The Evolution of Norse Paganism
Before the Viking Age shaped what we now call Norse Paganism, there were countless generations of belief systems that came before it—stretching back through the Proto-Germanic tribes and even further to the Proto-Indo-European peoples of the ancient steppe. These were not isolated traditions but part of a long evolution, where gods were known by different names, rituals were carried out in forests and stone circles, and myths were passed orally for millennia before ever being written down.
This journey through time is not simple; it often raises more questions than answers. Why do we find the Elder Futhark runes in our practice when the Vikings used the Younger Futhark? Why do Indo-European, Proto-Germanic, and Norse myths seem so entangled, as if overlapping across centuries?
The deeper truth is that the gods have always been with us. Their names may shift, their stories may adapt, and the cultures that honoured them may rise and fall—but the essence of the divine has never disappeared. What matters most is not rigid historical accuracy, but the living connection we foster with our gods and ancestors today.
The Poetic Edda: The Ancient Voice of Norse Myth and Legend Introduction
The Poetic Edda is one of the most vital sources for Norse mythology and heroic legend. Preserved chiefly in the Codex Regius, this medieval manuscript contains powerful poems that recount the creation of the world, the wisdom of Odin, the humour of Thor, and the tragic cycles of human heroes. Unlike the Prose Edda, the Poetic Edda carries the raw voice of an oral tradition—stark, direct, and timeless. Its verses reveal a worldview shaped by fate, courage, and renewal, ensuring its place as a cornerstone of world literature and a living echo of the Viking Age.
Cleanses - What are they?
A cleanse, in the Norse way, isn’t quick magic or “love and light.” It’s a deliberate confrontation with what weighs you down—negativity, chaos, old wounds—and a preparing of self and space for sacred work. Drawing on seiðr and galdr, and tools like water, smoke, stone, and fire, cleansing clears stagnation and strengthens your thread of wyrd. But deep work can destabilize if rushed; a strong cleanse stirs what’s buried and can flood the unwary. This piece lays out personal and space-cleansing practices, the shadow-work at their core, and a layered, safety-first approach—intention, grounding, aftercare—so transformation becomes possible without breaking the self.
Jormungandr: The World Serpent of Norse Myth
Jormungandr, the great Midgard Serpent, coils through the heart of Norse mythology as both destroyer and symbol of eternal cycles. Cast into the ocean by Odin, the child of Loki and Angrboda grew so vast he encircled the world, biting his own tail. His presence embodies the ouroboros—creation and destruction intertwined, beginnings and endings without end. Feared for the venom dripping from his fangs and destined to face Thor in the last battle of Ragnarök, Jormungandr is more than a monster. He is chaos, transformation, and inevitability. His myth reminds us that even in the terror of endings, renewal awaits, and from destruction, new worlds rise.
Yggdrasil: The World Tree of Norse Mythology
Yggdrasil, the great World Tree of Norse mythology, stands at the center of the cosmos, linking gods, giants, humans, and the dead across the Nine Realms. Its vast branches reach the heavens while its roots drink from the wells of wisdom, fate, and creation. From Odin’s sacrifice for the runes to its trembling at Ragnarök, Yggdrasil embodies life, death, and rebirth in an endless cycle. For modern pagans and seekers, it remains a symbol of interconnectedness, resilience, and the eternal weave of wyrd.
The Beloved God Baldr: Light, Hope, and Tragedy in Norse Mythology
Baldr, the radiant god of light, joy, and purity, stands as one of the most beloved figures in Norse mythology. Son of Óðinn and Frigg, he embodied beauty and nobility so great that even the flowers were said to bow as he passed. Yet despite his perfection, Baldr’s greatest role was tragically to die - his fate sealed by mistletoe, Loki’s trickery, and the hand of his blind brother Höðr. His death set in motion the events of Ragnarök and became a timeless story of vulnerability, betrayal, and destiny. In exploring Baldr’s tale, we find lessons not only of sorrow but also of hope, light, and resilience that continue to inspire today.
Gullveig: The Witch Who Shaped the Fate of the Gods
✨ Gullveig: The Volva Who Shaped the Fate of the Gods ✨
Few figures in Norse mythology carry as much mystery—or as much weight—as Gullveig. Burned three times and reborn from the flames, she embodies truth, transformation, and the dangerous power of seiðr.
Her presence shattered the fragile balance between the Æsir and Vanir, igniting the only great war among the gods. She is both victim and catalyst, a mirror of greed and corruption, and a weaver of golden threads that bind even the gods to their fates.
Was she a Vanir witch? A forgotten Norn? An early form of Freyja herself?
What we know is this: without Gullveig, the mythic struggle that drives the fate of the cosmos—and Ragnarök itself—would never have begun.