Vinland’s Völva – Daily Mystic Musings

Non-Judgment Day is Here!

2011-05-21T06:01:00.000-07:00

21 May .. Happy Non-Judgement Day!

Why do we judge? Well, for lots of reasons. Often, it’s an instinctive response to a situation we are unfamiliar with, so we do it to protect ourselves. Mostly, when we get past reasons and excuses, judgment can be reduced to a single motivation – fear.

For all our attempts otherwise, we are fearful beings. We fear the unknown and what we don’t know. We fear not being ‘normal’ or ‘fitting in’, we fear appearing to be ‘inadequate’ or ‘uninformed’, or we fear not being able to express our ‘true feelings’. We fear because it’s easier to look outside our self than to peer into depths left so unexplored that sitting quietly with self can be a daunting experience.

And so we judge others. Just remember: When you point a finger at another, there are three more pointing back at you. (‘Karma’ or ‘Threefold Law’, anyone?)

So how do we break the cycle of judgment? First, we need to understand what ‘judgment’ means. For example, today - 21 May 2011 - is a good day to start because for many, this is ‘Judgement Day’, the day when god comes to hand out the ‘final and eternal judgment’ upon every nation.

To begin, let’s determine what judgment is. When someone wears something we never would, or they don’t know something that we do know or assume that ‘everyone knows’, or their sexual lifestyle is ‘odd’ or ‘disgusting’, or their religion is ‘out there’ or ‘misguided’, or how much money they have or don’t have, or if they are disabled or sick, or if we in any way come to a conclusion about who they are and how they will respond to any given situation based on these things (and more), that is judgment.

Mostly, judgment is defined by ‘society’, or what ‘society’ deems it to be, so that ‘society’ has assigned neat little tags that we can label people with so we know how exactly how to judge them. For example, we judge based on what is ‘normal’ and ‘perfect’; but, who defines what is ‘normal’ and ‘perfect’, and who is ‘society’?

To begin, ‘normal’ is a setting on a washing machine, along with ‘casual’, ‘heavy duty’, ‘delicate’, ‘bulky’, ‘hand wash’, ‘wrinkle free’, ‘steam’, ‘rapid/speed’, and ‘rinse/spin’.

Personally, some days I wake up feeling ‘heavy duty’ – either ready to take on the world or tired and lethargic. Other days I get concerned or stressed, so need some ‘wrinkle free’ because I may feel ‘delicate’. When in a hurry, ‘rapid/speed’ is nice, and if I eat too much I feel ‘bulky’. Mostly I have ‘casual’ days, and when walking in the woods, staff in hand, contemplating life, I experience a refreshing ‘rinse/spin’, which are always, of course, ‘hand wash’ days.

Because every soul we encounter is coming from a different ‘setting’ (mind-set, culture, circumstance, background, what have you), then our soul-self – our unique reflective essence – can never be ‘right’, or ‘perfectly’ match the setting of another in any particular encounter. Sure, sometimes we meet others who – at that very moment – share our ‘setting’, but mostly, not.

Therefore, it seems to me that ‘normal’ is recognizing that everyone I meet may be on a different ‘setting’. And instead of being ‘agitated’ by this, I allow myself to be like water .. to gentle flow in the moment.

When we meet another, if we allow ourselves to be ‘light’ and ‘soak/pause’, then we may determine another soul’s setting, or not. Honestly, it doesn’t matter if we do or not, and that too is normal. Think about it: Dirt gets on clothing, so we wash clothing to remove what clings / attaches to it.

In Indo-European philosophy, the idea of ‘attachment’ and ‘non-attachment’ are central milestones of learning; so that, to be removed from the dirt that gets on us, is non-attachment. Likewise, ‘clinging’ is another IE concept, and there are plenty of things we cling to; such as harmful perspectives, over-indulgence, religious or worldviews, and self-doctrine. Mind you, none of these things are ‘bad’, but they can weigh down the cloak of our body/skin when they become measures for the ‘cleanliness’ of others.

So, on Non-Judgment Day, 21 May 2011, I have decided to contemplate acceptance for others, to honestly listen to what they have to say, to understand what I can; and what I cannot .. to not be concerned. It’s a very good day to not be attached to pre-conceived ideas, to take a sincere look at being ‘sincere’, at what it means to be ‘thoughtful’ towards others, and ‘grithful’ or non-agitated in all my doings.

Truth is such a precious thing, for akin to trash and treasure, one man’s truth is another man’s fear.

Each of us walks upon Grotti, the Great Wheel .. some on the outer rim, some on the many spokes. Some have arrived at the outer hub, and some, once there, seek the spiral that leads deeper still. Who then can judge another for their place, their particular ‘setting’?

When we grow towards our true self, it is not necessary for others to do the same; for truth brings height, and that amounts to perspective, and that means we have not forgotten the many ‘settings’ we have already experienced, and may yet experience again.

Live Deliberately!

