What does Thor's hammer necklace mean?
Thor's hammer can be understood as representing the heart or heartbeat. Wearing the mjolnir as a necklace can be interpreted as a strengthening of the driving power of your life force and aura in alignment with primitive beliefs and animism as would have been a central part of Viking age culture. This article explains this belief system in depth.
What does a Thor's hammer necklace mean?
Before checking out our great collection of Thor's Hammer necklaces archeological replicas made in Scandinavia that you can find here. It is important to understand the meaning before you make your choice.
Mjölnir, or Thor's Hammer, is perhaps the most important piece of jewelry from the Viking Age and a powerful symbol of Norse pagan spirituality. If you’ve studied ancient and primitive religions, you’ll know that every belief, act, and symbol carried a purpose.
While today we may wear jewelry simply because it’s beautiful or as a status symbol, ancient peoples often wore pendants, talismans, and medallions with much deeper meaning. This brings us to Mjölnir, the Thor’s Hammer necklace.
In this article, I’ll share my thoughts about the meaning of the Thor’s Hammer pendant, inspired by my exploration of Norse myths and studies of animist beliefs. While I’ve covered historical attestations and translations in more academic detail elsewhere, this article focuses on my personal interpretations along with other top scholars in the field.
Mjölnir in the Norse myths can possibly represent the heartbeat of living beings. Thor, as the Norse god of thunder, symbolizes energy, vitality, and the protective force that surrounds all life—what we might call the "aura." See our article on all the attestations and interpretations in the Norse sources here for a more in depth explanation.
Mjölnir, Thor’s Hammer, is a metaphor for the driving power of this life force and protective vitality that Thor personifies. In humans, this power might manifest as the heart or heartbeat, the central element that sustains life. But in other beings or objects, it could symbolize something else entirely. Norse myths are multifaceted and don’t merely represent body parts, as some critics might suggest. Instead, these myths are deeply symbolic, reflecting an animistic worldview.
Wearing a Thor’s Hammer pendant is, in my opinion, an example of animist sympathetic magic. For those unfamiliar with the concept, sympathetic magic is the idea that performing a specific act or wearing a symbol can create a desired effect within its proximity.
For example, voodoo dolls are a well-known example of sympathetic magic. But this concept isn’t limited to voodoo; most magical or religious practices in ancient cultures rely on this principle. A fascinating resource on this subject is the book The Golden Bough—highly recommended if you want to dive deeper into these ideas.
So, when a Viking wore a Mjölnir pendant, they may have believed it symbolized strength and vitality, keeping their life force vibrant and their heart strong. The choice of material for the Thor’s Hammer necklace—bronze, silver, or iron—could also have been significant, as durable materials symbolized lasting power and protection.
What is the meaning behind a Thors hammer necklace? Etymology & Translation
To truly understand the meaning of Thor’s Hammer necklaces, it’s essential to explore the origins of the name Mjölnir and its linguistic roots. There are a few debated etymologies of the word, but one compelling explanation ties the Old Norse Mjǫllnir to the Old Norse verb mala, meaning "to grind," and the Gothic malwjan, which also means "to grind." This connection suggests that Mjǫllnir could be interpreted as "the grinder."
Another etymology traces Mjölnir back to the Proto-Germanic word meldunjaz and the Proto-Indo-European root meldʰ-n- meaning "lightning." This leads scholars to believe that, in very ancient times, the original meaning of Mjölnir referred to a grindstone or flintstone—a tool used to create fire.
There’s even a fascinating theory that early peoples believed lightning itself was created by a divine being striking two stones together in the sky, just as humans struck flintstones to create sparks. This directly connects Thor and his hammer, Mjölnir, to the concept of lightning.
In addition to Mjölnir, another name for Thor's Hammer in Old Norse texts is hamarr. This term derives from the Proto-Germanic hamaraz, meaning "a tool with a blunt surface," and can be traced even further back to the Proto-Indo-European root h₂éḱmō, meaning "stone."
Þórr kvað:
“Orðkringi þín
mun þér illa koma,
ef ek ræð á vág at vaða;
úlfi hæra
hygg ek at þú œpa mynir,ef þú hlýtr af hamri hǫgg”
-Hárbarðsljóð 47
This etymology provides a glimpse into prehistoric times when humans didn’t yet have metal tools or modern hammers. Instead, they used stones to beat, crush, and shape objects. In this context, the hammer symbol evolved from the stone tools our ancestors used.
Here’s where it gets even more fascinating: What have humans historically done with stones and hammers? They’ve used them to beat and strike. What does the human heart do? It beats. And what does a heart resemble in shape and symbolism? A stone.
Now consider this: Ancient peoples often carried stones, clubs, or other symbolic objects around their necks. By the Viking Age, these objects evolved into the Mjölnir pendant—a Thor’s Hammer necklace worn over the chest, directly above the heart.
This interpretation aligns with animistic beliefs, where objects and symbols represent both physical and spiritual forces. The Mjölnir pendant becomes more than just jewelry; it’s a talisman that connects the wearer to their life force and to the divine energies embodied by Thor.
Mjolnir and it's Ancient Roots
The idea of wearing symbolic pendants like Mjölnir isn’t unique to the Viking Age. Archaeological finds from ancient Rome and Greece show that people wore what we believe to be representations of Hercules’ club as pendants—much like Vikings later wore Thor’s Hammer necklaces. Hercules and his club serve as a clear parallel to Thor and Mjölnir in terms of their symbolic significance. Both represent strength, protection, and divine power.
