A woman who had always been “obsessed” with old Norse stories and ancient history as a kid has now grown up to be a “modern-day Viking.
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Sól Geirsdottir, from Rygge, Norway, described herself as a “weird, creative kid” when she was young and has now spent 10 years geared up as a “Viking Queen.” Traditional Viking aesthetics and culture has influenced the 31-year-old Sól, who is proud of her heritage.
Watch the video of Sol below.
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Video credit: Rumble
She said: “It started full-blown when I was about 18. Then I was like, wow, this is me.
“It makes me feel at home whenever I’m wearing my Viking Garb (attire), I just feel more like myself.
“You show on the outside what your inner world is like.”
Apart from being bedecked in Viking-inspired clothing, accessories, and clothing, the psychology student’s home also features some antique items that have ancient Norse motifs and symbols. Of course, the ensemble wouldn’t be complete with sets of old swords and armor.
She makes most of her own dresses. She buys the materials from traditional Viking markets and hand-sews them so it can sometimes take her more than three days to make one outfit. Sól even claims that her look inspired the looks of the characters in Amazon Prime’s Vikings hit series.
She explained: “The TV show Vikings, they have mood boards, [and] a picture of me was in the middle of that mood board so I guess they were actually inspired by my hairstyle at least.”
As for the comments by others on how she looks, she said: “Some people have asked me if I’m Amish, which is very odd to me but most people are just very friendly.
“I think my family thought it was odd at first, maybe because I’m the only one in my family with this Viking age obsession – but they definitely encourage it now and they see how happy it makes me.”
Sól obsession with the Viking Age also extends to music. She and her boyfriend Varg, another fellow real-life Viking, play together in the same band. In fact, Vǫluspá, the name of their band, is from the first-known Old Norse poem which is about the world’s creation and its ending.
They use old Nordic stories as a basis for the songs they write and use traditional instruments that were played during the Viking Age. Varg even crafts some of the instruments himself.
“We try to bring the past into the present with our music as well by mixing electrical instruments with ancient ones,” Sól said.
“[Varg] plays 14 different instruments so naturally, I reached out. I didn’t expect to fall in love with him but that’s exactly what happened, it was love at sight really.
“We are definitely kindred spirits, soulmates I would say.”
Varg said: “When she first walked in the door, I knew that this is a person that I really wanted to have in my life. Because that’s the best energy I’ve ever felt from someone.”
The pair also believe Old Norse spirituality and often go to old stone circles. Ancient ceremonies and rituals were thought to have been performed in these sacred spaces.
Sól said: “Norway has a long past, we have roots that go back thousands of years and I don’t know why we have been good at preserving the culture but I’m very happy that we have.
“I guess that I’ve always felt connected to the past and what makes me connected to it, it’s something that I’ve never really understood.”
They sometimes perform some of the old rituals. One example is during the summer solstice, they worship the sun. Sól says that because Northern countries like Norway don’t get much daylight, the sun played an important role in Norse culture.
However, the pair are careful not to take the mythologies literally and make sure to adapt the practices to modern life.
Varg said: “Many people talk about Valhalla as a place that you go off to after death, but for me, Valhalla is a state of mind.”
“We see many of the things that are spoken of in the old Norse religion as metaphors for things in everyday life, and that’s what we personally believe that the Vikings might have meant as well,” Sól added.
Sól is also quick to clarify that she’s not a re-enactor.
“I would say that the Viking age kind of influences me in many ways, in many aspects of my life.
“Would I say I’m a re-enactor? No.
“I wear makeup, I live in a modern world, I use a computer, so I’m not trying to be living in the past but I’m trying to bring the past into a modern light.”
Sól also sees herself continuing her Viking life in the years ahead.
“I definitely think that I will be immersed in the Viking style until old age and I can’t wait for my hair to get white or grey, I think it will look epic.
“If I could go back in time and talk to my younger self I guess I would say, just power through girl.
“Stay true to yourself because what you’re doing is okay and it’s okay to be different, just hang in there.”
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