Glossary
ON: Old Norse
OE: Old English
Ice: Icelandic
Pl: plural
Sg: Singular
Slavic
Ægishjálmur
(eye-yis-hyalmur)
Literally, this means “helm of awe.” In mythology it is said to be part of the Nibelungen hoard. In Icelandic magic it is a type of geometrical cross-like magical sign with several arms.
Ætt (ate) pl. ættir (ate-ir)
See Airt
Airt pl. airts
The eightfold division of the sky, and the divisions of the futhark into three groups of (originally eight) rune-staves. When a ritual action is done “to the aettir,” the word indicates that the eight compass-points should be sprinkled, hallowed, or whatever.
Æsir (pl) (ay-zeer) Áss (sg. (awss)
The Gods and Goddesses of consciousness in the Teutonic pantheon. Called Ases (aces) in English.
Ale
Any malt beverage: beer, ale, stout, or even whiskey.
Alf, Alfs ON: alfr, alfar
Elf; sometimes male ancestral spirits.
Alfheim (alf-hame)
Land of the Light Elves.
Alu
Literally “ale;” also means “luck” or “magical might.”
Anglo-Saxon Futhark
The form of the runic alphabet used by the Anglo-Saxons, in which several runes were added to the 24-rune Elder Futhark for phonetic, rather than magical, reasons.
Anima
A Jungian term meaning the unconscious female part of the male self, composed of all the female influences accumulated in childhood and, possibly, the female content of the ancestral memory. As such, the anima would be part of the Hamingja.
Animus
A Jungian term meaning the unconscious male part of the female self, composed of all the male influences accumulated in childhood and possibly, the male content of the ancestral memory. As such, the animus would be part of the Hamingja.
Armanen (are-mahn-in)
A modern German school of runic lore, using the 18-rune Armanen futhark developed by Guido von List.
Ásatrú
“True to the gods;” the name most often used by followers of the Northern ways for both persons and the religion itself.
Ase, Ases ON: Æs, Æsir
The race of god/esses which includes Woden, Frija, Thunar, and all their kin.
Ases’ Garth ON: Ásgardhr
The dwelling of the god/esses.
Asgard ON: Ásgardhr
The enclosure of the Gods, the realm where the Gods and Goddesses exist.
Asynjur (ahs-in-yur)
Feminine of Aesir. In modern terms: Asynja
Athem (Old English: æthm (aythm)
The “breath of life” the vital force of life borne in the breath.
Audhumbla (ow-dhumb-luh)
Proto-bovine, created from the first mingling of fire and ice along with the proto-etin Ymir. Represents the primeval shaping force.
Bannik Slavic
The spirit of the spa/bath-house. The bannik, though mischievous, is not really malignant; he may aid us in rites of divination.
Banya Slavic
The bath-house. More like a sauna or Native American sweat lodge than a simple bathroom, the banya was a wooden structure placed some distance from the house. A fire was kept burning there to heat water, which was then poured over hot rocks to produce steam. Thoroughly pagan, no Christian icons were ever placed there.
BCE/CE
Before Common Era/Common Era. The Common Era dates from the height of the Roman Empire in the West – that is to say, BCE/CE dates are identical to BC/AD dates. The Common Era terminology is used by non-Christians and by whomever is sensitive to the problems inherent in forcing a single religion’s dating system on a world filled with people of varied faiths.
Beltaine (BELT-en-a) Celtic
Major Celtic vernal fire festival. Modern “May Eve.”
Bereginy Slavic
They are mentioned in ancient texts as nymphs or goddesses of river banks, associated with the creation of life. In later times, these female spirits were known as the Rusalki.
Berserker (bur-surk-er)
A fighter possessed by his animal fylgja, usually a bear or a wolf, who becomes inhumanly strong and fierce and does not feel wounds, losing his human awareness in battle-madness while the fit lasts.
Bifrost (bih-froest)
Bridge of fire, air, and water connecting Asgardhr to the lower worlds.
Billing
Elf of the twilight or west.
Bilskirnir (bill-skeer-ner)
“Lightning” – Sif’s great hall in Asgard.
Bind-Rune
Two or more rune-staves superimposed over one another, sometimes used to form galdor-staves.
Blessing (Old English: blótan (bloht-an)
The act of sacrificing and distributing the powers of the Gods and Goddesses in Midgard.
