Transcription
THE EDDAS:THE KEYS TO THEMYSTERIES OF THE NORTHByJAMES ALLEN CHISHOLM
List of ymskvithaVafthruthnismalVoluspa Hin SkammaVoluspaiii
Table of ContentsList of AbbreviationsTable of ContentsIntroductioniiivviiVolume I: The Elder EddaThe Spae of the VolvaThe Words of HarLay of VafthruthnirLay of GrimnirLay of SkirnirLay of HarbarthLay of HymirThe Flyting of LokiLay of ThrymLay of AlvisThe Dreams of BaldrLay of RigThe Shorter Spae of the VolvaLay of HyndlaLay of SvipdagThe Galder of GroaLay of Fjolsvith131641516371818799105111115123127Volume II: Keys to Practical ApplicationChapter 1: Runic Keys to Eddic MythChapter 2: Working with Holy Wights, Natural forces, and their Holy NamesChapter 3: Spring Drama and Eddic MythChapter 4: Magical Initiation and Faring Forth into EttinhomeAppendix A: Thinking About the Hail RuneAppendix B: Pronunciation of Old strations199201205133135v
IntroductionThis is a practical manual of self-transformation. It takes the form of a working edition of the mythologicalpoems of the ancient Norse Poetic Edda for modern “pagans” who practice the magic and religion of the North.The poems of the Poetic Edda form the most complete and authentic body of surviving pre-Christian Germanicreligious and magical lore. The mythological poems of the Elder Edda hold the keys to the understanding andpractice of the pre-Christian religion of the Germanic peoples. This book enables the reader to fathom themysteries of the Eddic poems so that the elder Troth of the Gods of Europe may again be rightly hailed in holygroves, and the hidden wisdom of the rune-masters rediscovered. This book is especially practical for those whowish follow the authentic pre-Christian religion and magic of the English and other Teutonic folk.A new translation of the mythological poems of the Edda is the main component of this work. The religiouscontent is revealed with accuracy and clarity. Earlier renditions have been artful paraphrases by scholars whovalued the poems as literary monuments, but disregarded the religious and mythic content as the nonsensical butamusing folklore of a more primitive world. None of them ever imagined that their audiences would includepractitioners of the Eddic religion. The inaccuracies of such translations have led many modern pagans astray.This is the truest translation for purposes of understanding the religious content of the Poetic Edda.The original Old Norse text is included in its entirety on the facing pages of the English version so that the readercan easily compare the two. Notes to each poem, a glossary of religious terminology, in depth discussions, andillustrations are included to illuminate and help in the exploration of the deeper levels of the religious andmagical content. These also to provide the keys by which this understanding may be applied in ritual blessingsto the Gods and in magical workings.The poems of the Poetic Edda were probably compiled by Saemundr Sigfusson in the 12th century in Iceland.None of the poems can be dated with any certainty, but it is clear that many of the heroic poems go back to thelore of the 6th and 7th centuries. It is generally believed that none of the poems were actually composed in theirpresent form before the 9th century.For the rune-magicians, poetry was a powerful form of magic. The Eddas hold the wisdom of the Erulian RuneMagicians, and many of these poems may be fathomed to incredible depths and heights, by those who know howto ask. This book is about asking. These poems provide sufficient material for an accurate reconstruction andrevivification of the Odian religious and magical philosophies. These poems hold spells, invocations, and lorefrom which rituals, sacred dramas, and initiatory rites