Valhalla is (not) the Viking Heaven
Vložit
- čas přidán 31. 05. 2024
- Patreon: / oceankeltoi
Twitter: / oceankeltoi
Twitch: / oceankeltoi
Instagram: / oceankeltoi
Intro Assets by: / synje_grafx
Discord: / discord
Merch: www.redbubble.com/people/Ocea...
Further Videos
The Norse Afterlife: • What Happens in the No...
Hel: Goddess of Death: • Hel: The Norse Goddess...
Ran: Sea Goddess of Death: • Aegir and Ran | Misund...
Latent Christianity: • How Latent Christianit...
Deconstruction and Latent Christianity Convo: • Deconstruction and Lat...
The Multi-Part Soul: • The Heathen Image of t...
Do you Fear Death Playlist: • Do You Fear Death?
Sindri can be considered a Fire God: • The Search for the Nor...
Further Reading
- The Poetic Edda
- The Prose Edda - Snorri
- The Road to Hel - HRE Davidson
- Children of Ash and Elm - Neil Price
- Njal's Saga
- Egil's Saga
- Eyrbyjgga Saga
- The History of the Danes - Book One - Saxo Grammaticus
00:00 - Intro
00:52 - The Christian Concept of Heaven (& Hell)
03:14 - Valhalla - Hail of the Slain
03:47 - Sindri's Hall
04:24 - Brimir's Hall
04:51 - Rán's Hall
05:08 - Helheim (Saxo)
05:22 - Thorstein's Afterlife (Eyrbyggja Saga)
05:50 - Odin's Hall - Valhöll
06:46 - The Valkyries
07:44 - Freyja's Hall - Sessrúmnir
08:20 - The Einherjar & Burial Rites
10:28 - Multi-Part Soul and Multiple Afterlives
11:18 - Hading's Journey to the Underwold - Saxo
12:59 - The Idea of Heaven
13:53 - The Many Halls of the Norse Afterlife
music by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio
Honestly, my ideal afterlife would be traveling to the various halls, learning and growing in wisdom. Learn smithing from dwarves, runes from Odin, fishing from Njord and stories from Bragi. That's the afterlife for me.
I feel like Hel would be that cool aunt who always has tickets to the place you wanna go and always has somebody who owes her something.
You’re cringe bro.
I'm not of any particular faith, but I've always thought my ideal afterlife would be kind of like a "spectator mode" from a videogame. i'm a formless force of observation that can travel the universe at my leisure, go back and forth through time, seeing everything i've always wanted to see and learning new things all the time. i'd like to watch the development of life on earth, and when i'm done with that, watch the development of life on some other planets. see if they ever develop a culture i would recognize as such, hear their music if they make it. i think that'd be a neat afterlife
I view it this way. No matter where you enter, all the halls are just places reachable by travel through Helheim. Maybe Odin or Freyja just get first crack at talking to warriors and convincing them of the importance of having Einherjar. Maybe the Einherjar train for a while then go visit family and come back years later to resume training. Nothing I have read makes me think any of the afterlives are permanent. In fact the very nature of Ragnarok ensures they are not. The very existence of Ragnarok also makes me thing everyone in the afterlife will receive training, either in Folkvangr or Valhol.
@@littlesnowflakepunk855 you should read Starmaker by Olaf Stapledon. It’s a short sci fi book written from exactly that POV.
The descriptions of Helheim that I have read and heard discussed with other Heathens is actually one of the main things that converted me to Heathenry from other forms of Paganism. It seemed like such a simple but welcoming sort of afterlife where things are green and peaceful. I could use a lot more green and peaceful in my life, it's why gardening is such a passion.
Wonderful video as always, plus bonus voidling kitty at the end!
I agree, gardening is definitely one thing I would do when I go to Hel.
@@jaxthewolf4572 Just imagine the crazy cool new plants that are probably there the possibilities 😅
Certainly sounds better than a promised Perpetual happiness constructed by an absentee father!
@@tyler3606 You got me even more hyped brother! 😁
Some interpretations say it's a place of extreme cold and death. Or you'll be forced to fight during Ragnarök.
I remember getting into long arguments with people over stuff similar to this. Because they thought that Valhöll was the best of the Norse afterlives, they would start interpreting it so that a child who died of sickness or abuse could go there because they died fighting a battle (be it a mental battle or a health battle or what have you)
But if a child who died of sickness or from abuse when to Valhöll, that could traumatize them. With all the fighting and bloodshed and all that every single day
I have seen that story and I hate it.
I've seen that to. Or how people claim you won't go there unless you were a soldier. (Which implies that soldiers who survive will still go when they probably won't.)
