Tines? Wood Properties for Speaking with Wights
I have several books on the subject of land wights, Alfar (elves), gnomes, trolls, and so forth. In my readings I found some chapters dedicated to the creation of devices which should aid a user looking to speak with various supernatural beings. The following information is about the use of wooden “tines”; a device like a wand, which if used correctly, can help you contact creatures on the other side of the veil. I will try and cite the books where I can in the post below.
Vilki-craft
Vilki-craft is the Norse term for the creation of devices to help a person begin to reach a wight or to open a doorway to the realm in which wights live. These devices include:
- Wands
- Tines
A tine is forked stick or rod made out of wood. The type of wood used in a tine’s construction will determine what type of supernatural creature you wish to contact. A tine can also be used to ask wights for various types of favors, magic result or reactions.
Artist: Sarah Anne Lawless
The following is a list of tree types and what creatures are attracted to which kind of wood.
Wood Types
- Alder Wood – The best wood for attracting Dwarves (Svartalfar). Can also be used to attract evil Dwarves with a dark hearts. If the alder tree is growing with its roots in standing water (rivers, ponds, lakes, etc.) alder tines can be used to call fresh water wights (Elves, Wights, and Trolls, 2007, p. 107 ).
- Apple Wood – Used to attract Alfar who once lived as a human on Midgard (Elves, Wights, and Trolls, 2007, p. 108).
- Birch Wood – This wood is a general purpose wood used to call mound Alfar, Etins (giants), and many land wights (Elves, Wights, and Trolls, 2007, p. 108).
- Elder Wood – The best wood for attracting Light Alfar (Elves, Wights, and Trolls, 2007, p. 107 ).
- Holly Wood – Used to attract mound Alfar and those Alfar who once lived as a human on Midgard (Elves, Wights, and Trolls, 2007, p. 107 ).
- Iron Wood – A new world tree found in the Americas. This wood attracts the Etins (giants) (Elves, Wights, and Trolls, 2007, p. 107 ).
- Linden Wood (Basswood) – Mainly associated with the Dwarves (Svartalfar). The roots of this tree is the best part to use in the construction of tines (Elves, Wights, and Trolls, 2007, p. 108).
- Pine Wood – General purpose wood used to attract land wights. If the wood is taken from a tree on a mountain the tine can be used to attract Etins (giants) (Elves, Wights, and Trolls, 2007, p. 108).
- Willow Wood – When taken from a tree which grows out of standing water (river, pond, lake, etc.) it will help attract fresh water wights (Elves, Wights, and Trolls, 2007, p. 108).
- Yew Wood – Attracts Alfar who once lived as a human on Midgard (Elves, Wights, and Trolls, 2007, p. 108).
Note: Any tree which grows out of standing water (river, pond, lake, etc.) has a good chance of attracting fresh-water wights.
Reference Source
Gundarsson, K. (2007). Elves, Wights, and Trolls. Bloomington, IN : iUniverse.
Lawless, S. (Photographer). (2012, May 26). Sacred Wands Runestaves and Beads [digital image]. Retrieved from http://flickr.com/photos/peteoshea/5476076002/