can be reconstructed or authentically created, as well asthe keys to understanding the soul and the nine worlds of Yggdrasil - the world tree of the ancient North. Manyof the keys are provided also for unlocking the secrets of mysteries of the cults of Thor, Tyr and the Vanir, thoughmuch of this lore is filtered through an Odian lens.The Eddic poems are spells, in which the mysteries of the old lore are encoded by word, rhythm, alliteration,idea, and rune. The words of a given stanza are not juxtaposed merely because the resulting rhythms and wordplays are pleasing, but because of there are deep magical resonances among such words. The impact of thesemagical stanzas perhaps may not be registered consciously, but the magic of Eddic lines reaches far below theshallow waters of mundane conscious understanding into the depths of the collective unconscious, into therealms where our souls mingle with the realms of the Gods. The power of the Eddic verses can be used forinvocations and magical operations. It is the task of the modern elders (priests) and vitkis (magicians) to gain aconscious knowledge of the meanings and powers of these combinations of word, meter and rune. The stanzasof the Eddic poems hold the secrets of our Gods. It is the task of this book to provide the modern seeker with thekeys to understanding deeper levels of meaning and to encode these into modern English for fashioning invocations to the Gods and for shaping powerful poetic staves in magic.vii
When you are unraveling the mysteries of the Eddic poems, keep in mind that there are three basic levels ofmeaning associated with these myths. The first level is that of the narrative itself. From this we find out what ourGods are like and what they stand for. Fundamental truths of the northern social order are reflected in the deedsof the Gods and heroes. The myths tell of basic virtues, of right and honorable conduct, of heroism, and ofcriminal and dishonorable conduct.The second level of meaning may be termed the natural. This is the level at which the myths may be connectedto seasonal festivals. This is the level important to understanding the Vanic mysteries explored in chapter 3.The third level of meaning is the initiatory. Here the myths are considered in their connection to rituals ofinitiation, especially magical initiation. It is at this level that you can explore the mysteries that lay behind theapparent meanings. Here you may seek the magical applications of a poem. Keys to this level of understandingare provided in chapters - and in the notes to each poem. It is the third level with which this book is mostconcerned, for the Eddas were composed by initiates into runic mysteries. Deeper linguistic and meta-linguisticlevels of meaning may be fathomed by those who work closely with the Old Norse text.The main component of this book is a facing page translation. The translation was rendered as clearly and asaccurately as possible. For the sake of accuracy, it is sometimes necessary to use Old Norse words, or their OldEnglish equivalents in order to translate words that convey religious ideas are no longer found in English. Thesewords are defined in the glossary and some are discussed in detail in the notes or chapters. I trust that the lostconcepts may be reintroduced into our culture with the reintroduction of these words. Notes are provided to eachchapter to allow brief elaboration of important words and ideas and explanations or translations of obscurenames.The four chapters following the notes provide keys to understanding the lore and applying it in ritual and magic.Chapter 1 tells how to transliterate the rune poems into the Viking Age runes for purposes of fathoming the runiccontent of the poems