*This was originally compiled and posted by Sorn during his long tenure as Ritari. It has been reposted here in an effort to collect all our resources on our new site.
Modern Heathen Beliefs about the Afterlife
“The present life of man, O king, seems to me, in comparison of that time which is unknown to us, like to the swift flight of a sparrow through the room wherein you sit at supper in winter, with your commanders and ministers, and a good fire in the midst, whilst the storms of rain and snow prevail abroad; the sparrow, I say, flying in at one door, and immediately out at another, whilst he is within, is safe from the wintry storm; but after a short space of fair weather, he immediately vanishes out of your sight, into the dark winter from which he had emerged. So this life of man appears for a short space, but of what went before, or what is to follow, we are utterly ignorant.” –attributed to a follower of King Edwin of Northumbria in Bede’s Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum
Existence in a different world (or something very like it)
1. The Realms of the Gods
A. Valholl/Glaðsheimr
i. Literature: Poetic Edda (Grimnismal, Helgakviða Hundingsbana II, Hyndluljoð, Voluspa), Prose Edda (Gylfaginning, Skaldskaparmal), Skaldic Poetry (esp. Eiriksmal and Hakonarmal), Sagas (esp. Heimskringla, Njals, Gautreks, Gisla)
ii. Physical Evidence: Rune and Image stones (esp. Stenbro, Tangelgarda, and Tjangvide stones from Gotland)
iii. Vingolf? (Gylfaginning)
B. Sessrumnir/Folkvangr
i. Poetic Edda (Grimnismal), Prose Edda (Gylfaginning), Egils saga (?- Thorgerð’s words to Egil before he composes Sonatorrek), Hjaðningavig/the legend of Heðinn and Hogni/Saga of Hild(?)
ii. Gefjon? (Gyflaginning)
C. Other Gods’ Halls: Modern UPG often based off readings of Harbarðsljoð andGrimnismal
2. Other Otherworldly Destinations
A. Hel/Helheim
i. Gesta Danorum (? Book I- Hadingus’s journey to the underworld), Poetic Edda (Baldrs draumar, Grimnismal, Guðrunarkviða I, Helreið Brynhildar, Svipdagsmal, Vafthruðnismal, Voluspa), Prose Edda (Gylfaginning)
ii. Gimli and Nastrond: Voluspa, Gylfaginning
iii. Niflhel: Baldrs draumar, Vafthruðnismal, Gylfaginning
B. The halls of Ran and Ægir: Poetic Edda (Helgakviða Hundingsbana I, Helgakviða Hjorvarðssonar), Sagas (Eyrbyggja, Friðthjofs)
Existence in this world (or something very like it)
1. The Burial Mound
A. Literature: Poetic Edda (Helgakviða Hundingsbana II, ) Sagas (esp. Friðthjofs, Gisla, Heimskringla, Njals)
B. Physical: Numerous mounds, often containing grave goods (esp. Anundshog, Gokstad ship, Oseberg ship)
C. Mound worship
2. Mountains/Hills: Eyrbyggja saga (Helgafell), Landnamabok, Njals saga (Kaldbak)
3. Draugr: Multiple sagas (including Egils saga einhenda ok Asmundar berserkjabana, Eyrbggyja, Grettis, Laxdæla)
4. Reincarnation: Helgakviða Hjorvarðssonar, Helgakviða Hundingsbana II, Olafs saga Helga (Flateyjarbok), Sigurðarkviða hin skamma, Starkaðr
A. Inheriting fylgja, hamingja, similar, particularly when sharing a name (esp. Hallfreðar saga, Vatnsdæla saga, Viga-Glums saga)
Miscellaneous: The account of Ahmad ibn Fadlan, ship burials, Viga-Glums saga, alfar and disir, atheist and agnostic ideas
#afterlife, #handout
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