In modern Wicca and witchcraft, herbs are considered powerful conduits for natural energy and are used as fundamental tools in magical practices. Herbs are also respected for their healing properties, and sophisticated knowledge of herbs was held by folk magic practitioners before the advent of modern medicine. Any modern practitioner should not just have a…
Reading time: 16 minutes 30 seconds. Very few images of the Norse gods survive from the Viking Age. The ones that do survive tend not to be very detailed as they are mostly carved on runestones, a difficult medium for fine details. Therefore, many of the most famous surviving images of Norse mythology come from…
We have finally reached season three of the History Channel’s Vikings in our detailed plot recap and historical evaluation. This marks the final season in which Ragnar Lodbrok is the main protagonist. Catch up on our previous posts on Season One and Season Two. Episode 1 “Mercenary” Early in the episode, Ragnar tells his son…
This is the second article in our series covering the details of the History Channel’s popular TV show Vikings, which first came out in 2012 and ran for six seasons, and spawned the sequel Vikings Valhalla. We are taking a detailed look at the plot as a refresher for fans and also diving into what…
Ever since the release of the History Channel’s TV show Vikings in 2012, there have been a lot of new people discovering the Viking world. For those audiences, we have dedicated a series of articles to explain the real history behind many of the stories that appear in Vikings, which are based on true people…
Of course, the heathen Vikings did not celebrate Easter, a Christian holiday linked to the death and resurrection of Christ. But it is no coincidence that the Church chose a time around the Spring Equinox for one of its major holidays. It was their practice to align Christian holidays with existing pagan traditions to make…
Marriage an alliance between a man and a woman to build a family was essential to Viking life. (Yes, homosexual relationships are mentioned in the surviving sources, but they weren’t considered formal, legal relationships equivalent to marriage.) During the height of the Viking age, most free men were small landowners and needed a wife to…
Loki is one of the most popular figures in Norse mythology, but he is also one of the least understood due to his story being changed and stretched for modern entertainment. However, anyone who knows Loki’s true story knows his real story is even more fascinating than fiction. But to dispel some modern myths, let’s…
In addition to the giants and demons we meet in Norse mythology, Scandinavian folklore contains many menacing and horrifying creatures who can cause havoc for individuals and communities. Meet ten of the most interesting and intimidating creatures from Norse folklore. 1. Brunnmigi The name Brunnmigi means “pees in wells,” which is a pretty good description…
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Loki plays a complicated role as a villain turned hero. But in Norse mythology, Loki plays an even more complex role as a hero turned villain who eventually leads the final assault on Asgard and the Aesir gods at Ragnarök. In addition to his leading role as the bad guy,…