Pagan symbolism: Web of Wyrd

In this blog, we explain what the Web of Wyrd is. Its origin, meaning, and how destiny is indispensable within the cosmic order. 

The Norns, Fates from Norse mythology, determine the destiny of both humans and gods. They are associated with the source of the world tree Yggdrasill and possibly symbolize the past (Urðr), the present (Verðandi), and the future (Skuld). Their task is to spin the threads of life and weave the "web of destiny ," which influences both individual and collective fate. These ideas also appear in other mythological traditions, such as the Greek Moirai and the Roman Parcae, who also determine fate by spinning, measuring, and cutting threads of life.

The Norns are part of a broader group of female deities, including the dísir, valkyries, and matrons. These beings are associated with fate, protection, and fertility. In Germanic and Celtic traditions, they often function as guardian spirits and symbols of cosmic balance. Rituals such as the dísablót emphasize their important role within the community.

The Norns and similar goddesses of fate from other traditions guard the cosmic order, a universal principle that maintains the natural balance in the universe. In Indo-European traditions, this concept is expressed as Rta (in the Vedic tradition) or Kosmos (in Greek philosophy), where all elements work together in harmony. Ignoring this order leads to chaos (adharma), while following the right path (dharma) ensures harmony and well-being.

The goddesses of fate embody this principle by ensuring that every being fulfills its destiny and that the natural balance is maintained. Their mythological role reflects a deeply rooted belief in the inevitability and justice of fate.

Wyrd is an early medieval Anglo-Saxon concept comparable to the European pagan notion of fate. The Old Norse equivalent of wyrd is urðr, which has the same meaning but is also personified as a goddess: Urðr (often spelled Urd in English), one of the Norns in Norse mythology. The term also appears in the name of the well where the Norns gather, the Urðarbrunnr (the Well of Urðr).

The Web of Wyrd is a modern pagan symbol that it represents the web of fate. In life, it is often difficult to discover your destiny, and the path you follow is not always clear. The threads of fate are interwoven like a web, with everything connected to each other.

The Web of Wyrd comes in two main forms. The first form (A) resembles a structure of threads or branches, while the second form (B) is a geometric representation of the first. Both variants consist of three sets of three lines, emphasizing the number nine. The numbers three and nine play an important role in historical Indo-European religious traditions.

The Web of Wyrd was first depicted in Jan Fries' book Helrunar: A Manual of Rune Magick (1993), but without explanation. The symbol appeared again in Stav: The Fighting System of Northern Europe (1995) by Graham D. Butcher, who called it "the web" and linked it to the fundamental structure of reality and the runes. The symbol also found a place within the martial art Stav, developed by Ivar Hafskjold in the 1990s, although this art has no historical Old Norse basic.

The term "Web of Wyrd" seems to be inspired by Brian Bates’ novel The Web of Wyrd (1983) and modern reinterpretations of Germanic themess. A possible link is the Old English Nine Herbs Charm, in which "nine glory twigs" (wuldortanas) play a role. Whether Fries made this association consciously is unclear, but the symbol reflects modern adaptations of Germanic traditions.

It seems that the concept of the wuldortanas and other references to the "weaving of fate" have contributed to the creation, dissemination, and popularity of the Web of Wyrd symbol. Although its precise development remains unclear, the symbol has over time become associated with the threads of the Norns. Today, the symbol plays an important role in modern European pagan movements.