(Real, Historical) Rune Spells

Most of what's preserved in runes is really pretty pedestrian. Now and then, though, something with a truly mysterious or magical inscription comes to light.
Jackson Crawford, Ph.D.: Sharing real expertise in Norse language and myth with people hungry to learn, free of both ivory tower elitism and the agendas of self-appointed gurus. Visit jacksonwcrawfo... (includes bio and linked list of all videos).
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[@JacksonCrawford]

(Yeah, I remember watching Pop-Up Video after school, why?) Another of the numberless futile disclaimers I have to make when talking about runes is that visual designs or symbols such as Ægishjálmur are not runes; 'rune' as a technical term applies only to a letter in one of the Futhark alphabets. I have talked about Ægishjálmur specifically here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aXuXeGpjmtlpgqs and you can find all my videos dealing with runes here: kzbin.info/aero/PLATNGYBQ-TjrPCf9YGy0qzqca1ypcGs50

[@stellanathaniel3198]

Also if anyone is interested, the 'Runes, Magic, and Religion: A Sourcebook' that Dr. Crawford references actually has a PDF preview of Chapter 12 available here: dro.dur.ac.uk/1053/ -- the link to the actual book can be found here (Google Translate should get you through the menus/page without issue if you need it): www.fassbaender.com/Skandinavistik/Runes-Magic-and-Religion-A-Sourcebook.html With regards to the charm that Dr. Crawford mentions from Skírnismál, Stephen Mitchell has an excellent paper on it called 'Skírnismál and Nordic Charm Magic', along with some other interesting work on possible similar charms on his main Academia page: www.academia.edu/1500345/Sk%C3%ADrnism%C3%A1l_and_Nordic_Charm_Magic His book 'Witchcraft and Magic in the Nordic Middle Ages', which Dr. Crawford has recommended before, also covers this topic and Penn Press actually has it 40% off with free shipping through tomorrow (December 31, 2020), so while it is focused on magic from 1100 A.D. on, it also discusses what might have survived from the pre-Christian era (like the aforementioned charms): www.upenn.edu/pennpress/book/14800.html

[@paulaunger3061]

'vain as in instagram'! LOL!!!!!

[@HI-hf1vk]

At 15:40/20:10. Two words for you; surt(ar)brandur & sepsis (pathology).

[@valeriy8502]

@@stellanathaniel3198 fantastic thank you!

[@morganrickards3811]

We call them staves or galdrastafir

[@leknubb]

I gotta say, being Icelandic, it is so surreal how a cowboy from Colorado is educating me of my old culture, more and better than any teacher did back in junior high and high school. Freaking awesome and I can tell that you are very passionate about this. I can't stop watching! Great job! :)

[@steben3318]

I too love the image of a cowboy speaking and teaching advanced rune info. Nice job :D

[@RoyalKnightVIII]

@@steben3318 He's basically a Rohirrim! ;)

[@jpdalvi]

Because he is actually a doctor, not a highschool teacher

[@gregboggs2708]

My mother is from Iceland as well. I lived there with Amma for a small time as a very young child. If you’re in America maybe we have known each other?

[@davida.rosales6025]

Consider also that A LOT of "American cowboys" ultimately descend from Nordic blood.

[@olamarvin]

Brb, gonna record the metal album "Thor, Destroyer of Eczema".

[@alysmarcus7747]

good to know - i've tried everything this year - - - sheesh- i shoulda known just call on him- - used to just ask him for thunderstorms , silly me

[@olamarvin]

@@alysmarcus7747 Topical steroids like Elocon works for me!

[@jenniferandrew3373]

@@alysmarcus7747 right? I had no idea.

[@lauragraves4342]

Everyone knows it was Lokis' horse child creatureling and his third girlfriend that made the spell to destroy eczema, dude bro. 😘🤠

[@toebeans1385]

*raises hand * I am here for the rune-stones . I was told there would be rock and roll ?

[@faramund9865]

That Raven was like. “Yes that’s right mr. Crawford.”