Also what they miss that Odin snatches warriors in the PRIME.... if You past that, even death in battle doesnt get You there.
I am sorry w h a t
@@corypowercat7277 especially since soldiers don't usually die as much in battle these days.
Same! I always thought it sounded boring too. As I got older and started thinking about things more critically, I asked someone I trusted about heaven. I said "So heaven is a place where there's no pain or sadness, right? Well my grandpa might not have been a christian. When I die, if I see that he's not there and know he's in hell, I can't imagine not feeling upset. How does that work?"
And the response that I got was just "Oh, you'll be so enraptured by the glory of god that you won't care".
And that moment honestly played a big part in changing how I viewed that religion and I ultimately left. It's not just that I can't imagine having no emotional reaction to something like that. It's really that I don't want to be stripped of my humanity.
And I certainly don't want an eternity of more church. lol
Christians say there god loves everyone so why would he condemn some to hell , why does he allow so much suffering, Christianity contradicts itself, I got older and wiser and found a greater connection to paganism for after all that was the practice of my ancestors before Christianity was brutally forced on the northern hemisphere.
@@adriancarter825Christianity doesn't contradict itself. Only the puny humans came up with concepts they applied to God that aren't really taken from the Bible but from philosophy. Like the concept that God is all good, all-knowing and almighty.
In fact the "contradiction" comes from monotheism itself in case you want a supernatural explanation for evil. Either you follow Isaiah 45, 7 which says that God does both evil and good, light and darkness. In one. Or you need a minor God called Satan who is responsible. If that's the solution, you basically end up with polytheism, only you call the minor gods demons, Satan, angels, etc.
@@adriancarter825Christianity doesn’t contradict itself, God does love us all that’s why he gave us the choice wether we want to have a relationship with him or not, he just wants to know us and for us to truly know him. If you’re living with sin and all that crap in the world he will not let you into his kingdom because you are carrying darkness and you chose to do that so he will not let any form of darkness into his kingdom.
I feel like I'm the only one in the room who is bringing this up, but the modern conception of the Christian Heaven as a human afterlife is NOT even what the Bible states is the destiny of man.
Yes, Heaven IS described like that. But Heaven is the highest celestial (spiritual) realm where all principalities and structures of reality come together and point directly to the Absolute (God), hence it's full of sung praises and casted crowns. Sort of like a metaphysical cathedral that, for all its beautiful complexity and structure, all ultimately contributes towards pointing to the steeple. But this is essentially the realm of God and those highest of spiritual structures and principalities. Not a destination for humans after their death, besides, I guess, Elijah. Which actually makes sense with his status as the prophet of highest importance until Jesus, who apparently is FROM that realm, being an original part of the Trinity.
There isn't really that much descriptive talk about the general destiny of a human's soul until the New Testament, where Jesus describes... well, some of what Hell is like, gives references to the fate of those who are saved and those who aren't, and then Revelation gives a full blown description of the eschaton that leads to the fate of mankind. It's this eschaton that determines the afterlife for departed souls, and it's in this book that describes, pretty clearly, what it will be for those who are saved: the dead will rise and, after God's victory following a LOT of apocalyptic events, will rebuild and populate God's Kingdom on Earth, where God will come to reside personally as a sort of Heaven 2.0, or Heaven on Earth. So essentially, it's saying that, like with Ragnarok, all of the events of history on Earth and in the spiritual realms will come to a head and resolve themselves in final battle where good triumphs over evil (interestingly, both myths seem to imply it's by the skin of its teeth) and through this victory everything is set right and God's Kingdom is finally established as a paradise on Earth for all of God's people, living or previously dead, to reside in with Eternal Life.
How literally or symbolically all of this is meant to be... is actually a SERIOUS matter of debate in the world of philosophy and theology, but those are the basic themes. It's really not that much different than Ragnarok besides an emphasis that man's destiny is to be ON EARTH, but a new, utopian Earth. The Bible does NOT state that humans go to Heaven when they die, and the concept of Hell is very murky besides some common themes in most of scripture. And some of the best theologists, philosophers, and thinkers in history seem to take the view that Hell is really the torment of a personal spiritual struggle, maybe even during one's lifetime, but not necessarily limited to it. Sort of like how Ragnarok is both an eschatological event, but also represents each person's personal death, the cataclysmic end and turnover of ages, etc., all at the same time. The many layers of different things it symbolically represents is almost certainly also the case with the human afterlife in Christianity, and not least the role of Heaven in Christianity. But the role of Heaven does NOT include a general human afterlife for those that are saved. THAT will apparently be God's Kingdom on Earth where God and mankind will enjoy a paradise free of the woes of sin and suffering of the past. Which is what "every tear will be wiped away" likely actually means. Not that you will have no capacity to mourn those that are damned, but that all past sorrows will be eased and shed as a new age of joy and righteousness begins. Which honestly sounds a LOT more interesting and adventurous than the modern Christian idea of Heaven.
