Again so strange , everytime I think of something you show up , like I've been guided to you again , I love my faith , thank you for helping me understand
Here's the thing. The Viking Age was only one (very short) time period in the history of the Norse people. All the other time periods both before and after are just as "authentically" Norse. So yes, the Vegvisir is an authentic Norse symbol which can help you connect with your heritage/culture/religion. It's just not from the time period of the Vikings. That doesn't make it any less of a "real" Norse symbol.
Exactly! I've had so many people tell me that it's not a "Norse" symbol because it didn't come from the Viking age. But in my eyes that's just ignorant and basically saying that modern Icelandic and Scandinavian people aren't at all Norse
My best friend bought me a neckless with the symbol. Even though I'm Christian he wanted me to have it because his understanding (new Asatru kinsmen) is that it leads you home, true north, true self, more of a compose of self, ECT. He wanted me to always have that reminder of "home". I never take it off accept to shower.
It's Christian. Icelandic Christian magick based on Judaic magick (Solomon's sigils). It is Icelandic, but it's not Norse, Viking or Heathen. Same for runes. They were just letters in an alphabet, not all these meanings we've attributec to them. You can wear it if your brand of Christianity doesn't forbid it.
What I like is that, unlike other pagan TH-cam personalities, you're not so full of yourself that you DICTATE what is and isn't paganism. You always are quite clear that these videos are YOUR beliefs and a chronicle of YOUR journey on the pagan path. I can't imagine the odious "Ocean Keltoi" ever admitting ignorance or deigning to come down from the pedestal from which he preaches to the unwashed masses. In short, your modesty is highly appreciated.
to me, the Vegvisir always struck me as a means of never getting lost, both in the real world, Midgard, and in the spirit world after this body passes on. i want it tattooed on my hand, so that whenever im driving, working, drawing, etc. i'll never lose my way. and, of course, as you said, it has become a means for other pagans to find one another, so in a sense, its still being used as a compass, only more spiritually now than physically. Skal, brother.
I have a pendant of the vegvisir that I've been keeping on my neck for the last 3 years or so and I theorized that it is a symbolic way of saying I will always find a way through hardships in my life and I haven't been wrong yet.
Yes please continue these videos ! Its very interesting to have your point of view ! I love how open you became in your faith, like "the way we use it today is not the right signification, but if it becomes the symbol of something new, why not use it ?" I love it 🥰
Thank you for sharing. I have always been fascinated with these symbols from the old time. Vegvísir has always been close to me since I went exploring Europe from Iceland for the first time. Keep up the good work.
Very helpful indeed! I too plan on getting this as a tattoo one day. It's worth mentioning though that since I've started this path, I bought myself a Mjolnir pendant and now I've been noticing a lot more people with similar symbols around in my daily life. I think just embracing these symbols and having the courage to wear them in the midst of this Abrahamic sea we call the West alone will attract more like-minded people to you. :)
I recently discovered our family’s history - Swedish Varangian Vikings and have been looking into new tattoos to celebrate my heritage. Appreciate the channel.
And this one statement is one of the many things that I love about norse paganism and why I'm interested in it. "This isn't proven thing its just a theory. And I think its ok theorize in this faith." It doesn't say "so it is said and so shall it be....take it or leave it" like so many others.
thanks for making this video!! Lately I've felt very drawn to this symbol, I want a tattoo of it myself. Honestly the fact that this symbol leads so many of us to find each other, in my eyes, is very magical. in modern times it can be incredibly difficult to meet like minded people, this makes it so much easier, and through meeting others we can form so many great relationships and learn so much more about the faith. can't get much more magical than that!
@@warninja1989 hey so just letting you know...when I commented on this I had no idea, but nice people soon warned me: this guy in this video is a folkist. he supports the AFA despite saying he doesn't, he openly tweeted at the AFA's founder, he's really racist and has also made many LGBTQ+ people feel uncomfortable (and held gatherings at the height of covid and tells people it's "their own choice and they have the freedom to do so" when asked about whether people are vaccinated) this dude is awful, if you're subbed, I'd unsub immediately.
Thank you for your videos. You have helped me understand the Norse Pagan religion much more. I just subscribed, and I look forward to seeing more videos in the future!
It was also my first tattoo and I also got it in the same spot. I got it because I was having a lot of difficult times unfold in my life within a VERY VERY short time span and I needed some guidance. I'm not sure how deeply I believe in any of the magics side of things but in terms of faith and symbols, it's helped me GREATLY. In terms of what I learned in my psychology classes, it's a reminder, something I'll see and will set my path straight to face the challenges ahead of me. I mainly got it for it being a symbol of guidance. My life was a storm and the way finder has helped guide me through it.
Odin was a Viking leader in Norway. Veiviser.. You can translate it to path finder. Vegviser.. In regular Norwegian today it is spelled Veiviser. And Iceland was part of Norway and today Iclanders has 96 % Norwegian blood or genes. You can still find relatives of Viking kings in Norway ;)
weird story no one needs to believe BUT I digress. When I was 13-19 I was heavily suicidal and was also very into witchcraft, dealing with a catholic upbringing/family who thought it was demons and not mental illness. I had something appear and tell me they were a protector. I was all 'yea ok whatever' but I started doing channeled drawings and stuff and at some point I started drawing on my skin. I wound up drawing the vegvisir and I hadn't seen runes or anything like that outside of Merlin. but id drawn it right on my left wrist with a pentagram in the center circle. Still not sure why how or who but I'm Norse pagan now, they clearly rode for me when no one else would.
Again a very good video. It is a difference in talking about a symbol from a history view and what actually was and so one, and from a view of faith and what it means to you in that regard. No, this is not viking to 99%, as you say, but that doesn't mean it's not a cool symbol as fudge, both historically and the new meaning it has gotten now. The meaning of symbols change through time and when it comes to "magic" I think you can use what ever symbols as you like as focus point, because the important thing is that it is important for you. I only object when people say that this is "in fact a viking symbol". So again, thank you for help spreading this. Very very godo video on the topic! :) //Agnes the Swedish ethnologist that is also actually interested in pagan faith.
