NorsePlay.

Given the current darkening of seasons, I've decided to finally examine what mythical Nordic horrors lie within the cinematic forest of Netflix's film  The Ritual (2017 CE, based on Adam Nevill's 2011 CE novel). Like other offerings in the folk horror subgenre, The Ritual also crosspollinates this with the tropes of a monster film , and given its Norse Lore context, it's definitely a NorsePlay from its following elements: 1. The Runes.  Mysteriously carved far too high up on tree trunks out in the middle of a nowhere wilderness forest adjacent to Sweden 's  270-mile King's Trail (Kungsleden), are various runes , mainly Othala (ᛟ), Algiz (ᛉ), and Nauthiz (ᚾ), two also visible as hanging ornaments/ amulet s in the cabin. There's alot in the Norse Lore pinned upon the runes, the most compelling being Odin's  Rúnatal where the Allfather lists the magical uses for them. 2. Human Sacrifice.  The hikers lose one of their party during the night, waking to fin...

There are a lot of podcasts, so the trick is to figure out which are worth listening to, but by the time you've worked your way through one or more episodes, you've either struck gold or taken a bullet, and just with the sheer number of 'casts, it's more likely you've bet on a loser. The prevalent mediocrity of this infotaining medium is that many instead rely on the idea of obnoxious morning show radio DJ personas rather than doing justice to their episode's subject, barely giving a surface level presentation that gets lost between the weak attempts at humour and self-indulgent prattle. Given all that, I should warn you away from Blurry Photos . ⸶  Yet before you completely take my word for it, bookending their Runes episode there's an unexpectedly funny NorsePlay audiosketch where Loki gives Odin a giftcard to Starbucks at the front-end, and a pretty clever Loki on social media skit at the back. So unless you know absolutely nothing about runes , don...

  Most Viking history texts tend to reference this wonderful bit of runic graffiti, but hardly ever show it, so NorsePlay has decided to feature this detailed photo of Halvdan's inscription. Probably carved by a bored Viking turned Varangian Guardsman while having to endure a tedious mass while standing in the upper gallery of the Church of Hagia Sophia, his action was definitely counter to the preached values of humility he was hearing and more from his Arch-Heathen worldview of establishing reputation and leaving your mark of achievement forever on the world. In this simple way, Halvdan has succeeded. Note Halvdan wasn't the only sermon-bored Varangian either as there are two more runic inscriptions, and possibly five on top of that awaiting valid confirmation, along with carvings of four drakkar Viking ships! Arinbárðr was another identifiable name, but his carving is much less readable than Halvdan's. In Byzantium, an environment where literal cutthroat politics always...

In some sagas there are prized & especially wrought tunics that impart an armor-like magical invulnerability to the wearer. While the photo illustration selected here's styled more like an overstated medieval court wizard's robe, one might design a saga-period tunic using the runes integrated into the embroidery or hidden in the lining.  Within the Hávamál 's 18 runic spells enumerated in the Ljóðatal there are specific runes designed to protect one in battle, so perhaps this NorsePlay points out the operative metaphysics behind the tunics' invulnerability. Made by occult print brand Killstar, if one were to go beyond this to design a contemporary version of an enchanted tunic such as the sagas mention, there might be no need to secret away the runic elements in our modern society . [And a unisex/men's version.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy o...

We loved Midsommar as a horror film, and that's its function.  While NorsePlay's all about media that uses the Norse Lore, as an incidental conveyance for Lore  Midsommer requires some explaining. [Spoilers happening now.] With the subgenre of folk horror, traditions & folklore become subverted & alienized to provoke uncertainty & fear. That's a horror film's job, and Midsommer co-opts four specific things from the Lore to help its story do this: 1. The Runes. Stitched in clothing, painted in folk art inside wall murals, handwritten in a book, and on two rather fake looking runestones, Midsommer uses the Runes as indecipherable roadsigns to sub/consciously make the viewer anxious about where the film's driving them. Aesthetically, the Runes by themselves evoke a mysterious & magical feel . In the Lore, the Hávamál explains that through Odin's self-sacrifice he gains knowledge of the Runes  as a writing system, as associative symb...

