The Heathen Image of the Multi-Part Soul

[@OceanKeltoi]

I'm going to pretend that the notes on my screen with all the parts up at the same time resembles, in fact, a Christmas tree, and not.... a... um... butt-plug

[@kylesousa2051]

A Christmas plug

[@OceanKeltoi]

@@kylesousa2051 I'm not sure if that makes it better.

[@rennidenni7792]

Unfortunately, since Christmas was a couple months ago. I don't think that alibi is going to hold up in court.

[@koh123453]

Shameless Plugs

[@TheSacredStew]

@Ocean Keltoi I'd be interested in your thoughts about our episode on the germanic soul. I'd be grateful if you shared your thoughts on this topic kzbin.info/www/bejne/eauVdKCJeKirhKs

[@exodus9941]

Haha.. "WHERE....are my keys..?" the way he said it caught me off guard.

[@howardcook6085]

My father died this past Sunday. Not unexpectedly, but unanticipated at the time. This video is EXACTLY what I was trying to explain to my Christian family of why I mourn but not the same way that they do. I truly can not thank you enough for this video. Thank you!

[@DamianMaia]

I’m sorry for your loss.

[@2ndamendment1776]

May you father be forever at peace.

[@ScottJB]

Gods be with him and with you and give you peace.

[@andrewmichaelschaefferXIV]

Even as a Traditionalist Catholic, not to be confused with Fundamentalist Christian, I think Mind, Soul and Spirit, not to mention other potential elements might go their own ways after death Perhaps the Mind dies with the brain While Soul faces judgement And the Spirit reincarnates or rests or roams for a time Maybe other elements exist too Ancestral Memory? Ancestral Thoughts, Voices or Emotions? I don't believe every Spirit is either an Angel or a Demon Maybe Faeries, Dwarves, Elves, Goblins, Dragons are capable of sharing space with a Soul in a Body and go elsewhere after death

[@andrewmichaelschaefferXIV]

\0

[@hfreyschildren1265]

Came for the intellectual discussion, stayed for the Heathen Dad Jokes

[@DuckLord841]

Right?! I’m not sure “heathen dad jokes” exist literally anywhere else on the internet 😂

[@draug7966]

"This has been widely regarded as a mistake, cause it ultimately resulted in the existence of twitter". Please never change man.

[@lizc6393]

Reminded me of the Douglas Adams quote, "in the beginning God created the universe. This has made a lot of people very angry, and widely been considered a bad move."

[@katyphillips118]

@@lizc6393 Exactly this!

[@wynfrithnichtwo8423]

@@lizc6393but digital watches are still cool right? lol

[@TheJeceda]

"I love history...but I hate history". I felt that!

[@amethyst5538]

I was brought up christian but my great grandmother asked me this once. How can they say we only have one soul, but somebody can be dead, reincarnate, AND still haunt at the same time? Explain that to me!" I was nine or ten and that began my quest to find out my truth.

[@appsfamilyadventures238]

If they are haunting as you say then they have not been reincarnated.

[@wynfrithnichtwo8423]

Tell the spirits to go back to corpse hall. I hate the foot steps I hear all the time on my roof.

[@kylesousa2051]

This is a concept I've really been trying to tackle for a while. Growing up Catholic really made the soul into a fixed, inflexible concept, and learning about how many pagan ideologies viewed the soul in many "parts" or aspects was very eye opening but challenging

[@bforman1300]

I have had...too many concussions in my life, and have learned to trust my brain to recall things that my conscious mind cannot. In one case it was when I was in a wreck and couldn't remember anything, including my own name. But when the cop asked if there was someone who could be called I opened my mouth and let a phone number spill out - my parents, as it turned out. Another time I spent more than half a semester on automatic pilot after a concussion. I don't remember what we covered in class during that time but I made straight 'A's. And then there was the time I went for an extended period without sleep (my client was dying) and had to take a test. I could not think of anything and the professor was very unempressed, but i wrote down whatever spilled out the end of my pen...and made the highest score in the class. So basically I have come to the conclusion that my brain is a separate entity from my mind and we share a body and work together.

