The Merseburg Spells:

Germanic Paganism

Joseph S. Hopkins

Introduced by John Lindow & Alexander Sager with art by Rim Baudey & Jacqui Alberts Lund

Image of cover
Image of title page
Image of internal art by Rim Baudey
Image of introduction by John Lindow
Image of introduction by Alexander Sager
Image of the Idisi by Rim Baudey
Another image of the Idis by Rim Baudey
Image of Old High German text
Image of a historical bracteate by Jacqui Alberts Lund
Image of a contemporary bracteate design by Rim Baudey
Image of back cover of the edition

“Bone to bone, blood to blood, limb to limb, so joined together be!”

A must for anyone interested in the mysterious prehistory of the European continent and for readers interested in topics like historical paganism and what we today call “the occult”.

In 1841, German historian Georg Waitz was leafing through a series of manuscripts in what is now Merseburg, Germany. There he discovered what would seen be known as some of the most important items in ancient Germanic studies: two spells in Old High German alliterative verse, a traditional variety of poetry associated with speakers of ancient Germanic languages from at least the early 400s. These hugely impactful items are primarily known in contemporary German as die Merseburger Zaubersprüche, which is variously rendered into English as the Merseburg Charms, Merseburg Incantations, or—as we’ve chosen to title this edition—the Merseburg Spells.

The spells are brief but profound, providing an extraordinary window into the pre-Christianization beliefs of the Germanic-speakers of continental Europe. The first calls upon a supernatural group of women, the Idisi. The second calls upon six gods. We know these deities best today as Odin, Frigg, Baldr, and Fulla, alongside the personified Sun, a goddess, and the mysterious Sinthgunt, another goddess.

In this greatly expanded second edition, researcher Joseph S. Hopkins renders the poem and discusses both of the spells and associated historical context, themes, and topics alongside a variety of additional, supplemental items. This beautiful and unique edition is lushly illustrated by artist Rim Baudey with contributions from artist Jacqui Alberts Lund (Wovnwyrm Tattoo). It features introductions and discussion from scholars John Lindow (Professor Emeritus of Old Norse and Folklore at University of California, Berkeley) and Alexander Sager (Department of Germanic and Slavic Studies, University of Georgia), and was edited by Danielle Cudmore (Halmstad University, Sweden) and Lauren E. Fountain (Hyldyr).

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A UNIQUE & APPROACHABLE
EDITION INTENDED
FOR EVERYONE

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First edition
2023. 76 pages. 5x7. Published by Hyldyr.
Limited to 333 hand-numbered copies.
Sold out

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Second edition
2025. 156 pages. 5x7. Published by Hyldyr.
ISBN-13: 978-1-966041-09-2
File under: Non-fiction, European history, folklore, & occult

Expected availability August 2025

PRE-ORDER AVAILABLE (USA)

PRE-ORDER AVAILABLE (Non-USA)

See Also

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"The Long Hidden Friend: Or, The Long Lost Friend; Historical Pennsylvania German Folk Magic" by John George Hohman. Seed 18. Published May 2025.
"The Comparative Völuspá: The Viking Age Prophecy of Birth, Death, & Rebirth" as rendered by Benjamin Thorpe, Olive Bray, & Henry Adams Bellows. Seed 17. Non-fiction. Published December 2024.
"The Comparative Hávamál: Historic Advice & Guidance from the Viking Age God Odin" as rendered by Benjamin Thorpe, Olive Bray, & Henry Adams Bellows. Seed 16. Non-fiction. Published December 2024.
"The Galdrabók: Forbidden Icelandic Folk Magic" by Kári Pálsson. Seed 15. Non-fiction. Published December 2024.
"The Folk of the Mountain Door: A Victorian-Era Pagan Fantasy" by William Morris. Seed 14. Fiction. Published September 2024.