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.
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
What I like is that, unlike other pagan RU-vid 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 happened to stumble across this channel a few days ago and since then I haven't been able to stop watching. This morning I finally called to Odin and a feeling of strong peace came over me and I knew I was heard. Thank you for leading me to the Gods. Keep up the good work!
I absolutely adore your outlooks and your videos sharing clearly well researched information. Thank you for being an educator, and a speaker of Odin’s wisdom. Skal!
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, 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.
More people join the faith, they push past the deception others try to spread around and grow day by day, the Vegvisir inspires strength in my heart as i know it will help guide me on my path, Skal.
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 🥰
this stave jumped very prominently into my mind's eye during some astral work/ deep meditation one day. Can not recall when I had seen it prior to that, but it was very clear in my mind's eye that day and I knew I needed it to be with me when I did that kind of work. I've since had it tattooed on me, and I feel it ground me and almost get "heavy" when I'm in that space ever since it was put on. It definitely is my way home/anchor, and I love having it on me as a tattoo
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.
This symbol is the one I was attracted the most at first sight, I drawed it on a sketch pad and sat with it at my desk and realized pretty fast how much more things I have been able to accomplish ever since I had this symbol in front of me; I also noticed much more clarity of the mind. Not sure what this is. I know very little about this symbol but I have to say that I too have the feeling that this symbol holds some certain powers, and a connection to those realms...my hubby fall in love with it as soon as he layed his eyes upon it and now he wants me to make him one just alike mine. Something about this symbol is energetically positive and I really enjoy its energy's. I am watching your videos so I can find out more about these symbols, very intriguing so far.
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. :)
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.
I recently discovered our family’s history - Swedish Varangian Vikings and have been looking into new tattoos to celebrate my heritage. Appreciate the channel.
Hey man! first, love your video. second, just got enganged and instead of basic ring, we have vegavísir rings, she is a Dane and im Icelandic. ( little history, when i was on horseback on mountains of Iceland i always hid an vegavísir to get me home). So we got the vegavísir engangement ring since we have to finish our study, but now we always can feel where our home is. Maybe not properly correct but i have always felt like Vegavísir has put me towards me home :). again, amazing video and if i find you in a bar, prepare for some Icelandic drinking contest
Thank you Jacob. I have been intending to get a Vegvísir tattoo soon, so thank you for expanding my knowledge of it. And thank you for providing your insights to help other of the Folk on our own Paths
That's kind of beautiful having a tattoo about finding your way etc and it draws pagans together kind of like we are finding our way home through the storm that tattoo was no accident Odin guided you to it as a tool to use upon the journey he gave you SKAL
I’m just getting into Viking beliefs. I got this tattoo so I can find my way to you and other people like us .Thanks for the video you’re wisdom is very helpful!
You need to get a amazon affiliate account so any of the books you recommend you can get a commission on. Its not much I think 2% but every bit helps. Keep up the good work.
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.
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.
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.
If I were to get the Vegvisir tattooed on my hand as my wayfinder, should the “pitchfork” looking symbol be at the 12 o’clock or 6 o’clock position? I’ve seen it both ways. I’m thinking 12 o’clock since it would be me reading it, correct?
It's referred to as almost a wheel in that it can face different ways as we do. Before getting a tat we should always look up all we can (bc people have made wrong assumptions & it's not exactly wash-off-able!). And I don't know how accurate that is. It makes sense. But other pagan paths have wheel symbols they tend to draw one way or another but are understood to turn with the seasons or, like the spiral with life lessons. It may have been someone's assumption. Still, it seems possible bc it wouldn't just orient to us but to the world we're in. Just, since runes have an opposite meaning if they're upside down or backwards, asking someone is good, but if this is for manifesting & intentions, I'd say look it up in multiple sources also. Jacob interprets well. He's insightful. He's told us he's learning runes still, & while staves are akin to complex bind runes, they're also of the same purpose as sigils in effect. They're for guidance bit also protection & they work bc our intention is clear. So really, your own mind has to be sure as well. You could find a differing interpretation later. So that doesn't throw things off, if so, I'd say, take a little time & read multiple sources, but remember those are other people's perspective. It is yours that has the effect, to the extent that you feel it. So what's most important is what it means to you, symbolizes to you, how that orientation of it feels to you. You could draw it & try it out, on your skin. It's been awhile since you wrote that, perhaps you already found your answer & someone else needs to trust their own spirit & finds this. I think we're here to support each other & your comment might catch their eye, as it's a very sensible thought. Anyway, may your path be right for who you are. Skal.
I love your content! I am new - only seen a few videos so far - but I love them. I have Vegvisir on my arm as well. I feel like my way of thinking has changed to a sharper perspective, as well as feeling more firm and connected in my faith. I love when other Pagans see it and know what it means. Yes, please to more videos about symbols! Thank you!
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!
I have it on my right forearm. Love it. My sister in laws BF seems to think he owns the symbol because he is Icelandic and was salty when I got it lol.
