud. For Hasidic Jews, truth is also found in the pronouncements of their spiritual leader, who is believed to possess divine inspiration.  Kotzk, a Polish Hasidic sect, was known for their obsession with truth.

 

Kemetic ethics are based in the Egyptian concept of Ma'at, which is truth, justice, order, and that which is right.  In addition, Kemetics look to ancient Egyptian law texts such as the Declaration of Innocence, which contain a list of 42 sins a deceased person claims not to have done, and the Wisdom Texts, which are pieces of advice written by Ancient Egyptians.

 

The central person in Christianity, Jesus, claimed to be truth when he said, "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father but through me."  Truth is thus considered to be an attribute of God.

In the Norse Nine Noble Virtues, truth is the honesty and integrity in one's words as well as one's actions.  It is a word that holds much in its definition and includes a wide variety of moral and philosophical beliefs.  Our ancient ancestors valued truthful speech and honest deeds.  A lying oath breaker would face severe consequences.  In a society where one might have to prove one's word by risking their life, there was no room for idle lies.  Today we should respect other people's truths while seeking our own truth. 

 

Probably the most important thing to know about practicing truth is that not everyone agrees about what is true.  Sometimes things that seem to contradict each other can both be true.  There is a story about a group of blind men who "looked" at an elephant and then argued about whether an elephant was like a snake, a wall, a tree, or a vine.  Each one had an idea that was true based on what they touched (the elephant’s trunk, body, leg, and tail), but none of them had the whole picture.  If you really believe something is true, you don't have to make other people agree with you.  You are only responsible for yourself.  Maybe the people you disagree with know something you don't.  Maybe they aren't ready to see what you do.  Good friends can "agree to disagree" on lots of things without having to quit being friends.

 

Vor is one of the handmaidens of Frigg, with Var and Eir.  Var and Vor are invoked to witness oaths and to punish oath breakers.  Vor, Goddess of truth, is wise and inquiring, and nothing can be concealed from her.

 

Balder was a God of truth, love and light.  Balder was also knowledgeable in healing herbs and runes, which made him a favorite among the people of Midgard.  Balder lived in a palace named Breidablik with his wife Nanna, a vegetation Goddess of joy and romance.  It was believed that no lie could pass through the walls of Breidablik, home of the God of truth, so when Balder started having frightening nightmares about his own demise, the other Aesir Gods took them seriously.

Syn ("truth") is a Guardian Goddess of doorways and of love.  An attendant of Frigg, Syn guarded the door of Frigg's palace, refusing to open it to those who were not allowed to come in.  When she had once shut the door upon a would-be intruder no appeal would prevail to change her decision.  She therefore presided over all tribunals and trials, and whenever a thing was to be vetoed the usual formula was to declare that Syn was against it.

 

Live according to what you believe in your heart to be right and you will have no reason to lie about your actions.

 

There should be truth in thought,
truth in speech and truth in action.
~Gandhi

 

 

A Year in Review!

Acceptance

Dignity

Justice

Love

Rede

Strength

Temperance

Truth

Volunteer

 

Wisdom