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Icelandic Magic: Aims, tools and techniques of the Icelandic sorcerers
In this unprecedented work, the author Christopher A. Smith has meticulously studied no less than 6 original Icelandic manuscripts dating from 1500 to 1860 to extract a picture of the aims, tools and techniques of Icelandic sorcerers. Set against the context of the harsh economic, social and environmental conditions of this North Atlantic island, the book gives a detailed account of the types of spells that were used and the motivations behind them. Hundreds of items from the six books of magic have been analysed to present the reader with a clear idea of the methods that were used, including incantation, invocation of deities and use of the enigmatic magical staves (galdrastafir). Furthermore, the book goes into great detail concerning the physical tools used by magicians and the kinds of objects that might have been found in a sorcerer's 'toolbox'. The book is illustrated throughout with images from the original manuscripts. Although it is not intended by any means as a book of instruction, one chapter does focus on workings of certain types and gives suggestions for those brave enough to try them out. All in all, this work will be an indispensable item for anyone interested in the history of magic in general and of Icelandic magic in particular.
220 pages, Paperback
First published September 13, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 18, 2016
This book is a comprehensive analysis of the methods and techniques of the Icelandic magicians, based upon a selection of the surviving grimoires.
It is a fascinating study. The aims of most of the spells, and the simple tools used (generally just the owner's personal eating knife) makes it plain that these practices were largely in the hands of farmers and the poorer members of the population, not the intelligentsia (i.e. priests and nobility) as was generally the case in Europe. This is reinforced by how simple and direct the practice was, in most cases a simple stave and / or incantation sent and directed by the will of the practitioner. This fits very well with the descriptions of Icelandic magic that have come down to us in the sagas.
The author's insights are keen and although this is an academic, analytical work rather than a practical one, it is written in a pleasantly clear and uncluttered manner, with great typesetting that really makes it an interesting and refreshing read. Although the information they contain is nearly always fascinating, such analytic texts can often be quite dry to read. This one very definitely isn't, it's a delight and it's enthralling.
A broad selection of spells and staves are reprinted from the grimoires (these are photographic reproductions, not copied by hand, to avoid errors) to illustrate the points made in the text. Where incantations are given, they are often given in both the original Icelandic as well as English translation. This is very welcome, as the metre and alliteration of the original language really demonstrates how compellingly beautiful these incantations could be.
The relationships between the staves and more recognisable methods of rune magic are discussed, of course, as these Icelandic staves have a style all their own.
A tremendously interesting volume that should be on the shelf of anyone interested in the magic or myth of the North.
It is a fascinating study. The aims of most of the spells, and the simple tools used (generally just the owner's personal eating knife) makes it plain that these practices were largely in the hands of farmers and the poorer members of the population, not the intelligentsia (i.e. priests and nobility) as was generally the case in Europe. This is reinforced by how simple and direct the practice was, in most cases a simple stave and / or incantation sent and directed by the will of the practitioner. This fits very well with the descriptions of Icelandic magic that have come down to us in the sagas.
The author's insights are keen and although this is an academic, analytical work rather than a practical one, it is written in a pleasantly clear and uncluttered manner, with great typesetting that really makes it an interesting and refreshing read. Although the information they contain is nearly always fascinating, such analytic texts can often be quite dry to read. This one very definitely isn't, it's a delight and it's enthralling.
A broad selection of spells and staves are reprinted from the grimoires (these are photographic reproductions, not copied by hand, to avoid errors) to illustrate the points made in the text. Where incantations are given, they are often given in both the original Icelandic as well as English translation. This is very welcome, as the metre and alliteration of the original language really demonstrates how compellingly beautiful these incantations could be.
The relationships between the staves and more recognisable methods of rune magic are discussed, of course, as these Icelandic staves have a style all their own.
A tremendously interesting volume that should be on the shelf of anyone interested in the magic or myth of the North.
April 25, 2016
Recently there has been an interest in the magical techniques of Iceland. This island nation has oft been overlooked as it is perched a bit a ways from the European continent. The land itself is rugged, sparsely populated with very few resources. In places like this people must live by their wits and be super practical.
Iceland was initially settled by Vikings from Denmark and Norway. They brought along with them slaves from Scottland and the British Isles. The Vikings followed Odin and the other Norse gods while the slaves followed Christianity. Iceland fully converted to Christianity in around the 10th or 11th century. They were rather late in the scheme of things, but there were factors that lead to this conversion. One was that slaves raised the children and they were imbued with the new religion. Another factor was trade with Christian Europe, and then military strength of Christianity.
The Gods have not completely gone away. In Icelandic Grimoires Odin and Thor are still invoked many times along side Jesus and Mother Mary. Usually the old ones are called upon for magical operation that involve cursing. Malicious magic makes up about 20 percent of Icelandic magic. Most of it though involves protection and their detection.
