An Old Norse expert discusses the vǫlva (or völva), the type of witch or seeress seen in so many poems of the Poetic Edda and Norse sagas, and what little we know about seiðr, her magic forbidden to men.

Dr. Jackson Crawford is Instructor of Nordic Studies and Nordic Program Coordinator at the University of Colorado Boulder (formerly UC Berkeley and UCLA). He is a historical linguist and an experienced teacher of Old Norse, Modern Icelandic, and Norwegian. Visit JacksonWCrawford.com

Music © I See Hawks in L.A., courtesy of the artist. Visit http://www.iseehawks.com/

Logo by Elizabeth Porter (snowbringer at gmail).

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Jackson Crawford’s translation of The Poetic Edda: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/162...
Jackson Crawford’s translation of The Saga of the Volsungs with The Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/162...

Jackson Crawford’s Patreon page:   / norsebysw