The Weird Sisters
Copyright 2000 Max Dashu
Originally, Weird meant destiny. It was the name of the eldest Fate ÑEnglish Wyrd, Norse Urth, German Wurt. Medieval sources describe her as weaving fate, knotting, causing, arousing, ordaining, dissolving, and transforming.
An Anglo-Saxon proverb circa 900 CE declares that "Wyrd
is mightiest."
(Wyrd byth swithost.)
Her craft encompassed foreknowledge, prophecy and all the shamanic arts.
The British sometimes called witches weird-woman or weird-wife. Old references to weirding peas hark back to the casting of lots. The Scots spoke of something magical and uncanny as being weirdfu'.