[@kristaquam4896]

That raven caw sounded like an affirmation to me also lol

[@17popsquare60]

Investing early in this comment

[@cthulhuhoops]

ravens like to show up in these vids, i've noticed.

[@KSxJoker]

I read the comment early and was not disappointed when I heard it. Completely agree.

[@unholycrusader69]

Nah bro that was Huginn or Muninn

[@Burrick]

"Professor enlightens us about backwards upside down writing on copper fish"

[@DarthSagit]

@@HagelslagFetish He is a former instructor at universities with a PhD

[@Jimmy-zu9gb]

@@HagelslagFetish He was a professor when the video was published and the comment was made lol. Though has seemed to have left employment at the university since.

[@aniraseraug2104]

"funded not by out of control tuition bills"! That made me laugh much harder than I probably should have! Aaah though glad to know someone understands!

[@gollor]

That is such a crazy cool geological formation behind you!

[@hamishhamilton9287]

The vein vain homophone explanation was truly excellent. Your humour is a big part of why I enjoy your channel. Happy Hogmanay!

[@Matt_The_Hugenot]

Trying to focus on the interpretations of the inscriptions rather than that fantastic syncline in the background.

[@janbrittenson210]

Interesting on the healing powers of soot... I wonder if "barcode" tattoos were simply a way to embed soot into the skin over a bothersome area or to aid healing. Apparently even Ötzi has a whole bunch of them, and the dye used was in fact identified as soot.

[@spacebetweennumbers]

That could be, considering he also had several old and newer wounds when he was discovered. Though tattooing is fairly common in many ancient cultures. It makes sense that it may have had some element of protection in some cases.

[@tairneanaich]

It‘s also been suggested from the locations of Ötzi‘s tats that they were meant to alleviate arthritis

[@mnels5214]

This was a good one, both for content and the asides! Ahh telephone books. And, telephones that didn't travel everywhere with us. Kinder times.

[@captwetbeard8524]

The rock formations behind you are really cool looking

[@Vidfavne]

Just wanted to say thanks for the videos, since it's the end of the year and such. Howard Williams mentioned your channel at my girlfriends doctorate dinner thing, and I've been following it ever since. You've probably taught me more about scandinavian prehistory than most of my archaeology lecturers in Lund. Also, massive +++ for the pronunciations. This seems to be very difficult for most English speaking scholars. But you are doing a great job compared to most anglo-people trying to do Scandinavian languages or latin or whatever (also compared to any contemporary Swede/Dane/Norwegian trying to speak norse).

[@dorego3658]

hey Jackson im 30 and understood all your references, keep up the good work, much love

[@alphabetsoup6681]

Ash on the skin has been used to treat skin ailments.

[@stacyedelprete5477]

You can still get african black soap for eczema. It's made with ashes. Works a trick for mild cases. Thanks, Thor!

[@JohanKylander]

Ashes were used to wash hands, but it burns the skin if left on too long.

[@Je.Suis.Flaneur]

Mixing ash, which is alkaline, with skin, with is acid, makes soap. Not a very good soap, but it would act (somewhat) as a cleanser.

[@Ithirahad]

@@Je.Suis.Flaneur The action of this mixing would be taking off the dead layers of skin to form the 'soap', yes? Arguably one might say simply removing the surface that the dirt is on would be the best 'soap' there is, at least until you run out of skin to use. :P

[@KimOfDrac]

Sot and ash are not the same thing, but the sot is basically pure carbon wich is anti-bacterial

[@ratboy_]

Your little aside at the end of the full translation at 13:47 was hilarious. The things you must've been forced to read...

[@ryangautreau6731]

Could Bufi be talking about spear wound that has been infected. Just with the connection to the bright one maybe "Baldur" and he is saying you know of this. Just food for thought.

[@stevengentry9396]

Excellent video. I appreciate your reading of the runes aloud before working through the interpretation. I also enjoy the mention of possible variant understanding/reading of the inscriptions. Thank you!

