Magic Forums

So doing my normal browsing and reading of all Norsey-things, I stumbled across a picture I hadn't seen before that I thought was interesting. This particular charm is called the Ribe Skull/Ribe Cranium.

It is a piece of skull with runes inscribed onto it. The exact translation of the runes isn't completely clear, but more or lessit calls upon "Wolf", Odin, Tyr and "Bur" to help against a pain. It also mentions a dwarf (leading many to suspect it implied illness or pain due to dwarves, which wasn't uncommon). It has a hole drilled into the skull piece, and was likely worn as an amulet. Though the translation doesn't mention which specific "pain" the person was trying to magically aide against, we can assume it was a headache or head pain since it was inscribed onto a piece of skull.

Pictures:

• http://irisharchaeology.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Viking-amulet.jpg?x55472
• http://irisharchaeology.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/rune04b_458.jpg?x55472

I can't recall off the top of my head if I have read of similar amulets or inscriptions made on bone that represented the area a person was trying to heal/mend, and I've never done it personally, but I thought it was a neat idea. If you could find corresponding bones to areas you experience issues with (animal bones, to be clear) and inscribe them with runes, and wear them when issues occur - I think it'd be helpful. For instance, if you have aching joints - inscribing something small for healing on the bone and wearing it when your joints flare up?

Anywho, just wanted to share my interesting read of the day!