In the realm of witchcraft, the baton and cord are two essential tools that hold both symbolic and practical meaning. The baton, also known as a wand, is often associated with magic and spellcasting. It is typically made from various materials such as wood, metal, or crystal and is believed to harness and direct energy. The baton is thought to be an extension of the witch's will and serves as a channel for their intentions. With a simple flick or wave of the baton, a witch can amplify their power and focus their energy towards a specific goal. The baton's shape and design can also hold significance, with different symbols or engravings representing different aspects of magic.
The alphabet we know today was not the first written form the English language took. First came ‘futhorc‘ – an Anglo-Saxon runic alphabet that was used throughout the 6th to 10th century, disappearing from use after the 1066 Norman Conquest.
First came futhorc an Anglo-Saxon runic alphabet that was used throughout the 6th to 10th century, disappearing from use after the 1066 Norman Conquest. Regarding the choice of which values to assign which letters, some such as thorn and eth representing the interdental fricatives, and using ash for short a , were obvious, as those are the sounds they stood for in Old English.
The baton's shape and design can also hold significance, with different symbols or engravings representing different aspects of magic. On the other hand, the cord, often referred to as a binding cord or "witch's ladder," is used in rituals to bind, protect, and connect. It can be made from various materials such as rope, ribbon, or yarn, with specific colors or patterns chosen to align with the intention of the ritual.
Runes
The Vikings used letters called runes. They are imitations of the Latin letters used in most of Europe during the Viking era. The Latin letters are the ones we use today.
What are runes?
During the first centuries AD, the Romans influenced most of Europe. Runes developed in areas populated by Germanic tribes, probably inspired by the Latin alphabet of the Romans. The earliest runic inscriptions, dating from ca 150 AD, are particularly common in what is now Denmark, Northern Germany and Southern Sweden.
The oldest runes are often found on items such as coins, suit buckles, weapons and implements, and are often the names of the owner of the item or the name of the person who made it.
Runes - an ancient alphabet
The runic alphabet is named after its first six letters:
f – u – þ – a – r – k
The strange þ-rune is pronounced 'th', a sound we find today especially in English words like 'the', 'think' and 'throne'.
Elder Futhark had 24 letters while Younger Futhark, developed at the beginning of the Viking Age, had only 16 letters.
Elder Futhark inscriptions etched by craftsmen and owners have been found on coins, garment brooches, weapons and implements dating primarily from the era of the Iron Age princes.
The runic stones of the Viking Age were erected in commemoration of powerful leaders and their heroic achievements. Short runic inscriptions are also found on everyday artefacts from Viking towns and marketplaces.
Runes were used alongside our present-day alphabet up until the 14th century.
The Vikings did not write on paper, but carved them into stone, wood or iron. The hard materials made it difficult to make round edges, so the runes are more angular than our letters.
At the excavation of the Roskilde 6 long ship, which was found beneath the Museum Island at the Viking Ship Museum, the archaeologists found a runic-stick. Some of the text was lost, but the rest can be read as "Saxe carved these runes, . man".
Runes are phonetic symbols, just like the letters we use today. The names of individual runes begin with the sound the rune describes, e.g. the m-rune is called maðr, meaning 'man' or 'human being', and the s-rune is called sól, meaning 'sun'.
Runes in the Viking Age
In the Viking Age, runes were used only by the people living in the Nordic area. The Vikings who traveled the world brought the runes with them. There are runic inscriptions written by Vikings in England and as far away as Greece, Turkey, Russia and Greenland.
The runic alphabet of the Viking Age lacks some runes to express all sounds in the language. There are no longer runes for o, d, e and g. The Vikings instead used the runes closest to the sound they were supposed to use.
They could use the u-run for the o-sound, the t-run for the d-sound, the i-run for the e-sound and the k-run for the g-sound.
Write your name with runes
Even though there are fewer letters in the runic alphabeth of the Viking Age (Younger Futhark) it is the easiest of the two Futharks to use today, because the runes here can be easily rewritten to the letters we have today.
You write words and names as they sound. Christoffer is written 'kristofer', and if you are called Chanel, you have to write it, as you pronounce it: 'sjanel'.
You should not use the same rune twice in succession and there is no difference between big and small runes. So if you are called Marianna or Emma, just write 'mariana' or 'ema'.
The runes have names
All runes have their own name, which dates back to the earliest runes. The names of the runes have probably helped to remember what sound the runes stand for.
It is only the rune names of the Viking Age that we know for sure. The eight runes from the Elder Futhark that are not used in the Viking Age have been recreated from the Anglo-Saxon runes. When a * is in front of the rune's name, it means the name has been reconstructed based on the Viking Age language.
On the right side you will find a document with both the older and younger futhark.
Read more
- Written sources for the Viking Age
Shown above are the glyphs, the phonemes they stand for below each symbol, and each symbol's assigned name below that.
The cord is typically knotted or woven with specific intentions or blessings, symbolizing the connection between the witch and their desired outcome. **Together, the baton and cord create a powerful combination**. The baton allows the witch to tap into their inner power and direct it with precision, while the cord acts as a symbolism of connection and unity. When used in rituals or spellwork, the baton and cord can enhance the witch's intentions, making them more potent and focused. It is important to note that witchcraft is a deeply personal practice, and the use of tools such as the baton and cord can vary among practitioners. Some witches may choose to use both tools in their practice, while others may resonate more with one over the other. Ultimately, the baton and cord serve as aids in channeling and enhancing the witch's energy and intentions, helping them manifest their desires and connect with the spiritual realm..
Reviews for "Exploring Different Types of Batons and Cords in Witchcraft Practice"
1. Lisa - 2 stars - I purchased this Witchcraft baton plus cord hoping it would provide better signal strength and range for my witchcraft practices, but I was greatly disappointed. The cord was flimsy and kept getting tangled, making it difficult to use. Additionally, the baton did not improve my spellcasting abilities as promised. I found it to be quite gimmicky and a waste of money.
2. Tim - 1 star - I had high expectations for the Witchcraft baton plus cord, but it turned out to be a complete letdown. The cord was too short, limiting my movements during rituals, and the baton itself felt cheaply made. It did not enhance my magical abilities in any way and seemed more like a novelty item than a serious tool. I would not recommend this product to other practitioners.
3. Emma - 2 stars - The Witchcraft baton plus cord did not live up to its claims. The cord kept getting tangled and the baton's design was uncomfortable to hold for extended periods of time. I did not notice any improvement in my spellcasting abilities while using this product. It seems like a poorly executed attempt to cater to the witchcraft community without actually delivering on its promises. I would advise others to look for alternative tools.