Musing Mystical

✨ A Gathering Place for Magical Readers and Writers ✨

Tag Archives: norse

The Eye of Odin, by Per Henrik Gullfoss

The Eye of Odin: Nordic Mythology and the Wisdom of the Vikings, by Per Henrik Gullfoss
Crossed Crow Books, 1959883259, 140 pages, May 2024

Mythology is often viewed as whimsical in the way the stories that are told reduce deities’ power to superstition. This book pulls back the veil of that notion of superstition to disclose ideas that mythology is directly related to many other facets of magic and not all amusing stories and fairy tales. In fact, if you are a practitioner of any kind there is a good chance that most of the ideas presented here will resonate deeply. 

Per Henrik Gullfoss’ book, The Eye of Odin: Nordic Mythology and the Wisdom of the Vikings, takes the reader on a journey and sets up the idea that Norse mythology is not as primitive as Christianity has portrayed. Christianity is a much younger religion by comparison, and delving into the root of the Norse beliefs reveals a startling amount of thought and competency that many cultures have been told didn’t exist within the barbarian tribes of old. By combining classic astrology with Norse mythology to get a deeper understanding of human consciousness itself, Gullfoss has crafted a remarkable book that appeals to a wide range of practitioners.

As one of the leading experts in the field of Norse myth and astrology in Norway, Gullfoss brings together both of these topics to show how these old stories led to the development of human consciousness and mystical thought. It’s a fascinating look at how the two are connected, and Gullfoss’ writing certainly illustrates in detail how similar the two concepts actually are.

Gullfoss writes, “… I have used astrology as a map that one can utilize to learn about and understand Norse myths.”1 He continues, “In the following chapters, I will show how Norse mythology can give a coherent and logical view of the world, which is just as marked by common sense and insight about cosmic laws as other belief systems.”2

This book is glorious and marvelous in the way that it seamlessly moves through what appears to be difficult concepts of creation, consciousness, awareness and ties these concepts together using Norse mythology. His language is that of a practiced storyteller, weaving together the stories of the old gods and marrying them with modern astrology. One of my favorite parts of this book, and examples of this are peppered throughout which is joyous for me, is the direct way he connects specific planets and other deities with Norse gods.  He says:

“Odin is the highest god of the heavens in Norse mythology, filling the same space as Uranus in Greek mythology. Consciousness and the element of Air are both the hallmarks of Uranus and Odin… Odin (Uranus) thus becomes the one who mediates the cosmic laws of creation and the universe to humans.”3

There is no question that Norse mythology is dominated by the values of men and relates to a warrior set that is almost exclusively male. Gullfoss deftly inserts the feminine aspect, stating that the power of femininity consists of an enormous force that is equal to the male counterpart. His writing is not dismissive of female power; rather, he uses feminine examples to show balance. One part focuses on the Norns, three mighty maidens not unlike the three sisters of fate in other stories, with this archetype continually referenced, along with others, throughout the book. It’s moments like these where the reader begins to realize just how interconnected these stories really are. It matters not what time period or culture, there is a resonance of similarity between them that can’t be dismissed.

There is so much in this book, it’s difficult to pull out specific parts to showcase. The mention of Tyr, a mighty warrior god representing a pure form of Mars, is a god that is barely talked about. I personally didn’t know he was a god, I thought Tyr was a rune and didn’t realize there was a whole backstory. Such realizations like this happened quite frequently as I read through this book, and I am so glad I took the time to digest the work. 

The Eye of Odin is a great book for anyone who loves astrology and Norse mythology and is interested in seeing how deep the connection is between the two. It presents some concepts that might feel a bit radical or out of place in today’s society; understand that this is not a rewrite of history but a comparison. While I personally did not find anything that particularly caused my hackles to rise, I can see how the overlay of masculinity could be seen as disregarding the feminine. My hope is that as the reader delves more deeply into the book and the subject as a whole, they come to the same realization as I did: no matter what, there is no male without female, especially in the world of mythology.

