Seiðr, or 'string magic'
Seiðr is not the umbrella term for sorcery or witchcraft in Norse culture.
Seiðr comes from an Old High German and Old English roots that means ‘cord,’ 'snare,’ or 'string.' Seiðr is not just any magic or spell or casting: seiðr is binding magic that metaphysically binds objects, people, animals, or spirits to the caster as if they were attached by a string or thread.
This is why a distaff is so important in portrayals of völvas or witches. The physical act of threading wool or sewing a tapestry channeled the seiðr to manifest. A strong example of this is a scene from Laxdaela saga when Gudrun, the instigator of most of the saga’s bloodshed, turns to Bolli upon his return from his errand of slaying Kjartan:
A poor match they make, our morning’s work—I have spun twelve ells of yarn while you have slain Kjartan (Laxdaela saga 116)
Seiðr magic works to draw things to the caster but also to send out göndull, or fetches, that are ‘tied to’ and manipulated by the caster. Bolli then is a possible physical fetch of Gudrun. The etymology of göndull as well plays a part in Bolli’s actions: göndull means both ‘coarse thread’ for the actual spinning of the spell, but also ‘penis’ (Old Norse religion, Heide 166). Kjartan’s death by Bolli’s sword-tip is death by Gudrun’s seiðr, making Bolli into Gudrun’s metaphorical phallus that pierces Kjartan, shaming him during his death.