I'm not saying this because I'm a Christian, but because I've always been interested in studying both Norse and Christian theology, and if we're going to discuss and study them, we really should be nuanced and accurate about it. Both religions contain a LOT of deep spiritual truths that can be totally lost on us if we don't approach them with understanding and honesty. And I really wish Christians would do that more often when it comes to the afterlife of their own religion.
I have two main reactions to this.
1) I genuinely hate when other Norse practitioners tell me I have to or should aspire to go to Valhalla when I die. I hide that hatred behind the stubborn insistence that no, I fully intend to spend the vast majority of my time evenly divided between spending time with Njord, Saga, and Idunn, and to spend my weekends nekkid on a beach drinking mead all day. Getting up every morning, fighting, dying, and getting up to do it all again tomorrow seems... boring on a good day, and as you said, nightmarish on a bad one.
2) I have had Heathen friends in the military who genuinely seem to fear *not* dying in some war or another. I have found that the best comfort for this fear is a reminder that only a fool would, on the eve of battle, turn away able hands and willing hearts who genuinely wish to serve the cause of Asgard in Ragnarok. And Odin is undoubtedly many things, but he is not a fool. I can't say with any authority that there is any real backing for this bit of UPG, but it does seem to help my friends, and honestly that's enough for me.
My interpretation always pissed off any other pagans I met in the military, or even people that would say they wanted to go to Valhalla. I don’t think Odin needs just average dudes that die in battle. Anybody can be a soldier, it takes a certain mind to become a warrior. Self discipline, strategic thinking, adaptability all the type of things you should consider if you want to go into Valhalla. I don’t base this off of anything other than my point of view but it definitely makes the brosatrus think twice lol
Well you wouldn't get bored...so that's a moot point but okay
@@candymanfam8142 Odin is a god of wisdom. He would be taking the best of the best minds not just any random grunts forsure
@@ForageGardenerFreya gets first pick of the slain so I feel like Odin would have mostly grunts.
Great video! I did not know of the different afterlives other than Valhöll and Helheim. I had never heard Helheim described as green before, which really caught my attention.
i had only heard of it as a grey place, full of mists, with a boat made of body parts (hair and nails, i think) from the dead
There are many contradictory descriptions of Helheim. But, remember that our understanding of it is often influenced by Christianity. Hel is often viewed as evil, I prefer to think of her as benevolent (at least as much so as a Norse god will be). I am on the cusp of believing in the gods as literal or archetypes. But I do believe there is an afterlife... one that suits each of us best.
@@IAmValenwind That's because of Christian influence, it's a lie that Hel is bare and grey.
@@IAmValenwind nalfagr. that is Loki's ship. nothing to do with helheim.
@@jaxthewolf4572 great description.. How else would they describe it!!!
I think Valhalla is over romantized by people tbh. One of the things I really like about Heathenry and to extent celtic paganism too is the variety and showcasing that paradise is not a one size fits all concept.
I'd prefer to go to Sindri's Hall over Valhalla. Eventually Helheim or Okolnir.
"Ye-Halla" 😂😂😂
I was born in Atlanta & live in South Georgia...so that was especially funny! I've met tons of self claimed Heathens who only want to be a big scary Viking badass & see nothing more or deeper...so Ye-Halla kinda fits them
Honestly, I love how varied the afterlife within Heathenry is, as humans are so complicated. It makes sense, then that our afterlives may be just as complex and dependent on the individual. I will say the imagery of Valhöll is not my desire for an afterlife. Sundri's home sounds quite cozy and Hel's care is appealing as well.
Additionally, Calcifer really was checking in on this recording haha. His script writing is getting so good, he's now wanting to direct your videos as well!
The way i understood it, the many go to Helheim, the best warriors go to Valhalla, the best defenders go to Folksvang, the best craftsmen go to the hall of what ever God is the patron of their trade. So a particularly good sailor might go to Njord
Well said
I try not to get mad when friends attempt to convert me, I k ow they're coming from a good place. I gotta admit, it probably is scary to think "if I don't save them they'll suffer for all eternity." Especially if you love this person
Surely you'd think that would bring into question their concepts of an "all loving god". Your friends like you, think you're a good person and that you 'deserve' to be in heaven. But they're _afraid_ that their god will punish you regardless. So Hell would be full of decent people who didn't know Gods name. Doesn't seem like such a bad place.
