Fylgja (follower; plural, fylgir) is an ancient Germanic term referring to an entity that is simultaneously a guardian spirit and a projection of the individual’s own soul (not unlike the Zoroastrianidea of an indi-vidual fravashi). It was believed that the fylgja was encountered out-side one’s body in the form of an animal that reflected the individual’scharacter. Thus, a visionary might see his fylgja in the form of an eagle, a schemer might encounter his projected soul in the form of a weasel, and so on. In precarious situations, the fylgja traveled beforethe embodied person as a kind of guardian angel.
Normally invisible,a person’s fylgja might be encountered in dreams or at death. If the fyl-gja was killed, it indicated the person’s imminent death.
Sources:
Angels A-Z Evelyn Dorothy Oliver and James R. Lewis
McCoy, Edwin. A Witch’s Guide to Faery Folk. S. Paul, Minn.: Llewellyn Publications, 1994.
Ronner, John. Know Your Angels: The Angel Almanac with Biographies of 100 Prominent Angels in Legend and Folklore, and Much More. Murfreesboro, Tenn.:Mamre Press, 1993
Fascinating
Now I am wondering if there is any tie to animal totems. Perhaps along with them just entering our lives and appearing perhaps we are projecting them as well.
Hi Pallas.
This was interesting. It looks almost unpronouncable in the English language. But it is a fascinating thing. Is it found within the Asatru beliefs as well?