[@Moonsong227]

I've learned to do similar, but with my body's instincts for my surroundings, physics etc. I couldn't tell you about the math behind some physics thing, but I could intuit or feel it out and understand it perfectly, just in the way that we understand feelings or vertigo rather than math and words. Sometimes I even use this bodily awareness to stretch a muscle in just the right way that it was craving and bothering me for. I'm fairly certain there are words for these senses, proprioception isn't right but is close.

[@ellamayo9045]

That's so interesting! The unconscious mind that informs things like our intuition is so, so powerful... a huge part of my spiritual journey has been learning to trust it. You very often know more than you think you do, and simply being aware of that fact can work wonders! Especially if you have a difficult time trusting yourself like I do ^^;

[@TheNeighborhoodZenPriest]

That is quite an interesting view, thank you for the video. And it is quite similar to our general view in Buddhism of what makes up a Sentient being, namely; forms, sensations, perceptions, mental activities and minds. These categories are then of course divided into several sub-categories. This is one of many reasons as to why I believe that Buddhists and Pagans/Heathens can learn a lot from one another, and why I personally keep one foot in this community. That is, except for a general interest in my own cultural heritage and history as a Swede of course.

[@brutusmagnuson315]

Well, we both worship a wandering being who studies and search for knowledge

[@xJadeWolfxx]

The description of the parts of the soul changing or moving on after death was very beautiful. And yes, it does change my perspective on the soul which was rooted in very Christian/Abrahamic societal norms. I like this better, its beautiful and the parts that move on or go to familial ties weave us into something greater after death.

[@thenightfirewitch]

It's interesting how the biblical story of Samson cutting his hair and loosing his strength came to mind with the mention of the Russian Carpenter carrying his beard. Lots of history and stories out there about the hair as something of the soul.

[@wynfrithnichtwo8423]

The mosh-pit/orgy that is the human experience is always exchanging more than just bodily fluids. My first rule of history.

[@gregcampwriter]

The Slavic view shows up in stories about magic that have wizards taking care not to allow any part of themselves--hair, drops of blood, etc.--to be acquired by enemies. The goblins in Discworld follow the practice strictly by keeping jars in which they store their hair clippings, extracted ear wax, and so forth.

[@bjornstacy9590]

Monarchs used to have their hair and nails burned so no witches or wizards could use it for spells against them

[@wynfrithnichtwo8423]

My mutti did this when I was a prepubescent child. Hair out of the brush or comb. Fingernail trimmings hell even ear wax from when she cleaned my ears was all destroyed by fire. We are of Germanic ethnicities.

[@alexcypher4794]

Still thinking about Aristotle's objection to the concept of a multi-part soul. Is it strictly necessary that all the parts of the soul need a unitary cord between them? Is the integrity of a multi-part soul not formed of the parts themselves? The body is composed of multiples, of which the the removal of even one can potentially result in your death. But is this not suggestive of an integrity that emerges from the multiplicity of parts instead of the authority of one?

[@painlord2k]

Aristotle's objection implies there must be something else to keep the part of soul together like a robe keeping the bundle together. People are limited in their reasoning by their experiences and propensities and sometimes good at something but prevent them from advancing on other fronts. What if the various parts of the soul are just attracted to each other like magnets and when they are put together in the proper way, they just stay connected until a part fades and the rest crumbles as a consequence.

[@wynfrithnichtwo8423]

I still like Aristotle, and his book on ethics is dry to read but should be mandatory for all humans at the ages of 13 and 18 in primary schools.

[@nikoteardrop4904]

In his "Conspiracy Against the Human Race", Thomas Ligotti goes into detail about how thrusting humans into the convolutions of existence was generally a dick move.

[@Joob33]

I’m gonna have to listen to this like twelve times before I can understand it

[@TheWittenburger]

This is really interesting. The idea that the body is, in fact, still part of one's higher self, definitely leans towards a more animistic worldview, where there is less separation, if at all, between the physical and non-physical world, and it also makes more sense, since the body and mind do affect one another.

[@OstroGothic]

This gives me a lot to think on. I've long grappled with concepts of the afterlife vs reincarnation and so forth. The idea of a multi-part soul is a very interesting concept and hard for my Christian-raised mind to wrap around at first

[@Sheepdog1314]

Many years ago I was involved in a motorcycle accident - I was hit while standing at a stop sign. I had a severe head injury, and flatlined for a few minutes... it was AWESOME. It was pure Zen. Nothing but “me” - but I didn’t go long enough, I went back. When I finally came to after a couple days, I was ticked off - I just wanted to keep going. No idea where, but apparently there is something afterwards.

