Date

Sigrblót is celebrated at the start of the month of Harpa (Old Norse calendar), which marks the beginning of Summer in Norse culture (Sumarnætr). It typically aligns with the first full moon after the Spring equinox.

Description

Sigrblót represents victory in battle, and the beginning of campaigns and the raiding season on this first day of summer in …

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The farmstead gnome has played a prominent role in Swedish folklore as one of the most important protective spirits. His influence was so significant that people not only offered him food but also prepared a straw bed for him. A satisfied gnome would bring prosperity, known as “tomtebolycka”, to the household, while a displeased one could bring misfortu…

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Christmas in Iceland – what could be more idyllic than the darkness, the snow, and the northern lights? But even though Icelandic Christmas resembles the rest of the Nordic countries, it differs greatly in many ways. When darkness descends deeper over the valleys, the trolls in the mountains come to life. Around Christmas, they creep down to the settlem…

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Christmas was already a very important tradition in the Nordic countries during pre-Christian times, featuring festivities, food, drink, and the honoring of the gods. Although Christmas celebrations have changed greatly over the millennia, our modern commemoration of it still bears clear traces of our ancestral customs and traditions.

It is documented th…

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Lugh, Celtic war god.

Tradition never described men as equal. Norse traditions describe several castes of men. In plain english:

Jarlar - Warriors.

Karlar - Free Men.

Þrællar - NPC’s.

Each of these castes are determined not by wealth or social status, but by a man’s Soul.

Imagine it as a pyramid:

Warriors are the best few of mankind. Defined by martial prowess…

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The beginning of Prometheus shows us one of the engineers on a beautiful barren planet. The atmosphere is like a cool lens of ice blue. There are collections of glaciers resting among mountain peaks. Mists float upward from thermal vents and warm pools. Finally we see the beginning of plant life growing around cool lakes.

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Animals in Norse culture have a spirit and soul, the same as humans do. The concept that only humans have a soul is indeed entirely Abrahamic and is abhorrent in Norse culture.

As a result, when it comes to the afterlife, animals such as dogs and cats have a similar standing as humans, and more specifically their owner. The pets (or working dogs) will therefore eventually re-unite with their dad wherever he ends up when it’s his time to pass (for more information as to where you will likely go in the afterlife, see “Valhöll”).

But until then, pets would normally find themselves in the Lundar area (peaceful wilderness) where it is always summer, where there’s a permanent all-you-can-eat buffet (which pets will inherently benefit from), and where they can chase all sorts of things!

Excerpt describing Blendingar (Old Norse term, Hybrids in English) from Úlfheimr: The Tenth World.

Before the beginning of time, where Múspellsheimr and Niflheimr meet in Ginungagap, fire melted primeval ice, and as it began to drip, started to take the shape of a many things, including that of a giant cow, Auðumbla. On the evening of the first day, some hair started to appear from the blocks of ice Auðumbla was licking for nourishment. On the second day, a white head with blue eyes and a thick golden beard came out of the ice. On the third day, a big, powerful, and fair-skinned jǫtunn emerged. His name was Búri. He was strong, exceptionally attractive, and he smelled very good. He had a son, Borr, who fathered many offsprings with his woman Bestla, including Óðinn, and later another descendant, Áskunnr, with a mortal from Miðgarðr (home of menn), one of the newly created Níu Heimar (nine worlds).

Áskunnr, half jǫtunn and half man, and also half brother of Óðinn, was the first Blendingr, or hybrid. He went on to conceive hundreds of liðsmenn (warriors) in his image, renowned for their handsomeness, physical strength, sexual prowess, purity of soul, wisdom, and most importantly of course, war fighting prowesses. All driven by an extreme and raw expression of Óðr, the frenzy, passion, and spiritual ecstatic state associated with both sex and battle.

