Going Down to Hel

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  • Опубликовано: 9 окт 2018
  • Looking at the literary sources to understand what Hel (the Underworld in Norse mythology) really means, who went there, what was the purpose, and demystify the horrible view on Hel brought by Christianity which clouded the entire meaning and perception of the Underworld in the Scandinavian Pagan Mind.
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Комментарии • 203

  • @ArithHärger
    @ArithHärger  5 лет назад +52

    Hello everyone! If anyone is interested in reading my academic work on this matter, which I've written exclusively for the Patreon platform, just check it right here: www.patreon.com/posts/going-down-to-21657323

  • @rubencordova1356
    @rubencordova1356 5 лет назад +28

    I am Native American, Apache, and considered a heathen for being a traditionalists.
    I find this video very interesting in that, from my teaching from my Apache elders, this concept of Hel being a stop or wait into the journey through the afterlife to another realm or world.
    I feel our soul/spirit travels throughout eternity leaving one realm/world and continuing into the next with a stay or wait in a place like hel.
    I too do not believe our Gods judge us in our current world but our fate is determined in what we didn't accomplish in the realm we are currently in. Sort of like the feeling some get that we've lived with someone or somewhere in another like.
    Thank you for these videos.

    • @Chokwik
      @Chokwik 5 лет назад +3

      much love dear 'heathen', from finland.
      i assume your elders' knowledge comes from oral tradition.. have you heard anyone telling about hel's location? in fysical terms, on our planet.?
      there's an oral saga in finland from a finnish-swedish family line, said to go beyond ice age (and considered a fake among normies), that tells about a global culture of our past times.. called the bock family saga..
      for the sake of hel, i tell about it shortly (skip this if not interesteed :D)
      that saga tells that when a dead person was burned its' ashes were buried to the ground of family's burial tree (ash tree).. from there the 'fylgia' of that person would move through the tree with the sap to its' leaves and then evaporate to air, from where it would end up by the centrifugal force to old north pole, in through a hole (or a dent) in ground, into valhalla
      valhalla =hall of val/choosing, the place where the person in time chooses (as a valkyr) its' next 'viper' (kyy), from where to be born again as a baby.. the location of valhalla hole is (or was before the pole shift) in island called hel, said to be in modern day sipoo, helsinki, finland, on area that's still called uuden maa, uuden land.
      the saga is kinda 50/50 if it's real or not, but if it's real, it's the story of all humans.
      as for your personal view for the happenings after death, i feel it's closer to truth than what church have taught. :)
      and being a heathen sounds bad only to people who believe in eternal torture..
      much love.!

    • @Find-Your-Bliss-
      @Find-Your-Bliss- Год назад

      Seeing through the illusion of death and punishment is true enlightenment!
      Thank you for sharing.

  • @michaelhardin4383
    @michaelhardin4383 4 года назад +6

    One of my first UPG's was with Hel.
    Without being too poetic, I opened my eyes and found myself on a bridge looking at a huge gate. I blinked and then found myself, smaller than a grain of sand, floating eye level with a female entity that was two halves (not the sterotypical dead alive). To describe the size, her toes were the size of a solar system. I floated there in awe looking at her and noticed a ring rotating in rapid procession around her. Half gold/yellow, turning into a purple/indigo.
    I don't know how i came to the conclusion. But trusting my guttural instinct. I witnessed, in my perspective at the time, reincarnation. Each grain in the ring was a soul going in the swirl of life, death and rebirth. She would occasionally grab one from the ring and whisper to it before throwing it back into the rotation.
    Before this i had believed in an eternal afterlife and completely dismissed the idea of 'past lives'. This UPG taught me that nothing is permanent, and that reincarnation is a Truth.
    I can't thank you enough for your videos. I just recently found you and have been delving hard into your material and look forward to continuing down your channel as it is affirming so many of my own personal beliefs and reigniting the passion i have let slip into stagnation.

  • @drmahlek9321
    @drmahlek9321 5 лет назад +81

    I really like how much effort you put into these videos.
    Fusing music, art, spirituality and academic research; few can match the content you put out about the Northern European beliefs and culture.
    Massively appreciated as always.

  • @teresafigueiredo
    @teresafigueiredo 5 лет назад +14

    The most important in Arith's videos is the ability to convey the subject with objectivity, sympathy, strong arguments and open-mindedness! I always see these videos to learn more. Arith has an interesting and different perspective on teaching, clearly with more conditions he does much more because within him there is an infinite knowledge! Congratulations my friend!

    • @ArithHärger
      @ArithHärger  5 лет назад +1

      Thank you very much my dear friend ^^ your sweet words are awways welcome ^^

  • @BothandsAnaFlashlight
    @BothandsAnaFlashlight 5 лет назад +26

    Thank you, sir! I love the info about Hel (both the 'she' & the 'where').

