During the Christianization of Europe in the Middle Ages, many books of magic were lost as the ancient pagan traditions were
suppressed. But in Iceland the practice of recording magical spells in books continued in secret for centuries, on a scale not seen elsewhere. Now
housed in the National Library in Reykjavik, these surviving grimoires, which represent only a hundredth of what was lost, reveal a rich magical tradition
that continued to evolve into the 20th century. Drawing directly from the actual surviving Icelandic books of magic, Stephen Flowers presents a
complete system of magic based on Icelandic lore and magical practices from the 16th century onward. He explores the history of magic in Iceland in
pagan and early Christian times and reveals specific practical techniques and ritual templates that readers can adapt to their unique purposes. Flowers
also presents an extensive catalog of actual spells and magical workings from the historical Icelandic books of magic. These examples provide readymade
forms for practical experimentation as well as an exemplary guide on how to create signs and symbols for more personalized magical work. The
author also includes guidance on creating unique magical signs from the 100 mythic names of Odin, which he translates and interprets magically, and
from Icelandic magical alphabets, symbols that connect Icelandic magic to the ancient runic tradition.