Charms from the havamal, sigdrifumal or other historical materials

this thread is specifically for us to share our thoughts and feelings about the most commonly sited sources for rune spells, the havamal and sigdrifumal, as well as any other findings we wish to share in regards to rune magic seen in the eddas, sagas, or on artifacts. The idea is to discuss what we all think these charms might be, to compare and contrast ideas and to see if we can arrive at any kind of consensus. I will copy paste the pertinent lines from the aforementioned sources here to get things started.

 

Rune spells from the Havamal and Sigdrifumal

 

146

Ljóð ek þau kann

er kannat þjóðans kona

ok mannskis mögr

hjálp heitir eitt

en þat þér hjálpa mun

við sökum ok sorgum

ok sútum görvöllum

 

I know the songs

that no ruler's wife knows,

nor anyone's son:

the first is called "Help",

and it will help you

with disputes and griefs

and absolutely all sorrows.

 

147

Þat kann ek annat

er þurfu ýta synir

þeir er vilja læknar lifa

 

I know a second

which the sons of men need,

those who want to live as physicians.

 

148

Þat kann ek it þriðja

ef mér verðr þörf mikil

hapts við mína heiptmögu

eggjar ek deyfi

minna andskota

bítat þeim vápn né velir

 

I know the third:

if great need befalls me

for a fetter for my enemy,

I can blunt the edges

of my enemies,

that weapons and staves do not bite for them.

 

149

Þat kann ek it fjórða

ef mér fyrðar bera

bönd at bóglimum

svá ek gel

at ek ganga má

sprettr mér af fótum fjöturr

en af höndum hapt

 

I know the fourth:

if men put

fetters on my limbs,

I sing so that

I can go:

fetter springs from my feet

and bond from my hands.

 

150

Þat kann ek it fimmta

ef ek sé af fári skotinn

flein í fólki vaða

flýgra hann svá stinnt

at ek stöðvigak

ef ek hann sjónum of sék

 

I know the fifth:

if I see a spear, shot in malice

to fly into a host,

it does not fly so strongly

that I cannot stop it,

if I catch sight of it.

 

151

Þat kann ek it sétta

ef mik særir þegn

á rótum rams viðar

ok þann hal

er mik heipta kveðr

þann eta mein heldr en mik

 

I know the sixth:

if a warrior wounds me

with the root of a strong tree

and calls forth hatreds from me,

then the harms eat the man and not me.

 

152

Þat kann ek it sjaunda

ef ek sé hávan loga

sal um sessmögum

brennrat svá breitt

at ek honum bjargigak

þann kann ek galdr at gala

 

I know the seventh:

if I see a high hall

to burn around my table-companions,

it does not burn so bright

that I cannot save it,

when I can sing the spell.

 

153

Þat kann ek it átta

er öllum er

nytsamligt at nema

hvars hatr vex

með hildings sonum

þat má ek bœta brátt

 

I know the eighth,

which is useful for all

to take:

wherever hatred grows

among the sons of the prince,

I can quickly cure it.

 

154

Þat kann ek it níunda

ef mik nauðr um stendr

at bjarga fari mínu á floti

vind ek kyrri

vági á

ok svæfik allan sæ

 

I know the ninth:

if I need

to save my ship afloat

I can calm the wind

on the wave

and lull the whole sea to sleep.

 

155

Þat kann ek it tíunda

ef ek sé túnriðir

leika lopti á

ek svá vinnk

at þeir villir fara

sinna heimhama

sinna heimhuga

 

I know the tenth:

if I see witches

playing in the air,

I can so arrange it

that they go astray

from their proper shapes

and proper thoughts.

 

156

Þat kann ek it ellipta

ef ek skal til orrostu

leiða langvini

undir randir ek gel

en þeir með ríki fara

heilir hildar til

heilir hildi frá

koma þeir heilir hvaðan

 

I know the eleventh:

if I must lead old friends

to battle,

I sing under the shields,

and they go victoriously:

safe to the battle,

safe from the battle,

they come safe from everywhere.

 

157

Þat kann ek it tólpta

ef ek sé á tré uppi

váfa virgilná

svá ek ríst

ok í rúnum fák

at sá gengr gumi

ok mælir við mik

 

I know the twelfth:

if I see up in a tree

a hanged corpse swinging,

I carve

and colour the runes

that the man moves

and speaks with me.

 

158

Þat kann ek it þrettánda

ef ek skal þegn ungan

verpa vatni á

munat hann falla

þótt hann í fólk komi

hnígra sá halr fyr hjörum

 

I know the thirteenth:

if I will throw water

on a young warrior,

he cannot fall,

though he may come to battle

the man does not fall before swords.

 

159

Þat kann ek it fjórtánda

ef ek skal fyrða liði

telja tíva fyrir

ása ok álfa

ek kann allra skil

fár kann ósnotr svá

 

I know the fourteenth:

if I must reckon up

a troop before gods and men,

I know the details of all the Æsir and the Elves --

the unwise man knows that not at all.