[@ogerific]

Fun note: In the animated movie "Brave", the MC's mother is turned into a bear, but she has human like, expressive eyes. When she begins to loose herself, her humanity and identity, her eyes change into bear eyes.

[@VisiblyPinkUnicorn]

I've appreciated that you said that your interpretation about the soul is not the sole possible.

[@goatsiahthelegend]

6:45 is a whole vibe

[@OceanKeltoi]

it's my life

[@KarlKristofferJohnsson]

In modern Swedish, "lik" still means "corpse" and "minne" still means "memory", so it's interesting to think about how old those words are. Also, in modern Swedish "ond" means "evil", but I'm guessing there's less of an etymological connection there.

[@Perceval777]

A very enlightening video! The ancient Egyptians and Chinese had a very similar concept of multiple souls. The Chinese, for instance, believed in nine different souls residing within man. Ka and Ba were the two main souls for the Egyptians. Even Buddhism has something similar - the so-called dharmas that compose the mind and consciousness, they either disappear, rearrange, or transform themselves after death (and some are reborn, because Buddhism believes in rebirth). I know these are different traditions, but it's very interesting to see how civilizations from around the world came to somewhat similar conclusions. The Christian concept of the soul, on the other hand, not only is influenced by the Judaic tradition, but also by Neoplatonism to a great extent. Neoplatonists held that there is an opposition between material body and the non-material one soul.

[@BlackFlagHeathen]

I STICK AROUND TO THE VERY END TO HEAR THE KICKASS DARK SYNTHWAVE MUSIC YOU USE, BUT INSTEAD THAT LAST PUN MADE ME CHOKE ON MY MONSTER AND ACTUALLY SAY OUT LOUD, “GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE, OCEAN.” 🤣😂💀😭

[@BlackFlagHeathen]

Where and how do you even come up with this shit 😂🤣😭

[@chriswedemann8599]

I think this only reinforces my assumptions. I have always worked on a more or less Shinto framework, of many parts making the whole. Just as all the Earth is a body in itself, with power waxing and waning, with many moving parts.

[@elijahbushee9155]

Even reading you titles I learn something. Didn't even consider what the Norse thought of the soul. I had a christian view on the soul, it being singular. But I'm getting from the title that the soul has multiple aspects. Can't wait to watch.

[@howlokitty]

I've been thinking about this quite a bit after reading Wind in the Worldtree's blog. I had to stop the video and think about the idea that the memory of my ancestors makes up part of my soul.

[@QueenYavanna]

What’s wild is it makes even more sense when you add in epigenetics!

[@HBCrigs]

Fylgja: your fursona will fight along with you till the end

[@Side_Swipe20]

I have made you my unofficial teacher on my Heathen journey and I appreciate all of the videos you post as they give me the insight on how to be a Pagan. You’re great at explaining what things mean but also leaving it to our own interpretation to practice how we feel is the correct way. So thank you for all you’ve posted so far and I look forward to everything that comes next!!

[@stokedminer2621]

I may be new to this channel and a very new heathen but you have the best content. I also love how much you recommend other people's channels, shows you care about informing us over having an exclusive following of people. Thank you sm

[@OceanKeltoi]

My goal is for there to be an informed heathen community. One of my frustrations when I was a new heathen was that I found that people who knew how to research this stuff would horde resources away from new people looking to learn, in order to retain some kind of hierarchy over them, and it was very off-putting. I want to change that, so I'm just giving out the sources, and I've heard a bit about how I'm frustrating those people by doing that. And honestly, good

[@zelenisok]

In Catholic theology there's the body and the soul, but that unitary soul actually has various 'parts'. They actually accept the Aristotelian view that we have three souls: 1 the vegetative soul - which also animals and plants have, which allows reproduction, growth and nutrition; 2 the sensitive souls - which animals also have, which is about sense perceptions and impulses, and 3 the rational soul, which has the intellect and will, angels have such a soul also, as does God, that is they are such souls.

