Valkyrie symbol. The Valkyrie symbol is a talisman for real warriors

The Valkyrie is a mythological character of interest to modern cultural studies, as well as an image that is popular in folk art. To this day, books are written about Valkyries, songs are composed, and these maidens are drawn. They are also popular in the fantasy genre. Many authors are inspired by this image to create their heroes. But where did the Valkyrie even come from? Who is this? Where were the first mentions of warrior maidens found? What was the significance of the Valkyrie in Slavic mythology? Where are its roots? What archetype of social consciousness gave birth to it?

Who are Valkyries

Valkyrie is mysterious creature, which various peoples has its own appearance and description. Most often this is a girl or woman, a goddess or her assistant, associated with death and wars. The collective image of a Valkyrie is a warrior maiden who accompanies warriors fallen on the battlefield to the world of the dead, the patroness of soldiers and squads.

In some sources, Valkyries are depicted as maidens with swan wings on their backs. In some, it is a maiden in armor who flies over the battlefield on a winged horse.

They were also considered at the same time the patroness of warriors, sometimes participating in the battle, and sometimes simply observing its outcome.

Origin of the word "Valkyrie"

The roots of the word "Valkyrie" are of Scandinavian origin. The meaning of the word is encoded by two Old Icelandic words valr "corpses of those killed in battle" and kjósa "to choose". This reflects the mythological role of this creature on the battlefield as a guide of killed warriors to the kingdom of the dead. Also in the word itself there is a reference to a place called Valhalla - the palace of fallen warriors in the world of the dead.

Considering the etymology of the word, it is worth understanding that it came to Slavic mythology precisely from the Scandinavians. However, the Valkyrie of the Scandinavians and the Valkyrie of the Slavs have much in common.

Archetype of the Great Mother and Valkyrie

According to Jung, any mythological image is born from archetypes that already exist in our minds.

The roots of the Valkyrie image, of course, originate in an ordinary earthly woman, who can generate within herself new life. However, human consciousness divides the image of the Great Mother into two components: the one who gives life and the one who takes it. Fertility is important in the formation of the mythological image of various goddesses.

And the other side of the image of the Great Mother was transformed into a separate character - the Valkyrie.

For example, the word Valkyrie is consonant with the Icelandic combination Velu māte, which means “mother of the dead.” In Scandinavian mythology there is such a thing as " father of the dead" — Valfọðr. It is logical to assume that where there is a father, there is always a mother. Due to the onset of the patriarchal structure in the Scandinavian tribes, the mother of the dead did not appear as a paired element for Valfọðr. In the Baltic version, on the contrary, there is no such direct term as the father of the dead , however, there is Velu māte.

Where are references to Valkyries found?

The first mention in written sources appeared in the work "The Elder Edda" - a collection of Old Icelandic songs about battles, gods of the Scandinavian pantheon and heroes.

There are also references to Valkyries in ancient Germanic mythology, where they are the daughters of Odin and help him in Valhalla. You can also find this image in the “Song of the Nibelungs”.

Lesser-known sources also contain references to Valkyries. For example, in “The Divination of the Velva”, “The Speech of Grimnir”, “The Vision of Gylvi”.

Scandinavian myths and Valkyries

The Valkyrie in Scandinavian mythology is a warrior maiden who helps warriors in battle. Some sources mention their ability to influence the outcome of the battle, while others, on the contrary, emphasize their subordinate position in relation to the goddess Freya and Odin and their inability to help the warriors in any way.

However, they accompany those killed in battle to the world of the dead. At the same time, the Valkyrie is described as beautiful girl in armor and helmet on a winged horse.

Also, one of the functions of these girls is to serve the warriors at the feast in Valhalla. They offer drinks to heroes who have fallen as valiant warriors.

What role do Valkyries play in Slavic mythology?

In the Slavic Vedas there is also a mention of the Valkyrie. What is a Valkyrie in Slavic mythology is still a controversial question.

In the Vedas she is mentioned as the patron goddess of warriors. As in Scandinavian mythology, the goddess Valkyrie accompanies warriors who died in battle in Vol Hala, where they will now live and feast led by the god Volkh - the warrior god, protector of the Slavic peoples.