and the meta-linguistic content of the poems. This virtually enables the reader to discovera “Teutonic Kabbalah”. It tells how to create galder or magical runic songs based on Eddic stanzas, and also howcreate runic sigils based on these poems for gand-magic.Chapter 2 explains the uses of holy names in invocations and magic. Specifically, it tells how to use the holynames of the magical streams of numinous power associated with the natural elements and forces of the nineworlds. In Midgard -the manifest universe- this is the stuff of which weather magic is made. It also tells how tounderstand these holy names as keys to the magical languages used by the wights of the nine worlds and to usethis language in ritual blessings to ettins, dwarves, and elves. The chapter contains a list of other sources for listsof names and deeds, of these wights as well as the rituals for blessings and magical operations in which thesewights are summoned.Chapter 3 tells how to recognize Spring Drama motifs in Eddic myths and how to adapt these myths to SpringDramas and festivals. Chapter 3 contains a spring drama based on the Lay of Svipdag that was performed at theblessing to Ostara in 1989 CE. This chapter also provides other keys to the natural interpretation of Eddic myths.Chapter 4 discusses magical initiation in the Eddas and “faring forth” into the outer worlds for such “shamanic”operations. This chapter discusses kinds of magic that may be performed in some of the outer worlds, andgeography of the outer homes.This book provides the fundamental tools by which the seeker may get a grip on the northern lore and by whichRune-Gild siblings may decode the Eddic poems. These poems may be taken as a model of the divine order andused magically for self-transformation. By reading and internalizing these poems, the self goes from ignoranceof harmony with the divine order as the forms represented in the myths are realized in one’s life. Reading andcontemplating these poems are magical acts in themselves.viii
Volume IThe Eddas
VöluspáThe Spae of the Volva1.Hljóðs bið ek allarmeiri ok minniViltu at ek, Valföðr,forn spjöll fira,helgar kindir,mögu Heimdallar.vel fyr teljaþau er fremst um man.1.I bid a hearing from all holy wights,the greater and lesser of Heimdall’s children.It is your wish, Valfather, that I speakthe old spells of the world, the earliest I can recall.2.Ek man jötnaþá er forðum mikNíu man ek heima,mjötvið mæranár um borna,fædda höfðu.níu íviðjur,fyr mold neðan.2.I recall the children of Ettins,who, in the days of yore, brought me to life.I recall the nine worlds, the nine steads,of the Glorious Meting Wood, beneath the ground.3.Ár var alda,vara sandr né særjörð fannsk ævagap var ginnungaþat er ekki var,né svalar unnir;né upphiminn,en gras hvergi.3.It was in the earliest times that Ymir dwelled.Neither sand nor sea, nor cold waves, nor earthwere to be found. There was neither heaven above,nor grass anywhere, there was nothing but Ginnungagap.4.Áðr Burs synirþeir er Miðgarðsól skein sunnanþá var grund gróinbjöðum um ypptu,mæran skópu;á salar steina,grænum lauki.4.Soon Bur’s sons heaved up the earth.They shaped Midgard, the earth. The sunshone from the south on the stones of the stead,and green leeks grew from the ground.5.Sól varp sunnan,hendi inni hægrisól þat né vissimáni þat né vissistjörnur þat né vissusinni mána,um himinjöður;hvar hon sali átti,hvat hann megins áttihvar þær staði áttu.5.From the south the sun, companion of the moon,threw her right hand across the edge of the worldThe sun did not know what hall it had.The stars did not know what stead they had.The moon did not know what main it had.6.