fylgjur

Fylgjur (sing. fylgja) are guardian spirits in Norse mythology and Icelandic folklore. The term derives from Old Norse fylgja, meaning follower or attendant, and refers to a personal guardian that accompanies a person from birth. In traditional belief, each individual has a fylgja that reflects their nature or destiny and may take the form of an animal, a human figure, or other shapes; appearances vary by tale and region.

A fylgja is said to protect and guide its bearer, and can also forewarn danger. In some traditions the fylgja is visible only to the person or to trusted kin, appearing in dreams, visions, or in daytime encounters. In certain stories the death of a fylgja is taken as a sign of the owner's imminent death, while in others the fylgja may fade or depart with the end of life.

The concept is attested in Old Norse literature and Icelandic folklore and is used in skaldic poetry and prose to symbolize fate, kinship, and the character of a person. In sources such as the Prose Edda and other saga-era texts, the fylgja is described as a following double that intertwines with a person’s identity.

In modern scholarship and popular culture, fylgjur are treated as guardian spirits or archetypal doubles. They remain a recurring motif in Norse myth and Icelandic tradition, illustrating ideas of fate, protection, and the intimate bond between a person and their spiritual counterpart.