In Slavic culture, she was also considered the protector of the Vedas, protecting them from evil eyes. In Slavic mythology it gained more high status. Unlike the Scandinavian servant or daughter of Odin, among the Slavs Valkyrie had the full status of a goddess.

She could decide the fate of the warrior who entrusted herself to her, predetermine the outcome of the battle. Among the Slavs, the goddess was not a warrior; she simply protected the soldiers from the unfavorable outcome of the battle and accompanied them to the next world.

At the same time, people who died of natural causes or not in battles were taken by the goddess Marena.

The place of Valkyries in Slavic rituals

The Valkyrie was considered the protector and comforter of warriors, and at the same time the guardian of the Vedas. This role also determines her participation in the rituals of the Slavs.

The Valkyrie was depicted in the form of a talisman, which was designed to protect its owner from evil forces. Moreover, not only warriors could use it; they also made the amulet for both men and women.

It was believed that the symbol gives additional valor to the man who wears it, and an additional source of wisdom to the woman.

This symbol was also applied as a seal on handwritten books. After the advent of writing and Christian culture, this symbol was still sometimes used as a protection of knowledge.

It was from the legend of the Valkyrie that the custom arose for women to let their braids go and not to cut them under any circumstances if their man was in battle.

Initially, back in the days of Slavic paganism, it was believed that the goddess Valkyrie had earthly helpers, ordinary maidens, to whom she transferred her power and magic through her hair.

Valkyrie symbol

Valkyrie is also one of the images of the ancient Slavs, carrying esoteric symbolism. This symbol consists of a circle, symbolizing the daytime celestial body, which contains two squares and a four-pointed swastika of a specific shape.

This symbol combines four important aspects of military Slavic culture:

• Nobility. It was believed that anyone who wore this symbol became more noble.
• Wisdom. The ability to think and act intelligently and clearly appeared.
• Justice. For a warrior, this was considered the most important character trait.
• Honor. The ability to defend your people against the enemy.

This symbol was considered the protector of the Slavic family. War always means losses. And the Valkyrie is a symbol that was able to smooth out the negative energy of war, as well as give participants in battles calmness, tranquility and humility before the outcome of the battle. The same humility that forces one to act according to honor and conscience, regardless of the expected result of the war.

It turns out that this sign Valkyries in Slavic mythology are not only a maiden with wings. This is something sacred, personifying the protection of the entire Slavic family. And in fact, the fact that the Valkyrie both as a character and as a symbol are very firmly rooted in ancient Slavic culture is not accidental.

The Valkyrie symbol is one of the most famous among Slavic protective signs, despite the Nordic Scandinavian origin of the word itself. It is classified as a solar symbol that reflects the perpetual movement of the Sun, eternal life and longevity.

In the article:

The meaning of the Valkyrie symbol among the ancient Slavs

The Valkyrie symbol is one of the sacred symbols of the ancient Slavs; in the past it was given great value. It is believed that it contains the principles of Slavic military culture. The Valkyrie symbolizes the qualities that every warrior needs - wisdom, honor, nobility and justice. Most often, such amulets were worn by warriors, whom he helped to develop such character traits.

Valkyries in Scandinavian mythology were the companions of Odin - warrior maidens who took fallen warriors from the battlefield and helped themselves supreme god during battles. They left a very small imprint in Slavic culture, since our ancestors tried not to wage wars of conquest, and simply borrowed the symbol itself as a protective amulet.

The main meaning of the Valkyrie amulet is to protect your family and native land. It can smooth out the energy and impact of war on a person, reminding him that at the end of the battle the warrior will return to home to your family. At the same time, the Valkyrie amulet still cannot be called peaceful; it is a rather aggressive symbolism. However, this is the just aggression of a person who is forced to defend himself and defend what belongs to him.

The concept of war in this situation means not only a battle with soldiers who came from enemy land, this is a rather conventional meaning. For example, magicians used this sign to inscribe on manuscripts in order to preserve their influences. At the same time Slavic amulet The Valkyrie symbolized a death worthy of a warrior.

Modern interpretation of the Valkyrie amulet

Nowadays, the Valkyrie symbol is considered one of the strongest and most powerful protective Slavic amulets. With its help you can strengthen your internal energy and build character. This amulet helps you focus on the goals you set for yourself and achieve them, despite all the obstacles.

