Nattferd

Nattferd (Norwegian, translates roughly to "Night Journey" or "Night Passage") refers to a specific type of documented folk belief, primarily within Scandinavian folklore, involving an individual or group secretly traveling to a distant location, often a church, to perform rituals and gain magical power, typically for malevolent purposes. These journeys were believed to be undertaken in a non-physical form, often described as the spirit or soul leaving the body while the physical body remained asleep or in a trance-like state.

The perceived purpose of the Nattferd varied regionally, but common motivations included cursing enemies, manipulating weather, causing illness or misfortune, or gaining insight into future events. The rituals performed often involved desecration of sacred objects, blasphemous acts, and the invocation of dark forces. Accusations of participating in a Nattferd were serious and could lead to social ostracism or legal persecution, particularly during periods of intense religious belief and witch hunts.

While belief in the Nattferd has largely waned in modern times, the concept remains a part of Scandinavian cultural heritage and continues to be referenced in literature, art, and popular culture. The term can also sometimes be used metaphorically to describe experiences of altered consciousness or spiritual journeys.