The Secrets of Sorcerer's Screed: How to Use Icelandic Magic for Love, Wealth, and Revenge
Sorcerer's Screed: The Icelandic Book of Magic Spells
If you are interested in Nordic magic, folklore, and history, you might want to check out a book called Sorcerer's Screed. It is a collection of 194 spells from Iceland, covering various aspects of life and death. In this article, we will explore what Sorcerer's Screed is, who wrote it, what it contains, and how it relates to Icelandic culture and history.
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Introduction
What is Sorcerer's Screed?
Sorcerer's Screed is the world's most comprehensive collection of Nordic spells. It was first published in 1940 by Jochum Magnus Eggertsson, a writer and poet who called himself Skuggi (Shadow). He spent 30 years researching old manuscripts and oral traditions to compile the spells. Each spell comes with a diagram and specific instructions for its use and purpose.
Who is the author?
Skuggi was a controversial figure in his time. He was born in 1896 in Iceland and grew up in a poor farming family. He was self-taught and had a passion for reading and writing. He often criticized the authorities and the elite for their ignorance and corruption. He also challenged the conventional knowledge about Icelandic history and culture, claiming to have access to secret sources and documents. He said he had 27 pages from a lost book called Gullskinna (Goldskin), which was written on animal hide and could not burn.
What are the sources of the spells?
Skuggi drew from 80 old manuscripts to create Sorcerer's Screed. Some of these manuscripts date back to the 17th century, when Iceland was under Danish rule and Lutheranism was the official religion. The use of magic was strictly prohibited by the church and the state, and many people were persecuted and executed for practicing or possessing magic books. Skuggi also collected spells from oral traditions, folk tales, and legends that had been passed down for generations.
The Content of Sorcerer's Screed
The types of spells
White magic
White magic is the way of using magic for your own benefit but not necessarily to hurt others. It includes spells for love, protection, healing, wealth, success, luck, fertility, and more. For example, there is a spell to make a woman fall in love with you by carving a stave on a piece of oak wood and placing it under her pillow. There is also a spell to protect yourself from drowning by wearing a stave around your neck.
Black magic
Black magic is the way of using magic to harm others or to gain power over them. It includes spells for curses, revenge, death, disease, madness, and more. For example, there is a spell to cause a person to die within nine days by carving a stave on a piece of human bone and burying it under their doorstep. There is also a spell to make a person go insane by writing a stave on a piece of paper and putting it in their shoe.
The symbols and runes
The staves
The staves are the diagrams that accompany each spell. They are composed of various lines, curves, circles, dots, and crosses that form complex patterns. They are meant to represent the forces and energies of nature, the gods, the spirits, and the elements. They are also meant to influence the outcome of the spell by attracting or repelling certain influences.
The fuþark alphabet
The fuþark alphabet is the runic alphabet that was used by the ancient Norse and Germanic peoples. It consists of 24 symbols that stand for sounds, concepts, and magical powers. The name fuþark comes from the first six runes: F, U, Þ, A, R, and K. The runes were usually carved on wood, stone, metal, or bone, and they were believed to have inherent power and meaning. They were used for writing, divination, magic, and art.
The purposes of the spells
Love and attraction
Many spells in Sorcerer's Screed are related to love and attraction. They aim to help the user find a partner, win someone's heart, enhance sexual performance, or prevent infidelity. Some of these spells are:
A spell to make a woman love you: Carve this stave on oak wood and place it under her pillow.
A spell to arouse lust: Write this stave with your blood on a piece of linen and touch it to your genitals.
A spell to prevent impotence: Carry this stave in your pocket or wear it as an amulet.
A spell to keep your lover faithful: Cut this stave into a piece of whalebone and have your lover wear it as a ring.
Protection and healing
Many spells in Sorcerer's Screed are related to protection and healing. They aim to help the user avoid or overcome dangers, illnesses, injuries, or enemies. Some of these spells are:
A spell to protect yourself from drowning: Wear this stave around your neck or carve it on your boat.
A spell to heal a wound: Write this stave with saliva on a piece of cloth and wrap it around the wound.
A spell to cure a headache: Press this stave against your forehead or draw it with chalk on your wall.
A spell to ward off evil spirits: Paint this stave with tar on your door or window.
Wealth and success
Many spells in Sorcerer's Screed are related to wealth and success. They aim to help the user achieve prosperity, abundance, fame, or honor. Some of these spells are:
A spell to increase your income: Bury this stave under the threshold of your house or shop.
A spell to win a lawsuit: Write this stave on a piece of paper and put it in your shoe when you go to court.
A spell to become popular: Sew this stave into your clothes or wear it as a brooch.
A spell to gain respect: Carve this stave on your walking stick or cane.
Curses and revenge
Many spells in Sorcerer's Screed are related to curses and revenge. They aim to help the user harm or destroy their enemies, rivals, or oppressors. Some of these spells are:
A spell to cause death: Carve this stave on a human bone and bury it under your enemy's doorstep.