Þá gengu regin öllginnheilög goð,nótt ok niðjummorgin hétuundorn ok aftan,á rökstóla,ok um þat gættusk;nöfn um gáfu,ok miðjan dag,árum at telja.6.All the Regin went to the doom chair,the Ginn Holy Gods mooted over this.They gave names to night and the new moons,they named midday, mid afternoon,and early evening, to reckon the years.7.Hittusk æsirþeir er hörg ok hofafla lögðu,tangir skópuá Iðavelli,hátimbruðu;auð smíðuðu,ok tól gerðu.7.The Aesir met on Ida Vale.High they timbered hof and harrow,they founded forges and smithied,they shaped tongs and wrought tools.8.Tefldu í túni,var þeim vettergisuns þrjár kvámuámáttkar mjökteitir váru,vant ór gulli,þursa meyjarór Jötunheimum.8.They played tables in the garth and were blissful.None of them lacked gold, until three maidenscame from the Thurses. Their might was awesome,they came from Ettinhome.3
9.Þá gengu regin öllginnheilög goð,hver skyldi dvergaór Brimis blóðiá rökstóla,ok um þat gættusk,dróttir skepjaok ór Bláins leggjum.9.Then all the Regin went to the doom chair.They held moot to say who should shapethe Drighten of the dwarvesfrom Brim’s blood, from Blain’s bones.10.Þar var Móðsognirdverga allra,þeir mannlíkundvergar í jörðu,mæztr um orðinnen Durinn annarr;mörg um gerðusem Durinn sagði.10.There was Motsognir, the greatest in speechof all the dwarves. But Durinn was second.These dwarves made many man-like-bodiesout of the earth as Durinn had asked.11.Nýi, Niði,Austri, Vestri,Nár ok NáinnBívurr, Bávurr,Ánn ok Ánarr,Norðri, Suðri,Alþjófr, Dvalinn,Nípingr, DáinnBömburr, Nóri,Óinn, Mjöðvitnir.11.Nyr and Nithi, North and South,East and West, Allthief, Entranced,Nar and Nain, Nithing, DainBifor, Bofor, Bombur, Nari,An, and Anarr, Oinn and Meadvolf.12.Veggr ok Gandálfr,Þrár ok Þráinn,Nýr ok Nýráðr,Reginn ok Ráðsviðr,Vindálfr, Þorinn,Þekkr, Litr ok Vitr,nú hefi ek dverga,rétt um talda.12.Veig and Gand-Elf, Windelf, Thorinn,Thror and Thrainn, Thekk, Lit and Vit,Nar and Nyrath, Reginn and Rathsvith.Now are the dwarves rightly listed.13.Fíli, Kíli,Hefti, Víli,Billingr, Brúni,Frár, Hornbori,Aurvangr, Jari,Fundinn, Náli,Hannar, Svíurr,Bíldr ok Buri,Frægr ok Lóni,Eikinskjaldi.13.Fili, Kili, Fundinn, Nali,Hepti, Vili, Hanarr, Sviurr,Billing, Bruni, Bild and BuriFrar, Hornbori, Fraeg and Loni,Aurvang, Jari, and Oakenshield.14.Mál er dvergaljóna kindumþeir er sóttu fráAurvanga sjötí Dvalins liðitil Lofars telja,salar steinitil Jöruvalla.14.I speak of the dwarves in Dvalinn’s hostto tell of their kind down to Lofar,of those who sought the abode of Aurvangat Jorovallar from the stone of the hall.15.Þar var DraupnirHár, Haugspori ,Dóri, ÓriSkirvir, Virfir,ok Dolgþrasir,Hlévangr, Glói,Dúfr, AndvariSkáfiðr, Ái.15.Draupnir was there, and also Dolgthrasir,Har, Haugsthori, Hievang, Gloi,Dori, Ori, Duf, AndvariScirvir, Virvir, Skafith, and Ai.Eikinskjaldi,Finnr ok Ginnarr;meðan öld lifir,Lofars hafat.16.Alf and Yngvi and Eikenskjaldi,Fjalarr and Frosti, Finn and Ginhar.The long line of down to Lofarwill be known while men live.16.Álfr ok Yngvi,Fjalarr ok Frosti,þat mun æ uppilangniðja tal4
17.Unz þrír kvámuöflgir ok ástkirfundu á landiAsk ok Embluór því liðiæsir at húsi,lítt megandiörlöglausa.17.From the host came three,mighty and powerful Aesir, to coast.There they found an ash and an elmof little might, and lacking orlog.18.Önd þau né áttu,lá né lætiönd gaf Óðinn,lá gaf Lóðurróð þau né höfðu,né litu góða;óð gaf Hænir,ok litu góða.18.They had neither breath nor wit nor life huenor manner nor good looks. Odin gave themthe breath of life, Hoenir gave them wod,Lothur gave them life and good looks.19.Ask veit ek standa,hár batmr, ausinnþaðan koma döggvarstendur æ yfir grænnheitir Yggdrasill,hvíta auri;þærs í dala falla,Urðarbrunni.19.I know an ash that stands, called Yggdrasil,a tall tree, wet with white dews,dews dripping down into the dales.Ever green it stands over Urth’s well.20.