Brunhilde

by Dr Anthony E. Smart

 
A mighty female warrior, one of the Valkyries, and a heroine from the German epics, especially in the Nibelungen saga, in which she is a Icelandic princess. She defied Odin and in punishment he imprisoned her within a ring of fire on earth, decreeing that there she would remain until a brave hero rescued her. Siegfied (Sigurd) braved the fire, broke her charmed sleep, and fell in love with her. He gave her the ring, Andvarinaut, unaware of its curse. Eventually she kills herself when she learns that Sigurd had betrayed her with another woman (Gudrun), not knowing he had been bewitched into doing so by Grimhild.

Valknut

This is an extract from an article called KNOTS OF DEATH by Alby Stone,
which appears in WEB OF WYRD #7.

A number of Viking monuments feature a curious design known as the valknut, the “knot of the slain” or, more loosely, “the knot of death”. On an 8th century CE picture stone from Hammers in Larbro, Gotland, it consists of three interlocking triangles. This stone, now in Stockholm’s National Historical Museum, is divided into several panels; one of the central panels, in which the valknut occurs, depicts several motifs that suggest some sort of connection with the cult of Odin – an eagle, a flying figure – possibly a valkyrie – holding a ring, a man being hanged from a tree and a group of three warriors – with shields and upraised swords – led by a fourth man who seems to be holding a large bird of some kind.

Imp

by Alan G. Hefner

A more popular name for this entity is genie. Historically the imp was thought to be a small demon kept in a bottle or ring. When released or awaken the entity served its master in magical, alchemical, or healing purposes.