Blot (bloat)
A religious observance in which offerings (usually ale or mead) are made to one or more of the gods. The name may derive either from “blessing” or from “blood” (referring to the hallowing of the regular autumnal slaughtering as a sacrifice).
Boast (OE: beot (bay-ott)
A ritual drinking to the honor of a God, Goddess, or ancestor, or drinking to seal an oath for future actions. Also, a “toast.”
Book of Ballymote
A 14th century Irish manuscript containing the greatest collection of Ogham lore of any Old Irish text.
Boyan Slavic
In Russian legend, Boyan is the archetypal bard or minstrel.
Brauche (BROWKH-uh)
Pennsylvania Dutch term literally meaning “to use (magick)”
Braucherei (BROWKH-er-eye)
Pennyslvania Dutch term for the practice of magic. Also called “hexerei (hex-er-eye).
Brauchbuch (BROWKH-bookh)
Pennyslvania Dutch term for a grimoire or manual of magic. The most famous of these is John Hohman’s “Long Lost Friend.” Another term used is “hexebuch” (HEX-uh-bookh).
Breidablik (brade-a-blick)
Nanna’s hall in Asgard.
Brisingamen (briss-ing-a-men)
Freyja’s necklace made by four Dwarves.
Bygul (bee-gool)
“Bee Gold” or Honey. One of the cats that pull Freyja’s chariot.
Call
The part of a ritual in which the divine forces to take part in the blessing are invoked.
Cath Celtic
Conflict. A quality describing the northern realm among the Fifths.
Caillach (kahll-yakh or kell-ey) Celtic
Common name for the divine hag in Irish lore.
C.E.
Common Era. See B.C.E.
Conceptual Runic Relationships
Relationships between runes as determined by similarities in name (ehwaz-horse/raidho-riding, etc), in concept, or by cross-references in one or more of the rune poems.
Dagda (doy-da) Celtic
The good god. The god of the Druids
Delling
Red Elf of the dawn or east.
Deosil (day-oh-sil)
In the direction of the sun; that is, clockwise. Used for drawing down heavenly might.
Dis (pl. dies) (ON: dis (dees); disir (DEEZ-ir)
Ancestral female divinities to whom Winter Nights and Disting are holy.
Dokkalfar (dock-al-far)
Dark Elves.
Domovoi Slavic
“Lord of the House.” This household spirit and protector is a family guardian, and may sometimes even appear in the guise of a departed family member. The Domovoi, however, should not be thought of as a mere ghost, which he isn’t. Rather, he is the psychic imprint or spiritual essence of the family collectivity as a whole.
Draug ON: draugr
A walking corpse.
Drighten fem: drightine
Leader.
Drinking
The part of a ritual in which the liquid charged with the divine forces is ingested by the gathered folk.
Dvorovoi Slavic
This spirit watches over one’s yard; he is a kind of spirit groundsman. He is a great deal trickier and more mischievous than the Domovoi.
Dwarves
Small human shaped beings who live primarily in caves and mountains in Svartalfheim; they do not like daylight. They are skilled crafters, jewelers, and miners, but tend to hoard precious metals and gems. The four Dwarves sent to hold up the sky are Nordhri (North), Austri (East), Sudhri (South), and Vestri (West).
Dziadys Slavic
This festival, celebrated several times a year in Bulgaria and Ukraine honored the dead. Divination regarding the family’s prosperity and agricultural prospects was typically performed during the dziadys.
Dzivot, dziz’n Slavic
One of the most important concepts in Slavic sorcery or Koldovtsvo. The word Dziz’n literally means “life,” but should be understood esoterically as the aggregate life-force of all humanity.
East Germanic
The languages deriving from the Germanic dialect spoken by the folk who migrated from Scandinavia to Eastern Europe and the steppes ca. 200 BCE. Gothic is the only recorded East Germanic language; none have survived into the modern period.
Einherjar
“Single combatants;” Wodan’s chosen/slain champions who fight in Walhall every day.
Elder (OE: ealdor (ay-aldor)
A recognized “priest” or “priestess” in the Troth.
Elder Edda
The Old Norse compilation of mythological and heroic poems. All “Eddic poems” or “Eddic lays” are found in this volume.
Elder Futhark
The earliest known form of the runic alphabet, consisting of twenty-four runes. The Elder Futhark is the original, most traditional, and most magically powerful of the futharks, and hence is the form used here.