Humans are complicated and I believe that the afterlife is too. Hell, I am eclectic so I think I would be at peace with any of the afterlives that I believe in or simply be at peace knowing what is on the other side.
Amazing video Ocean!!
Oh my gods...2 seconds in and you hit me with yeehalla
I wouldn't mind seeing an extensive list of the ones known. I personally think there are just as many as there are gods. I know I have a book that mentions frigg having one for lovers, never to be separated.
Coming from an ex-Mormon, this has left plenty of food for thought. I will say that if Valhalla is the afterlife of eternal fighting, if I somehow ended up there I’m pretty sure I’d try and find a way out cause that sounds absolutely horrifying to me. Either that, or that’s the trauma talking. Ever since my grandfather died, I’ve long considered the afterlife and what I think about it, but it’s through honouring Hel I came to realise one thing; I really don’t care where I end up. I have never cared. All I care about is that I can be reunited with my loved ones - friends, family and so on - and spend time with them again. Between the places you mentioned, I’m still of the opinion that Helheim sounds the most pleasant. It gets more complicated when I consider that some of the loved ones I want to see again - such as my grandfather - are Mormon/Christian, and thus I’m not entirely sure how I’d be able to see them again if the Christian heaven really does exist. I mean, just cause I don’t believe it doesn’t mean it’s not real. But it’s one of those things I try not to worry too much about. I’ll only find out when it’s my turn to leave this train we call life. Until then, I wanna enjoy as much of the ride as I can.
I had the same question about whether i’ll see my loved ones who are of other faiths in the afterlife. I believe a piece of their soul is imprinted, or interwoven, in ours so we’ll have them with us forever.
It's really fun being an atheist viewer of this channel. I love hearing other people's beliefs
You are the kind of Atheist that I like to make friends with. It's fun watching the look on the face of your stereotypical Atheist when I have the friendly kind standing up for me when messed with.
What do Atheists believe happens after death? Or not. If ya don’t mind me asking.
@@gentleasa5728 well im in no position to be certain about it but what seems to be most likely is, nothing. Just no longer living. There is probably some strange experiances as the brain dies, hallucinations or somthing. And that is the last thing that I would experiance. The world goes on withought me, and the people who love me will miss me.
@@mobilemollusc615 Thank you for your quick reply. Funny I never realized it , but my Grandfather that raised me had that same belief. Other than him, I’ve never taken the opportunity to think about it. I do love Learning about other ppls thoughts so thanks again.
@@gentleasa5728 what about you
Valhalla is a quasi-heaven for me. It's both nice but also violent and hard, as a training ground. I remember having a vivid dream about Valhalla and thought it was beautiful but I did see an all out war take place. Helgafjell, Gimle and Hel
struck me as being closer to heaven.
Before my dog died, I knew I was pagan, I knew I leaned Norse pagan...but I didn't truly felt drawn to a particular god or goddess. I adored Freya, but she didn't call to me. After my dog died I was sticker with grief. He'd been with me so long and had been the main reason I hadn't committed suicide. I was beside myself, sobbing into my pillow one night when suddenly an imagine I'd never seen before come to me, and I felt calm for the first time in days since he'd gone. It was a woman, she was beautiful to my eyes and in her lap was my dog. She smiled, and I felt warmth and comfort. He was safe. I heard her name, Hel. This was Hel, and he was safe and she was here for me.
Just...thinking about it makes me want to cry again, but with joy and comfort this time. Now when I'm feeling so many emotions I can't keep them in I go to my altar and let them out and offer them to her. One day I hope to meet her, and plan to see all my dogs again in Helheim.
Must admit, until this video I *only* heard about the part where Freya was getting the first pick on the slain, but learning that pretty much all more major or minor deities had their respective after-lifes for various means how one had departed from life, it was quite mind-blowing! That said, it only makes sense for me that Valhalla was not for everyone, even to people of those times, of the Norse or Germanics from the times of Rome, it would be quite strange in fact that there would be only 'good' and 'bad' options of afterlife.
Wish I could learn as much about my Slavic roots like that, but alas, we have even less to go on than in case of germanic heathenry. In any case I love the material, pretty much opened my eyes to this aspect about those old cultures!
I've been incorporating the odd fact here and there about Slavic polytheism into my videos because there's such an interest in it lately as well as relevancy to Heathenry as an adjacent culture. But my knowledge on Slavic polytheism is unfortunately very very surface level. But I'm getting more into exploring it lately.