[@morbier4863]

In catholic theology there is distinction on 3 soul/person parts not only on aristotelian axis: vegetative, sensitive, rational soul, but also there was another very popular view in early church (for example justin the martyr), later abandoned in mainstream teaching due to fear of it beeing misconstrued and misused by heretics (but not forgotten and still explored trough history, for example by contemporary theologian henri de lubac), based on interpretation of bible (mainly pauls letters). This view was of a person being composite of body-soul-spirit (bios/soma/sarx-psyche-pneuma). Most theologians holding this view had different definition of soul in this tripartite relation (soul as psyche) and (rational) soul being nondividable unity (soul as anima) and also held differing opinions of relationships between body-soul-spirit (most with spirit supremacy as both animating principle and element enableing direct contact with the divine and transformation by holy spirit).

[@CapriUni]

This reminds me of a story called "Sammle's ghost" in a collection of British Folktales, by Katherine Briggs, I had as a teenager (British Folktales. Pantheon Books, New York. 1977). A young man dies in a fire, and his body is turned completely to ash, and when he discovers that he's a ghost, and asks other ghosts what he should do next, he's told to go see King Worm. And said King worm tells him that he cannot advance to Heaven until his body has been completely consumed by the worms. So he has to and gather up every last bit of ash scattered by the wind, and bring it to the "King." When he finally succeeds in that, the worm roots through all the ashes, and says: "Nope. There's an arm missing." "Well, I had it amputated when I was a child." "Well then, you have to go find it again." And finally, once that's recovered and returned, the worm discovers there's a fingernail missing -- it dropped off in life, and never grew back. And so poor Ghost!Sammle is made to wander the world forever until that last fingernail is found. It seems to me that this is a mashup of Heathen believes with the Christian Baggage idea that only "Uncorrupted" souls can get into Heaven

[@BrianimeniaK]

I’m a Catholic who is trying to learn about Norse Paganism in order to find bridges between me and my boyfriend’s beliefs. The aspect of part of soul being “the form of the body” is very similar to my belief; though not differentiated as just a “part” of the soul but simply part of the singular soul’s nature as a whole. All these “parts” travel as one unit rather than separately. Your videos have been helpful in finding things to talk about. Me and my bf enjoy peaceful discussions about our religious differences which has been refreshing.

[@BrianimeniaK]

That’s also why catholics generally believe that the physical and the spiritual are very much intertwined and can effect each other. Many Christians take a “body bad, soul good” approach which isn’t biblical and leads to very puritan ideas. Anyways, I digress.

[@ninetales6485]

There's much thought that the Fylgja may be passed down from generation to generation but at the animal Fylgja is new and individual for each person. I have held this view of the 9 to 12 parts of the soul, depending on tradition and author, is the most logical conclusion. Interesting little video! Thank you Ocean....

[@Sakuraclone99k]

Knowing I have a multi-part soul helps me a lot when dealing with soulitude! Fantastic video as always, I super appreciate you breaking this down. Our society really does lean on the Christian idea of a soul and has painted most conversations because of it. Additionally I enjoy the idea that our ancestors are just as apart of our soul as they are in our praxis. Even if they may not be biological. :D

[@DarthT15]

"Thereby ensuring that they would have Anxiety and overall making things worse" As someone who struggles with Anxiety on and off, yeah, It's not fun.

[@Anubis_F0X]

New subscriber here, actually had a friend recommend this video to me as I am writing a story a fictional character that has a Norse pagan background. You have given me so many new insights into this belief system that I just couldn't find in my months of head-breaking attempts to research it. I will most definitely be watching your entire catalog here for accurate research. Thank you!

[@doktordanomite9105]

I really feel like the soul is multiple parts coming together, i just cant figure out how many.

[@heartlandheathen]

Ocean, you should read Winifred Hodges new book on Germanic soul lore. It is a great mix of recon study and modern interpretation.

[@ducksoftheworldtree]

I came to say just this. Winifred Hodge Rose is phenomenal.

[@Yotun-of-the-WWW]

In dutch the word for body is "Lichaam" it is a word that combines two parts the "Lic" and the "Haam" body and home, your body-home.

