Lady Victoria Eclectic Pagan's blog: "The Norse Realm"

Nine Worlds A graphic depiction of the Nine Worlds in Norse cosmology, which is divided into three realms. These are: In the Upper Realm: Asgard, the abode of the Aesir, ruled by Odin, the chief of the Norse Gods. Vanaheim, the abode of the Vanir. Alfheim, the world of elves, ruled by Freyr. Below, connected to the upper realm by Bifrost, the rainbow bridge: Midgard, meaning "middle earth," this is the abode of humanity, the physical plane. Midgard is surrounded by the Ocean, the abode of the world serpent Jormungand. Jotunheim, the home of the Jotuns, or giants. Svartalfheim, the world of the dark elves, an underground kingdom. The lowest level, the Land of the Dead, also has three realms: Niflheim, a frozen wasteland, eternal darkness, ruled by the Goddess Hel. Muspelheim, the realm of the fire giants. Hel, the abode of the dead. Helm of Awe (ægishjálmr) The Helm of Awe is magical symbol of protection used by early Vikings. Worn between the eyes, it may have been intended to confer invincibility in the wearer or instill fear in one's enemies. Today, it is used as a charm of protection by Asatru believers. Jormungandr Also known as: Iormungand, Jormungand Jormundgandr is the son of the mischievous God Loki and the Frost Goddess Angrboda. He is a monstrous serpent, destined to die by Thor's hand at the battle of Ragnarok. According to legend, Odin, in an attempt to forestall the inevitable, captured the great snake and threw him into the ocean, where he grew so large, he encircled the earth. He is also known as the Midgard Serpent. Jormungandr is sometimes pictured with three heads, symbolic of his existence in all three realms of Norse Cosmology. Thor's Hammer (Mjolnir) Mjolnir, or Thor's Hammer, is an ancient Norse symbol, a stylized representation of the legendary magical weapon of the Norse God Thor. "Mjolnir" means "lightning," and symbolized the God's power over Thunder and Lightning. The Hammer Mjolnir was said to always return after it had been thrown. The Thor's Hammer amulet was worn frequently by believers as a symbol of protection- a practice so popular it continued even after most of the Norse population had converted to Christianity. In modern times, is often used as an emblem of recognition for members of the Asatru faith, or as a symbol of Norse heritage. A later form of the Mjolnir is called the Wolf's Cross, or Dragon's Cross, and was associated with early Norse Christianity. Runes Runes are a Norse alphabet developed around 200 BCE, from characters used for magical purposes. It was believed to have been discovered by Odin as he hung upside down and wounded for nine days on the World Tree Yggdrasil. There are three commonly known runic alphabets: the 'elder' and 'younger' Futhark (futhark being the transliteration of the first few letters of that alphabet), the Anglo-Saxon futhork, and the Danish 'short twig' or script alphabet. The word 'rune' literally means a 'whisper' or 'secret.' The Elder Futhark is the oldest, and consists of three sets of eight letters; there have been as many as thirty three runic characters, and as few as sixteen at various times. Runes have been used as a divinatory device from the beginning, and some scholars believe that at one time, a special class of diviners existed dealing solely in rune reading. In the present time, runes are created and used by Asatru believers as a device for meditation and divination. One is generally expected to construct their own set of rune stones. Shield Knot (Four Corners) The shield knot is an ancient and nearly universal symbol. The shield knot has been used for thousands of years by a variety of cultures for protection and warding. While the common design is most often associated with the Celts and ancient Norse, the most basic form is much older. The fourfold version at right is Mesopotamian in origin and is associated with protective spells invoking the gods of the four corners of the earth. Later, it was used in the Kabbalah as a symbol of the Shema, the prayer/spell to invoke the four Archangels; it is the origin of the "Qabbalistic Cross" ritual still used today. This knot is sometimes referred to as the "Earth Square" or St. Hans cross. The Norse and Celtic versions of the knot are used for the same purposes of protection but are related to the fourfold solar cross. Troll Cross The troll cross is an amulet made of a circle of iron crossed at the bottom (possibly in the shape of an odal rune), a charm worn by early Scandinavian peoples as a protection against trolls and elves. Iron and crosses were both believed to ward off evil creatures. Solar Cross (Odin's cross, wheel of Taranis) The solar cross is probably the most ancient spiritual symbol in the world, appearing in Asian, American, European, and Indian religious art from the dawn of history. Composed of an equal armed cross within a circle, it represents the solar calendar- the movements of the sun, marked by the solstices. Sometimes the equinoxes are marked as well, giving an eight armed wheel. (The swastika is also a form of Solar cross, emphasizing movement.) The cross in its most simplified form is known in Northern Europe as Odin's cross, after the Chief God of the Norse pantheon. It is often used as an emblem by Asatruar, followers of the Norse religion. The Celtic cross is a symbol of the Celtic Christian Church, borrowed from the pre-Christian Celtic Pagan emblem of the God Taranis.