Icelandic Magic (18 page)

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Copyright © 2016 by Stephen E. Flowers, Ph.D.

Foreword © 2016 by Michael Moynihan

Portions of this book are based upon the author's previous publication of
The Galdrabók: An Icelandic Grimoire,
originally published in 1989 by Samuel Weiser, Inc., and by Rûna-Raven in 2005

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Flowers, Stephen E., 1953–

[Galdrabók]

Icelandic magic : practical secrets of the northern grimoires / Stephen E. Flowers, Ph.D.

    pages cm

Includes bibliographical references and index.

print
ISBN: 978-1-62055-405-0

ebook ISBN: 978-1-62055-406-7

1. Magic, Germanic—Handbooks, manuals, etc.—Early works to 1800. 2. Mythology, Germanic—Early works to 1800. 3. Iceland—Religion—Early works to 1800. I. Title.

BF1622.G3F56 2016

133.4'3094912—dc23

2015012309

To send correspondence to the author of this book, mail a first-class letter to the author c/o Inner Traditions • Bear & Company, One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767, and we will forward the communication or visit the author's website at
www.seekthemystery.com
.

Index

Page numbers in
italics
indicate illustrations.
Page numbers followed by
t
indicate tables.
All page numbers are refer to the print edition of this title.

Age of Peace, 7–8
alphabets. See runes
Árnason, Bishop Jón, 9, 51

blood, importance of, 16, 46
books of magic, 23–25, 31
    black books, xii, xiv, 1, 4, 21, 25–26, 42
    Black Schools, 19, 24, 50–51
   
Galdrabók
, 26–28, 29
   
Ghayat al-Hakim
(
Picatrix
), 31
    Gráskinna, 2, 25–26, 55
   
Huld Manuscript
, 28–29
   
Kreddur Manuscript
, 29
    leechbook, 28
    Rauðskinna, 21, 25, 52
   
Second Merseburg Charm
, 30
   
See also
Gray-Skin workings;
        grimoires
Bure, Johan, 30

Christianity in Iceland, 6–10, 17–20
devil. See Satan
Egil's Saga
. See Skallagrímsson, Egil
Eiríkur of Vogsósar. See magicians of
        Iceland
equipment for galdor-sign magic,
        66–67

galdor-sign magic, 65
    aims of, 72–73
    equipment, 66–67
   
galdramyndir
(magical signs), 29, 39,
        40, 71, 73, 77–80,
78, 79, 80,
        109
   
galdrastafir
(magical staves), xiii, xiv,
        xvin, 33,
33,
40–41, 62, 63, 73,
        80–82,
82
    helm of awe (
ægishjálmur
), 73,
        74–77,
74, 75, 77
    inner work, 71–72
    magicians, 44–48, 49
    preparation, 44–45, 62–64
    ritual format, 67–70, 68
    signs and words, role of, 45–46
    special instructions, 70–71
    spells in, 46–48
    substances used, 46
    terms for psyche, 47
   
See also
Icelandic magic; magical
        signs; runes
galdrabók
(personal), xiii. See also
        books of magic
   
Galdrabók
, the, history of, 4,
        26–28
Galdra-Loftur. See magicians of
        Iceland
galdr
technique, 12–13
gods and goddesses
    assimilation of, 17, 33, 35, 36
    Christian demons, 35–38
    “magical triangle,” 38
    pagan, 33–35
    role of, in magic, 32, 36
   
See also
Satan
Gottskálk the Cruel. See magicians of
        Iceland
Gráskinna (Gray-Skin), 2, 25–26, 55.
       
See also
Gray-Skin workings
Gray-Skin workings
    All Witchery, Against, 94,
94
    To Acquire the Object You Crave,
        103,
103
    Another
Kaupaloki
, 99,
99
    To Awaken Yourself to a Sense of
        Mystery and Wonder, 86,
86
    To Calm Anger, 95–96,
96
    To Calm the Anger of an Enemy,
        96,
96
    To Cause Fear in an Enemy, 95–96,
96
    Concealment, 87,
87
    Deal Closer (
Kaupaloki
), 98,
98
    Discovering the Unknown, 87,
87
    Dream Sendings—Dream Stave II,
        104,
104
    Dúnfaxi
(Down Mane)—To Win a
        Law Case, 97,
97
    To Enchant a Woman and Win Her
        Love, 100,
100
    For Gaining Inspiration, 88,
88
    To Gain the Favor of Powerful
        Persons, 95,
95
    To Get Back What Was Stolen, 103,
       
103
    To Get Things to Turn Out as You
        Wish, 102,
102
    To Get Your Wish, 101,
101
    Good Luck, 103,
103
    To Have Success in a Meeting, 97,
       
