Within my work I often depict animals that can shift between worlds or other dimensions so you can imagine my joy when I discovered that Valkyries are often depicted as swans due to their deep connections to transformation, fate, and battle in Norse mythology. This imagery stems from ancient beliefs that valkyries were shape shifters who could take on the form of birds, particularly swans, to move between realms unseen. These warrior women were not only messengers of death but also symbols of transcendence, gracefully guiding fallen warriors to the afterlife.
By Mat Miller
