#seiðr

[bowldrips]

*youth pastor voice* "The Goddess Freyja teaches us that Seiðr can give you some WAP.

Wyrd Áss Prophecies–"

[broomsick]

I want to learn seidr but idk where to start or what resources are even valid and not tainted by bigotry or transphobia. A lot of posts are very vague, too. So I have no idea what they actually mean. Any thoughts?

Hello! Thank you so much for the ask.

Seiðr is quite the mysterious practice, which is why you must have found difficult to find trustworthy sources, or even one that could clearly define its nature. We currently know very, very little about it. What we do know for sure is that it was a form of pre-Christian magical practice, the uses of which stretched from divination to healing, luck-bringing, controlling weather and making game plentiful (archaeologist Neil Price). It was neither a force of "good" nor one of "evil", as it could also be used to fulfill malicious purposes, such as to cause conflicts or cast curses.

Unlike galdr, which was often practiced by men, seiðr was seen as a rather "feminine" practice. But as always, there have been exceptions to this: after all, mythology has it Óðinn himself, in his eternal search for knowledge, had learned to master seiðr! Though it was considered dishonorable for men to practice it back in Iron Age Scandinavia, it was common enough for a word to describe such men to emerge: seiðmenn. For this reason, neither galdr not seiðr are (or ever have been) confined to specific genders. This, I felt compelled to specify, especially since you've mentionned having stumbled upon many transphobic posts in your research. Galdr and seiðr do not belong to any given gender.

Another difference we could find in modern practice as opposed to historical practice is the means to reach the seiðrkona's staple trance. Archeological finds have informed us that the practice often would have involved trance-inducing intoxicants, which would have enabled the practionner to receive visions and use divination. It's possible for us to recreate such conditions in vastly different ways, namely, using music, chants, repetitive motions and the like.

Now, what's interesting to note is that the Goddess Freyja was also said to be a master of the art. Since she is often thought to be the archetype of a völva, magic practitionners who famously carried a long staff which was crucial to their craft. The term völur actually means "staff carrier", or "wand carrier". This means that to anybody seeking to re-construct this practice, the use of some sort of staff would be near essential.

Though the accounts describing völur and their work are sparse, it's still possible for us to make out a few recurring informations: they were wanderers (and were generally viewed as standing apart from society), which makes them likely to have had some sort of connection with the God Óðinn, and they went from village to village to offer their help and insights. When welcomed into a household, it's very likely they would have been offered to sit at the head of the table, replacing whoever was the head of house in their seat. This means that their presence was considered of the highest respectability. If you're interested in learning more about völur, I suggest checking out the Saga of Erik the Red, which contains the most detailed account of a völva known today.

Another interesting detail to be noted about seiðr is that weaving, whether it was physical or metaphysical, was a central part of the practice. After all, the Norns, who weave the Wyrd, are said to be the greatest of Seiðkonur. Another mythical element to support this theory is that Freyja as a deity seems to share lots of common points with Frigg. In fact, it's very likely the two were worshipped as one deity at some point in time, and depending on the areas. While Freyja is said to be a magician, capable of surviving a pyre thrice, famously, Frigg is more a clairvoyant master of divination, able to foresee the future. And both these different types of witchcraft could very well be considered seiðr practices! Now, Frigg is often depicted weaving using a spindle. That's because her myth has it she is the one who weaves the clouds, and is therefore a talented artist in this domain, which furthers the connection between magic (or at the very least, divination) and the textile arts. It's also interesting to note that the Nornir and Frigg have one major element in common: their ties with fate. While the Nornir weave fate, Frigg knows everything that's to come in the future, though she never speaks a word of it. This particular element of their respective stories greatly emphasizes the imortance of divination and foresight within seiðr practices.

Though I do work with witchcraft, I don't consider myself a practionner of this art per say. That's because oftentimes, the nordic magic I use takes the form of rune-carving, a practice inherent to taufr instead of seiðr. What little information we have on seiðr is unfortunately not enough to determine exactly how it was practiced, apart from the fiew hints here and there. I'm sorry that I can't be of much more help concerning this topic, but I'll link below a few online articles to check out if you're interested in some further reading.

Seidr

Seiðstaffs of the Völur

Encounters with Völur

Seiðr & Shamans: Defining the Myth of Ritual Specialists in pre-Christian Scandinavia (online)

Manning the High Seat: Seiðr as Self-Making in Contemporary Norse Neopaganisms

Interpreting Old Norse Magic: A Thematic Analysis of Seiðr, According to Runic Inscriptions

The double world: seidr and the problem of Old Norse 'magic'

I will also suggest the book The Norse Sorceress Mind and Materiality in the Viking World and this video, which dive a lot deeper into the topic than I could. The YouTuber Arith Härger, who has multiple times stated his adherence to inclusive heathenry, has posted multiple videos on seiðr in the past, as well.

[theheidfox]

I noticed one thing that always happens after my trance journeys is a headache. The bigger/more "realistic" (as in feelings, not just visions) the trance, worse the headache.

I can barely keep my eyes open now cuz the world is too bright and loud.

[lokamaer]

Lokamaer Divination Readings

Hello! My name is Leikn, and I am a Norse seiðkona with 8 years of divinatory training. I have just launched my Etsy shop, where you can purchase rune readings, channelled messages from the Gods, Godspousal confirmations, and more! I use a blend of divinatory techniques depending on the spirit/deity I am communicating with. Oracle cards, runes, tarot cards, pendulums, osteomancy, and seiðr are a few of the tools I call upon. If you would like a reading from a spirit or deity not listed on my page, please contact me! I would love to work with you and your spirit team. Through the end of the month, you can get 15% off with code PRIDEMONTH

lokamaer.etsy.com

[laufreyjarson]

just saw an advertisement for a $200 certificate that "initiates you as a völva" and "unlocks new powers and seiðr magic"

like this is definitely bs right...or am i just jaded from people capitalizing off of neopaganism? who is this authority that is initiating you and why do they specifically have a say over peoples' spiritual journey, when norse paganism is decentralized? am i missing something??

also isn't seiðr magic something you need to personally work on to develop?? i can't imagine paying $200 just does that for you immediately...?

please let me know if anybody has paid for one of these and it actually helped them out ;; i'm just feeling immediately so suspicious and doubtful that some random person online has the capacity to do this only under the condition that you pay money to do so ...?

[blueorchid-95]

Just got the summer Seiðr and Gullveig duo and

Poly rights poly rights poly rights poly rights poly rig—

[fe-smashorpass]

[aroejumping]

bookⅦ

[feshippingpolls]

…This just came outta nowhere and out of spite, but…

Seiðr X Loki

FE: Should they kiss?

Seiðr x Loki

[bowldrips]

The Goddess Freyja cursing someone out, call that seiðing with rage~✨️

[sarenth]

June Workshop -Basics of Seiðr

Date: 6/29/2025 at 7pm EST on Zoom Description: Seiðr at its core is magic done with vættir, spirits, to affect change in Urðr or Wyrd, the interconnected tapestry or carving of creation. Involved with seiðr is a complex of magical actions, rituals, and varieties of vættir that can be involved with its performance and uses. This workshop covers the basics of this system of magic, how to do…

[onlyhurtforaminute]

MARA-WINTER HUNGER

[beauty-proof]

[saiyan-of-fairy-tail]

…I do not like where this is going.

[fandomlife-confessions]

[bisexualdimitri]

lesbian seiðr icons!