Fascinating carving from the 12th Century Kilpeck Church, of a man with a wolf above his head and a snake around his waist; very Odinic imagery. This could be a memory of a cultic wolf warrior. A wolf warrior figure from a burial in Ekhammar appeared to be holding a snake. ᚬ

Interesting find from Slagelse, Denmark; a small silver amulet shaped like a hogback grave (or a great hall)? Possibly a ritual item representing the hall of the ancestors, and/or Valhalla. One seiðr staff from Öland had a similar miniature hall on the top. ᛉ

A tiny bronze figure from a burial near Gamla Uppsala, 8-9th Century. With the asymmetrical eyes, it could be a small image of Odin, accompanying its owner in the final journey. ᚬ

“The well-earned beauty well I enjoyed,
Little the wise man lacks;
So Othrörir now has up been brought
To the midst of the men of earth.”
~Hávamál 107, Bellows
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“Vel keypts litar hefi ek vel notit, fás er fróðum vant, því at Óðrerir er nú upp kominn á alda vés jaðar.”

Hey, the Scots beat some of the most restrictive weapon laws in the world by making the dirk and sgian dubh cultural attire. It can be done.
Besides, in a world where these rights are increasingly being stripped away, a case could be made from Hávamál stanza 38 that the rights to bear arms and defend yourself is religious freedom. ᛏ

One of the Exiles hosts brought up an interesting point; due to the geographical isolation of the Germanic peoples in the northern forests, with few external influences, Germanic paganism was likely among the closest to the original Indo-European religion.
Painting by Scythian Warlord. ᛉ

Abbot Ælfric of Eynsham’s homily provides insights into Anglo Saxon land wight worship, plantlore, and healing.

In it, he says no Christian man should “fetch his health from any stone nor tree”, referring to land wights.

He said it isn’t perilous to eat medicinal herbs, so long as it’s not “enchanted with magic” but rather God’s words, which likely refers to metrical charms such as the Nine Herbs Charm, imbuing already medicinal herbs with spiritual properties.

He also condemns “binding” herbs on oneself; referring to amulets containing herbs with medicinal uses and religious significance. Herbal amulets, carrying herbs to keep evil spirits and illness away, are mentioned in Bald’s Leechbook and the Lacnunga.

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An Irish enamelled mount with a Celtic “shield” knot design, likely from a reliquary, 8-10th Century. It was found in Norfolk, and would have been a Viking’s war trophy. Fragments of Irish ecclesiastical metalwork were made into coin weights, gaming pieces and jewelry by the Vikings. The Cross of Cong, a reliquary containing a piece of the True Cross, has similar decorations.

Ælfric’s homily describes how like Daniel of Winchester, Clement I attacked paganism by claiming that the Gods were born and died (as per the most literal readings of the myths), and therefore were not Gods. In both cases, this proved ineffective.

The Gylfaginning describes the soul as being eternal, and Odin as living and ruling through all ages; clearly, these beliefs were widely held and not the exception, that the souls of the Gods are immortal, even if forms and incarnations are not.

Painting by Nikolai Abildgaard, 1777. ᛉ

Interesting bronze artifact found on the eastern shore of Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland, with a stylized bearded face. From the art style and its attachment lug, the finder suspects it may have been a Hiberno-Norse gaming piece. 10-11th Century.

A worn Anglo Saxon mount with the composite wolf warrior motif, visible between two Salin-I style ravens, similar to the example from North Dorset. The wolf’s face appears to feature a cross; could be a stylistic choice, a solar symbol, or an early attempt at Christian syncretism. 𐃏

Bernhard Salin's foundational study of Germanic animal art. (Book is in German)

“The sluggard believes he shall live forever,
If the fight he faces not;
But age shall not grant him the gift of peace,
Though spears may spare his life.”
~Hávamál 16, Bellows
Painting by Anders Kvåle Rue. ᛏ
“Ósnjallr maðr hyggsk munu ey lifa,
ef hann við víg varask; en elli gefr hánum engi frið,  þótt hánum geirar gefi.”