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The völva, vala, wala ( Old High German), seiđkona, or wicce was a female shaman in Norse mythology, and among the Germanic peoples. They practiced the seid ( shamanism), which was regarded as unmanly. Also associated with them were incantations called galdra (see also the A-S quote below). Examples of völva in Norse literature include the seeress Heidi (alt. Heith) in Voluspa and the witch Groa in the Svipdagsmál. The word witch is the modern form of wicce.
Since they maintained the old faith, they were demonized, persecuted, and killed by the competing Roman Catholic Church. See the following Anglo-Saxon law, where they and the old faith are targeted:
- "If any wicca ( witch), wiglaer ( wizardA wizard (from 'wise') is a practitioner of magic, especially in folklore, fantasy fiction, and fantasy role-playing games. In popular use in sixteenth century England it was used to denonate a helpful male folk magican, a cunning man as they were usually), false swearer, morthwyrtha (worshipper of the dead) or any foul contaminated, manifest horcwenan( whore), be anywhere in the land, man shall drive them out."
- "We teach that every priest shall extinguish heathendom and forbid wilweorthunga ( fountain worship ), licwiglunga (incantations of the dead), hwata ( omens), galdra ( magic), man worship and the abominations that men exercise in various sorts of witchcraft, and in frithspottum ( peace-enclosures ) with elms and other trees, and with stones, and with many phantoms." (source: 16th Canon Law enacted under King Edgar in the 10th century)
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Norse mythology
Witchcraft
Mediators
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