Daily Old Norse Insight - The Varðlokkur — The Chant That “Called the Spirits”

One of the rarest and most explicit ritual terms preserved in Old Norse literature is varðlokkur, mentioned directly in Eiríks saga rauða.

It refers to the ritual chant or song performed during a seiðr rite to summon spirits, powers, or visions.

This is not reconstructed terminology — the word itself appears in the saga.

Fully Attested Features of Varðlokkur

1. Explicitly Named in Eiríks saga rauða

During the seiðr ritual performed by Þorbjǫrg Lítilvölva:

• women gather in a circle

• one woman sings the varðlokkur

• the völva states she cannot perform the rite until it is sung

This is one of the only named ritual vocal techniques in Old Norse sources.

2. The Song Was Meant to “Lure” or “Call” Powers

The word breaks down as:

• varðr — guardian, watcher, spirit

• lokka — to lure, entice, draw forth

Together, varðlokkur means “spirit-calling chant”.

The saga implies the chant:

• attracts spirits

• enables prophecy

• allows the völva to “see” what was hidden

3. The Knowledge Was Rare and Valued

In the saga, Guðríðr is the only person present who knows the chant, having learned it earlier in life.

This shows:

• ritual knowledge was specialized

• songs were preserved orally

• not everyone could perform them

4. Singing Was Central to Seiðr

This confirms that seiðr was not silent trance, but involved:

• rhythm

• voice

• repetition

• communal participation

The chant creates the altered state — not just the völva alone.

Modern Relevance

The varðlokkur shows that:

• sound and voice were essential tools of Norse ritual

• magic was communal, not solitary

• women played central ritual roles

• prophecy required cooperation and correct performance

It is one of the clearest windows into how Norse ritual actually worked.