Of cursing another being an ancient Scandinavian system.
Niding Pole High Land
Casting Directions for ‘Grimner’s Nid Curse’
The ‘Niding Pole’ (often called Nidstang or Nidhstong) is an early Scandinavian system of cursing another being.
A niding pole is most often made out of wood, traditionally hazel, with a horse’s head placed upon the top and relevant runes carved into the pole.
A goat’s skull can be utilised as a substitute, but then the curse doesn’t appear to be as effective.
(The horse’s head is now more commonly replaced with a horse skull or the pole is carved with the image of a horse head.)
On the Niding Pole, the horse skull uttered the horse rune Ehwaz, using the linking and transmissive power of this rune for the magical working. The horse is sacred to Odin.
To cast the curse, the pole was traditionally built, facing the path to which the curse is to be sent. An incantation is spoken, pronouncing the goal of the curse.
With that done the horse head is turned to face the direction of their selected quarry. Such a curse is intended also to cajole the land wights into working against the victim/s.
The pole channeled the destructive forces of Hel, goddess of death. These forces were carried up the rod and projected through the horse skull. The runes carved on the pole defined the character and target of the destructive forces.
Amongst others, triple Thorn [Thurisaz] runes and triple Is [Isa] runes, were used to ‘smite’ the enemy. When used maliciously, these had the effect of disempowering the accursed’s will and bringing him or her to the forces of destruction. Here, the Thorn rune invokes the power of Thurs, the demonic earth-giant sometimes called Moldthurs.
The Niding Pole was intended to disrupt and anger the earth sprites (Landvaettir, Land-Wights or earth spirits) inhabiting the ground where the accursed’s house was. These sprites would then vent their anger upon the individual, whose livelihood and lifestyle could be destroyed.
—
Grimner’s Nidstang:
“I curse!
I curse all of them
Who soil our glorious land
with unworthy actions.
I curse all of them
who borrow sacred symbols
Gungnir, Mjolnir and Sacred Staves –
Odin’s spear, Thor’s hammer
and runes, given by Odin’s hand
and soil them
with unholy deeds.
I curse all of them
Who in costumes that are ugly
and shaven heads
In addition to suits
and ties
Misuse the wisdom of our ancestors
our ancient ways
And our present faith.
I curse all of them
Who want to silent
the mouths of others
for themselves to be heard
With their stupid bellowing.
I curse all of them
Who put themselves above others
Because of their paleness,
who trample on others
Because of the color of their skin,
foreign language,
Or a different faith.
Upon the heads of these miscreants
I call all forces!
I call upon the gnomes, and the little people
to scratch their bodies
And disturb their sleep.
I call upon the elf-smiths
To lay an iron ring
around their chests
Giving little space for their spirit
little room for breath
To talk of evil.
I call upon the “rimthurses” (frost-giants)
From the depth of Niflheim
They may freeze to their death
Until they get a chance
To freeze others out.
I call Surt and his “fire-thurses”
That they may burn for their death
before others may burn
by their hands.
I call upon Loki
He may twist their vision
So that they strike each other down
Before they strike anyone else down.
I call upon Freya
So that these young men
Never may share the bed of a woman
and never have sons
or daughters of their own
Provided that they want to hinder
Others to do just that.
And I call upon Frey
That these young men
Have their manhood gelded,
Never having the ability to create anything good
for themselves,
never getting peace
or harvest,
Provided that they want to hinder
Others to do that.
I call upon Thor
That he may protect us
from demonic evil
And I call upon his wrath
against the miscreants
Who wants to cause pain to others.
I call upon Odin,
Allfather.
He who gave spirit
To man and woman.
He who together with his brothers
Hoenir and Lodur
Gave life to man,
Body and Soul,
Ask and Embla,
Man and Woman.
I call upon Odin
and the “Norns”.
Goddesses of destiny,
Urdh, Verdhandi and Skuld,
who together judge
everyone after death
that they may judge
these miscreants hard,
so that they
Not even after their deaths
May escape their deeds of wicked
Against other sons and daughters
of Ask and Embla.
I set this “nid”
until these drooling servants
of evil and ignorance
do penance
And let each and one
Remain by their land, their people
and their faith
wherever in our world
They may choose to live.”
by Grimner Bjornklo (“Bearclaw”)
