Artwork by Rim Baudey

“Bone to bone, blood to blood, limb to limb, so joined together be!”

Join cult Cascadian publishers Hyldyr for the release of their new publication of "The Merseburg Spells: Germanic Paganism" by folklorist Joseph S. Hopkins.

An extremely rare survival of the violent and horrific Christianization process of the European continent, the Merseburg Spells are two enigmatic Old High German spells mysteriously recorded on a medieval manuscript. One of the two spells, a healing spell, is a precursors to a spell formula recorded in Christianized form in western, northern, and Eastern Europe, and even in the United States.

The spells are brief but profound, providing an extraordinary window into the pre-Christianization beliefs of the Germanic-speakers of continental Europe. The first calls upon a supernatural group of women, the Idisi. The second calls upon six gods. We know these deities best today as Odin, Frigg, Baldr, and Fulla, alongside the personified Sun, a goddess, and the mysterious Sinthgunt, another goddess.

Recited and performed by Devon Rawlings (Baseborn Co.) with musical accompaniment by Asia Kindred Moore (Solace) and historical discussion from Joseph S. Hopkins. On-site tattooing by Jaqui Alberts Lund (Wovnwyrm). Featuring a special interpretative performance of the spells by Jacob Hee Lund of Denmark based experimental folk band Heilung