Calling all Vanatruar: PLEASE USE THIS SYMBOL!
I have long been frustrated by the lack of a single clear symbol for modern Vanatru suitable for a pendant. Mjolnir and Valknots are popular among modern Asatruar. The most popular symbol for the Vanir are knotwork boars, and various Trees but they’re used among Pagans in general, especially Celtic pagans, so it’s not a clear message when we use them to represent Vanatru.
So I have been searching for some time for a suitable symbol, preferably with some historical basis, but not already in common modern use, that can represent Vanatru clearly when we wear it. I have hoped to find something simple and striking, such that it is instantly recognizable even when drawn casually by a person who isn’t much of an artist.
Well, I do believe I’ve found it!
Last November, I returned to LosCon (the convention where I first found my own Brisingamen necklace) after years away. While I was there, I was shown this design by a numismatist in the vendors room. He studies all kinds of Medieval European coins, and when I asked after coins depicting Norse gods, he showed me a series of Sceattas.
This stylized boar symbol is derived from coins issued by Pagan Danes during the era of the Danelaw in Anglo-Saxon England. The Anglo-Saxons were Christians by then, and had learned coin making from the Romans. When the Pagan Danes invaded, they learned coin making from their Anglo-Saxon subjects, and designed their own coins with Pagan themes including Mjolnirs, solar crosses, horses, birds – and BOARS!
Their boars started out more recognizable, but still clearly stylized, and as they increased their contact with neighboring Anglo-Saxons and Celts, became progressively simpler and more symbolic – “Celticized” – until they settled into this abstract gesture of an arching boar with characteristic bristles and four legs.
Similar designs can be found on Sceattas throughout the region and era, and boar art with similar shapes can be found on Scandinavian armor and jewelry in honor of various Vanic gods, especially Swedish references to Freyr. Coins with this design are sometimes labelled “porcupine”, but it is clear if you look at pictures of the progression of designs over time that it is intended to be a boar.
When I saw this symbol and he explained it to me, it was like a bell ringing in my mind. This is it. This is what you’ll use. Show them! I quite literally thanked the gods for Their guidance, and have been buzzing with excitement over this ever since. I have been waiting to show it to you all until I could compose a well-researched essay about the history of these coins, to back up my UPG with a strong reconstructionist argument for using it to represent Vanatru. Unfortunately, I can’t seem to find appropriate online resources showing what the numismatist I talked to showed me in his books.
After showing the design to several fellow Vanatruar at PantheaCon, I just couldn’t hold back any longer. Honestly, it was all I could do to even postpone this post until the afternoon, so everyone could see it!
I intend to make this design available on stickers, t-shirts, and hopefully jewelry in my store, but I want to be clear: this design is historically based, and thus not under any copyright. I would LOVE it if other Vanatruar used it in their designs too. I am really hoping we can promote this as a symbol reclaimed especially for Vanatru!
–Ember–
P.S. Edited to note: I’m getting feedback that the title is misleading, because this is not a historical symbol for Vanatru, and is thus not authoritative. To be clear: There is no source of authority for Vanatru, either modern or historical. This is a historical symbol directly linked with honoring the Vanir, which I did indeed find for this use – I do not claim to have discovered it.
Please also note that Vanatru as we know it today is not a historical tradition, so there can’t be a historical symbol for it. At best we can find symbols which were used historically to honor and represent the Vanir and employ them for this purpose. That is exactly what I propose here.
What’s the significance of 9 bristles and 4 legs? What do the runes say?
I am new to my research of the Old Gods and am particularly keen on following the Vanir..
LikeLike
After a little think, i am guessing the 9 realms? The legs?
LikeLike
More like the legs and the quantity of realms are both for similar reasons: 9 is a sacred number that comes up repeatedly in Norse mythology, hence the use in the bristles. 4 legs is twofold – First, 4 is the number of legs a boar actually typically has. Second, 4 is a number that comes up repeatedly as well, especially for the Vanir. Four thrones in Vanaheim, Four brothers crafted Brisingamen, etc. -E-
LikeLike
The runes just say “Vanatru”.