[@residentantagonist5352]

Gosh darn it, ya earned my like in seconds with that masterful pun! Edit: I took more notes on this video than any other. Good work, thought provoking

[@tommyr.4701]

That whole last section was a beautiful assertation of view!

[@binaryglitch64]

Do you beleve we have a shared element of soul, a community soul if you will, that's more encompassing than just the family, but our community at large? Do we have yet another element of soul that's communally shared with all life? Do we have yet even still another element of soul that's communally shared with all things and all life? (ie something similar to the Hindu Brahman or the Lakota Sioux Great Spirit) This gets into a territory that can be considered a god. So that begs the question: If you believe in an element of soul that's shared with all things with or without life, do you view that element as a god?

[@adammiller4122]

Love that you worked a Douglas Adams reference in there. Great video.

[@natemunson2293]

This is the singular best breakdown and explanation of those parts. I've heard of most of this, but never with such accessible and concise verbiage. Very well done. Thank you.

[@cylankail]

Following my trend here - commenting on videos I enjoyed far too late. This gives much food for thought. I have taken a more nomadic approach to exploring my spirituality. I listen, I observe, I consider, and then I follow the lead. My music and love for stories and brought me here to your videos as a spiritual walker and…as a nerdy D&D GM looking for story content. I cannot say that I agree with this complex of a soul’s breakdown of components. The key points I do agree with are “the force of life holds us together” and “the extent of the soul goes beyond what we can fathom.” Life is a source of energy, and just as the nature of energy does it adapts to what is around it and inspires change. So I can agree with the idea that wherever we go we are imprinting a part of our soul to be left behind. There is a deeper connection that we can understand. But sometimes we can put ourselves in a box if we try to REASON it. Humanity is still, to this day, making new discoveries and searching for a label to put on it. How tragic would it be if we lost a part of ourselves because it was misplaced, or fell out of the box entirely? I think the open minded theory behind this is valuable. And it is inspirational. A breath of fresh air in an otherwise polluted world.

[@sethsharp5615]

Sometimes, I'm having a hard time. Work/life is rough like it can be for all of us. I will watch your videos to transition my mind into one of spiritual contemplation. Which leads to studying, ritual, sacrifice, and giving thanks for everything that is going well. Which makes me feel better. I thank you for that Ocean.

[@grahammost270]

I found it interesting to discover that so many religions and philosophies treated the soul as a locus instead of a monad, even today psychology is starting to pick up on it. Thank you for the video!

[@Sheepdog1314]

"the soul, WTF is it".....maybe I have a haunch - I flatlined many years ago, head injury /motorcycle accident...it was the ultimate zen, for as long as it lasted since I didn't go over...nothing-ness, only "me", maybe my "soul"...nothing physical...very chill and extremely pleasant - then I woke up....if you research Near-Death-Experiences, almost all have the same thing going on - people see things like their deceased grandmother, dog etc. (only things they have seen in THEIR life), "life passing before their eyes"...the brain knows when the body is dying, it releases endorphins and other chemicals to possibly help us "go over" peacefully...so there must be something after, otherwise it would be just BOOM - DONE....

[@greywolfwalking6359]

Tis a good thing that I had thought to reserve a table for "9"... all of the parties had space to come and partake of your presentation n travel back to each of their "9" worldly homes... The Christian views of " soul" visited the round table as well..not as welcomed as the rest, but present,they were...the belief of " part of your soul" in your hair,beard...(and being kept in a pouch) hit home with all of my relatives sharings/ teachings.. I thank you for this piece...much to chew on and understand..n ...perhaps adapt,adopt,n make my own! Good travels to you n your's! 👍🍻🧙‍♂️🍻👍!

[@ragecrane]

Soulidarity.....I just. I came here for the brilliant research and didn't expect this lvl of capriciousness; if i could resubscribe I would to show my appreciation of your craftsmanship.

[@DanielRWomack]

What an incredibly complex but fascinating concept! Cheers for tackling what you could of it in under 21 minutes. I recently picked up a copy of Winifred Hodge Rose's Part 1 of her work on Heathen Soul Lore and WOW is it dense. Eager to get through it and read the thoughts of others on the subject. Anyways, well done yet again, Ocean and thank you!

[@taitaisanchez]

We are the emergent gestalt of all of these things and when one of those things change, part of us dies and a part of us is reborn.