Yngona Desmond

Returning to the Source

2011-04-28T06:38:00.000-07:00

Being a student of ancient European law and language, this essay caught my attention:

http://www.keltria.org/Blog1/archives/303

In it, Ms. Rose surmises, “One question remains: Is the human desire for order really a reflection of Nature?” She then adds, “Even hurricanes and earthquakes and the like unfold according to these most fundamental of natural laws.” And, “we may fairly say that the Gods and Goddesses of Nature do indeed ordain order –but not too much of it. (And even in this we humans reflect Nature at large.)”

Reading the essay my thoughts lean towards the origin of law; meaning, in the beginning there was Natural Law, which is the progenitor of the Gods of Nature. Then, if this descent is followed, the Laws of Men are an immediate scion of the latter, while retaining – in their oldest form – reflections of the former.

The oldest gods tend to be non-depicted forces of nature, so rather obscure. For example, there are gods of heaven and lords of constellations, kings of oceans and rulers of storms; and mostly, these entities are considered ‘king of gods’, or above the other gods. More often than not, these primal entities – representations of natural phenomena – were not originally personalized, but the obscure parents of gods that are. Regarding this latter, they generally gift humans – divine intelligence, breath, and the like – and so pass on Natural Law in a manner palatable for humans to consume.

So if this line of descent can be followed:

-Natural Law as seen in primal originator gods;

-Gods of Nature as ‘sons’ of Natural Law and gifters / protectors of humans;

-Laws of Men as manifestations of their interpretations and/or experience with their environment; then we return to the question of: “Is the human desire for order really a reflection of Nature?”

Plato seemed to mirror this order when he wrote:

"We declare, then, that a state which is to endure, and to be as happy as it is possible for man to be, must of necessity dispense honours rightly. And the right ways is this: it shall be laid down that the goods of the soul are the highest in honour and come first, provided that the soul possesses temperance; second come the good and fair things of the body; and third the so-called goods of substance and property." (from ‘The Laws’)

So that I read this as:

-“Goods of the soul”, is akin to Natural Law;

-“Good and fair things of the body”, is akin to the Gods of Nature;

-“Goods of substance and property”, is akin to the Laws of Men.

So, ‘yes’, the “human desire for order [is] really a reflection of Nature”. However, and personally, this is only the case when men return to living with nature. Meaning, the laws seen today are the latest offing upon the midden heap; so far removed from the Nature they were originally patterned on.

Among the heathen tribes of Northern Europe there was something of an ‘international law’ of hospitality. So firmly ensconced is this idea that even today people are compelled to render assistance to total strangers. In this I am prompted to look to Nature, to find if such ready shelter / aid is available there. I think it is, but then I am a woods woman who sees a tree as shelter and wood for fire, a creek or pond as a source of food, and every animal a kinsmen there to assist me, and every wort ready to teach me. Clearly, this is not the case with most modern men.

One of the Hôher Muots – the “High Minded” ideas of the Teutonic tribes – was milte or the open-handed and public bestowal of hospitality. Essentially, taking the concept of Nature as a place of sanctuary and bringing that reality into the longhouse. (Tacitus writes at length on such hospitality.)

Evenso, Einhard (Charlemagne’s biographer) related that the Saxons did not consider it inhonestum to transgress divine or human law; which suggests that their definition of law was far removed from that which was rising to prominence through the Church. Afterall, it was the Church that sought to convince the Northern European tribes that the Christian interpretation of divine law transcended well established tribal thews (customs, or Laws of Men, which were passed down from their ancestral Gods of Nature, and so reflections of Natural Law). So that through both promise and punishment the Church persuaded converts to acknowledge and practice a code of behavior incompatible with their traditional values.

Notably, G. Kisch, in his The Jewry-Law of the Medieval German Law Books, notes, “the task is to enter the spirit of the time and place represented by the source, to adjust one's own thinking to that of the source.” Clearly something the early Church didn’t do, nor is it something often considered by those who look to Nature for guidance in matters of law. So it is, in my way of thinking, the best way to understand what my ancestors were thinking, and so assist me in the reconstruction of their folkway; especially the most divine aspect, which I consider the closest to Natural Law – which is, nothing less than the Source.

Live Deliberately!

Yngona Desmond

Holograhic Runes

2011-04-20T08:13:00.000-07:00

Runes are holographic. We know this already, so it’s not a new idea. We know this when we look for a Mother Rune or a Bind Rune, knowing instinctively that every single rune is but a microcosm to a macrocosm.

In that our ancestors used the runes to define their language, which is the manifestation of thought, then the holographic nature of runes is akin to the holographic nature of reality as our ancestors understood it. So that looking at one thing in nature, one can see the whole of nature. As such, the runes (like nature), cannot be separated or taken out of their context, for there is never a singular rune but an entire Futhark in every rune. Changing one rune then would result in change within the entire Futhark.

This may be easier to understand if one acknowledges the role of consciousness over matter; or that consciousness is the primary substance of the world(s). We know this already, so it’s not a new idea. We know this when we engage in and so personally experience the Web of Gift Giving. A gift, though material, is more than matter, but consciousness expanded outward, it is one’s intent and desire made manifest. As such, in gifting one expands their individual consciousness; likewise, sharing with others, through ideas, is the cornerstone of true wealth.