  • @brentwisdom
    @brentwisdom 5 лет назад +8

    Thank you so much for this video. I got emotional when you talked about Niflhel being a place of transformation for those that go there, this is amazingly beautiful! Thank you for your work and time!!!

  • @skinfaxi2562
    @skinfaxi2562 5 лет назад +20

    from my research what i have come to is that Hel is the initial place that the dead go on a journey that is the afterlife that ends at the mountain of the ancestors, which is symbolically connected to asgard, the upper world ect, and it likely to be connected to the concept of reincarnation and the mound burial. In death the soul proves itself in a great journey across the worlds. Have you read Road To Hel? very good book and highly recommended to anyone interested in this subject

    • @ArithHärger
      @ArithHärger  5 лет назад +6

      That's a very good point and yes I've read that one hehe, being an archaeologist that book is a "must have" :p but concerning your words I think you will enjoy my future video about Náströnd. It's scheduled, and I've spoken about Helgafell for instance, and also that idea of being the first place we come in contact with. But more of that in the future ^^ thank you!

    • @DrFrankenskippy
      @DrFrankenskippy 4 года назад +1

      The worlds/realms (9) cannot be viewed hierarchically i.e viewed via the Yggdrasil / world tree (and relative chakra system if viewed from a esoteric Hindu POV) there is not divide (all is interconnected as the 'one' ... so above so below) so hence there is no elevated pious journey upwards as such just differentiation geared around individual/hugr essence. Having said that to look at early Pythagorean view of the 'crucifix/cross' (allowing for sacred geo' ref' to runic lore) we have the spiritual 'horizontal' and the 'vertical' whereby the individuated soul journey (seen as horizontal) also has a direct relationship regards to the relative aspirant force of megin as the rise (the vertical) of spiritual evolution.

    • @Gioachina0279
      @Gioachina0279 3 года назад

      @@ArithHärger Did you watched Robert Sepehr on YT. He is a Anthropologe with many interesting video about Nordic, Germanic and Aryan

    • @gnomikon7836
      @gnomikon7836 Год назад

      Then it is not christian interference in norse mythology as he says. No religion or mystic tradition teaches going straight to heaven or valhala, there are stages, otherwise heaven would be full of evil people too, and no justice would come to one's deeds, no karma, nothing. This is basic understanding, not christian brainwashing. Even Siberian shamanism acknowledges several stages, several realms. It is only logic that myths should not reveal everything about the beliefs and specific knowledge of that tradition, since they are for the uninitiated, and Valhalla is more appealing than Hel anyway, so why should myth focus on Hel? It doesn't make sense. Even if Hel is the destination for the majority of people, it only makes sense myth should focus on Valhalla, since it is the final goal. The fact that it stresses on Valhala being the destination for warriors who die in battle not only reflects ancient norse/germanic society, but is also a hidden hint to the war we must fight within ourselves. To win is to be welcomed into Valhala, to fail is to be welcomed into Hel, and try again. I cannot agree with this conspiracy theory, it has no spiritual depth or knowledge whatsoever.

  • @RyanEhli-MusicAndGuitar
    @RyanEhli-MusicAndGuitar Месяц назад +1

    I appreciate your points about religious comparisons. It's quite fascinating how much newer religions borrow from older religions.

  • @Newwaver2007
    @Newwaver2007 5 лет назад +8

    Thank you for making this.
    I am slowly getting what you’re saying. Where we need to detach from the christian mindset, and get back to the Heathen mindset. Which makes sense more and more.

  • @hollymchale440
    @hollymchale440 5 лет назад +17

    It's always the highlight of my day when I wake up to a new video, and this one certainly did not disappoint! My Latin teacher in high school spent a great deal of time covering Greek and Roman mythology, and was sure to point out where ideas had been "tainted," if you will, by Christian influences. I love that you do the same. Others seem to either idolize Snorri, or dismiss him as a credible source. I think his work is still quite valuable, as long as you can weed through the "obvious" Christianization.
    Thank you for always putting out quality work!

    • @ArithHärger
      @ArithHärger  5 лет назад +2

      Thank you very much for your lovely words and feedback ^^ yes it's true Snorri is still a great source and thanks to him we were left with a lot of information about Norse myths, but indeed we must be careful and eyes wide open to filter as much as we can. Snorri's work can't be taken as the "true" understanding of the Norse pagan mind.
      Once again thank you and have a nice day! Cheers!

  • @crowsbaneful
    @crowsbaneful 5 лет назад +5

    Hail Arith! Thanks my friend this subject and your impressive energy for it has pleased me greatly..again!

  • @Ravynwulf
    @Ravynwulf 5 лет назад +2

    Hi Arith, ✋🏼 I'm learning a lot from your videos. Thank you for doing this. I really hope your back is healing well and you are feeling much better by now...🦋

  • @bridgetkorns8174
    @bridgetkorns8174 Год назад

    That opening was incredible. Wise and artistic. Kind of the epitome of human experience.

