Seidr vs the Runes? It's all Seidr
Many who are true to Odin and the Aesir like to separate seidr and the runes. They assert that seidr and the runes are two separate, very different forms of magic. Seidr they assign to Freyja and the Vanir. The runes they assign to Odin and the Aesir. Their general tone is that rune work is superior to seidr.
As part of their distinction they go into detail about how seidr is “ergi” (a highly insulting word back in the day) for men to practice. The basis for their discussion of seidr being ergi for men is a sentence in Snorri’s Ynglinga Saga in which he writes, “…it was thought ergi for men to practice it [seidr] and therefore the priestesses were brought up in this art.” In other words, both seidr and females are beneath males and belong together. This in spite of Snorri also writing that “Odin understood the art in which the greatest power is lodged, and which he himself practiced; namely what is called seidr.”
I understand and respect the perspective of those who are true to Odin and the Aesir. I just have a different perspective-that of one true to Freyja, her family and friends. From my perspective, the distinction between seidr and the runes is a false one. In my perspective rune work is part of seidr. In other words, all of the magic that Odin performs is seidr. It’s all seidr taught to him by Freyja. Here’s why:
First, the primary sources of Aesiric mythology make no mention of Odin or any of the Aesir practicing magic prior to meeting Freyja. The Völuspá makes no mention of Odin practicing magic except for consulting Mimir’s head for knowledge. Odin’s consulting of Mimir’s head happens after he meets Freyja. Likewise, Odin obtains the runes, as recounted in the Havamal, after he meets Freyja. In Snorri’s Gylfaginning, Odin performs some magical work but his meeting of Freyja is in the past. The Ynglinga Saga also has no mention of Odin or any of the Aesir practicing magic prior to meeting Freyja. In the primary sources of Aesiric mythology, Odin and the Aesir practice no magic until after meeting Freyja.
Secondly, in the Ynglinga Saga Snorri makes it clear that,”Freyja…first taught the Aesir the magical art, as it was in use and fashion among the Vanir.” Only after saying this does he go on to write,”Odin was the cleverest of all [of the Aesir] and from him all others [Aesir] learned their arts…” So, Freyja taught seidr to Odin and some of the Aesir. Odin was the best student and taught all of the other Aesir who learned the art. All of the magic the Aesir know comes from Freyja.
Thirdly, Odin uses seidr techniques to divine with Mimir’s head, obtain the runes and see over the entire world. Seidr includes work with herbs. Odin uses, or rather abuses, this work to preserve Mimir’s head and obtain knowledge that he could not on his own obtain.
Seidr also uses a practice called utiseta, sitting outside, to obtain occult knowledge. Odin’s hanging on a tree for nine nights and obtaining occult knowledge of the runes is a variation of utiseta. Perhaps Odin followed Freyja’s specific directions to obtain first-hand knowledge of the runes-hang on a wind-tossed tree for nine nights, let your blood, neither eat nor drink, wail, after receiving the basic knowledge call on the son of Bolthorn, Bestla’s father and drink this mead. This could mean that knowledge of the runes was common among the Vanir long before Odin received it. That the meanings of the runes as presented in the rune poems reflect agricultural, wildlife and community themes rather than warfare and rulership supports the conclusion that they are Vanic rather than Aesiric. It also suggests that Odin’s use of the runes as described in the Havamal is an abuse rather than right use of the runes.
Finally, utiseta usually involves sitting outside on a seidrhjallr, a seidr platform or high seat. Odin’s Hlidskjalf (open platform or tower?) is his seidrhjallr from which he can see the entire world. That in Skirnismal Freyr knows how to use Odin’s Hlidskjalf and from it see Gerdr only further confirms that it is a seidrhjallr.
In conclusion, that there is no mention of Odin and the Aesir practicing magic prior to meeting Freyja, that Freyja teaches Odin seidr, and that Odin uses seidr techniques to preserve and divine with Mimir’s head, obtain knowledge of the runes and see the world leads me to believe that the distinction between seidr and the runes is a false one. It's all seidr.