Yes, the way finder didn’t see the Viking age, but the north didn’t take to Christianity as fully as most. Some of their spells from the time call on the old gods, the Christian god, Jesus and Lucifer as well. Stave Magic, just like all other forms of Magic are about intent. If you draw it with the intent of not losing your way, you’re putting your will into the symbol and it may indeed work. Just because it doesn’t come from the Viking age doesn’t make it invalid to our faith and magical workings. On that note, as far as magical workings, Icelandic Magic by Stephen Flowers is a good resource too, despite Flowers’s sketchy beliefs and ideas.
The reality is that Christianity was not a full in or less adapted by any nation, Christianity has adopted and merged with every pagan culture it comes with, celtic, italic,iberic,norse etc
@@kyomademon453 this is why I say europe was never truly christian. All the good things about christianity were stolen from paganism and all the bad stuff (real christianity) europe resisited against. Christianity still to this day always adapts to the current popular things to stay relevant.
Our people existed before and to this day - just as norse in our blood, just not associated with the most famous or infamous age of our ancestors... but the symbol is still that our ancestors!
It's such a cool looking symbol! I made a rune cloth with the vegvisir on it. Honestly it has made my rune readings way more accurate, especially when using the perspective of the nine worlds ✨ Maybe one day I will get it as a tattoo as well..
Love your videos Jacob! Could you do a video about Baldr? I have very limited knowledge of the Norse gods, but of the ones I do know a little about, I pretty much look up to him the most. I’d like to get an actual Norse pagan’s perspective!
I use it as a way to recognise someone that at one point probably didn't know enough about the viking age.. or Norse Paganism to make the decision at the time to go for the tattoo
@jacob thank you for an interesting video. the wikipedia article has been upgraded slightly, some of the root words for vegvisir can be found on wikipedia, some do not exist on wikipedia but are explained on wiktionary. apart from the huld manuscript the vegvisir also appears in two other grimoires or galdrakver, one by olgeir geirsson which contains a sentence written partly in latin partly in runes meaning "Carry this sign with you and you will not get lost in storms or die of cold bad weather, and will easily find his way from the unknown." the other was written during the nineteenth century and contains a line meaning "To avoid getting lost: keep this sign under your left arm, its name is vegvisir and it will serve you if you believe in it ". Strangely enough the vegvisir may have actually come from England where star shaped symbols can be traced to the fifteenth century, and then travelled to Iceland. see Project Forlog: Origins of the vegvisir symbol, sagy.vikingove.cz/origins-of-the-vegvisir-symbol/
What is the helm of awe, as I understood it is a symbol of power that intakes power/energy and then utilizes it to protect it's wearer from enemies or makes their enemies know not to f*ck with them so to speak. But like what is it really? Can you tell me more about it please? I've been really curious of getting it as a tattoo!
I was told a long time ago that it was a symbol of the keys to the other realms and that it guides believers to one another so if they get lost in another realm not of their own they can find their way back to Midgard.. 🤷♂️
A little pronunciation guide: every old norse word has emphasis on the first syllable, no exceptions. VEGvísir. It doesn´t really matter how you pronounce it in while speaking modern english I guess, but I prefer to at least follow this one rule. And it´s an easy one!
Veldismagn is for healing & protecting one's health. It can't magically remove an illness, only support a person's mind & spirit as their body is treated for an illness. It is very important that it is not relied upon by itself. It can give a feeling of relief while getting actual medical treatment. It is said to help ward off illnesses & that the positive attitude it can help with can help make the immune system stronger, as stress weakens the immune system. It's basically a cognitive tool, an aid, not a complete solution by itself. It predates much of medical knowledge, it aided herbalism bc herbalists & holistic medicine treat mind body and spirit as a whole whereas a doctor may focus on physical & leave us to find the rest ourselves so it's a support in that way. Magic or intentions or prayer or anything else spiritual in nature require us to take action. Norse gods don't do things for us while we sit & wait, they support us in our efforts, actions, & thoughts. Veldismagn supports thoughts, it doesn't do the actual practical actions, it keeps our mind right & our thoughts on living healthy when we're not sick, & on taking wise actions & resting as we should, too, if & when we are. My grandma taught me this, her grandma taught her, & I've since checked it with research. Sometimes attitude, hope, belief we can heal is half the battle - but it's only half!
I wanna say, I'm an atheist but I'm addicted to your videos and extremely interested in norse culture and mitology. So I wanted to thank you for the informations you share because it's so hard to find anything Viking related where I live and also wanted to ask: What's the name of the music on your intro? I can't find it o-o
The reason I haven't is because there really isn't that much to talk about sadly. Perhaps if I can dig up something interesting! But most answers can be found with a quick google search.
Oh, i can probably tell you what this is, like whats it practically used for^~^ Like it has multiple patterns overlapping/overlaying it. I have seen versions of this in other forms, and i have a practical method everyone can do. Like i am not a pagan, i just recognise it, i have used that
The thing is, The Vegvisir, and Galdrstafir in general also had nothing to do with Norse Paganism: they were influenced by Christian and Jewish Mysticism.
It would be nice to mention that it's a Christian symbol. In texts where it's found and its similar predecessor Helm of Awe, it is specifically said that in order this symbols magic to work you must be a faithful believer of Christ and virgin Mari. Symbols of course change hands over time and their meanings change with the protsess. These symbols do originate from norther Europe but they are specifically Christian symbols meant to chase away evil and guide the user. The twist is that the "evil" at the time was mostly considered to be older pagan traditions. It is of course ironical that in order to protect yourself from pagan witchcraft (pre Christian religions) you get to use christianised folk magic. This is just how cultures blend. At some point in 18 century there was a spike of fear of getting cursed by witchcraft so there was a corresponding spike of several grimoire from continental Europe with christian symbolism and agenda to combat this perceived threat. Influents of these grimoire made it to the Iceland as well.