Elemental Worlds
Jotunheim (air), Muspellheim (fire), Vanheim (water), and Niflheim (ice).
Elves
In Old Norse the word is Alfar, “the shining white one.” Human shaped beings who have much wisdom and lore to impart. Light Elves live in Ljossalfheim or Alfheim and are helpful. Dark Elf may be another name for Dwarf. Elves live in almost every wood and stream in Midgard.
Eurlian
Originally a member of the Heruli tribe (famed for runic lore); later used as a title for the wisest and most skilled runemasters.
Establishment Magick
Western ceremonial magick, which is largely a combination of Semitic and Mediterranean ideas and practices (Qabala, Enochian magick, Western astrology, etc).
Etin (ON: jötunn (yott-un); jötnar (yott-nar)
A “giant,” which is a living entity of great age, strength, and often great occult knowledge. Wise, ageless being of Ymir’s kindred.
Faring Forth
Travels out of the body.
Fetch
A soul aspect which appears to the mind’s eye in a variety of forms – as a person of the opposite sex (fetch-wife or fetch-man), an animal (fetch-deer), or even in a purely geometrical form.
Fetch-Deer (Icelandic – dýrfylgja (DEER-fil-ya)
The soul-aspect which appears to the mind’s eye in the shape of an animal. In this formula, the “deer” refers to all animals in general.
Fianna (FEE-enna) Celtic
A wandering band of warrior-bards. Their most famous leader was Fionn Mac Cumhaill. They correspond to the Erulian bands in Teutonic tradition.
Fidh (Pl: fedha) (fidh; fedha) Celtic
Irish word for “wood,” or “tree” used to denote the Oghamic characters – as well as the trees they represent.
Fili (pl: filid) (filee; fileedh) Celtic
The Irish term which answers most closely to the term “Druid.”
Firepot
Brazier or burner for recels (incense).
Folk
1. The Teutonic or Germanic nations (all people of Teutonic heritage, German, English, Dutch, Scandinavian, etc).
2. The people gathered for a holy event.
Formáli (pl. formálar)
Icelandic – formulaic speeches used to load ritual actions with magical intention.
Fountain of Mimir
The well in Jotunheim on the Midgard level; also known as the Fountain of Knowledge.
Frith
The true Germanic word for “peace,” which carries with it the implication of “freedom.”
Fro fem: frowe
Lord/Lady
Fulla (fool-ah)
Sister of Frigg. She cares for Frigg’s magick box and slippers.
Futhark
The entire sequence of the rune-row in its fixed order. The word futhark is derived from the phonetic values of the first six runes.
Fylgja (filg-ya)
“Follower;” the Old Norse term for fetch. In occult terms, fylgja corresponds to the astral or etheric body. It can operate independently form the physical body and is used in shape-shifting and “sending.” It is thought to survive the physical death.
Galdor (ON: galdr, pl. galdrar)
1. A magical incantation or mantra.
2. A form of magic which often uses rune-staves as a method of objectifying verbal contents and thus objectifying magical intent.
Magical song, spoken or chanted part of a magical rite.
Galdor-Stave (ON: galdrastafr, pl: galdrastafir)
A magical sign which may or may not have its origin as a bind-rune. Used as a focus for complex magical operations.
Galdrabok (gald-ra-bowk)
Magical diary, grimoire.
Galdr-Magic
Runic magic, ritual magic (as contrasted with the shamanic seidhr-magic).
Galdr-Sound
Mantra consisting of the actual sound associated with a rune.
Galdramyndur (GALD-ra-minn-dur
Literally this means “magical sign.” It is a magical sigil created for pragmatic purposes.
Galdrastafur (GALD-ra-stav-ur)
Literally this means “magical stave.” Originally they were made up from bind-runes which were then stylized for magical purposes.
Gand (Ice: gandur, gandr)
The magical wand.
Garm
Monster dog who guards the island where Loki and his wolf-son are chained. Hound of the Underworld.
Garth Gardh, Gardhr
Enclosure, homestead. Enclosure dividing the wild space outside (utangardhs) from the social space inside (innangardhs).
Geis pl: geisa (gay-sh, gay-sha) Celtic
A kind of “taboo” in Celtic lore which is typically a prohibition against doing something, but which is at the same time a source of power.
Germania
The entire area inhabited by speakers of Germanic languages.
