A spectacular way of cursing your enemy with a Niding Pole

What is a Nithing Pole?

A Niding Pole is used for cursing and revenge.

“The pole acts as a magnet for the deadly forces of Hel, which are drawn up through the pole from the subterranean streams and projected to the victim.”

A nithing pole consisted of a long, wooden pole with a recently cut horse head at the end, and at times with the skin of the horse laid over the pole. (1) The nithing pole was directed towards the enemy and target of the curse. Then, the curse could be carved in runes on the pole.

Other names: A nithing pole (Old Norse: níðstang), sometimes normalized as nithstang or nidstang. Sometimes called a “Nithing” or “niding” pole.

Nidstang: A Runic Curse

“In the Viking age the most spectacular way of cursing an enemy was by the Niding Pole (the Nithstong or Scorn-Post). They were poles about nine feet (2.75 meters) long upon which insults and curses were carved in runes. Ceremonies were performed to activate the destructive magic of the pole. A horse’s skull was fixed to the top of the pole, and it was stuck into the ground with the skull facing towards the house of the accursed person. The pole channeled the destructive forces of Hela, goddess of death. These forces were carried up the pole and projected through the horse skull. The runes carved on the pole defined the character and target of the destructive forces. Among 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 delivering him or her to the forces of destruction. Here, the Thorn rune invokes the power of Thurs, the demonic earth-giant sometimes called Moldthurs. An example of this comes from Skírnismál, where the spell used by Skirnir against Freyr’s reluctant lover, Gerdhr invokes harm using the Thorn rune. This provides the power for three other runestaves: ‘I shall inscribe Thurs for you, and three runestaves: lewdness, and rage and impotence.

Magically, 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 person, whose livelihood and life would be destroyed. Niding Poles were also used to desecrate areas of ground. This technique is called álfreka, literally the ‘driving away of the elves’, by which the earth sprites of a place were banished, leaving the ground spiritually dead…

On the Niding Pole, the horse skull invokes the horse rune Ehwaz, using the linking and transmissive power of the rune for the magical working. The horse is sacred to Odin, god of runes and magic…”

Excerpt from Rune Magic: The History and Practice of Ancient Runic Traditions,
by Nigel Pennick

Also recommended by Nigel:

Pagan Magic Of The Northern Tradition By Nigel Pennick

The Niding Pole Ritual for Revenge

Saxo Grammaticus: Danmarks Krønike (Gesta Danorum) – tr. Frederik Winkel Horn (Danish) – illust. Louis Moe (1898)

No we are not asking you to cut the head off any horse, but of course, if you own an abattoir (or work at one), then do what comes naturally.

You will actually find people use other types of animal heads on the end of the pole, such as sheep heads, or even dried cod heads. (1) If at all possible, I also recommend that you find a head to stick at the end of your poll but I will not include that in the ritual below. Get creative, and think about what you have available to you.

To substitute the use of an animal head, in this ritual all I ask is for a photo of the target.

Before you ask:

If you don’t have a photo of the target and you can’t access a head, then you can’t do the ritual.
Also, it is better if the target sees the pole. If this is not possible, you do need to face the photo all the head in the direction that the target is located. If this is not possible, you cannot do this ritual successfully.
If you don’t have the power to visualize the grey energy, Then you will have to be able to summon the energy of hate within you as you launch the poll into the ground.

You will need:

a pole 2 feet long at least
runes (research the rune for your need)
photo of target

BWC Method:

Obtain A Wooden Pole Approximately 2 Feet Long
Carve The Appropriate Rune(s)into the pole, while chanting/vibrating and focusing upon the destruction of the hated one. Example of cursing runes:
- Thorr (thorn) – is used in the destruction of enemies and in curses.
- Ing – Can deprive a man of his masculinity or anyone, male or female of their life force.
- Naudh – it brings suffering and hardship
Attach an photo of your target on the end of the pole…upside down.
During the hours of mars, in a waning moon period, plant the pole into the ground so the head is facing the direction of the hated one’s place of living or where he/she is at most often. The pole should be in a place where it will not be disturbed.
Visualize grey destructive energy being drawn from under the ground up along the pole and connect it with the aura of the hated one. You have to will this.
Then, affirm what the energy is to do in the present tense such as:
- “The destructive grey energy is destroying (name of hated one)”
- “This energy is replenished continuously from the earth and does its job at all times.”

Grimmer’s Nidstang

by Grimner Bjornklo (“Bearclaw”)

During the Viking Age to put a “nid” on someone was to put very powerful verbal curse upon them. The power of words was not taken lightly by these efficient warriors, so to make a curse of this kind was very serious. It was the ultimate insult, and used only in dire circumstances.

In the Saga of Egil Skallagrimsson (an Icelandic/Norwegian story from the 10th century) King Eirik Bloodaxe, wronged Egil and made him an outlaw. The feuding resulted in many dead on both sides. After a battle on the island of Herdla (near Norway), Egil raised a hazelwood pole on the top of this island, and on the top of the pole he placed a severed horse’s head, aimed towards Eirik’s home. On the pole he carved sacred runes, with a curse upon King Eirik. He also spoke this curse, this “nid”:

“Here I place this “Nidstang” (“curse-pole”), and turneth it against King Eirik and Queen Gunnhild – turneth I this against all the gnomes and little people of the land, that they may all be lost, not finding their homes, until they drive King Eirik and Queen Gunnhild out of the country.”

According to the legend, the curse soon took effect, and King Eirik and his Queen Gunnhild fled to the British Isles.

This old custom has returned, and is again in use in our modern day. This is a very powerful ancient magic ritual, a curse with a power one should not use lightly and whimsically. These “nidstangs” have been placed to to defend our symbols and traditions from neo-nazis and other crackpots who “borrow” our sacred symbols and make them their own and vile.

We cannot be silent and pretend this is not happening. When wearing a Thor’s hammer means taking the risk of being looked upon as a racist, and if carrying a sun-cross, or a rune, such as the Odal-rune, can get one arrested – then it is time to say “Stop!”, to draw the line. We can’t let these fools steal our heritage and soil it with their abusive and stupid attitude!

This “nid”, this curse you can read here, is one in a chain of digital “Nidstangs”, put up on websites around the world, and it is turned against everyone who misuses and abuses our ancient sacred symbols, and soils our land with hatred and discord. At the bottom of this page you will find links to the others who put up “nidstangs” around Scandinavia. (2)

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 ugly costumes
and shaven heads
as well as suits
and ties
abuse 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 powers!
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 room for their spirit
little room for breath
to speak of evil.

I call upon the “rimthurses” (frost-giants)
from the depth of Niflheim
That they may freeze to their death
before they get a chance
to freeze others out.

I call Surt and his “fire-thurses”
That they may burn to their death
before others may burn
by their hands.

I call upon Loki
That 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 a woman’s bed
and never have sons
or daughters of their own
as long as they want to hinder
others to do just that.

And I call upon Frey
That these young men
have their manhood gelded,
never being able to create anything good
for themselves,
never getting peace
or harvest,
as long as they want to hinder
others to do just 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 evil
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
stay by their land, their people
and their faith
wherever in our world
they may choose to live.

Authors warning:

“This curse is not turned exclusively on a certain easily detected group of young men (with shaven heads and/or carrying swastikas and such), but against everyone who answers to the description in this “nid”. “This curse is not unconditional. It is only meant to fall upon those who persist in their destructive behavior. Tolerance and forgiveness are important principles for any spiritually inclined person, and no innocent should indiscriminately suffer from this curse.”

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