Books of spells are found in many cultures, but Iceland’s Galdrabók stands apart as a small but dense record of everyday hopes and anxieties from around the year 1600. Galdrabók means “book of incantations” in Icelandic and refers to a grimoire, or spellbook, that brings together a patchwork of magical practices from across centuries.
A collaborative manuscript of magical tradition
The Galdrabók was the work of four scribes writing in sequence, beginning in the late 16th century and carrying on through to the middle of the 17th century. The first three contributors were Icelandic, while the final scribe was a Dane who drew on Icelandic sources. Over time, their combined efforts produced a manuscript that is both pragmatic and imaginative.
In total, the Galdrabók collects 47 spells alongside an array of sigils (mystical symbols commonly called staves in Iceland). Some staves and incantations are inscribed with runic letters, others employ Latin, and many show the influence of local Icelandic language and belief. Christian invocations are set alongside references to Norse deities and even demons, reflecting a religious landscape in transition.
Practical and sometimes peculiar spells
Unlike the grand wizardry of legend, many of the book’s spells aimed to address practical issues in daily life. Recipes were given to ward off headache, pestilence, insomnia, and difficulties in childbirth or seafaring. Others aimed to protect against previous spells cast by others. Not all the entries were benevolent: the book includes spells to find thieves, kill animals, induce sleep or fear, even to cause flatulence or cast spells on women.
Instructions often called for specific herbs or crafted items to be used alongside the incantation or carved staves, blending natural knowledge with ritual.
A living document
The Galdrabók remained a relatively obscure text until the 20th century, when Natan Lindqvist published it in Swedish in 1921. An English translation followed in 1989 by Stephen Flowers, who, along with Matthías Viðar Sæmundsson, later produced an annotated facsimile edition. Further editions over the decades have provided greater context and accessibility, reflecting ongoing interest in how belief, survival and the supernatural intertwined in Icelandic history.
A new illustrated English-Icelandic edition was published in 2024 by folklorist Kári Pálsson, including the previously unpublished Jarðskinna grimoire, showcasing the enduring intrigue of Icelandic folk magic and its adaptation across generations.