Hello I am a Backpacker. I learned that if you take your watch and face the 12 towards the sun, knowing that the sun comes from the East to the West it gives you an Idea of your direction. Say it is 4 O'Clock you make an imaginary line halfway between the 12 and the 4. Then make an imaginary line exactly crossing the center of that line. You now have 4 points of a compast. Sun comes from the East in morning, to South, to West, to North. Guess the time of the day and how far you think the sun has traveled. You will get close direction you are looking at. I learned this from Backpacker magazine and it works. SO IF YOU HAVE ONE OF THOSE TATOOED ON YOUR ARM AND YOU ALWAYS POINT ONE SIDE TOWARDS THE SIN AND THEN MAKE THE IMAGINARY LINES DRAWN AS I TOLD YOU IT WILL IN FACT TELL YOU WHAT DIRECTION YOU ARE HEADED IN! i HAVE DOMNE THIS DOZENS OF TIMES...... That fake 1800's Compas actually works great!
I believe that your assessment of it representing the nine worlds perhaps the web of runic energy that ties the nine worlds together woven by the Norms a lot of that Rings true to me the important thing about shaman and spiritual work is that you are consistent with what symbols mean to you... it is from their beliefs that shaman imbue power into these symbols... thoughts become things
Got two random questions for you. What does you phrase at the end of your video that you say mean? Skal I think it is? And is "Odin" the correct spelling of his name?
Odin is also called Woden. Skål or skal means bowl or cup, from a root word for shell or husk. It is used as cheers in mainstream Scandinavia, or as a sort of informal salute or acknowledgement of brotherhood among Norse pagans. There's a myth it came from skull but that's false & Vikings did not drink from skulls. They did have drinking horns, and drinking bowls, a cup without a handle. The word skull actually comes from skål rather than the other way around according to the word origin/etymology. It's bc the top of a skull is rounded, bowl shaped, & the older word for that was pate, & older Germanic root language terms that predate pate which I can't remember. But it's like acknowledging something shared between people, a warm salutation although that's an out of date word in English. It has variations in spelling. Skol Skål in Norwegian, Danish, & Swedish; Skál in Icelandic & Faroese, sometimes Skol in other countries, & Skaal in some really old writings. It's like low key saying you respect & admire someone. & It can mean they're toasting, raising a glass in spirit as if gathering together though we're online. People often end a comment with it, among those into the Old Ways.
I wonder if you could use it for tarot card readings. The first lay out I used was just a three by three nine square pattern. If you put the compose in the middle maybe it could guide your readings. Just a theory but worth a try for any other Norse witches.
Pagans don't follow dogma, rigid thinking being actually quite unhealthy, & many of us come from ancestors of multiple cultures. Eclectic is a name for a path in which witchcraft incorporates what resonates with the person. People use this along with runes too but if tarot is what works for you & it helps you, who is anyone to decree you can't? Heathens tend not to be prissy & fussy, though the it's -not-proven-ancient-enough individuals have made an appearance here... The rule of thumb is that if it's a secret or it belongs to a specific family, or tribe, or a culture that has seen misuse for commercialization that threatens a meaning, we don't do that, we don't do cultural appropriation of marginalized people. But Scandinavia is well & safe, & open to others using it. Go anywhere there & they'll be encouraging learning their traditions & selling the symbols for anyone's use, with an explanation of what it means or can help with, & they're comfortable sharing it. If it does make others uncomfortable, keep it private, or maybe learn from them if they have a serious reason & try rune casting. It's not necessary to be Wiccan to think, who does this harm? They're not asking what else people believe when they share, explain or sell items made with it, they are inclusive about it. There are people following Ásatrú who got there by way of tarot, & other such things. Often first we find an alternative, then we find more, & eventually what's right for us personally & that means that in real life, people do gradually add things, change things & therefore combine things in seeking what fits. There might be someone it bothers... Idk. Does it steal from something guarded & held in secret by only certain people of a certain path? No. It's accepted as available to the mainstream, the public of many cultures. It's not ancient ancestral. It's more modern. The diehards on here question only it's authenticity, not the sharing of it. It's commonly used by followers of witchcraft not just Norse seiðr. That's where I first learned it existed, before meeting some practicing Heathenry, Odinism, Ásatrú, Norse paganism, multiple variations on the Old Ways.
I like this way of thinking. Maybe a compass reference isn't too far away from its current use. A way for fellow norse pagans to identify each other as. Like the Christians and there fish drawing.
Hellooo.. So, I’m super new to learning about … yes I still say “this” .. but that is how new I am, like so new, I’m in the middle of a waking dream and am I crazy ready to have a break down sort of new. Regardless, I’ve been doing a lot of reading as I’ve been told over and over from video like yours btw thank you for your help. The only problem is .. well I’m a start newbie.. so I’m lost most of the time… ANY way sorry off subject. I was watching this and I also watched the Jackson Crawford video.. well… so think about it this way much and I think all the reading is watching videos I had a funky dream but…, what if there was no sign before that times in the one post because before then they did not need it? I mean when something big is going to happen like your WHOLE believes becoming extinct, I mean, think about it, we see it all the time, people leaving videos to their loved ones or making a call or even people who are lost, they leave traces of who and what and when for others to find and explain their story, maybe in a single attempt to reach out was their last hope? So, when I read the statement and remember I’m like a month new so I know nothing, but maybe the storm was not more o fa weather storm but storm of losing Who they were, maybe not just leaving Vegvisir (compose as I’ve heard) but more of a Map… to find each other, to awaken each other, and then to find our way home? It has the look of being round because as you said, a neckless or coin. Idk just a thought… which really is sort of what is going on what you are trying to do? OOOR maybe I am crazy loll I’m sure someone already pointed that thought out and I should have read more comments but its sort of just popped in my brain as I was watching this….
I cant wait to get this as a tattoo, i currently only have a pentacle on my right arm. I wonder what would happen if i put the symbol around my pentacle.