  • @cyclicallivingoz
    @cyclicallivingoz 3 года назад

    Loved the intro on this video. Thank you for making such beautiful and informed videos.

  • @tonyhacker5980
    @tonyhacker5980 5 лет назад +5

    Informative, entertaining and beautiful. Hail to you and yours, I can't wait to see what else you have in store

    • @ArithHärger
      @ArithHärger  5 лет назад +1

      thank you very much ^^ yes a lot is coming definitely hehe, and I think if you enjoyed this one you will certain like what's coming next ^^

  • @danielag.ishikawa
    @danielag.ishikawa 3 года назад

    Muito obrigada pelo vídeo! I'm from Brasil and its hard to find stuff about Hel... i love norse mythology and learning a lot with these youtube cannals! Adoro os seus videos!

  • @Survivethejive
    @Survivethejive 5 лет назад +1

    Very detailed and well sourced!

  • @dentonstalesofthevikingage8945
    @dentonstalesofthevikingage8945 5 лет назад

    Very interesting and well presented. I enjoyed it very much. You are very easy to listen to and make your points in a very clear and simple to understand manner. Well done.

  • @musketsmoothbore
    @musketsmoothbore 5 лет назад +5

    This was a fantastic video. And by far one of my favorites!

  • @psychedianic
    @psychedianic 5 лет назад +8

    Appreciated this thorough video! Sorry to hear about your back pain. I sympathise. If it's inflammation based, ice packs can be helpful. Hope you are feeling better very soon!

    • @ArithHärger
      @ArithHärger  5 лет назад

      Thank you for your concern and I'm happy to know you enjoyed this video ^^ cheers! :D

  • @SiddhaGiovannaBellini
    @SiddhaGiovannaBellini 4 года назад

    wow Arith i love this video, it is so interesting. There is so much to know about the true roots of spirituality of our ancestors. The Earth and the Feminine witch are so deeply connected have been devastated by men of the church. There is so much work to be done to reconnect human beings to the earth and your work is so important to achieve this knowledge. Thank you so much for the love you put in your researches and so much generosity to all of us here. You are teaching a concious way to re-open our hearts through history, archeology, literary sources, to reconnect to the planet earth and stop this crazy business of explotation and violence. Thank you so much for all this.

  • @jvandermerwe5274
    @jvandermerwe5274 5 лет назад +3

    Thank you for another great video, keep up the great work

  • @beingfrank40
    @beingfrank40 3 года назад

    Sorry about your back pain, hope it gets better!

  • @Saxonson
    @Saxonson 5 лет назад

    Man that begining was amazing brother!

  • @TheSpiritWitch
    @TheSpiritWitch 5 лет назад

    Fantastic video! Thank you so much for all the information you give.

  • @silentwitness7132
    @silentwitness7132 5 лет назад +6

    Awesome intro, singing and playing. And also a very interesting topic, top quality analysis. Maybe an idea for a vid: how was the law and judgement during pre-christian Germanic cultures? Thanks a lot!

    • @ArithHärger
      @ArithHärger  5 лет назад +5

      Thank you very much. Yes I'm working on viking laws and forms of justice, and a video about that will probably come out next year with Mr. Thorstein making a come back hehe. A lot of people asked me about that and it's an interesting topic that I thought people would find boring and quite dull, but it seems many want to know about it, which is good ^^

    • @silentwitness7132
      @silentwitness7132 5 лет назад +5

      Oh! Mr Thorstein is finally coming back from raiding? Nice! :P I'm eager to see him back hehe
      Not boring or dull at all, every topic you touch is very interesting to me, you're literally reshaping all the notions I had, it's very refreshening, you've cleared up a lot of misconceptions, I'm definitely learning a lot and I can't thank you enough for that.
      Keep up the good work my friend!

  • @garygnu4629
    @garygnu4629 5 лет назад +2

    Your intros just keep getting better

    • @ArithHärger
      @ArithHärger  5 лет назад +1

      Thank you, I'm trying my best ^^

  • @skyemcanally1046
    @skyemcanally1046 5 лет назад +3

    Thanks so much for the video. Very informative. Sorry about your back. :( Hope you feel better soon.

    • @ArithHärger
      @ArithHärger  5 лет назад +1

      Oh thank you so much for your words and caring ^^

  • @nephrenqayin254
    @nephrenqayin254 5 лет назад +1

    Another great video! Thank you Arith!

  • @kamilarosinska5404
    @kamilarosinska5404 2 года назад

    Fantastic lecture, thank you!

  • @auurbjarnadottir6138
    @auurbjarnadottir6138 4 года назад

    Excellent, Arith.

  • @beefcakesasquatch6608
    @beefcakesasquatch6608 5 лет назад

    My personal interpretation of the sagas i have read was that hel was the realm of the dead, everyone goes there, and the halls like valholl and folkvangr existed within. So I don't think I was too far off base. However I was unaware the norse believed in over 60 different realities after death but it makes sense. Another great vid! Hope that back gets to feeling better, best carv yourself some healing bind runes. Can't be having you not uploading new awesome content now can we.

