Lavrans,

You brought up a topic that interested me, so here's my response. In response to a question about spells to prevent a miscarriage, you wrote:

"The whole idea of being able to somehow get superhuman wights to do things for us, or to rearrange events to our benefit smacks of the Judeo-Christian mindset. (O please God, make me rich...) It is the Kaballistic basis of Pagan/Wicca and similar systems of belief. Make a deal with "God" which will give you power over demons so you can force them to do your work for you. "

Where is the border between spells and Blots? How is Ásatrú magic different from Embla based magic?

Spells as Blots and as appeals to the Divine.

Consider that each of us has our own Ørlög. Consider that various wights have the ability to effect subtle random events to effect the outcome of situations, when it is in line with our wyrde/Ørlög. Consider that the Hávamál teaches that a gift given looks to a gift in return. Consider that a Blot is a gift given.

Add these up, and I argue that a Blot to Eir asking for a successful pregnancy fits the definition of a spell, a request for results without obvious linkage to the cause. It can also be described as making a deal with a Goddess, although it can hardly be depicted as forcing Eir to do your work for you. It fits well into Ásatrú practice.

A Blot asking for a successful pregnancy can be a request to expend one's wyrde/Ørlög for the desired outcome. Since it is a gift given, it does look to a gift in return. If the offerer's, ahem, "Ørlög account balance" is high enough, it is definitely reasonable to ask to cash it in for such a favor.

Compare the differences in the reality models:

For a Blot to work, you must have already lived your life well enough that you have earned a favor. Then you do a Blot to request that favor be taken from your account. If the wight wants to, and you have earned it, the request can be granted. Afterwards, you remain on friendly terms with the wight if you started on friendly terms with it.

For a spell phrased in a Kaballistic sense of forcing a demon to do your work, you must know how to invoke the demon, and how to bind it. Then you call the demon, and give it your orders. If it can find a way out of the trap, it rebels, otherwise it does your bidding. Afterwards, the wight has become your enemy, and it will exact revenge if it gets the chance.

No wonder you think "There's something morally and ethically corrupt about this kind of 'Magick'."

Spells as Will and the direct expression of it.

Consider that each of us has our own Ørlög (Sounds familiar? Okay, I'll change direction now.) Consider that, as a result of our previous actions and wisdom, each of us has some amount of strength that can be applied to any problem. Consider that there are more means than the technical. A spell can be viewed as the direct application of Will to achieve a result without any obvious cause.

Add these up, a you get a form of magic that is not linked to the Divine, what I've often heard called "pure magic". This is directly effecting the world without any obvious technical means.

Ásatrú spells of this direct type tend to be runic, either risting runes or bindrunes on an object, erulian style, or chanting runes vocally, galdor style. Ásatrú also supplies a shamanistic form of seidh magic that is usually focused inward. I will not address the use of seidh to effect the outside world here. Wiccan spells of this type tend to involve various ceremonies.

Compare the differences in the reality models:

A runic spell can be expected to work if the magician has enough strength of Ørlög to pull it off, so its effectiveness is correlated with strength of character, track record, and skill of the magician. Magicians who are ineffectual in their general mundane lives are also expected to be ineffectual in their magical attempts.

A ceremonial spell can be expected to work based on the accuracy of its execution. It isn't correlated to the strength of character or track record of the magician, so the ones who tend to try it are the ones who aren't successful in general by mundane means.

If you are thinking of spells in terms of their Kaballistic history, rather than in terms of their Ásatrú history, no wonder you find magic repugnant.

The models of how reality works are different, though. Not all Ásatrúar practice magic, not all are interested in it. Magic is truly an optional aside to the religion, but it is there, and it is available for those interested.

Don't discard the use of magic based solely on your studies of Kabbalist traditions, most of the basic ideas don't map.

Hail Asgard!
Doug Freyburger