Valkyrie is very special. It helps the person who wears it to protect everything that is dear to him - land, family, home. Again, this refers not only to war, but also to other problems from which protection is also needed. They can be of any character.

The Valkyrie symbol will also help get rid of bad thoughts, apathy, and depression. It has a beneficial effect on willpower and eliminates laziness. Another ability is that the amulet gives a person all necessary qualities to protect what belongs to him. It combines courage and wisdom, combats uncertainty and can even make a person recklessly courageous.

Who can wear the Slavic Valkyrie amulet

As mentioned above, during the times of the ancient Slavs, such amulets were worn by warriors in the form of pendants or embroideries. They were also applied to armor and weapons. IN modern world Valkyrie will be a good talisman for a military man and a representative of others dangerous professions, for example, a firefighter or rescuer.

Both men and women can wear such an amulet. The main thing is that a person prioritizes personal goals and success in achieving them, has inner rod and was a warrior in spirit. The energy of the symbol is such that it cannot be called male or female, as a significant part. It helps both men and women to become more successful, develop desirable character traits and fight bad habits.

Valkyrie is a good amulet for a new beginning. If you have started some important project or decided to “start life from scratch,” he will help direct your energy to accomplish this. Such a talisman will help in any matter and will be a good protection against ill-wishers, the evil eye and other types of negative programs.

The Valkyrie symbol belongs to the solar, that is sun signs. The graphic design of the Valkyrie is based on a left-handed (that is, “rotating” to the left) swastika. This is an important symbolic aspect that indicates that the sign belongs to a military culture. And although it is believed that the Valkyrie is a purely masculine symbol, this is not entirely true. Of course, every man is a warrior. But a warrior is not necessarily a man. In ancient times, as now, women could also be warriors, so it is fair to note that the Valkyrie is a symbol whose meaning goes beyond traditionally male attributes.

The four-pointed swastika of the Valkyrie symbol has a dual interpretation. On the one hand, this is the movement of the sun, in fact in a general sense- the power of light that gives life. At the same time, the four rays of the swastika here represent Justice, Wisdom, Nobility and Honor, the four qualities that defined the Slavic warrior. That is, the Valkyrie is a Slavic symbol imbued with deeply positive symbolism. In fact, it is difficult to say whether the Valkyrie was used as a talisman. This is unlikely, because the meaning of the symbol does not boil down to some kind of protective functions; Valkyrie does not protect anyone from anything.

Even if we turn to traditional German-Scandinavian mythology (which is as close as possible to Slavic), there are Valkyries - warrior maidens on winged horses (a common misconception - the Valkyries themselves were winged), who picked up the souls of fallen Vikings from the battlefield. The souls were then divided equally between Odin and Frigga. The souls that came to Odin went to Valhalla and became the Einherjar, the warriors of Asgard. Those whom Frigg took for herself went to Folkvangr, where they served the queen of the gods.

That is, the Slavic symbol Valkyrie, the meaning of which can hardly have a talismanic aspect, includes several etymological layers. Unfortunately, it is not known how and where it was used, because there are no archaeological finds or documents on the basis of which even indirect conclusions could be drawn. However, miraculously surviving fragments of the Vedic tradition of the Slavs talk about the Valkyrie symbol as one of the brightest and most powerful signs of Slavic culture. Of course, such conclusions may seem unfounded to many, because we don’t learn about this symbol from any historical sources, but from modern texts, which many scientists tend to consider not even reconstructions, but rather fantasies. On the other hand, one cannot deny simple fact: When a Slav looks at a photo of the Valkyrie symbol, a feeling of vague recognition arises in him. It’s curious and difficult to explain, but it’s true. The Black Sun, Valkyrie and many other swastika and near-swastika symbols are not reflected in any way in the historical chronicles of the Slavs, but their strength, their energy is obvious to us. Our ancestors called this blood memory, probably the closest modern scientific analogue of this turnover is genetic memory.

