Since November's Remembrance Day honours our war dead, this month's full moon altar has as its focus the Norse goddesses of the battlefield, The Valkyries, whose name means "the choosers of the slain." In older myths, they actually chose which warriors lived and which ones died. However, their function changed in subsequent myths to simply choosing which fallen warriors deserved to be taken to Valhalla, the home of the gods. The chosen heroes (only the bravest and most fierce) would form the army of the gods during the great battle at the end of time, Ragnarok.
The heavily armoured Valkyries rode through the skies on winged horses, swooping down onto battlefields to pick up and transport the chosen dead to Valhalla. The Northern Lights were said to be moonlight glinting off their armour as they rode.
The most famous Valkyrie in our culture is Brynhildr (Brunhilda) whose name means "Bright Battle." In Wagner's Ring Cycle of operas, she defies her father Wotan (Odin) and is made to pay a terrible price, but ultimately gets her revenge by triggering the destruction of Valhalla and the downfall of the gods.
And of course, I must include a brief excerpt from Wagner's famous "Ride of the Valkyries" in tribute to these fierce goddesses.
[Photos © Debra She Who Seeks, 2023]
45 comments:
I like this one, and with such a backstory could there be a worth coming movie??? I like the touch also of the added poppies.
die walkuere is one of my faves!
Of course the music is so familiar. I didn’t realize it was Wagner!
Hello Debra, Initially individual heroes were chosen to be elevated to that status (it this case sent to Valhalla). Then, in the U.S. at least, Civil War monuments started listing the names of each casualty from that region, showing appreciation of each soldier at the local level. Later came Maya Lin's Vietnam Wall, which awes with the sheer magnitude of every name listed, making permanent the contribution and status of each person who died in that war. 9/11 made heroes of all of the First Responders, and later Covid pointed up the contributions of even delivery people who became heroes in their own way. It is interesting to follow this increasing recognition of the interconnectedness of society.
--Jim
p.s. Wagner is still a rat creep!
Now that is some mighty girl power!
A very appropriate diety for the month I think.
@ Parnassus (Jim) -- Yes, Richard Wagner epitomizes the dilemma for many of admiring and appreciating a genius in his field who was not an admirable person in his own life.
As soon as I saw Valkyrie or however it's spelled, the Ride music started in my head. Then I came to where you posted it, cool!
Elegantly simple, and simply beautiful ~ Where did you find the gorgeous figurine?
bobbie
@ bobbie -- I found her about 15 years ago in an Edmonton spirituality store which has long since gone out of business. I've never seen this statue anywhere else, so it was a lucky find!
I just mentioned you on Ms. Moon's blog yesterday, wondering what your Full Moon altar would look like! I am not disappointed! That figurine is quite magnificent!
Not to piss on goddesses, or Wagner, but every time I hear "Ride of the Valkyries" I have only one thought. My brain goes immediately to the brilliant Bugs Bunny cartoon "What's Opera, Doc?" If you've never heard Elmer Fudd belting out "kill da rabbit, KILL DA RABBIT!" you gotta look it up!! Funny and powerful!!
Did these Valkyries like the smell of napalm in the morning?
She's beautiful. Perfect for your alter.
This is beautiful. Thanks for the music. It was immediately playing in my head and it didn't sound as good.
Awesome post Debra, your altar is beautiful. Nice touch with the poppies! ♥
You wouldn't want to upset a Valkyrie!
A beautiful altar. Stark, as it should be, softened only by the poppies. Brynhildr is imposing and unsettling. Wouldn't want those eyes turned your direction...
e
That music always reminds me of the flying monkeys from the original Wizard Of Oz movie.
@ Cleora Borealis -- "What's Opera, Doc?" is one of my most FAVOURITE Bugs Bunny cartoons too! Good drag in it as well.
@ Kirk -- I suspect most people know this music from the movie "Apocalypse Now" rather than from its origin in Wagner's opera "Die Walküre" in the Ring Cycle.
I love your altar, but I can't help singing, Kill da wabbit, Kill da wabbit! I have the sense of humor of a six year.
Love,
Janie
Chooser of the slains sounds such a powerful title
It's my 2nd favorite Warner Brothers cartoon! #1 all-time favorite is "Three Little Bops" jazz re-telling of 3 Little pigs. It's a trip!!
https://m.facebook.com/TheOtakuGroup/videos/three-little-bops/527464311469408/
I think it depends on how much you consumed Bugs Bunny as a kid. "What's Opera Doc" comes to my mind a few seconds before "Apocalypse Now"
I know the song but never knew the name of it!
@ Cleora Borealis -- Well, I thought I knew EVERY Looney Tunes cartoon, but I've never seen that one before! It's terrific! Love the ending.
I love!!!
Especially this part: "...but ultimately gets her revenge by triggering the destruction of Valhalla and the downfall of the gods." Yes. THAT is revenge, in my book.
Funny that I just watched a retelling of Ragnarok because I really got into David Stakston, who plays Magne Seier, a reincarnation of Thor.
I also love that the idea of the Northern Lights being the moonlight glinting off their armour. Yes.
XOXO
Full moon, I'm using as reduction of activities.
Coffee is on.
Great post. I did not know much about the Valkyries but did recognize the music though did not know what it was before.
She’s beautiful. What a gorgeous statue.
I’ve loved the Valkyrie’s since first reading about them in early high school.
Wonderful altar, and I learned more of the story.
Thanks for the interesting Altar. The Valkyries make me a little nervous. This is not their fault. Probably I am still recovering from that time they got kidnapped by the Nazis. They didn't choose that, it is not what they are about, but those times left some scars.
When it comes to the Valkyries, I have some complicated feelings.
PS- Spell Check corrected me both times on the word Valkyries. It thought I wanted to say the Valerie's. Which is kinda funny.
@ Richard -- Yes, the Nazis perverted Norse figures, myths and symbols for their own evil, twisted purposes. They similarly perverted the peaceful Buddhist symbol of the swastika. It's hard today to wipe away all the taintedness.
And then, after they got kidnapped, they all got Stockholm Syndrome and spent the rest of eternity serving endless aurochs horns full of Mead to the undying young heros. Just because that is their new job as slaves.
I never thought I would be so uncomfortable around an altar. This altar makes me uncomfortable. But it is still an Altar. I guess I have unresolved issues with the valkyries.
I don't know if we can wipe it away, as if it never happened. It would be wrong to forget. I still think these Valkyries got kidnapped and then they all got Stockholm Syndrome and turned into nazi Brunhilde and started wearing golden braids. In their spare time.
It must have been a horrible experience. This altar reminds me of how we are living. This is a serious altar.
@ Richard -- Remember as well that the (unfortunately failed) attempt in 1944 to assassinate Hitler and overthrow the Nazi regime in a coup from within was called "Operation Valkyrie," echoing Brynhildr's destruction of Valhalla.
what an interesting moon alter for November dear Debra
i so enjoyed learning facts belong to Viking era and how northern lights are considered is intriguing wow
lovely sharing my friend
Thank you for sharing this very special alter. I would love to see all of your alter gods and goddesses.
Love love love the Valkyries. Loved the Valkyrie in the Defenders comic and in the Thor movies!
@ Sassybear -- I love Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie in the Thor movies and other MCU appearances too!
I love the Volsung saga. But I'm not a fan of Wagner.
Wow--this is a really cool Alter! She looks magnificent and someone I would not want to tangle with.
*whoops. Altar. :) In my haste I think I misspelled.
"Yes mommy"
I'll admit strong powerful women had been a weakness
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