@@OceanKeltoi Any cover of that topic would be amazing for many I reckon! Sometimes even might run into the same sources that some seem to treat as being about the Norse and Slavic alike. Which is not that weird given there was a lot of interaction between, so while there are differences, it's also easy to get an impression that those 2 spheres of cultures are pretty similar.
With some luck one day I may find and obtain some verified sources about that, but current situation is pushing such plans of search as secondary things to do.
The nuance of nordic/germanic afterlives is quite interesting
I wonder if it’s high tax?
I have long taken the position that there are many different afterlife destinations. I once had a sort of vision of Helheim being a huge stone castle with many towers, surrounded by an enormous black wrought iron fence with tall mountains beyond that. The moonlight pokes through the clouds. Inside is a huge hall with big ornate chandeliers, and there’s a great library with near endless shelves and armchairs with small gaslamps on the walls. Obviously that kind of environment would appeal to someone such as myself, but the point being that it’s a place of rest where one’s spirit can heal from the trauma of life. The vast green field is how I’ve always seen Folkvangr. I don’t think anyone is limited to only one divine realm either, as there are multiple accounts of someone traveling between different realms in the lore.
Had a similar vision or at least vivid dream. Helheim at least the actually hall was this enormous castle with a black gate, but upon the gate were torches. Inside were royal red and gold decor and seated at a table were happy men and women.
I’m about to convert to this faith I’m now just trying to learn about it sadly I wasted a week or so in WoO but I’m glad I saw I think it was red wolfs video he recommended you and I’m so so glad he did
You know, most of my life I've thought about the afterlife as a thing that's different for everyone, based on what one finds eternally pleasant, which was hard for me to reconcile with any one spiritual belief system, or so I thought. This...really aligns with that, and as an eclectic pagan is going to give me a lot to think about.
I’m so glad you made this video. I see many new heathens/pagans talking about the afterlife as is Valhalla was the norse heaven and the only good place to go, and I’m glad to have something to direct them to rather than just reciting the historical sources, which gets tiring..
I have always thought Freya's choice was those who lived with love in their hearts and goodness in life. Interesting information, great to have more info
Same, sitting out on my back patio on a rare nice day in Georgia… the idea of an eternity in a city made of precious metals with nothing to do but suck up to a deity sounds like hell. Give me a land of greenery any day. But preferably a short term life before we go back for some more. Let the wheel turn, anything one thing for eternity would eventually be hell.
A great description of what Valhöll is. It is a warriors paradise. To constantly battle, for their is no greater love than a man who is willing to lay down his life for the ones he loves. Valhöll being described as a place for warriors to train and help protect the gods is an awesome thought for some. For others it’s terrifying. That’s the glory of polytheism. You can choose which god and which afterlife to follow and hopefully attain. The choice is yours brothers and sisters!
Are those gods & goddesses real?
Thank you!!! I've literally had to explain this to so many people. A lot of people I know who like norse myths tend to relate them with the christian myths and its annoying because they don't listen when I correct them. Next time, I'll just direct them to your video
I remember someone once said that basically, the concept of Valholl (a place where felled warriors go to later return) and Helheim (a terminal place) basically support the idea of reincarnation to an extend. With Valholl basically being just a step-inbetween two lives and Helheim being the norse equivalent of Nirvana.
CZcams reccomended me your channel and I've always been interested in the Viking faith. My background is from Hindusim, but it is so fascinating to hear how other religions apart from the main ones today, had different concepts. I was always unclear on what the Viking after life actually was. Thank you for clarifying that there are MANY realms. Also, not ALL Vikings NESSCARILY wanted to go to Valholl. Some were content being traders, others warriors, etc. Now with Hindusim, I find a small similarity. We have the concept of reincarnation and enlightenment - i.e the man/woman that mediatates to unlock the chakras in their body so that they achieve moksha which is liberation from an endless cycle of rebirth in this world which is Kali-Yuga. (You have a Guru that helps you along the way) That's one way. But then we have seven worlds of evil, and seven worlds of good. Much like you described the Viking soul going to different realms under different Gods. We have the Lokas - seven planets of good. The highest realm is Brahma Loka - which is basically only the truth can be told there, good and virtous beings can go there. But, there is no need of waste. These realms are but a fascinating insight. Otherwise it's rebirth, go to heaven or to the underworld, then rebirth. That's it.