[@shannenreisewitz3459]

I had to pause to snort and curse and facepalm because your intro's conclusion pun caught me off guard and was exquisite.

[@MseeBMe]

I am sooooo glad I was directed to this channel.

[@lunieahexx6043]

thanks Ocean for something to think about, I only had the Christian view of the soul since that is how I was raised this makes a lot more sense to me.

[@spuddlingbob8724]

Many of these words and concepts are still in use in various ways. Hugr and Minni is still used through the words Huske and Minne refers to memory and recollection. Ond ~ Ånd is still used both as spirit and spiritual, but also for your breath and breathing. Vile is used through Vilje, and now refers to putting thought into action, intention, determination and so on, somewhat similar to will.

[@EFJoKeR]

A really interesting and thought provoking video. Most of what you described, does fall in line with my own personal beliefs... It's good to see those thoughts being explored and investigated... Looking forward to your next video...

[@cheyemily6066]

This guy is hot, knowledgeable, good at explaining complex concepts and great at story telling. Oh, and so damn funny! 11/10 We love to see it

[@nickverbree]

12:56 one's footprints are part of one's "SOLE"

[@mactireliath2356]

In the Taoist internal alchemical model, “Mind” is the result of Consciousness’ manifestation in 3d reality.To cultivate Mind as a skill is possible, and has many corollaries to modern biohacking principles. Spirit is the cultivation of Mind; the extension of consciousness into Kong (space). That which transcends our experience of the known into the unknown.

[@danielkover7157]

Many ages ago, there was the Minni toast. Over the centuries it became a mini toast, until today we have the melba toast. It was invented by a Viking named Mølba. The end. Yay, tiny toasts! 😄

[@coregoon]

6:30 - Or it might be a case of Snorri just knowing the story was about Odin and his "brothers", then putting in Vili and Vé, possibly forgetting that brothers might not have meant literal brothers. Since Odin, Hoenir, and Loki are frequent companions, and Loki is also Odin's "brother" in a sense, there are both scholars and Ásatrúars who believe that Loki and Lodurr might be the same. Not exactly evidence to the theory, but it also seems fitting then that Lodurr/Loki is the one to give us (what can be translated as) our shape. Incidentally, while Ask is unambiguous in it's meaning, Embla isn't so certain, so elm is merely an educated guess. I could be wrong here, but I'm fairly certain that the Old Norse word lík only meant a corpse, unless used in a tongue-in-cheek fashion (which I actually do frequently, since the word hasn't changed in a thousand years). Sidenote on "ond": I understand that it's a simplified spelling of the Old Norse ǫnd (spirit/breath), which in modern Norwegian has become ånd (spirit) / ånde (breath), but as a Norwegian it's a bit unintentionally funny, because the modern Norwegian word "ond" simply means evil (or hurt). 😆 Due to a quirk of how letters are pronounced in different languages, the pronunciation of "ond" in this video is actually a pretty good pronunciation of the modern word "ånd".

[@BlackFlagHeathen]

The pagan/Heathen concept of the soul makes so much more sense to me. It makes animism make so much more sense. It makes different places having different “energy” make so much more sense. It makes the paranormal experiences I and so many others have had make so much more sense. The connection feel to some places vs others make so much more sense. It just makes so much more sense. We don’t go to just one place when we die, we go to/ can go to many. Including staying here on Midgard.

[@ragingwitch8875]

Another banger video that I will absolutely be returning to

[@sorayatorchic]

Some indigenous folks didn’t like their pictures taken because they believed that the photographs would “take the soul”. There might be more context if you ask some indigenous folks that had those beliefs, but it really makes me think of the hair and the footprints. Perhaps the Norse would have considered photographs to be one of the soul parts.

[@Joe9923pagan]

Man u have so much wisdom and knowledge I want it bad thanks for these videos

[@devanyehansen2162]

I've been reading Kabbalah and Ecology and learned that the Jewish idea of the soul is also multipart. There's the physical body, the nefesh or breath of life, the ruach or spirit and a couple of other things representing the mind and intellect. It maps very well with this video! The book describes the Christian concept of the soul as separate from the body, whereas the Jewish concept of the soul animates the body.