To this day, Blendingar remain exceptional beings, akin to the gods, with very unique and distinct body and mind characteristics. They are taller than any man, always well over seven fœtr (feet), and in some instances nearly one and a half faðmar (nine feet). They are identified by extraordinarily defined lean muscles, hardly ever seen in mere mortals. Despite their size, and weight well over thirty fjórðungar (about three hundred pounds), Blendingar are particularly agile. They tend to move like Álfar (Elfs) and are capable of leaping over great lengths and heights. Their strength is mythical, and they are known to have been able to unroot giant trees in Nýnorðrlönd (a region later known as British Columbia) with their bare hands, to crush femurs with their thumbs, or in the case of hybrids of Danish descent, to overturn large things at least twenty times their own weight.

Blendingar also surpass all in raw and natural handsomeness, including Baldur, áss of beauty. Their skin is whiter than that of the fairest of all Æsir, Heimdallr, and blends completely in the snowy and icy landscapes of the north, and of Jǫtunheimr (home of the Jǫtnar or Giants) too. Their eyes are bluer than the summer skies, the alpine lakes of the homeland, the deep oceans of the north and the south, and the ice fields of Helluland put together. Their blonde or red hair parallels the pure gold of Draupnir, Óðinn’s gold ring manufactured by the Dvergar or elves, or the fires of Múspellsheimr (realm of eldr or fire). Hybrids are also known for their spectacular long, straight, and soft beards. The chest of Blendingar is as bare as the landscape of Svalbard, with no more than a handful of individual hairs. Hybrids, however, have a peculiar amount of hair on certain parts of their body, including the top of their feet, their groin as well as their underarms, with the latter both presenting unusual density and thickness. Hybrids, and this is odd, smell strikingly good as well. The musky scent of their skin and sweat is unusually pleasing and intoxicating for any man, with a mere whiff believed to prompt unusually wild and uncontrollable expressions of Óðr among true vígmenn (warriors). Many believe that the Ásynjur have cast a spell on mere mortals to prevent them from looking away when faced in fascination with a hybrid. The reality, however, is that Blendingar simply are the nicest thing any human could possibly ever lay his eye on, or breath for that matter.

Furthermore, Hybrids can see with a much wider angle of view, and in slow motion, providing them unequaled reactivity to anticipate their enemies’ every move, and greatly contributing to their combat superiority. It isn’t uncommon for Blendingar to neutralize or kill several men at the same time, sometimes with just one strike. They are also famed for being able to see as far and as clearly as an eagle eye can see, allowing them to detect threats even in the darkest of forests. Hybrids can hear a snowflake fall on moss, or the breathing of any and all things. Their sense of smell is more developed than that of a regular Úlfheðinn and they can detect and respond to scent, including male fear and sexual pheromones, from many rastir (miles) away. Moreover, hybrids have an innate capacity to naturally perceive threats and other dangers, and a protective drive that is so strong that they have been known to engage in unspeakable and unimaginable violence in order to protect or avenge their own. Blendingar also display acute resistance to extreme cold, high levels of discomfort, privation and pain, making them even immune to the most gruesome tortures.

As masters of Óðr, Blendingar also have legendary sexual needs (as well as legendary göndlar). They have been reported throughout history as having at times raped hundreds of enemies to death in a single day during the rut season. Some hybrids are even known to have mated with up to thirty four Leðrhalsar over the course of only a few hours.

Blendingar are the archetypes of transcendent masculinity and they are the embodiment of ultimate víglið (warriors). They are so close to gods that they were often mistaken as such throughout the history of the worlds.

Your social status, your deeds and achievements during your lifetime, as well as how you died, will determine where you end up after death. Ultimately, Skuld (one of the 3 Nornir) decides of your afterlife after she reads the tapestry of your life and all your deeds woven by Verðandi (her sister).