@@Nathen_Hari The pentagram is waaaaay older than Wicca, and has been the symbol of many things the last 5000 years. It was one of the symbols of early christianity, among others. During the period of the neoplatonists in the late 1400's and early 1500s, it became an occult symbol of the four elements controlled by spirit, with two points up, as known in later occultism, which also heavily influenced Wicca. This is also the interpretation the wiccans use now. The funny thing is that this was also christian occult magic with the intention of removing all sceptisism. :D In the mid 1800's the idea that the pentagram could be good or evil according to how many points were on top emerged in western occultism, also by a christian/jewish occultist. So yes, the pentacle is the symbol of Wicca, but is has a long and interesting history before that.
Vegvísir is *not* a Norse Pagan symbol in any way. If it's anything, it's christian. As you say yourself, it was created in the second half of the 19th century, less than 200yrs ago, and in Iceland. Also, it was found in 3 writings, one is the Huld Manuscript, the other two are "Books of Spells". One even stating that the symbol is only a compass if you believe in "God and Jesus". Historically and factually, it's not Norse, and has absolutely nothing at all to do with vikings, Old Norse culture, or Norse Paganism. So it has no place whatsoever in the subject other than a person's personal feelings. It's maybe even blasphemous to the gods simply by its own heritage.
Being that those dwelling in Iceland are primarily of earlier Scandinavian culture, I'm inclined to believe that many old Norse worldviews are likely infused into Icelandic staves. It would be great to have further clarity on the subject, ideally a historical set of examples as to just how much Norse influence ( if any ) is involved with the staves.
Ég(Which means I in icelandic) would not call myself a norse pagan ég would say ég am a christian that to work with the norse deities, but does not worship them also the vegvisur is my favorite norse symbol Edit: Based on what ég have heard and watched on TH-cam many people view it as a norse symbol
i'm gonna start off with saying i want to thank you for what you do so thanks now i wanted to comment because today something happened and it for me was a sign last saturday i asked the gods to give me a sign again because i felt disconnected and i did not see any ravens or crows for a month and thought maybe the gods had abandond me and i waited a day nothing and then monday i saw this beautiful girl with exactly this tatoo on her neck the Vegvisir and i tought wow this might be te sign i asked for i wanted to talk to her but it was on a dating app and we did not match so damn but i tought okay the gods havend abandond me yet and i come home from work and you uploaded a video so i looked and its was exectly the same symbol the girl had tatooed on her neck and holy shit i got a huge smile on my face because at that point i knew the gods wanted to let me know that they did not abandon me so thanks again and i hope this story has any meanig to you because your video did to me
maybe you should research a bit more into the "9 realms" next. Its far from the Marvelized 9 realms you talk about. The 9 realms arent attested, so their names are unknown. Furthermore the 9 realms are only mentioned when talking about "9 homes" which seems to be under Niflhel. To be honest, chances are the number 9 is only there due to the popularity of that number. But its not Ásgard, Midgard, etc.
Again so strange , everytime I think of something you show up , like I've been guided to you again , I love my faith , thank you for helping me understand
Here's the thing. The Viking Age was only one (very short) time period in the history of the Norse people. All the other time periods both before and after are just as "authentically" Norse. So yes, the Vegvisir is an authentic Norse symbol which can help you connect with your heritage/culture/religion. It's just not from the time period of the Vikings. That doesn't make it any less of a "real" Norse symbol.
Já
Well said!!! I just reviewed a watch with the Vegvisir in the dial please check it out I’d love to hear your opinion Ethan
Exactly! I've had so many people tell me that it's not a "Norse" symbol because it didn't come from the Viking age. But in my eyes that's just ignorant and basically saying that modern Icelandic and Scandinavian people aren't at all Norse
That’s why I like to say pre Christian rather then Viking.
Because Viking raids were just one event in this big historical zone
Yeah, cool story... It's late period Icelandic. It might qualify as Norse, but not as pagan.
My best friend bought me a neckless with the symbol. Even though I'm Christian he wanted me to have it because his understanding (new Asatru kinsmen) is that it leads you home, true north, true self, more of a compose of self, ECT. He wanted me to always have that reminder of "home". I never take it off accept to shower.
It's Christian. Icelandic Christian magick based on Judaic magick (Solomon's sigils). It is Icelandic, but it's not Norse, Viking or Heathen. Same for runes. They were just letters in an alphabet, not all these meanings we've attributec to them.
You can wear it if your brand of Christianity doesn't forbid it.
What I like is that, unlike other pagan TH-cam personalities, you're not so full of yourself that you DICTATE what is and isn't paganism. You always are quite clear that these videos are YOUR beliefs and a chronicle of YOUR journey on the pagan path. I can't imagine the odious "Ocean Keltoi" ever admitting ignorance or deigning to come down from the pedestal from which he preaches to the unwashed masses. In short, your modesty is highly appreciated.
to me, the Vegvisir always struck me as a means of never getting lost, both in the real world, Midgard, and in the spirit world after this body passes on. i want it tattooed on my hand, so that whenever im driving, working, drawing, etc. i'll never lose my way. and, of course, as you said, it has become a means for other pagans to find one another, so in a sense, its still being used as a compass, only more spiritually now than physically. Skal, brother.
I have a pendant of the vegvisir that I've been keeping on my neck for the last 3 years or so and I theorized that it is a symbolic way of saying I will always find a way through hardships in my life and I haven't been wrong yet.
That's how it presents to me, as well.
Yes please continue these videos ! Its very interesting to have your point of view ! I love how open you became in your faith, like "the way we use it today is not the right signification, but if it becomes the symbol of something new, why not use it ?" I love it 🥰
Thank you for sharing. I have always been fascinated with these symbols from the old time. Vegvísir has always been close to me since I went exploring Europe from Iceland for the first time. Keep up the good work.
Very helpful indeed!
I too plan on getting this as a tattoo one day.
