Icelandic Magic (11 page)

Write this stave on parchment in red ink. Conceal it in a place high up in your room. Inspiration will come.

8
 
 
W
AYFINDER
(D
AVÍÐSSON
XXX)

If this sign, called the
Vegvísir
(way shower), is carried, one will never lose one's way in storms or bad weather, even when the way is not known. It also helps one find one's way in life.

9
 
 
T
HIEF
-D
ETECTIVE
(
G
ALDRABÓK
33)

For theft: Carve these staves on the bottom of a bowl made of ash wood and put water in it and grind
millefolium
^*13
in the water and say: “This I ask by the herb's power and the greatness of the stave, that the shade of the one who has stolen may be seen in the water.” And carve these names with runes on parchment and keep the parchment on your person: Óðinn, Loki, Frey[r], Baldur, Njörður, Týr, Birgir, Hœnir, Freyja, Gefun, Gusta, and all those who dwell in Valhöll and have dwelt there from the beginning of the world, provide me with the power so that what has been stolen will be returned, and the thief will be found out.

10
 
 
S
ITTING
-O
UT
S
TAVE
(S
KUGGI
'
S
G
ALDRA
-S
KRÆÐA
,
77)

Icelandic tradition knows of a ritual of seeking knowledge from extrahuman sources, variously characterized as “the dead,” “elves,” “trolls,” and “devils.” These entities are encountered by sitting out all night at a crossroad. Ideally there should be cemeteries at some point down each of the four roads. The all-night vigil can be rewarded by the “appearance” of an entity that will impart some secret information. Generally the practitioner should be open to receive what the entity is willing to communicate and not try to force some predetermined result. The twentieth-century Icelandic magician known as Skuggi provided the following sign used by practitioners of “sitting out” to enhance the chances of success with this kind of working.

II. POWER

Many magical formulas show the way to gain power of some sort. This can come in many forms, sometimes directly, sometimes indirectly.

1
 
 
W
INNING
S
TRUGGLES OF ALL
K
INDS
(J
ÓN
Á
RNASON
, I, 438)

To win any and all internal struggles with your own nature, or in conflicts with others, draw these staves and place
Gapaldur
under the heel
of your right foot and Ginfaxi under the toe of your left foot, and say:

2
 
 
V
ICTORY
(J
ÓN
Á
RNASON
,
I, 438)

Draw this helm of awe on a disk of lead and press it to your forehead between your eyebrows and say:

You will have victory in every struggle: the powerful will love you and your enemies will be struck with terror. Victory is assured.

3
 
 
T
O
W
IN A
D
EBATE
(L
BS
2413 8
VO
69)

Write this stave with your saliva while you are fasting and put it under your left arm if you don't want anyone to get the better of you in a debate or argument.

4
 
 
H
ERZLUSTAFIR
(S
TRENGTHENING
STAVES
) (D
AVÍÐSSON
XXXIV)

Make this double-sided stave and wear it on the left side of your chest to strengthen your courage and resolve.