9 is a number that comes up frequently in the Norse lore, though admittedly, more often around Odin. Other Heathen branches tend to sort things into batches of 9 when possible, such as the 9 Noble Virtues. That doesn’t per se apply here, but the underlying reasons for it apply here.
4 is for a few reasons. A: that’s just how many legs a boar actually has, and showing all 4 legs makes it easier to see that it’s a boar. B: There are, by modern reckoning, 4 major Vanic gods who are royalty in Vanaheim: Njord, Njordh’s sister (whom we equate with Nerthus), Freyja, and Freyr. Also, Freyja slept with 4 Dwarves to acquire Brisingamen, and just in general, 4 is another number that keeps coming up, especially around Freyja.
So it seemed easy enough, when the time came to decide exactly how many legs and bristles to draw, that I would settle into 9 and 4 quite easily.
–Ember–
LikeLike
Thank you for your reply and the detail, much obliged..
LikeLike
I’ve been roaming around for something nice like this for ages! Thank you!!
Of course I also found the boars and trees. But I want something that can be used as a small tattoo aswell, and having a ferocious boar on my wrist just doesn’t really seem very ladylike to me ☺ so I’m very happy Lord and Lady and the Internet brought me on your path 😄 so again, thank you so much for your efforts and research!
LikeLike
Finally got this cast. Will be releasing it to the wilds of Etsy soon! =) I’ll share a link when it’s up.
LikeLiked by 1 person
*Excited*!!
That reminds me, I’m overdue to make some wood-burnt pendants…
-E-
LikeLike
Here we go! https://www.etsy.com/listing/248118524/vanatru-pendant-sterling-silver-norse
LikeLiked by 1 person
Saludos. quisiera saber como puedo encontrar pegatinas, camisetas y joyería, sobres este simbolo, muchas gracias
Regards.
I would like to know how I can find stickers, shirts and jewelry on this symbol, thank you very much (I do not speak good English and use Google translate)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Google translate is sufficient, thank you. (Lo siento, solo hablo Espanol un poquito!)
I have made some stickers available at my store of a nicer version of the Vanatru symbol. https://embervoices.wordpress.com/2015/05/25/heathen-stickers/
Other people have made jewelry with this symbol, and I will make more things available with time.
Is there something special you would like?
¿Hay algo especial que puedo hacer por ti?
-E-
LikeLike
Necesita Ud. mi tienda de Zazzle: http://www.zazzle.com/seeds_of_fire?rf=238162850495497943
LikeLike
I would like to purchase 1 T, 1 bag purchase, and stickers.
I know which books are on Vanatru as soon I start to study English in order to better understand the Internet texts and books.
thank you.
Pd: I’ll look that’s in store.
LikeLike
You want a t-shirt and a bag with these symbols? I will look into putting them in the store and will let you know when they become available.
-E-
LikeLike
The bag and stickers are already there. I’d forgotten I already put up totes! But yes, I’ll put up a shirt soon! -E-
LikeLike
Pingback: FAQ for the proposed Vanatru Symbol | EmberVoices: Listening for the Vanir
Pingback: New at my Etsy shop: Vanatru pendants! | The Serpent's Labyrinth
Pingback: Vanatru Symbol Found! | Valkra Kärna
Reblogged this on Moon of the Wolf and commented:
Pretty awesome! I recognized it as a boar immediately. Not to brag. 😛
LikeLike
Hee! Whether people recognise it as a boar on the first try depends so much on where they’re coming from. I don’t blame people for seeing a porcupine. It’s great when people catch the boar immediately. Some folks like that it can also be seen as a rising sun or a wheel, which are also sacred to the Vanir. The abstractness and simplicity of the design is part of the appeal. -E-
LikeLike
Interesting stuff, and it really does have a porcupine thing going on. What books were referenced when you were discussing it?
LikeLike
The hedgehogness is only out of context.
The books were largely about Anglo-Saxon coin history. I’m not a numismatist, so I don’t own them, or have their titles memorized. It was VERY obvious from the sequence of images – and the total lack of porcupines as a theme anywhere else in any of the relevant cultures.
Also, friends of mine who are much more steeped in the Celtic side of things recognized it immediately for a boar taken totally out of context. The abstraction is according to the requirements of designs for sacred symbols in UK cultures of that time, so I have confirmation from an independent direction, which is nice.
