An intro to Galdr (Blog)
The Galdr Chants
What is Galdr? By definition, Galdr is a sung or chanted form of magic with a heavy emphasis on words and rhythm. Performed by all manners of people Galdr doesn’t necessarily need words to be powerful. Sometimes when you sing and make up your own musical sound, it can affect things if you put intention behind it. Oftentimes it's likened to various indigenous throat singing styles. Galdr is extremely important to the Runic paths because of the power that is within the names and sounds of the Runes; these can serve as another form of meditation, building that relationship with the Runes, as well as becoming their own spellwork in your toolbox.
Starting the chants: Once you have formed your foundation, you can move onto Galdr. Sit in the dark, alone, and in silence. Hold the Rune you wish to work within your hand, perhaps paint or mark it onto your body. Finally, work yourself into a deep trance, a trance that feels like you’re barely alive and are submerged deep below in caverns of old. Once that feeling is reached you can start. Begin by humming softly. Then slowly start to chant or sing the corresponding chant below. For these exercises I have decided to only list the Elder Futhark examples to serve as a basic foundation for the reader's Galdr practice and to encourage further creation and experimentation from the reader in their path.
While it may seem hard to find the courage or means to keep a straight face when beginning the chants it is important to know that our individual practices all have differences from each other. Adapt this guide to your style, if you feel called to Galdr. You don't need permission to experiment and find a way to enjoy every facet of your praxis. You can scream the Runes from the top of your lungs as a battle chant or whisper them as you write, carve or divine with the Runes. You can use the Runes to help set the tone or intention of your own spellwork. Galdr is another tool for the toolbox that not everyone needs, but there's always more than one way to Heathen.
We will begin with Freya’s Aett.
Freya’s Aett Fehu: Sing Feeeehhhuuuu over and over again: sing its title. Then finally repeat this. Feeeeeehhhhuuuuu Fe fe fe fe fe fe fe fe fe Huhuhuhuhuhu Fehu Feeeeeeehhhhhhuuuu
Do this over and over again and feel the essence of the rune filling you with its energy. Do this until you feel that the rune has concluded its time with you and it is safe to exit the trance state. Exit the trance gradually and invite Fehu for its presence and guidance.
Follow this template for all the runes until you discover or find the way that works best for you.
Uruz: Uruz uruzuruz uuuuuuuuu uuuuuurrrrrr uuuuuuuuu
Thurisaz: thurisaz thurisaz thurisaz th thththththththth thur thar thur ther thor thu thathuthetho th thththththththth
Ansuz: ansuz ansuzansuz awawawawawawawawaw awawawawawawssssss awawawawawaw awawawawawawawawaw
Raidho: raidho raidho raidho r r rrrrrrr ru ra ri re ro rudhradhridhredhrodh (rut rat rit ret rot) or er ir ar ur r r rrrrrrr
Kenaz: kenaz kenazkenaz kukakikeko kunkankinkenkon okekikakuk Kaunnnnnnnnn
Gebo: gebo gebo gebo gugagigego ogegigauur gaaafffff
Wunjo: wunjowunjowunjo wuwawi wewo wunwanwinwenwon wowewiwawu wwwuuunnn
Heimdalls’s Aett Haglaz: hagalaz hagalaz hagalaz hhhhhhhhh huhahiheho hughaghigheghog (hul hal hil hel hol) ohehihahuh hhhhhhhhh
Naudhiz: naudhiz naudhiz naudhiz nnnnnnnnn nunanuneno nudhnadhhudhnedhniodh (nut nat nit net not) unaninenon nnnnnnnnn
Isa: isa isa isa i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i s s ssss (s s ssssiiiiii) i i i i i i i i i
Jera: jera jera jera j j j e eerrraaa j j j j j j j j j ju ja ji je jo (jur jar jir jer jor) j j j e eerrraaa
Eihwaz: eihwaz eihwazeihwaz (iwaz iwaz iwaz) e eeeeeeee [a neutral, closed vowel sound] iwuiwaiwiiwaiwu iwoiweiwiiwaiwu e eeeeeeee
Perthro: perthro perthro perthro pupapipepo purdhpardhpirdhperdhpordh popepipapu pppeeerrrthththrrrooo
Algiz: elhaz elhaz elhaz z zzzzzzzz [a deepwhirring, whistling sound] uzazizezuz oz ezizazuz z zzzzzzzz (mmmmmmmmm)
Sowilo: sowilo sowilo sowilo s ssssssss s ssooolll su sasi seso (sul sal sil sel sol) us asis esos si se su sasu s ssssssss
Tyr’s Aett: Tiwaz: tiwaz tiwaz tiwaz t i i i i i r r rrr tu ta ti te ter tor tur tar tir ter tor ot et it at ut (Tyr Tyr) Tiiiii rrrrr
Berkano: berkano berkanoberkano bubabibebo beeeeerrrrr (burk bark birk berk bork) obebibabub beeeeerrrrr
Ehwaz: ehwoehwoehwo e eeehwooo ehwuehwaehwiehweehwo ehwoehweehwiehwaehwu e eeehwooo
Mannaz: mannazmannazmannaz mmmaaaaaannn mumamimemo munmanminmenmon umamimemom monmenminmanmun mmmaaaaaannn mmmmmmmmm
Laguz: laguz laguz laguz l l l l l l l l l lu la li ke lo (lug lag lig leg log) ul al il el ol lo le li la lu l l l a aaggguuu l l l l l l l l l
Ingwaz: ingwazingwazingwaz i i i i n nnngggg ungangingengong ongengingangung i i i i n nnngggg
Dagaz: dagaz dagazdagaz dhdhdhdhdhdhdhdhdh dddaaagggaaazzz dudadidedo dhdhdhdhdhdhdhdhdh odhedhidhadhudh odedudadud dddaaagggaaazzz
Othala: othala othal othal ooooooooo oooooo othul othal othil othel othol othol othel othil othal othul oooooo