[@morbier4863]

In catholic theology there are 2 distinctions on 3 parts composing a person or a soul. Division inspired by aristotelian philosophy: vegetative soul (property of living), sensitive soul (property of sensing, feeling) and rational rational soul (property of abstract thought) all animating and giving form to a body. There is also distinction of 3 parts composing a person: body, soul and spirit (bios/soma/sarx, psyche/nephesh, pneuma/ruah). This distinction was based on bible text (New testament, paul letters for example 1 thessalonians) and very popular in early church (for example justin the martyr), but was later (in times of augustine) abandoned in mainstream teaching due to fear of it beeing misconstrued and misused by heretics (but not forgotten and still explored trough history by various theologians, for example in contemporary times by henri de lubac). Most theologians holding this view had different definition of soul in this tripartite relation (soul as psyche) and (rational) soul as nondividable unity (soul as anima) and also held differing opinions of relationships between body-soul-spirit (most with spirit supremacy as both animating principle and element enabling direct contact with the divine and transformation by holy spirit). Kaballah goes more in to detail with even more divisions.

[@Vikingjack1]

I really like where you went with this discussion and ideas. Im totally viking some of these ideas to expand on this in a round table discussion at Southwest Frith Moot. Very well done.

[@RickF7666]

It seems to me that the concept of a soul is the idea of the self. How someone views themselves as an individual. This multipart concept seems to make more sense than the Christian idea. So much of our concept of our selves is tied up in our physical form. Are we male of female, even our general health and age can alter our concept of self. One of the stumbling blocks I've always had when thinking of the soul, is why would the soul be male of female. Those things are part of the body's processes to reproduce. Does the soul "reproduce" without the body? If not, then why would it have a gender? I also like the breaking apart of intellect/personality from memory. I've seen several movies where someone looses their memories and acts like a completely different person. ie. the Bourne Identity. I believe that people are born with a nature, but that the memory of the experiences and choices you make can alter expression of that nature.

[@OceanKeltoi]

I think that memory, personality, and intellect are very much intertwined along with the rest of the soul. But those three are definitely more apparently intertwined in our experience of them. As far as gender, the distinction between gender and sex is important here. I don't think that aspects of the soul have a sex necessarily, but they may have aspects about them that are feminized in a personality sense, in how they perform or identify. It's difficult to say, but it is interesting that so many aspects of the external agents relating to the soul are feminine. One idea is that they were once human, and that these are ancient matriarchs who protect their families, and that it's possible that an aspect of our own afterlives could be something akin to this for our future generations. We don't have enough information to give what the answers to these questions would have been historically, but they are interesting to think about.

[@warrendriscoll350]

As the soul is theoretical, the soul having a gender is also theoretical. Modern debates on the issue of gender surround whether the mind has a gender preference, if that is a point of confusion here. And the mind definitely can. Occasionally, it does not. As to whether gender can be nature, this is likely not the case because gender exists only in the social world, and one must learn about gender before forming a preference. Gender preference can still be informed by nature, as natural inclination can exist before a preference is formed.

[@ulfurkjalkur5165]

This was a really satisfying video as it answered questions I didn’t know I had and created more to think on

[@howardhavardramberg333]

The soul is the blueprint, the mind the identity, the body the vessel. Imo.

[@AmericanHeathen1]

Very cool ideas and great presentation of thoughts. Well done.

[@L337P1R4735]

This is easily my favorite of your videos which is saying something. I love how clearly you described these concepts. Im going to be watching again soon and adding it to a religious studies playlist Im making.

[@DuckLord841]

I love these videos and am learning so much. I was actually drawn to these traditions and beliefs even as a younger child, and I actually had a secret stash of pagan books I kept hidden from my parents 😆 And now that I’m working to free myself of the toxic elements of Christianity, I continue to face the same frustratingly stubborn issue. Whenever I hear you or any other heathen content creator say something about a belief or a story or God that I connect with, my first thought is always, “But is this the right belief? But is this (God, story, etc) the true one?” I just can’t seem to shake the “if this then not that” concept, which ultimately means I haven’t fully severed that tether to the Christian worldview. The polytheistic pagan beliefs are equally appealing and baffling to me; they are *almost* accessible, but that mental block still hinders my ability to fully connect. It’s frustrating.

