Norse culture is one of the ancient pagan cultures in the world. The Norse-Viking people use various symbols and runes for protection, healing, warding off evil, and attracting good luck. Vikings and Germanic people used various protection sigils like Teiwaz, Mjolnir, Vegasir, Yggdrasil, and Valknut.
What are the Norse Symbols for Protection?
The warriors needed protection sigils when braving the seas and invading other lands. Protection runes were a basic requirement in the Elder Futhark script, which is ancient Nordic language. There are several popular Norse symbols for protection.
Vegasir
The Vegasir is a Viking compass or a runic compass found in Icelandic grimoire. It means the way finder that helps the wearer to find the right path when traveling through dangerous conditions.
The Vegasir is created by combining eight rune staves and symbolizes protection and strength to complete a challenging journey.
Ravens
Huginn and Muninn are Odin’s ravens that represent thought and memory. Ceremonial urns and other items associated with death often feature Odin’s ravens.
Though the birds used to describe intellect, they began to symbolize the memory of the dead and eventually death itself. The ravens are similar to vultures that feasted on dead bodies.
Valknut
The Valknut has three interlocked triangles. The Nordic meaning of the word is slain warrior.
The symbol is associated with Odin, who welcomes the brave warriors to his hall in Valhalla (where the fallen heroes get ready for the battle of Ragnarok). The Valknut is similar to the Celtic trinity knot (triquetra). Both symbolize the cycle of life, death, and rebirth.
Triskelion
The Triskelion is found in many ancient pagan cultures. It’s a Greek word meaning three legs. It can be designed as three curves, heads, or human figures.
For Celts, the Triskelion is associated with Goddess Morrighan. It’s a symbol of good luck for the Chinese. The Triskelion represents protection, endurance, and strength for the people of Scandinavia.
Gungnir
Gungnir is Odin’s spear and symbolizes protection and power. Dwarves made it, and Odin used it to sacrifice himself (similar to Mjolnir). Odin pierces himself with Gungnir before hanging from the Yggdrasil tree. It is also a symbol of victory.
What Is the Most Powerful Viking Rune?
Yggdrasil is considered the most powerful Viking rune. It is an ash tree and implies Odin’s horse. It could also mean the tree of terror, as this was where Odin hung himself to death as a sacrifice to seek wisdom.
The Yggdrasil is the World Tree symbolizing the ever-changing nature of life and the connection between everything in this world.
The symbol also has Nidhoggr, a death dragon, gnawing the roots. An eagle of discord is perched on the top branches, and a squirrel (Ratatoskr) runs up and down the trunk, acting as a messenger between the two. The animals indicate that even the tree will not last forever.
What Is the Viking Rune for Power?
Mjolnir (Thor’s Hammer) is a Viking rune for power. It means lightning and is an inverted T symbol. It represents power, protection, strength, and fortitude.
Thor is the god of thunder. His hammer is so mighty that it can level the mountains and crush giants with a single blow. Many Norse people wore Mjolnir as a talisman to draw power and overcome obstacles. It also protects the wearer from harm.
What Is a Viking Bindrune?
A bindrune is where two or more runes are combined to create a new rune with greater power. The process is called bandrùn in Old Norse. It is a sacred process where different runes’ magic/ power/ abilities are invoked and bound together. Bindrunes have to be designed with care. Each rune has to be fully drawn when creating a bindrune to draw its power.
For example, Vegvísir is a bindrune, though it was possibly created after the Viking Age. Vegvísir comes from two Icelandic words, vegur (path/ route) and vísir (guide). It means to point/ show/ guide. The symbol is used for spiritual work and is a magical compass for the Nordic Cosmos.
Who Is the Norse Shield-Maiden of Frigg’s Name?
A shield maiden is a female warrior from Scandinavian mythology. Warrior women from Norse/Scandinavian mythology inspired the Valkyries.
Frigg (also spelled Frigga) means beloved in Old Norse. She is an Aesir goddess, Odin’s wife, and Baldur’s mother. There is little information despite her high ranking and status.
Freya is another goddess from Norse mythology. She shares similarities with Frigg; both come from Frija, an earlier Germanic goddess. Only Norse folklore presents Frigg and Freya as two distinct goddesses. Other Germanic versions consider them the same and refer to her as Frija (Friday comes from Frija).
What Viking Runes Mean Victory?
The Helm of Awe is the traditional Viking symbol for victory.
Aegishjalmur/ Ægishjálmr
Aegishjalmur represents victory and protection that looks like eight tridents projecting outward from a central point. It’s an Asatru symbol.
Vikings used the symbol on foreheads or helmets to scare their enemies, stay protected, and win battles. It is also drawn on amulets. The eight tridents in Aegishjalmur are associated with Sleipnir, Odin’s horse.
Aegishjalmur is also known as the helm of awe. The word combines two smaller terms- aegis, meaning shield, and hjalmr, meaning helm. It is found in various Norse writings like poems by Edda and Völsunga sagas. This is a magical Icelandic design, though the term magic implied covering rather than ‘magic.’
What Is One Reason Someone Might Want To Create a Protection Sigil?
People create protection sigils to safeguard themselves and their loved ones from enemies, bad vibes, and negative energies. The sigils can also be used for healing.
The protection sigils and runes are drawn on doors, windows, and walls to protect homes and avoid evil spirits. Most of these symbols predate Christianity, though some were created later.
Many people draw and create sigils as tattoos, jewelry, and amulets to build an invisible protective layer around them and make them feel safe.