The fact that you drew out that the Viking soul could split into different branches, is a very good concept. Because Christian Sources I don't think really understood the Norse religion that well. Nor would I claim to do so. There is a story where once, the Gurus of our realm, basically old age men with epic beards wearing epic robes, mediated to such a degree that they had more power than the Gods themselves. So the Gods appealed to Shiva, who then I can't remember what, basically stopped it. And going back, to Valholl...it's not a realm of great stuff - it's just you fight for a God, who wants to stop his world from being destroyed - you die then you eat - it's an endless cycle of purgatory in a way but then its not, for some that like this type of afterlife, it's perfect for them! I'd prefer the other Viking realms that you pointed out.
If the Viking Norse religion has many halls
Then Hindusim has seven planets, has seven underworld s
Each have a different source of view, etc, God, etc.
I dunno this was a very interesting video please make MORE content like this - stuff like this gives a lot more clarity
This cleared so much confusion up for me, thank you! Helheim seems so much better then Valhöll to me as someone who just wants a peaceful place for eternity..Skål!
This weekend I was at a Ren Faire and a vendor had a “Passport to Valhalla,” featuring a large valknut on the cover. I’d like to say I just facepalmed and left the booth, but he tried to sell it to me. (I didn’t buy it, lol)
I mighta bought it for the meme.
I can’t think of anything more wonderful after death than finding our loved ones, those we know and those we don’t, waiting for us in a room filled with fires , frith and joy.
My grandfather, a descendant of Danish immigrants, was an architect and passionate about his work in life. I wonder if he's spending his afterlife with the Dwarves like Brokr and Eitri, learning of their building techniques? I also wonder if his wife, my grandmother, is with him or perhaps in Folkvangr with Freya?
This video is a great way to crack open this conversation. It is my understanding that Freyr has set me on a quest in this life . For that reason I seek some afterlife among the Vanir. Being a polytheist who has studied soul retrieving I wonder if the places of Lost Souls would be a part of Helheim. Could it be by itself as multifaceted as the rest of the universe? For the record I agree with your assessment that Valhöll is a loop for souls that cling to the glory of battle and is itself a way of redemption. Almost passing through Valhöll on one’s way to their ancestral mound and from their to whichever incarnation or rest they have earned, chosen or been assigned. Great content
My understanding of Valhalla has always been that it is not a place of reward; it is a place of duty. It's Odin's hall, so the inhabitants are there before Ragnarok, and their duty is to prepare to fight for the gods when Ragnarok comes. There is some reward: the warriors get to party during the night, but they also spend all of their days training for the final battle.
Mr. OceanKeltoi, thank you for another video. I've been a practicing heathen for the last few years, but I always like hearing your closing statement. Find a way, or make one. It's this idea in heathenry that attracts me. Don't rely on the gods to bail you out, rely on yourself. But honor the gods, and ask for their favor.
I wish to be with Hel. She is the balance between the sadness in beauty and the growth in destruction. I planted a garden last weekend, i dedicated my Iris bed to her. The part that are seen are beautiful..the parts unseen are bizarre but feed the life above.
You taught me so many things and I am grateful, thank you!
You are such a great polytheistic theologian your doing great work!
I would have loved to hear your ideas on the crazed one’s goal to build an army, the idea of needing to die in a wild fury in order to enter and why.
I live under an “as if”; I cultivate the energy of my body, my mind, and my spirit. If there is no afterlife, then I have given back more than I took coming in. This is a minor grace. If there is an afterlife, then I hope to be prepared for it.
Like many of your videos, I'm sure this is one I'll come back to more than once. Great job as always!
Thoughts of the afterlife are common enough for me since I became a heathen, almost a year ago now. I hold ritual to honour my ancestors quite regularly, and I have made a point of mentioning Valhalla as well as Helheim in those rituals, and even Ran's hall. I really enjoy the concept of the multi part soul, so it makes sense to me to mention those potential afterlifes too.
I do like to think that I will end up in Helheim myself, and I also hope that my ancestors will have eventually journeyed their way there too, even if only in part.
I can't sleep & being up in the middle of the night listening to Norse legends is time well spent. Thanks for your exciting vocal work on yet another great video. 🌟
Well I loved this. I'm so happy you brought up Vaholl as maybe a kenning for a battlefield grave.
On hypothesis of mine is that Valhalla may actually be some sort of metaphor for achieving word fame, a pseudo immortality.
When I was an RN working on the maternity unit, I remember being disturbed when I was told by a new mother that she and the baby's father had decided to name their newborn daughter "Valhalla". We're supposed to be supportive, but I had a hard time NOT asking why they would want to name a beautiful baby girl for a grim, bloody hall where the battle-slain continuously re-enact their brutal deaths over and over again. I think they must have had a very generic Marvel Comics idea of Norse mythology. .
Another great video ocean man! I personally don't want to go to Valhalla, even though I worship and give to Óðinn. I would much rather go to Þrúðheimr or Helheim and be with my ancestors.
