The Vehme-Star, an Aryo-Germanic Symbol

This article should be considered a supplement to my earlier one on the subject of Der Drudenfuss: The Drudenfuss, an Ancient Germanic Symbol
There is considerable physical evidence for the use of this symbol, which Walther Blachetta considers to be a German and Germanic symbol (see Das Buch der Deutschen Sinnzeichen), in the architecture of mediaeval Germany. Blachetta gives an example of one on page 107 of his book as a Hofmarke of Jacob Schumacher (shoe maker/cobbler) of Aue in Oldenburg, dating back to 1604. Many of these Hofmarken date back to the time of the Armanen and much of this symbolism was preserved by Initiates in architecture whether the buildings had a sacred or secular use. As stated in my earlier article the symbol was recognised as a protective device but like all parts of our ancient lore this symbol was demonised by the Christian church and transformed into a symbol of 'evil', the 'devil', Satan etc. This distortion has been accepted almost without question and even to the extent that modern day 'Satanists' have adopted this as their symbol but in its revered aspect, thus adding to its supposed diabolic nature and intensifying it. Likewise the Wiccans (who cannot pronounce the word Wicca (witcha) have also adopted it as a symbol of their 'craft' but in its upright version.


The Germanic heathen community has also distorted the true understanding and meaning of this symbol by following the accepted propaganda that it is associated entirely with 'Wicca' and has nothing to do with the Germanic world. Folkish heathens in particular are guilty of propagating this error by ascribing it to a Jewish origin. This is all faulty thinking and it is without any doubt that pre-modern Germans considered it to be an ancient and beneficial symbol and this was especially the case with the Armanen. For those that doubt this fact I quote the relevant passage from Guido von List's Die Religion der Ario-Germanen in ihrer Esoterik and Exoterik:

"Fuenf [5, V] fem, fim, fimf, funf, fuenf. Fem bedeutet das Zusammengehoerige, daher noch heute im Niederlaendischen 'veem', die Zunft, Innung bezeichnet. Es entstand aus den zusammengehoerigen fuenf Fingern die Hand, aus den zusammengehoerigen fuenf Sinnen, die erst den Menschen bilden, und das bezeichnete das Albenkreuz oder der Thrutenfuss, der auch als Festern [femsteor] bezeichnet wurde (My edit-Pentagram symbol occurs here in the text) Dieses zusammengehoerende ist den auch die 'Feme', jener Theil der Armanenschaft, dem die Rechtspflege oblag. Das waren die 'Femanen', welche erst nach der gewaltsamen Christianisierung unter Karl dem Frankenkoenige, dem Grossen-Sachsenschlaechter [Slactenaere], mehr in den Vordergrund traten, um das Einheimische [zusammengehoerende] von dem Fremden zu schuetzen; heimliches [einheimisches] Recht gegen das roemische [Un-] Recht in die 'hohe heimliche' Acht zu nehmen. Das sinndeutliche heilszeichen dieser zusammengehoerigkeiten war eben der Femstern und ist es auch in der Geheimschrift noch heute, ebenso alle anderen 'Fuenf' oder Femheiten' woraus sich abermals der Zahlengriff Fuenf ableitete. Wie die Eins aus sich selbst, die Zwei aus der Eins, die Drei und die Vier aus der Eins 'geboren' wird. so ist die 'Fuenf', die aus 1 + 4 erwaechst, die zweite, ungleiche Zahl; aus Eins [Ginnungagap] erwachsen die Vier [Muspilheim, Audumbla, Ymir und Niflheim] und bilden daher die 'Fuenf', das Zusammengehoerige. Wenn wir die Feme als Gericht auffassen, so finden wir in der sogenannten 'Fuenfe' zu Nuernberg, in dem 'Rathe der Fuenf' in Venedig, und in unseren zeitgenoessischen 'Fuenf-Richter-Kollegien', die aus der Urzeit ueberkommene Zusammensetzung einfacher Gerichtshoefe. Das oftmalige Vorkommne der 'Fuenf' in der Symbolik wie in der Mystik macht dieselben hochbedeutsam." (pages 64-65)

Dr Stephen Edred Flowers has produced an excellent translation of the aforementioned work (The Religion of the Aryo-Germanic Folk. Esoteric and Exoteric, 2005, published by Runa-Raven Press). The term 'Thrutenfuss' used by List is a typical peculiar Listian spelling of 'Drudenfuss' which Dr Flowers translates as such in his English translation but gives the English equivalent of 'witches' foot'. The Drudenfuss is of course the Pentagram. Another term that List uses for Pentagram is 'Albenkreuz' which Dr Flowers translates as 'elven cross'.


It should be noted that this translation appears to be a much edited one as there are phrases and sentences in the German original which have not been translated. By comparison the translation numbers 55 pages whilst the German original has 97 pages! This emphasises my advice to would be Armanen to learn to read German and study the original source material for themselves! I once received a request from a person who wanted me to translate a whole book for just him from German to English! When I advised him to learn to read German and then obtain and study the original materials he lost interest! Wisdom and knowledge, particularly that of an esoteric nature must be EARNED and worked for. Those who expect to receive this for nothing are unworthy to become Initiates. I do recommend that my readers buy a copy of Dr Flower's translation if they can find one. Many of his works and translations are still out of print.

