Forest-of-Blades on DeviantArthttps://www.deviantart.com/forest-of-blades/art/Mula-Bandha-the-valknut-lock-307482109Forest-of-Blades

Deviation Actions

Forest-of-Blades's avatar

Mula Bandha, the valknut lock

Published:
19.1K Views

Description

Acrylics on sawn-off piece of furniture (+ quick PS background).

This Odinic symbol is called a VALKNUT (“knot of the slain/chosen”. The first thought that comes to mind would be the entangling of spirits within matter. As this symbol was usually carved on tombstones, the mythological background instantly provides a mindscape which, I must say, has a romantic edge I am quite responsive to (einherjar, Valhöl…you know). Religion, unfortunately, is too shallow to understand the arcane. Here is my way of looking at it:

Three is the required number of points to define a plane. The third dimension is generated by the overlapping of the sides, which gives us a solid shape. This is the homeworld, the midgard/nifl/jotun/vana/muspel plane. This is the soil, the interface from which emerges Yggdrasil (in both direction of density, up/lesser and down/greater, from a human point of view (cf. Eihwaz)).

From that perspective, the valknut (name + form + thought) is an expression of the macrocosm. When considering the human body as a geometrical symmetry center, this macrocosm finds its alter ego inside the spine. There lies my analogy between the valknut and muladhara, in which the lock would refer to the coiled Kundalinî, or, to stick with teutonic lore, the stillness of Niflheimr isolated from Múspell’s inferno (Is opposed to Fehu). Enlightenment opens the lock, instigating the perpendicular ascending of the divine essence (Elhaz).

Hence the title "root lock", a step of a pranayama technique.

Additionally, the elder futhark is split in the three aettir, each of which has been assigned one cardinal virtue:

- HONNEUR (honor [close-up]),
- VÉRITÉ (truth [close-up]),
- JUSTICE ([close-up]).

As supra-personal qualities, those virtues aim higher than muladhara (more specifically, they are applied through anahata and conceptualised in vishuddha): they belong to the Purusha, far above the self. From a social point of view, anahata (heart), is the step mankind has achieved thus far as a civilization, from which it may now descend into Mûlâdhâra, this time to embrace its Sûkshma, subtle aspect. This is why, here and now, we have to demonstrate our worth as human beings.

If you're interested in these matters, I recommend you read CG Jung.
Image size
1692x1452px 1.86 MB
Make
SAMSUNG
Model
SAMSUNG
Shutter Speed
1 second
Aperture
F/2.8
Focal Length
4 mm
ISO Speed
100
Date Taken
Jun 9, 2012, 1:15:17 PM
© 2012 - 2024 Forest-of-Blades
Comments39
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
Yamuku's avatar
Hi I saw this and was very inspired to have it done as a tattoo (with your permission of course). However I planned the valknut to be on my hand, and the details on this might be a little too much for a small area such as a hand.

I was wondering if you'd take a commission from me to do a valknut that keeps this one in mind, but is more simple. If you'd be willing to do that please let me  know!