It's worth mentioning though that since I've started this path, I bought myself a Mjolnir pendant and now I've been noticing a lot more people with similar symbols around in my daily life.
I think just embracing these symbols and having the courage to wear them in the midst of this Abrahamic sea we call the West alone will attract more like-minded people to you. :)
Idk why but I just died laughing when I saw you put torbjorn on screen 🤣
I recently discovered our family’s history - Swedish Varangian Vikings and have been looking into new tattoos to celebrate my heritage. Appreciate the channel.
Wow man you are blowing up! I started following when you were under 2K now 24K! So cool!
yes, please continue this series
Shout-out from Brazil! Thank you for enlightening my way. Skål!
I appreciate and thank you for your videos, it has been helping me on my path.
And this one statement is one of the many things that I love about norse paganism and why I'm interested in it. "This isn't proven thing its just a theory. And I think its ok theorize in this faith." It doesn't say "so it is said and so shall it be....take it or leave it" like so many others.
thanks for making this video!! Lately I've felt very drawn to this symbol, I want a tattoo of it myself. Honestly the fact that this symbol leads so many of us to find each other, in my eyes, is very magical. in modern times it can be incredibly difficult to meet like minded people, this makes it so much easier, and through meeting others we can form so many great relationships and learn so much more about the faith. can't get much more magical than that!
Imagine how hard it was to find like minded folks before the advent of the internet and social media. It's far easier now
@@warninja1989 hey so just letting you know...when I commented on this I had no idea, but nice people soon warned me: this guy in this video is a folkist. he supports the AFA despite saying he doesn't, he openly tweeted at the AFA's founder, he's really racist and has also made many LGBTQ+ people feel uncomfortable (and held gatherings at the height of covid and tells people it's "their own choice and they have the freedom to do so" when asked about whether people are vaccinated)
this dude is awful, if you're subbed, I'd unsub immediately.
I think little videos like this in between longer videos is perfect. also That is a bad ass theory!
I enjoyed your point of view on this, thank you.
I'm looking forward to this series.
I lost it when you put Torbjorn from Overwatch on this! XD
I cant wait to here more about these symbols.
Me too
Thank you for your videos. You have helped me understand the Norse Pagan religion much more. I just subscribed, and I look forward to seeing more videos in the future!
So glad I found you, there's so many layers to this beautiful culture. I can't wait for more.
Well, fancy seeing you here! xD
It was also my first tattoo and I also got it in the same spot. I got it because I was having a lot of difficult times unfold in my life within a VERY VERY short time span and I needed some guidance. I'm not sure how deeply I believe in any of the magics side of things but in terms of faith and symbols, it's helped me GREATLY. In terms of what I learned in my psychology classes, it's a reminder, something I'll see and will set my path straight to face the challenges ahead of me. I mainly got it for it being a symbol of guidance. My life was a storm and the way finder has helped guide me through it.
Continue it brother
the picture you put up is also my background for on my laptop lol
him: it's just a theory
me: a film theory😮
I think it means, literally, safe travels home.
I love knowing thanks!
Odin was a Viking leader in Norway. Veiviser.. You can translate it to path finder. Vegviser.. In regular Norwegian today it is spelled Veiviser. And Iceland was part of Norway and today Iclanders has 96 % Norwegian blood or genes. You can still find relatives of Viking kings in Norway ;)
weird story no one needs to believe BUT I digress.
When I was 13-19 I was heavily suicidal and was also very into witchcraft, dealing with a catholic upbringing/family who thought it was demons and not mental illness. I had something appear and tell me they were a protector. I was all 'yea ok whatever' but I started doing channeled drawings and stuff and at some point I started drawing on my skin. I wound up drawing the vegvisir and I hadn't seen runes or anything like that outside of Merlin. but id drawn it right on my left wrist with a pentagram in the center circle. Still not sure why how or who but I'm Norse pagan now, they clearly rode for me when no one else would.
Again a very good video. It is a difference in talking about a symbol from a history view and what actually was and so one, and from a view of faith and what it means to you in that regard. No, this is not viking to 99%, as you say, but that doesn't mean it's not a cool symbol as fudge, both historically and the new meaning it has gotten now. The meaning of symbols change through time and when it comes to "magic" I think you can use what ever symbols as you like as focus point, because the important thing is that it is important for you. I only object when people say that this is "in fact a viking symbol". So again, thank you for help spreading this. Very very godo video on the topic! :)
//Agnes the Swedish ethnologist that is also actually interested in pagan faith.
I've had this symbol on my rear windshield for years
Yes, the way finder didn’t see the Viking age, but the north didn’t take to Christianity as fully as most. Some of their spells from the time call on the old gods, the Christian god, Jesus and Lucifer as well. Stave Magic, just like all other forms of Magic are about intent. If you draw it with the intent of not losing your way, you’re putting your will into the symbol and it may indeed work. Just because it doesn’t come from the Viking age doesn’t make it invalid to our faith and magical workings. On that note, as far as magical workings, Icelandic Magic by Stephen Flowers is a good resource too, despite Flowers’s sketchy beliefs and ideas.
This is the correct answer.
The reality is that Christianity was not a full in or less adapted by any nation, Christianity has adopted and merged with every pagan culture it comes with, celtic, italic,iberic,norse etc
@@kyomademon453 this is why I say europe was never truly christian. All the good things about christianity were stolen from paganism and all the bad stuff (real christianity) europe resisited against. Christianity still to this day always adapts to the current popular things to stay relevant.
Flowers is a known white supremacist.
Our people existed before and to this day - just as norse in our blood, just not associated with the most famous or infamous age of our ancestors... but the symbol is still that our ancestors!
Ever since mine was tatted on me I've been happier more focused and I've just had a grander outlook on things
It's such a cool looking symbol! I made a rune cloth with the vegvisir on it. Honestly it has made my rune readings way more accurate, especially when using the perspective of the nine worlds ✨
Maybe one day I will get it as a tattoo as well..