Germanic
Describes the traditions, heritage, and culture of the various people speaking languages within the Germanic branch of the Indo-European language groups. Identical to “Teutonic.” This is NOT a racial term; it describes language and culture.
Ghost
A spiritual being; not necessarily the soul of a dead human.
Gimli (geem-lee)
Golden roofed hall in Asgard for righteous humans after death.
Ginnungagap (gin-oon-guh-gap)
The magically charged primal void between fire and ice at the beginning of all things.
Giving
The part of a ritual in which the remainder of the charged liquid not consumed by the gathered folk is returned to the divine realm. Also called the “yielding.”
Gjallarbru (gyall-ar-broo)
“Resounding Bridge” the bridge into Hel.
Gjoll (gyohl)
“Howling;” the boundary river over which Gjallarbru stretches.
Gladsheim (glahds-hame)
Part of Asgard for the gods.
Gna (gnah)
Asynjor and servant of Frigg. A messenger, she rode a horse named Hofvarpnir.
Godwo/man ON: godhi/gydhja
A priest/ess. A chieftain/priest
Gothic and Scandinavian Tongues
Primitive or Common Germanic refers to the early unified form of this language. The common Germanic Futhark originated in this period.
Hallow
To make holy.
Hallowing
The part of a ritual in which the space where the ritual is to be performed is marked off from the profane world, made holy, and protected.
Hamingja
“Mana;” magical power. Personal power, “luck.”
Hamr (hawmr)
“Hide,” shape (of soul); normally shaped like lich, but can be changed.
Harrow (OE: hearg (hay-arg)
1. An outdoor altar usually made of stone.
2. A general term for the altar in a true working.
Heimdall (haym-doll)
The guardian god of the Bifrost Bridge.
Hel (hell)
Realm of the dead; also the name of the goddess of Death.
Helgrind
“Death Gate” the barrier between the worlds of the living and the dead.
Hex-Sign
A round symbol painted with magical motifs which act as an elaborate talisman or amulet.
Hidge OE hyge (hewg-uh)
The cognitive part of the soul, the intellect or “mind.” Also called Hugh.
Heldisvini (hill-dee-sveen-ee)
“Battle Pig or Sow;” sow belonging to Freyja; she travels at great speeds.
Himmelsbrief (HIMMEL-s-breef)
Pennsylvania Dutch term literally meaning a “letter of heaven.” In the mythology, they were supposed to represent epistles of Jesus himself.
Holy
There are two aspects to this term.
1. That which is filled with divine powers;
2. That which is marked off and separate from the profane.
Horizontal Model
Worlds arranged into innangardhs/utangardhs: Asgardhr in the center, Midgardhr around it, elemental worlds separated by an ocean.
Huginn (huhg-in)
Thought; one of Odhinn’s ravens.
Hugr
Thought, spirit, heart/mood. The left brain.
Hvergelmir (hvair-gel-mihr)
“Seething Cauldron;” the lowest level of the Well of Wyrd, from which the forces of primal water, holding yeast and venom flow.
Hyde ON: hamr (hahm-er)
The quasi-physical part of the soul which gives a person shape and form.
Hypostasis
An aspect or attribute of a god which is sufficiently developed to act/be invoked on its own.
Idis, Idises ON: dís, dísir
Ancestral female spirits.
Indo-European
Relating to the common cultures, religions, and languages of the folk that migrated to Europe from the Caucasus Mountains. The Indo-European languages/cultures include Greek, Latin, Celtic, Germanic, Slavic, Baltic, Sanskrit, and Iranian. Like “Germanic,” this is not a racial term, but rather a linguistic/cultural description.
Innangardhs (in-an-gardhs)
Social, ordered space; space inside the enclosure of human culture.
Jormungand (yore-mun-gand)
World Serpent; a great dragon snake which inhabits the Ocean surrounding Midgard.
Jotun (yah-tun)
General term for giantish beings (Ymir’s kindred): etins, rises, and thurses.
Jotunheim
“World of Jotuns;” easternmost world, elemental air. The mountainous home of the giants or Jotuns.
Kenning
A poetic metaphor. For example, “the fishes bath” is a kenning for the sea.
Khorovod Slavic
A ring dance performed in pagan times and during folk festivals at least until 1917.
Kikimora Slavic
A female spirit of the household, she spins and does domestic work of all kinds.
Kinfylgja
Personification of inherited traits and might; usually dwells with the head of family, or else the most suitable member.