97
    To Have Success in Business, 99,
       
99
    Headache and Insomnia, Against,
        104,
104
   
Herzlustafir
(strengthening staves),
        92,
92
    Ill Will of Powerful Persons, Against
        the, 96,
96
    For Insight into Things beyond the
        Earthly Realm, 86,
86
    To Know the Unknown, 87,
87
    To Link Yourself with the Power
        and Knowledge of Your Soul, 86,
       
86
    Lucid Dreaming—Dream Stave I,
        104,
104
   
Luck in Love, 99,
99
   
The Luck Knot, 101,
101
   
Lukkustafir
(luck staves), 101,
101
   
Protection from Embarrassment,
       
92, 93
   
Release, 102,
102
   
Return to Sender, 92,
92
   
The Silencer, 97–98,
98
   
Sitting-Out Stave, 89–90,
90
   
Sorcery Prevention, 93,
93
   
Thief-Detective, 89,
89
   
Victory, 91,
91
   
A Washing Verse: To Wash Away Ill
       
Will and Negativity, 93
   
Wayfinder, 88,
88
   
To Win a Debate, 91,
91
   
Winning Struggles of all Kinds,
       
91–92
   
To Win the Love of a Person, 100,
       
100
grimoires
   
derivation of word, xii
   
history of, xi–xii, xviii
   
Scandinavian, xii–xiv
   
symbols in, xii
   
See also
galdrabók
(personal)

herbs, importance of, 16, 46, 89n

Iceland, history of
   
Age of Peace, 7–8
   
government, 5–6
   
literature, 7, 8, 10, 11
   
Norwegian and Danish dominance, 8
   
religion, 6–10
   
Viking Age, 11, 13, 14, 17, 34
Icelandic magic
   
blood, importance of, in, 16,
       
46
   
herbs, use of, 16, 46, 89n
   
kinds of, 12–13, 29–31
   
uniqueness of, 4–5
   
See also
galdor-sign magic; Icelandic
       
magic, history of; magicians of
       
Iceland; magical signs; runes
Icelandic magic, history of
   
Catholic period, 12, 17–20,
18
   
pre-Christian age, 11–17
   
Protestant period, 20–23
Inquisition, 21

kennings, rune, 115, 116t–23t
King Haraldr
Hárfagra
(Harald
       
Fairhair), 5

land spirits (
landvættir
), 68
   
call to, 69
Lord's Prayer, 43, 60
   
in Latin, 124

magic.
See
Icelandic magic
magical signs, 39–43,
41, 42. See also
       
galdor-sign magic; runes
magicians of Iceland
   
Eiríkur of Vogsósar, 21, 53–56
   
Galdra-Loftur, 21, 25–26, 57–61
   
Gottskálk [Niklásson] the Cruel, 20,
       
24, 25, 52–53, 58–60
   
Sæmundur [Sigfússon] the Wise,
       
19–20, 21, 24, 50–52, 58
Óðinn, 13, 14, 16, 30
   
invoking, 69
   
names of, 33–34,
34
, 42, 81, 95n,
       
109–114
   
spells of, 22, 42
“Our Father” prayer.
See
Lord's Prayer

Poetic Edda
, 8, 15, 19
Prose Edda
, 8, 46
Protestant period, 20–23

Reformation, Protestant, 9, 12
   
persecutions during, 22–23
religion in Iceland, 6–10
rune magic, 13–16. See also magical
       
signs; runes
runes
   
kennings, 115, 116t–23t
   
Medieval Norse Runic Alphabet,
       
106t–7t
   
Rules for Transliterating Names into
       
Runes, 107t, 108
   
Younger Rune Row, 105t–6t
   
See also
magical signs

Satan, 31, 24, 51, 55, 56, 58–60.
See
       
also
gods and goddesses
Sæmundur [Sigfússon] the Wise. See
       
magicians of Iceland
sator
-square, 42–43,
42, 43,
78–80,
       
78, 79, 80
, 102,
102
seiðr
technique, 12–13
signs. See galdor-sign magic; magical
       
signs; runes
Skallagrímsson, Egil, 11, 15–16, 27,
       
45
“soul lore,” 47
spells of Óðinn, 22, 42. See also
       
workings
Strandagaldur museum, xiii–xiv
Sturluson, Snorri, 8, 68

Viking Age, 11, 13, 14, 17, 34

witchcraft, trials for, 22–23
workings
   
for control, 94–98,
95, 96, 97, 98
   
for love, 99–100,
99, 100
   
for power, 90–92,
91, 92
   
for prosperity, 98–99,
98, 99
   
for protection, 92–94,
92, 93,
       
94
   
for reception of luck and release of
       
blessings, 101–3,
101, 102, 103
   
for sleep magic, 104,
104
   
for wisdom, 85–90,
86, 87, 88, 89,
       
90
  
 See also
spells of Óðinn

Yggdrasill,
16, 76

zones of mapping, 75–76,
75