Miracles and Magic in Old Norse Viking Sagas and Mythology

Norse magic, known as seiðr,  was a mystical practice primarily performed by women called völva These practitioners held a complex and often contradictory place in society, both feared and respected. In times of need, their personal magic could be transformed into public rituals for the community. Seiðr encompassed a range of practices, including spå (fortune-telling), shapeshifting, and interpreting omens. Central to seiðr was galdr, a powerful song capable of unlocking hidden forces and connecting to other realms. Odin himself was called galdrs faðir (father of galdr), and these songs, often sung in falsetto, were believed to have diverse magical effects: from healing the sick and blunting weapons, to raising the dead and controlling the weather. Male practitioners would even don women’s clothing to perform galdr and adopt a female voice. Shapeshifting, another key aspect of seiðr  allowed the practitioner to separate soul from body and travel through the cosmos in animal form, as part of a shamanic ritual. Warmest of welcome to the lecture where we travel back in time to an era where magic was a central part of society and everyday life.