Pagan symbols appropriated by white supremacists
In todays day and age we are currently suffering from not learning from history. Human civilization is destined to repeat history if we do not learn from it, and if anyone is paying attention to the media we see that we are in that position. Now please understand White Supremacy really has never gone away. Racism and discrimination have been around for a long time and thrives today, and today it is in a lime light due to a variety of factors that we are not going to get into here. All you need to understand is that we as a civilized society ae under attack from Hatred and Spite. They take the shape and form in many ways but currently are taking place within mostly our own international borders. We are not being attacked from the outside but from within. The point of this page is to educate and help people recognize and see various symbols they may see in their communities that may help them identify hatred around them. Being a Neo-Pagan organization we are going to focus on symbols appropriated from pagan culture.
Thor's Hammer
The Thor's Hammer or Hammer of Thor is an ancient Norse symbol. In Norse mythology, Thor is the god of thunder and his hammer (called Mjölnir) has the power of lightning. During the era of Viking ascendancy, miniature Thor's Hammers were often used as religious amulets. Today, the Hammer is a major symbol for those who follow neo-Norse religions such as Asatru.
Although its traditional origins are non-racist, and although most Asatruers today are not racist, the Thor's Hammer symbol has been appropriated by neo-Nazis and other white supremacists, especially those who practice racist or white supremacist versions of neo-Norse beliefs under the guise of Odinism or Wotanism. White supremacists will often even create racist versions of the Thor's Hammer, incorporating swastikas or other hate symbols into the decoration.
Despite the widespread use of the Thor's Hammer symbol by white supremacists, the fact that it is an important symbol for non-racist Norse pagans means that one should never assume that the Thor's Hammer appearing by itself necessarily denotes racism or white supremacy. Instead, one should carefully judge the symbol in the context in which it appears.
Life Rune
ALTERNATE NAMES: Elhaz Rune, Algis Rune
Nazi Germany appropriated many pre-Roman European symbols, such as runic symbols, in an attempt to glorify an idealized "Aryan/Norse" heritage. One of these was the so-called "life rune" (from the German Lebensrune), also known as the Elhaz or Algis rune. Elhaz means "elk" and in early Europe this symbol had meanings related to stags or hunting, as well as honor, nobility, or protection. The Nazis used the symbol in various contexts, including the SS's Lebensborn project, which encouraged SS troopers to have children out of wedlock with "Aryan" mothers and which kidnapped children of Aryan appearance from the countries of occupied Europe to raise as Germans.
Because of the Nazi use of the symbol, later white supremacists continued to use the Life rune and it became very popular after the neo-Nazi National Alliance adopted the symbol as part of their logo. Since then, it has become a very common white supremacist symbol, used by neo-Nazis and other white supremacists.
Because the Life Rune also continues to be used by non-racists, typically adherents of neo-pagan religions, one should not simply assume that a particular use of this symbol is racist, but should carefully judge it in its context.
Celtic Cross
ALTERNATE NAMES: Odin’s Cross, Sun Cross, Wheel Cross
The white supremacist version of the Celtic Cross, which consists of a square cross interlocking with or surrounded by a circle, is one of the most important and commonly used white supremacist symbols. Although usually called a Celtic Cross by white supremacists, its origins date to the pre-Christian "sun cross" or "wheel cross" in ancient Europe. Norwegian Nazis used a version of the symbol in the 1930s and 1940s. After World War II, a variety of white supremacist groups and movements adopted the symbol. Today, this verson of the Celtic Cross is used by neo-Nazis, racist skinheads, Ku Klux Klan members and virtually every other type of white supremacist. It has also achieved notoriety as part of the logo of Stormfront, the oldest and largest white supremacist website in the world.
The Celtic Cross, as typically depicted, is a traditional Christian symbol used for religious purposes as well as to symbolize concepts like Irish pride. As such, it is a very common symbol and primarily used by non-extremists. Most renditions of the traditional Celtic Cross feature an elongated vertical axis (often accompanied by Celtic knotwork) that resembles that of other Christian crosses. Although white supremacists will occasionally use this version of the Celtic Cross, the overwhelming use of this version of the Celtic Cross is non-extremist and, in the absence of other hate symbols, does not denote white supremacy or racism.
It is the short "sun cross" version of the Celtic Cross, surrounded by a circle, that is more commonly used by white supremacists, although even here care must be taken always to judge it in context.
Othala Rune
ALTERNATE NAMES: Othal Rune, Othila Rune, Odal Rune, Norse Rune
The othala rune is part of the runic alphabet system, a system of writing used (with many variations) across pre-Roman Europe. In the 20th century, Nazis in Germany adopted the othal rune, among many other similar symbols, as part of their attempt to reconstruct a mythic "Aryan" past. Nazi uses of the symbol included the divisional insignia of two Waffen SS divisions during World War II. Following World War II, white supremacists in Europe, North America, and elsewhere began using the othala rune. Today, it is commonly seen in tattoo form, on flags or banners, as part of group logos, and elsewhere.
However, because it is part of the runic alphabet, the symbol can also be found in non-extremist contexts as well, especially runic writing and runestones used by non-racist pagans. Consequently, care should be taken to evaluate the symbol in the context in which it appears.
Tyr Rune
The Tyr rune is one of many ancient European symbols appropriated by the Nazis in their attempts to create an idealized "Aryan/Norse" heritage. This gave symbols such as the Tyr rune a new, racist significance that they did not originally have. Nazi Germany used the Tyr rune as a symbol for a number of Nazi entities, including the leadership schools (Reichsführerschulen) of Hitler's brownshirts, the Sturmabteilung, and a Waffen SS infantry division, among others.
