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During my research into runic history, I discovered that in the 1600s in the area of Vardo, Norway,  there was a clan of witches who used runes for magical purposes.There were stories upon stories about these witches, their practices, and the trials that took place to condemn their activities.  (Oddly enough, these trials occurred at approximately the same time  as the Salem,Massachusetts witch trials.) 

 

In total, 91 Norwegian witches were either drowned or burned at the stake for their “evil-doings”.  Fast forward to 2011…The Norwegian government established the Steilneset Monument in Vardo to commemorate these witches.  I was both curious and astonished at what my research had uncovered, so I scheduled a pilgrimage to Norway to visit the memorial. 

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Built on the waterfront, the memorial resembles a huge fish rack, the type of construction that was historically used in the fishing industry to dry out cod.  Inside the memorial are the names and profiles of all 91 witches including the types of magic they were known for and what crimes they allegedly committed.

 

When I read the stories, I was surprised to learn that even though these witches were convicted of performing so-called dark witchcraft, many were best known for their ability to heal people in pain. I felt a strong spiritual connection to both the witches and their healing energy. Just as importantly, I felt validated that  my identity as a Norwegian witch was not so far-fetched.  It is that validation and connection which has fueled my continued pursuit of rune reading and the desire to use my talent to help people discover the path to living their best lives.

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