The Norse Tradition: Magic and Runes

The Norse tradition is unique in that it remained untouched by external influences like rosaries or thuribles. Even monks with Icelandic roots did not dare to add their own elements to this system—despite expectations. During the Christianization of Northern Europe, there was likely pressure to erase not just the gods but also the heroic epics. Why? Because rulers often traced their ancestry to gods, though not directly.

These rulers had many ancestors, and their actions weren’t always saintly. They solved their problems through various means, some of which were far from virtuous. As a result, the sagas, songs, and tales that remain portray these ancestors in a less-than-ideal light. These figures robbed, killed, and made mistakes. But which is worse—making a mistake or lying about it? The Norse tradition teaches that lying, in any form, is not just wrong; it depletes the soul.

Ksenia Menshikova