Returning to the graphic features of the Slavic symbol Valkyrie, one cannot help but notice that in this case the swastika is inscribed in two intersecting squares. The square (and the number 4) is a symbol of the earthly world, the embodiment of the four elements, the soil under our feet, the foundation (including the ideological one). Two squares are, on the one hand, a doubling of the image, on the other, an indication of the binary nature of the base. At the same time, two digits 4 add up to 8, numerologically this is a symbol constant movement, striving for better, self-improvement. That is why many believe that the Valkyrie is a symbol whose meaning is not limited to a purely military culture. Probably, this sign personified progress, primarily spiritual, and, as we would say now, professional.

Thus, we can rightfully say that the Valkyrie is a multifaceted symbol and not the easiest from the point of view of understanding. Like any sacred sign, it needs to be comprehended and studied through, probably, esoteric practices. And who knows, maybe someone will discover new aspects in it, but only for themselves. However, for example, a Valkyrie tattoo is not best option. Firstly, because on at the moment very few people are able to fully understand the meaning of this sign, and “filling in” something that you don’t even understand is stupid, to say the least. The second point regarding the Valkyrie tattoo is that our ancestors did not get tattoos before the age of 33 (except exceptional cases). It was believed that otherwise it could cause irreparable damage to a person, because a tattoo, as our ancestors believed, is applied not only to physical body, but also on other (energy) human bodies. Of course, for the majority, all these statements look far-fetched, especially since there is no real historical confirmation of these statements. But, obviously, this is a matter of faith, not science. Although our ancestors believed that these were two sides of the same coin.

It is well known that Slavic amulets had special meaning in the culture of society. Connoisseurs of them magical power they still turn to them. One of the popular artifacts is the Valkyrie amulet. It helps to protect a person and gain wisdom.

From this article you will learn:

History of the ancient amulet

The image of the Valkyrie personifies the connection between two worlds - the living and the dead. A girl with golden curly hair was called upon to deliver the souls of fallen warriors to the world of the dead. She also had the right to choose the winner. Therefore, men longed for her protection. This maiden was worshiped in Slavic and Scandinavian culture.

The amulet with the symbol of the mythical maiden Valkyrie allows you to:

• find a connection with your family;
• receive solar energy;
• become the owner of a sense of justice, honor, nobility;
• increase intuition and gain wisdom;
• concentrate on achieving results;
• protect yourself from enemies, evil spirits and the evil eye.

The magical image contains a Slavic sign, symbolizing eternal movement and renewal.

A Slavic artifact depicting the sign of the Valkyrie, in addition to its peaceful meaning, can cause aggression. After all, warriors and defenders also need it to fight enemies.

Materials for production

The image of the Valkyrie is usually created from materials that can be found in nature. These include:

• silver;
• valuable tree species;
• leather;
• wool and threads made from it;
• linen and cotton threads.

Sometimes there is engraving on clay or stone. The choice of material depends on the form in which Slavic symbolism will be used. Some people prefer to protect themselves around the clock, while others prefer to protect their home.

Modern worshipers of the sacred virgin get tattoos. The symbol of the Slavs can be in the form:

• pendant;
• keychain;
• embroidery on clothes;
• engravings on household items.

Considering the meaning of the symbol, it is better that it has a red-yellow color, reminiscent of the connection with the Sun. After all, this image is often combined with.

The meaning of Valkyrie for a woman

Despite the fact that ancient amulet more intended for men weaker sex he will be a great help too.

For women who want to gain or increase their fortitude, they should definitely purchase a Valkyrie amulet. It also helps:

• it’s easy to start any business and achieve success in it;
• protect yourself from envious people and the evil eye;
• gain patience and endurance;
• improve relationships with men through greater mutual understanding.

Promote magical properties an object is possible if you hide it from prying eyes. In addition to jewelry with the image of the symbol, you can embroider it on the edge of a shirt or other clothing.

If a representative of the fairer sex, after communicating with the talisman, notices excessive aggression, she needs to part with it. At least for a while. Otherwise, she risks ruining relationships with loved ones. You can undergo a cleansing ritual, and then begin contact with the Valkyrie amulet again.

The meaning of the amulet for men

True defenders and warriors need support, peace of mind and fortitude. All this can be given by the image of a sacred virgin. The amulet of the ancient Slavs should be given to those who:

• works in the police, the Ministry of Emergency Situations and the rescue service, security;
• serves in the army and navy;
• practices martial arts;
• heads companies, especially large ones.

