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Chapter 7. At the Well of Urð 187
2. are described as having powers which do not fit into the usual (and acceptable,
at the time) making of charms or magical use of runes,
3. report visionary and, consequently, direct access to knowledge rather than through
means of divination related to omens or the reading of lots (indirect access),
4. report purposeful, intentional and direct use of a “reality” other than “consensus
reality,” and
5. play an accepted role from within the bounds of a community but not one that
is necessarily liked, respected, or intentionally emulated.
In other words, people utilizing the methods outlined in the first part of this chapter
are excluded because their roles have already been defined from within the bounds
of a community. Also excluded are those occupations which pertain to the normal
everyday organization of a community including warriors or traders; all these folk
have titles and roles from within communities of their own. Even the berserks had
an acceptable role and function within the community of warriors.
The ON roles which seem to have fell outside the community were those people
who practiced as spá-kona/ -maðr, seið-kona/ -mann, or had knowledge of fjölkyngi,
görningar, gandreið, or hamfarir. Knowledge and practice of these things were often
considered by people of the late Viking Age to be an abomination (with the exception
of the spá-kona) or a “perversion” as both Snorri and the poet of the poem called
Lokassenna from the Elder Edda called it.
There are figures who fit these criteria quite well, Óðínn being the foremost.
Óðíinn is described in the Ynglingasaga as having a voracious appetite for knowledge:
“Othin [sic] had the skill which gives great power and which He practiced
himself. It is called seith [sic] [sorcery], and by means of it He could know
the fate of men and predict events that had not come to pass; by it He could
also inflict death or misfortunes or sickness, or deprive people of their wits
or strength, and give them to others. But this sorcery is attended by such
wickedness 26 that manly men consider it shameful to practice it, and so it
was taught to priestesses.
“Othin knew about all hidden treasures, and He knew such magic spells
as would open the earth and mountains and rocks and burial mounds; and
with mere words He bound those who dwelled in them, and went in and took
what He wanted. Exercising these arts He became very famous. His enemies
feared Him, and His friends had faith in Him and in His power. Most of these
26 The actual term from the original is ergi which is discussed in some detail below.