Today an international sea captain came into port for this ancient Icelandic compass, a talisman to help him keep his course true. It was his birthday, and he gave himself the gift of a transformative experience.
'Valkyrie Compass' Tattoo by Pat FIsh
A Vegvísir (Icelandic 'sign post') is an Icelandic magical stave intended to help the bearer find their way through rough weather. The Huld Manuscript, collected in Iceland, declares that "if this sign is carried, one will never lose one's way in storms or bad weather, even when the way is not known" A valkyrie (from Old Norse valkyrja "chooser of the slain") is one of a host of female figures who decide who will die in battle. Selecting among half of those who die in battle, the valkyries bring their chosen to the afterlife hall of the slain, Valhalla, ruled over by the god Odin.