Many of the spells do not call upon higher powers but rather rely upon the sorcerers own power and intent. The magic is simple and not heavy on ritual. There are no temples to prepare and most of the magic is used for practical purposes not spiritual development. Magic was also a tool used by the poor as they had no other means of evening things out.
The techniques rely mostly on the creation of runestaves. These interesting designs are sometimes traced over the object to be acted upon or the sorcerer themselves. It could use spittle or blood to make the runestaves more powerful. Runestaves could also be transferred via air. It is not yet clear whether the runestaves were derived from Futhark runes. More studies need to be done.
Hopefully this book is one of many that will explore Iclandic Magic.
Iceland was initially settled by Vikings from Denmark and Norway. They brought along with them slaves from Scottland and the British Isles. The Vikings followed Odin and the other Norse gods while the slaves followed Christianity. Iceland fully converted to Christianity in around the 10th or 11th century. They were rather late in the scheme of things, but there were factors that lead to this conversion. One was that slaves raised the children and they were imbued with the new religion. Another factor was trade with Christian Europe, and then military strength of Christianity.
The Gods have not completely gone away. In Icelandic Grimoires Odin and Thor are still invoked many times along side Jesus and Mother Mary. Usually the old ones are called upon for magical operation that involve cursing. Malicious magic makes up about 20 percent of Icelandic magic. Most of it though involves protection and their detection.
Many of the spells do not call upon higher powers but rather rely upon the sorcerers own power and intent. The magic is simple and not heavy on ritual. There are no temples to prepare and most of the magic is used for practical purposes not spiritual development. Magic was also a tool used by the poor as they had no other means of evening things out.
The techniques rely mostly on the creation of runestaves. These interesting designs are sometimes traced over the object to be acted upon or the sorcerer themselves. It could use spittle or blood to make the runestaves more powerful. Runestaves could also be transferred via air. It is not yet clear whether the runestaves were derived from Futhark runes. More studies need to be done.
Hopefully this book is one of many that will explore Iclandic Magic.
March 4, 2016
See, now this was what I was hoping Dr. Flowers book would be like. Chris Smith's done an excellent job of explaining what the Icelandic magical tradition looked like and how it worked. He's taken six extant Icelandic grimoires from the fifteen hundreds to the eighteen hundreds and pulled them apart and analyzed the workings, the staves, and the environment they developed in. You get a really clear picture of how the spells are described, and the most probable stuff that the various writers didn't bother to put down, because they assumed it would have been common knowledge. I'm going to be digging through this one for gold for a while. Also, Chris mentions at the end that he's planning on taking all of the staves from these books and all the other ones he can lay hands on, collating them, and then seeing what kind of common elements he can find based on spell-purpose and suchlike. Now that's a project I'd love to be a part of.
May 16, 2017
This is, hands-down, the most complete book regarding the actual practice of magic in Iceland in medieval and Renaissance times that is out there. However, without wanting to sound like I'm damning it with faint praise, it is also pretty much the only book about the actual practice of magic in Iceland. There are a number of translations of assorted Icelandic grimoires (books of magic spells), but this is the only text that theorizes about the way in which the spells in those books were case - who did it, how they did it, what the purposes of the spells were, what materials they used, etc.
The author reviewed six of the old Icelandic grimoires, and tried to draw useful conclusions about the practice of ancient magic in Iceland. Speaking as an anthropologist, he did a great job, but of course there is a limit (which he freely admits) to the findings that can be drawn from a sample size of six books, with no contemporary practitioners; and what Smith writes her are his own ideas based on his research, rather than his contributions that are placed in context to a large body of research into the magic of Iceland - because there really isn't one (yet); so Smith is probably one of the most knowledgeable people out there on the subject.
Four stars rather than five because there are some clear limits to the book, for the aforementioned reasons. A very solid four stars because of of the endeavor of writing this book at all; I have no doubt one say Smith will expand his research and publish an even more definitive tome. Well worth the price, however!
The author reviewed six of the old Icelandic grimoires, and tried to draw useful conclusions about the practice of ancient magic in Iceland. Speaking as an anthropologist, he did a great job, but of course there is a limit (which he freely admits) to the findings that can be drawn from a sample size of six books, with no contemporary practitioners; and what Smith writes her are his own ideas based on his research, rather than his contributions that are placed in context to a large body of research into the magic of Iceland - because there really isn't one (yet); so Smith is probably one of the most knowledgeable people out there on the subject.
Four stars rather than five because there are some clear limits to the book, for the aforementioned reasons. A very solid four stars because of of the endeavor of writing this book at all; I have no doubt one say Smith will expand his research and publish an even more definitive tome. Well worth the price, however!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews