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Showing posts from January, 2017

inappropriate Cards Against Heathenry.

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Probably the most gaspingly wrong response card from Cards Against Heathenry , this subject specific variant NorsePlay game contains Norse Lore at its most ingloriously lewd, Ásatrú books both malapropismed & questionably sourced, name dropping of renowned Heathen public figures from all organizations, and references to well-loved Heathen podcasts past & present. [Available here as PDF-printable, or finished card set .  Apologies to Freyja for using this too-effective example, and thanks to Vincent Enlund & Heathen Talk for bringing this to our attention.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand Nors...

Wonder Woman borrows Mjölnir.

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Wonder Woman takes a swing with what looks like Mjölnir on one of last year's USPS postage stamp issues! We could totally see Thor making a resort stop on balmy Paradise Island and loaning The Crusher to help a noble & divine girlfriend out. It's a timely choice given Marvel Studios film successes and the upcoming Wonder Woman movie this summer. #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

melee weapons ready for Vígríðr.

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The Harrows of Vigrid , a matchless sword & dagger forged by André Andersson, ready for Ragnarök! #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

the fate of Thor.

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Son of Odin by quetza (Jorge Garza) on DeviantArt, available as a shirt on TeePublic. While I wouldn't believe Thor having such a look of tired resignation, there's a Wagner ianly fateful pathos the artist has imparted to his face & forward slumped shoulders as he goes to meet Jörmungandr at the end of time in this Kirby -esque re-visioning. #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

Gungnir is always a hit.

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Andrew Strauss' interpretive rendering of Gungnir as a print from his StraussArt Etsy shop. [He's also got a skillful version of Nótt and Thor's Hammer on there , too.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

Odinic stele/pendant combo.

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If we already didn't have a terrific bronze Odin statue on my altar, we'd probably spring for this carving, complete with Hávamál stanza 137 cut in red runes on the back! [Carved & crafted by Meeresrauch on Etsy.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

now with MjölnirGlow™.

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Hammer "bead"/key fob with autoluminous tubelette of tritium gas in the handle so it glows for 10 years! The scalloped/hammered handle so makes this. [Crafted by Spalinger Gear.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

Odin's bullseye equipment.

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Custom leather archery quiver with amazing handtooled design of Allfather Odin surrounded by his animal familiars. [Made by BeastmanCaravan on Etsy.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

call Thor now.

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Seward Johnson's 2009 CE copy of The Awakening (1980 CE) sculpture in Missouri evokes parallels to a rising Jotun ! Note the giant's scale against the trees and lampposts. #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

Chasing Magnus through the Norse Lore.

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The unwritten criticism of young adult offerings (and it's not a genre, it's a  market ) is that none ever seem to pass the bar of its progenitor J.K. Rowling -- all else that follows Harry Potter's been derivative. Nor have they been able to strike such a grand balance between character & world-building as Rowling. That bar still remains unapproached by Rick Riordan's latest trilogy series launch,  Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer , though you'd think with the richness of Norse Lore to draw from it might surpass the young wizard, but  Magnus  makes for a fun read. Much like Riordan's  Percy Jackson  series, our titular protagonist has a mystery daddy, is a  streetwise kid,   has an important prophecy at age 16 event to propel their plot, and much internal thought reactions of sophomoric adolescent "smartness" in their texts for the teen reader & young-at-heart to identify with. And our newly chosen hero & his v...

so you want a burning ship burial.

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Ask A Mortician 's charming Caitlin Doughty points out the historic & incendiary foibles involved in the fiery Viking ship burial , while suggesting a more correct version, along with a smaller alternative as well. Grrr to legalities on the road to Valhalla. #  #  # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

the hammer of beers.

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Like its namesake, this Canadian brewed barley wine ale takes care of business. Yet with even a head smashing 11.5% strength it's still got enough carmel & dried fruit notes to dress its brutal intentions up nicely, if you can get past the frustrating gold wax dipped & sealed bottlecap! #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

a 21st century Freyja.

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While irreverently NorsePlay'd, it's certainly awareness wearable pop cult modern. #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

a dwarven airship.

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Dwarves get NorsePlay'd as "Squats" in the grim future of Warhammer 40K. These once-human colonists were separated from their intergalactic forefathers on high-gravity mining worlds for millennia. In the interim they grew, well, squatter in build and essentially became supercrafty space dwarves who came up with this Overlord Airship , first for mining gaseous giants of their atmospheric liquid metals, then adapting them for battle. Note the runes and flaming hammer icon along the nose. #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology...

vikings are always on the silver standard.

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Just ran across this while cyberviking for some more hoard. While they're limited edition silver bullion and thus wayyy over market asking price, they're still really boss. [Made by Scottsdale Mint as an exclusive for APMEX Inc.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

hammer with stave compass.

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Mjölnir pendant cleverly cross-pollinated with debossed Icelandic Vegvísir stave compass , and in tegrating the hole (we posit possibly a looking focus or power opening) from both the Skåne & Fossi hammers. [made by G3survival on Etsy.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

Lester Del Rey's "Day Of The Giants".

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Long out-of-print and originally published in a shorter version titled  When The World Tottered  in 1950, Lester Del Rey ambitiously tackles the Twilight of the Gods in his 128-page novella. Most authors take the easy way out by instead writing a story about nearly avoiding doomsday, but Del Rey rises to the challenge and gives the audience the lead-up and final battle ... but perhaps not just as prophesied.  A predecessor to Greg van Eekhout's  Norse Code , Del Rey delivered  Ragnarök  fifty years earlier in the genre. An inexplicably long winter strikes, vexing weathermen, and causing worldwide privation, the results of which start communal breakdown & vigilantism in Leif Svensen's small rural town. Only because of their ancestors' stories do Leif & his recently returned prodigal brother Lee even think to reference  Fimbulwinter, and when a mysterious hitchhiker also happens to mention the prophesied world-ending final winter, do the pie...