In Chapter 7 of the “Ynglinga Saga,” Snorri covers Odin’s connection to both Galdr and Seiðr.
“Óðinn transformed his outward forms: his body then lay as if asleep or dead, but then he was a bird or wild animal, a fish or snake, and he went in one instant to distant lands on his errands or those of other men. Furthermore, he could quench fire with words alone and calm the sea and turn winds in whatever direction he pleased, and he owned a ship called Skiðblaðnir, which he went on over great oceans, and it could be folded up like a cloth. Óðinn had with him the head of Mímir, and it told him many tidings from other worlds, and sometimes he roused dead men from the earth or sat beneath the hanged. For that reason, he was called lord of the draugar [animated corpses] or lord of the hanged. He had two ravens that he had trained to talk. They flew wide over lands and told him many tidings. From these matters he became immensely wise. All these pursuits he taught with runes and those verses that are called galdr (incantation). Hence the Æsir are called galdar-smiths. Óðinn knew that craft that is accompanied by the greatest power, and he practiced it himself, that is called seiðr, and from this he could find out the fates of men and matters not yet happened, and also cause the death of men or ill-luck or disability or take men’s reason or strength away and give it to others. But such great ergi accompanies this magic when it is practiced, that it was thought shameless for men to pursue it, and the practice as taught to the goddesses. Óðinn knew where all treasure was hidden in the earth, and he knew those songs that unlocked for him the earth and rocks and stones and howes, and with words alone he bound those that dwelt before them and went in and took such things as he wanted there. He became very famous for these skills. His enemies feared him, but his friends trusted in him and believed in his power and in himself. He taught most of his pursuits to the sacrificial priests. They were next to him in all wisdom and magic skill. But many others learnt much of it, and from there magic has spread far and wide and has long continued. “
In Odin’s Warrior Tribe, we have a female German Volva who is a third-generation heathen who practices seiðr on behalf of the Tribe and is sworn by oath to both the Tribe and the Chieftain on loyalty and its use. She is one of a handful of the world’s most powerful Volvas. We also have one female Volva aspirant whose training will take many years. For us operational fluency, the ability to read and to speak several modern and Ancient European languages is part of the necessary preparation of a Volva as it is a Goði. Study and travel to heathen sites are equally important parts. You do not become a Volva in your basement. Modern High German and Old Norse are the minimum, with an ability to at least pronounce Old High German and Old English. Many of our rituals contain sections in German and Old Norse. To date, in the Tribe we only allow females to practice seiðr. We often use group Galdr in our rituals. Both galdr and seiðr are serious business and not something to play with on your own without guidance. In the Tribe, we use and respect them. FAFO.
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