The air smelled different today. Not quite spring yet, but close. That in-between time when the earth stirs just beneath the surface, waking up, stretching. I was outside, hands in the dirt, clearing away the remnants of winter from the garden. The wind picked up suddenly, not harsh, not cold, just there. And in it, a sound. A whisper, almost.
It reminded me of something old, something familiar but distant. Not a memory exactly, more like a presence. The kind that makes you stop what you're doing and just listen. I don’t know why, but in that moment, I thought of Vikings. Not the versions from TV, not the stories of raiders and longships, but the real ones: the ones who stood at the edge of the world, looking out at the sea, knowing they were part of something bigger.
And then, just as quickly, my thoughts shifted to bhakti. The path of devotion. Of surrender. Two worlds, seemingly so different, but suddenly feeling the same.
The warrior’s devotion
Bhakti yoga isn’t about bowing down or losing yourself. It’s about love, but not the kind most people think of. It’s fierce. It’s raw. It’s choosing to give yourself fully, not because you have to, but because something in you knows it’s right. And in that way, it’s not so different from the Vikings. They weren’t just warriors—they were devoted. They swore oaths, made offerings, trusted their gods to guide them, not out of fear, but because they had relationship.
The Hávamál—one of the old Norse texts—says:
**A man must stand by his word. No burden is heavier than a soul without honor.
**
That sounds like bhakti to me. Not rules, not dogma, but a way of being. Showing up. Offering yourself. Trusting. The same way I trust that the seasons will shift, that the seeds I plant will break through the soil, even if I don’t see them yet.
Sacrifice & surrender
There’s this idea that surrender is weak. That letting go means giving up. But the Vikings knew better. Before battle, they made offerings—not as a desperate plea, but as a declaration. A knowing. The gods are with me. I do my part, and they do theirs. That’s bhakti too. You don’t sit back and wait. You show up, heart open, ready for whatever comes.
And I get it. Because out here, hands deep in the earth, I feel that same connection. The wind carries more than air. It carries stories, whispers, reminders that we are never as alone as we think we are. Bhakti isn’t just about chanting in a temple, just like Viking devotion wasn’t just about rituals. It’s about living it. Feeling the presence of something greater, whether in a storm at sea, or in the quiet rustling of new leaves.
The strongest warrior fights for love
The wind died down, and I got back to work. But something had shifted. It’s funny how these moments sneak up on you, when the ordinary becomes something else, something deeper.
I think the Vikings and the bhaktas understood the same truth: The strongest warriors aren’t the ones who fight the hardest, but the ones who know what they stand for. Devotion isn’t a weakness: it’s power. The kind that roots you, steadies you, and gives you the courage to walk forward, whether into battle, into the unknown, or simply into the next season.
Spring is coming. The earth knows it. The wind knows it. And for a moment, standing there in the garden, I knew it too.
I don't understand, is the first one a photo or a painting?:) Very beautiful.
No it’s a picture I took during a walk. Thanks for your sweet words
A beautiful analogy between Nordic thought and that of the bhaktas!
Blessed is the devotion that nourishes the soul!
Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts. I appreciate it a lot 🙏
🙏
Estupendas fotos. Un tema que me gusta mucho
Thank you very much, I appreciate the time you took for reading 🙏
Congratulations @nathalie-s! You have completed the following achievement on the Hive blockchain And have been rewarded with New badge(s)
Your next target is to reach 5000 replies.
You can view your badges on your board and compare yourself to others in the Ranking
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOPCheck out our last posts:
Nice shoot, have a nice day
!PIZZA
!LOL
!INDEED
!HOPE
!LUV
(2/4) sent you LUV. | tools | discord | community | HiveWiki | <>< daily@nathalie-s, @cryptoyzzy
lolztoken.com
A receding hare line.
Credit: marshmellowman
$LOLZ on behalf of cryptoyzzy
(2/10)
Delegate Hive Tokens to Farm $LOLZ and earn 110% Rewards. Learn more.@nathalie-s, I sent you an
Thank you for taking the time to read the post 🙏
$PIZZA slices delivered:
(3/5) @cryptoyzzy tipped @nathalie-s
You're quite the insightful poetess, Nathalie. I know very well this love and devotion, and it's why I do what I do. It orients my actions and choices. I live by Bhakti, and it's expressed here on Hive too, and everywhere. You're right about the strongest warriors fighting for love, for what they love and hold dear. Love is indomitable. 😁 🙏 💚 ✨ 🤙
!ALIVE
!BBH
!INDEED
!LOLZ
You are quite the poetic man in your answers as well my friend ❤️ for me it feels like a calling, it feels natural and completely who I am. I’m not surprised a bit that you feel and live the same, named as anything what it is. It simply is !INDEED !HOPE
You're very kind, Nathalie, thank you, I truly appreciate it. I get that, and I'd say for me too. It's a big reason that I'm on earth. Indeed, the name used is not important, all I know is that it rings in my heart. 😁 🙏 💚 ✨ 🤙
!HOPE
!INDEED
lolztoken.com
Tell a women you love her.
Credit: reddit
$LOLZ on behalf of tydynrain
(7/10)
Delegate Hive Tokens to Farm $LOLZ and earn 110% Rewards. Learn more.@nathalie-s, I sent you an
!LOLZ
!INDEED
!HOPE
!ALIVE
lolztoken.com
Tell a women you love her.
Credit: reddit
$LOLZ on behalf of phillarecette
(3/10)
Delegate Hive Tokens to Farm $LOLZ and earn 110% Rewards. Learn more.@nathalie-s, I sent you an
i do agree, wind is misterious and magic
Yes, filled with stories. Have a great day