"One of the most striking aspects of the process of conversion of paganism into Christianity is the manner in which certain key religious concepts were modified, without being totally obliterated from the new religious language. Residual pagan beliefs persevered, at least for a time, notably that concerning fate. The argument concludes that only after pagan fate was transformed into the concept of god's Providence could the problem of death and salvation in relation to God's power be made fully manifest. Fate had become linked with death as a new beginning within Christian eschatology, and was thus, finally, temporalized."--BOOK JACKET.

King Harald Fairhair, the great Jarl who unified Midgard's petty kingdoms, father to many high and low born children, has died with no successor. On the evening of his death a dreadful omen appeared in the skies above: two celestial wolves, maws outstretched swallowed the sun and moon! Three years later, after an endless and relentless dark winter, heroes rise to forge their legacies. The great realm of Midgard has splintered into fragments. Jarls with ambitions for the crown have sundered the landscape. Crusaders from the south have invaded the Northlands in search of what caused this terrifying Fimbulwinter. Unearthly forces, guided by the gods and the giants have penetrated Midgard with purpose and ambition. Enter the fiery crucible in which the only true heroes are forged! Denizens of the North is the first full sized lore book for the Fate of the Norns: Ragnarok universe. This book works in conjunction with the Core Rulebook to add valuable details to your adventuring world. Denizens of the North contains: - Legendary and infamous denizens - Fearsome new monsters - Important and majestic locales - Wondrous magic artifacts - 6 new playable archetypes - A host of new powers and skills - A crafting system for magical items - Mechanics that allow players to found and run a town or outpost - Rules for running exciting naval battles - An adventure suitable for 2 to 6 players

The nornir - or norns - were a group of female supernatural beings closely related to ideas about fate in the Old Norse tradition. In this book, author Karen Bek-Pedersen provides a thorough understanding of the role played by norns and other similar beings. Surprisingly little has been written specifically about the norns, and this book - now available in paperback - is the first detailed discussion of the norns among the literature dealing with Old Norse beliefs. Although often mentioned in scholarship treating Old Norse culture, the norns are all too often dealt with in overly superficial ways. The book's research goes much deeper in order to properly understand the nature and role of the norns in the Old Norse world view. The conclusions that are reached overturn a number of stereotypical conceptions that have long dominated the understanding of these beings. The book is especially relevant to those interested in or studying Old Norse culture and tradition. However, comparative material from Celtic, Anglo-Saxon, and Classical traditions is also employed, therefore the book will also be of interest to those with a broader interest in European mythologies.

The Illuminated Edda contains a brand-new translation of the Poetic and Prose Eddas by Andrew Valkauskas. This illustrated translation has been rewritten using contemporary prose making it a pleasure to read. Get the authenticity and truthfulness of the stories without having to worry about the complexity of older academic translations.

Fate and the Twilight of the Gods: The Norns and an Exegesis of Voluspa contains two sections, the first of which elaborates on the Norns (Nornir) and the concept of fate. In the Traditions of Northern Europe, fate is usually represented as a Goddess consisting of three aspects, known collectively as the Norns, who control the fate of the cosmos, and remain distinct from both the Aesir and the Vanir, but are nonetheless able to control the destinies of mortals and Gods alike. Respectively, the most common names for the Norns are Urdr, Verdandi, and Skuld - each of whom has a special function, weaving a tapestry of words in which the warp and weft of threads become a metaphor for human lives. Together, the three Norns offer a fascinating insight into the nature of magic, language, and metaphysical predeterminism in the Northern Traditions.The second half of the book examines Ragnarok, and provides an exegesis of Voluspa - the prophecy which outlines the inevitable destruction of the world, and the 'Twilight of the Gods'. Ragnarok refers to the doom of the Gods, and by the time Ragnarok concludes, almost every figure featured in the narrative will be dead, and the cycle of time shall begin anew. Ragnarok is examined from the perspective of perennial philosophy and comparative mythology, to explain the esoteric significance of core features in Voluspa and the events which led to Ragnarok, with particular emphasis laid on the Gods Odin and Loki.

King Harald Fairhair, the great Jarl who unified Midgard's petty kingdoms, father to many high and low born children, has died with no successor. On the evening of his death a dreadful omen appeared in the skies above: two celestial wolves, maws outstretched swallowed the sun and moon! Three years later, after an endless and relentless dark winter, heroes rise to forge their legacies. The great realm of Midgard has splintered into fragments. Jarls with ambitions for the crown have sundered the landscape. Crusaders from the south have invaded the Northlands in search of what caused this terrifying Fimbulwinter. Unearthly forces, guided by the gods and the giants have penetrated Midgard with purpose and ambition. Enter the fiery crucible in which the only true heroes are forged! Denizens of the North is the first full sized lore book for the Fate of the Norns: Ragnarok universe. This book works in conjunction with the Core Rulebook to add valuable details to your adventuring world. Denizens of the North contains: - Legendary and infamous denizens - Fearsome new monsters - Important and majestic locales - Wondrous magic artifacts - 6 new playable archetypes - A host of new powers and skills - A crafting system for magical items - Mechanics that allow players to found and run a town or outpost - Rules for running exciting naval battles - An adventure suitable for 2 to 6 players

Combining an understanding of astrological symbolism and the psychological processes involved in the pursuit of individuality, the author shares insights about how the concept of fate evolves. Through myths, fairy tales, and zodiacal signs, she shows usthis mythological journey.