The 9 realms theory is something I have been subscribed to for a while
What you represent is someone like me someone who has recently converted and is on their path of Discovery in a very strong way the path to wisdom
I love your take on this symbol. I have it tattooed on me as well.
I remember seeing Björk's arm tattoo of that, many years ago and wondering, "woah, what's that?" Lol
Love your videos Jacob! Could you do a video about Baldr? I have very limited knowledge of the Norse gods, but of the ones I do know a little about, I pretty much look up to him the most. I’d like to get an actual Norse pagan’s perspective!
Great video! Please do a video on VALKNUT tattoo...I want your words on it.
My life has changed significantly after getting it tattooed.
I have the Sorcerer's Screed book! I got it while I was visiting Iceland. There sure are some crazy rituals in there haha, but lots of good info too!
If you wish to know where the 9 reams fit unto the carninal directions I would suggest you take a look at the works of Michael William Denney
I use it as a way to recognise someone that at one point probably didn't know enough about the viking age.. or Norse Paganism to make the decision at the time to go for the tattoo
@jacob thank you for an interesting video. the wikipedia article has been upgraded slightly, some of the root words for vegvisir can be found on wikipedia, some do not exist on wikipedia but are explained on wiktionary. apart from the huld manuscript the vegvisir also appears in two other grimoires or galdrakver, one by olgeir geirsson which contains a sentence written partly in latin partly in runes meaning "Carry this sign with you and you will not get lost in storms or die of cold bad weather, and will easily find his way from the unknown." the other was written during the nineteenth century and contains a line meaning "To avoid getting lost: keep this sign under your left arm, its name is vegvisir and it will serve you if you believe in it ". Strangely enough the vegvisir may have actually come from England where star shaped symbols can be traced to the fifteenth century, and then travelled to Iceland. see Project Forlog: Origins of the vegvisir symbol, sagy.vikingove.cz/origins-of-the-vegvisir-symbol/
I just got my Vegvisir Stainless Steel ring a couple of days ago.
Hail the gods
The Vegvisir is certainly a way finder in the WAY seems FIND fellow pagans and heathens
0:42 tht is my computers desk top background picture lol. I love it.
Nice, I mentioned your arm tat in a video before this came out, and then this came out and, wow...not the one I was talking about but still XD
a waypoint to find other folk.
Nice video man, what's the song of your intro and outro? Fire track
1:30 what kind of symboli is that on top of the texst i think ive seen it somewhere
It's his logo but it is based on the symbol for wyrd - fate or personal destiny. I can't link it here but you can search "wyrd meaning & symbol."
What is the helm of awe, as I understood it is a symbol of power that intakes power/energy and then utilizes it to protect it's wearer from enemies or makes their enemies know not to f*ck with them so to speak. But like what is it really? Can you tell me more about it please? I've been really curious of getting it as a tattoo!
I was told a long time ago that it was a symbol of the keys to the other realms and that it guides believers to one another so if they get lost in another realm not of their own they can find their way back to Midgard.. 🤷♂️
Are ya gonna do a Vaulknut oneeee
A little pronunciation guide: every old norse word has emphasis on the first syllable, no exceptions. VEGvísir. It doesn´t really matter how you pronounce it in while speaking modern english I guess, but I prefer to at least follow this one rule. And it´s an easy one!
(in compound words there was likely secondary emphasis, so Veg-Vísir. But certainly not vegviSIR that a lot of people say.)
Wow! So how many is this there first tattoo because it was definitely mine. Great video please keep it up!
Hi! Could you explain the differences between Vegvisir and Veldismagn?
Veldismagn is for healing & protecting one's health. It can't magically remove an illness, only support a person's mind & spirit as their body is treated for an illness. It is very important that it is not relied upon by itself. It can give a feeling of relief while getting actual medical treatment. It is said to help ward off illnesses & that the positive attitude it can help with can help make the immune system stronger, as stress weakens the immune system. It's basically a cognitive tool, an aid, not a complete solution by itself. It predates much of medical knowledge, it aided herbalism bc herbalists & holistic medicine treat mind body and spirit as a whole whereas a doctor may focus on physical & leave us to find the rest ourselves so it's a support in that way. Magic or intentions or prayer or anything else spiritual in nature require us to take action. Norse gods don't do things for us while we sit & wait, they support us in our efforts, actions, & thoughts. Veldismagn supports thoughts, it doesn't do the actual practical actions, it keeps our mind right & our thoughts on living healthy when we're not sick, & on taking wise actions & resting as we should, too, if & when we are. My grandma taught me this, her grandma taught her, & I've since checked it with research. Sometimes attitude, hope, belief we can heal is half the battle - but it's only half!
I wanna say, I'm an atheist but I'm addicted to your videos and extremely interested in norse culture and mitology. So I wanted to thank you for the informations you share because it's so hard to find anything Viking related where I live
and also wanted to ask:
What's the name of the music on your intro? I can't find it o-o
Nox: Welcome. Our ancestors are pretty fascinating eh? Feel free to reach out and ask questions and may you find what you are looking for!
Can you do a video on the helm of awe? Odin put me into a trance where I drew the helm of awe and want to know the meaning.
The reason I haven't is because there really isn't that much to talk about sadly. Perhaps if I can dig up something interesting! But most answers can be found with a quick google search.
Woohoo! I knew youd get into Galdrastafir staves! 😄
If you please, i can give you a couple ones which i know of. Be careful though, some reeeal powerful magic here. ;3
Oh wait... You have the Sorcerers screed. Nevermind. I mean, i can still do it if you ask, but everything id tell you is in that book.
I want to know more please
@@virgoviking2331 how much more exactly...
@@wyattcoverdale6979 something to start with. How do they work? What does the magik feel like? How do I harness and use them? When should I use them.
Love your channel! I was wondering where your video intro music is from?
Oh, i can probably tell you what this is, like whats it practically used for^~^
Like it has multiple patterns overlapping/overlaying it.
I have seen versions of this in other forms, and i have a practical method everyone can do.