As a Norðmaðr, you write your own destiny. The length of your life is always decided by Urðr (the eldest of the 3 Nornir), at the time you are born. How you spend the time allocated to you on Miðgarðr (earth), however, and thus what deeds Verðandi will weave in the tapestry of your life, are entirely up to you. Ultimately, Skuld decides of your afterlife based on your actual accomplishments, and in the case of the various halls for soldiers, your combat record, as well as your blood line in some cases. But whether you are or will ever be a warrior is on you. And where you end up in the afterlife, is typically based on your achievements, under your direct control (with some exceptions).

You must therefore always strive to be the best at what you do to get a shot at ending up with your favorite ancestor, otherwise, you’ll just end up in Hel (not necessarily a bad place if on the good side of it, Lundar).

YOU ARE ONE OF THE BEST HERMENN: A WARRIOR

You will join one of three halls:

Týr’s hall, Valaskjálf, in Valhöll
Óðinn’s hall, Glaðsheimr, in Valhöll
Freyja’s hall, Sessrúmnir, in Fólkvangr

A warrior is a man who has demonstrated exceptional feats in combat.

Yes, a man, because there never were female warriors. Simple biology really, as well as historical facts. And yes, actual battle engagement is also required to even be considered a warrior. But mere combat is not enough to be deemed a warrior. An element of exception is indeed always involved.

As Ἡράκλειτος (535-475 BCE) put it:

Out of every one hundred men,
ten shouldn’t even be there,
eighty are just targets,
nine are the real fighters,
and we are lucky to have them,
for they make the battle.
Ah, but the one, one is a warrior,
and he will bring the others back.

In other words, being a warrior requires mastery of the art of war, as well as mastery of oneself, and pretty epic achievements.

First, under the Skjǫldrinn covenant of 748, some of the absolute best warriors, whether or not they die in battle, including Úlfhéðnar and Berserkir under their command, join Týr at his hall, Valaskjálf (in Valhöll as well). Those don’t go to Glaðsheimr with Óðinn. Ever. No matter what. This is over some unresolved issues between Blendingar (hybrids, half man half jötunn) and Óðinn (who formed the world by killing one of their ancestors through deceit and dismembering him, and later plotted to drown all of their ancestors in blood), and the concern the hybrids would side with Jötnar during Ragnarøkr, not to mention seek some conflict with Óðinn. Backed up by all remaining Úlfhéðnar of course, and their Berserkir, due to the oath associated with membership in Skjǫldrinn, the ancestral military order. Í vegi jarðar. That is the way of things.

For all remaining absolute best warriors who die in battle, half go to Glaðsheimr in Valhöll with Óðinn. The other half goes to Sessrúmnir in Fólkvangr with Freyja.

YOU ARE A HERMAÐR: A SOLDIER

Soldiers (including sailors and Marines) who have still experienced combat but have not reached the level of a warrior, go to Bilskirnir, Þórr’s hall in Þrúðvangar.

In practical terms, this means that the overwhelming majority of military men will never reach one of the three warriors’ halls (Valaskjálf and Glaðsheimr in Valhöll, or Sessrúmnir in Fólkvangr). Most operators and fine United States Marines who either die in combat and/or are part of Skjǫldrinn, though, will party with Týr at Valaskjálf. All other good servicemen will raise Hel (well, not literally), with Þórr in Þrúðvangar.

Ultimately, Valhöll is for those true warriors, the absolute best of the best, who actually die in combat (and/or are part of Skjǫldrinn). It is a great incentive for any man to strive to achieve greatness in combat.

YOU ARE ONE OF THE BEST KARLS OR ÞRÆLAR

The best Karls (freemen, farmers, etc…), as well as the best þrælar (workers/slaves) still end up in Ásgarðr. They however join Bilskirnir, Þórr’s hall in Þrúðvangar.

YOU ARE ONE OF THE BEST IN YOUR FIELD

You will still go to Ásgarðr, but your final destination will be based on your profession. Half of the best veiðmenn (hunters) goes to Ýdalir with Ullr, and the other half goes to Þrymheimr (Skaði’s hall). The best merchants and fishermen go to Nóatún (Njörðr’s residence). If you drown, though, Ægir will claim you! The best lawmen go to Glitnir with Forseti. Læknar (doctors and healers) join Eir at her hall, Skimmer. People involved in the art of divination go to Sökkvabekkr, Sága’s hall. Essentially, if you are the best in your profession, you end up with the god associated with your field.

