NorsePlay.

  This chalkboard depiction of Thor reminds one of the dynamic pastel drawings of the D'Aulaires . It seems to be an exact moment of the hammer being released from Thor's hand, his red hair static'd into spikes, the lightning speed of Mjölnir having instantaneously struck, and the giants, trolls , draugr , and other monsters being physically obliterated into shades of themselves, perhaps even those shades being drawn into the black magnetic iron singularity of the hammer itself to be mercilessly consumed. [a pinterest find from a random search, so if anyone knows who drew this, do tell so we can attribute it.] #    #    # 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 Mid...

Branding is like 80% of sales in the cigar industry. Every year new lines launch at cigar industry shows dressed up with fancy labels in classy boxes to compete for shelf space at tobacconists everywhere. Naming products after titans or gods to add appeal and have positive associations is nothing new, but I was delighted to run across these Norse God cigars : Odin totally strikes one as a cigar smoker. Any cigar lounge could possibly be considered a Sessrúmnir, or "a hall of many seats". And of course some Thor named offerings: Given feasting culture , and Viking halls as both centers of religious & secular power, the idea of lighting up Nordic-themed cigars after these grand meals isn't out of the question. And in the what-if world where the Vikings retained beachheads in Vinland, perhaps they would have found a tribe with proto-cigar smoking customs from whom to import tobacco back home to Scandinavia , and then labels such as these would've be more prolific,...

The dwarves make this one-off thing for you, super-powerful, self-returning, electrical ly generating, requiring a belt & gloves to even handle, so with a dangerous naming that means "the crusher" or "that which smashes", you probably should have an instruction set for it , just in case. Or maybe you have a different model : [designs by moviemaniacs of Stotfold, United Kingdom.] #    #    # 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 .

  So we're not exactly sure why there's crazy mad Mjölnirs  getting whisked about a tower of ice chunks & bluish Northern Lights, but we just couldn't ignore what was going on. This book cover's from what seems to be an overly dramatic kids' chapter book series that includes collectible clue cards and an internet linked game, but we've no idea if it's actually any good. Rick Riordan of Magnus Chase fame also writes some installments of these, though not this one, but you'd think, right? And apparently the runes on the left foreground hammer read "butterfly"?!? So if you know, do leave a comment explaining how much NorsePlay is actually in this book. Thanks. #    #    # 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 & studi...

We suspect the scent choice of coffee on this Mjölnir car air freshener has something to do with Grimfrost principal &  Amon Amarth frontman Johan Hegg possibly having some metal social cross-pollination with Zakk Wylde's Valhalla Java , and while we couldn't prove it, the NorsePlay of that is probable. [Grimfrost offers this item 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 .

Arith Härger points out a striking similarity between the symbolic Mjölnir shape we all wear around our necks and the ritualistic hammer that Sami shamans use to thunder on their drums. [photo by Åge Hojem, frame drum from Nordland or Troms, part of the NTNU University Museum’s collection.] #    #    # 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 .

Thor's Hammer nightlight so one can be covered against frost giants and whatever else might be lurking in the dark. We like the TronSpiration of this design as well. #    #    # 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 .

Highly stylized sterling Icelandic Fossi Thor's Hammer. Pakabone has NorsePlay'd the zoomorphic/wolf's head into a more Osbergian version, while varying the surfacing between the crosspiece and endcaps. [by Pakabone 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 .

There's something compelling about C.H. Studio's matte black cast asymmetrically relieved Mjölnir . It's like Thor's Hammer in stealth mode. And the usual troth ring fitting being given capture terminals is a nice variant. #    #    # 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 .

In the Norse Lore, one of the convenient things about Thor's hammer is its dwarven-crafted ability to shrink down for easier everyday carry. Here a clever mother has reduced a granola bar on popsicle stick Marvel Mjölnir to fit in her son's lunchtime bento box as a worthy surprise! [lunch by Candy Girl (Cristi Messersmith) from her BentOnBetterLunches blog.] #    #    # 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 warhammer crafted for play in Amtgard! We appreciate the Valknut design on black "iron" padding, and wonder if this may be a way to acquire some applied warhammerist sparring skills. Do any of you participate in Amtgard? [found on imgur.] #    #    # 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 .

If you don't see Mjölnir in this lightning , then you need some Heathen Worldview corrective lenses. Note that it's over the Kremlin. Perhaps Thor's none-too-happy about the recent destruction of those Godpoles in western Russia and is bringing the thunder to remind The Russian Government (Правительство России) about respecting their Viking/Varangian origins? #    #    # 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 .

Thor looks so completely baffled at his own Mjölnir on this kids' fantasy series book cover, like someone gave him a upgrade when he wasn't looking. Any of you read this one? #    #    # 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 .

Marvel Thor-based Mjölnir toolbox concept drafted by David Delisle. #    #    # 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 .

Then a crafty Raven ran off with the Danish Rømersdal Mjölnir! #    #    # 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 .

Seems Joyo Pedals has NorsePlay'd their metal lunchbox amp by naming it  Mjölnir ! #    #    # 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 .

From Sabersmith Inc's Thor's Hammer line, a warhammer drilled to reduce weight for greater striking speed & recovery. This facet of construction could also NorsePlay into Mjölnir's origins of being incompletely forged by distracted dwarves Sindri & Brokkr. #    #    # 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 .

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 .

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...