A spell to cause disease: Write this stave on a piece of paper and hide it in your enemy's food or drink.
A spell to cause madness: Write this stave on a piece of paper and put it in your enemy's shoe.
A spell to cause misfortune: Draw this stave with charcoal on your enemy's door or wall.
The History and Culture of Sorcerer's Screed
The Magic Age in Iceland
The persecution of magic users
Although magic was practiced in Iceland since the Viking age, it became more prominent and dangerous in the 17th and 18th centuries, when Iceland was under harsh Danish rule and Lutheranism was the official religion. The use of magic was seen as a threat to the church and the state, and many people were accused and convicted of witchcraft or sorcery. Between 1654 and 1690, this period was known as the Magic Age, because of the large number of cases connected to the use of magic symbols. Nearly 200 people were charged for using or possessing magic books, and more than 20, most of them men, were sentenced to death and burned at the stake. Some of the most famous cases were Galdra Loftur, a student who tried to raise a bishop from the dead by using a spell from Sorcerer's Screed, and Jón Rögnvaldsson, a farmer who owned a copy of Rauðskinna (Redskin), another legendary book of black magic.
The preservation of magic manuscripts
Despite the persecution and the danger, many people continued to practice and study magic in secret. They copied and preserved old manuscripts that contained spells and staves, and hid them in caves, chests, or under rocks. Some of these manuscripts survived until modern times, and became the sources for Skuggi's research. Some of the most famous manuscripts are Lbs 143 8vo, also known as Galdrabók (Book of Magic), which contains 47 spells; Lbs 764 8vo, also known as Huld (Secret), which contains 36 spells; and Lbs 4375 8vo, also known as Lækningakver (Healing Book), which contains 27 spells.
The Modern Relevance of Sorcerer's Screed
The popularity of the book
Sorcerer's Screed was first published in 1940 in a limited edition of 100 copies. It was part of a series called Jólagjöfin (Yule Present), which Skuggi edited and published every year from 1938 to 1951. The book was handwritten by Skuggi himself, who also drew the diagrams. The book was not widely known or appreciated until it was reprinted in Icelandic in 2013 by Lesstofan, a small publishing house. The book sold out quickly and became a bestseller in Iceland. It was then translated into English for the first time in 2015 by Philip Roughton, and has since attracted international attention and acclaim.
The use of the spells in art and media
Sorcerer's Screed has inspired many artists and media creators to use the spells and staves in their works. For example, Icelandic musician Björk used a stave from the book as a logo for her album Biophilia in 2011. Icelandic artist Sigurður Guðjónsson, who will represent Iceland at the Venice Biennale in 2021, has used video and sound to create installations based on the book. Icelandic writer Andri Snær Magnason has referenced the book in his novels LoveStar and The Casket of Time. Icelandic filmmaker Baltasar Kormákur has adapted a story from the book into a short film called Hringurinn (The Ring) in 2017.
The connection to Icelandic identity and heritage
Sorcerer's Screed is more than just a book of magic spells. It is also a reflection of Icelandic history, culture, and identity. It shows how Icelanders have used magic to cope with their harsh environment, their political oppression, their social challenges, and their personal desires. It also shows how Icelanders have preserved their ancient traditions, folklore, and mythology through oral and written transmission. It is part of the Viking image that has been part of Icelanders since settlement. It is also part of the modern fascination with Nordic culture and spirituality that has been growing around the world.
Conclusion
Sorcerer's Screed is a unique and fascinating book that offers a glimpse into the world of Icelandic magic. It is a collection of 194 spells that cover various aspects of life and death, from love and attraction to protection and healing, from wealth and success to curses and revenge. It is based on old manuscripts and oral traditions that date back to the Viking age and the Magic Age. It is written and illustrated by Skuggi, a controversial and eccentric writer and poet who spent 30 years researching Nordic magic. It is a popular and influential book that has inspired many artists and media creators to use the spells and staves in their works. It is also a cultural and historical treasure that connects Icelanders to their past, present, and future.
FAQs
Q: Where can I buy Sorcerer's Screed?
A: You can buy it online from Lesstofan's website or from Amazon.
Q: How can I learn more about Icelandic magic?
A: You can visit the Museum of Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft in Hólmavík, or the Icelandic Magic Company in Reykjavík.
Q: Are the spells in Sorcerer's Screed real or effective?
A: That depends on your belief and intention. Some people claim to have experienced positive or negative effects from using the spells, while others dismiss them as superstition or fantasy.
Q: Can I use the spells in Sorcerer's Screed for my own purposes?
A: You can, but you should be careful and responsible. Some of the spells are harmless or beneficial, but some are dangerous or harmful. You should also respect the cultural and historical context of the spells, and not use them for trivial or unethical reasons.
Q: What are some other books of magic from Iceland or other Nordic countries?
A: Some other books of magic are Galdrabók, Huld, Lækningakver, Rauðskinna, Grimoires of Scandinavia, and The Book of Seidr.
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