Þaðan koma meyjarþrjár ór þeim sæ,Urð hétu eina,- skáru á skíði,Þær lög lögðu,alda börnum,margs vitandier und þolli stendr;aðra Verðandi,Skuld ina þriðju.þær líf kuruörlög seggja.20.From there come three maidens, deep in lore,from the water that stands under the tree.One is called Urth, the other Verthandi,the third Skuld. Scores they carved,laws they laid, lives they chose.They worked Orlog for the sons of men.21.Þat man hon fólkvíger Gullveiguok í höll Hársþrisvar brenndu,oft, ósjaldan;fyrst í heimi,geirum studduhana brenndu,þrisvar borna,þó hon enn lifir.21.I recall the first battle in the world.There they stabbed Gullveig with spears,and burned her in Har’s hall.Thrice she was burned, thrice she was born.It happened often, and yet she lives.22.Heiði hana hétuhvars til húsa kom,völu velspáa,vitti hon ganda;seið hon, hvars hon kunni,seið hon hug leikinn,æ var hon anganillrar brúðar.22.She is called Heith, who comes to houses, the farseeing spae woman. The wise volva knew gandmagic, she understood seith. She played with mindsby her seith. She was always dear to evil women.23.Þá gengu regin öllginnheilög goð,hvárt skyldu æsireða skyldu goðin öllá rökstóla,ok um þat gættuskafráð gjaldagildi eiga.23.Then all the Regin went to the doom chair.The Ginn Holy Gods held mootas to whether the Aesir should pay tributeor whether all the gods should have a wassail.24.Fleygði Óðinnþat var enn folkvígbrotinn var borðveggrknáttu vanir vígspáok í folk um skaut,fyrst í heimi;borgar ása,völlu sporna.24.Odin sped a shot into the host.That was the first battle in the world.The board wall was broken, the fortificationof the Ases. The fighting Vanes trod the battlefield5
25.Þá gengu regin öllginnheilög goð,hverjir hefði loft allteða ætt jötunsá rökstóla,ok um þat gættusklævi blanditÓðs mey gefna.25.Then all the Regin went to the doom chair.The Ginn Holy Gods held mootover he who blended the sky with poisonand gave Oth’s woman to the tribe of Ettins.26.Þórr einn þar vá- hann sjaldan sitr Á gengusk eiðar,mál öll meginligþrunginn móði,er hann slíkt um frekn.orð ok særi,er á meðal fóru.26.Thor was then swollen with rage against the foe.He seldom sits when he hears of such.Oaths were broken, then word and oath,powerful pacts made between them.27.Veit hon Heimdallarund heiðvönumá sér hon ausaskaf veði Valföðrs .hljóð um folgithelgum baðmi;aurgum fossiVituð ér enn - eða hvat?27.She knows where Heimdall’s hearing is hiddenunder the holy sky scraping tree. Over it flowthe watery falls from Valfather’s pledge.Do you want to know more, or what?28.Ein sat hon útiyggjungr ásaHvers fregnið mik?Allt veit ek, Óðinn,í inum mæraDrekkr mjöð Mímiraf veði Valföðrs .þá er inn aldni komok í augu leit:Hví freistið mín?hvar þú auga falt,Mímisbrunni.morgun hverjanVituð ér enn - eða hvat?28.She sat out, all alone, there, where the old one came,the awesome Ase looked in her eye.“What do you ask of me? Why test me?I know well, Odin, where your eye is hidden—in the water of Mimir’s well. Mimir drinks meadeach morning from Valfather’s pledge.Do you want to know more, or what?”29.Valði henni Herföðrfekk spjöll spakligsá hon vítt ok um vítthringa ok men,ok spá ganda,of veröld hverja.29.Herrfather dealt her rings and a necklaceto have her spells of spae and spae magic.She sees widely over each of the worlds.30.Sá hon valkyrjurgörvar at ríðaSkuld helt skildi,Gunnr, Hildr, GöndulNú eru talðargörvar at ríðavítt um komnar,til Goðþjóðar;en Skögul önnur,ok Geirskögul.nönnur Herjans,grund valkyrjur.30.She sees valkyries coming from afar,ready to ride to the Gothic host.Skuld held a shield, and Skogul another.There were also Gunnr, Hild, Gondol andGeirskogul. Now Herjan’s maidens are