Might, Main, & Luck are three of the most primary metaphysical attributes of energy, or inner power, within the capabilities of human beings on Miðgarð.  This essay hopes to familiarize the reader with the basics of these concepts and to give a simple, practical set of workings to help improve these resources within the dedicated individual over a relatively short span of time. 

Hamingja is a concept of another type of holy essence in which we call, luck. This force could be of a personal, family, or tribal nature. This is sometimes personified in the form of an animal (similar but different from one’s fylgja).

The accounts of hamingja being a numinous essence and quality of luck are extensive throughout the sagas. Vilhelm Gronbech wrote extensively on luck in his work, The Culture of the Teutons. Hamingja, as stated before, could be innately part of a person, lent, borrowed, proven, inherited, gained, and even lost. Many a king in ancient days lost his life as a sacrifice because of his hamingja, or luck, failing the kingdom. Carl Larsson’s painting, Midvinterblot, is such an example of that concept.

Megin is a storehouse of inner spiritual, metaphysical power and strength. Though at times it was referred to in a literal physical strength definition, the examples of pertaining to a metaphysical, internal strength or power are much more numerous. All creatures in the multiverse contain some amount of megin. One familiar example, is within the Gylfaginning of Snorri Sturluson’s Prose Edda. Þórr’s belt of power, megingjörd, is described along with the two other possessions of the god along with his god-power:

"One of them is the hammer Mjöllnir, familiar to frost-giants and the mountain-giants when it is raised aloft, and little wonder: it has smashed many of their fathers’ and kinsmen’s skulls. He has another possession that is most precious, a meginjörd (belt of strength/power), that doubles his Ás-strength (ásmegin = god’s strength/power) when he buckles it on. He has a third and most crucial possession: a pair of iron gloves, with which he has to hold the hammer."

Mátt is the "might" in the phrase, "Of might and main." mostly referring to a spiritual type of inner-strength, resolve, or virtue. But it is very closely related to megin, at times it was used in such a way to make them indistinguishable.

So, how do we start improving our reservoirs of these essences?  First, we must understand that the physical plane of existence (i.e. Miðgarð) is in some ways directly, and in other ways indirectly, influential on the elements within the metaphysical planes of existence (i.e. Ásgarð, Vanaheim, Ljóssálfheim, Miðgarð, etc.). 

One of the things which makes Miðgarð (and its inhabitants) so special is that dual physical/metaphysical combination in which influence can cause effects throughout the multiverse of worlds.  One of the supportive archeological finds to this theory is the Vadstenda bracteate found in Sweden (dating about 550 C.E.) which contains a runic formula "Luwatuwa" followed by the entire Elder Futhark.  It has been translated by some archeologists as, "in the sky as on the earth". (Lundeby & Williams,1992:17)

Just as in the physical world, the body will shut down absolute non-essential functions (i.e. go into a physical coma) in order to concentrate all functions on the healing processes and regeneration, one can only assume such is similar with the influx of expandable energies of all types.  If the body is in harm, everything that can still function will make itself available to only self-healing processes.  This means that a healthy physical body is needed to help improve the metaphysical "body" collectives. 

  In order to have a healthy body to ensure proper energy flows and tip top mental capacities required for such metaphysical endeavors, one must detoxify the body, ensure proper nutrition, create a holistic body composition, and exhibit healthy exercise habits.  Of course, the staggering extent of information to ensure these things is beyond the scope of this essay and the author encourages the reader to explore those avenues.  The only advice that can be given is that one should seek as much of a holistic, natural, and as healthy approach as possible exemplifying balance.  This is of uttermost importance since these aspects of physical health does help determine one's drive, mood, and emotional stability.  These three things are vastly important in any metaphysical workings.

Of course, a way of increasing one's mátt, megan, and hamingja is through exchange with the gods via communal ritual (fórn/blót).  Through proper observances of worship the connections between our gods and ourselves are strengthened leaving a beneficial effect upon our mátt, megan, and hamingja due to the mixing and returning of those primordial essences. (See article, "The Metaphysics of Ritual")  The results of sumble can also cause improvement (or the lessening) of these same energies due to the accomplishment or non-accomplishment of oaths, boasts, gift exchange, etc. within that societal communal ritual.  The same can be said of ritualized hardships endured (i.e. rites of ascension, sauna rites, útiseta, and ritualized combat) by adherents.

Another way of increasing these resources of personal power is through runic work and galðr. Through runic meditation, visualization, and chanting/singing one can theoretically improve the storage and collection of these forces. Some more popular workings is the chanting of the runic formula of Alu. Alu is an ancient word or power, protection and later on, ale (at one time, it was a sacred drink, like mead, used in ritual). Personally, the regiment I use is the chant "Alu" three times in one long breath, "Alu" once in one long chant-breath, chant the runes Ansuz, Laguz, and Uruz names in one long breath, then "Alu" again in one long breath, and finally "Alu" three times again. I usually do this in a cycle of three.

Another such runic galðr is Laukaz which meant, "Leek" and illustrates an intoning of healing powers due to the belief that leeks (which in those days covered onions, leeks, and garlics) had a high healing quality to them. Use the same formula as used for "Alu". It is best while chanting these galðrs to envision the runes themselves glowing red.