The Fylgja: Norse Spirit Animal or Guardian Spirit?
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- čas přidán 2. 06. 2024
- After ages of a lot of you requesting this topic I finally squeezed the extensive research into my schedule and made a video on the Fylgja! In this video we're going over what Fylgjur are, what kinds of Fylgjur exist and how we can work with them in modern life.
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Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
00:46 - My new Patreon
06:57 - What is a Fylgja?
08:40 - The Animal Fylgja
13:56 - The Fylgjukona
16:50 - Fylgjukona vs Dís vs. Hamingja
23:11 - Fylgjur after the conversion
26:01- Fylgjur in modern practice
This theme is very interesting. The Fylgjukona made me think about a female entity that accompanies people in my culture: pombagira. In BR folk magic they are always women, and it can also happen that someone gets to be accompanied by multiple ones (I have two, for example). They have a lot of personality, are super fierce protectors, and choose us by affinity.
There are similar male spirits, but they have other names.
It blows my mind how similar things can be in such distant cultures. At the end of the day, I think we're all communing with the same entities but calling them by different names.
Awesome video! 🖤
Uma brasileira por aqui, que raridade
@@johanndark3268 é nóis
The fylgja always reminds me of the daemons in Philip Pullman’s Dark Materials series. Definitely a fascinating topic! Great video. Lots of food for thought ❤
This is a wonderful example of how traditions differ.
Following a path of German heathenry, there are some differences between this and Scandinavian heathenry. German heathenry is largely passed down through families since the conversion to Christianity happened before worrying everything down became a thing, so practices and traditions can vary quite a bit, and Pele from families that did not keep their lore through the ages are kind of stuck.
So, in my family's tradition, the fylgja is the other half of your soul - both animal and human forms are the same being. Most people never see their fylgja. If they do, it's the animal form, and that is considered a GOOD omen. For the average person to see their human form of the fylgja is an omen of their impending death.
Those who are users of various kinds of magic will often see either or both forms of the fylgja, and both are good. The fylgja follows the individual through their incarnations since it is the other half of that person's soul. The fylgja is always female because of the taboo against harming female spirits. For one to spirit journey, they are not guaranteed to come back and can be harmed, whereas the fylgja can be sent and she will come back. A person who incarnate is the make half of the should venturing forth and can be harmed, regardless of physical expression of gender.
Hammingja is a sort of combination of luck and reputation that follows the family. Sometimes it is considered sentient, sometimes not.
A Dis is not only a supernatural female (the Alf being the male counterpart), but also one which is immortal. They have left the world tree and entered the immortal realms. They belong to the family they are from, and both Alfar and Disir can affect and even change a person's orlog. There is a story where both Wuotan and Donar (Odin and Thor) are arguing about what they are going to do to a man. They went back and forth threatening different kinds of doom. But then the person's Alfar came and told the two that they were going to do nothing and like it. The two gods did nothing and went away. So it seems that Alfar and Disir outrank the gods - at least in the life of the individual whose family they hail from.
One certainly has altars to their ancestors - some of which are Alfar and Disir - but would not have an altar to their fylgja as that would essentially be an Alfar to themselves.
As i said, these are my family traditions, though seem to jive with the traditions of other families i know, but aren't bidding for anyone outside of those families.
This was very well researched and informative, and I've decided to subscribe! The one miss I see here is not doing that little extra bit of research to see how similar or not the native American spirit animal concept is to fylgjur. I'm no expert, but I personally find them quite unlike one another - if I'm not mistaken, one is not born with a spirit animal, but rather gains it through spiritual practice, and it is an entity separate from one self, as opposed to a representation of part of the self. I feel that making this distinction is a good idea since spirit animals are a concept more people are aware of, although they often have many misconceptions about it, unfortunately.
Thank you for the feedback! When I originally planned, researched and filmed the video I didn’t even really plan on including any other types of religions or mythologies, but yes, you may be right, it could’ve been very interesting to hear the distinction between the two. Especially because definitely agreed, there’s so many misconceptions about Spirit Animals. But I must say, I would feel slightly awkward talking about Native American spirituality when I’m definitely not Native American. But maybe I’ll have the chance at some point to bring someone knowledgeable on the channel whom I can interview about this ☺️
Let’s get it.