I was under the impression that Odin was eh...collecting --selecting--warriors to serve at the time of Ragnarok. So depending on your pov it could be a great honor or a great burden (curse) No R.I,P. for you...you get to spend eternity preparing for the Ultimate Battle. Not my idea of Heaven but to each their own :) Always enjoy your videos. Fantastic channel 👍💜
I try not to get too scared when thinking about the afterlife. Honestly if im with the people i love and the goda i worship than I'm okay.
That’s because you didn’t hear me singing during those Christian services! Hehehe. Excellent video, my friend. Always love your stuff!
3:14 - Or even more properly Valhǫll, given that ö did not exist in Old Norse. 😉That goes for the other uses of ö in the video too. Apologies for the nitpick. 😆
The only reason ö is even used there is because early typewriters didn't have an ǫ, and early internet couldn't handle it either. Heck, it still looks a little funny, but it's supposed to be a normal o with a hook on it.
i found some of that, but, i'll be straight up with you, it's not available in the font i'm using 😂
That bonus clip at the end though 😍
A permanent afterlife i dont think they had. I see them more as waiting places for the different parts before they come together to make a new human life. Life, death, rebirth, life, death, rebirth, life, death, rebirth..... forever.
It is cyclical, I agree.
I could listen to you tell stories all day long.
Even as a military man, I always saw myself going to Helheim, but I'd be honored to become one of the chosen. Valhalla has always been a place of higher purpose to me. Where you'd train and die each day to eventually serve and die alongside our gods to save a glimmer of what they created from those who want to destroy it.
"...die alongside our gods to save a glimmer of what they created from those who want to destroy it."
That's actually a beautiful description of Ragnarök. Because not all is destroyed. A small, charred branch of Yggdrassil remains, floating across the Ginunga-void like a piece of driftwood. Eventually the driftwood washes ashore on a distant beach. Out of the wood is born a man and a woman - Ask, and Embla (I think roughly translated into "Ash and Ember")... the man which is the ash, the stuff, the matter, and the woman, which is the ember, the spark of life.) And together they walk the beach and then they meet three Aesir brothers, which is reminiscent of how the world was made the first time. And so we come full circle.
If this is what you imagine yourself helping to achieve, then it's a noble thought indeed.
What I hear here is: if you die doing what you love you end up in the after life you want
Interesting video. The ancient Egyptians had a concept of a many faceted person, the body, the soul and the spirit. The body stayed in the tomb, the soul went to paradise where it pretty much continued life as it is on earth, and the spirit traveled back and forth visiting earth and paradise. I am pretty agnostic myself, but I am open to ideas and do not exclude anyone's mythology as better than anyone else's.
I always look forward to your videos they are informative and helpful. Thank you for consistently being there to help guide me along my learning process as well as not only explaining everything but as well as giving me a good laugh, I am already excited for the next video 😁
I really love this, great video and great information!!!
Absolutely fantastic! Very informative, keep up the amazing work 👍
My ideal afternoon life would be my young body back and returning to an adventurous life.
I absolutely loved this video! It touched on some things I've often pondered about various descriptions of a great many, and varied, afterlife. Skol.
Amazing video as always! It is quite interesting to think about the many different possibilities of the afterlife and their respective lords of the hall.
Awesome dude love the videos. You're my go to for information.
I'm so glad you made this video. It has now helped me with my fears of death and afterlife. Thank you so much.
Ocean, your beard is looking particularly brilliant here!
Thank you for this much-needed video! I see so much confusion on this topic online, and I think you are spot-on.
I love your content. Great video, thank you so much
Some very interesting notions, and trains of thoughts. I like how you describe it... I would like to see you dig deeper into this topic... I find it hugely fascinating... - Thank you for a great video... May your north always be true.
Thank you for such a fantastic, insightful video.
I love this video, great job yet again Ocean! Seeing this video now actually... Really helped. Perfect timing haha. I've recently been... neglectful of practice with my polytheist faith, and for the first time in my life a few days ago I was panicking over the idea of death. I've been lost for a while, but finding your channel again really helps me believe I could start again... It is intimidating, being before the gods, but I know there is mutual love... Thank you for not only quelling my anxieties about death, but also making me want to reconnect again
Your opening to this video earned my subscription. I've watched a few videos and truly enjoyed them. Thank you for explaining all of these concepts in a way that even my 7yr old son understands them.