The short art video Æ'siala ià Skjugge by Danish Heathen  runecrafter  Ræveðis . We love how creepy cryptic this is, with the videography feel of a 1990s industrial music video on VHS, married to Trollhunter /The Blair Witch Project/Marble Hornets horror film aesthetics. #    #    # 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 Marvel geography of Asgard re-imagined by MovieManiacsDesign 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 .

Cloth map exclusive to the God of War Stone Mason Edition with annotations deciphering the runic script. In game, dwarven mastercrafters Sindri & Brokk create this very map for Faye. #    #    # 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 Younger Futhark alphabet classroom poster designed by Icelandic graphic artist Siggi Oddsson. It's neat seeing things like a helicopter and automobile as associated icons to help learn the runes and pull them forward in time to the present. [ available here from the The Icelandic Magic Company.] #    #    # 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 .

Because the Futhark always leaves an impression. We feel someone should retrofit a typewriter with these. [on Etsy from metalsupplychick.] #    #    # 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 .

Graphic artist Siggi Oddsson 's runic re-design of the Icelandic licorice candy lozenge package for Opal. In Odds' runification of popular logos, he shows examples of an alternate reality where the conversion never happened, and the use of the Fuþark had endured to the present. We feel the clever idea of this exploration could be impetus for cultural & religious reclaiming. [photo by Eygló Gísladóttir.] #    #    # 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,...

Oakes Design reclaims a saw blade to NorsePlay into a runic ally pyrographed axe! Such post-purposing speaks of a contemporary or/and near future continuity for the Viking Age. #    #    # 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 band Heilung is a Nordic occult fantasy come to life with shamanic costumery, droning trance-inducing vocals, onstage runecasting, and ritual . Maria Franz in wondrous antler crowned eye-fringed headress & trollwise paint , Christopher Juul on drum at left, and Kai Uwe Faust in an equally intimidating masked costume using alot of animal teeth out of frame. (Aesthetic comparison: If you love Wardruna , you'll enjoy Heilung.) [photo credit to Kees Stravers from the 2017 Castlefest.] #    #    # 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  inve...

Huginn's Heathen Hof's Sveinn Ullarson scripted this digital Runic Keyboard for PC! [download it here .] #    #    # 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 .

NorsePlay would like to take a moment to use its massive social media pull to insist Wardruna add a Tucson date to their 2018 North American tour. You could easily slip us in that week between Boulder and Nantes. If you come we will buy you horns of Tucson's incomparable world-class craft beer. [Photo from Wardruna’s second concert at Vikingskipshuset (The Viking Ship Museum) in Oslo, Norway on March 30, 2010.] #    #    # 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,...

In a no-conversion scenario, a cursive Futhark might have developed. The idea's still a valid one, and if we re-embrace & restore ritual/artistic/communicative use of the runes as way of building Asatru/Heathen Worldview, then something more script-like could evolve, a more truly connected cursive, and become useful. We would love to see a font developed from this. [by Erik Parsels of Middle Earth Craftworks.] #    #    # 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 o...

Online slot machine themed Valhalla . The reels feature runes, Loki, Freyja, Thor, Heimdal, Odin, and a Valkyrie. And if you pick the door to Valhalla you can double your winnings. Any of you tried this? [made by Wazdan.] # # # 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 then 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 employment/opportunities in investigative mythology, field research, or product development to offer, do contact him .

A rune-skinned Hel from Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice from developer Ninja Theory on PS4 & Windows. #    #    # 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 reading the Rune series of novels by Joanne Harris, we wondered how the characters used their specific mudras-like finger positions and gestures to cast their runespells. While there's been posited systems of "runic yoga" and ecstatic trance body positions, Harris places this concept in hand's reach, and shows how it's done here . #    #    # 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 grim & wonderous Ribe human skull fragment! Presented here in black & white so you can read the runes, this Danish artifact from circa 725 CE states: Ulf and Odin and High-Tyr is help for Bur against these: pain and dwarf-stroke. Bur Thought to be an magical amulet (note the necklace hole) against illness. Given that the word "stroke" has also been translated as "sword", we also wonder if this could be a battle charm since a warrior would also have need against pain to endure, and protection versus superior weapons, of which "dwarf-sword" could be a kenning for. [Housed at the Vikingeskibs Museet.] #    #    # 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 ...