Thank you for making this video, I love this topic! I've always had experiences with foxes that have led me to think theyre connected to me in a deeper way... but ive had similar deep experiences and connections to other animals like deer, or wolves/coyotes; is it possible to have more than one animal fylgja like it is to have more than one human fylgja or to have a fylgja that changes animal forms as a mirror of you changing as you develop as a person? 🤔🤔🤔
Amazing video sister! ❤️ 😊 loving the energy!
Ty so much ive been despretttlllyy waiting for this one
I Hope it at least contained everything you wanted to know ☺️
So excited for this one!
Wow, amazing video with so much information....thank you so much
I'm so excited to see this video, I've been obsessively researching Fylgja!
Yeay ☺️ I hope everything you were looking for was included in the video
thank you for this video on it verry informative and inspiring!
I was looking into fylgja a couple of weeks ago, before i even got the whole question out to see what my husband thought mine could be he said raccoon. 🤣🤣🤣
I was thinking of getting a tarot deck that is raccoon themed to use. If my fylgja is a raccoon, I feel like it couldn't hurt to feel more connected to a deck that way.
So ,I started to randomly get wolf items,I picked a random stone from a basket and it was a wolf foot print,I got gifted a wolf keychaine etc ,then I had a dream,a female wolf came to me in my dream,she layed on my lap and told me she was really sick ,a week later I got lyme disease diagnose ,I didn't tell about it to anyone and my sister said "there was a wolf infront of you" I have seen wolves in real life and in my dreams I often get to view my life situations through the wolf basically.
I stared with shamanic preatice. This was so nice. I am learning towards Seax wicca/Anglo Saxon paganism. Could you cover this in a video?
I've been told by a very matter-of-fact clairvoyant (she doesn't consider herself anything) woman that I trust that I have a strange worm-like thing stretching and moving from my left shoulder. She didn't seem to like it, and sometimes when I am slightly dissociating during group conversation she will randomly look at me and say that my worm-thing is being weird.
Furthermore, cats and sometimes dogs have always stared over that shoulder very intensely throughout my life. It used to freak me out when I was young. Sometimes their eyes would slowly follow something until it landed on my shoulder (usually along the ground/lower walls) and up to my shoulder or face, or vise versa. Sometimes it isn't casual staring - they seem unsettled and their fur bristles a bit. My own cat once ran a little ways away/has jumped away - him having that reaction is rare, but it happens once in a blue moon.
Maybe it's a snake or worm Fylgia? Maybe it's a different thing entirely?
Personally, I think it is likely something else entirely but it does give me something else to consider. I have SHIT ton of violent trauma from a young age, so it wouldn't shock me at all if something attached to me, if I created something, if some part of my soul is angrily leaking out and manifesting as something, or if it is a combination of these things.
Maybe on a different note but maybe it could be related? Spirits/ghosts tend to touch my shoulders a lot. Not so much lately, but when I am more attuned to that sense for a time it happens quite a bit. Again, used to freak me out as a kid, now not so much! I only get freaked out now when something very large and heavy-auraed (is that a word? it's a word now XD) looms around in a suffocating way. Or, of course, when a spirit that is a bit malevolent-feeling starts messing with doors as though they want to get in (it's happened in front of my brother twice). Good protection work usually solves that for me, though.
I don't know. Just thought I'd put this out here if it strikes someone with knowing what may be going on! :)
Thank you for your thoughts and informative video. It is much appreciated. I tend view tge Fylgja, Folger as do the Heathen traditions of Urglaawe and the Irminenschaft. Who on a more Germanic base see the Folger as an independent Spirit that is attached to one's soul. Not so much as part of it. And in my experience that Spirit can very well help to protect you from magical attack. As well be used to fare forth with to the other worlds. If I need protection I see in my minds eye. Visualize and feel my Folgerin walk into me. Helping protect me in my life or magical work. From my experience anyways.
10:26 I love the runes ty for posting them i am the cougar in native American snd Pisces in the western world
Regarding different people of different cultures seeing one person's Fylgja, I've had people of European descent and Native American descent both say that mine is an owl!
The interesting thing to me is that this meant very different things between the two cultures! To the European Americans, it was a sign of wisdom and even foresight. On the other hand, the Native Americans I spoke with* viewed it as me having a curious, watchful nature and even a connection to death.
Edit for grammar
That’s very interesting, thank you so much for the feedback!