Koldovstvo Slavic
Literally “sorcery” or “the craft of the wise.” A man who practices Koldovtsvo is a koldun, while a woman is a koldunya. Collectively they are kolduny.
Koliada Slavic
A folk festival which occurred during the winter solstice period and was later synchronized with Christmas. The old Koliada festivities, however, were thoroughly pagan and included groups of people who, representing the spirits of the ancestors, dressed in animal masks and wandered through the village singing songs.
Kona (koh-na; pl: konur)
Old Norse inflection; designates female (seidhkona, spakona, draumkona, etc).
Krisjan
Old Norse spelling of Christian.
Kuchiya Slavic
A special food, dedicated to the ancestors, which was eaten in Slavic countries during the winter holidays.
Lada Slavic
A goddess of springtime and fertility.
Leaving
The formal closing of a ritual.
Leek
Any plant of the genus Allium – leeks, onions, chives, garlic, shallots, and so forth.
Leshy Slavic
The spirit of the forest. Wild and hairy, he is frequently treacherous and mischievous. Sometimes he is helpful, though he tends to favor society’s outlaws and misfits.
Lich
Earthly body.
Life-Age ON: aldr
Vital essence.
Ljosalfar (lyos-al-far)
Light Elves
Loading
The part of a ritual in which the sacred power that has been called upon is channeled into the holy drink.
Lore
The tradition in all its aspects
Lot
A runic talisman (rune-tine) used for divinatory purposes.
Love-Seith
Sexual magic. The use of sexual symbolism or energies in seith-craft.
Lugh (lugh or loo) Celtic
The Celtic god of magic, war, and the arts. His emblematic weapon is the spear. In many ways he answers to the Teutonic god Woden.
Lyke OE: lic (leech)
The physical part of the soul-body (psycho-physical) complex. Also called lich.
Madhr (madhr)
Old Norse for “man.” Used in this book as a suffix to denote gender (seidmadhr, spamadhr, etc).
Main, Might
Aspects of psycho-physical strength.
Maslenitsa Slavic
A folk festival which fell in the early spring, and which perhaps takes its name from an old Slavic goddess. This festival is a time of general celebration and license.
Mead
An alcoholic drink made from honey. Technically, only a drink made from honey alone is true mead, while the addition of fruit juice makes it a melomel and herbs make it a metheglin. For ritual purposes, however, any drink brewed with honey can be counted as a mead.
Middle-Garth ON: Midhgardhr
Midhgardhr (MITH-garthur) OE: Middangeard, Meddlert
The dwelling place of humanity, the physical plane of existence. Also, Midyard, the enclosure in the midst of all. The world of humankind.
Mimir (Mih-mir)
The proto-etin who keeps Mimir’s Well, holder of all that has ever existed; Odhinn’s mother’s brother.
Mind
Consciousness; encompasses hugr (thought) and minni (memory, including ancestral memory and collective unconscious).
Minni (mihn-ni)
Memory; right-brain, etc; See Mind.
Modgud (mode-good)
The giantess maiden who keeps the bridge on the road into Hel.
Mokosh Slavic
The most common name for the Earth Goddess. The rocks are her bones, and the leaves of the trees are her hair. All human life comes out of the earth, and all of it goes back to her; even in Christian times, dying Slavic peasants consigned their souls to Mokosh as often as to Christ.
Mood OE: mod (mode)
The emotional part of the soul closely allied with the wode. Bravery, soul.
Muspellheimr
World of primal fire. Part of the lower level.
Myesyats Slavic
Deity of the moon.
Need-Fire
Fire kindled directly from wood without flint by friction.
Nidavellir
Land of the Dwarves.
Nidhing Pole
“Pole of insult.” A pole with a horse’s head or carving of the victim in an obscene posture, used for serious insult and damaging curses. One was put up by an Asatru group in Iceland during the summit conference in Rekjavik as a protest against nuclear arms.
Nidhogg (heed-hoog)
The dragon which guards the Spring of Hvergelmir in Niflheim.
Niflheim (niffle-hame)
Lowest level of the Nine Worlds; a land of ice and snow.
Norns
The embodiments of orlog and causality. There are three Norns, Urdhr (that-which-is), Verdhandi (that-which-is-becoming), and Skuld (that-which-should-be) who shape the turnings of Wyrd through the worlds. Each person is also said to have his or her own norns who bring his or her personal Weird. These may be related to or identical with the disir and valkryja, who also embody personal orlog.