  • @Sheepdog1314
    @Sheepdog1314 5 лет назад +1

    one thing I know for sure - I flat-lined many years ago, it was quite pleasant...sooo...I am not sure where I would have ended up had I kept going, but I guess I was too young to die, I survived , and now I know there is something else...

  • @Joj1n
    @Joj1n 5 лет назад +1

    Hi Arith
    Your videos are a inspiration all the time. A good balance between facts and mystery aspects. Also the way your Videos are structured is beautiful.
    This is the second time i please you to make a video about the language of the north. How to speak the names correctly. I study the mythologies but not want to go deeping in the sound of the names and it’s meanings. A short reply would be fine. 🙏
    Great work!

    • @ArithHärger
      @ArithHärger  5 лет назад

      Thank you so much for your feedback ^^ Glad you enjoy the content I create. The Language of the North is not my speciality, I know a few words in Old Norse and Old Icelandic but I usually pronounce the names in the Norse myths with a Swedish accent, and words in Old Norse as best as I can. But well, my field of expertise in archaeology is actually romans and I'm doing videos about Scandinavian Studies due to my spirituality, so I could give a try on the language :p

  • @josebranquinho5983
    @josebranquinho5983 5 лет назад +2

    Amigo Arith Harger:- Já vi por duas vezes e gostei muito. O meu grande abraço.
    José Branquinho

    • @ArithHärger
      @ArithHärger  5 лет назад

      Boa boa ainda bem assim é que é meu bandido :p

  • @DrFrankenskippy
    @DrFrankenskippy 4 года назад

    Loving that musical intro' ... you should consider releasing an album :-)

  • @morgotha42
    @morgotha42 5 лет назад +1

    I really enjoy your videos. they help me to learn a lot. As for neck pain (I know its a bit late) get peppermint essential oil and clove essential oil. mix 2 parts peppermint to one part clove and if you have sensitive skin add that to one part carrier oil. then rub that into the painful area and shortly you will enjoy relief from your pain.

    • @ArithHärger
      @ArithHärger  5 лет назад +1

      Thank you very much, I'll note that down for later use because I'm often with back pain hehe

    • @morgotha42
      @morgotha42 5 лет назад

      @@ArithHärger I happen to be a certified herbalist 😊 sent you a friend request on fb. I hope all is well. Looking forward to new videos as I go through older videos.

  • @pattynorthcottmistressofmy101
    @pattynorthcottmistressofmy101 3 года назад

    Thank you for your videos
    Thank you for your music

  • @pipes9878
    @pipes9878 5 лет назад +2

    I've been loving your vids since coming across your channel (thanks RUclips suggestions 🤘) I do have a question on Svinfylking and úlfheðnar warrior cults. There's lots of information on Berserkers but not much on the others could you shed some light on them, their practices and beliefs or point me in a direction to better understand who these people where. Many thanks 🤘😎👍

  • @TheTessaloniki
    @TheTessaloniki 5 лет назад +18

    Thankyou for yet another wonderful video! I was wondering about the name Hel and it’s origin. In Swedish, Hel means whole, full or complete. Could this be what it really means? A place where you go to be completed, or as you described it to be transformed? Tack för idag 🙂

    • @ArithHärger
      @ArithHärger  5 лет назад +8

      Hey there, thank you ^^ Well, Hel gives a sense of fullness indeed, closer to a place that expresses protection. Hel in Old High German is refered to something concealed, concealment in general. It's not just the translation, it's also what the words express. So Hel seems to hark back to a prehistoric past that literally meant a place down in the earth, a cave, which not only were the first human sanctuaries and temples but also where they expressed their art and animistic notions of the spiritual world. People also buried their dead in caves. So Hel seems to be just that, a realm down the earth, inside the mountains, the place of the ancestors that gives a sense of protection.

    • @TheTessaloniki
      @TheTessaloniki 5 лет назад

      Thank you for your answer. It’s amazing how many similarities there are in different religions. In just this topic im thinking about the veil in nordic myth, the bible and the kabbalah. Also the American natives Hopi tribe talkes about cave people. Keep up the good work and I hope your back gets better.

    • @audreybuchanan144
      @audreybuchanan144 5 лет назад +1

      I think that 1 soul can go to many halls and you might be a more developed soul if you've already been to hel

  • @karrenofarc
    @karrenofarc 5 лет назад

    Thank you Arith. ❤️

  • @theheathenwanderer2249
    @theheathenwanderer2249 5 лет назад

    Another great video, thank you.
    It's great to hear about the earlier beliefs, less tainted by Christian biases. As you have said in the video, later sources are still great. But it becomes more difficult to pick out the Heathen context from Christian perspectives.