[@OceanKeltoi]

So happy to see this. Yeah taking the time to unpack those back of the head thoughts and why they are there can be a journey unto itself along with your exploration into paganism. Both are very challenging to engage with. It's good that you're experiencing progress.

[@bertsan5604]

it forced me to ask how does it work for the chosen slain what do Valkyries take then?

[@mishapurser4439]

I personally also avoid thinking of these parts as distinct and separate, but as interconnected with blurred lines in ways that can be different for different people. Some parts may also be stronger than others, such as with memory, which can grow with training and wither with illness. Sometimes going as far as to cause a crisis of identity or life struggles. Someone who feels atypically connected in a deep way to an animal species may have a blurring of their hamr and fylgja, for example.

[@aalin5701]

This was really interesting. Great video. Opening and closing puns were all great.

[@sunnyruth8575]

Excellent study thank you so much for sharing you hard work of learning and study

[@NotPoliticalCorrect]

Great video , great channel with great content !

[@OceanKeltoi]

Hail, fellow bald bearded one. Glad you're enjoying the channel.

[@Dovah21]

3:24 Guffawed on my drive home at this moment; biggest laugh I've had all day.

[@ohjesslyn]

I come for the puns and stay for the great content. Keep it up!

[@lilykatmoon4508]

When thinking of the fylgia, I’m reminded of how in the Golden Compass series Everyone has a daemon in animal form

[@juliaforsyth8332]

Eyes are "windows of the soul"?

[@wildwolf3273]

I'm a berber from Algeria north africa, I'm in love with the norse paganism and even started practicing a little , and it's wonderful to learn everyday ☺️

[@keaganwheeler-mccann8565]

You are a fantastic orator

[@TheToxicDefender]

“Those problems are for the Christians “ 🤣

[@jaxthewolf4572]

Your puns ragnorok! XD All jokes aside, I believe the mind is not physical simply because it can't be touched, it's not solid, it's like the air we breathe if so to say. Our thoughts cannot be seen, cannot be felt, has no form and cannot be touched. And I believe the mind rests within the soul, and the soul rests within the spirit. There are 3 parts I believe. The conscious, the subconcious and the superconscious, all 3 parts making up the soul that rests within the spirit (which is the soul's vessel or vehicle). Anyway I found this heathen concept of the soul very interesting, and similar to native american, certain African tribes' concept of the soul.

[@yensid4294]

This is such a fascinating topic. It was explained to me that the reason certain pagans accepted The Trinity more easily was because they had multi faceted ( triple aspect) gods & goddesses. But I think this more complex idea of the soul is also valid.

[@mgtmoviemaker]

This was awesome. I really like the idea that what you are as a living person is something that does change when you pass. It seems to fit with the imagery of snakes in the Edda (where they shed their skin). Thank you for making this.

[@InsomniacRavyn]

I come from a mormon background, and i only really left a few years ago, so my ideas about things like the soul have stayed the same. Though this video really helped me, and I think a new perspective that includes the body within the soul will be very healing for me. Once again thank you for your content.

[@shadedclown5736]

Thank you very much for being a solid source if information, as well as always directing us to where we can do our own research. It is fairly difficult, in my experience, to find unbiased creators of such Heathen/Norse Pagan content.

[@ramshacklerozza]

Fantastic stuff as always!!!

[@georgepeterson3440]

A great presentation to take another view point on a neverending discussion.

[@KaosRunes]

The Egyptians had a multi part soul. I think it was a three part. I can't remember exactly. To me the mind is the soul version of the brain. I've always thought that since I was little.

[@tb303techno]

Ocean, our Heathen Theologist. Impressive.

[@lianxie5582]

Many Old Norse linguists hold that Lothr is an old name of Loki - it also makes sense for the giver of human form/ shape when you consider he is the god most known for shape shifting. Older versions of north myth surviving in many Scandinavian cultures also don’t give him a role in Baldur’s death. I wonder how his role has changed in our view over the centuries

[@Oaknomadex]

Great topic and video, as ever lots of food for thought 🙏👌 i never even considered the multiple parts of the soul.

[@adamcarey6093]

Thanks for the detailed explanations.

[@OceanKeltoi]

Glad it was helpful!