A recreated Heathern charm based on a late Saxon charm

Introduction:

As the basis of the reconstruction I used 'An exorcism of fever' from Leech Book I, LXII.3.

I added in a popular method of blessing the herbs at the point of picking and also again under an altar. All references to the new religion were replaced with equivalent non Christian texts from other Saxon documents. Where none could be found a simple appropriate text was made up or borrowed from none medical sources, eg when singing to the herbs under the altar the Lords Prayer was replaced with an abridged Anglo-Saxon version of the same prayer but using the word 'Wodan' in place of god.

All references also include reference to the 1865 publication by parliament of a collected corpus of Anglo-Saxon medical documents (for a free download of these refer to links on this blog).

The final galdor that is sung at the end: 'May this leaf cause to cure......' I was unable to find a translation. I managed with the help of a friend and various online resources to produce the translation of the text that you see.

The healing herbs used were taken from various Anglo-Saxon healing texts and leaned towards that which we could find growing locally during a rather cold spring.

An exorcism of fever (heathen recreation)

Before picking a wort say:

"I pray thee, insert name, thee that art to be had for thy

many useful qualities, that thou cometh to me glad,

blossoming with thy usefulness; that thou outfit

me so that I be shielded, and ever well, and

undamaged by poisons and by wrath”

(HERBARIVM, CLXXIX (Periwinkle); 1865 doc, P313)

To make herbal ink:

Place worts under the hearg (altar) and sing nine times:

(Leech book II LXV 4, 1865 doc P295 = 3masses x 3 days

Leech book II Against elf disease P62, 1865 doc P305

Leech book II XLI, 1865 doc P335 = 9 masses

Leech book II LXI, 1865 doc P345 = 9 masses

Leech book II LXII, 1865 doc P345 = 9 masses)

Galdor (spell/charm) to be sung, based on Anglo-Saxon Lord's Prayer:

'Wodan ure þu þe eart on heofonum;

Si þin nama gehalgod

gewurþe ðin willa

urne gedæghwamlican hlaf syle us todæg

and gelæd þu us. soþlice'

Then grind with some holy water and strain through a clean cloth.

Application:

Galdorcraftica (spellcrafter) brings sacred spring water, and herbal ink, writes charm with a wand:

'Wodan make this wifeman/weaponman well', on a plate and washes it off with the water into a bowl or cup, then sings a charm three times over it:

'I taketh thee worts, that thou beest a comfort to this wifeman/weaponman so mote it be'

Galdorcraftica takes three sips, passes to patient, they take three sips, he then sings a galdor. (Leech Book I, LXII.3 (An exorcism of fever); 1865 doc, P137)

The Galdor:

May this leaf cause to cure all who are,

In cities, towns, fields, houses, in villages and forts or wandering,

Cast out all diseases of the body and be healed.

The three worts:

Fennel or Pennyroyal

Celandine

Feverfew or camomile

Translation of the prayer:

Wodan our thou that art in heavens

be thy name hallowed

be done thy will

our daily bread give us today

and lead thou us. truly

Basis of the exorcism:

Leech Book I, LXII.3 (An exorcism of fever) P137 in 1865 doc

A man shall write this upon the sacramental.

paten, and wash it off into the drink with holy water,

and sing over it ... . In the beginning, etc. (John i.1) 

Then wash the writing with holy water off the

dish into the drink, then sing the Credo, and the

Paternoster, and this lay, Beati immaculati, the psalm; (Psalm, cxix.)

with the twelve prayer psalms, I adjure you, etc. And

let each of the two men (the leech and the sick) then sip thrice of the water

so prepared.

Inde salutiferis incedens gressibus urbes,

Oppida, rura, casas, vicos, castella peragrans

Omnia depulsis sanabat corpora morbis.

SEDVLIVS 5C

Translation:

(May) this leaf cause (to cure) (all who are)

In cities, towns, fields, houses, in villages and forts or wandering

Cast out all diseases of the body and be healed.