The Valkyries

Culture: Norse   Domain: Choosing the honored dead, war

The Valkyries ("choosers of the slain") are Odin's battlefield attendants, who select which warriors die with honor and escort them to Valhalla; far from purely mythic, later sagas and poems give individual Valkyries distinct personalities and even love stories with mortal heroes.

Associations

Courage in battle, honored death, being chosen and recognized, escort and guidance.

Ways people honor them (modern)

• Recognize and honor courage, especially quiet or unglamorous courage
• Read individual Valkyrie stories, such as that of Sigrdrífa in the Poetic Edda
• Keep a feather as a personal token of being "chosen" for a task
• Reflect on the honor of being seen and recognized for real effort

Approach any deity with respect and do your own research. Practices vary widely between traditions, and modern devotional practice often goes beyond what survives in ancient sources.