In addition to courage and determination, the amulet with Valkyrie can give restraint, which protects against wrong hasty decisions.

Slavic Valkyrie signs are perfect for men:

• wooden and silver pendants;
• silver and leather bracelets;
• keychains;
• flasks;
• leather belts.

If the owner of the Slavic amulet with the Valkyrie has unclean thoughts, the plan will not come true. Troubles and illnesses will be sent to him.

How to activate the Valkyrie symbol

To make money Slavic magic, it is important not to just make or buy an amulet. You need to charge it appropriately.

To do this you need:

• wait for the full moon;
• put it within reach natural source light place amulet with the image of a Valkyrie;
• say the spell: “Virgin Valk, protect with your wisdom, calm with your charms, grant strength and faith from my family (say the family name)”;
• leave the item until the morning rays of the sun;
• clean it before the other household wakes up.

It is important that after the end of the night and meeting the sun, the future owner is the first to pick up the object. Otherwise, the connection with the Slavic talisman will not happen, which can even harm your health.

Cleansing and using the amulet

When contacted by a strong negative energy on the owner of a Slavic amulet, it usually collapses (cracks appear) or turns black if it is made of silver. It is better to get rid of such an amulet. According to Slavic traditions, the spent amulet must be buried in the ground after sunset.

Elements of home decor need to be cleaned regularly, because they are visible to everyone who has visited the home. Among them there may be enemies and envious people. You can save yourself from negative energy with the help. It is necessary to braid the Slavic amulet with it and leave it overnight. The Valkyrie's energy will be restored and it will work as before.

If the amulet was lost but found, it must be reactivated with water. It is necessary to carry it out even if the talisman is lost at home for several days. To do this:

• place holy or spring water under sun rays for a day;
• immerse the amulet with the Slavic symbol overnight;
• pronounce the same spell as during the initial acquisition of connection.

If it was not possible to return the amulet with Valkyrie, you need to break the connection with it. Otherwise, in the hands of strangers, it can harm the health of the previous owner. To do this:

• tie your hand with wool or cotton thread, preferably red;
• say the magic words: “Virgin Valkyrie, leave me, but do not leave my family, protect it and give me strength to return to them”;
• It is prohibited to break the thread with your hand or teeth, or to touch it with scissors or a knife.

When constantly wearing the Valkyrie amulet, its owners and admirers note an improvement in health and mood. If there are boys in the family, then it is appropriate to pass on such a mysterious item by inheritance.

No matter how many years pass, and no matter how many new amazing legends appear, the world will always be interested in such an extraordinary story about those who still excite the minds of many. Tales of charming servants of one God. But who are Valkyries really? Beautiful, divine creatures or cruel and merciless dark female warriors? Most likely, no one will ever know the exact answer, but be that as it may, ancient myths are always ready to tell us their ghostly truth.

Warrior Maiden Valkyrie - who is she and what is her purpose?

As the story goes about extraordinary and courageous girls, it originates at a time when the gods led an open life and fully ruled the Earth. It was then that they were born - the Valkyries. They were named so for a reason, because from the Old Norse language given word, combined from the other two, means “choosing the slain,” which directly relates to the purpose to which each Valkyrie warrior dedicated her life. Devoted service to the god Odin was what was important to them. And the main task facing them was to decide who would be the winner and who would be the loser in all the battles taking place at that time.

Ways and methods by which brave girls achieved their goals

Initially, according to legend, all warlike maidens were described as cruel and bloodthirsty angels of death, who loved to see the suffering and pain of dying soldiers, but since then history has changed, and they acquired new, brighter and lighter features. Flying through the air on their fast and powerful horses, they soared above the heads of those who led hard struggle, and when the battle came to an end, the warriors picked up the heroes who had fallen in this battle and carried them to where Lord Odin ordered.

A special place for further existence after earthly life

The world where the Valkyrie brought those killed on her horse is the heavenly abode of all Asgard. It was here, in an ancient castle called Valhalla (which translates as “the hall of the slain”), that the chosen dead found refuge. Every day, under the arches of golden ceilings and glowing swords instead of lamps, in order to protect the divine city from the unwanted invasion of giants, every single warrior was engaged in improving their own skills and trained hard from dawn to dusk. And then they delighted and nourished their tired and exhausted bodies at feasts arranged by the gods. And at this time, beautiful warriors served them at the tables and each of them was presented with delicious food and drinks.

