Scandinavian Mythology

Magic and myth inhabit these chapters in figures both familiar and strange. Giant trolls and talking animals are everywhere. The winds take human form. A one-eyed old woman might seem reminiscent of the Norse god Odin. We meet sly aunts, resourceful princesses, and devious robbers. These stories, set in Norway's majestic landscape of towering mountains and dense forests, are filled with humor, mischief, and sometimes surprisingly cruel twists of fate. All are rendered in the deceptively simple narrative style perfected by Asbjørnsen and Moe.

The Prose Edda and the Poetic Edda are our oldest written sources for Norse mythology. When it comes to the norse myths, they are the closest thing we have to listening these stories as the vikings actually told them, around those ancient campfires so long ago. It is my hope that you will enjoy this collection, and that the two books will work in tandem to broaden and deepen your appreciation for these epic and mystical stories, and the enigmatic culture that spawned them.

How did the ancient Vikings live? What was their society like? This and many other questions about history and mythology will be answered in this brief guide. For example, an entire chapter is devoted to women’s roles in Viking society. Other chapters discuss the appearance of trolls and other creatures in Norse myths. You’ll find out why certain popular children’s movies have included Viking clothing and other elements in their narrative, what Viking art is all about. Last but not least, you can learn more about Ragnar Lothbrok, one of the heroes in Viking myths.

Shamanism is humanity’s oldest spiritual tradition. In much of the Western world, the indigenous pre-Christian spiritual practices have been lost. Yet at the northern fringes of Europe, Christianity did not displace the original shamanic practices until the end of the Viking age. Reconstructing the shamanic practices of the hunter-gatherers of Scandinavia, Evelyn Rysdyk explores the evolution of Norse shamanism from its earliest female roots to the pre-Christian Viking Age.

La mitología europea es una enorme puerta abierta y accesible para todo aquel que desee conocer los pilares de nuestra humanidad y comprender mejor el mundo. El lector de este libro encontrará una preciosa recopilación —realizada por Snorri Sturluson— de los más importantes mitos escandinavos, repletos de historia, poesía y religión.

This audiobook is an excellent guide for novices interested in Norse spiritual practices and experienced pagans alike.