Yet another aspect of this is using runes or Seid to divine the future. In that one’s individual thoughts manifest as deeds, which then set the course of future reality, then changing one’s course of action will change the outcome of a situation. And we know this already as well, so like the previous ideas, this too is not a new idea. For example, in our lore, the ability to change one’s fate, one’s wyrd, is seen in the hero tales. As a Seidwoman it is easy for me to see the thread and so follow its outcome in the average Heathen; for heroes, I must dive deeper.

And for the average Heathen, who experiences life as random, this is where fractals and chaos enters in; and possibly why Loki’s role increased. In fact, Loki’s rise to prominence occurred with the rise of Christianity, which indicates an increased sense of societal destabilization and individual insecurity. So if one creates their own future through their individual deeds, and the world of the ancestors and tivars is seemingly in turmoil due to the onslaught of the White Christ, then a fractal / broken perspective of reality is created. In turn, this changes the entire whole because when so many are mutually experiencing chaos, then this condition spreads like a plague. In such a compromised environment, right rule through Tyr, and right defense through Wodan, give way to Loki’s unpredictability (likewise with Wodan’s precarious nature). Because all of nature leans towards the observer’s viewpoint, when that future is uncertain then uncertainty rises. Like truly attracts like.

Seidr is the magic that changes the field, that re-weaves / re-directs the very atoms / threads of being. As conscious beings – our highest aspiration being Wyrd Consciousness – we are malleable. True Seidfolk know this; which is why I explained in my book Voluspa: Seidr as Wyrd Consciousnesses, the those who would know Seid, must know the threads of probability. Simply put, there is no beginning or end, meaning Ginnunga-gap is outside of Time’s measure. And due to the nature of reality, which Seidr intimately understands – when a beginning point or end point is looked for, the very expectation of finding them will actually build upon them. So that, looking for the beginning will ever weave a new beginning, and looking for an end will every weave a new end.

These are not new ideas, but ones I have written about and shared for over 30 years through numerous essays and lectures, then extensively highlighted in my book (published in 2005). As Heathens we are the conductors of our folkway, and as a Seidwoman I am the conductor of Wyrd Consciousness. At every turn, You Are Your Deeds (individually, not collectively); so by taking the reins of one's reality they determine the course of their own wyrd flow.

Live Deliberately!

Yngona Desmond

Inplicate Order

2011-04-19T14:29:00.000-07:00

David Bohm, a noted quantum physicist, wrote that there existed an `ocean of energy', which he called the `implicate order', and out of this came all material things.

Whereas Heathen lore relates that Ginnunga-gap is the `great void' of creation from out of which came two realms of existence, eleven rivers that flowed through all worlds, and Aurgelmir and Audhumla, the first twins. From all these things, all material creation is sprung.

Bohm called his idea an `implicate order', the archaic meaning of which is "to fold or twist together; intertwine; interlace"; and this is the role of the Nornir, the Weaving Sisters. From creating sacred space, to erecting a stallr, to passing a horn, our ancestors were explaining the world around them; through these sacred acts they passed on science, or the "branch of knowledge or study dealing with a body of facts or truths systematically arranged and showing the operation of general laws".

As such, sacrality was never relegated to the mundane or the casually interested, but held in the hands of those born `inspired', literally `in spirit'. Such was the nature of the Seidhu.

In all, our ancestors were not 'crude' thinkers whose lives were cowered by superstition and myth; but shrewd and intelligent thinkers who were describing the world around them in words elegant and intuitive.

Personal Moral and Heathen Ethic

2011-04-17T09:03:00.000-07:00

The Havamal is very clear on many matters that apply to daily life.

I think it safe to say that Heathens today define their folkway as one of ‘independent self-sufficiency’, and of ‘personal and collective strength and self-responsibility’. Likewise, this is determined within one’s personal ‘shieldwall’ of kin and kith.

Because kith is also so close to kin, it's worth looking at. Today, the word is mostly understood to mean ‘friend’; and on that subject, the Havamal has much to say. And though it is easy – and more often than not, convenient – to rely on the ‘friend verses’ as justification to hate another Heathen, and so spread that hate through others who may have never met that individual, I am hardpressed to generally apply my Heathen morality to the words and deeds of my ancestors.

Kith means, “acquaintances, friends, neighbors, or the like; a group of people living in the same area and forming a culture with a common language, customs, economy, etc.” It is an Old English word (from cyðð [or cyth]) meaning, “native country, home”; and is rooted in cuð (cuth) meaning, “known”. So, essentially it is both a friend and someone you know (to include a neighbor).

An expression my grandparents used to say was, “A neighbor is as good as kin.” In that their closest neighbor (on all sides) was at least 2 miles away, this made sense. Today, I’ve been assisted by, and assisted total strangers, out of ‘friendship’ – or that sense of shared humanness when one encounters another in need.

Rich with money, one who holds to advantage – should no man need suffer.

Often that which is spared for a dear friend is levied unwillingly.

Much goes worse than is forethought.

–Havamal 40

So is the idea of kith (or any other idea expressed in Havamal) a moral or an ethic?