[@sinistersaint]

Okay, so the content is awesome - as always! - thank you for the insightful lesson in (real) runes... but can I take a moment to say the geologic feature you're standing in front of is *incredible*?!?! I'd love to see that formation in person

[@sandranevins2144]

I apologize before hand, I got distracted by the rock formation behind you. What is it? Thor was sitting in a cave, decided to stand up?

[@jbcarseiii]

Excellent stratigraphy in the background!

[@frekitheravenous516]

Hey Jackson. Just got all 3 of your books in the mail today. Ordered from amazon. I have to say from skimming them that i am already in love with the translations. I've read many of versions of the Poetic Edda, Volsunga Saga, Etc. And some were good, others not so good. But yours are by far the best. Just wanted to say thank you for putting out clear, concise books. Respects.

[@DAYBROK3]

ashes are base, you can use it to make soap. even if you dont go that far it can be used to clean dishes. it would sting an open wound and possibly also clean it. it would also harm the skin if left to long.

[@bluesSGL]

That's really interesting. Pine tar is made from burning pine wood and was used to treat skin issues.

[@LynxSouth]

@@bluesSGL Pine tar soap & shampoo are still used.

[@holliwatkin1233]

Thank you for your thorough interpretations and knowledge, I enjoy your sense of humor while learning about my heritage!

[@melb2596]

Back in the day people believed that almost any sickness was brought into the body by some sort of worm. To get rid of it, they would use ailments and spells to send the worm out of the body and, through an elder bush, down to the underworld.

[@musewinter9369]

I just came across this and I am in love man keep it up!

[@Ryuwyn]

This humble Colombian appreciates what you do :)

[@DJTheMetalheadMercenary]

This was a particularly fascinating and insightful one Sir, thank you.

[@Dreoilin]

Dr. Crawford bringing the rock and roll!

[@DrLeroy76]

"Gore-smearer, wound-causer, you go away now.... Against vein-danger": Sounds like a charm of protection against wounding (vein-danger) from weapons (gore-smearers, wound-causers).

[@sympathiea]

I'm sure people have brought the group Heilung to your attention; one of their songs references DR 196 U in the rundata catalog. Part of it is or or something like that. Alu seems to be common as a charm, but what about all the variations on yrki/urki as even seen here? Very cool transliteration too btw!

[@martindegn690]

I love recognising the modern cognates of the words you read. Både gjorde nornerne vel og ille

[@bjrnsrensen8456]

Vain as in instagram sent me 😂

[@olamarvin]

I'll try to get some good photos of that inscription in Borgund for you next time opportunity permits.

[@jonathanswoyer5218]

I like this entire video, but I love the digression note on the phone book

[@ban-draoidh318]

Yrki sounds like the Swedish word 'yrka' which can mean to propose/suggest something, or to present/put forward.

[@Braapncamp]

Thanks for the much appreciated, interesting and learning videos of past year. Great work to spread light on our heritage 💪❤️

[@UltimatePowa]

"Gods are over him, and gods are under him" sounds pretty similar to "As above, so below"

[@TarotsApprentice]

I never knew about the Bluetooth symbol. Thank you. I always learn something from you.

[@wyrdlock]

If I'm gonna listen to anyone about runic magic I'm gonna listen to Jackson Crawford

[@stopit4uca]

I was thinking about the room that you're right about the one within the charcoal powder I was thinking perhaps he had ringworm as we call it today

[@mrjones2721]

Most inscriptions turn out to be pedestrian. It turns funny after a while: “What great mysteries will this inscription unfold? …’Bob died and we’re all sad.’ How about this one? ‘Ten goats, three cows, eight sheep, payable on delivery.’ Don’t tell me, the next one is-yep, it’s an account book.” Also business letters, standard monumental inscriptions, dry personal letters, school exercises, and that great human constant, dirty graffiti. You learn to see the beauty in it and to mine for nuggets of truth about historical events and people’s everyday lives. But if you expected mystic wonders to unfold before your eyes, it’s a bit of a letdown.

