A Handbook of Saxon Sorcery & Magic: Wyrdworking, Rune Craft, Divination & Wortcunning - Alaric Albertsson 2017

Glossary

Æthem (“A-thum”): The breath of life that unites the nine parts of the Self.

Cræft: An art or skill. Often used as a suffix, as in drýcræft (druid’s skill) or wiccecræft (witch’s skill). The plural is cræftes (“CRAFT-es”).

Drýcræft (“DRU-craft”): The skills of the Saxon druid.

Drýmann (“DRU-man”): A Saxon druid. The feminine form is drýicge (“DRU-ee-jeh”). The drýmann or drýicge is a sorcerer whose contributions to his or her community are recognized in some way.

Elf: A discarnate or disembodied spirit. This includes any pure spiritual being, including dwarves and ancestral spirits. In a more specific sense, elf refers to a nature spirit, or land wight.

Fetch: A part of the Self that might be thought of as one’s guardian spirit. The fetch usually takes on the appearance of an animal.

Futhorc (“FOO-thork”): The English runes, thirty-three total, but only twenty-nine with extant lore describing their mysteries.

Galdor (“GALL-dor”): Sound or voice magic. Galdorcræft is the skill of singing or chanting to create magical effects.

Galdorbóc (“GALL-dor-boke”): A sorcerer’s book of incantations.

Galdre (“GALL-dreh”): A sorcerer adept at working spells with galdor. Sometimes pronounced galdere (“GALL-deh-reh”).

Hama (“HAHM-ah”): An astral part of your Self shielding you from hostile forces. The plural is haman. Also the name of the spirit who stands guard at the gates to the realm of the gods.

Hyge (“HU-yeh”): The part of your Self that thinks rationally and objectively. The plural is hygas.

Infusion: A drink prepared by steeping herbs in hot water, often for use as a potion.

Inhíred (“in-HEAR-ed”): A Saxon family or tribe. This is the term I use, but other words—mót, hearth, kindred, and so on—are sometimes used. The structure (or lack thereof) can vary greatly from one group to another. The Saxon tradition strongly encourages group participation. The plural is inhírdas.

Lic (“leech”): The physical part of the Self. Your body. The plural is lices (“LEECH-es”).

Mare (“MAR-eh”): A spirit that harms or harasses people in their sleep. The plural is maran.

Mægen: A part of the Self that might be thought of as one’s spiritual strength or fortitude. Pronounced like the word Mayan, the plural is mægenes.

Mead: A drink similar to wine, but made of honey.

Metheglin: A mead flavored or enhanced in some way with herbs, often for use as a potion.

Middle Earth: Our own world, the physical world. So-called because of its central location between the other worlds or planes of existence.

Mód (“mode”): A part of the Self that maintains one’s self identity. This word evolved into the Modern English word mood, meaning a state of mind or emotion. The plural is módes (“MODE-es”).

Myne (“MU-neh”): The part of the Self that includes our memories and emotions.

Myse (“MU-zeh”): The sorcerer’s table or working surface.

Os (“ose”): A Saxon god or goddess.

Rúncræft (“ROON-craft”): The art or skill of using runes, particularly those of the Futhorc, for divination and magic.

Rúnwita (“ROON-wee-tah”): A sorcerer adept at rune magic.

Scop (“shope”): The Saxon equivalent of a bard. A person who entertains with songs or poetry.

Scry: To seek visions by gazing into a reflective or flickering focal point.

Seax (“SAY-ax”): Depending on your point of view, either a very large knife or a very small sword. The seax was the Saxon’s personal weapon and general purpose tool. Because of the iron in the blade, a sorcerer will often make use of a dagger like this to disperse or redirect outside forces.

Seething: The art of entering an intentional trance state. From the Old English word séoðan, meaning “to prepare the mind.”

Symbel: A feast. The Saxon symbel is often accompanied with oratory, boasts, and oathing.

Telga: A wand, used to project one’s own power through the hama.

Tincture: An alcohol extraction, often for use as a potion. Metheglin is one example of a tincture.

Wéofod (“WAY-o-fode”): Literally, “the place where the image of deity stands.” A spiritual altar, the wéofod can also serve as your myse, if you wish.

Wicca (“WEE-chah”): A Saxon witch. The feminine form is wicce (“WEE-cheh”). Unlike the druids, witches usually worked alone for the benefit of themselves and those closest to them. This does not mean their magic was any less positive than that of a druid. The plural is wiccan (“WEE-chan”).

Wiccecræft (“WEE-cheh-craft”): The skills of the Saxon witch.

Wight: Any spirit, incarnate or discarnate, including Elves, gods, ghosts, animals, plants, and human beings.

Wiglere (“WEE-leh-reh”): A sorcerer adept at divination. A soothsayer.

Wiglung (“WEE-lung”): Augery or soothsaying. The arts of divination.

Willa: The part of your Self that motivates you. Your willpower. Determination and desire. The plural is willan.

Wód (“wode”): The part of your Self that inspires you. By itself, untamed, wód is madness. This is fury and frenzy, but it becomes a source of power when harnessed.

Wortcunning: Knowledge of herb lore, and the practice that ensues when this knowledge is put to use.

Wyrd (“weurd”): Often defined loosely as “fate,” wyrd is the process in which the future unfolds. Since all things are connected, wyrd is sometimes viewed as a vast, infinite web expressing this connectivity.

Wyrtwita (“WEURT-wee-tah”): A sorcerer adept at herb magic.