Lets look at those two words:

-moral, “of, pertaining to, or concerned with the principles or rules of right conduct or the distinction between right and wrong”;

-ethic, “the body of moral principles or values governing or distinctive of a particular culture or group”, and “a complex of moral precepts held or rules of conduct followed by an individual: a personal ethic”.

It’s interesting to note that both these words come from Latin, then Greek, and were not introduced into English until the middle to late 1300s.

"To be sure, the word êra was also used later to render the Latin word honestum, even with its additional meaning of moral rectitude as found in the writings of the Stoic philosophers; yet, as we shall see, this new meaning never took firm root in the vernacular. In fact, because it seems to appear almost only in translation, it is even conceivable that the translators did not really appreciate the new value implied by the Stoic authors. In any case, I am not ready to believe that the vernacular word êra actually began to have a moral connotation at the time of Notker, the eleventh-century monk of St. Gall, as Theodor Frings and Elisabeth Karg-Gasterstadt suggest."

-Dr. George Jones, Honor in German Literature

And from the same text:

"Goethe (or Boccaccio?) distinguishes between a woman's Ehre and her Tugend. In the Procurator, a short story in Goethe's Unterhaltungen deutscher Ausgewanderter, a merchant husband warns his young wife against frivolous young men who "der Ehre noch mehr als der Tugend einer Frau gefährlich sind." This contrast need not go back to Boccaccio's original, since Schiller contrasts them likewise. In his Kabale und Liebe (II, 3), Ferdinand distinguishes between Tugend and Ehre and says that the former often survives the latter. Lady Milford compares her own Ehre with Luise's Tugend (IV, 8). Paul Fischer's Goethe-Wortschatz ( Leipzig, 1929) lists no example of Ehre or its compounds in the moral sense of the word."

(Note: Underscores are mine; and Tugend is “self-restraint”, and Ehre is “honor”; see my essays on Hôher Muot or "High Mindedness".)

Dr. Jones further notes:

"As we shall see, when the Teutons first became familiar with the words honos and honestus, these words still had completely amoral connotations."

From these examples then, the idea of moral and ethic, as applied today, stands in contrast to how our ancestors would have viewed these terms. And to be clear:

"The Mirror of the Saxons, echoing ancient laws, says that a woman who sullies her womanly honor through the chastity of her body will lose neither her rights nor her inheritance. (“Wîph mach mit unkûscheit ires lîbis ir wîphlichen êre krenken; ir recht ne virlûsit se dar me de nicht noch ir erve.”)

Today, many view Havamal as a handbook of Heathen ethic; even using its ‘friend verses’ to justify hatred and in-fighting against individuals and/or groups often without having any firsthand contact with either. Yet, from the examples given, it seems that those who do this are living in ignorance of true, historic based, Heathen value; relying instead upon those laid out by modern society, which are Judeo-Christian based.

It is easy to see how this happens:

-First, Havamal lists guidelines that were clear to its contemporary reader, but are further removed from the real world experiences of modern Heathens than many would like to acknowledge.

-Second, few actually study the language Havamal was written in, relying instead upon antiquated and/or university approved translations (or those that would deny a philosophical perspective to the ‘barbarian hordes’, or ‘primitive man’).

-And finally, because it’s just too easy to not apply thought to such matters and so tout the party line.

As to this latter in relation to the friend verses, all too often Heathens will hear the ill-words of a friend in regards to another, and without ‘going straight to the horse’, will believe everything they are told. Clearly, this shows a lack of self-responsibility in endeavoring to discern the truth of a matter; so it can be said that the alleged ill-friend is better off any way – for who wants to meet and associate with such a close-minded individual. Unfortunately, however, this situation is not so easily brushed aside, for it leads to rumor mongering, which leads to in-fighting, which is mostly petty he-said/she-said situations not even worthy of Thing.

Regarding the first example above (or those verses that seem clear cut), a good one is:

Only one step away on level ground shall a man boldly walk from his weapon.

Because he never knows what un-safe surroundings may happen near the road outside – around weapons a man needs be.

-Havamal 38

For many today this verse carries an almost romantic notion – of the lone wolf, of the singular Viking, self-sufficient and able to defend himself to the death. And no doubt, this idea (minus the romantic part) was probably quite true in some circumstances, but more at hand is that fact that a weapon was also a tool. From a sword to a dagger, an axe to a club, a bow to a sling, such devices would have also been used in a utilitarian manner. So that, in addition to weapons training, our forebears would have had real world experience with such devices.

For example, I always carry a knife, and use it often - either to cut food (sharper than a butter knife in a restaurant), to perform minor car repair, for first aid (removing a splinter), or some other chore. Likewise, last weekend I learned to appreciate the simple effective beauty of a hand axe.

Mostly, as a primitive camper, I use an axe to chop wood. Last weekend I cleared two paths and a raised area for Sitting-Out with nothing but a Norse Hawk. In a very short period of time it became my right-hand. Literally. I never put it down. I used it to cut, shape, trim, dig, and even keep myself from falling – when, at the last moment, I would throw its edge about a tree to keep me upright.