Like i am not a pagan, i just recognise it, i have used that
The thing is, The Vegvisir, and Galdrstafir in general also had nothing to do with Norse Paganism: they were influenced by Christian and Jewish Mysticism.
It would be nice to mention that it's a Christian symbol. In texts where it's found and its similar predecessor Helm of Awe, it is specifically said that in order this symbols magic to work you must be a faithful believer of Christ and virgin Mari. Symbols of course change hands over time and their meanings change with the protsess. These symbols do originate from norther Europe but they are specifically Christian symbols meant to chase away evil and guide the user. The twist is that the "evil" at the time was mostly considered to be older pagan traditions. It is of course ironical that in order to protect yourself from pagan witchcraft (pre Christian religions) you get to use christianised folk magic. This is just how cultures blend. At some point in 18 century there was a spike of fear of getting cursed by witchcraft so there was a corresponding spike of several grimoire from continental Europe with christian symbolism and agenda to combat this perceived threat. Influents of these grimoire made it to the Iceland as well.
Hello I am a Backpacker. I learned that if you take your watch and face the 12 towards the sun, knowing that the sun comes from the East to the West it gives you an Idea of your direction. Say it is 4 O'Clock you make an imaginary line halfway between the 12 and the 4. Then make an imaginary line exactly crossing the center of that line. You now have 4 points of a compast. Sun comes from the East in morning, to South, to West, to North. Guess the time of the day and how far you think the sun has traveled. You will get close direction you are looking at. I learned this from Backpacker magazine and it works. SO IF YOU HAVE ONE OF THOSE TATOOED ON YOUR ARM AND YOU ALWAYS POINT ONE SIDE TOWARDS THE SIN AND THEN MAKE THE IMAGINARY LINES DRAWN AS I TOLD YOU IT WILL IN FACT TELL YOU WHAT DIRECTION YOU ARE HEADED IN! i HAVE DOMNE THIS DOZENS OF TIMES...... That fake 1800's Compas actually works great!
I think you should do a series explaining all the various pagan things Christianity borrowed and twisted into their own crap.
Do wah ditty, ditty dum, ditty doo
It's Christian, not pagan.
And that's just a theory, A STAVE THEORY
I've got one tattooed on my right hand it surrounded by a ring of runes
Could it be that it is a compass to guide us to each other
I believe that your assessment of it representing the nine worlds perhaps the web of runic energy that ties the nine worlds together woven by the Norms a lot of that Rings true to me the important thing about shaman and spiritual work is that you are consistent with what symbols mean to you... it is from their beliefs that shaman imbue power into these symbols... thoughts become things
Got two random questions for you. What does you phrase at the end of your video that you say mean? Skal I think it is?
And is "Odin" the correct spelling of his name?
Odin is also called Woden. Skål or skal means bowl or cup, from a root word for shell or husk. It is used as cheers in mainstream Scandinavia, or as a sort of informal salute or acknowledgement of brotherhood among Norse pagans. There's a myth it came from skull but that's false & Vikings did not drink from skulls. They did have drinking horns, and drinking bowls, a cup without a handle. The word skull actually comes from skål rather than the other way around according to the word origin/etymology. It's bc the top of a skull is rounded, bowl shaped, & the older word for that was pate, & older Germanic root language terms that predate pate which I can't remember. But it's like acknowledging something shared between people, a warm salutation although that's an out of date word in English. It has variations in spelling.
Skol Skål in Norwegian, Danish, & Swedish; Skál in Icelandic & Faroese, sometimes Skol in other countries, & Skaal in some really old writings. It's like low key saying you respect & admire someone. & It can mean they're toasting, raising a glass in spirit as if gathering together though we're online. People often end a comment with it, among those into the Old Ways.
I wonder if you could use it for tarot card readings. The first lay out I used was just a three by three nine square pattern. If you put the compose in the middle maybe it could guide your readings. Just a theory but worth a try for any other Norse witches.
Pagans don't follow dogma, rigid thinking being actually quite unhealthy, & many of us come from ancestors of multiple cultures. Eclectic is a name for a path in which witchcraft incorporates what resonates with the person. People use this along with runes too but if tarot is what works for you & it helps you, who is anyone to decree you can't? Heathens tend not to be prissy & fussy, though the it's -not-proven-ancient-enough individuals have made an appearance here...
The rule of thumb is that if it's a secret or it belongs to a specific family, or tribe, or a culture that has seen misuse for commercialization that threatens a meaning, we don't do that, we don't do cultural appropriation of marginalized people. But Scandinavia is well & safe, & open to others using it. Go anywhere there & they'll be encouraging learning their traditions & selling the symbols for anyone's use, with an explanation of what it means or can help with, & they're comfortable sharing it. If it does make others uncomfortable, keep it private, or maybe learn from them if they have a serious reason & try rune casting.
It's not necessary to be Wiccan to think, who does this harm? They're not asking what else people believe when they share, explain or sell items made with it, they are inclusive about it. There are people following Ásatrú who got there by way of tarot, & other such things. Often first we find an alternative, then we find more, & eventually what's right for us personally & that means that in real life, people do gradually add things, change things & therefore combine things in seeking what fits. There might be someone it bothers... Idk. Does it steal from something guarded & held in secret by only certain people of a certain path? No. It's accepted as available to the mainstream, the public of many cultures. It's not ancient ancestral. It's more modern. The diehards on here question only it's authenticity, not the sharing of it. It's commonly used by followers of witchcraft not just Norse seiðr. That's where I first learned it existed, before meeting some practicing Heathenry, Odinism, Ásatrú, Norse paganism, multiple variations on the Old Ways.
Interesting video. What song is that in the end?
I like this way of thinking. Maybe a compass reference isn't too far away from its current use. A way for fellow norse pagans to identify each other as. Like the Christians and there fish drawing.
Moral to the story - research your tattoo design if it's a historic symbol before getting one.
What’s the book called?
So to get it as a tattoo or not to get it as a tattoo? 🤔
You may want to follow Jackson Crawford.