listed,valkyries ready to ride over the earth.31.Ek sá Baldri,Óðins barni,stóð um vaxinnmjór ok mjög fagrblóðgum tívur,örlög fólgin;völlum hærimistilteinn.31.I saw Baldr, the bloodied God,son of Odin, his orlog hidden.It stood and grew, high among the trees,slender and fair, the mistletoe teinn.32.Varð af þeim meiði,harmflaug hættlig,Baldrs bróðir varsá nam Óðins sonrer mær sýndisk,Höðr nam skjóta.of borinn snemma,einnættr vega.32.What seemed glorious when on the boughsturned to a deadly dart when Hoth made his cast.Baldr’s brother was soon born.When only one year old, Odin’s son got vengeance6
33.Þó hann æva hendráðr á bál um baren Frigg um grétvá Valhallar.né höfuð kembði,Baldrs andskota;í FensölumVituð ér enn - eða hvat?33.He never washed his hands nor combed his hair,until he had born Baldr’s foe to the pyre.Frigg wept in Fensalir for Valhalla’s woe.Would you know more, or what?34.Þá kná Váliheldur váru harðgervígbönd snúa,höft ór þörmum.34.Then Vali wound war fetters.They were real strong bonds made of guts.35.Haft sá hon liggjalægjarns líkiÞar sitr Sigynver vel glýjuð.undir Hveralundi,Loka áþekkjan.þeygi um sínumVituð ér enn - eða hvat?35.She saw one lying in bonds, in the grove of kettles.It was the hated form of guileful Loki.Sigyn sits there, sad by her husband.Do you want to know more, or what?36.Á fellur austansöxum ok sverðum,um eitrdalaSlíðr heitir sú.36.A stream of saxes and swords flows from the eastthrough Poison-Dales. It is called Slith.37.Stóð fyr norðansalr ór gullien annarr stóðbjórsalr jötuns,á NiðavöllumSindra ættar;á Ókólnien sá Brimir heitir.37.A golden hall stood in the Northon the vales of Nitha, it was the dwellingof the tribe of Sindra. Another stood on Okaini,it was the beer hall of the Ettin Brim.38.Sal sá hon standaNáströndu á,Falla eitrdropar innsá er undinn salrsólu fjarrinorðr horfa dyrr.um ljóra,orma hryggjum.38.She saw a hall stand, quite far from the sun,on Nastrond. The doors face north,drops of venom fall in through the smoke hole.The hall is wound with the spines of snakes.39.Sá hon þar vaðamenn meinsvaraok þann er annarsÞar saug Niðhöggrsleit vargr vera.þunga straumaok morðvargaglepr eyrarúnu.nái framgengna,Vituð ér enn - eða hvat?39.She saw there oath breakers and murderers,wading the swift stream. There were also those whodeceived the female advisers of others. Nithoggsucks dead bodies there, and the warg rips men apart.Do you want to know more, or what?40.Austr sat in aldnaok fæddi þarVerðr af þeim öllumtungls tjúgarií JárnviðiFenris kindir.einna nokkurrí trölls hami.40.The old one sat in the Iron-woods in the eastand raised the brood of Fenrir.The worst one of them all,shall take the sun in the shape of a troll.41.Fyllisk fjörvirýðr ragna sjötSvört verða sólskinveðr öll válynd.feigra manna,rauðum dreyra.um sumur eftir,Vituð ér enn - eða hvat?41.He fills himself on the flesh of dead men, reddens theseat of the gods with gore. The sun turned swarthy inthe following summers. The weather grew entirelyshifty. Do you want to know more, or what?7
42.Sat þar á haugigýgjar hirðir,gól um honumfagrrauður hani,ok sló hörpuglaðr Eggþér;í galgviðisá er Fjalar heitir.42.He sat on a howe hill strumming a harp.He was the herdsman of a giantess, he wasthe glad Eggther. The fair red cock called Fjalarsang to him from the gallows tree.43.Gól um ásumsá vekr hölðaen annarr gelrsótrauðr haniGullinkambi,at Herjaföðrs;fyr jörð neðanat sölum Heljar.43.Gullinkambi sang for the Ases.He wakes the heroes of Warfather.But another sings beneath the earth,a soot red cock in the halls of Hel.44.Geyr nú Garmr mjökfestr mun slitnaFjölð veit ek fræða,um ragna rökfyr Gnipahelli,en freki renna.fram sé ek lengrarömm sigtíva.44.Garm bays loudly before Gnipa-Cave.The bonds