Which brings us to the second example (of simply not studying the language of Heathen lore); for the words we speak are more than sounds but representative of ideas that are rooted in the depth of our folkway; or, the depth of another cultures folkway (as is the case with ‘moral’ and ‘ethic’). So instead of assuming one knows the meaning of a word and the idea behind it, or instead of relying upon antiquated and university based translations to relate the words/ideas of one’s ancestry, take the time to discover this firsthand; and/or support Heathens who are doing this much needed work.

So the next time you apply a personal moral, or a collective ethic, consider that those two words and their applications were alien thoughts to pre-conversion Heathens. Seeking out how one’s ancestors thought and applied their thought is the very pulse of reclaiming the Heathen folkway.

Live Deliberately!

Yngona Desmond

Core-shamanism, oracular seid, and what Seidr really is

2011-03-25T05:13:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, shamanic tradition has been infected by Harnerism, which has further corrupted those in Heathenry today who claim to practice and teach Seidr.

Dr. Harner and his Foundation for Shamanic Studies have single-handedly tainted the definition of ‘shaman’; which is understandable in the neopagan community, but bothersome within Heathenry. ‘Bothersome’ because, as a Heathen, this is my personal folkway – the ‘way’ of my ‘folk’ – which is historic fact, not alternative fabrication.

You see, Harner introduced his non-cultural approach to shamanism back in the 1970s; toss in a side of Castenada (from the 1960s), and you have the impetus of the modern neoshaman movement. If its adherents were more upfront about what they do this would not be an issue, but they continue to identify themselves as ‘shamans’ when they are simply drumming neopagans without a community to minister to.

You see, “core-shamanism” (akin to “oracular seid”) is a non-cultural hedgerow upon the path, one where most people stop and reside without ever making the effort to look over the boundary, let alone continue the journey.

Regarding core-shamanism, it assumes that “the West overwhelmingly lost its shamanic knowledge centuries ago due to religious oppression”, and that all said “medicine men and women” employ “drug techniques”, “repetitive drumming”, and “soul retrieval”. Then, regarding “oracular seidr”, Paxson describes it as “analogous to the "core" shamanic practices identified by Michael Harner, which could then be combined with mythology and historical examples from given cultures to recreate versions of the practice appropriate for use in traditions such as the Celtic or Greek.” (She fails to mention that what she has 'combined' here is her Wiccan and Umbanda Voodoo practices.)

In these circumstances the comparative relationship between “god” and “ego” becomes clear; for example, there is the ‘god complex’ and the ‘ego complex’. Likewise there is: ‘ego authenticity’ and ‘god authenticity’; ‘ego voice’ and ‘god voice’; ‘ego consciousness’ and ‘god consciousness’; ‘ego centeredness’ and ‘god centeredness’; ‘ego traits’ and ‘god traits’; and the list is endless. This is an important point because of the commonly held definition of shaman is, “an intermediary or messenger between the human world and the spirit world", or, "a person who acts as intermediary between the natural and supernatural worlds." So that, those who practice core-shamanism, or oracular-seid, or any method that places itself between “gods and men”, is bound to be mired in ego.

However, the challenge is not so much in Harner and what he has done to genuine shamanic practices, or Paxson and how her technique has promoted slothful research and passionless “performances”, but in how the word shaman is now defined; namely (and again), “an intermediary or messenger between the human world and the spirit world", or, "a person who acts as intermediary between the natural and supernatural worlds".

You see, this definition comes either from the outside – from anthropologists and historians who research or study tribal shamans and/or shamanics – or from those who have been schooled in core- or unauthentic shamanism. For example, let’s examine a few of the most popular shamanic books:

1-Shamanism : Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy, 1951, Mircea Eliade

Eliade never actual met an indigenous shaman. His over generalizations lie at the root of non-cultural shamanic practices today. Further, his lack of empirical support and far right / political conclusions continue to overshadow genuine work being carried out in both the field of research and practice.

2-The Way of the Shaman, 1990, Michael Harner

Harner originated ‘core shamanism’, which “does not hold a fixed belief system, but instead focuses on the practice of shamanic journeying and may on an individual basis integrate indigenous shamanism, the teachings of Carlos Castaneda and other spiritualities.” Overall, his works propagate the practice of cultural appropriation, and so encourage misrepresentation of the various cultures he claims to have been inspired by. Harner’s works have almost single-handedly laid the foundation for massive exploitation of Indigenous cultures by "plastic shamans" and other cultural thieves.

3-Animal-Speak: The Spiritual & Magical Powers of Creatures Great & Small, 1996, Ted Andrews

Andrews as a “clairvoyant and aura interpreter”, who did “past-life analysis and dream interpretation”, “numerology and Tarot”. He was a public school teacher who was interested in “esoteric forms of healing with sound, music, and voice”. He never trained as a shaman.

4-The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge (1968); A Separate Reality (1972); and Journey to Ixtlan (1971), Carlos Castaneda

From his first book, notable anthropologists specializing in Yaqui Indian culture questioned the accuracies of Castenada's work. This is worth remembering in that Castaneda wrote all three books as an anthropology student at UCLA, and was awarded a bachelor and doctoral degree based on their content. From the numerous contradictions regarding time, location, sequence and description of events, to eyewitness accounts that he was never in Mexico during the periods his books detail he was, to the lack of Yaqui vocabulary, and to the clear synthesis of shamanisms from elsewhere (not particular to Mexico, and in some cases, that hemisphere), his work has been resoundingly discounted.