YOU ARE A GOOD MAN, BUT NOT ONE OF THE BEST IN YOUR FIELD

Basically, you lived an average honest life. You will end up in Hel, which is ruled by the goddess Hel. Do not panic, though, as you will go to the Lundar area (peaceful wilderness) where it is always summer, and where there’s a permanent all-you-can-eat buffet! You will also only see Hel’s beautiful half. All in all, a marked improvement from your average life on earth.

YOU ARE A BAD MAN

Criminals, níðingar, traitors, oath breakers, and liars (yes, not keeping your word is a big no-no for us Víkingar) will end up in Hel, but in the not-so-nice Niflhel area. The place is a constantly frozen swamp inhabited by demonic spirits whose only goal is to constantly chase you. A black river separates this desolate place from Narstrand, a beach of náir (corpses). There you will find a building entirely made of interwoven snakes that constantly spit their venom in the center of the hall, creating an entire pool and river of venom. The worst of the worst, namely the oath breakers and liars (told ya, we Víkingar don’t take lying lightly) bath in that river of venom for eternity. Of course, all the bad guys only see the ugly, rotten half of Hel. Never her beautiful side.

Loki did indeed turn himself into a mare, ended up getting impregnated by Svaðilfari, and gave birth to Sleipnir, Óðinn’s 8-legged horse. Loki’s actions, however, were more about shape shifting than a change of gender. His conduct was a diversion in the context of survival, in order to keep an oath, and to avoid a horrible death. Loki was also greatly stigmatized for this sorry episode.

Loki certainly was not transgender. Changing species is referred to as hamrammr (shape shifter) in Norse myth. As a matter of facts, even Úlfhéðnar are known as well to turn into a different species, in their case, wolves. Loki simply had no choice but to turn himself into a mare, as he had to distract Svaðilfari in order to be saved from a horrible death, and to honor an oath, sacred in Norse culture (even for Loki).

The Æsir had indeed agreed for a man to build a wall in Valhöll to keep invaders out, in exchange for Freyja, the sun, and the moon. The Æsir had however imposed many conditions to ensure the builder’s failure. Specifically, that the work had to be completed in only one season, and without the help of any other man. Loki, however, managed to convince the Æsir, in his duplicity, that the man should be allowed to use his horse, Svaðilfari. The stallion, of course, managed to carry giant boulders for the wall, and to perform twice as much work as the man, to the extent that the wall was near completion 3 days before the deadline of the end of Summer. The Æsir convened to discuss the crisis, and unanimously concluded that Loki was to blame. They then sentenced him to a horrible death if he wasn’t to find a scheme to ensure the builder hadn’t completed the wall by the deadline. Loki made the oath that he would fine a solution, no matter the cost to himself. He then proceeded to turning himself into a mare to distract Svaðilfari and to lure the stallion into the woods. The two horses ran around all night, chased by the builder, who then misses as a result completion of the wall.

Even though Loki fulfilled his oath and prevented the builder from finishing the wall, he was greatly stigmatized for his actions nonetheless, as even within different species, sexuality and gender in Norse culture was particularly binary (see Viking Sexuality).

The account of events in Gylfaginning (Snorra Edda) symbolizes personal sacrifice and the absolute sanctity of oaths in Norse culture, while emphasizing the moral rot and the duplicity of Loki. It is not an endorsement, let alone a celebration, of transgenderism, which would have been absolutely abhorrent in Norse culture.

Wolves are sacred in Norse culture, and this is quite obvious to anyone with any actual basic knowledge of our history, culture, and traditions.