are sheared and he runs hungry.I know much lore, yet see even more,of Ragnarok and the powerful victory Tivar.45.Bræðr munu berjaskmunu systrungarhart er í heimi,skeggöld, skálmöld,vindöld, vargöld,mun engi matrok at bönum verðask,sifjum spilla;hórdómr mikill,skildir ro klofnir,áðr veröld steypisk,öðrum þyrma.45.Brothers shall battle one another and fight to thedeath. Sister’s sons bring ruin on their sib.There is hardness on the world and great whoredomAn axe age, a sword age, shields are cloven.A wind age, a warg age, before the world falls,no man will spare the other.46.Leika Míms synir,at inu gallaHátt blæss Heimdallr,mælir Óðinnen mjötuðr kyndiskGjallarhorni.horn er á lofti,við Míms höfuð.46.Mim’s sons play. The Meter will be set alight.Heimdall blows loudly on old Gjallarhornwith the horn aloft.Odin speaks with Mim’s head.47.Skelfr Yggdrasilsymr it aldna tré,Hræðask alliráðr Surtar þannaskr standandi,en jötunn losnar.á helvegumsefi of gleypir.47.Yggdrasil, the standing ash, is shaking.The old tree howls, the Ettin is loose.All who walk the Hel-roads are terrified,right before the kin of Surt swallow it.48.Hvat er með ásum?Gnýr allur Jötunheimr,stynja dvergarveggbergs vísir.Hvat er með álfum?æsir ro á þingi,fyr steindurum,Vituð ér enn - eða hvat?49.Geyr nú Garmr mjökfestr mun slitnafjölð veit ek fræða,um ragna rökfyr Gnipahelli,en freki renna,fram sé ek lengrarömm sigtíva.48.How fare the Ases, how fare the elves? All ofEttinhome is in an uproar. The Aesir met in things.The dwarves groaned before stone gates,masters of the mountain walls.So do you want to know more, or what?49.Garm bays loudly before Gnipa-cave.The bonds are sheared and he runs hungry.She knows much lore, but I see moreof Ragnarok and the powerful victory Tivar.8
50.Hrymr ekr austan,snýsk JörmungandrOrmr knýr unnir,slítr nái Niðfölr,hefisk lind fyrir,í jötunmóði.en ari hlakkar,Naglfar losnar.50.Hrym fares from the east, bearing a linden board.The worm Jormungand is engulfed by an ettin rageand churns the waves. The eagle screamsand its pale beak is cutting corpses. Naglfar is loose.51.Kjóll ferr austan,um lög lýðir,Fara fíflmegirþeim er bróðirkoma munu Múspellsen Loki stýrir.með freka allir,Býleists í för.51.The ship fares from the East.The folk of Muspell come over the sea,with Loki steering. Kinsmen of foolsfare with Freki, Beylast’s brother52.Surtr ferr sunnanskín af sverðigrjótbjörg gnata,troða halir helvegmeð sviga lævi,sól valtíva,en gífr rata,en himinn klofnar.52.Surt fares from the south with the bane of branches.The sun of the slaughter Tivar shines from his sword.Crags shake, and fiends reel.Heroes walk the Hel-road. Heaven is cloven.53.Þá kemr Hlínarer Óðinn ferren bani Beljaþá mun Friggjarharmr annarr fram,við úlf veka,bjartr at Surti;falla angan.53.Another sort of grief comes to Hlinwhen Odin fares to fight the wolfand the illustrious Bane of Beli to battle with Surt.Frigg’s lover will then fall.54.Þá kemr inn miklimögr Sigföður,Víðarr, vegaat valdýri.Lætr hann megi Hveðrungsmundum standahjör til hjarta,þá er hefnt föður.54.Then comes the mighty son of Victory-father,Vithar, to vie with the deadly beast.He struck the heart of Hvethrung’s sonand so his father was avenged.55.Ginn lopt yfirgapa ýgs kjaptarmun Óðins sonrvargs at dauðalindi jarðar,orms í hæðom;ormi mæeta,Viðard niðia.55.The fierce jaws of the earth encircling wormgaped from the hills at the holy sky.Then Odin s son meets the worm,Vithar’s kinsman slays the warg.56.Þá kemr inn mærigengr Óðins sonrdrepr af móðimunu halir allirgengr fet níuneppur frá naðrimögr Hlóðynjar,við orm vega,Miðgarðs véurr,heimstöð ryðja;Fjörgynjar burrníðs ókvíðnum.56.Then came the mighty son of Hloth (the earth).Odin’s son strode to fight against the wolf.In rage Midgard’s ward dropped him.All heroes shall leave the homestead.Fjorgyn’s son strode nine stepsback from the serpent, not worried about fame.sígr fold í mar,heiðar stjörnur.ok aldrnara,við himin sjálfan.57.The sun turned dark, and the land sank into the seaThe bright stars fell from heaven.Steam and fire ferment.Flames leap high to heaven itself.57.Sól tér sortna,hverfa af himniGeisar eimileikr hár hiti9
