The Sunwheel and Valknut
The following "SUNWHEEL" symbols are identified within
the Odinist/Wotanist path.
Historical events have sometimes polluted the meaning of these
ancient and spiritual symbols.
Seek to understand the truth, and look past the stigma! You will
see - HONOR...
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A
Solar Cross |
B
Valknut |
C
Shield Knot |
D
Swastika |
E
Triple Horn
of Odin |
The following is information from the website, Alternate Religion,
visit them at: Alternate
Religion
| A.
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Solar
Cross: is probably the most ancient spiritual
symbol in the world, appearing in Asian, American, European,
and Indian religious art from the dawn of history. Composed
of a equal armed cross within a circle, it represents the
solar calendar- the movements of the sun, marked by the solstices.
Sometimes the equinoxes are marked as well, giving an eight
armed wheel. (The swastika
is also a form of Solar cross, emphasizing movement.)
The cross in its most simplified form (shown above) is known
in Northern Europe as Odin's cross, after the Chief God of
the Norse pantheon. It is often used as an emblem by Odinists,
followers of the Norse religion.
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| B. |
Valknut:
found on old Norse stone carvings is called "Hrungnir's
heart," after the legendary giant of the Eddas. It is
best known as the Valknut, or "knot of the slain,"
and it has been found on stone carvings with funerary motifs,
where it signified the afterlife. The valknut can be drawn
unicursally (in one stroke), making it a popular talisman
of protection against spirits.
The Valknut's three interlocking shapes and nine points suggest
rebirth, pregnancy, and cycles of reincarnation. The nine
points are also suggestive of the Nine
Worlds (and the nine fates) of Norse mythology. Their
interwoven shape suggests the belief of the interrelatedness
of the three realms of earth, hel, and the heavens, and the
nine domains they encompass. The Valknut is also an important
symbol to many followers of the Odinist faith, who often wear
it as a symbol of the faith.
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| C. |
Shield
Knot: is an ancient and nearly universal symbol.
The shield knot has been used for thousands of years by a
variety of cultures for protection and warding.
While the common design is most often associated with the
Celts and ancient Norse, the most basic form is much older.
Later, it was used in the Kabbalah as a symbol of the Shema,
the prayer/spell to invoke the four Archangels; it is the
origin of the "Qabbalistic Cross" ritual still used
today. This knot is sometimes referred to as the "Earth
Square" or St. Hans cross.
The Norse and Celtic versions of the knot are used for the
same purposes of protection but are related to the fourfold
solar cross.
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| D. |
Swastika:
is a type of solar
cross, with arms bent at right angles, suggesting a whirling
or turning motion. Long before the symbol was co-opted as
an emblem of Hitler's Nazi party, it was a sacred symbol to
Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist religions, as well as in Norse,
Basque, Baltic, and Celtic Paganism.
The name Swastika is derived from the Sanskrit language, from
"su," meaning "good," and "vasti","
meaning "being" (together; well being) In India,
it is used as a fertility and good luck charm.
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| E. |
Triple Horn of Odin:
is a stylized emblem of the Norse God Odin. This symbol consists
of three interlocked drinking horns, and is commonly worn
or displayed as a sign of commitment to the Odinist faith.
The horns figure in the mythological stories of Odin and are
recalled in traditional Norse toasting rituals. |
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