ÚLFHÉÐNAR

The most obvious link between Norse culture and the sacred wolf involves Úlfhéðnar. Úlfhéðnar are Óðinn's special warriors, and elite Viking forces. Úlfhéðnar are known to wear a wolf pelt, and to be inhabited by the spirit of wolves, to the extent Úlfhéðnar are also seen as hamrammir (shape shifters).

NAMES

For those not that familiar with Norse culture and customs, a look at naming traditions may be the best peak at the importance of wolves in Norse culture. There are indeed at least 245 male names with a reference to wolves in Old Norse and/or modern Icelandic:

Aldulfur, Arnulfr, Ásólfur, Ásólfr, Ásulfr, Ásúlfr, Aðulfr, Auðólfr, Auðulfr, Auðúlfr, Ærnulfr, Baúlfr, Baulfr, Bergulfr, Biólfr, Biörnólfur, Biǫrnólfr, Björgólfur, Björgúlfur, Bjǫrgulfr, Björnólfur, Bjúlfr, Bjǫrgulfr, Bjǫrnólfr, Bjǫrnulfr, Borgúlfur, Borgulfr, Bótólfur, Bótólfr, Bótulfr, Brandulfr, Brunulfr, Brynjólfur, Bryniólfr, Bryniulfr, Brynjúlfur, Brynjulfr, Brǫndólfr, Brǫndulfr, Býulfr, Bǫulfr, Eyiólfr, Eyjolfr, Eyjólfr, Farulfr, Fastulfr, Fastúlfr, Fenrisúlfr, Finnólfr, Finnulfr, Friðulfr, Fǫstólfr, Gangulfr, Gautulfr, Gautúlfr, Geirólfur, Geirólfr, Geirulfur, Geirúlfr, Getulfr, Grárulfr, Grárúlfr, Grímólfur, Grímólfr, Grímulfr, Grímúlfur, Guðolfr, Guðulfr, Guðúlfr, Gullulfr, Gullúlfr, Gunnólfur, Gunnólfr, Gunnulfr, Gunnúlfr, GæiRulfr, Hariwolfar, Hariwulfr, Haþuwulfr, Hæriulfr, Hególfr, Heriólfr, Herjolfr, Herjólfr, Herjólfur, Herjúlfr, Heruwulfr, Hiálmólfr, Hildolfr, Hildólfr, Hildulfr, Hiǫrulfr, Hjalmolfr, Hjǫrolfr, Hleðiólfr, Hlífolfr, Hlífólfr, Hreiðulfr, Hreiðúlfr, Hróðólfur, Hróðólfr, Hróðolfr, Hróðulfr, Hrolfr, Hrólfr, Hrólfur, Hræiðulfr, Hundólfr, Húnulfr, Hægulfr, Hælgulfr, Hæriulfr, Hærulfr, Hǫlfr, Hǫllolfr, Hvítrulfr, Hvítrúlfr, Ingólfur, Iarpulfr, Ingolfr, Ingólfr, Ingulfr, Iórulfr, Ísólfur, Ísólfr, Ísolfr, Jórulfr, Julfr, Ká-Ulfr, Kveld-Ulfr, Kveldúlfr, Kvígulfr, Leiðólfur, Leiðólfr, Leiðulfr, Liðulfr, Liótólfr, Liútulfr, Ljóðolfr, Ljótolfr, Ljúfr, Náttúlfur, Nóttolfr, Ormulfr, Öndólfur, Örnólfur, Ǫrnólfr, Ǫrnulfr, Øyulfr, Ráðulfr, Ráðúlfr, Randulfr, Raskulfr, Rauðúlfr, Reiðulfr, Ríkolfr, Ríkólfr, Ríkulfr, Runólfur, Rólfr, Rúnolfr, Rúnólfr, Rúnulfr, Rúnulfur, Rǫndolfr, Sandulfr, Skjöldólfr, Skjǫldolfr, Skjöldúlfr, Skjǫldulfr, Snjólfur, Snæúlfr, Sólúlfur, Steinólfur, Steinolfr, Steinólfr, Steinulfr, Stæinulfr, Stórólfur, Stórolfr, Stórólfr, Sunnólfr, Sunnulfr, Sǽulfr, Sǫkkolfr, Sǫkkólfr, Sǫkkuulfr, Sǫndulfr, Sǫndúlfr, Sǫxólfr, Sǫxulfr, Tind-Ulfr, Títolfr, Tít-Ulfr, Trygg-Ulfr, Tryggulfr, Þjóðólfur, Þióðólfr, Þiúðulfr, Þióstólfr, Þiústulfr, Þjóðolfr, Þjóðólfr, Þjóstolfr, Þjóstólfr, Þjóstólfur, Þolfr, Þólfr, Þóralfr, Þórálfr, Þórolfr, Þorólfr, Þórólfr, Þórólfur, Þórulfr, Þróttolfr, Þrottólfr, Þróttólfr, Uddulfr, Úlfar, Úlfarr, Ulfarr, Ulfgarðr, Úlfgeirr, Ulfgestr, Ulfgæirr, Ulfheðinn, Úlfheðinn, Ulfhiðinn, Ulfhvatr, Úlfhvatr, Ulfied, Úlfkell, Ulfkæll, Ulfkætill, Úlfliótr, Ulfliútr, Ulfr, Úlfr, Úlfrekr, Ulfríkr, Ulfvaldr, Ulfviðr, Úlfviðr, Unnulfr, Unnúlfr, Viðolfr, Vigulfr, Vigúlfr, Virðsk-Ulfr, and Viúlfr.

