Research Files: Seidr, Magic of Destiny

Disclaimer: I am not a myths scholar. I am simply interested in myths and how they shape human behavior and stories. The post below is a synthesis of my research about seidr and my personal thoughts and should not be taken as verified fact, though I have done my best to ensure its accuracy. My sources are included at the end of the post.

What is seidr?

Seidr is a form of magic practiced in pre-Christian Norse mythology.

Because seidr-workers are often depicted carrying a distaff, a tool used to hold material for spinning, some researchers conclude the practitioner entered a trance-like state in order to commune with spirits and alter destiny through weaving new threads.

Seidr-workers enacted rituals for many different reasons, including changing the weather; altering someone’s health; seeing things that were hidden, either physically or within a person’s consciousness; foretelling the future; affecting the external environment; and calling animals.

This magic was used for both positive and negative means, though sometimes people referred to it as a type of dark magic in relation to men because of its connection to culturally female work.

Origins of seidr

The word itself seems to originate from Proto-Indo-European roots that mean string, rope, or to bind. It’s possible this type of magic is named seidr because of its association with weaving .

Lore suggests that Freya (sometimes called Frigg, among other names), who hailed from Vanir, brought seidr magic to the gods in Aesir, although she was not the only god or goddess to do so.

Myth also says Freya’s counterpart Odin practiced seidr. Instead of natural ability, Odin went to extreme measures to learn the craft. He hung himself upside down from Yggdrasil, the World Tree, for nine days as a sacrifice to himself, (if a god sacrificing himself to himself isn’t meta, I don’t know what is) in order to learn the magic of changing destiny.

Who practiced seidr

Higher Beings

The Norns, the three sisters who authored destiny and took care of Yggdrasil. They are akin to the Moirai, or Fates, of Ancient Greece and the Parcae of Ancient Rome.

As mentioned before, Freya and Odin both participated in seidr rituals.

Humans

Evidence in Norse epic poems suggests seidr-workers were most often female, however, some males practiced also. Since the Norse culture celebrated extreme masculinity and weaving (women’s work) related closely to seidr, society shamed men who practiced seidr magic. Even the god Odin, arguably one of the most powerful gods in the Norse tradition, suffered ridicule for his power.

Völva

Semi-professional and professional seidr practitioners were called völva. They traveled from town to town performing rituals or telling futures in exchange for food, shelter, and other necessities.

Whether exalted as powerful beings or cast as people to be feared, völva existed on the fringe of society.

How to Use Seidr as Inspiration

Seidr in the Sezna Seer Series

I used seidr as a direct inspiration for the magic system in my Sezna Seer universe, though the powers of the Seers are determined by which of the four Suditzas (my version of the Norns) blessed them with a Gift. The Urtharians See and study the past in great detail. The Katamians change the environment around them and See events happening across the world in real-time. Dunamarians have the Gift of deliberation. They sense what kinds of outcomes may result from a particular choice. And Ceserites are the expert tellers of fortune. They read the future and discern what events will absolutely occur. Sezna Seers, blessed with aspects of all four Suditzas, cannot only See all threads of time, they can Alter them, too.

Questions and Things to Consider

Is magic gendered in your world? Why, and what are the consequences of it?
Is there a stereotypical practitioner?
Are practitioners exalted or shamed?
Did magic come from a higher being? Who gets to wield it?
Are there different abilities or divisions in magic? What are the consequences of that?
What are the rituals associated with your world’s magic?
Are there any physical objects that are important?
Can a person pay or trade to learn magic, or is it a blood-only gift?

Do you have any other resources about seidr? What about other interesting ancient forms of magic? Leave a comment and let me know where I can learn about it.