Many years ago I was hit while riding my motorcycle... had a near-death experience in the hospital, didn’t last long but I know I’m going somewhere
Personally I also love the idea of reincarnation down the ancestral line. That the halls may be a sort of waiting place before reincarnation or a place for a part of the soul while another part in reborn. The afterlife is something I don't suscribe to know but since my deconversion from christianity it is at least no longer something I fear.
Finally catching up on videos. This was great. Yeehalla had me rolling
As a former Catholic, I can't help but draw a similarity between your second to last possibility for Valhall and Catholic idea of Purgatory, a place to be cleansed before entering the Christian heaven. Personally I like this idea as it makes sense to me that those who died violently may need to overcome that trauma before entering Hellhiem. Like you I am agnostic about the afterlife as it was Christian ideas about the afterlife that drove me away
Absolutely wonderful video! :)
Very well done 👍🏻 I like these concepts and the argument for multiple places to go after death, why not there’s 9 worlds
Ocean, great video. Perfect puns, lol! I think you nailed it pretty good, all the variety. I think ever since we, as humans, started questioning EVERYTHING, we also started planning answers. And just like now, with christians, I'd bet every mind had it's own version of an afterlife. Maybe you can move from one to another, through choice or not, depending on worthiness! It could be 'like sands through the hourglass, these are the days of our afterlives!' Cue music, lol. Damn I'm old. 👍🥰💖✌
Thank you for this, this was amazing. It really gets the mind thinking what really is and what can be!
You, Sir, are a genius and I thank you!
This is my third video I've seen from you and already you've changed so much in not only my perception of Viking heaven but also Vikings themselves, their way of life and the perception of life and death in general.
I sincerely salute your work, its impact, who you are and the way you see things.
I was aware of Helhiem, Valholl and Frey's realm, but not the others so it was nice to learn that.
So satisfying to hear you question every notion I have about norse polytheism, with such clarity of speech and originality of thought! Every video you post makes me want to open books (today I happened to have Njáls saga in the original at hand, trying to find where they refer to guts in chapter 157, it's a bit hard as I'm still learning icelandic 😄)
Its just before the poetic portion of the chapter
Found it! It's literally about a weaving loom to make fabric out of entrails. Nice 🤢
This video was even more exceptional than usual. Thank you ❤
I love the way you speak
Great video! 👍
Loved this 🙏
Great video! Would you do one on the Greco-Roman concept of the afterlife?
Though it’s only attested once and not as a place of an afterlife, I’d like to imagine Ydalir as an ideal afterlife. A land of mountains, forests, hunting, fishing, and skiing. An outdoorsman’s afterlife.
I hope that when my time is done, I will meet my wife in Folkvangr once more. I have no desire to end up in Valhalla
A lot to think about there. Thank's for this. Letting go of earthly things, attachment and obsession before moving on. I think the afterlife may be a reflection of earthly life (if there is one). Won't know until I'm there. Just paying attention to my conduct in this life
Looking at placenames and clusters of mounds and gravesites in ancient scandinavia, it ought to be pretty obvious that Hell is everywhere or very close by.... I pass through the village of Hellum (Hellheim) on my way to work- the area is strewn thick with mounds and close by is the site (Svennum) of a recently discovered sacred valley where there is evidence of a iron age kranial ancestor whorshipping cult... Kraniumkult. The dead, unless going to a dedicated far off abode of some god - was never far away
Well, it kinda is but kinda isn’t, all it is, is endless fighting and feasting with fellow fallen friends and family, until the day of Ragnarok when Odin Simmons them to the Battlefield one last time to fight the army of the Frost Giants
Odin Simmons? Richard's brother? Oh, I see, as they are deemed "fit".
New subscriber! Love the references given. Going to surf your whole channel later 😅😅😅
Excellent video!
Ps Ocean, live forever or die trying!🤣
Great stuff.
If there's an afterlife: "Oh no, not again" - The Bowl of Petunias, Douglas Adams Hitch-hiker's Guide.
This was nice to know and learn Thank you.
I start watching this video on my phone while my 5yo son is sitting on the other side of the couch. I he can hear your intro and says "are you watching Ocean again??" 😅
Yes, yes I am lol
Texan here. Your arrival was hilariously delightful!
I've always been aware one person's Heaven is another person's Hell. And no particular afterlife spans biblical traditions. The typical Christian Heaven seems to me lobotomized slavery. While endless reincarnation strikes many of its believers as something to escape. I suspect the Happy Hunting Grounds would not be perfectly happy if I knew more about them (starting with those hunted). Oblivion gets to sounding pretty good. With choices, I wonder if we get to make informed choices.
Enjoyed the video. Always love to have pointed out the absurdity of trying to overlay one religion on another. I respect the similarities and the differences.