Nors
The cosmic embodiments of ørlog and causality. The term “norn” is also used for female ghosts who embody and shape individual ørlog, such as the idises and walkyriges.
North Germanic
The languages deriving from the dialect spoken by the Germanic folk who stayed in Scandinavia. Old Norse/modern Icelandic, Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian and all North Germanic.
Northern
The term “Northern” or North European refers to a specific tradition indigenous to that part of the world, with its unique mythology, religion, and pantheon of gods, languages, customs and laws. A manifestation of this tradition is the runic futhark.
Odhr (odhr)
Inspiration, fury; given to humankind by Odhinn’s brother Hoenir. Cognate to Modern German Wut and English Wood (used archaically to mean madness).
Odhroerir (odh-ruh-rir)
The mead of poetry, stolen by Odhinn. Actually three cauldrons – Odhroerir, Son, and Bodhn.
Odinism
An alternate name for Ásatrú, so called because Wodan/Odhinn is the chief of the gods.
Oend
Breath of life, given to humankind by Odhinn.
Ørlög (ahr-lahg)
Old Norse, literally analyzed this means “primal layers” (primal laws) – the past action of an individual or cosmos that shapes present reality and that which should come about as a result of it. Its root concept is the same as English Wyrd or Weird. “Ur-law” or “ur-layer;” destiny. The primal layer of wyrd which determines what shall become and be.
Otherworld Celtic
A collective name for the celestial or “higher” realm(s) in the Celtic cosmology. These are most often designated with names with the Irish word Magh (plane) in them.
Outdweller
Inhabitant of the utangardhs; uncanny wight.
Persona
A Jungian term meaning that part of the individual that relates to the external world; the image presented to others.
Perun Slavic
God of Thunder. The name of Perun is linguistically related to that of Thor, and the two deities resemble each other. Perun rides through the sky in a chariot, casting thunderbolts.
Poetic Edda
See Elder Edda.
Polevik Slavic
The spirit of the fields. During harvest times, he hides amid the wheat or barley until the last sheaf is taken; at that time, he is bound up and brought in.
Prose Edda
A prose compilation of Norse myths and poetic information, written by Snorri Sturluson ca. 1220 CE.
Radunica Slavic
A festival celebrated in honor of the dead.
Ragnarok
Doom or destiny of the gods; the Northern version of the end of the world. In occult terms it implies the end of an era.
Reading
The part of a ritual in which a mythic poetic text is recited in order to place the gathering into a mythic time/space, to engage in the mythic flow of timelessness.
Recels (reh-kels)
Incense
Rede
The part of a ritual in which the purpose of the working is stated.
Rister
A special pointed tool used to carve rune staves.
Rown
A verb meaning basically “to whisper secret things” (that is, runes). It is the verb form of Rune.
Rune
The original meaning of the word “rune” in most of the Germanic languages is “secret” or “mystery”. In this book, rune is used to denote any of the “letters” in the futhark.
Rune-Casting
The operation of runic divination.
Rune Craft
The use of rune-skill (esoteric knowledge) for causing changes in the objective environment.
Runelore
A general term for teachings about runes both exoteric and esoteric.
Rune-Skill
Intellectual knowledge of runelore.
Rune-Stave
The physical shape of a runic character.
Runester ON: rynstr (rinn-ster)
“One very skilled in runes.” General term for someone involved in deep level runic studies.
Rune-Thinking
Runic meditation.
Rune-Wisdom
Ability to apply rune-skill to deep level visions of the world and its hidden workings; runic philosophy.
Rune-Work
The willed effort and process of self-transformation using runic methods.
Rusalki Slavic
Tree and water nymphs who play such a large role in Slavic folklore, Russian poetry, and so on. The souls of young women who have died, the Rusalki live underwater during the fall and winter, then emerge around Whitsuntide to take up residence as the spirits of the trees.
Saga (sah-gah)
“Seeress;” a giantess who lives in Asgard; her palace is called Sokkvabekk (Deep Stream). One of the Asynjor.
Samhain (saw-en) Celtic
“The End of Summer,” the major Celtic autumnal fire festival. Modern Halloween.
Sax
Ritual knife
Seidhr (saydhr)
Witchcraft, shamanic traveling, speaking with spirits, visionary practices.
