-copied from here.
It seems that the Christian contrast between wholesome priesthood and unwholesome witchcraft was prefigured in Northern European Paganism. Runes were from Odin whereas seid was trollcraft.
Gunnhild conceals the extent of her seid - forecastings, farseeings, ill- and well-wishings and cantrips - from her husband, Eirik, and his father, King Harald. The latter orders a seid wizard to stop selling forecastings, love potions, blights and blessings. Reminded that some of his own sons had a witch for a mother and that one of those sons, Rognvald Highbone, has become mighty in spellcraft and gained a following, Harald sends Eirik to kill Rognvald. Gunnhild will try to help Eirik with her seid and I will probably reread that chapter tomorrow.
The conflict between runes and seid might be a hangover from the war between Aesir and Vanir? See here.
"The hall stood bright with hangings, pillars carved to show the twelve highest gods."
-Mother Of Kings, Book Two, Chapter X, p. 123.
Which twelve were they?
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