This is more names with a wolf element or origin in Norse culture than any other culture on earth. The prevalence of the wolf in Norse name is an excellent indication of the sacred status of wolves. Evidently, no one would name their child and heir after an animal they dislike, want to hunt, or do not hold in high regards.

LORE AND MYTHOLOGY

The sacred aspect of wolves in Norse culture is also very well demonstrated with the tale of Fenrir.

Fenrir is a monstrous wolf also known as Fenrisúlfr (marsh dweller wolf), Hróðvitnir (fame wolf), Vánagandr (River Ván monster), Garmr, and Mánagarmr (moon garmr). Fenrir is the son of Loki and the giantess Angrboða. He is also the brother of the serpent Jǫrmungandr and Hel. Fenrir has two sons, the wolves Sköll and Hati Hróðvitnisson. By all accounts, Fenrir is quite a bad wolf.

As a matter of fact, based on their knowledge of prophecies, the Æsir (known in popular culture as the "Norse gods") knew that Fenrir, and his constant growth, would bring great troubles to Níu Heimar (the Nine Home Worlds).

But rather than kill the wolf, inherently sacred, the Æsir decided that Fenrir needed to be bounded. However, Fenrir never was very cooperative and only agreed to have the rope placed around his neck if one of the Æsir agreed in return to put his hand in his mouth. Týr was brave and honorable enough to volunteer. When Fenrir realized he could not break free, he bit Týr’s hand off.

During Ragnarøkr, Fenrir breaks his chains and goes on a rampage throughout Níu Heimar, with his lower jaw on the ground, and his upper jaw in the sky, devouring everything and everyone in his path. Fenrir even kills Óðinn. He is then finally killed by Víðarr when there is really absolutely no option left, and after all the worlds have been destroyed.

Even though Fenrir was a monstrous wolf that would be the demise of Týr and the Nine Home Worlds, the Æsir nonetheless originally decided to restrain the animal rather than kill him.

Wolves cannot get more sacred than this!

WOLVES TODAY

Wolves remain sacred to this day in Norse culture and to any Nordmadr (Norseman). While hunting our own food is part of our culture and being a man, we just never hunt wolves. Wolves are our culture. Our spirit. They are us, particularly as Úlfhéðnar.

Part of embracing Norse culture is knowing and understanding wolves, as well as being able to communicate with wolves so conflicts are avoided.