[@zorgivanov8685]

you deserve so much more views for this awesome content!

[@runeguidance1341]

Tack så mycket Dr. Crawford!!!!!!!

[@Nanakiyami]

"Þórr, sár riðu"could really ve something as simple as "Thor, get rid of this wound". Sometimes you complicate things by analyzing it too much.

[@j.c.klocke239]

Just picked up The Wanderer's Havamal - very enjoyable and well done!

[@JustMeDanoma]

You are a Vital asset. Thank you for preserving culture and tradition of the Ancestors...

[@nathanwaddell3300]

The Daniel Jackson of Old Norse. THE guy to call if you find a Stargate covered in Futhark.

[@scorchobassplayer]

I love your videos, thanks for your education so we may learn a bit more on history Sir.

[@MicaRayan]

Interesting scripture... I'm from Malaysia.. we kind of have the similar scripture

[@nathanortner3215]

I apologize for this question, because it has nothing to do with the topic. Where are you standing? I love the geological formation behind you.

[@TomiDeLuna]

Beautiful! Thank you.

[@hannawozniak129]

Who else wants to give Bufi a hug? 😂♥️ Those are the stories I love History for; among all the conflicts between religions, nations and ideologies, there is a simple prose of life.

[@Dialethian]

Big fan of ligatures, bind runes are next level.

[@brandonwinstead7137]

Keen indeed!

[@stevebrown6623]

Somebody needs to count the number of times you've had to remind folks that you use reconstructed medieval pronunciation of Old Norse not the modern Icelandic pronunciation. I wonder how many times you still get emails claiming to fault you on your pronunciation.

[@andrewbp9605]

Thanks!

[@gepifano]

Very rock and roll. Thanks!

[@sketchjennings3878]

Yes, yes, feel the "force".

[@GEOCAHEPUNA]

It sounds like Shingles which is a skin infection that would affect a warrior.

[@karennorris7880]

Having gotten into some poison ivy when I was eight months pregnant and being unable to take Benadryl, I can tell you for sure I would have worn runes, prayed to Thor, or burnt incense, sang incantations or done anything I thought could help me with that rash. Thankfully, I had Caladryl and Jesus. I feel sorry for our forebears who didn't have modern medicine.

[@LynxSouth]

Oatmeal packs. Cook it up as normal, cool, spread on, & wrap/tie a bandage. Or just soak fingers/hands in a bowl of it every so often as needed. Oatmeal is very soothing to all skin rashes. There are also other herbal & homeopathic treatments that work very well.

[@raymondfink9580]

I have a related question, well sort of related, were there any rune blessings?

[@zamorvex]

for the first word are u saying "h-er ee" with an R trill. or "hair ee" but bring 'air' to ur lower laranx and add the trill on the end? sorry my hearing is a little off so it be hard sometimes to hear the smaller nuances

[@totalwartitan5118]

I would love to see a video about the Viking battle tactics and strategy.

[@faramund9865]

Like parading a banner behind a hill to trick the enemy into thinking there’s a large force trying to flank them? Although that isn’t so much viking tactics, more like... I don’t remember what saga it was from. I think they were Danes. And for viking tactics... I mean burn slaughter and conquer I guess.

[@totalwartitan5118]

@@faramund9865 Pillaging armies where not a unique feature of the Viking armies, pretty much everyone else did the same thing. I was more thinking about the Viking armies and their strategies on campaign.

[@itsmorbintime8684]

A cowboy, rune magic, Icelandic culture, and a KZbin play button pin. This video has defied odd. 😆 🤣

[@garrettwilson4754]

Is it possible that there is some set sequence of address in these type of charms that would mean that the addressee and addressor are implicit? Something akin to 1: call on a benign deity, 2: call out an evil spirit, 3: exhort healing of something. Or is a situation where there is too little data to guess at that sort of assertion?

[@bluesSGL]

It could be plausible that the authors followed a loose formula for writing incantations.