  • @jondecarbonel8158
    @jondecarbonel8158 5 лет назад

    I chose fountains and eternal spring. 🐦🌱🌲🌳🌿🌾🍃 I'm pretty sure there's something to be said for
    " it will be as you think it will be."
    😎👌
    Thank you it's fabulous info.
    Be well your back, Teacher.
    Hopefully you're better soon.

  • @beingfrank40
    @beingfrank40 3 года назад

    This was very good...good for everyone to know who practice these traditions

  • @vullrath
    @vullrath 5 лет назад +1

    you gained a sub from me. and many likes. I am binge watching most of your videos after work. ^_^

  • @AlexaDoTarot
    @AlexaDoTarot 5 лет назад +6

    Você me encanta demais !! Lovely Video Thank you !! E sua musica oh Gods you playing !! The Gods are much near you and you are much Special
    Kisses and Amazing Information !!

    • @ArithHärger
      @ArithHärger  5 лет назад +1

      Muito obrigado minha amiga ^^ hehe

  • @stevechappelle2453
    @stevechappelle2453 5 лет назад

    Very much appreciate this presentation, I have had trouble with the common presentation of either Valhalla or Hel exactly the way you have shown that Christianity re-tooled these concepts. This is a far more balanced concept, devoid of the negative valuations of judgment and punishment. I never thought that if you were old and did not die on the battlefield that it was at all right to be consigned to Hel along with evil doers like it's a punishment. This makes more sense.

  • @freyrsvin
    @freyrsvin 4 года назад

    Another great video Arith. What you think about Alvissmal in the Prose Edda possibly implying sunny days in Hel (as to your point of Hel being sunny)? It doesn't give the "Hel name" for each item in the poem, nor does it for any other realm, but does state that Hel has a moon and clouds, and implies the other things are there by Hel names too...

  • @Oakwise86
    @Oakwise86 5 лет назад +3

    Why don't you have more subs...you are amazing.

    • @ArithHärger
      @ArithHärger  5 лет назад

      Hehe thank you! Bring your friends here :P

  • @bullseye0169
    @bullseye0169 5 лет назад +2

    So I’ve been watching your videos for some time now and I’ve noticed the you tell us that this isn’t your opinion, but I’m curious as to which spiritual path you are taking in this incarnation? If you aren’t comfortable talking about this here I completely understand. Thank you for The wonderful videos and all the work it must take to make such great content

  • @petersmedley459
    @petersmedley459 2 года назад

    I’m not surprised that your back is hurting Arith...that’s a weight of wisdom and empathy you are carrying on your shoulders! Nonetheless, I sincerely hope that you are feeling better. With best and fond wishes from one who is keen to learn.

  • @Survivethejive
    @Survivethejive 5 лет назад

    Mallory reconstructed the original Indo-European notion of the afterlife as a beautiful meadow. It sounds much like Saxo's account of Hel

  • @tessjess1
    @tessjess1 4 года назад

    Nice tip work !!

  • @dg6849
    @dg6849 3 года назад

    I would like to hear more about the goddess hel from your perspective!

  • @jonrichards1989
    @jonrichards1989 4 года назад

    Arith, what would you say is the best work by Saxo Grammaticus to get started reading? I love your videos btw, they’ve been a huge help in my spiritual development. Keep up the good work!

  • @Druzica18
    @Druzica18 5 лет назад +1

    I love these videos about Hel (both the goddess and the place. Thank you for making them! Also please take care of yourself, maybe a hot water bottle/heating pad for your back? I'm so sorry you're in pain.

  • @timeaesnyx
    @timeaesnyx 5 лет назад +6

    Weregild (blood money) or, in extremis, outlawry for murder if I remember right.

  • @astreal-awar9688
    @astreal-awar9688 3 года назад

    Amazing video! I'm just getting into Nordic underworld understanding! I've been feeling drown to Loki and his sons. Btw, do you have the original lyrics of what you sang at the start of the video?

  • @draug7966
    @draug7966 4 года назад

    I know this is an old video but anyways, i really like how you point out that so much of the modern ideas about the norse paganism/asatru or whatever it should be called is very influenced by christian world wiews with the dualities of good and evil, heaven and hell and so on. It´s a real eye-opener to get away from that, then of course we can never know exactly what people believed back then but that´s what makes it so fascinating. Personally i never really bought the idea of hel as a place of punishment because it´s just too similar to the christian idea of hell. Love your videos, tack för idag.

  • @D3rMesaa
    @D3rMesaa 3 года назад

    Very interesting

  • @tkjon3es
    @tkjon3es 5 лет назад +5

    Great video! I'm just currently learning about Norse mythology. I am a bit confused, is Helheim more of a name that was made up for Hel?

    • @ArithHärger
      @ArithHärger  5 лет назад +5

      Thank you ^^ , yes Helheim is a modern invention, mostly spread my Marvel. Most Norse realms end up with the prefix "heimr", meaning "realm" sort of, like Jötunheimr, Svartalfheimr, Muspelheimr, Niflheimr etc. so they came up with Helheimr so it wouldn't sound close to Hell and not accepted by the general audience, but the name is simply Hel.

