Icelandic Magic: Aims, tools and techniques of the Icelandic sorcerers

172 Pages·2016·2.64 MB·English

by  Christopher Alan Smith

Icelandic Magic
Aims, tools and techniques of the Icelandic sorcerers

Christopher Alan Smith

P A
UBLISHED BY VALONIA
www.avaloniabooks.co.uk

TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
INTRODUCTION
A NOTE ON ORTHOGRAPHY AND PRONUNCIATION
CHAPTER 1 - ICELANDIC MAGIC IN CONTEXT
THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE ECONOMY
LAW AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
VERNACULAR LITERACY
RELIGION AND ATTITUDES TO MAGIC
CONCLUSION
CHAPTER 2 - THE BOOKS OF MAGIC
AM 434 A 12MO ‘LÆKNINGAKVER’ (CA 1500)
ATA, AMB 2, F 16:26 ‘ISLÄNDSKA SVARTKONSTBOKEN (BOOK OF MAGIC)’ (1550-1650?)
LBS 143 8VO ‘GALDRAKVER’ (CA 1670)
LBS 2413 8VO ‘RÚNA- OG GALDRAKVER’ (CA 1800)
LBS 764 8VO (CA 1820)
Í B 383 4TO ‘HULD’ (CA 1860)
CHAPTER 3 - PURPOSES AND PREOCCUPATIONS
THE QUESTION OF ‘WHITE’ AND ‘BLACK’ MAGIC
APOTROPAIC MAGIC
FARMING, FISHING AND TRADE
FRIENDSHIP, FAVOUR AND INFLUENCE
CRIME AND DISPUTES
HEALING
LOVE AND SEDUCTION
DIVINATION
GAMES AND SPORTS
LUCK AND WISHES
SPELLS OF PURELY MALIGN INTENT
CONCLUSIONS
CHAPTER 4 - THE MAIN TECHNIQUES OF ICELANDIC MAGIC
THE PRIMACY OF THE MAGICAL SIGN AS A VEHICLE OF THE INTENT
APPEALS TO SUPERNATURAL ENTITIES
TALISMANS
THE IMPORTANCE OF INCANTATION
THE METHODS OF DELIVERY
DIRECT CARVING
BRINGING A PREPARED SPELL INTO DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE TARGET
INGESTION
DELIVERY BY PROXIMITY
DELIVERY FROM A DISTANCE
DIVINATION
RITUAL WASHING
CONCLUSIONS
CHAPTER 5 - THE TOOLS OF ICELANDIC MAGIC
THE CARVING INSTRUMENT
FINGERS
KNIVES, AWLS AND SCISSORS
PENS, PENCILS AND CHALK
MATERIALS USED FOR CARVING
THE CARVED SURFACES
CLEAR CHOICES
WOOD
PAPER AND PARCHMENT
METALS
BONES, HUMAN AND ANIMAL
SEA CREATURES
USE OF BODY FLUIDS AND EXCRETIONS
HERBS AND VEGETABLE PREPARATIONS
CONCLUSIONS
CHAPTER 6 - TIME AND SPACE
CONCLUSIONS
CHAPTER 7 - THE PERSISTENCE OF HEATHEN BELIEF
CHAPTER 8 - RUNES, CIPHERS AND SECRECY
CONCLUSIONS
CHAPTER 9 - SOME PROMINENT THEMES AND THEIR APPLICATIONS
Æ GISHJ Á LMUR
KAUPALOKI – THE BARGAIN SEALER
‘LOVE’ SPELLS
DISPUTES AND LAWSUITS
BRÝNSLUSTAFIR – KEEPING SHARP IS GOOD
CHAPTER 10 - THE ISSUE OF COMPLEXITY
CHAPTER 11 - CONCLUSIONS
WHO PRACTISED MAGIC, AND WITH WHAT INTENTIONS?
TECHNIQUES AND TOOLS – SUMMARY
THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE STAVES – CAN ANY SENSE BE MADE OF THIS?
FINAL CONCLUSION: HOW ARE WE TO TYPIFY ICELANDIC MAGIC?
WORKS CITED
SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING
ENDNOTES
ICELANDIC MAGIC
Copyright © 2015 Christopher Alan Smith

Published by Avalonia
BM Avalonia
London
WC1N 3XX
England, UK
www.avaloniabooks.co.uk

This Kindle edition, January 2016

Cover image: Luck Knot from Lbs 2413 8vo. Reproduced with kind permission from the National and University Library of
Iceland.
Interior illustrations and images as credited.

Design by Satori, for Avalonia.

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