Valkyrie is an innocently beautiful and enchanting maiden with her brightness

Although the warriors, as was indicated a little earlier, at first were merciless and cruel women, yet after a certain time in the later writings of Scandinavian mythology, the idea of ​​them acquired somewhat different features. From then on, when asked who the Valkyries were and what their true face was, one could hear that these girls were golden-haired, virgin-pure beauties with pale skin.

And on the battlefields they appeared in the form of swan maidens or cut through the air on amazing and fantastically beautiful cloud horses, whose manes were capable of covering the ground with frost and dew.

Therefore, taking into account all of the above, to say that the Valkyrie is certain type a ruthless warrior or, on the contrary, only a sensual maiden, is impossible. Because this archetype has many versatile and fantastic features.

The origin of Odin's servants and ancient literature

As the legends of the Anglo-Saxon people say, some of the Valkyries were created from elves, but most of these maidens were of noble origin, and they were the daughters of princes, who during their lifetime managed to become one of the warrior maidens, endowed with the gift of turning into graceful swans.

Currently, we know about their existence thanks to such a wonderful example. ancient literature, like the Elder Edda. It is here that we learn a lot, including about the names of the Valkyries.

Meaning of names

None of them had a name that was given simply for beauty; on the contrary, each of them meant something special, capable of giving an accurate description of its owner. And although a considerable part of them were never translated, several of them became accessible and understandable to everyone, with the help of which it becomes even a little easier to understand who the Valkyries are and what they are.

For example, Hilda means “battle”, and Hlekk has a similar, but still slightly different translation - “the noise of battle”. Christ means "stunning" and Myst means "hazy." Herviötur is the “fetters of the army”, Labor is “strength”.

As can be seen from the translation, each name has its own power and character, thanks to which the images of the warriors become clearer, and it begins to become even clearer that a Valkyrie is not just a loyal subject of her god, but also a woman who has her own individual and independent character traits and abilities. And it was precisely these unique images of them that became the inspiring factor in the creation of the famous German epic “The Song of the Nibelungs”.

Legend of love

Reading this epic, we learn about how, having dared to violate Odin’s order, one of the Valkyries, a girl named Sigrdriva, accomplished a real feat in the name of her own love. She, risking everything, protected the one whom she desired with all her heart, and instead of giving victory on the battlefield to the one whom Odin ordered, the warrior awarded it to her lover, King Agnar. In the end, she paid for this with a long and uninterrupted sleep, and when she woke up, she became an ordinary, earthly woman.

The story of another Valkyrie, whose name is Brunnhilde, began with the fact that she married a mortal, and as a result, like Sigrdriva, she lost her former strength, becoming a simple girl. And soon her descendants intertwined their lives with the norns spinning threads at the well.

Rejection of the former life

After some time, the cult of the divine Odin grew to incredible heights. He became more powerful than the others, thanks to which he began to acquire more and more in his image human traits, and other gods at this time became increasingly demonized. Each Valkyrie, whose importance greatly decreased during this period, acquired a pair of wings, and from now on they all became half-women, half-birds.

Now the warriors no longer decided who would live and who would die on the battlefield; these powers were completely concentrated in the hands of Odin. There was no place left for them even at ceremonial feasts. After all, if it used to be that the Valkyrie was the most valuable decoration and the main worker of these holidays and evenings, then from now on their place has been taken by liberated, sexy and charming houris.

And since the maidens were categorically refused even to deliver the chosen warriors to Valhalla, they had no choice but to hug and carefully cherish the Einherjars until the eight-legged horse that belongs to Odin gallops after them, and will take them to their final destination.

This is how their destiny ended, but the story of their deeds and exploits lives on to this day. Cruel and insensitive or romantic and tender - it doesn’t matter. The most important thing is how much they were able to bring and open up for so many of us. After all, even after a huge number of years, interest in them and their lives still has not faded away, but trembles, as before, illuminating everything with its bright and majestic light.