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A Fylgja (she, who follows) was according to Scandinavian mythology a supernatural creature which accompanied a person. It usually appeared in the form of an animal, and as it was believed to correspond to persons character or way of living it was probably conceived of as a person's soul that was separated from the body. A warlike man consequently had for instance a wolf or a bear for a fylgja. The fylgjas appeared during sleep, but the sagas relate that they could appear when a person was awake as well, and seeing one's fylgja was an omen of one's death.
When they appeared in the form of a woman, they were, however, guardian spirits for people and clans (ätter).
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