Ages ago, Norse poets told of a Valkyrja, Sigrdrífa, who defied the wishes of Odin and granted victory, in battle, to the wrong side. As punishment, Odin struck her with a sleep thorn and placed her slumbering form within a nearly impenetrable ring of fire.
It was not until one hero, Sigurðr, dared to brave the flames to awaken the sleeping swan-maiden. Upon awakening, she uttered two stanzas of poetry that is now tan to be a heathen prayer. We call it Sigrdrífa’s prayer and has become a custom practice to recite these lines when establishing sacred space as the opening phase of modern Norse rituals.
This tale was told as part of the Volsung saga in the Poetic Edda. It became the heroic Germanic saga, Das Nibelungenlied, and adapted into Wagner’s epic opera, Der Ring des Nibelungen.
Heill dagr – Hail Day
Heilir dags synir! – Hail Sons of Day
Heil nótt ok nipt! – Hail Night and her Daughter
Óreiðum Augum – Unwrathful eyes
lítið okkr þinig – look upon us
ok gefið sitjöndum sigr – and grant us victory
Heilir æsir! – Hail Gods
Heilar ásynjur! – Hail Goddesses
Heil sjá in fjölnýta fold – Hail to the abundant fields
Mál ok mannvit – Speech and wisdom
gefið okkr mærum tveim – give to us
ok læknishendr, meðan lifum – and healing hands with life
Vigi Vé Thetta
Use this bindrune upon each of the four directions to establish the wards of sacred space. This image is made up of the words, Vigi vé Thetta - which can be translated as, Bless and Protect this sacred space.
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