5-The Celtic Shaman: A Handbook, 1991, John Matthews

An attempt to reconstruct Celtic shamanic tradition from a gaping absence of any such practice; better to describe this as Celtic neopaganism with various shamanic techniques added in. Animal totems and their numerical correspondences, to their directions are typical examples of core-shamanism. Couple this with no internal citations, no foot- or endnotes, and this “pivotal book to the practice of modern shamanism” is an incomplete understanding of even the most fundamental of shamanic concepts.

6-Shamanism As a Spiritual Practice for Daily Life, 1996, Tom Cowan

Cowan trained with Michael Harner, and according to his bio “he combines universal core shamanism with traditional European spirit lore to create spiritual practices”, and “Tom met Michael Harner from whom he learned core shamanism which continues to be Tom's primary spiritual practice.”

7-Soul Retrieval, 2006, Sandra Ingerman

Ingerman is a psychology counselor who has trained extensively with Michael Harner, and has worked as the Educational Director for his foundation.

8-The Book of the Shaman: Walk the Ancient Path of the Shaman and Find Inner Peace, 2001, Nicolas Wood

According to his website, “His own practice is a mix of Mongolian, Tibetan, Siberian and Native American traditions.”

9-In the Shadow of the Shaman: Connecting with Self, Nature & Spirit, 2002, Amber Wolfe

Wolfe’s website describes her as “follow[ing] an American Shamanic path”, a “Ban Drui” or a “Wise Woman, Druidess, White Oak Woman and Faerie Doctor”, and as a “Wiccan author”.

10-The Book of Shamanic Healing, 2002, Kristin Madden

According to Madden’s website she “blends Eastern and Western mystic paths”, is a “Druid and tutor in the Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids”, a “member of the Druid College of Healing and is on the Board of Silver Moon Health Services.” She self-identifies as a “Pagan”.

The argument here is that these works all have a common root: core-shamanism, which is recognized by anthropologists and historians as not only inaccurate but cited as “cultural imperialism” by indigenous tribes worldwide. In the examples cited above, the authors introduce a form of thinking and language, dress and personal adornment, music and art, social behavior and religion that is far removed from their indigenous cultural contexts. Native Americans and First Nations activists have coined a term for such individuals and their writings: Plastic Shamans. Specifically, plastic shamans are “individuals who are attempting to pass themselves off as shamans, holy people, or other traditional spiritual leaders, but who have no genuine connection to the traditions or cultures they claim to represent. In some cases, the "plastic shaman" may have some genuine cultural connection, but is seen to be exploiting that knowledge for ego, power or money.” Further, “plastic shamans are believed by their critics to use the mystique of these cultural traditions, and the legitimate curiosity of sincere seekers, for personal gain; in some cases, exploitation of students and traditional culture may involve the selling of fake "traditional" spiritual ceremonies, fake artifacts, fictional accounts in books, illegitimate tours of sacred sites, and often the chance to buy spiritual titles.”

Over the years I have heard the reasoning for “incorporating” practices not native to Northern Europe, and to each there is a ready answer: Delve deeper.

You see, there is in fact a great wealth of information available to us on the subject of Heathenry, likewise Seiðr. Two of my favorite observations on this fact come from H.R.E. Davidson:

“Devotion to the past which is so characteristic of Norse literature has left us such a record as is offered by no other early literature in North-West Europe”

“As far as Old Norse literature is concerned there is little reason to complain of the scantiness of the filed, which is bewildering by its richness rather than depressing by its barrenness.”

So that over the years I have taken Davidson’s advice to heart; namely, “The necessary first step in rediscovering the nature of heathen thought in Scandinavia is to discover how much has been caught up and preserved in the literature we possess, and to assess carefully the extent of the wealth at our disposal before we trace out its origins.”

And this is exactly what I have been doing for the past thirty plus years: delving deep into the historical record to discern from the many Northern European tribes the very nature of their most intimate connection to the divine. And I have been a diligent gardener; for, as a Seiðwoman – a culturally specific ‘magic’ user – not only have I carefully weeded out, at every turn, the external influences and interpretations, but have been ever mindful to exclude a biased interpretation (or to reimagine Seiðr in my own image). Certainly, this has been the road least traveled, the path overgrown for lack of use, but ineffably rewarding for the remarkable insight and application that can only be had from such determined diligence and enduring patience.

Therefore, unlike the books above, which are examples of outsiders looking into a cultural structure, or worse still, ignoring an existing cultural structure and abundant history, I am an insider exploring from the heart of my own cultural structure.