58.Geyr nú Garmr mjökfestr mun slitnafjölð veit ek fræðaum ragna rökfyr Gnipahelli,en freki renna,fram sé ek lengrarömm sigtíva58.Garm bays loudly before Gnipa-cave.The bonds are sheared and he runs hungry.She knows much lore, but I see moreabout Ragnarok and the Powerful Victory Tivar.59.Sér hon upp komajörð ór ægiFalla fossar,sá er á fjalliöðru sinniiðjagræna.flýgr örn yfir,fiska veiðir.59.She sees another rise up, earth from the ocean,all agreen. Torrents flowand the eagle flies abovescanning the fells and hunting fish.60.Finnask æsirok um moldþinurok minnask þarok á Fimbultýsá Iðavellimáttkan dæmaá megindómafornar rúnir.60.The Aesir meet in Ida-Valeand talk of the mighty Midgard worm,recalling the mighty doomand Fimbulty’s ancient runes.61.Þar munu eftirgullnar töflurþærs í árdagaundursamligarí grasi finnask,áttar höfðu.61.They will again find the wondrousgold chess pieces in the grass,those they had owned in the days of yore.62.Munu ósánirböls mun alls batna,búa þeir Höðr ok Baldrvé valtívar.akrar vaxa,Baldr mun koma,Hrofts sigtóftirVituð ér enn - eða hvat?62.The unsown acres will then grow. Evil will turnbetter, Baldr will return. Both Baldr and Hothshall live in Hropt’s victory hall, the work of the gods.Do you want to know more, or what?63.Þá kná Hænirok burir byggjavindheim víðan.hlautvið kjósabræðra tveggjaVituð ér enn - eða hvat?63.Hoenir will then handle the lot wood, his brother’stwo sons will live there in the wide wind home.Do you want to know more, or what?64.Sal sér hon standagulli þakðanÞar skulu dyggvarok um aldrdagasólu fekra,á Gimléi.dróttir byggjaynðis njóta.64.She sees a hall, standing fairer than the sun,thatched with gold in Gimle.There the worthy drightensshall dwell, forever in happiness.65.Þá kemr inn ríkiöflugr ofan,at regindómisá er öllu ræðr.65.Then comes the strong one, to the doom of the gods,the awesome one from above who rules all.dreki fljúgandi,frá Niðafjöllum;- flýgur völl yfir, Nú mun hon sökkvask.66.The dark drake comes flying,the flashing viper from under Nitha-FellsShe sees Nithogg carrying corpses in his feathersas he flies over the valley. Now she shall sink down.66.Þar kemr inn dimminaðr fránn, neðanberr sér í fjöðrum,Niðhöggr nái.10
The Spae of the Volva: NotesVolvas were seeresses who travelled about the countryside performing acts of wizardry for the locals. Theword volva means “one who carries a rod (volr)”. A volr was a cylindrical rod of about a foot and a half inlength that was rounded or pointed at one end, perhaps in phallic shape. The root vol is found in the word volsiwhich refers to a phallic image made from the phallus of a horse.Wise women such as the volva held a high and honored place in Teutonic society from the beginning ofrecorded Germanic history. They practiced various divinatory, healing and cursing arts known as spae, seith,galder and gand.Spae wives would travel the country side and attend sacrificial feasts after which they would ascend woodenplatforms to perform magical, especially divinatory, rites. They chanted and went into trances in which theycould see more
a “Teutonic Kabbalah”. It tells how to create galder or magical runic songs based on Eddic stanzas, and also how create runic sigils based on these poems for gand-magic. Chapter 2 explains the uses of holy names in invocations and m