    • @tkjon3es
      @tkjon3es 5 лет назад +3

      @@ArithHärger Thank you! That helps out a lot with understanding. I rather have the original origin of the name vs a somewhat fictionized version.

  • @mstreech
    @mstreech 5 лет назад +2

    Fantastic

  • @ToM_TouchOfMadness
    @ToM_TouchOfMadness 4 года назад

    This is most exactly what i'm thinking about it. Thanks for that...

  • @spinoyen4756
    @spinoyen4756 5 лет назад +2

    Very interesting man. Appreciate the time you took to make this, I'll have to check out some of your other content too =))
    And I'd hope your back pain is gone by now!?

  • @blakewinter1657
    @blakewinter1657 2 года назад

    I have to say that I had already conclucded that Valhalla was probably originally just another part of Hel, and not so much a reward as simply a training place. Hel seems to have originally been more of an elysium or Sheol type place, except not as unpleasant or filled with forgetfulness (remember, Baldr's arrival was given a CELEBRATION!). Much of this seems to be linked to the underground and the underworld being considered very similar or the same place. I suspect Snorri was approaching the Norse traditions with a christian perspective that was looking for dualities in the afterlife, so he read them into the myths, which probably did not have them originally.
    We also know that the dead in Valhalla were able to travel out of it (Helgi Hundingsbane's saga I) and so it seems like perhaps many people in the afterlife might have visited valhalla, even if that was not their permanent residence (which was specifically for Odin's army).

  • @recalone
    @recalone 5 лет назад

    great one

  • @alabamaviking.2309
    @alabamaviking.2309 4 года назад +2

    You've eased my mind on the asatru faith, may the gods bless you.

  • @sunnalandkindred1542
    @sunnalandkindred1542 3 года назад

    What older sources would you recommend besides the Prose Edda?

  • @antsquirly7654
    @antsquirly7654 5 лет назад

    Many of your personal perspectives mirror my own. - Your description of Hel resembles 'Summerland.' - Having survived several near death experiences I jokingly said Hel, herself, tacked a note on her gate with my name on it, telling me my time had not come yet. Well, over time the note has deteriorated and dangles by one nail; soon.

    • @ArithHärger
      @ArithHärger  5 лет назад +1

      It's a journey we all must take, but it doesn't necessarily have to be unpleasant. Always going down with a smile because the adventure never trully stops :)

  • @oliverwestcott7022
    @oliverwestcott7022 5 лет назад +2

    what's the song you're playing on the guitar at the beginning? have you done any videos on pagan music?

    • @ArithHärger
      @ArithHärger  5 лет назад +1

      Just a melody I've created for this video. I think I've submited the melody on my Instagram and Patreon ^^

  • @2byz3
    @2byz3 5 лет назад +5

    Wonderful work as ever, as soon as I recharge my card I'll become your patreon, you totally deserve a beer from me once month...a gift for a gift ;)
    But may I ask what your "chosen" name means? Arith Harger? Never seen it in a nordic source, I'm curious.

    • @ArithHärger
      @ArithHärger  5 лет назад +8

      You will certainly be welcomed as my Patron ^^ and I'll make sure to drink a beer in your honour at least once a month hehe. Thank you for your time and support and I'm pleased you enjoy what I create.
      Arith is a made up name, it was the nickname of the first character I created when I started to write a story when I was 12. Härger is a family name from my mother side, Swedish ancestry. That name got lost because of the tradition of women adopting their husband's family name and abandoning their own. The name got lost with my great-grandmother, not so long ago. I can still have the name included in my own due to directly be a descendant.

    • @2byz3
      @2byz3 5 лет назад

      Wow, thanks for your kind reply :)

  • @TheHerson1981
    @TheHerson1981 4 года назад

    What's the Norse story of a person who goes to vallhala who wasn't a warrior an didn't die in battle .. I can't seem to find it again.

  • @bluedragon1200
    @bluedragon1200 2 года назад +1

    Everyone goes to Hel but first you have to change planes in Dallas.

  • @jaxthewolf4572
    @jaxthewolf4572 2 года назад +1

    The misinterpretation and contradictory information of Hel for the ordinary people, as either a bleak and ugly place or happy bright place reminds me of the asophodel meadows of Greek mythology. As most say the asophodel meadows are boring, bland and dark while other sources describe them as "holy, lovely and pleasant."

  • @OrIoN1989
    @OrIoN1989 3 года назад

    7:48 I have thought it was meant that every one is coming to hel at an end, but that ending was in this context ragnarok, not end of life. Because the world in the norse universe is eternal, after ragnarok its all reborn. I thought also that valhalla had more than 800 warriors. it had space for 800 soldiers wide trough each door. this is just metaforical, but to me it would be the biggest fortress i could imagine. 540 doors x 800 men wide = 432k just to hold the doors. To me this just shows that the norse not for the few, but it is for the indidual.
    What do you think?

