Sunday Symbols & their Meanings
no: 9 ~ Vegvísir
It’s been a while since I’ve done a Sunday’s Symbols post because we have been bottling our latest released mead. Now that it's available I can write about the symbols we stick on the new bottle labels.
For our new super yummy
Traditional Mead with Apple, I have chosen an old Icelandic symbol known as Vegvísir.
THIS SYMBOL WAS SAID TO KEEP ITS BEARER SAFE THROUGH BAD WEATHER
Vegvísir translates to Way Finder as it was used in magic as a way to help you find your way, obviously… So it's not exactly the “Viking compass” many people think it is. Vikings didn’t even use compasses.
It is recorded that Vegvísir's use was to help people through stormy or bad weather, though its meaning could also be a metaphor. It could have been for spiritual guidance and finding a way to travel though life with protection in general, as many use it for today.
The Huld Manuscript recommended Vegvísir's use as:
“Beri maður stafi þessa á sér villist maður ekki í hríðum né vondu veðri þó ókunnugur sé.”
Which roughly translates to:
“Carry this sign with you and you will not get lost in storms or bad weather, even though in unfamiliar surrounds.”
THE MEANING OF THIS SYMBOL COULD BE LITERAL AND/OR METAPHORICAL
I did a post a few months back on a very similar symbol, Ægishjálmur (Helm of Awe) which dates back to at least the 1600s in the Icelandic book, Galdrabók. The earliest recorded use of the Vegvísir is from a different book called the Huld Manuscript which dates back only to 1860 in Iceland. 800+ years after the Viking age.
There is no evidence of Vikings ever using this particular symbol, but that’s not to say that they didn’t. Iceland was excellent at keeping their pagan traditions, and so much has been lost during those centuries between. Though we simply don’t know for sure. The reason why I bring this up is because it’s used so strongly in the Viking-enthusiast communities.
The symbol is mostly seen today in tattoos. Usually these tattoos are the wrong way around, surrounded by runes that are in the wrong order, or next to runic quotes based on lines from modern fantasy movies.
THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT VIKINGS EVER USED THIS SYMBOL
I believe the symbol is much older than we think, though that’s just my opinion.
Happy Sun Day ⨁
Skål.
