u/Desperate-Grand4905

I recently found the gods and they have brought great change to my life, ive found particular connection with odin, and just yesterday i carved a pendant in his image.

Now it may be just my mind playing tricks, due to me immersing myself in this new belief as much as i have, but the whole time i was carving the pendant and all day today ive been visited with faint visions, like they are there for my eyes to see but in a different plane of existence.

The visions consist of a crow circling, then landing on a branch or fence, or anything similar, and always end with them looking straight at me. And my thoughts have not been helped by a crow that landed not far from me when i was in a field today on my own.

Ive had this vision on repeat for the past 2 days almost constantly and have come here for certainty, is this just my mind playing tricks on me, or has odin noticed my devotion, even though brief and sent me a sign?

Im not sure if the title is right but i have a few questions about norse paganism, firstly, are the jötunns direct enemies of the aesir or are/ can they be worshiped the same as the gods.

secondly, i saw something a while ago that stated that any info related to real original norse paganism was destroyed a long time ago and the reconstructions are made by christians which is why all the gods die in the end, what are your takes on this?

Personally i choose to believe slightly differently to traditional norse paganism where as much as the gods die in ragnarok as a way of showing that even gods cant escape fate, i believe their souls live on and reform through what each god represents and eventually will become whole again, not sure if that is remotely feasible in actual context as im pretty new here so this idea is subject to change with a good refute

I made a post earlier looking for help creating a historically accurate tattoo, after research ive come to realise there isnt really such thing as there are no records of norsemen actually having tattoos as far as i can tell, and so i turned to symbolism instead through the use of elder futhark and other symbols, sorry for the super long post, but below is the rough idea i had for a full arm sleeve and i was wondering if anyone would be able to point me in the right direction of if some things are wrong or misinterpreted or if any designs could be a “bad choice”

FULL SLEEVE TATTOO BRIEF — NORSE (ORDER vs CHAOS)

Concept:

A full blackwork sleeve representing the tension between order and chaos, and the personal transformation that occurs between them. The design should feel like a single continuous system flowing from shoulder to wrist, not separate elements.

Primary Figures & Meaning:

- Yggdrasil: structure of existence (everything beneath exists within it)

- Tyr: order, discipline, sacrifice

- Loki: chaos, disruption, change

- Fenrir: consequence of both forces; restrained tension

- Jörmungandr: constant pressure; binds and connects the entire sleeve

- Odin (raven): awareness and understanding through sacrifice

Style Direction:

- Norse-inspired: Urnes (flowing organic forms) + Borre (tight knotwork)

- No realism, no portrait faces, no modern fantasy armor

- Symbolic/abstract representation only

- Clean linework with controlled shading

- Use negative space to maintain clarity and longevity

Flow:

- Shoulder → wrist, continuous composition

- Yggdrasil roots transition into knotwork and serpent forms

- Jörmungandr weaves through all sections, acting as the visual connector

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Placement Breakdown:

1. Shoulder / Upper Arm:

- Yggdrasil centered on shoulder cap

- Roots flow downward into the sleeve, merging into knotwork

- Subtle asymmetry: one side more structured, the other slightly more interwoven/distorted

2. Inner Bicep:

- Loki represented abstractly

- Asymmetrical, interwoven, slightly disruptive linework

- Should subtly bleed into surrounding patterns

3. Back of Upper Arm:

- Tyr zone

- Tiwaz rune (ᛏ) integrated into symmetrical knotwork

- Clean, structured, geometric, with strong vertical emphasis

4. Between Inner & Back Bicep:

- Fenrir as central tension point

- Bound with Gleipnir, visibly straining (not calm or balanced)

- Chains thin but appearing unbreakable

5. Full Arm Wrap:

- Jörmungandr weaving throughout entire sleeve

- Interacts with all elements (not just background)

- Visually ties Tyr and Loki zones together

6. Elbow:

- to be decided, looking for a circular symbol that holds meaning relevant to the design

- Designed to flow naturally with joint movement

7. Forearm — Rune Structure (Revised Layout):

Instead of a single band, use a structured three-part system:

Upper Forearm Band (closer to elbow):

- Rune word: “Order”

- Elder Futhark: ᛟᚱᛞᛖᚱ

- Clean, straight, evenly spaced, carved style

Lower Forearm Band (closer to wrist):

- Rune word: “Chaos”

- Elder Futhark: ᚲᚺᚨᛟᛊ

- Slightly less rigid spacing than “Order” (subtle variation only)

Between the Two Bands:

- Smaller rune phrase: “I become”

- Elder Futhark: ᛁ ᛒᛖᚲᛟᛗᛖ

- Not in a straight band; integrated into knotwork or serpent flow

- Must remain legible but secondary in scale

Design Intent:

- “Order” above, “Chaos” below, with “I become” positioned between them

- Represents transformation within tension, not resolution

8. Wrist:

- Single raven (Huginn or Muninn) wrapping slightly around wrist

- Minimal, clean, not overcrowded

- Acts as closing symbol: awareness and understanding

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Key Notes:

- Prioritise flow over density; avoid overcrowding

- Maintain clear contrast between Tyr (structured) and Loki (chaotic) linework

- Keep rune carving style consistent across all text elements

- Ensure all elements feel integrated, not placed separately

End Goal:

A cohesive sleeve that represents living within tension — structured but unstable, controlled yet evolving — with the wearer positioned between order and chaos, actively becoming through that conflict.

So ive been trying to find real genuine old pagan tattoo inspiration for a while to represent me becoming a pagan and to represent me as a person, but i keep ending up in the same place, with mis-translated runes and symbols that dont fit the time period im going for.

I want an arm sleeve that includes real authentic runes and symbols that all fit together and would have been used during the era when Scandinavia was dominated by paganism/heathenry, im still new here so i dont know all the terminology and history and such, but does anyone have any references as to where i can find these things that im looking for?