So I've seen the word floating around during Galdr and Rune research and was wondering, what is "wyrd" or "wyrd weaving" ? And, how is one to accomplish said "wyrd weaving" ? Thanks !
“Wyrd” (also “urd”) is a word that most closely translates to “fate” or “destiny” in modern English. And yes, it is the progenitor of modern English “weird” for those wondering. A closely related word is “orlog” which also roughly means fate or destiny. However, orlog is set at birth and is the conditions of our life we cannot change, such as where and when we are born, who our biological parents and family are so in turn our genetics, and financial status, stuff like that. Orlog is set by the norns at your birth. Your wyrd, on the other hand, is less set in stone.
Fate in Germanic lore is constantly referred to with terms like “strings” or “strands”. The valkyries are said to weave fate (see Njals Saga for an example) and the norns do some sort of textile-related action with fate but not necessarily weaving. Frigga who is said to know the fate of all men in Lokasenna is also associated with weaving. Hence the term “wyrd weaving” meaning to literally create or alter fate. You cannot change orlog but wyrd is more malleable. I think the best comparison is to a sonnet, a strict structure and format but freedom within. Another thing that I think illustrates it well is that one tumble post where “what if a king was given a prophecy that his son would kill him but the king is just like wtf am I supposed to kill my son? I’m not doing that. And the king lives to a ripe old age and falls ill, and his son compassionately ends his life so he will be out of pain etc. We can be given an endpoint we have to arrive at but the choices we make to get there are not set in stone although our choices can seem predetermined because we’re more likely to do one thing over another based upon factors like personality, values/ethics, and means/resources. This is a bit of a basic overview and I’m sure people disagree with me because many disagree that wyrd and orlog are even separate concepts. Regardless, that’s how I see them working and playing out.
With that said, wyrd weaving, as mentioned above, is literally altering the course of fate. Without knowing the specific sources I am not sure how these individuals specifically think to go about it. To me, almost all magic really is a form of wyrd weaving because it’s done to make a desired outcome more likely to happen. Whether that desired outcome is to protect yourself, get a job, or to cause misfortune to another, these are all examples of changing the future. And honestly, if you think of magic working in this way, it helps explain why a spell is unsuccessful or takes so long. If wyrd is a web of strings connecting, well some strings are connected in more convoluted paths and sometimes strings aren’t connected at all. Because of this it makes it difficult or impossible to alter an outcome if the magic has no path to travel between them. In that case, the most advanced form wyrd-weaving takes is to create a new string of fate between two unconnected things. And I’m sure there’s other ways but seidr magic seems to be able to accomplish this. Eldar Heide explains how its a magic conceptually tied to textile workings. If wyrd is created by the Norns via what is essentially textile workings then it makes sense that a magic based on those would be most effective at creating totally new fate strands.
Sorry this answer is a bit lackluster to this. I haven’t physically had the time to sit down and read the thing I wanted to on this specifically to see if there’s any info that I don’t already know. If there is I will update this and tag you.