Self
A Jungian term meaning that part of the individual that relates to the external world; the image presented to others.
Semik Slavic
A ceremony for the dead, held during the Rusalye or festival for the Rusalki.
Sending
The magical technique of projecting rune-staves and their powers out of the self into the world to do their rightful work.
Seith ON: seidhr (sythe-er)
A kind of magical technique contrasted with galdor. Seith involves attaining trance states and often involves sexuality. The kind of magic taught to Odhinn by Freyja.
Sessrumnir (sess-room-near)
“Many Seats;” Freyja’s Hall in Asgard.
Shadow
A Jungian term meaning the unassimilated content of the personal unconscious.
Sidhe (shee) Celtic
The realm of the dead, the “fairy realm,” or the Underworld in Celtic lore.
Sigil
A symbolic representation, usually in the form of a drawing, of a magical principle.
Signing
The magical technique of tracing rune-staves in the air to “rist them in the world.”
Skald (scald)
A Norse bard.
Sleipnir (Slayp-near)
Odhinn’s gray eight-legged horse, child of Loki and a giant stallion, on which Odhinn rides through the worlds.
Soul OE: sawl (SAH-wel)
1. A general term for the psychic parts of the psycho-physical complext
2. The postmortem shade.
Solarhringar
Ring of the sun; divided into aettir.
Soul
All non-physical components of a being.
Spakona, Spamadhr
Spae-wife, spae-man. A visionary seer.
Spring of Hvergelmir (hvare-ghel-meer)
The well of Niflheim guarded by the dragon Nidhogg.
Stadhagaldr (stah-dha-galdr)
The meditational practice of standing in a rune’s shape and intoning its name. Developed by German Armanen magicians and presented in English by Edred Thorsson. The Stadha (pl: stodhur) is the physical position.
Stall ON: stalli (stall-eel)
An indoor altar, especially one that is backed up against an interior wall.
Stave
A rune’s letter shape; literally a staff or stick such as the runes were originally carved into. Also used generally to speak of runes themselves, as in “staves of healing,” “mighty staves,” etc.
Stead
A place.
Stritennia Slavic
A festival held in early spring, is a time of “meeting” between winter and spring.
Structural Runic Relationships
Relationships between runes as determined by their place within the futhark order and/or aettir.
Svarog Slavic
A deity worshipped all over the Slavic world, Svarog was the God of Light.
Svartalfheim (svart-alf-hame)
The home of the Dwarves or Dark Elves.
Svyato Mesto Slavic
Literally, “Power spot.” In ancient times, healing wells or springs and the tops of bald mountains were regarded as power spots or sacred spaces.
Swart-Alf ON: Svartálfr
A dwarf. Black elves.
Synchronicity
A Jungian term referring to a coincidence meaningful on various levels, and apparently unrelated by a common cause.
Taufr (tow-ver)
Old Norse. 1. Talismanic magic. 2. The talismanic creature or object itself.
Teutonic
See Germanic
Thule
A ritual/inspired speaker.
Thund (tinder)
The river in Asgard.
Thurs Ice: thurs (thursh) pl. thursar (thursh-ar)
A “giant”, opponent of consciousness.
Thurse
A fairly stupid elemental giant.
Tine
A talisman.
Trjegul (tree-gool)
Tree Gold – Amber. Also one of the cats that pull Freyja’s chariot.
Troll
A general term for an ill-willing uncanny wight.
Troth OE: treoth (tray-oth)
Religion, being loyal to the Gods and Goddesses and cultural values of the ancestors. Loyalty; honesty; a pledge or compact; the keeping of same.
True
Adjectival form of “troth,” can mean “loyal.” A “true man” is a man loyal to the Gods and Goddesses of his ancestors.
Underworld Celtic
A collective name for the chthonic or “lower” realm(s) in the Celtic cosmology. These are most often designated with names with the Irish word Tir (land) in them.
Upyri Slavic
Russian word for “vampires.” These unclean spirits of the dead have been feared and propitiated since the most ancient times.
Ur-
A prefix meaning “proto-“ or “primal.”
Utangardhs (uht-an-gardhs)
Wild/magical/unordered space; outside of human society.
Utgardhr (uht-gardhr)
On the horizontal map, the ring of the elemental worlds outside Midgardhr.
Valkyrja (Val-kir-ya, Valkyrie)
“Chooser of the slain;” the perfected self of a worshipper of Odhinn and the link between Odhinn and individual soul.
