The Druid's Well

3. Symbols and icons of this deity. I admittedly had to laugh a little at this one because my first reaction was, “Duh, anvil!” However, I think there are some other symbols that I apply to Wayland in my personal practice that others also might find useful.

So, to begin with, here are some traditional/lore based symbols of Wayland:

Hammer and anvil. The smith’s tools. ‘Nuff said.

Swan. Perhaps this could be more correctly associated with Wayland’s wife, Hervor, but I belief the animal extends to him as well, particularly given is winged escape from Nithung’s castle.

Now, here are some associations that I find relevant to my own practice, but which are pretty heavily UPG:

Vesica piscis. The intersection of two rings, which has whole layers of meaning unto itself. In relationship to Wayland, it represent the union of two rings, his and Hervor’s, the swan maiden.

Hare. If one subscribes to the experience of Vanic tribes, the Hares are the artisans. There is some PCPG (Peer Corroborated Personal Gnosis) to suggest that Wayland belongs to this tribes.

Embers/coals/sparks. There is a curious artifact from Denmark, the Snaptun forge shield, that has a depiction of Loki with his lips sewn shut. Obviously, a smith is connect to the fires of his forge; there is also some PCPG that there is an unrecorded history between the Master Smith Wayland and Loki the Flickering Flame. Maybe someday one of them will decide to tell it.