Remember all the warriors that serve bravely
Thank you for your service and may the gods smile upon you 🧙🏻‍♂️ 🐦‍⬛

When amateur archaeologist and metal detectorist Morten Skovsby uncovered this tiny silver figurine near the village of Hårby in the southwest part of the Danish island of Funen, he knew exactly what to do. He documented the findspot immediately, and then took the artifact to the City Museum in nearby Odense. When the museum’s curator, Mogens Bo Henriksen, saw the figurine, he knew what it was. “There can hardly be any doubt,” he says, “that this depicts one of Odin’s valkyries.”

Norse myths, called sagas, tell of female figures called valkyries (from the Old Norse valkyrja meaning “chooser of the slain”). The valkyries were sent to battlefields by the god Odin to select which fallen warriors were worthy of afterlives in Valhalla, filled with feasts of wild boar and liquor milked from goats. Despite their prevalence in the sagas, depictions of valkyries are relatively rare. They are confined to Swedish picture stones dating to about A.D. 700 and a handful of Early Viking fibulae (brooches) from Sweden and Denmark. So this three-dimensional representation is unique.

The figurine, which would probably have been a pendant, is partly gilded, while other areas are colored black by niello, a mixture of copper, silver, and lead sulphides used as an inlay. The valkyrie wears a long patterned dress and carries a double-edged Viking sword in her right hand and a shield protecting her body in her left. Dating to about A.D. 800, the figurine was recovered near an excavated area known to have been a metal workshop. Perhaps, says Henriksen, it was discarded as waste. Or maybe it was raw material on the way to the melting pot. “For some unknown reason it didn’t make it that far—and that’s our good luck.”

Source: JA Lobell. Archaeology Magazine

Fallen warriors: A great grandfather, an uncle, and a cousin. Two died as a result of WWI and the other on D-Day. We will remember them. #remembrancesunday

A warrior is not a profession; it is a state of consciousness. It is independent of gender, age, education, or origin. One is either born with it or cultivates it throughout life, becoming someone who is physically incapable of lying because lying destroys the world and violates its eternal laws.

Ksenia Menshikova
"Runes: A Warrior's Weapon"
Available on Amazon

doing a little slack-lining in the backyard. nimble warrior, perhaps?

In the ancient lands of the Norse, there lived a young warrior named Bjorn. Bjorn was known for his bravery and strength, but he often felt a mysterious presence guiding him through his battles. One night, as he sat by the fire, an old seer approached him and spoke of the fylgja, a guardian spirit that accompanies a person throughout their life.
Curious, Bjorn asked the seer to tell him more. The seer explained that a fylgja could take the form of an animal, often reflecting the person’s inner nature. It could be a wolf, a bear, or even a raven. This spirit would appear in dreams or visions, offering guidance and protection.
Bjorn began to pay closer attention to his dreams. One night, he dreamt of a majestic eagle soaring high above the mountains. The eagle’s keen eyes seemed to pierce through the darkness, showing Bjorn the path to victory. When he awoke, he felt a newfound sense of clarity and purpose.
In the following battles, Bjorn fought with the strength and precision of an eagle. He led his people to many victories, always feeling the presence of his fylgja guiding him. The villagers began to speak of Bjorn’s connection to the spirit world, and he became a legend in his own time.
Years later, as Bjorn grew older, he often reflected on the guidance of his fylgja. He realized that the eagle had not only been a protector but also a symbol of his own inner strength and wisdom. With gratitude, he honored the spirit that had been with him throughout his life, knowing that the bond between a warrior and their fylgja was eternal.

Valhalla label artwork for my shop Valkyrie Beard Care. Each has a bindrune, color and icon representing it. This bindrune incorporates:

Tiwaz (ᛏ) – The rune of Tyr, representing honor, justice, and the warrior’s path. For Valhalla, it’s the ultimate symbol of the noble fight, the bravery that leads a warrior to fall in battle with honor, securing their place in Odin’s Hall. The fallen heroes of Valhalla exemplify this courageous energy.

Algiz (ᛉ) – The protective rune, symbolizing divine protection and the sacred space of Valhalla. It guards the hall of the chosen warriors, where they are safe under the watch of the gods. In this bindrune, it represents that spiritual shield that keeps Valhalla as a sacred and protected place.

Ansuz (ᚨ) – The rune of Odin, symbolizing wisdom, communication, and divine inspiration. It ties the warriors to Odin’s wisdom and guidance, reminding us that Valhalla is not just a place of feasting and celebration but also of learning and spiritual growth, under the Allfather’s watchful eye.

This combination speaks to the honorable passage of a warrior—protected by divine forces, guided by Odin’s wisdom, and celebrated for their courage.

www.valkyriebeardcare.com

My latest label artwork for my shop Valkyrie Beard Care. Each will have a bindrune, color and icon representing it. This bindrune incorporates:

Raido (ᚱ) – Positioned at the top:
This rune stands for journey, movement, and travel. For the Vikingr, it embodies the physical and spiritual paths they traverse, whether it’s sailing across oceans or walking the path of fate. Raido also brings structure to chaos, a sense of purpose, and guidance in the pursuit of destiny. It's the force driving the Vikingr forward, towards adventure and conquest.


Algiz (ᛉ) – In the center:
A rune of protection, sacred power, and defense. It’s often seen as a shield, safeguarding the Vikingr both physically in battle and spiritually from harm. It represents the connection to the gods and higher powers, providing divine protection in dangerous situations. For the Vikingr, this rune ensures that they walk their perilous path with the gods watching over them, granting them the strength to ward off threats.

Laguz (ᛚ) – At the bottom:
The water rune, associated with the flow of life, intuition, and the unknown depths. For the Vikingr, Laguz reflects their connection to the sea, which played a vital role in their journeys and livelihoods. It also represents adaptability, allowing them to flow with changing circumstances, to trust their instincts, and to navigate the unseen currents of fate. It brings a mystical, almost subconscious element to their warrior spirit, signifying that not all battles are fought with brute strength—some are won with intuition and inner guidance.

Together, these runes form a powerful image of a Vikingr—one who moves with purpose (Raido), fights with the protection of the gods (Algiz), and flows with the unpredictable forces of life (Laguz). It's a perfect balance of action, defense, and adaptability, making this bindrune far more nuanced than a simple warrior symbol.

www.valkyriebeardcare.com

[Work in Progress] Draugr, artwork being produced for Valkyrie Beard Care.

PERSPECTIVE: I tried to make this dude look eerie but really capture a sense of doom or dread surrounding him. The paint coming off of him is also supposed to symbolize the stench and disease they emit from great distances away.

SCENT: Petrichor (Rain), Wet Moss, Seaweed, Decayed Leather, Rusted Chainmail, Dead Leaves, Ancient Oud, Dark Musk

TYPE: Masculine, Earthy, Macabre

INSPIRATION: Deep within Norse lore, Draugrs are feared as undead beings, often described as the reanimated corpses of warriors. They guard their treasures fiercely and are known for their strength, stench of decay, and the dark aura that surrounds them. This scent captures the essence of these ancient guardians. You read that right. I was deeply inspired by the undead for this unique scent, aiming to evoke the essence of undead ancestral warriors without making you smell like actual death.

FUN FACT: It took me at least a half hour to get his eyes right because I kept accidentally giving him googly eyes. LOL