There is a general feeling with many people who study and practice Stav that Galder is only related to chanting the Runes in unison with the stances. This is indeed relevant, but it is only part of the mosaic that makes up the entirety of the mystery of Galder. It is also generally considered that 'Seid is magic, Galder is mundane.' This is most definitely not the case. Both Seid and Galder contain elements of magic and mundane within them - and, in fact, once even a fraction is understood, it becomes clear that the two concepts of magic and mundane are actually one and the same.
So what is Galder if it is not just Runic chanting, and how can it be magical?
To begin to understand, it's important to grasp what Galder actually is. The word is generally translated as meaning 'to crow' and so it has become associated with chant work. Deeper concepts, however, allow us to go further. It can also mean to vocalise, so any form of speech can be considered Galder. 'Crowing', though, is more than merely speaking. To Crow means to exult, to exclaim, to reveal yourself in all your glory. It is expressive, flamboyant, and above all it can take courage. Just as many people are embarrassed by chanting anywhere they might be heard, so do all the forms of Galder take some nerve to carry out.
To express yourself truly is to pour yourself out into the communal pot, where all can see you and cast judgement on your worth. The courage required to expose yourself through Galder is comparable to that required to give in and submit to the trance state of Seid. In each case you have to be prepared to lower your guard, put down your shields and reveal your true self for all to see. Once you have committed yourself through Galder, it can't be taken back. Even something as apparently simple as making a statement draws attention and commits the speaker to prove himself, to demonstrate why he thinks that way. Whether he chooses to do so is up to him, but the expectation is there and he shouldn't complain if people then ask him why he did it, or wait for more to follow. By using Galder you are, essentially, standing up in a crowded room and shouting "Look at me!" Developing the ability to take that step is a sign of growth in itself.
Lacking that courage can lead to a Thrall response to using Galder. The Thrall hesitates to commit himself and, having committed himself will then want to deny what he has committed to. "I didn't mean it, I take it back, that isn't what I meant, you're taking it the wrong way" are common Thrall reactions to the commitment of Galder.
This is a common fear - there is scarcely a speaker, artist or writer anywhere who doesn't feel trepidation at the presentation or publication of their work. "Did I do it right, is it the best I could have done, will people like it, what will they think of me." All of us has a Thrall buried within us, though it might take different stimuli to get it to react.
It is best, therefore, to attempt to approach Galder through one of the other Mind Sets, usually - though not always - the one relating to your Class.
The Karl would approach Galder as if to sell himself, his product etc. He would make sure his Galder elevates his standing.
The Herse would use Galder to commit himself to a course of action, from which he will not back down having made the commitment.
The Jarl's approach to Galder would be more philosophical, to see what could be learned from the experience and how far it could be taken.
The Konge would approach Galder as the thing that needed to be done in order for him to achieve whatever he has set out to do.
For practical purposes, Galder is not just about expressing yourself vocally through speech, chanting or singing. It is expressing yourself in any way. Galder can be regarded as the means by which the vision or concept that is inside you is expressed and revealed to the outside world. Music. Art. Writing. Crafts. All of these are valid methods of expressing the inner vision externally, and therefore are all part of the whole picture of Galder.
Examples can be easily found. The Battle Magic referred to in the title demonstrates a very graphic example of Galder.
Picture the scene from a dozen Westerns: the heroes are holed up in the stage coach/cave/cabin. The Indians are pressing home their most ferocious attack. Ammunition is running low and the prospect is bleak. Then, in the distance, a bugle sounds the charge. The cavalry is coming! The heroes take heart, the heroine stops crying, the Indians fall into disorder. The cavalry comes over the hill but the Indians are already fleeing and the day is saved within moments.
That bugle call is more than a means of communicating orders to the soldiers. It is battle magic. It cries out defiance - "I am coming! Take heart, my friends! Be afraid, my enemies!" It sounds the intention of every soldier present to drive out the enemy, crush them and release their captives. It is Galder. It is also a form of magic.
The magic works through the mind of those hearing it - there might only be one man hiding alone in the hills, blowing that bugle. It will still have the same effect - at least until people begin realise no one's arrived yet.
Similar Galder battle magic can also be worked through the war cry. Initially, people use war cries to steel their own nerves - a form of magic in its own right - but eventually individuals will build up reputations. Then their war cry will rally their side and demoralise their enemy as both sides realise who it is that's coming. Again it is the expression of intent, the flamboyant crowing of what is in one's own mind and instilling that vision so powerfully into the mind of the listener that they believe it and help make it come true.
Galder doesn't have to be as blatant as a battle cry or bugle call, though. It can be much more subtle, entering very much into the realms of the everyday world. It remains Galder due to its intention, and its action of drawing out what is internal so that it can be experienced externally.
Therefore any form of communication can be regarded as Galder, and be seen as magical. We have grown so used to speaking and writing and communicating that we often forget what a miraculous achievement it is - the ability to express what is within us in a form that others can share in. Think how rousing music can be, the power of speech to raise emotion within the listener. Look at the rapt faces of children listening to a story, or the jubilance of people at a concert. Comedians have the power to make us laugh, actors have the ability to make us cry, con artists are able to dupe us, advertisers can sell us things we don't want.
Well, not all forms of communication are good or uplifting, but the power of Galder remains. It allows someone to create a Reality in their mind and then to express it to us. We can then share in that Reality if we choose to, especially if the one communicating it is powerful enough to convince us his Reality is the right one.
What is this, if not magic?