Why You Can’t Be a Viking—But You Can Embrace Viking Heritage

By D.W. Roach The word “Viking” carries a powerful mystique today. It conjures images of longships cutting through icy seas, warriors with shields raised, and a culture steeped in myth and legend. But in the modern world, the term is often misunderstood. Many people take DNA tests, find even a fraction of Scandinavian ancestry, and … Continue reading Why You Can’t Be a Viking—But You Can Embrace Viking Heritage

The Lord of the Rings and the Echoes of Norse Myth: How Viking Lore Shaped Tolkien’s World

By D.W. Roach Few works of modern fantasy have captured the imagination as profoundly as J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. Yet behind the hobbits, elves, and dark lords lies a deep well of mythological inspiration—chief among them, the rich tapestry of Norse and Viking culture. Tolkien, a philologist and scholar of ancient languages, … Continue reading The Lord of the Rings and the Echoes of Norse Myth: How Viking Lore Shaped Tolkien’s World

Norse Faith: Belief, Myth, and the Shaping of a Pagan World

By D.W. Roach When we think of religion, our minds often turn to the structured faiths of the modern world—Christianity, Islam, Buddhism—religions with holy texts, clergy, and codified systems of belief. But the Norse religion, often called Old Norse paganism, was something quite different: a rich tapestry of myths, rituals, and worldviews that bound together … Continue reading Norse Faith: Belief, Myth, and the Shaping of a Pagan World