Since World War II, neo-Nazis and other white supremacists continued to use the Tyr rune in a racist context - along with the Elhaz (or Life) rune, the Tyr rune is one of the most common white supremacist appropriations of ancient runic symbols. Its popularity in part stems from the fact that it is considered by many to be the "warrior rune."
Because today the Tyr rune continues to be used by non-racists as well, including members of various neo-pagan religions, one should not assume that use of the symbol is racist but instead should judge the symbol carefully in its specific context.
Jera Rune
ALTERNATE NAMES: Jeran Rune
The Jera rune is an ancient European runic symbol, part of the runic alphabet. It also symbolizes concepts such as the harvest or the passage of time.
German ultranationalists of the pre-Nazi period began appropriating various runic symbols to help them create a link to a mythic “Aryan” past; from the 1920s through the 1940s, the Nazi party took such runic appropriation to a new level, incorporating many runic designs into Nazi iconography and symbology. Because the Nazis had done so, later neo-Nazi groups continued the tradition, adopting various runic symbols as logos, including symbols the Nazis themselves did not use.
The Jera rune is one of the less common runic symbols appropriated by modern white supremacists, perhaps because the Nazis do not appear to have used it. In the 2010s, however, white supremacists in Europe and the United States began to use the symbol. In Sweden, for example, the National Youth League (Förbundet Nationell Ungdom), a neo-Nazi group, adopted the Jera rune as its logo. In the United States, the rune began to appear on flyers and cards associated with the alt right segment of the white supremacist movement.
Some white supremacists may use the symbol because its design can conjure the image of a swastika without the symbol actually being a swastika.
Because the Jera rune is used by non-racists as well, including by adherents of modern pagan religions such as Asatru, one should not assume use of the symbol is racist but instead should only judge the symbol carefully in its specific context.
Triskele
ALTERNATE NAMES: Triskelion
The triskele (or triskelion) is an ancient symbol originating in pre-Christian Europe. The symbol consists of three curved or jointed segments spiraling from a common center. One version of the triskele, with three human legs, has been used in the coat of arms for the Isle of Man and the Kingdom of Naples. An abstracted triskele appears on the seal of the United States Department of Transportation. The triskele appears in many different variations, from a form that looks like a three-pointed swastika to forms that employ curved lines and curlicues. What they share are three segments emanating from a single central point.
The triskele was one of many ancient European symbols appropriated by the Nazis. Following World War II, the triskele became a significant hate symbol, largely because of its use by the Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging (AWB), a South African white supremacist group that formed in the 1970s. The AWB used a flag similar to the Nazi flag but which replaced the swastika with a triskele that resembled three interlocking sevens.
Because of the AWB usage, it is this "three sevens" version of the triskele that is most commonly associated with white supremacy. It is a common type of white supremacist tattoo and appears in places such as the logo for the racist skinhead group Blood & Honour.
White supremacists do use other variations of the triskele, too, such as curved triskeles, but so do a much larger number of non-extremists. As a result, such triskeles must be judged very carefully in their context to avoid mistaken assumptions.
Runic Writing (racist)
Runic alphabets are pre-Roman alphabets used widely across Europe, easily recognizable because of their angular characters. There are many different varieties of runic alphabets, of which the most well known is the so-called Elder Futhark (the name is derived from the sounds of the first six characters).
Runic alphabets are still used today in many mainstream and non-racist contexts. However, white supremacists have also appropriated the runic alphabet, in large part because Nazi Germany often used runes in its symbology. White supremacists use runes for transliterated Roman letters, creating an alternative alphabet (sometimes viewed as a code, since the vast majority of people do not know runic letters).
It is also common for white supremacists to use runic letters to portray certain words of significance to the white supremacist cause, which may be seen on clothing or as tattoos. Among the most common words or phrases translated into runes are "skinhead," "white power," "hate," and "RAHOWA."
Because runes are still commonly used in a variety of non-racist forms, their appearance should always be carefully analyzed in context.
Valknot
ALTERNATE NAMES: Valknut, Valknutr, Hrungnir's Heart
The Valknot or "knot of the slain" is an old Norse symbol that often represented the afterlife in carvings and designs. It is often considered a symbol of the Norse god Odin. Some white supremacists, particularly racist Odinists, have appropriated the Valknot to use as a racist symbol. Often they use it as a sign that they are willing to give their life to Odin, generally in battle.
Nonracist pagans may also use this symbol, so one should carefully examine it in context rather than assume that a particular use of the symbol is racist.
Sonnenrad
ALTERNATE NAMES: Sunwheel, Black Sun
The sonnenrad or sunwheel is one of a number of ancient European symbols appropriated by the Nazis in their attempt to invent an idealized "Aryan/Norse" heritage. The sonnenrad appears in the traditional symbology of many countries and cultures, including Old Norse and Celtic cultures. It has countless variations; the swastika and similar rounded variants are actually sonnenrad forms, as are certain versions of the Celtic Cross. In Nazi Germany, the Nazi Party, the SA and the SS all used sonnenrad symbology at times, which has led neo-Nazis and other modern white supremacists to adopt such images. One sonnenrad version in particular is popular among white supremacists: two concentric circles with crooked rays emanating from the inner circle to the outer circle. Often white supremacists will put another hate symbol such as a swastika in the center of the inner circle.
Because sonnenrad imagery is used by many cultures around the world, one should not assume that most sonnenrad-like images necessarily denote racism or white supremacy; rather, they should be analyzed carefully in the context in which they appear.