Norris family has Norse bloodlines. My maternal grandfather was a Norris. There are multiple branches of the family descended from "Ostmen," & there are words in Irish Gaeilge where a vowel sound is inserted for pronunciation between two consonants, & it true of Northumberland accents, parts of Yorkshire. ... Anyway, I found this bc I came across a story on one John Norreys, an alternate spelling & he was British military & a right arsehole, & I was checking to see if he was an ancestor (not so far back) bc he massacred a Scottish clan, & some people in Ulster on orders, for land grabbing & all the women & kids but they weren't criminals he was. As I was looking I came across info that he was descended from a Norseman who settled in the NE of England, & ended up intermarrying with various Celts, & became citizens later on bc they stayed. I've seen articles lately, a lot of them, saying 20% of the ken in Britain, Scotland & Ireland have Norse, Dane etc, Viking DNA. They found the same markers in old burials. I don't have the links bc that phone died, but it wasn't hard to find & the trail began with "John Norreys massacre" & as Iceland was settled too, by Vikings who didn't originate on that island, imho you have an equal legit ancestral claim. It's been a long time since the Norse ancestor's family branched in many directions & spelled it phonetically in different places, & we're not all descended from John who was a cowardly blight on the name but everyone has that ONE relative lol, there's an original common ancestor whose offspring were many, some going to Normandy with Rollo & showing back up late - 1066, & others already in the UK since years had 3 numbers, some in Ireland, & emigrating from there. The name means of the North, it's "a descriptive term relating to anyone who comes from the North" (including, 'Nourse' & 'Noreis') and their lineage & descendants. Norris is the most prolific spelling. And there was mention of a daughter of one going to Ísland with her husband waaay back. & She's at least your ancestral cousin if your account name is your own. If it continues to be a salty matter, you might search the infamous John, bc he's not hard to find but there weren't TONS of articles, & it was mentioned in more than one. I mean, details. The name meaning is a two second search faster than reading this. & As I'm possibly your distant cousin too, I thought why not tell ya.
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!
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 ;)
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 would add that we live very differently than our pagan brothers and sisters of the past. Our society isn't connected to nature, but rather has subjected it to it's own ends. Each of us can have a positive impact on how we live our lives. I think we all realize we can't live the way we have without consequences. I:be just recently become a Nomad and making a loving with my art. I must tell you how good it feels to be apart of nature and create something with my own hands. Follow your bliss and blessed be.
So true on how the symbols have helped meeting others...I do like your theory and it actually makes sense...your channel and podcast have definitely helped me in my 101 adventure into the Old Ways of my Germanic ancestory.
I am curious to know what your thoughts are on Loki and his children, their worship and peoples relationship with them. I have heard some disparaging things from people that claim Astrau and are vocal in their almost hatred in the subject. I love your videos. Thank you so much for your level headedness on the topic.
Some people fear the natural ups and downs in life and look for someone to blame or scapegoat rather than learn from. Trickster beings are also teachers, they're imperfect as are humans, they make mistakes or pull some mischief but see their way out, too. Some say he creates chaos, others that he reminds us there will be mischief or chaos, normalizing living in the real world or rather, helping us accept this reality, to gain resilience, awareness, alertness, and also helping us check our own motives & thinking plans or ideas through to the likely outcome or consequences. We can live in fear and fly blind and feel helpless or we can face life, deal with it, become wiser & gain courage by paying attention to how things actually are. And awareness is grounding, hones our senses. We become observant & more able to respond rather than react, less shocked, or traumatized, & more practical & spiritually centered, prepared, rational in the face of chaotic situations & able to get right into the solution... It helps us remain logical to have the examples, symbols, teaching stories, lessons & each member of a pantheon or each mythological being is a teacher. Their story serves a practical purpose & helps us grow & mature & be a more solid person - & over time recognize when someone is not a solid or trustworthy person too. That's what I was taught.
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
Its good to be able to see your way . That way - you can find it more easily. You can always find yourself because you are always there . At the center . The rest is ot lan - Where is At lan ? Tis ? Also is there a stone that can show me where the sun is when there is fog ? Skol . Skill. Knowledge and memory.
I have the tattoo on the back of my neck. I forget about it because I can't see it. I got it at the beginning of the coof thing. I don't know if its because of life but things haven't been going bad. Its always a good conversation starter. From my understanding it is a protection symbol during your travels. I've been safe during mine before and after getting the tattoo. Skal
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..
I wonder if it's worth getting the necklace too? I live in Southeast Asia and I'm fascinated by all these Norse, Scandinavian and Neopagan beliefs. I already have the Mjonlir necklace, but I also like to get the Helm of Awe/Aegishjalmur necklace because of what it symbolizes. That being said, greetings and respect to Neopagans, hail to Odin, and skal!
@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/
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 hadn't even considered that interpretation but it fits so beautifully. Links in nicely to my view of the Valknut as an interpretation a nine intersections planes of consciousness that make up our reality
brother I was literally about to say something about the nine realms right when you started explaining it in the video..quickly deleted and said..... continue 🤣🤣🤣
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.
Thanks for your unknowing support and help.. I am who I am.. happy we crossed paths.. stay frosty my friend. thanks for your help. Had a so called friend give me a tapestry of this without knowing what it meant
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 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.. 🤷♂️
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!