Guido von List in his masterwork, Das Geheimnis der Runen refers again to the pentagram but using different terminology. In Dr Flowers' translation (The Secret of the Runes, 1989, published by Inner Traditions Bear Company-and still in print!) it is referred to as the 'five-angled star' and as the 'Vehme-Star'. The Vehme-Star is concerned with the concept of 'revolving or turning generation', an important article of the 'Aryan religion'. Thus we should not underestimate the importance of this sacred symbol. Interestingly this symbol still survives in the Amish culture and the Pennsylvanian 'Dutch' Hex signs. I doubt that the Amish though appreciate the true significance of the five pointed star. When the Armanen were driven underground by the enforcers of the Christian religion sometimes their symbols and lore were covertly incorporated in the exoteric trappings of the said religion in order for them to survive.


After the forced conversion of the Germanic peoples the pentagram or Vehme Star survived as the symbol of the Vehme Gericht (secret court) who were very effective at maintaining law and order, working outside of the official judicial system. Much information about the Vehme can be found in Guido von List's Die Rita der Ario-Germanen, recently translated and published as The Rita of the Ario-Germanen by the 55 Club. Nigel Pennick also briefly discusses this subject in Chapter 1 of his Hitler's Secret Sciences which is sadly out of print. There could be a link between the Vehme Star and the tin star worn by lawmen in the Wild West and which is still in use today.

The Drudenfuß, an Ancient Germanic Symbol

The pentagram in German is known as the Drudenfuß and I believe that the German name is far more evocative and appropriate to use than the rather clinical pentagrame. This symbol is rarely used today within the context of Odinism/Wodenism/Wotanism and I feel this is largely because of its misuse by the so-called modern Wicca and also due to lack of knowledge regarding its origins and meaning . This is a shame: we should not allow our use or non-use of sacred Germanic symbols to be somehow influenced by these eclectic New Age charlatans.
I use the word `charlatan` because anyone who refers to himself as being a `druid` is certainly misguided. According to Julius Caesar druids spent 20 years being trained and committing ancient lore to memory. They did not accomplish this by way of short correspondence courses. Furthermore no-one can say with any degree of certainty what the beliefs and practices of the druids were-less so than in Germanic heathenism. It is quite sad to witness people of Germanic heritage following pseudo-Celtic belief systems. It is also pitiful to witness these neo-druids try to present their revived religion as a peaceful and almost universalistic one. The genuine druids of yore were far from peaceful but warlike and did not shy away from human sacrifice (as did the Germanic priests). The difference is that whilst we Wodenists are not afraid to acknowledge that human sacrifice was carried out by our ancestors (as it was by other Indo-Europeans) the neo-druids are in denial of the historic facts, putting it down to Roman anti-Celtic or anti-barbarian propaganda. Neither was their religion universal but folkish as was Germanic religion-much again to the chagrin of modern `Asatru`ers`!
As far as the Wicca are concerned they cannot even pronounce their own name: it is pronounced witcha not wicker! It is an Old English word meaning quite simply, `witch`. I believe however that individual within Wicca may be influenced by Wodenism if we do this in the right way. I have previously explained in my article Witchdom of the True  that Wicca, unbeknown to many of its adherents is actually grounded in the worship of the ancient English Gods, Ing-Frey and Freya and if cleansed of its universalist and namby-pamby elements may be considered a legitimate expression of English heathenism. I know this is a controversial issue to many Germanic heathens but I would encourage you to read Edred Thorsson`s book Witchdom of the True. A Study of the Vana-Troth and the Practice of Seidh and make up your own mind.

Now back to the issue of the Drudenfuß. In German folklore a Drude is supposed to be a malevolent spirit and in Southern Germany especially it is associated with nightmares. Druden were considered to participate in Woden`s Wild Hunt. It was also used as a term for `witch` in late mediaeval Germany. In popular folk etymology the word is also connected with `druid`. The Grimm Brothers associate the word with in their Deutsches Wörterbuch (German Dictionary) with the valkyrie Þrúðr. So the Drudenfuß is the Drude`s foot and was used by my German ancestors to ward off evil entities. It is thus a protective device and not a symbol of evil or `satanism` (a Semitic concept). Goethe made reference to this symbol in his Faust (1808). 

Mephistopheles:

I must confess, my stepping o'er

Thy threshold a slight hindrance doth impede;

The wizard-foot [Drudenfuss] doth me retain.

Faust:

The pentagram thy peace doth mar?

To me, thou son of hell, explain,

How camest thou in, if this thine exit bar?

Could such a spirit aught ensnare?

Mephistopheles:

Observe it well, it is not drawn with care,

One of the angles, that which points without,

Is, as thou seest, not quite closed.

It has also been used as a coat of arms. This is what Walther Blachetta in his 1941 book, Das Buch Der Deutschen Sinnzeichen(The Book of German Symbols) has to say about Der Drudenfuß:

Wotans Krieger`s translation:

"The Drudenfuß is the symbol for harmonic forming, in particular for that of humanity. Five senses, five fingers on each hand and (five toes) on each foot, five vowels in language, five parts of the body (head, two arms, two legs)-all five-numbers are found in the forming of humanity. Whilst today in folk art we rarely meet with the Drudenfuß or the five pointed star, in the past they were very widespread. They are to be found on Swedish rock pictures, on bronze pieces of equipment. And in mediaeval construction workers` huts the Drudenfuß was the sign of the inn. As coats of arms and especially often as house marks we can still observe the Drudenfuß today."

At the head of this article is an image of the coat of arms of the German town of Weiler-Rems in which there is a Drudenfuß, most prominently displayed.