Hellooo.. So, I’m super new to learning about … yes I still say “this” .. but that is how new I am, like so new, I’m in the middle of a waking dream and am I crazy ready to have a break down sort of new. Regardless, I’ve been doing a lot of reading as I’ve been told over and over from video like yours btw thank you for your help. The only problem is .. well I’m a start newbie.. so I’m lost most of the time… ANY way sorry off subject. I was watching this and I also watched the Jackson Crawford video.. well… so think about it this way much and I think all the reading is watching videos I had a funky dream but…, what if there was no sign before that times in the one post because before then they did not need it? I mean when something big is going to happen like your WHOLE believes becoming extinct, I mean, think about it, we see it all the time, people leaving videos to their loved ones or making a call or even people who are lost, they leave traces of who and what and when for others to find and explain their story, maybe in a single attempt to reach out was their last hope? So, when I read the statement and remember I’m like a month new so I know nothing, but maybe the storm was not more o fa weather storm but storm of losing Who they were, maybe not just leaving Vegvisir (compose as I’ve heard) but more of a Map… to find each other, to awaken each other, and then to find our way home? It has the look of being round because as you said, a neckless or coin. Idk just a thought… which really is sort of what is going on what you are trying to do? OOOR maybe I am crazy loll
I’m sure someone already pointed that thought out and I should have read more comments but its sort of just popped in my brain as I was watching this….
Do you have a website, FB, or Instagram group where I can get updates on any folk gatherings you're putting together.
instagram.com/thewisdomofodin?igshid=1sjmavmdxnum7
Don't know if he has any group for organizing but this is his Instagram
Also fog is ice .In the air .
I cant wait to get this as a tattoo, i currently only have a pentacle on my right arm. I wonder what would happen if i put the symbol around my pentacle.
Don't do it. It is not a norse symbol. It is a christian occult symbol. If you are okay with that, go ahead.
@@geirarnehelland7271 well if you must know, the pentacle is the symbol of paganism and wicca, not the occult 😂😂
@@Nathen_Hari The pentagram is waaaaay older than Wicca, and has been the symbol of many things the last 5000 years. It was one of the symbols of early christianity, among others. During the period of the neoplatonists in the late 1400's and early 1500s, it became an occult symbol of the four elements controlled by spirit, with two points up, as known in later occultism, which also heavily influenced Wicca. This is also the interpretation the wiccans use now. The funny thing is that this was also christian occult magic with the intention of removing all sceptisism. :D In the mid 1800's the idea that the pentagram could be good or evil according to how many points were on top emerged in western occultism, also by a christian/jewish occultist. So yes, the pentacle is the symbol of Wicca, but is has a long and interesting history before that.
@@geirarnehelland7271 i didnt know that, but thanks for information. I wouldnt have had it tatted on me if that was known 😂
Are there some tattoos that girls can’t wear because I am out at Tattoo live this weekend and I’m very tempted to get one
Definitely not 🙂
Vegvísir is *not* a Norse Pagan symbol in any way. If it's anything, it's christian.
As you say yourself, it was created in the second half of the 19th century, less than 200yrs ago, and in Iceland.
Also, it was found in 3 writings, one is the Huld Manuscript, the other two are "Books of Spells". One even stating that the symbol is only a compass if you believe in "God and Jesus".
Historically and factually, it's not Norse, and has absolutely nothing at all to do with vikings, Old Norse culture, or Norse Paganism. So it has no place whatsoever in the subject other than a person's personal feelings. It's maybe even blasphemous to the gods simply by its own heritage.
Wouldn't it have some similarities because it represents the 9 realms?
@@virgoviking2331 Who says it does?
That's just his theory.
@@MikefromTexas1 okay true. There has to be ideas for what the branches are to understand more of what we're looking at
I do think that the "viking spirit" needs to be expanded upon as well as every other does.
Being that those dwelling in Iceland are primarily of earlier Scandinavian culture, I'm inclined to believe that many old Norse worldviews are likely infused into Icelandic staves. It would be great to have further clarity on the subject, ideally a historical set of examples as to just how much Norse influence ( if any ) is involved with the staves.
If you learned to use a pendulum you could ask questions in regard to your tattoo.
if i were a viking id put it on my shield.
Boa Noite 😃
Eu sou surdo verdade 😃👍🏻
Valknut tattoo eu já ok ❤️😃👍🏻
Ég(Which means I in icelandic) would not call myself a norse pagan ég would say ég am a christian that to work with the norse deities, but does not worship them also the vegvisur is my favorite norse symbol
Edit: Based on what ég have heard and watched on TH-cam many people view it as a norse symbol
Hi Jacob your an amazing person hagall sa Æsir ók Vanir
i'm gonna start off with saying i want to thank you for what you do
so thanks
now i wanted to comment because today something happened and it for me was a sign
last saturday i asked the gods to give me a sign again because i felt disconnected and i did not see any ravens or crows for a month and thought maybe the gods had abandond me
and i waited a day nothing and then monday i saw this beautiful girl with exactly this tatoo on her neck the Vegvisir and i tought wow this might be te sign i asked for i wanted to talk to her but it was on a dating app and we did not match so damn but i tought okay the gods havend abandond me yet and i come home from work and you uploaded a video so i looked and its was exectly the same symbol the girl had tatooed on her neck and holy shit i got a huge smile on my face because at that point i knew the gods wanted to let me know that they did not abandon me so thanks again and i hope this story has any meanig to you because your video did to me
I have the same tattoo on the same arm 😂🤙
I wonder if there are hidden secrets to the sunstone within the symbol.
Do you have a Facebook?
maybe you should research a bit more into the "9 realms" next. Its far from the Marvelized 9 realms you talk about. The 9 realms arent attested, so their names are unknown. Furthermore the 9 realms are only mentioned when talking about "9 homes" which seems to be under Niflhel. To be honest, chances are the number 9 is only there due to the popularity of that number. But its not Ásgard, Midgard, etc.