About me and this blog


I have always had a fascination with the darker side of things. Be it horror movies, or skulls, anything a little bit morbid, creepy, or dark... I'm into it.

So when reading the sources we have on Heathenry and Heathen-adjacent history, the scant mentions of something a little darker, a little more malevolent catches my eye. I want to try and understand those things when they grab my attention; I very much doubt these stories are originally all sunshine and rainbows. So with that, I attempt to fill in some gaps (myth-renovation/restoration if you like), and will try to cite my sources where possible. I'm not just making things up, but I am speculating, and I’ll be clear about where I bring in my own interpretations of things.  

This blog isn't an attempt to change anyone’s worldview, or to rewrite history or mythology, but to understand and attempt to reconstruct what may have been a version of the original myths. It is highly likely that heathen spirituality was as diverse and individualised as it is in modern times. 

For the record i should state a few things:

  • I don't believe in mythic literalism - poking around the myths and stories is more to understand what might have been the views of the people at the time, and for fun!
  • I don't think the gods are adversaries.
  • The gods are for everyone and anyone. Its not a closed practice or even an initiatory, and not bound by blood, geography, gender or race. 
  • Nazi racist scum can fuck right off.
  • I support Declaration 127 as the absolute bare minimum of inclusive practice.
  • I stand by and support the Declaration of Flames

The narratives found within the Old Norse sagas, particularly the Poetic and Prose Eddas, underwent obvious manipulation by poets and writers driven by religious, political, and financial motives. As Scandinavia, particularly Norway and Iceland, experienced a profound Christian conversion during the time of these works' composition or transcription, there was a clear impetus to sanitise the ancient myths into more pleasing tales suitable for kings, families, and a newly Christianised broader society. Consequently, darker elements were often omitted for reasons of both propriety and religious conformity* (kind of like how the original tales of Cinderella, which were brutal and bloody, were changed by Disney). After all, discussing witches and trolls wasn't exactly socially or religiously acceptable in the midst and immediate aftermath of such a conversion. Nonetheless, despite these alterations, traces of the original narratives endure, whether by design or accident. By scrutinising these clues and attempting to peel back the layers, we might just uncover some hidden depths lying beneath.

*We all know the Christian aspects to the sources, however I think its also important to point out that witchcraft (specifically "at vekja troll up - to wake up troll") was explicitly condemned in Norwegian laws. (Clive Tolley - Shamanism in Norse Myth and Magic - 2009)

It's also important to recognise and state that while I do my best to cite and reference sources, the entries in this blog are still, by and large, modern interpretations, and there's nothing wrong with that. I'm not a Viking, nor a farmer, and I live in the modern world. This is just my interpretation. I also might get things a bit wrong; it's obviously not intentional and I am not a scholar or academic, so polite feedback and discussion is always welcome. Trolls and idiots are not.

A cool picture to illustrate how cool this blog is:

Sandys, Frederick. Harald Harfagr - Valkyrie and Raven. From: Sandys, Frederick, Alison Chapman (ed.) and the DVPP team. Valkyrie and Raven. Digital Victorian Periodical Poetry, Edition 0.98.8beta, University of Victoria, Accessed 4th January 2024. . 154. https://dvpp.uvic.ca/poems/onceaweek/1862/pom_911_valkyrie_and_raven.html MyNDIR: My Norse Digital Image Repository. Ed. P. A. Baer. 2024. Edition 2.6. Victoria, B. C.: Humanities Computing and Media Centre, University of Victoria. 2024.


Some key dates to keep in mind:

800-1000 AD - Contents of what later became the Poetic (Elder) Edda, and is regarded as the most accurate version of our mythology and religion, was a collection of hand-written sagas most likely found in Norway and on Iceland sometime during these years. Christianity was spreading.

1000-1100 AD - Scandinavia was Christianised in "official" capacity. Conversion was slow, starting around the early 800s in the southern areas of continental Scandinavia. The recognised dates for conversion are all over the place, but by the 1100's, Christianity had become the major religion in the region for a multitude of reasons. Saxo also beings work on "The History of the Danes" circa 1185.

1200-1300 AD - These sagas and poems were hand-transcribed to the book Codex Regius sometime during this time, and is what we call today the Poetic Edda, and then used by Snorri to right the Prose Edda circa 1220

I'm also aware sometimes I'll use ON spelling, sometimes English. I draft a lot of this on my phone, and its learned the magic letters. So I try my best to use the modern English, because its just easier, but on occasion you might get a spicy ö or ð or whatever.

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