Soul Lore of the North

Towards a Synthesis of Jungian Psychology and the Way of the Hero

By Ingrid Fischer

Arcana Europa/Gilded Books, xxii + 139 pages, ISBN 9798986223438

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Soul Lore of the North represents Ingrid Fischer’s synthesis of the ideas of the Swiss psychologist Carl Jung with the traditional “soul lore” of Old Norse culture. Just as Jung himself was able to deepen his clinical approach by taking seriously the mythic inner landscapes of the ancestors, Fischer—herself a former psychotherapist—has set out to elucidate ancient Germanic self-understanding through the lens of modern science. This is not only a fascinating intellectual exercise: it is a prelude to the development of a new form of therapeutic practice.     

With sections devoted to “The Nature and Structure of the Soul,” “Processes and Forces in the Soul,” and “The Practical Application of Old Norse Soul Lore and Jungian Psychology,” Fischer provides a unique interpretation of Jung’s model for personal transformation (or individuation), integrating it with much older concepts attested in the religious poetry and heroic sagas of pre-Christian Scandinavia. 

This exploration of the multipartite soul or psyche probes deeply into its relationship with the mind (thought, memory), the creative forces of inspiration, as well as the eerie figure of the fylgja—a personal “fetch” or spirit-accomplice that shares certain qualities with Jung’s concept of the anima/animus. Fischer’s goal was to find a more holistic framework for overcoming depression, neurosis, or personal trauma. In the context of the Germanic tradition, this inner “Way of the Hero” is a summons to follow the quest of the Allfather Odin, to seek fearlessly into the darkest realms of the unknown, the personal and collective unconscious, and bring back the wisdom needed to face life’s harships—and fate itself.

Ingrid Fischer (1950–2020) was born in Klagenfurt, Austria, and studied and practiced Jungian psychotherapy there. Ingrid translated Edred Thorsson’s Nine Doors of Midgard into German, along with several other occult books, and one novel that was later televised. Relocating to London, she became the first woman to gain the Grade of Magus, 1º, in the Illuminates of Thanateros (IOT) and ran the British Section of that organization for some years. She was later recognized as a Master in the Rune-Gild for the writings that comprise the present book.

"Nowadays, we encounter therapeutic approaches that draw their spiritual framework from various world religions and spiritualities. In Soul Lore of the North, Ingrid Fischer offers a unique perspective that integrates the Germanic tradition with depth psychology. This explorative work may serve as a preliminary guide for therapists who wish to enrich their practice with a deeper dimension of working with symbols of Germanic culture, archetypes, mythical stories, sagas, and cultural identity. 

Thanks to its emphasis on the integration of the conscious and unconscious, work with family history (hamingja), and the therapeutic use of archetypal stories, this dynamic book expands the usual possibilities of psychotherapy."

—Šárka Sedláková, psychotherapist and author of the 18 Spells of Hávamál oracle deck 

"A former psychotherapist versed in Old Norse language, literature, and “soul concepts,” Ingrid Fischer acts, in Soul of the North, as an unapologetic psychopomp, leading us through the deepest realms of our minds as well as some of the richest corners of ancient northern European belief and Jungian psychotherapy. Moreover, while the psycho-spiritual components of the person in the Old Norse language have long been known, Fischer’s book is the first in-depth study of them (e.g., hamingja, fylgja, hugr, and minni), and the first systematic attempt to enable us to apply them. 

This is surely the ultimate point of this seminal work: ‘Living is fighting and striving for every last bit of consciousness,’ says Fischer. Through Soul of the North, the great depth and breadth of our consciousness is revealed and the path of the hero’s journey—to become increasingly conscious and capable of acting in the world—is laid out clearly before us."

—Angel Millar, author of Supernatural Woman and the Male Initiate and The Three Stages of Initiatic Spirituality

"Psychodynamic theories have fallen out of favor in Psychology in recent decades. Germanic pagan thought has fallen out of favor in recent centuries. Yet, as Ingrid Fischer’s Soul Lore of the North bravely demonstrates, both continue to have powerful value as frameworks to understand the human psyche and soul. 

Among psychodynamic theorists, Jung uniquely empowers us to understand our self and our connection to our ancestors. Some features of Jung’s personality theories continue to influence contemporary models such as the Big Five. Fischer shows how Jung’s ideas about the partition and taxonomy of the psyche are especially well suited to early Germanic perspectives. This book is a necessary step toward a dynamic combination of two complementary mythic frameworks."

—Preston Kiekel, PhD, Professor of Psychology at Centralia College

"Ingrid Fischer was taken from us too soon, but her Soul Lore is a fitting memorial to her encyclopedic knowledge of Old Norse literature and her original insights into the psychological and spiritual composition of the human psyche in the Northern Tradition. A remarkable work that makes a great contribution to our understanding of ancestral philosophy and beliefs."

—Nigel Pennick, author of The Way of the Eight Winds, The Eldritch World, Creating Places of Power, and many other works

"Ingrid Fischer, who at one time was a practicing psychologist, has laid a foundation for the exploration of archaic Germanic soul lore from the angle of a professional practitioner. This makes her contribution unique. She was also an accomplished linguist and professional translator, which makes her ability to access deep sources extremely valuable."

—Stephen E. Flowers, author of The Northern Dawn, Hermetic Magic, Sigurðr, and many other works