(The Willingham Fen bronze mace dated to the migration period)
This historical continuity highlights an important fact: the claim made by some scholars that Viking Mjölnir necklaces were merely a response to the Christian cross is, frankly, misguided. While it’s true that the Viking Age may be the first time Mjölnir pendants were shaped into refined pieces of jewelry, the tradition of wearing symbolic amulets predates Christianity by thousands of years. Humans have always carried talismans like stones, clubs, or hammers for their spiritual and protective purposes.
Sympathetic Magic and the Function of Thor’s Hammer Necklaces
The deeper function of wearing a Thor’s Hammer necklace can be understood through the concept of sympathetic magic. When you wear a sturdy, stone-like amulet—such as a hammer or club—close to your chest, it’s believed to keep your heart strong and steady. Think of the pendant as a kind of "voodoo doll" for your heart: by keeping the amulet well-kept and vibrant, you’re symbolically ensuring that your heart remains healthy and powerful.
But the symbolism of Mjölnir goes beyond physical health. Wearing Thor’s Hammer isn’t just about keeping your heart strong—it’s about maintaining your life force, aura, and vitality. In animist belief systems, your heart is the center of your existence, not only physically but also energetically. The heart creates an electromagnetic field around your body, just as the Earth has its own electromagnetic field.
(Magnetocardiography (MCG) is a technique to measure the magnetic fields produced by electrical currents in the heart using extremely sensitive devices such as the superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID).
Thor, Mjölnir, and the Animist Connection
This connection between Mjölnir, the heart, and the life force reflects the animist worldview, which recognizes that all living things—and even the world itself—are imbued with consciousness, spirit, and energy. Thor and Mjölnir are therefore multifunctional symbols. They represent not just protection and strength for humans, but also the energetic and spiritual forces that sustain all life.
When you wear a Mjölnir pendant, you’re not just connecting to Viking culture or Norse mythology; you’re engaging in a centuries-old tradition of honoring the life force within yourself and the world around you. The hammer becomes a reminder of your own vitality, resilience, and the interconnectedness of all living things.
Personal Reflections: How Wearing Mjölnir Changed My Life
I know this might all sound crazy, but hear me out. I truly believe many of you reading this have experienced something similar, even if you didn’t realize it at the time. Can’t you feel the difference when you put on your Mjölnir pendant? Don’t you feel just a little bit more powerful, vibrant, and alive?
For me, it’s gone far beyond just a feeling. Let me share my story. A few years ago, I fell out of the habit of wearing my Mjölnir pendant daily. Life was busy, and it just didn’t seem like a priority. At first, I didn’t notice much of a difference, but over time, my energy levels felt lower, and my life felt a bit off-balance.
Then in 2020 I ended up in the hospital with Covid-19 and Pneumonia , and even after being released, things didn’t get better. I was drowning in medical bills, physically weak, and had lost 15kg. Breathing was a struggle for months, my MMA training was derailed by injury after injury. On top of that, I developed a heart problem with piercing chest pains, a known aftereffect of the illness I’d had. That’s when I decided, "The hell with it." I’ve believed in the purpose and power of Mjölnir for a long time, but I hadn’t been living in alignment with that belief. I pulled out the old Mjölnir pendant I received as a gift when I was born—a time when I also had a hole in my heart that healed itself. I started wearing it daily again, as I used to, and I even upgraded to a beautiful gold Mjölnir pendant of the highest valued material. (We carry that exact pendant here)!
Wearing my Mjölnir pendant again made a huge difference in my life. My heart problem completely disappeared. Not only that, but my cardio and lung capacity came back stronger than ever before. I felt more vibrant, more alive, and full of energy. It didn’t stop there. I started experiencing a streak of good luck—business deals and investments worked out better than expected, and I managed to pay off most of my medical bills. Life started to turn around, and I felt like I was reconnecting with my life force and aura in a way I hadn’t felt in years.
Now, I know what some of you might be thinking: "This just sounds like placebo effect or superstition." And you might be right. But for me, these experiences have shaped my beliefs. I don’t expect you to believe my story, nor do I want you to take my word for it. Your beliefs should come from your own experiences, just as mine have.
One thing I can say with confidence is that my understanding of Mjölnir aligns with historical Norse sources and animist cultural beliefs from around the world. In animism, objects like pendants and talismans are not just decorative, they are powerful tools that connect us to spiritual energy. For me, wearing Mjölnir is about more than honoring Viking culture; it’s about maintaining my own life force, strength, and vitality.
While some people online may spread misinformation about Mjölnir or dismiss its deeper meaning, I think this pendant represents something timeless and universal: the connection between humans, their energy, and the greater forces of the universe.
Your Turn: What’s Your Experience with Mjölnir?
Do you already have a Mjölnir pendant? Have you experienced any positive effects, like increased energy, improved vibes, or even just a greater sense of connection to Viking heritage?
If not, I encourage you to get a Mjölnir pendant—preferably one made from high-quality materials (not the cheap stuff made in factories). Choose one that feels meaningful to you, maintain it with care, and see how it feels to wear it daily.
I’d love to hear your stories and experiences! Share your thoughts in the comments below, and let’s work together to uncover the lost beliefs of our ancestors. That’s why I create these posts and videos—to compare ideas and connect with others on this journey.
If you’re ready to embrace the power of Mjölnir for yourself, check out our collection of handcrafted Thor’s Hammer necklaces. Made in Scandinavia and inspired by authentic Viking designs, these pendants are created with care to honor the strength and heritage of the Viking Age.