Returning again to the standardly applied definition of a shaman, “an intermediary or messenger between the human world and the spirit world; a person who acts as intermediary between the natural and supernatural worlds". Let me state simply what a true shaman does – an individual who is cultural attuned to the spiritual roots of their folkway – and so therefore a true Seiðfolk: They are intermediaries between the human community and the larger ecological field. They ensure that there is a felicitous flow of nourishment from local land, sea and sky back to human folk. For through their vigilant observation of celestial and terrestrial tides, Sitting-out, and accessing of Wyrd Consciousness, Seiðfolk ensure that the relationship between the Old Ways and modern ways, the Above and Below Worlds and Middle World, the Past and Future and the Present, the human and the wights of nature, all remain composed and reciprocal. In this way, the tribe never takes more from land, sea and sky than it gifts to it – materially and prayerfully, and with gratitude and praise.

Both harvest and hunt are constant paradigms of reciprocally negotiated and so mutually supported activities between tribe and nature. Hence the dual importance of kindred; first as a human support element, and second in that every member of a kindred is responsible for working at being attuned to the Others – those beings, influences, vibrations, and the like that surround, support, sustain and so influence daily life. And though every Heathen should be engaged with the Unseen, it is the Seiðu alone that leads the way, the sole voyager into the Between, the singular strategist and negotiator in all dealings with Otherkin.

Clearly then, this is not a task left to new age sojourns and externally influenced cultural intrusions. As such, the guarantee of Heathenry’s future is the due diligence of those who would bear the Stang and Stone, of Wyrd and Weave,

Seið Deliberately!

Yngona Desmond

Inception

2011-02-25T11:35:00.000-08:00

Saw the movie Inception. Wasn’t impressed.

A dream within a dream, within a dreamer’s dream, dream.

I live this way.

Planting an idea (‘inception’) into someone’s head to make them think it was their idea.

I live this way.

Having a personal ‘totem’ to demarcate between waking reality and sleeping reality.

I live this way.

Moral of the movie: Salvation lies in reality, not dreams.

I disagree. But then, I’m a Seidwoman so it makes sense that I would.

Second moral of the movie: We never really know what reality is and isn’t.

There is an easy Seid answer to this; apparently, some can’t handle that truth.

Dream Deliberately!

Yngona Desmond

New Year Resolution, Day One

2011-01-01T11:34:00.000-08:00

As I posted yesterday, my New Year Resolution is to only eat Georgia grown / produced food for a month (without wasting the food already in the refrigerator).

First thing every morning, I wake up my nabulo – Old High German for navel. As a Seiðwoman I relate the external world to the internal world, which means that I view the nabulo to Hvelgelmir – the Churning, Whirling Shrieker – the source of Elivagar, the springs from which the World Rivers arise. I understand Hvelgelmir to be the center of my internal Three Worlds, my Midgard, so to speak; above which is the Upper World,/body , and below, which is the Under World/body.

The word navel has Proto-Indo-European roots (*nobh-), and is also seen in Sanskrit nabhila, meaning “relationship”. Additionally, the ancient Indo-European practice of medicine – Ayurveda (āyus = longevity; veda = knowledge, science) – emphasizes the importance of health in the region of the navel. Specifically, this is Vishvodhara nadi, or the energy/river/current of digestion, blood and circulatory systems, exertion, internal fire / metabolism, and overall, the balancing center of the body. It is interesting to ponder the navel as Hvelgelmir, the source of the Elivagar, comparatively with Ayurveda because this ancient healing science is widely considered to be 6,000 years old (a date which will prove significant further on).

Now, as to how I wake up my nabulo .. well that has everything to do with Seiðr Nutrition (*), an idea I have been developing alongside both my Seiðr studies and Forn Threifa (Ancient Touch Healing). An idea further bolstered by the Sami Noaide I lived, hunted and learned from during my stay in Finland (2005); namely that there is a specific diet for those who practice the Northern European Shamanic arts.

Seiðr Nutrition acknowledges Earthus as a mentor, and what she shows through example is to eat seasonally; an idea that has been scientifically shown to supply the nutritionally needs of the body and mind, which would then allow the spirit to gain Tivaric heights.

So it was, on this first day of my New Year Resolution, I drank a hand squeezed organic Georgia orange, mixed with coconut water (already on hand), to wake up my nabulo – the digestive fire of my being, the connecting thread between the lower body and higher body.

Overall, more credence needs be given to Heathen healing techniques – which is why I am writing a book on the subject. Not only does this book-in-progress contain references to touch healing techniques (healing hands), but I think it can be said that our ancestors were well versed in both the energy lines that coursed through the body (to include how to employ them for healing), and those energy lines that pulsed through Lady Earthus (Ley Lines).

A physical example of ancient healing techniques may be found in Ötzi the Iceman, whose mummified remains show several carbon tattoos. These interesting marks are located to either side of his lumbar, behind his knee, and on both ankles. Notably, radiological examination has shown these areas to have “age-conditioned or strain-induced degeneration" .. basically, wear and tear. As is, these lines are being related to acupuncture meridians. Here’s where the date above comes in. Acupuncture, a part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), was not codified until the Shang Dynasty, or 1600-1100BCE, which was when bronze casting technology was developed, enabling the manufacture of metal acupuncture needles. Likewise, Ayurveda is considered to be 6,000 years old.

