BTW the norse understand wolfmen since the dawn of time.
THE VARGR
Perhaps the most characteristic inhabitant of the utangardhs was the wight called the vargr. This term
means wolf," though it. has a more brutal connotation than the standard ulfr; it was also used colloquially
to mean "outlaw," which may have been its original sense. Etymologically it is connected to u-argr,
"restless,"3 which should at once lead the mind back to Odhinn. The heaviest form of outlawry was called
skoggangr ("forest-going"); one who had been outlawed was a forest-man or an outlying man, the latter
term being used for any wight who lived outside the bounds of society, whether as outlaw, robber, or
uncanny being. The term utilegja ("lying out") is also related to the sitting-out of seidh-magic4 (see
Chapter 14). The outlaw, being outside of the gardhn had ceased to be human; he is "wod-freka
werewulf"-the fury-greedy werewolf- in the laws of Canute wulf-heafod (wolf's head) among the AngloSaxons.
It is obvious that the vargr (outlaw) is closely related to and frequently the same as the vargr
(ravening wolf). He is, in fact, often a skin-changer or a berserker. (The vargr is almost always a he in the
stories-although women often have wolf-fylgur, they ordinarily ride on their backs rather than putting on
their skins, and only one vague poetic reference to a female berserker exists.)5 The Volsunga Saga
describes how Sigmundr and Sinfjotli become outlaws for a time, when Sigmundr wishes to test the
strength of his son, and how the two of them find a house in which other outlaws are sleeping with
wolfskins hung over their heads. The Volsungs steal the skins and put them on, turning into wolves, and
go forth from there to kill some more travellers. By putting on the skin of an animal in company with the
proper ritual, one can either fare forth in its shape or draw the fylgja-mind into oneself to become a
berserker. Those who do this are called eigi einhamir, "not of one skin." This is a trait which is passed
down through family lines, so that one sees genealogies such as Bjorn, son of Ulfhedhinr (Wolf-skin-coat,
another name for a berserker) son of Ulfhamr (Wolffiide/shape) son of Ulf (Wolf) son of Ulfhamr who
could change forms.6 Unfortunately, those who received this heavy gift of Odhinn's in the latter
generations were (and are) usually untrained and unable to control it; the ability to control it usually came
through initiation into the secret cults of the Germanic warrior-band.
The berserker is not always an outlaw, but he is always outside the bonds of society, and the rules of
the innangardhs do not bind him as they bind other people. It was not uncommon for berserkers to roam
through the land, challenging peaceful farmers to holmgang (ritual single combat), which the victim could
only escape by forfeiting all he had to the challenger. The berserker was a fearsome opponent: he
characteristically gnawed at the edge of his shield, frothing at the mouth In his battle-trance he had the
mind of the creature which was his fylgja, usually a wolf or a bear. His strength was several times greater
than normal, he did not feel blows, and those berserkers who were especially skilled in trance and battle-
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magic entered a state in which weapons would not bite on him. When combat was over he became
exhausted and frequently passed out for a time.
The berserker fury is one of the oldest aspects of the cult of Odhinn. The Heruli, who were also the
first runemasters and possibly the greatest spreaders of Odhinn-worship, cultivated the practice of
fighting with only shield and cloak as protection. The best latter-day example of the tie between the
berserkergang, runic magic, and Odhinn's other gift of poetry can be found in the family line of Egill
Skallagrimson. Egill's grandfather, named Ulfr, was said to be cheerful and active during the day but
given to fits of uncontrollable savagery and drowsiness as evening approached. Because of this, "people
said that he was much given to changing form (hamrammr), so he was called Kveldulfr (Evening
Wolf)."7 This would refer to Kveldulfr faring forth in the form of a wolf; later in the saga it is described
that he became a berserker in battle, although he was an old man and the strain killed him shortly after.
Kveldulfr had two sons, one of whom, Skallagrimr, took after him in both appearance and temperament,
and who was prone to berserkergang not only in battle but also in games. Egill Skallagrimson was dark
and ugly, like his father and grandfather but unlike his brother and uncle. He is not described as a
berserker in his saga, but he was possibly the greatest of Old Norse poets and certainly of runemasters
within written history.
In modern times, the path of the berserker is not to be followed by anyone who has not been subject to
great physical discipline(such as intensive martial arts training) in conjunction with the magical and
spiritual disciplines of Odhinn. Even in the wilder times of the Germanic tribes and Vikings, berserkers
were viewed with mistrust and often horror; one can imagine how someone like Skallagrimr, who became
too excited in a game and began to kill people, would be treated now. For almost everyone now,
knowledge of the berserkergang is only useful inasmuch as it throws light on the process of shapechanging
and faring forth in the fylgja or another hide(hamr).