  • @vale7736batman
    @vale7736batman 5 лет назад +1

    It's a very interesting video! But when you say the Gods don't seek vengeance, do you think what they then did to Loki and his sons was an exception? Just curious, it's not meant to be provocative or criticizing at all ^^

    • @ArithHärger
      @ArithHärger  5 лет назад

      In the sources we have no indication that the gods sought vengeance on Mankind. However, between gods, that's another matter. We have Váli, the god of Vengeance, created solely with that purpose, and of course as you mentiones the judgement of the gods upon Loki, and act of vengeance for the death of Baldr. But the entire myths of Baldr's death and the imprisonment of Loki lead to Ragnarok, and those stories were greatly modify by Christians, mainly Catholics, precisely to fit into the Apocalypse story. God seeks vengeance, and as it says in the Bible, "vengeance is his", so Odin in those myths was transformed into the figure of god seeking vengeance for the murder of his son Baldr, whom the Christians turned into the figure of Jesus. Odin - God; Baldr - Jesus; Loki - Lucifer. Christians made a mess out of this. The older myths concerning Baldr and his dreams and death were nothing like that. But I shall make a video solely about the death of Baldr.

    • @vale7736batman
      @vale7736batman 5 лет назад

      @@ArithHärger Very clear! Thank you for such a detailed answer :)

  • @wolfsesthenighteye499
    @wolfsesthenighteye499 Год назад

    What are these sixty other places?

  • @Helen-Ophion
    @Helen-Ophion 4 года назад

    Not only wells exist, but also the entry through any small water location. You must be admitted there

  • @funderbee
    @funderbee 3 года назад

    So basically ground personified, is hel lol.
    Where does the term, burry the hatchet come from?

  • @wc8-administration687
    @wc8-administration687 5 лет назад +1

    Hello, Mr. Härger! How old are you? What country do you come from? What language do you speak? I just subscribed to your RUclips Channel. You're kind of cute. Do you play black metal? 🤘 Peace! I'm female, btw. Just so you know. 👩 Oh, and My first video I watched from you was the Yule Traditions one. Merry Yule to you! Blessed be! ⭐

  • @bovinibarbarus7589
    @bovinibarbarus7589 5 лет назад

  • @theFameWolf
    @theFameWolf 5 лет назад +3

    Is that a Bind Rune or Ogham on your chest?

    • @jtalbot34
      @jtalbot34 4 года назад

      Cain Hrothvitnirson I’m a year late to the party but I believe it is the web of Wyrd. I’m studying and practicing Seidr as a Völva so it looks very much like a variation of the web of Wyrd.

    • @theFameWolf
      @theFameWolf 4 года назад

      @@jtalbot34 *seithr the eth is often mistranslated as a d because it looks like ones to English speakers. It's a th like weather. Jackson Crawford had talked about it.
      That kind of makes sense. That's also a modern creation though. Wyrd is old enough, and ironically with my last statement, a d at the end is a mistranslated eth from Urth. The Norn of the past. Her well being the Well of Urth.

  • @paulinetayloe9988
    @paulinetayloe9988 2 года назад

    If I’m right the Viking played a big part in Scottish history they used to exist in Scotland I think I read something about that.

  • @dmstantastic3653
    @dmstantastic3653 4 года назад +1

    I always attribute the second death with a second life as in optional reincarnation.

  • @JungleJoel6800
    @JungleJoel6800 4 года назад

    Do you have any book recommendations for hel?

  • @Stregaurbana
    @Stregaurbana 5 лет назад +4

    Hi Arith, thank you for this interesting video! I always follow you from Cambodia...(It 's quite bizarre to go deep into Norse mithology with palm trees outside the window). You have to admit...did you stole that white lace shirt from Captain Hook??? ;)))))) Ciao!!

    • @ArithHärger
      @ArithHärger  5 лет назад +2

      yes it must be indeed a little out-of-place in there. Everytime I'm out of my usual environment and tend to feel absolutely out of place lol and that messes with my mind. I'm sure it took a great amount of courage going there into something completely different than the "European ordinary". Thank you for your feedback, as always ^^ and that shirt was from a time when I was a goth :P I still have some stuff xd

    • @nephrenqayin254
      @nephrenqayin254 5 лет назад

      Stregaurbana. You're not the only one who could say that. I'm from the Caribbean(palm trees etc😊) and I too am studying Norse Mythology from Arith's videos and other sources; and applying their values into my life everyday. Greetings.

