Today, I want to talk about talismans with you. Why do we wear them? What do they symbolize? Do they have any special powers?
Many members of modern regions wear objects signifying their devotion to a Middle-Eastern God, or perhaps the object has been blessed by a holy man of some sort and offers them protection but why do some Europeans still wear Thor’s hammer?
Our pre-Christians ancestors in Europe, like most traditions of native peoples, believed in reincarnation. It is my opinion, that the belief in reincarnation was shared with our Neanderthal neighbors as well, as there have been similar burial sites found between the two peoples.
The ancestors were buried along side their primitive tools and weapons but one common theme seems to prevail. The head of a stone hammer and later on, with advancement of technology, an axe was place over the deceased‘s heart.
It is commonly reported that this burial with weapons and tools was done so that the deceased would have them in the afterlife; however, that is entirely false. Burying the dead in burial mounds with their possessions was done so that when the departed returned to the this world they could reopen the grave, look at their deceased ancestors, and remember who they were in a past life. The more we remember who we were, the more power and honor we bring with us into this world.
Why do you think Abrahamic religions place such an emphasis on the promise of eternal bliss in another world and have done so much to wipe the ancestral memories of all its conquered peoples?
The re-entry of ones burial mound was done around the persons seventh birthday. Once a child loses their milk teeth they must complete a task that shows the tribe they are worthy, and then they are granted entrance into the burial mound. After a while the child would emerge from the burial mound with a relic from an ancestor, often carrying the skull of a dead ancestor over his or her head and this is were we get the creation of dwarves and their connection to the underworld.
Today, we wear the hammer as a symbol of our reincarnation. Not only does it remind us of the strength of our ancestors that is carried within ourselves, but it also symbolizes the creative force that exists in nature.
The energy of lightning, the power of thunder like a pounding hammer, like a beating heart.
When the heart is still, the hammer can no longer be heard. So when I die, burry me with my hammer, so one day I can remember who I was.
@balticbadger