Icelandic magical staves (Icelandic: galdrastafir) are sigils that were credited with supposed magical effect preserved in various Icelandic grimoires dating from the 17th century and later.
There are many starves available and these are just a few listed in the table below.
Table of magical staves
Images: This is a file from the Wikimedia Commons, and images will link to wiki page for that image.
| Icelandic name | Manuscript description | Image |
|---|---|---|
| Að unni | “To get a girl”, this magical stave is used by a man in love to gain the affections of the object of his desires. |  |
| Ægishjálmur | Helm of Awe (or Helm of Terror); to induce fear, protect the warrior, and prevail in battle. |  |
| Angurgapi | Carved on the ends of barrels to prevent leaking. |  |
| Brýnslustafir | For use on whetstones |  |
| Draumstafir | To dream of unfulfilled desires. |  |
| Dreprún | To kill an enemy’s cattle. |  |
| Feingur | A fertility rune |  |
| Gapaldur | Two staves, kept in the shoes, gapaldur under the heel of the right foot and ginfaxi under the toes of the left foot, to magically ensure victory in bouts of Icelandic wrestling (glíma).[ |  |
| Ginfaxi |  |
|
| Hólastafur | To open hills |  |
| Kaupaloki | To prosper in trade and business |  |
| Lásabrjótur | To open a lock without a key. |  |
| Lukkustafir | Whoever carries this symbol with them encounters no evil, neither on the sea nor on the land. |  |
| Máladeilan | To win in court |  |
| Nábrókarstafur | A stave used when making necropants (nábrók), a pair of trousers made from the skin of a dead man that are capable of producing an endless supply of money. |  |
| Skelkunarstafur | To make your enemies afraid(A similar looking stave is titled Óttastafur in the Huld Manuscript.) |  |
| Rosahringur minni | ||
| Smjörhnútur | Butterknot, to find out if butter was made using milk stolen by a Tilberi |  |
| Stafur gegn galdri | Staves against witchcraft |  |
| Stafur til að vekja upp draug | To invoke ghosts and evil spirits. |  |
| Þjófastafur | For use against thieves |  |
| Tóustefna | To ward off foxes |  |
| Varnarstafur Valdemars | Valdemar’s Protection Stave; increases favor and happiness. |  |
| Vatnahlífir | Protection against drowning. |  |
| Vegvísir | To guide people through rough weather. |  |
| Veiðistafur | For luck in fishing. |  |