Viking witchcraft symbols refer to the mystical and spiritual signs that were used by the ancient Norse people during their practice of magic and witchcraft. These symbols were essential for understanding and harnessing the supernatural powers believed to exist in the world. One prominent symbol in Viking witchcraft is the Valknut. It is a symbol composed of three interlocking triangles, creating a knot-like shape. The Valknut is associated with Odin, the chief god in Norse mythology, and is often seen as a symbol of protection, power, and guidance. It is believed to grant strength and assistance to those who seek its aid.
A “spirit mirror” believed to have been used by Queen Elizabeth I’s famed political advisor John Dee was crafted in Aztec Mexico around 500 years ago, reinforcing the idea that the mirror was used by the Elizabethan occultist in his attempts to communicate with angels.
A black mirror used by Queen Elizabeth I advisor John Dee to speak with angels was originally a prophetic Mesoamerican artifact, new research reveals. Resolute in his grief, his tears gave sustenance to Mayahuel, and the spire transformed into a Maguey so beautiful it overwhelmed the Aztecs when they saw it.
It is believed to grant strength and assistance to those who seek its aid. Another important symbol is the Aegishjalmur, also known as the Helm of Awe. This symbol consists of eight radially symmetrical arms surrounding a central point.
'Magic' mirror in Elizabethan court has mystical Aztec origin
A black mirror used by Queen Elizabeth I advisor John Dee to 'speak' with angels was originally a prophetic Mesoamerican artifact, new research reveals.
By Tom Metcalfe Published October 6, 2021 • 5 min read Share Tweet EmailA “spirit mirror” believed to have been used by Queen Elizabeth I’s famed political advisor John Dee was crafted in Aztec Mexico around 500 years ago, reinforcing the idea that the mirror was used by the Elizabethan occultist in his attempts to communicate with angels.
Dee was an advisor in the court of the 16th-century queen, as well as an accomplished alchemist, astrologer, cartographer and mathematician. It’s thought he may have been the model for Prospero, the magician in Shakespeare’s The Tempest.
A portrait of John Dee (1527-1608). “Dee initially straddled the fine line between natural ‘magic’, which was considered a science, and demonic magic, which was considered a perversion of religion – but the one into which he eventually crossed,” the researchers write.
Courtesy Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.Tales abound of Dee’s occult exploits, including his practice of skrying, or conjuring angels and spirits through clairvoyant tools such as crystals and mirrors. This particular “spirit mirror,” attested in the 1650s as part of John Dee’s skyring collection, was eventually purchased in the 1700s by the writer Horace Walpole, who believed it belonged to the English Renaissance polymath and was used by him in magical rituals.
The British Museum purchased the mirror in the late 1800s; it is currently on display in museum’s Enlightenment Gallery.
Researchers used a portable x-ray fluorescence scanner to examine John Dee’s mirror, as well as three other obsidian objects—two almost-identical circular mirrors and a polished rectangular slab—acquired by the British Museum from collectors in Mexico in the 1800s. The research was first published in published in the journal Antiquity in 2021.
Because chemical elements glow differently under x-rays, the scanner was able to determine a geochemical “fingerprint” for each obsidian object based on the proportions of titanium, iron, strontium, and other substances each contained. The results show the obsidian in John Dee’s mirror and one of the other mirrors could only have come from the Pachuca region of central Mexico. The other mirror and the obsidian slab, likely a portable altar, came from the Ucareo region, about 150 miles farther west.
Aztec codices, like the 16th-century Codex Tepetlaoztoc shown here, depict obsidian mirrors. Ancient Mesoamericans believed such mirrors could serve as portals to spiritual worlds.
Courtesy The Trustees of the British Museum Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.Both regions were ruled by the Aztecs, who had a tradition of making obsidian mirrors for magical purposes, says archaeologist Stuart Campbell of the University of Manchester, the lead author of the Antiquity study. Circular obsidian mirrors are depicted in Aztec codices written soon after the time of the Spanish conquest in the early 16th century, and in depictions of the deity Tezcatlipoca (“Smoking Mirror”) who had powers of divination. The Aztecs believed the mirrors could show smoke, which would then clear to reveal a distant time or place.
Ancient Mesoamericans believed mirrors were spirit doorways to alternate worlds, “much like Alice in Through the Looking Glass,” anthropologist Karl Taube of the University of California Riverside writes in an email. “Once you deeply gaze in, you have opened up that connection.” Taube has studied Aztec mirrors but was not involved in the new research.
The finding that the British Museum “spirit mirror” is of Aztec origin reinforces the theory that Dee used it as a skryer to conjure angels and spirits, Campbell says. It’s likely that Dee, who was very interested in the exploration of the New World, knew about the mirror’s reputed magical properties when he acquired it, probably during his travels around Europe in the late 1500s. Records show that several Aztec mirrors were shipped from Mexico to Europe soon after Hernán Cortés and his troops took the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan in 1521. And like the Aztec, Europeans of the period also believed in the magical powers of mirrors, a belief that may have led Dee to try to communicate with angels through the spirit mirror.
Dee’s reputation as an Elizabethan proto-scientist remains strong in the United Kingdom (he’s the subject of an opera composed by Blur frontman Damon Albarn, for example). And his presence persists in a variety of historical accounts from the time.
“You can be reading something where you don’t expect to see him, and John Dee’s name suddenly pops up,” Campbell says. “He was involved in so many areas, and in the early stages of so many different approaches to the natural world.”
The Aegishjalmur was believed to possess magical properties that protected against evil and ensured victory in battle. It was often worn or drawn on shields to provide warriors with courage and protection. The Mjolnir, or Thor's Hammer, is another significant symbol associated with Viking witchcraft. It is a representation of Thor, the god of thunder and fertility. The Mjolnir was believed to possess the power of storms and protection against giants and other supernatural beings. It is often worn as a pendant or amulet for strength, luck, and protection. The Web of Wyrd, also known as the Viking Matrix or Fate Net, is a symbol that reflects the interconnectedness of all things. It represents the complex web of destiny and the forces that shape individuals' lives. The Web of Wyrd was believed to be governed by the Norns, the three female beings who controlled the fate of all beings in Norse mythology. Finally, the Vegvisir, also known as the Norse Compass or Viking Compass, is a symbol associated with guidance and protection. This magical symbol was believed to help travelers find their way through rough waters or unfamiliar lands. It was often used as a talisman or tattooed onto the skin to ensure safe journeys and successful navigation. In conclusion, Viking witchcraft symbols hold immense significance in ancient Norse culture. They represent the beliefs, values, and practices of the Norse people in their pursuit of magical and spiritual knowledge. These symbols continue to captivate people's imaginations and are often incorporated into modern witchcraft practices and spiritual beliefs..
Reviews for "Viking Witchcraft Symbols: A Guide to Protection and Empowerment"
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