  • @melissamarusco8689
    @melissamarusco8689 4 года назад

    I do not know the full scope of your spiritual/religious knowledge of cultures and peoples outside of the Norse ideologies. But have you made the connection of the extreme similarities between the Viking and "native american"/ first nations people's culture, beliefs, and way of life? My lineage is comprised of both, as well as Italian, equal parts of all 3 actually. I do believe that our blood bares the imprint of the organic memory of our people. And if we listen to our heart, and the heart of this place, we can, and will remember and feel what is real, of what is, and what has always been, and where we still remain in these cosmic links to this place and to each other. If we remember our interdependence on each other and rip the veil that has been blinding so many of us, disconnect from the sorcery that has hoodwinked the masses, we can remember, we can see, and heal, and thrive again as a people. All of us. And those of us who have the innate understanding of the way, should extend our hands and our frequency to the lost and the disconnected, instead of separating ourselves from them, or exploiting them. As we are all links to the same chain. We are here to connect and build. Together. Sorry for the ramble. I just discovered your channel and I love it. I appreciate what you are doing. And it invokes and awakens something in me.

  • @ashanshogarpunchard9335
    @ashanshogarpunchard9335 5 лет назад

    Overall, very well said. A topic I am keen too learn more on.
    Though I might say you give the xtian's a bit much credit. Remember as much as they have corrupted and twisted the old traditions of the old Norse culture / traditions, they used it to twist and corrupt their own ideology. ( i suspect you know this) They changed much of the old pagan ways into their own ways to make transition easier.
    Their is a great deal of pagan thinking under many xtian ideas.

  • @phillipr.mctear8962
    @phillipr.mctear8962 2 года назад

  • @TristanaMinerazur
    @TristanaMinerazur 5 лет назад +1

    OMG the intro

  • @morganacrows776
    @morganacrows776 17 дней назад

    ❤❤❤❤

  • @amandamiscellaneous3790
    @amandamiscellaneous3790 4 года назад

    Is valhalla the same as Asgard?

    • @jaxthewolf4572
      @jaxthewolf4572 3 года назад

      No Valhalla is one of the areas within Asgard but not asgard itself

  • @companylovesmisery1463
    @companylovesmisery1463 Год назад

    Do the sources derived from archeology and (as much as can be) our Pagan past still support the idea of Hel as being half flesh colored, half alive, and the other half of Her body being half corpse colored, half dead/decayed? As our ancestors recognized the truth of death and its importance, the fact that our mortal lives and the end of those lives are two sides of the same coin, I wonder if even to them She did have such an appearance.

  • @krispalermo8133
    @krispalermo8133 3 года назад +2

    " The .. Norse .. mythology we know today has been greatly influence by Christianity."
    Sorry you forgot to mention Marvel comics and movies, along with Dungeon & Dragons " Planscape " campaign setting.

  • @AG-ug3lb
    @AG-ug3lb 2 года назад

    So judgement was more like a 'sorting hat'? Interesting.

  • @enricotomassi9672
    @enricotomassi9672 4 года назад

    My favourite Goddess from Smite brought me here

  • @andyn3532
    @andyn3532 4 года назад +1

    Imagine the life we are living is hel and we just don't remember where we came from before and how we are and live our lives now decides where our essence moves onto next and maybe life as it is now can be that shining place of light or a darker more miserable place. Or maybe I just drank to much thyme mead and I'm rambling 🙃

  • @Purpleeest
    @Purpleeest 5 лет назад

    Arith, was your dad portuguese or was it your mum? If it was your dad, did you ever meet him?

    • @ArithHärger
      @ArithHärger  5 лет назад

      My parents are still alive. On my Mother side it's swedish and italian ancestry. On my farther it's Portuguese, although surprisingly that Portuguese family on my grandfather side has medieval swedish origins lol. But my father's Mother is totally Portuguese ^^

    • @Purpleeest
      @Purpleeest 5 лет назад +1

      @@ArithHärgeraha okay. I just found out I have a half brother haha. His mum is Swedish and my dad who is portuguese is his dad, but he'd have never met his dad..

    • @ArithHärger
      @ArithHärger  5 лет назад

      Would be fun to have a brother :p

    • @Purpleeest
      @Purpleeest 5 лет назад +1

      @@ArithHärger haha yeah. Well he would be older than me and I'm 26.

    • @ArithHärger
      @ArithHärger  5 лет назад +1

      I'm 30 D: lol

  • @dalestevenson8947
    @dalestevenson8947 Год назад

    Arith Harger. Very interesting. Is Hel Freyja? Folkvangr is in the underworld. Is Baba Yaga a variation of Hel? The Catholics do have Purgatory. I suppose you could call that a middle ground. Ask a child where we go when we die. Unless they've been indoctrinated they will tell you we go where we deserve, for as long as we deserve it. Loki's daughter is Lakyn, from what I remember. Lakyn is the corpse goddess. I would be very interested to know your thoughts on the gods and the afterlife. It should please you to know that not all Christians believe in eternal torment for the sins of one lifetime. The Seventh Day Adventists believe that we are recompensed for as long as we deserve. No more, no less.