Icelandic Magic (12 page)

III. PROTECTION

People need protection from all sorts of dangers, some from the environment and some from the malice of others. Galdor-stave magic addresses all these concerns.

1
 
 
R
ETURN TO
S
ENDER
(D
AVÍÐSSON
XXXVII)

Have this sign on leather on the front of your chest if you want to send back any harmful message to the one who sent it to you.

2
 
 
P
ROTECTION FROM
E
MBARRASSMENT
(D
AVÍÐSSON
XXXVIII)

So that you will remain free of any shame or embarrassment, no matter what or who you encounter. Using spittle, make this sign on your forehead with the ring finger of your right hand.

3
 
 
A W
ASHING
V
ERSE
: T
O
W
ASH
A
WAY
I
LL
W
ILL AND
N
EGATIVITY
(J
ÓN
Á
RNASON
, I, 439)

To ward off the effects of negative thoughts of others and to prevent harm by the thoughts or actions of other people, wash your face in cold spring water and recite the following verse.

4
 
 
S
ORCERY
P
REVENTION
(L
BS
2413 8
VO
112)

Draw this stave on parchment with black ink. Keep it near you.

5
 
 
A
GAINST
F
OREBODING
W
HEN
Y
OU
G
O INTO THE
D
ARKNESS
(D
AVÍÐSSON
XXXIX)

Carve these signs on an oak stave and wear it under your left arm. This is good for both literal darkness and for dark periods in life.

6
 
 
A
GAINST
A
LL
W
ITCHERY
(D
AVÍÐSSON
XXXV)

Write this sign on parchment and have it in your right hand against all witchery and any fear of witchery.

IV. CONTROL

Magic is often concerned with the concept of control. This could be self-control, or the control of the environment or other people.

1
 
 
T
O
C
ALM
A
NGER
(
G
ALDRABÓK
41)

To calm all anger make this stave on your forehead with the index finger of your left hand and say: “It is the helm of awe, which I bear between my eyes. Let the anger melt, let the strife stop. May every man rejoice in me as Mary rejoiced in her blessed son when she found him on the victory rock. In the name of the Father and Son and Holy Spirit.”

And read:

 

Ølvir, Óðinn, Illi,
^*14
everything may your will bewilder
.
May God himself with mastery
,
send love between us
.

2
 
 
T
O
G
AIN THE
F
AVOR
OF
P
OWERFUL
P
ERSONS
(
G
ALDRABÓK
17)

You should write it on parchment and have it on your person generally, and powerful people will like you very much.

3
 
 
T
O
C
AUSE
F
EAR IN
AN
E
NEMY
(
G
ALDRABÓK
9)

If you want your enemies to be afraid of you when they see you, then carve these staves on a piece of oak wood and wear it in the middle of your chest, and see to it that you see them before they see you.

4
 
 
A
GAINST THE
I
LL
W
ILL
OF
P
OWERFUL
P
ERSONS
(
G
ALDRABÓK
26)

Make the helm of awe between your eyes. Then read the following formula three times down into your cupped hands filled with spring water. Read a Paternoster in Latin at the conclusion of each reading.

“I wash my enemies away from me along with the thievery and anger of powerful persons, so that they may now approach me with good cheer and look into my eyes laughingly. I enforce affection with my hand, I discharge monetary debts, I discharge the accusations of the most powerful persons. Let God see me, and let every man look upon me, with eyes of bliss. I bear the helm of awe between my brows. May the world and the land provide me with many friends.”

5
 
 
T
O
C
ALM THE
A
NGER
OF AN
E
NEMY
(D
AVÍÐSSON
, K
REDDUR
27)

He should go to some water and before a raven flies over it (that is, before dawn) he should hold his hands in the water for a while and then make the following runes on his forehead with the fourth finger of the right hand and afterward not wash himself off.

6
 
 
T
O
H
AVE
S
UCCESS IN
A
M
EETING
(D
AVÍÐSSON
IV)

Have this sign on gray paper under your left arm when you are talking to somebody and you will have success with them.