Vegvísir
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The vegvísir
A Vegvísir (Icelandic 'sign post') is an Icelandic magical stave intended to help the bearer find their way through rough weather. The symbol is attested in the Huld Manuscript, collected in Iceland by Geir Vigfusson in 1860 (but consisting of material of earlier origin).[1]
A leaf of the manuscript[2] provides an image of the vegvísir, gives its name, and, in prose, declares that "if this sign is carried, one will never lose one's way in storms or bad weather, even when the way is not known".[3]
A simplified version of the 'Vegvísir' has seen use as a tattoo, most notably by the Icelandic singer-songwriter Björk. However, this simplification of the symbol essentially makes it incorrect, and therefore affects the meaning of the charm.[4]
Notes
- ↑ Flowers (1989:83).
- ↑ Vigfusson (1860:p60)
- ↑ Flowers (1989:88).
- ↑ http://spiritslip.blogspot.ca/2013/10/travel-well.html
References
- Flowers, Stephen (1989). The Galdrabók: An Icelandic Grimoire. Samuel Weiser, Inc. ISBN 0-87728-685-X
- Vigfusson, Geir (1860). Huld. (Full text)
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.