[@adamcook5433]

Hear the raven in the background

[@sheldon740]

Maybe they’re referring to the toad, ( Bufo ), and the magical liquid that comes from beneath the skin that brings enlightenment ?

[@overratedprogrammer]

Would an inscription on a sword like "thor protects me" be historically accurate/common? Or was inscripting mostly just amulets and rare?

[@jimbobjones5972]

Love your channel. Wish I could afford to become a patron but I cannot. Anyway, while it is certainly the case that there are plenty of examples throughout Europe and elsewhere of "folk-paganism" long surviving after introduction of Christianity in any given location, I'm not aware of the fish having been used that late as a Christian symbol, in Scandinavia or elsewhere, until its reintroduction among certain types of Christians in the mid-20th century (and I have some professional interest in this, being a member of the Christian clergy). Do you know of any other evidence for this?

[@gatornator8267]

By any chance could the fish amulet be a reference to the god Njorder? I do know that during the conversion, or around that time, Scandinavians did wear mjolnir and cross amulets at the same time calling on Thor and Christ so I can see the relevance of this fish amulet made for Christ.

[@Pengalen]

Ashes + Water = lye, which can be used for cleaning. God of Soot?

[@edwardbackman744]

I will now say rock n roll instead of prechristian in ever context thanks for this

[@drakenrytder7655]

Gave a thumbs up; I love languages. Please find a techi-teen to highlight or underline what you are saying vs what you are displaying on the screen. It's pretty simple... I do it all the time with a language I desire to understand at a kindergarten level. Not attempting to create spite; but this would give you much more continuity with your claims or others with better knowledge will probably call you out on your teachings. To me; I don't care as long as it progresses knowledge in the language. Good luck.

[@drakenrytder7655]

Also, there should be an English script underneath your left bar image of what you are speaking. Again, simple.

[@madbikerwolf8664]

Just a suggestion: leave the title cards up a bit longer. Keep up the good work.

[@hawkwind9602]

Weren't runes used by others than the vikings?

[@pumpkinpieprincess]

Poor Bufi 😔

[@mveuleman88]

Hi, this may be off subject but, what is the best app to apply the runic keyboard on your phone?

[@iceeee1245]

So is “bæði gerðu nornir” all one runic word?

[@michaelolsen7000]

As a practitioner, I can give a little insight into the meaning behind the lines written boustrophedon. In older traditions of magick practice, spells would be inscribed into a medium in such a way as to have the chanter rotate the object a specific direction a specific number of times. So if the script needs to turn widdershins (a modern term) you would have the first chant start out so that the next chant would cause the bearer to turn the object counter-clockwise. Need the object turned 3 times (Lots of things had 3 or multiples thereof, but it wasn't necessary. It just depended on the practices of the people to whom it was important), write 6 chants so that it ends facing the bearer having completed 3 full turns in the correct direction. Invocation of a god's name was less about asking them to do something, and more like saying, "I'm gonna tell Mom!" to whatever evil ails you. If you truly needed a god's help, you would make an exchange of some kind so that they'll help you with whatever it was. This didn't always require a big to-do, but it definitely took a little more than just chanting their name aloud. Now, practices vary from tradition to tradition, so it really does depend on the area and the traditions in that area. However, for the most part, these were the general concepts that most traditions worked with. Evil spirit giving you grief? Call out Tor's name so that the evil spirit knows you mean business.

[@feelwild]

what does your ring write on it?

[@alanashanah]

Cool.

[@MrMaxwell949]

god you are the most handsome man ever, thank you for helping me with learning more about the ancestors i share with many

[@animistchannel2983]

