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Showing posts from January, 2017

inappropriate Cards Against Heathenry.

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Probably the most gaspingly wrong response card from Cards Against Heathenry , this subject specific variant NorsePlay game contains Norse Lore at its most ingloriously lewd, Asatru books both malapropismed & questionably sourced, name dropping of renowned Heathen public figures from all organizations, and references to well-loved Heathen podcasts past & present. [Available here as PDF-printable, or finished card set .] [Apologies to Freya for using this too-effective example, and thanks to Vincent Enlund & Heathen Talk for bringing this to our attention.] #    #    # 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 mpl

Wonder Woman borrows Mjölnir.

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Wonder Woman takes a swing with what looks like Mjölnir on one of last year's USPS postage stamp issues! We could totally see Thor making a resort stop on balmy Paradise Island and loaning The Crusher to help a noble & divine girlfriend out. It's a timely choice given Marvel Studios film successes and the upcoming Wonder Woman movie this summer. #    #    # 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 .

melee weapons ready for Vígríðr.

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The Harrows of Vigrid , a matchless sword & dagger forged by André Andersson, ready for Ragnarök! #    #    # 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 fate of Thor.

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Son of Odin by quetza (Jorge Garza) on DeviantArt, available as a shirt on TeePublic. While I wouldn't believe Thor having such a look of tired resignation, there's a Wagnerianly fateful pathos the artist has imparted to his face & forward slumped shoulders as he goes to meet Jormungand at the end of time in this Kirby-esque re-visioning. #    #    # 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 .

Gungnir is always a hit.

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Andrew Strauss' interpretive rendering of Gungnir as a print from his StraussArt Etsy shop. [He's also got a skillful version of Nótt and Thor's Hammer on there, too.] #    #    # 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 .

Odinic stele/pendant combo.

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If we already didn't have a terrific bronze Odin statue on my altar, we'd probably spring for this carving, complete with Hávamál stanza 137 cut in red runes on the back! [Carved & crafted by Meeresrauch 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 .

now with MjölnirGlow™.

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Hammer "bead"/key fob with autoluminous tubelette of tritium gas in the handle so it glows for 10 years! The scalloped/hammered handle so makes this. [Crafted by Spalinger Gear.] #    #    # 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 .

Odin's bullseye equipment.

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Custom leather archery quiver with amazing handtooled design of Allfather Odin surrounded by his animal familiars. [Made by BeastmanCaravan 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 .

call Thor now.

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Seward Johnson's 2009 copy of The Awakening (1980) sculpture in Missouri evokes parallels to a rising Jotun ! Note the giant's scale against the trees and lampposts. #    #    # 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 .

Chasing Magnus through the Norse Lore.

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The unwritten criticism of young adult offerings (and it's not a genre, it's a  market ) is that none ever seem to pass the bar of its progenitor J.K. Rowling -- all else that follows Harry Potter's been derivative. Nor have they been able to strike such a grand balance between character & world-building as Rowling. That bar still remains unapproached by Rick Riordan's latest trilogy series launch,  Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer , though you'd think with the richness of Norse Lore to draw from it might surpass the young wizard, but  Magnus  makes for a fun read. Much like Riordan's  Percy Jackson  series, our titular protagonist has a mystery daddy, is a  streetwise kid,   has an important prophecy at age 16 event to propel their plot, and much internal thought reactions of sophomoric adolescent "smartness" in their texts for the teen reader & young-at-heart to identify with. And our newly chosen hero & his var

so you want a burning ship burial.

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Ask A Mortician 's charming Caitlin Doughty points out the historic & incendiary foibles involved in the fiery viking ship burial , while suggesting a more correct version, along with a smaller alternative as well. Grrr to legalities on the road to Valhalla. #  #  # 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 hammer of beers.

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Like its namesake, this Canadian brewed barley wine ale takes care of business. Yet with even a head smashing 11.5% strength it's still got enough carmel & dried fruit notes to dress its brutal intentions up nicely, if you can get past the frustrating gold wax dipped & sealed bottlecap! #    #    # 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 .

a 21st century Freyja.

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While irreverently NorsePlay'd, it's certainly awareness wearable pop cult modern. #    #    # 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 .

a dwarven airship.

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Dwarves get NorsePlay'd as "Squats" in the grim future of Warhammer 40K. These once-human colonists were separated from their intergalactic forefathers on high-gravity mining worlds for millennia. In the interim they grew, well, squatter in build and essentially became super crafty space dwarves who came up with this Overlord Airship , first for mining gaseous giants of their atmospheric liquid metals, then adapting them for battle. Note the runes and flaming hammer icon along the nose. #    #    # 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

vikings are always on the silver standard.

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Just ran across this while cyberviking for some more hoard. While they're limited edition silver bullion and thus wayyy over market asking price, they're still really boss. Made by Scottsdale Mint as an exclusive for APMEX Inc. #    #    # 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 .

hammer with stave compass.

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Mjölnir pendant cleverly cross-pollinated with debossed Icelandic Vegvísir stave compass , and in tegrating the hole (we posit possibly a looking focus or power opening) from both the Skåne & Fossi hammers. [made by G3survival 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 .

Lester Del Rey's "Day Of The Giants".

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Long out-of-print and originally published in a shorter version titled  When The World Tottered  in 1950, Lester Del Rey ambitiously tackles the Twilight of the Gods in his 128-page novella. Most authors take the easy way out by instead writing a story about nearly avoiding doomsday, but Del Rey rises to the challenge and gives the audience the lead-up and final battle ... but perhaps not just as prophesied.  A predecessor to Greg van Eekhout's  Norse Code , Del Rey delivered  Ragnarök  fifty years earlier in the genre. An inexplicably long winter strikes, vexing weathermen, and causing worldwide privation, the results of which start communal breakdown & vigilantism in Leif Svensen's small rural town. Only because of their ancestors' stories do Leif & his recently returned prodigal brother Lee even think to reference  Fimbulwinter, and when a mysterious hitchhiker also happens to mention the prophesied world-ending final winter, do the pieces begin to fall into pl