Icelandic Folk Magic, by Albert Björn

Icelandic Folk Magic: Witchcraft of the North, Albert Björn
Crossed Crow Books, 978-1-959883-28-9, 338 pages, August 2024

Albert Björn’s Icelandic Folk Magic: Witchcraft of the North is a deep dive into the magic that has its basis in the folklore, forests, fjords, and glaciers of this enigmatic place called Iceland. The book is encyclopedic in the information that is availed to the reader with the goal of imparting the “tools they need to add elements of Icelandic folk magic and witchcraft (Fjolknngi) to their own practice, to connect or reconnect with the magic of the island, and to build upon their own craft with magic taken from both folklore and living practice.”1

Author Albert Björn currently lives in Reykjavik and focuses his research on the magic of Iceland and his homeland Sussex, England. His other publication is Icelandic Plant Magic: Folk Herbalism of the North. For more information, you can check out his Patreon.

As with most magic, elements are influenced by the environment in which it’s practiced and in the case of Iceland, the extreme seasons and harsh weather play a large role. The long winters are noted for ice and darkness and creatures such as the trolls that live underground. Summer brings rituals for fertility and foraging. As Björn explains, “winter in Iceland is very much aligned with the time of women… Winter is ruled by the disir, or female forces of fate and often death.”2

He goes into detail about the powerful giantesses such as Skaoi and Gryla, who is accompanied by her cat, Jolakotturinn, or the Yule Cat. The flip to summer is where Freyr reigns and his life-giving forces are evidenced. There is no hiding in the 24 hours of sunshine. Energy brought from the sun inspires luck and fertility. If desired, one can partake in the energies of both summer and winter forces; Björn invites the reader to choose which aspects of Icelandic magic they are most drawn to. 

Björn comments that the magic traditions of Iceland differ from those of the rest of Europe. Covens, witches sabbat, and places where witches gather are not found in Icelandic lore. However, there is a common belief in the huldifolkio, or the hidden people, who are to be both feared and respected. Bonfires and specific festival days are related to the hidden folk, believed to be the original children of Adam and Eve.

The largest section of the book titled “Folk Belief” delves into a multitude of topics such as planetary timings, trolls, dragons, giants, ghosts, spirits, dream magic, foreseeing and far-seeing, shapeshifting, weather working magic, tools of Icelandic magic, stones, and Mary, Freyja, saints, and sinners. For example, the magic of dreams is important to the Icelandic, including the dream visitors, or draumvitjanir, be they in the forms of humans, animals, or elves. They bring warnings and important information. He also gives tidbits of information that showcase the uniqueness of Icelandic energies, such as that ghosts in Iceland behave differently than how one normally attributes ghost behavior as they are forced to follow rules.

Another part of this section is about how to work with the Wheel of the Year, which differs from seasonally-inspired Wiccan wheels because Iceland basically has two seasons, summer and winter. He writes about special days of which the reader might be familiar such as Candlemas and Paskar (Easter) but also those such as Harpa, Goa, and Porri and the meaning of the day and related rituals. As I read this book in August I focused on the special days of this month, Mariumessa (August 15) which focuses on the Christian Mary and Tvimanudur (August 22 – 28) which focuses on harvest. 

The other large section of the book is “Galdranök: Grimoire” which covers staves for farmers, fishermen, and luck. It also includes topics such as birthing spirits, healing and helping, curses, magical alphabets, and incense, oils, brews, and blends. For stave-making, Björn reminds the reader that it is an art and that practice does make perfect. If this topic interests you, Björn gives very detailed methods for creating magical staves.

I was particularly drawn to the section on healing and helping and was surprised to read that “healing works in Iceland had long been a mix of magic and medicine. With herbalism being illegal in Iceland until recent times, the use of herbs has long been held as mystical.”3 Björn shares healing chants and a cleansing prayer which is in Icelandic. More doable, at least for me, are using the recipes included in the book to create planetary oils and incense blends. The blends can also be used to anoint candles.

The book closes with an appendix that contains prayers and words and names of Norse deities. There is also a glossary and a section on Icelandic pronunciation, as well as a bibliography for further reference and reading.

Icelandic Folk Magic is an excellent resource for anyone interested in the mystical traditions of Iceland. Björn’s passion for the subject shines through, making this book a valuable addition to the library of any aspiring witch or student of folklore. Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or a curious newcomer, this book offers a captivating journey into the enchanting world of Icelandic magic. It’s by far one of the best books I’ve read on the topic.