I like your reminders that what people say they accept as their "official religion of the chiefs" does not prevent them from holding on to their folkways, nor their basic sense of the immediacy of local spirits or influences on daily life. Several traditions of "hedge-witchery" are still being reformulated by comparing notes among family lines in modern USA. Obviously, this kind of hybridizing gets you a lot of anachronisms and contradictions, but that's exactly the kind of thing people will hang on to as part of their innate ancestral reverences, or generational nostalgia if you like. Things like good luck charms and minor curatives are almost impossible to wipe out with official dogmas or theologies/cosmologies, and people take to grandma's common sense advice over the priesthood's sermons any day. I think most priests are fully aware of this dichotomy, and they don't fall so far into folly as to attack or piss off the local grandmothers head on. You'd lose congregation members that way and could find yourself in a revolution by morning, or at least without the good will of the people once the gossip-circle passes around its disapproval. A local priest is still a person in the community, and they like to feel welcome to stop by around dinner time now and then for some old-fashioned homemade goodness :)

[@artemis12061966]

god of soot? like charcoal? activated charcoal has been used for ever medicinally.....it is still used today. can save your life...in cases of certain poisoning, by food or oral drug if taken soon enough.

[@jacobjackson359]

I was wondering what your religious beliefs are. I'm just curious honestly.

[@HI-hf1vk]

Úlfur/úlfr is also a name.

[@valeriy8502]

"Vain as in Instagram" 😆

[@melisnAk]

Maybe he meant in his skin like a demon or posessd

[@deadgavin4218]

cower/compose could be a pun. god of soot could refer to the fire that made the soot or the hammer or if it was carved with a heated implement or the amulet the fire was used to make. bright is the fish in the amulet for its scales and the flashing of a shimmering water surface and the reflectiveness of the bronze. fish swim in the darkness of the lake but leave freely and do not frostbite. the hammer undarkened and purified the metal, the flashing of water and of a fishs scales expel darkness. the amulet means to protect against frostbite and or fire and or skin desease, possibly all the same sence they "burn", the fish wishes to avoid being descaled cooked and eaten so it cowers in the amulet it occupies the space that a desease might. the fish speaks from within the amulet lines switching between under and above like the destortion of water. in the water darkness is below thor is above gods above and below. it wish to embue the fishes resistance to frostbite its armored skin which would flash like thors hammer and keep away affliction and the fishs desire to escape fire and to occupy the inside of the man so as some evil couldn't. jesus was able to cure lepers so maybe an association with skin afflictions. fish are magical being able to cross worlds and to not freeze. mirrors bronze associate with water reflections and have dark within them the same way. i can see its serious meaning but its also a fish so its a bit of a riddle and very memey. we should assume these would mean to mean one thing i would expect multiple simultaneous interpretations and many puns. ash does have healing propreties its alkalai so it works as soap and tums, it could remove oilyness or help itching. it also should activated charcoal which would help against drugs so aiding against poison. a man incapacitated by stomach illness could be fine in an hour or so. i understand they at leasr feign to think its magic but its not as if it doesn't have healing properties

[@promeneuzivotu117]

19

[@fredblonder7850]

ᛁᚾᛏᛖᚱᛖᛊᛏᛁᚾᚷ᛫ᚡᛁᛞᛖᛟ᛬ᛏᚺᚨᚾᚲ᛫ᚤᛟᚢ᛬

[@myNamesTakin]

Tickets are a thing of the past 😂

[@chaliceflower]

Unless you're caught speeding!

[@gefluzafix]

dont the runes have to touch to conduct energy such as wind or electricity?

[@Thiago6656]

I would love to see this guy disccecting Heilung's music, for real

[@bobhardcore6707]

...rly?

[@bobhardcore6707]

... - when i am not perfect i treat the world with silence :... -

[@faramund9865]

Not going to lie, would love a pretty maiden to heal me with runes.

[@lmartell8412]

Excellent content, as usual. I see you’ve learned how to add “pop ups” filled with your dry humor and rapier-like wit which crack me up.

[@joshuaharper372]

Yes, the pop-ups were great, and I think you (Jackson) are exactly right in your hunches about sudden shifts in pronoun deixis (such shifts also happen in classical Hebrew poetry) as well as casual syncretism in under-catechised Christians or open-minded pagans.

[@lmartell8412]

@@joshuaharper372 Your interesting observations are the reason I enjoy Dr Crawford’s channel so much. He generates such interesting dialogue.