@@TheNorseWitch my pleasure, thanks for the video! You've helped demystify this topic a lot for me
I love this!! I love the connections between cultures and different religions or spiritual beliefs, it’s like finding pieces to a humongous puzzle and it’s so much fun!
Tysm ❤❤❤
I discovered my fylgja back when I was a practicing Satanic witch. On the astral, I was typically accompanied by a little black cat. Since beginning my practice in the Norse tradition and becoming close to Loki, I've realized that I'm adept in seidr and jotun magic (shapeshifting).
Very interesting! As a Chinese person, I wonder if our animal zodiac would be comparable at all, since Fylgja represent the person, but our animal zodiac symbolically goes the opposite way, with what year and animal setting up every other aspect of our life.
When you are speaking about association and two different people, what do they see or sense when looking at the same other person ( I hope that I am not being confusing there, lol) . I think that it has much to do with the energy between them, two different people looking at the same other person both have different energies , so the animal they are maybe seeing is the animal they are allowed to see, that animal is protecting or communicating in a way that is understood. it has much to do with the energies between the subject and the person or people looking at them. Also people can have the same animal, but the animals probably would have a different personality, which goes back to what I was mentioning what other people would see or sense. I also think that they do mirror the person but also balance them like yin yang energies you cannot have just one, at least on this plane of existence we need both, like a mirror .
Do you have any recommendations on books, for German folk magic, folklore, for advanced practitioners I find it hard sometimes to find good books on magic, for advance
This might not make sense but, I am researching German folklore, as part of my ancestors on my father side !!!! And to be honest, I'm finding the mythology and folklore quite interesting, I know Germany really doesn't have nothing to do with this video,
Hi. 😊
Hi ✌️
Can you have a feeling of what your fylgja is? For me I get the feeling mine is a wolf. I feel very connected to wolves and I have several people who think it’s a wolf. My husband is very sensitive to spirits so I asked him and he said he thinks it’s a wolf.
Love your channel and especially this video. I believe my fylgja or animal guide , still trying to interpret the waking dream, came to me.
I had ( all better now ) a tumor on carotid artery which was getting near to my brain, so a very risky operation I had to have. I went for a reiki session and that's where I saw him.
I was standing at the bottom of a mountain ( lyfjaberg)and there was a stream, then all of a sudden the mountain burst open and out came a blue Phoenix which transformed in to a blue jay. I looked into the symbolism of the blue jay and connect with it a lot.
I'm still in for a long healing period but all is good :)
How do I know if I´m seeing my fylgja and being warned or about to die if I don´t know what animal my fylgja is? Hypotheically 😅
I think my fylgia is a wolf I've always worked with the wolf and it has always called me, tho I would also like to share something else. I've bin on my spiritual path for a few years now and "identify" mostly as a healer (P.E.H. to be precise) but I've also bin Involved with some more witchy practices and feel comfortable practicing it is small amounts. But my "problem"/curiosity is that I have always bin drawn to the north (not only practices but also the culture and nature) but the thing is as far as I know I don't have any roots in the north *to make things even more complicated I'm a catholic Christian to, I'd like to not go into that to much sins I have my own look the relation between my religion and spiritual path..
Edit: I think I confused a spirit animal with a fylgia, as I see it as old spirit that guides through my spiritual path
A thought came to while watching your video. Would ones Fylgja, Folger be limited to animals in Europe? Even though one might be born elsewhere? Like I know mine is a Bobcat being in in America. Would really be a European Lynx because my DNA is? Just a thought. I'd rather that she will always be a Bobcat. Blessings.
Definitely not limited to animals in Europe! There’s lots of talk of kings having Lions as their Fylgjur in the sagas, and Lions definitely don’t live in Europe 🤣
@@TheNorseWitch , this true. Dankschee
Thors hammer!!!! I love ur necklace, if I see that right,
Yes yes yes yes 🙌🙌🙌
If it’s not complicated it’s probably not correct or misunderstood 😅
Magic…
Hey, it is a lot like the Patronus in Harry Potter-fandom! *big fan of literature* I also want to knwo how can I connect to this part of myself? Can I sense which animal is my Fylgja?
Cat
I think loki learning from what took place in bauldrs safety, tied to his rock, tricked the snake and became its form and as the realms collapsed he spread the word of a new God in the form of a snake in a garden the only form he could take, I believe he spread the word of Christianity as a way to spite odin and I will cast his soul into what ever fires the eitherrealm holds