Serials, books, video games... These and many other works of art or content have used Norse mythology to entertain and inform today, such as the "Vikings" series, the "Saxon Chronicles" book saga, and the most recent game in the "God of War" series.

With the popularization of this theme, the gods, symbols and customs of the people who held Norse beliefs at the time they were popular also became better known. One such representation, which appears in almost all modern works, is the vegvísir, a kind of compass that points to 8 sides, each with a symbol at one end.

We have prepared an article to explain the meaning of this symbol and the context in which it appeared. Check it out!

Where did Norse mythology originate?

Norse mythology (also known as Germanic mythology) is so called because it originated in the northern European countries, a region now known as Scandinavia. The countries where Norse mythology was most popular were Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Iceland (which is the country where vegvísir was created, but we'll get to that in a moment).

Although it is associated with the Vikings, Norse mythology was not intrinsically linked to these people, who prospered between the 800s and 1050s. At the time, even populations who did not consider themselves Vikings followed some rituals and customs from traditional Norse mythology, and even after the end of the Viking Age in 1050, Norse mythology remained in vogue.

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It began to disappear from these regions in the 11th century, when the Christianization process of Northern Europe began. In Denmark, Sweden and Norway, temples were burned, and the population was prevented from continuing to practice traditional customs, considered pagan by the Church. In Iceland, however, people were able to continue practicing paganism inside their homes. It isThis is why almost everything we know today about Norse mythology comes from the so-called Eddas, Icelandic sagas that describe the heroes, gods, and myths of the time.

What is Norse mythology?

In short, Norse mythology is a collection of stories and beliefs that were shared by tribes in the north of ancient Germania (now Germany) and northern Europe (Scandinavia). Even today, in some rural areas of these regions, some traditions are kept or have been reinvented.

Some scholars of Norse mythology define it as "the religion of life," since concepts such as suicide, despair, rebellion, anguish, doubt, and absurdity are practically ignored in its records. The stories almost always involve acts of heroism and courage, and the human being is always with a desire to move forward and overcome himself in these myths.

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It was not an organized religion, in the sense of having holy books or absolute leaders, but kept to orality and passing its teachings and rituals from generation to generation. It was polytheistic and had many gods, such as Odin, the father of all and creator; his son Thor, god of thunder; Loki, god of trickery; and Freya, goddess of fertility and magic.

It was quite common, for those who followed these traditions, to wear amulets that were protected or anointed by the gods, such as the vegvísir, which we will now present.

What does vegvísir mean?

The name is a combination of two words from the Icelandic language. The initial part of "vegvísir" comes from the word "vegur", which means "path", and the final part comes from "vísir", which means something like "guide". A possible translation for the term, therefore, would be "the guide along the paths" or "the pathfinder".

In an even deeper analysis of the root of these terms, "vegur" is derived from "vegr" in Old Norse, while "vísir" is derived from "visa" in the same language. The first term can be translated as "a way", and the second can be adapted as "show", "point" or "indicate".

In other words, the vegvísir is like a compass, something that guides us and points the way we should follow.

What is a vegvísir?

The vegvísir is an amulet of Icelandic witchcraft, a set of ancient practices linked to Norse mythology, and characterized mainly by the use of sigils (symbols carved or engraved somewhere) and runes. To get an idea of how old the practice is, the oldest book related to this belief, the Galdrabók, was written around the year 1600.

The sigil we mention in this article - the vegvísir - is mentioned in two important sources of Icelandic witchcraft: Galdrabók himself, and the Huld Manuscript, compiled by the Icelandic Geir Vigfusson, circa 1860. In this manuscript, the Icelandic man describes that this sigil is meant to help its bearer find his way through bad weather: "If this sign is carried, (thebearer) will never be lost in storms or bad weather, even when the way is not known."

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Although it is mistaken as a Viking symbol, there is no evidence that it was ever used by the Viking people, since the first mentions of it are recorded in books written more than six centuries after the end of the Viking Age. Although many confuse any kind of Norse belief or tradition with the Viking people, this is not true.

So the vegvísir is an amulet, an inscription from Icelandic witchcraft to protect those who wish to find their way amidst bad weather - which can be interpreted both literally and metaphorically.

The tips of the vegvísir and the nine worlds

According to scholars of Norse mythology, each tip of the vegvísir (and its center) represents one of the worlds of Norse mythology:

- The center: Midgard, the world we live in, the Earth.

- Top tip (12:00/00h): Asgard, the realm of the Æsir gods.

- Top right (1.5 hours): Niflheim, the world of cold and mist.

- Middle tip, right (3h): Svartalfheim, the world of dwarves and dark elves.

- Tip below, right (4:30): Musphelheim, the world of the fire giants.

Little visuals / Pexels

- Tip underneath (6h): Hellheim, the world of the dead.

- Tip below, left (7:30): Jotunheim, the world of ice giants.

- Middle tip, left (9:00): Vanaheim, the world of the Vanir gods.

- Top left (10:30): Alfheim, the world of the light elves.

One possible interpretation is that all these worlds appear in the vegvísir to show that wherever the bearer was, he was protected, even if he was wandering in another world.

How can I benefit from vegvísir?

If you really believe in the stories, myths, and magic of Norse mythology and Icelandic witchcraft, the vegvísir takes on a really deep meaning, because wearing it on a necklace, ring, pendant, or wherever will ensure that you are always protected and always follow the best possible path, as it promises.

Even if you don't believe in magic or mythology, the vegvísir has a symbolic power. Who wouldn't want to walk around with a charm that always points the right way in bad weather? As we go through problems and complicated situations in life, having something close to us that gives us a sense of security and protection can be very comforting in times of trouble.

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It all depends on how good you feel wearing this amulet, even if you don't believe it really has the power to do anything.

Giving this as a gift to a loved one is also a great idea, so that they will always walk around feeling that you are part of the protection that prevents any evil from befalling them. It can be a beautiful declaration of love with Nordic roots.

With roots in Norse mythology and Icelandic witchcraft, vegvísir is an amulet that helps its bearer to understand which is the best path to follow, as well as protecting him from bad weather and other evils that can affect his life. Do you believe in the protective power of vegvísir?