 

160

Þat kann ek it fimmtánda

er gól Þjóðreyrir

dvergr fyr Dellings durum

afl gól hann ásum

en álfum frama

hyggju Hroptatý

 

I know the fifteenth,

which Thjothreyrir sang,

the dwarf, before the doors of Dellingr:

He sang the might of the gods,

the courage of the elves,

the understanding of Hroptatyr.

 

161

Þat kann ek it sextánda

ef ek vil ins svinna mans

hafa geð alt ok gaman

hugi ek hverfi

hvítarmri konu

ok sný ek hennar öllum sefa

 

I know the sixteenth:

if I wish to have all the heart and pleasure

of a cunning girl,

I turn the feelings

of the white-armed woman,

and I change the whole of her mind.

 

162

Þat kann ek it sjautjánda

at mik mun seint firrask

it manunga man

ljóða þessa

mun þú Loddfáfnir

lengi vanr vera

þó sé þér góð ef þú getr

nýt ef þú nemr

þörf ef þú þiggr

 

I know the seventeenth,

that the youthful maid will never avoid me;

Loddfafnir, you will

be lacking these charms for a long time,

though it be good for you if you get them,

useful if you take them,

needful if you receive them.

 

163

Þat kann ek it átjánda

er ek æva kennik

mey né manns konu

alt er betra

er einn um kann

þat fylgir ljóða lokum

nema þeiri einni

er mik armi verr

eða mín systir sé

 

I know the eighteenth,

which I never teach

to maid or man's wife,

-- everything is better

when one person understands it,

it belongs at the ending of spells --

to none but she alone

who is wrapped in my arm

or is my sister.

 

From Sigdrifumal

 

6

Sigrvnar scaltv kvnna,

ef þv vilt sigr hafa,

oc rista a hialti hiors,

svmar a vetrimom,

svmar a valba/stom,

oc nefna tysvar Ty.

 

Victory Runes should you know

If you want to have victory

carve them on the sword's hilt

some on the sheath

some on the blade

name then Tyr two times

 

7

Ølrvnar scaltv kvnna,

ef þv vill annars qven

velit þic i trygd, ef þv trvir;

a horni scal þer rista

oc a handar baki

oc merkia a nagli Na/þ.

 

Beer Runes should you know

If not another man's wife

shall betray your confident belief

on the horn you shall write

and on the back of the hand

and mark need on your nail

 

8

Fvll scal signa

oc við fari sia

oc verpa la/ki i la/g;

þa ec þat veit,

at þer verþr aldri

meinblandinn mioþr.

 

Bless your cup

against deceit and stratagem

and put then onion in the drink;

Then I know

that you never drink

poisoned mead

 

9

Biargrvnar scaltv kvnna,

ef þv biarga vilt

oc leysa kind fra konom:

a lofa scal þer rista

oc of liþo spenna

oc biþia þa disir dvga.

 

Help Runes should you know

If you will save lives

foetus from bearing woman;

write them in the palm of the hand

take hold at the wrist

and invoke the aid of the Disir

 

10

Brimrvnar scaltv rista,

ef þv vilt borgit hafa

a svndi seglma/rom;

a stafni scal þer rista

oc a stiornarblaþi

oc leggia eld i ár;

era sva brattr breki

ne sva blár vnnir,

þo komztv heill af hafi.

 

Sea Runes shall you write

if you will salvage

ships at the sea;

write them on the stem

and on the lead oar

Etch them in the oar with fire;

if the brakers are rising

and waves turn black

then you will come alive from the sea

 

11

Limrvnar scaltv kvnna,

ef þv vilt locnir vera

oc kvnna sár at sia;

a berki scal þer rista

oc a badmi viðar,

þeim er lvta a/str limar.

 

Limb Runes should you know

if you will be a healer

and know about wounds;

carve them on the bark

and carve them on twigs

where the twigs are pointing to east

 

12

Malrvnar scaltv kvnna,

ef þv vilt, at mangi þer

heiptom gialdi harm;

þer vm vindr,

þer vm vefr,

þer vm setr allar saman

a þvi þingi,

er þioþir scolo

i fvlla doma fara.

 

Speech Runes should you know

if the man you violated

should be prevented in his revenge;

they will be wrap up

They will be woven

they will be compounded

on the Thing where people

on crowds go

and fully lawcourts are judges

 

13

Hvgrvnar scaltv kvnna,

ef þv vilt hveriom vera

geðsvinnari gvma;

þer of réð,

þer of reist,

þer vm hvgði Hroptr

af þeim legi,

er leciþ hafdi

or ha/si Heiddra/pniss

oc or horni Hoddrofnis.

 

Thought Runes should you know

if you will be wiser

than all other men;

they were recommended

they were carved

they were devised by Odhinn

from the secrets

which trickle out of Heiddraupne's head

and from Hoddrovne's horn