NorsePlay.

Odinforce Blend! Brewed with "maximum flavor and caffeine content" for Zakk Wylde of Black Label Society by Death Wish Coffee Company. Any of you tried this? #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

Dragon prow motif beer taps by MK Carving & Sculpting for Odin Brewing Company. Any of you tried their brews? #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

It'd be like an awesome repeatable funeral in your backyard!  Note the cutout axe & triple-horn Óðrerir on the sail. [from ImagineMetalArt on Etsy.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

Mjölnir manifests as the levered screw top on this vintage hammer & anvil Avon bottle. [2.0 MP photo via my ye olde BlackBerry Curve.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

Many times one's Heathen Worldview changes how we see things, in particular, this boot I'm having to wear & clomp about in. And what does this orthotic hi-top franken-boot have to do with Norse Lore? My newfound corrective tread of doom makes one think of Víðarr , Odin's son who is slated to avenge his father by firmly planting his mega-boot constructed of all (yes, all ) the leftover scraps of leather from throughout time on Fenrir's jaw and fatally ripping the wolf's skull apart at Ragnarök. Having to wear something so outsized & uneven with my other shoe squarely puts me in Vidar's shoe, and makes me appreciate the awkward burden of his tool of vengeance. #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, e...

Sweden's Amon Amarth's been NorsePlaying since 1992 with 11 awesome albums that celebrate & lyrically explore Norse Mythology, and complement their music with stunning live theatrics: Here vocalist Johan Hegg's about to give world serpent Jörmungandr a pounding with Mjölnir while Johan Söderberg assists on guitar! [Photo by Axel Jusseit.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

The treasured containers for the Mead of Poetry, tri-horn vessels Óðrerir, Boðn, & Són crafted by Grimfrost for Vikings show creator/writer Michael Hirst. An exceptional NorsePlay out of the Edda s made into a beautifully functional representation! #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

To compliment yesterday's post, here is the other mural piece depicting Freyja . While the pointing arm on Frigg strategically covers her nipples, here Freyja is open-armed to rein her cat-mount , probably an enlarged Bygul or Trjegul that in the Norse Lore pulls her chariot, and holds a horn to call battle as she is also a War Goddess. Like Frigg, we believe this version was intended to be witch-like and partly unflattering (though this could just be medieval artistic conventions), but it again attests to the endurance of the goddess. #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e ...

While reading Prudence Jones & Nigel Pennick's A History of Pagan Europe , we came across an illustration of a 12th century CE depiction of Frigg riding a distaff on the wall of Schleswig Cathedral in Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany, and found this picture of it. Possibly an attempt to reduce the Goddess to a witch, but it also shows the Goddess' endurance as a figure still referential enough for inclusion in a church mural centuries after conversion. The flying distaff may reinforce the line of thought that her weaving was ritually akin to the Norns' weaving of destiny, which allowed her the secret knowledge of a future that she could never speak of to anyone else. [Photo by Alexander Foss.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythol...

Double-truck illustration of the Aesir in D'Aulaires' Norse Gods & Giants (1967, later titled Book of Norse Myths ), from our favourite collected adaptation of Norse Mythology. This for-all-ages retelling of Norse Lore sings so true and brims with wonderfully inspired art, it's priceless. Their take on Mjölnir as a meteoric-looking burly lump of iron always intrigued us, which clues in with the unfinished aspect of the hammer in its origin story. #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, o...

Aside from Marvel Thor being the longest-running NorsePlay around, the idea of Thor being a mantle instead of a being is an interesting one, and to compound that with a female worthy enough is very compelling, especially with the beautifully illustrated results by visual development artist John Staub. Of course Thor having to dress in drag as Freyja to win his hammer back from Jötunheimr is the precedent in Norse Lore, but Marvel's taking it one step further in both their comics & in  Thor: Love & Thunder , the fourth film of the series . #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay. ...

In a horrible supernatural turn of Alternate History WW2 events, the Norse Gods side with the Germans in a 1986 Hugo Award nominated short story by David Brin called Thor Meets Captain America . ( Go read it here .) This story later gets adapted & expanded into a great 2003 graphic novel from IDW titled The Life Eaters  illustrated by Scott Hampton. One only shudders to think ... but it makes for a terrific tale that turns our conceptions of the Gods on their ear. #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mytholo...

Possibly the most popular NorsePlay lit to date, Neil Gaiman's American Gods . While we prefer the 10th anniversary author's preferred text edition for reading, we've selected this Barnes & Noble leather edition to show off its handsome foil-stamped cover, faux french spine, the Óðrerir/Triple Horn Of Odin symbol on the front left in a bit too-clever post-modern contrast with the biohazard symbol on the front right, and Mjölnir nesting in gold on the rear bottom center. Stay tuned for the Starz TV series adaptation next year. #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mploym...

One might imagine that when Thor, Loki, & Þjálfi enter the Jotuns' Hall of Útgarðr that it may have borne some resemblance to this dining room of Sorrisniva AS's ice hotel in Norway ... except considerably larger. Carved anew every year from ice & snow, the interiors are otherworldly & evocative. #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

Illustration of Freyja by Seb McKinnon. A particularly svelte & youthful depiction, she rides her battle swine Hildisvíni in her falcon feathered cloak, making her selections from the fallen dead for inclusion to her afterlife field Fólkvangr and seats in her hall Sessrúmnir. Note the understated detail of her necklace Brísingamen. #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

While I never played Too Human , the Norse Mythology context for it was well done and it drew good elements from Warhammer 40K 's grim future, Halo's combat, and aspects of Marvel Thor 's design. The armoury of techchanted weapons alone seemed compelling enough. Before its bankruptcy, creator company Silicon Knights had intended a trilogy of these games, which I'd've been really interested to see the narrative of, and due to lawsuits, this game was digitally pulled from the market. [Cutscene & in-play storyline capture made by GamerPete.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If...

Scion 's a tabletop roleplaying game where one plays a descendant of the gods who takes part in a war against the jotuns/titans/giants & their world-threatening representatives on earth, and one of the featured example heroes is this pictured son of Thor who wields a revolver that features a small piece of Mjölnir on, well, the gun's hammer . There's even a Scion: Ragnarok expansion book. [Gamebooks produced by White Wolf and Onyx Path Publishing .] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field resea...