-E-
LikeLike
Although the similarity does make me wonder if there’s more to the linguistic tie between Hog and Hedgehog than just a Germanic tendency to name all animals as variations on the most familiar few…
-E-
LikeLike
Thanks for the quick response!
LikeLike
You’re welcome! I’m not always this fast, but I’m trying to stay on top of this one.
-E-
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Sable Aradia, Priestess & Witch and commented:
Signal-boosting for any Vanatruar out there (and I can’t help but love it; my household “totem” is a boar. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
There are a LOT of representations of Boars throughout Northern Europe. I’m hoping we can keep this *particular* one for Vanatru, but boars in general deserve all the lovin’s they can get! -E-
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged to Flaunt your Sin.
This is lovely.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Flaunt Your Sin and commented:
I saw the symbol and thought it was a hedgehog… Anyway, it’s nice that they may have a symbol to represent them specifically now.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on The Serpent's Labyrinth and commented:
What I like about this is when I first saw it I thought it was the sun, or the top of a wheel, which are also Vanic symbols. (I might see about making some pendants incorporating this symbol to sell in my Etsy shop too.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are one in particular I was really hoping would run with this. Thank you! -E-
LikeLike
Oh, it should be noted – this motif can go right facing or left facing. It doesn’t have to be exactly as drawn above. Also, there being 9 bristles was my choice. I’ve seen everything from 7 to 12 so far. Similarly, they don’t always fit in all 4 legs, but I think it’s more clearly a boar when we do.
-E-
LikeLike
I’ll get right on making a new pendant design based on this. THANK YOU for sharing this!
(My shop is OdysseyCraftworks on Etsy)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I look forward to seeing them! -E-
LikeLike
I posted a first draft version on my tumblr: http://alivannarose.tumblr.com/post/111506108596/vanatru-symbol-found
LikeLike
I literally blurted out “Oh my GODS that’s GORGEOUS!” and then realized that was my outside voice. Please do make these! Will they all be silver? Can there be golden and coppery too? SQUEEE! -E-
LikeLike
Thank you! Sterling silver, bronze, gold… and later this year, we’ll be able to cast pewter, too.
LikeLike
Oooh, Bronze! Yes, and Pewter! I would love one shaped as a simple medallion, but you’re hopefully not the only artist who is jumping on this.
My own resources shall result in slips of wood and with the symbol burnt onto them, as well as t-shirts, stickers, and such via Zazzle. 🙂
I’ve got a friend who works in glass… Wheee!
-E-
LikeLike
It’s a simple enough design… I’m thinking I could try it out in kiln-carving (which is a reverse relief technique). It might also work in line work using fine frit or powder on a contrasting background glass, for a plate/dish.
I’m out of practice with the lampwork thing, so I will need to work on it a bit before I can reliably put this on a bead (unless it’s a really BIG bead), but it would look good on something like a lentil shape.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Squee! -E-
LikeLike
Hm, my one suggestion would be, as the four vertical lines are the legs, they should probably stay the same length? But that’s an afterthought… -E-
LikeLike
Oh, it should be noted – this motif can go right facing or left facing. It doesn’t have to be exactly as drawn above. Also, there being 9 bristles was my choice. I’ve seen everything from 7 to 12 so far. Similarly, they don’t always fit in all 4 legs, but I think it’s more clearly a boar when we do.
-E-
LikeLike
Pingback: New Vanic symbol! | Syncretic Mystic
Awesome! Sharing.
LikeLike
Yay! -E-
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Loki's Bruid and commented:
Yay!
LikeLike
This is fabulous and wonderful. I don’t use the term Vanatru for myself, but I love the Vanir and I love the boar symbolism in general. I want this tattooed and inscribed and branded on me (and other things!)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hee! I currently have it hennaed on my hand. 😀
I may well have it tattooed someday, come to think of it.
But first – jewelry! Stickers! Wheee!
-E-
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on The Lefthander's Path and commented:
Awesome! Get to work, artsy folk!
LikeLike
Reblogged this on facingthefireswithin and commented:
For those looking for a Vanic symbol
LikeLike