SOUL AND AFTERLIFE
The Old Norse concept of the soul was complex and different from the philosophical ideas that permeate Christian theology. There was no dualistic relationship between soul and body; rather, according to the sources they were inseparable (Hdv 95).
The human will was expressed by the term hugr, but the emotions by hjarta and modr. Hamr sometimes expressed something that is reminiscent of ideas of a soul, although this was a materialized soul (Stromback 2000: 229-30). Some people even possessed the skill of shape-shifting, that is, changing into a different identity as another person or an animal - they were not einhamr, “having one soul” (Eyr ch. 61). Odinn was known for shape-shifting, taking the form of a bird, an animal or a snake (Hkr ch. 7). The soul was not believed to depart from the body after death like a shadow, as was the belief in ancient Greece, for example. It only existed in the living body. When the Scandinavian regions became Christianized a word for “soul” was imported from one of the western Germanic languages as the Norse loan-word sdla, with modern cognates such as Norwegian sjel, Swedish sjal and Danish sjael worshippers part of their fortune. The Vanir were specialized in seidr, magic (see below), and were able to spa, that is, to change the outcome of an event to their own favour. The great Vanadis, also known as the goddess Freyja, was especially skilled in seidr and taught Odinn this art. Seidr was usually regarded as dangerous and reflects an ambiguous feature of the god’s character. The Vanir were also accused of having incestuous relations before they joined the /Esir, but this was forbidden for the /Esir (ibid.·. 65-6). When the Vanir lived among the /Esir they had to find new wives, says Snorri Sturluson (Hkr ch. 4; Ls 36). Nevertheless, Odinn sired horr with his own daughter Jord (Gif ch. 12).The Vanir seem to be related to the dlfar, deities of the underworld.
Freyr’s abode is called Alfheim, where mythical figures like Alfhild, Alfarin, Alfgeir and Gandalf (a dwarf in Vdluspa) also live. A petty king in Geirsta in Norway was worshipped in his grave mound as the Geirsta-alf, since people believed that he would supply them with good harvests and protect them from famine in the future (Nasstrom 1995: 61).According to Snorri’s tale, the war between the /Esir and the Vanir was fought in a mythical place before they reached the north. Nothing is mentioned about the casus belli. Snorri Sturluson only mentions Odinn’s attack after which he discusses the peace which brought Njdrdr, Freyr and Freyja as hostages to the world of /Esir (Hkr 4). The Vdluspd hints that the war was caused by the Vanir seeress Gullveig or Heidr, but does not mention the exchange of hostages (Vsp 21-6). Much has been said about this war and the ensuing peace, but the meaning of the myth seems to be a harmonization of the two families of gods representing warriors and peasants in either a social or sexual perspective (Dumezil 1959: 3-39: Clunies Ross 1994: 89-102).
More on the topic SOUL AND AFTERLIFE:
- The Afterlife
- REALIZING THE FULL POTENTIAL OF THE SOUL
- The Afterlife
- Violence in the Afterlife
- THE TELEOLOGY OF THE ENLIGHTENED SOUL
- From antiquity to the modern day, the wellbeing of body and soul and its management is reliant upon fathoming the hidden: agents veiled by their inaccessibility to immediate senses—such as viruses—or their existence beyond nature—such as spirits.
- Afterlife and Reception of Byzantine Law
- THE PLATONIC EDUCATION IN HUMAN EXCELLENCE
- Changing Dimensions
- Reform Movements in Europe and the United States