Post by Troldmand Bjorn on Nov 28, 2016 10:40:15 GMT -6
The Norse heathen has spent a great deal of time studying the human soul and all it's components. Here is a list of short descriptions on each.
Sál – In Old Norse sál means the soul. It is the entire soul complex – everything that makes up the soul.
Lyke - (OE: lic) the physical part of the soul-body (psycho-physical) complex.
Hidge, Hugh or Hugr - (OE: hyge) The cognitive part of the soul, the intellect or "mind".
Hamr - The shape the soul may take when it leaves the body also known as the travelling soul. Several of the gods are able to change hamr, i.e. move their soul into another shape or creature. Its appearance directly affects the appearance of the lyke, or physical body. The hamr goes with the wode upon death and will assist in forming the lyke in the next incarnation.
Mód - The mód is the seat of emotions, and alongside the wode and the will (OE willa), it is one of the most runic or dern (secret) parts of the soul. The mód governs all emotions from the simplest to the most complex. The mód is also linked to such qualities as boldness and are (honour). In Old English, it was combined with many words to express states of mind (i.e. deormodig - bold of mind), much as the word "heart" is used today (i.e. bold-hearted). Often mód was used in place of ferth or high, but one must realize it was used as we use the word "heart".
Wode - The wode reigns over everything from ecstasy and madness to inspiration. The wode is Odinn's domain, and to understand wode is to better understand the god. Strangely enough, wode was the gift of Willa, the god of the will, in the Prose Edda (and of Óðinn's brother Hoenir in Völuspá - KHG). Whereas the wode seems to well up inspiration within us seemingly from without, it is the will that brings self-determination from within. It is the will controlling the wode that allows us to fight negative ørlög or to flow with it. The will is the part of the ferth that allows us to bring thoughts from the high or inspiration from the wode into physical reality on Middenerd. Using the will one can call forth main from unseen places. And by using the will to harness the wode one may do most anything, for the will can call forth the wode instead of waiting for the wode to well up on its own.
Minni - (ON: minni; OE mynd) The faculty of "memory"; the images stored in the deep mind from eons past. The reflective part of the soul; the memory both personal and transpersonal. Also myne.
Ørlög - The ørlög, also called elderlog and orlaw (or ur-law), is the record of all the deeds committed by all who have belonged to the fylgja, and determines how much speed or main a person will receive. The fylgja, ørlög, and speed can be passed down family lines, even to adopted family members.
Ǫnd – Ǫnd is a force that is of the gods. It is everything that makes humans different from the other creatures of the world. As creatures with this gift, we are immediately connected to the gods. We are part of their tribe, their kin.
Hamingja - A part of the soul that is passed on from generation to generation, associated with the fylgja (see below).
Fylgja (OE: fetch) (Old Norse, literally "someone that accompanies," spirit animal, plural fylgjur) is a supernatural being or creature which accompanies a person in connection to their fate or fortune. The fylgja may serve as a warder or guardian. The fylgja usually appears as an animal compatible to the personality of the individual it serves. One usually will not see one's fylgja outside of dreams until just before death (unless they are a gothi), when it will lead the soul to its abode in the hereafter. One may send one's fylgja forth to get knowledge from the other worlds. Not actually one of the soul bodies, see hamingja.
Note:
ON - Old Norse
OE - Old English
Sál – In Old Norse sál means the soul. It is the entire soul complex – everything that makes up the soul.
Lyke - (OE: lic) the physical part of the soul-body (psycho-physical) complex.
Hidge, Hugh or Hugr - (OE: hyge) The cognitive part of the soul, the intellect or "mind".
Hamr - The shape the soul may take when it leaves the body also known as the travelling soul. Several of the gods are able to change hamr, i.e. move their soul into another shape or creature. Its appearance directly affects the appearance of the lyke, or physical body. The hamr goes with the wode upon death and will assist in forming the lyke in the next incarnation.
Mód - The mód is the seat of emotions, and alongside the wode and the will (OE willa), it is one of the most runic or dern (secret) parts of the soul. The mód governs all emotions from the simplest to the most complex. The mód is also linked to such qualities as boldness and are (honour). In Old English, it was combined with many words to express states of mind (i.e. deormodig - bold of mind), much as the word "heart" is used today (i.e. bold-hearted). Often mód was used in place of ferth or high, but one must realize it was used as we use the word "heart".
Wode - The wode reigns over everything from ecstasy and madness to inspiration. The wode is Odinn's domain, and to understand wode is to better understand the god. Strangely enough, wode was the gift of Willa, the god of the will, in the Prose Edda (and of Óðinn's brother Hoenir in Völuspá - KHG). Whereas the wode seems to well up inspiration within us seemingly from without, it is the will that brings self-determination from within. It is the will controlling the wode that allows us to fight negative ørlög or to flow with it. The will is the part of the ferth that allows us to bring thoughts from the high or inspiration from the wode into physical reality on Middenerd. Using the will one can call forth main from unseen places. And by using the will to harness the wode one may do most anything, for the will can call forth the wode instead of waiting for the wode to well up on its own.
Minni - (ON: minni; OE mynd) The faculty of "memory"; the images stored in the deep mind from eons past. The reflective part of the soul; the memory both personal and transpersonal. Also myne.
Ørlög - The ørlög, also called elderlog and orlaw (or ur-law), is the record of all the deeds committed by all who have belonged to the fylgja, and determines how much speed or main a person will receive. The fylgja, ørlög, and speed can be passed down family lines, even to adopted family members.
Ǫnd – Ǫnd is a force that is of the gods. It is everything that makes humans different from the other creatures of the world. As creatures with this gift, we are immediately connected to the gods. We are part of their tribe, their kin.
Hamingja - A part of the soul that is passed on from generation to generation, associated with the fylgja (see below).
Fylgja (OE: fetch) (Old Norse, literally "someone that accompanies," spirit animal, plural fylgjur) is a supernatural being or creature which accompanies a person in connection to their fate or fortune. The fylgja may serve as a warder or guardian. The fylgja usually appears as an animal compatible to the personality of the individual it serves. One usually will not see one's fylgja outside of dreams until just before death (unless they are a gothi), when it will lead the soul to its abode in the hereafter. One may send one's fylgja forth to get knowledge from the other worlds. Not actually one of the soul bodies, see hamingja.
Note:
ON - Old Norse
OE - Old English