Midwinter Fire

Welcome to Midwinter Fire, a collection of things that we find personally inspiring for Heathenism. Although we focus on Scandinavian culture, also represented here are other Northern European sources including Celtic, Scottish and Slavic. We live in rural Vermont.

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Milky Way - Jökulsárlón, Iceland (by orvaratli)

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Skadi's longing for the Mountains from a 1908 edition of "Prose Edda". By W.G. Collingwood.

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Norwegian Tapestry

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Cracked Ground - Gunnhver geothermal areas at Reykjanes, Iceland (by orvaratli)

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The Cuerdale hoard, one of the largest Viking silver hoards ever found.

[thedrunkenorseman]

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Urban Threads Norse knotwork set, by Urist McDorf

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Fjadrargljufur

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Norway Forest by Eldharjar.

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More than 200 names and counting: Odin.

I will tell you my names: I am Grim, I am Gangleri; I am Raider and Helm-wearer, I am the Pleasing One and the Third; I am Þuðr and Uðr; I am Death-blinder and the High One; I am Saðr and Changer and Truth-finder; I am Glad-of-War and Spear-thruster; I am One-eyed, Flame-eyed, Worker of Evil; I am Fjölnir and Grímnir, the Masked One, I am Maddener and Much-Wise; I am Deep Hood and I am Long Beard; I am Sigföðr and Hnikuðr; I am Allfather; I am Atriðr and the Burden God. I have never been called by one name alone since first among men I fared.

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Yggdrasil. The Terrifier's (Odin's) Steed. The World-Ash. An old and gnarly massive ash on which the All Father rode for nine days to bring us down the runes. His eye, the well of Urth, the structure of the multiverse, the meeting place of the Aesir.

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Aurora Borealis over Norway. Maybe, rather than the rainbow, this is the bridge over which Heimdall held sway. Photo credit: Jake.

[fuckyeahnorsemen]

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Borre style evolved at the latest c. 850 and was still used in the late 10th century. From Wikipedia: This art style was popular in areas settled by the Vikings. Borre style was mainly employed to decorate jewelry, belt-fittings and woodwork.

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A map of the political landscape of Europe c. 900. Not shown are Iceland and Greenland (both still Heathen at this time). The red lines with arrows are Viking raids. Black dashed lines are the Varangians (Scandinavian-sourced imperial guards).