The Stanzas :

The complete Icelandic staves / Ásatrú symbol series. (Artwork 2015)

Reupload of one of my most popular posts.

Each artwork is representing an element. They are presented here in the following order : fire, earth, metal, water, wood and air. The symbols are accompanied by stanzas of the Hávamál or Völuspá, written in runes.

Disclaimer for purists : admittedly for aesthetic effect only, as these runes are Elder Futhark and thus predates the viking era by a few centuries. (Let’s not even go into the subject of Icelandic staves which are even a lot younger than that). The transcription is also a wild approximation, again accuracy wasn’t a concern during the creative process.

The stanzas :

1) Fire : Helm of Terror

Cattle die and kinsmen die, thyself too soon must die, but one thing never, I ween, will die fair fame of one who has earned.

2) Earth : Vegvísir

Happy is he who hath in himself praise and wisdom in life; for oft doth a man ill counsel get when ‘tis born in another’s breast

3) Metal : Hólastafur

Hard is it in the world, great whoredom, an axe age, a sword age, shields shall be cloven, a wind age, a wolf age, ere the world sinks.

4) Water : Veiðistafur

He welcomes the night who has enough provisions Short are the sails of a ship, Dangerous the dark in autumn, The wind may veer within five days, And many times in a month.

5) Wood : Varnarstafur Valdemars

An ash I know, Yggdrasil its name, With water white is the great tree wet; Thence come the dews that fall in the dales, Green by Urth’s well does it ever grow.

6) Air : Valknut

Thought and Memory each morning fly Over the vast earth: Thought, I fear, may fail to return, But I fear more for Memory.