Vala (vah-lah)
Sibyl or prophetess.
Valhalla (val-hal-ah)
“Hall of the Slain;” home of the dead warriors and the Valkyries. Valhalla has 640 doors, rafters of huge shining spears, and tiles of golden shields.
Valkyrie (val-kir-ee)
“Chooser of the Slain;” warrior-woman dedicated to Freyja and Odhinn.
Vanaheim (van-ah-hame)
Land of the Vanir deities; on the same level as Asgard.
Vanir (pl) (VAHN-eer) sg: Van (vahn)
The Gods and Goddesses of organic existence in the Teutonic pantheon. Called “Wanes” in English.
Vargr
Outlaw, wolf.
Ve
Consecrated in the sense of being utterly separated from the mundane world; tabu.
Vedma Slavic
Literally “witch.” An individual who practices the old pagan arts may be called (among other things) a znakharka, a koldun, or a vedma.
Vertical Model
Nine Worlds arranged according to energy level into Asgardhr (highest), Midgardhr and the elemental worlds (Jotunheimr, Muspellheimr, Vanheimr, and Niflheimr), and Hel (lowest).
Vingolf (veul-vah)
Prophetess of seidr.
Vitki
Runic magician.
Völva
A seeress.
Vorozheia Slavic
“fortune teller,” is a koldun or koldunya who specializes in divination.
Walhall ON: Vahöll
Valhalla, “Hall of the Slain.”
Walkyrige ON: valkyrja
A valkyrie
Wan, Wans ON: Vanr, Vanir
God/esses of earth, water, and hidden wisdom.
Warg ON: vargr
Outlaw, wolf.
Well of Urd (oord)
The well in Asgard tended by the Norns.
West Germanic
The languages spoken by the Germanic folk who migrated into the area of contemporary Germany ca. 200 BCE. German, Anglo-Saxon, English, Dutch, Frisian, and Yiddish (which is derived from Middle German – not to be confused with Hebrew, which is a Semitic language), are all West Germanic languages.
Wicca
This word is Anglo-Saxon and means literally “wise;” nowadays adopted by practitioners of modern witchcraft.
Widdershins
Against the sun; counterclockwise. Used for drawing up might from the earth.
Wight
A being or entity of any kind with some living quality.
Wih- ON: vé
Holy, in the sense of being filled with such an intense might that it is set apart from everyday things.
Wod
Fury, inspiration, drunkenness.
Wod-Stirrer ON: Ódhroerir
The mead of poetry.
Wode ON: ódhr (OH-ther)
An emotive, synthesizing part of the soul which brings various aspects together in a powerful and inspired way. Related to the mood.
World OE: weoruld (WEH-or-uld)
The psycho-chronic human aspects of the manifested universe. The age of man, the cosmos.
World-Tree
See Yggdrasill
Wyrd
The process of the unseen web of synchronicity and cause and effect throughout the cosmos. Same as Weird. “That which is;” the Eldest Norn; the word Wyrd is also used for an individual’s “Fate.”
Wyrm
Serpent or dragon.
Yarilo Slavic
Young Harvest Lord who is also called Kostroma or Kupalo.
Yggdrasill (igg-drah-sill
The framework of the cosmos made up of nine major realms or worlds and the twenty four roadways and streams interconnecting them. The word means “the steed of Yggr (= Odhinn)” or “the yew-column.” The World Tree.
Ymir (Uem-ir)
“Roarer;” the proto-etin created by the first meeting of fire and ice in Ginnungagap, from whom all the jotun-kind (and most of the Gods) descend. Odhinn and his brothers/hypostases Vili (will) and Ve (holiness) slew Ymir and made the sea from his blood, the earth from his body, and the vault of the sky from his skull.
Younger Edda
See Prose Edda.
Younger Futhark
The 16 rune futhark of the Viking Age.
Znakhary Slavic
“Healers.” These are kolduny who specialize in the healing arts.
Ref: Northern Magic, Edred Thorsson
Teutonic Magic, Kveldulf Gundarsson
Teutonic Religion, Kveldulf Gundarsson
Leaves of Yggrdasil, Freya Aswynn
Northern Mysteries and Magick, Freya Aswynn
The Book of Ogham, Edred Thorsson
Slavic Sorcery, Kenneth Johnson
Falcon, Feather, and Valkyrie Sword, DJ Conway