If then, Ötzi’s tattoos can be related to acupuncture, and acupuncture didn’t formally exist yet, then couldn’t it be just as easily said that these marks are related to Ayurveda? Especially since Ötzi’s DNA identifies him as Haplogroup K, found in Central Europe, and not that of Haplogroup Q, found in Central Asia.

Whatever the case may be, examples of Prehistoric Medicine are found the world over; practices that included plants, earth and clays, surgery, dentistry, sweat lodges, and magic/shamanic techniques.

From an Ayurvedic perspective, his tattoos could relate to:

-Lumbar – vertical lines found on both sides of the spine: This is the primary area for a slipped disc, especially L4-L5 and L5-S1 (L = lumbar, S = sacral). Injuries here are common because the lumbar bears the brunt of the body’s weight. In Ayurveda this area is the focal point of Meru Chikitsa (meru = spine; chikitsa = therapy, application); specifically, an area that is affected by blood and nerve constriction and spasm, circulatory disturbances, and is central for the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. Additionally, lumbar area L5 directly relates to the large intestine, which absorbs water from indigestible food, allowing the passage of waste material from the body; and consists of the cecum and colon. So in Ayurveda, both the lumbar and large intestine are related, which means marking the body with tattoos in this area would assist a healer in addressing concerns in both regions. In that Ötzi had whipworm, which settles in the large intestine, this further supports the idea of the lumbar marks as focal points for both his degenerative back pain and intestinal distress.

Notably, among Ötzi’s possessions was Piptoporus betulinus, or birch fungus, which has anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-tumor, and antimicrobial properties. All of which would have been beneficial for pain in the lumbar, knees and ankles, as well as large intestine discomfort. The marma treatment for the lumbar area recommends pungent and astringent herbs and foods; something the birch fungus mushroom is, with a bitter taste akin to green apples. (Marma being the Ayurvedic word to denote 'energy lines; vulnerable, healing areas' within the body; think the IE version of 'acupressure points/meridians'.)

-Behind the knee – an equal arm cross: This is Janu Marma, or the Knee Vulnerable/Sensitive area. Here, on Ötzi, the tattoo is an equal arm cross, which corresponds to the horizontal and vertical energy flow of this marma.

-Both ankles – vertical lines: This relates to Gulpha Marma, and again, mirrors the natural flow of energy to be manipulated to facilitate healing.

Clearly, these are but suggestions, on both my part, and that of researchers who have studied Ötzi. However, when I compare ancient IE healing techniques with Ötzi’s tattoos it’s fairly easy for me to consider that my ancient ancestors were well versed in complex healing modalities. But then, why should they be any different from any other ancient people?

So .. back to my New Year Resolution of eating locally grown and produced foods. Today, those who eat local produce, who are interested in sustainable living and eco-consciousness, are known as locavores.

If I were to pinpoint a beginning for this idea it would have to be in 2007 when I decided to place all my focus on a Six Mile Radius. This is an imaginary circle centered on where I live, with a line drawn in a circumference, extending outward for six miles. My idea was to focus on the immediate flora and fauna of my area in an effort to become more familiar with every tree, plant and animal – on both a physical and Seiðr perspective – that resided or roamed within that radius.

From an expanded viewpoint, I live in the Piedmont plateau region, located in the eastern United States, between the Atlantic Coastal Plain and the Appalachian Mountains. This region extends from New Jersey in the north to central Alabama in the south. Specifically, I live in northeast Georgia, which geographically is considered the Southlands (which is the name I chose for the yahoo group that brings together Heathens who live in this region.)

Living this way – aware of my surroundings, the seasonal changes, the weather, the wild edible and medicinal herbs, the migration of birds and beasts – wed me to an intimacy with Lady Earthus that was immediately both profound and elegant. And not long after developing this idea, I was explaining it to a friend who then observed, “Your talking about bioregionalism.” Researching that, I discerned that ‘yes’, my Six Mile Radius was indeed a form of bioregionalism.

At this point, I’m sure more than a few of you reading this blog are wondering, “What does any of this have to do with Seiðr or a New Year Resolution to be a locavore for 30 days?” Well, through the filters of my life experience .. Everything!

Seiðr and awareness of environment are intimate bedfellows, as is being a locavore. My ancestors did not have grocery stores or Wal-Mart, or some other ‘convenience’ store to buy food or materials they did not have on hand; let alone food that was brought in from anywhere over, say, 100 miles. Therefore, my ancestors were locavores who traded, bartered and bought goods and services that were produced locally.

In my study and application of Germanic magic and mysticism, I have noted how Seiðr is an environmental expression, so that what is external, of the world, is mirrored internally. If correct, this would then bring insight into how Seiðfolk viewed the world; essentially, that everything was interwoven, on an elegant level, upon the Great Loom of all that is. For Seidr, akin to the Norns, is a practice that follows the warp and weft of the threads of Wyrd.

Being a locavore is an environmental expression, for my ancestors would have only eaten meat that was raised, fished or hunted locally; so certainly not food that was forced into horrendous living conditions, experiencing suffering, illness and lingering death, as seen in Factory Farms today. My ancestors then would have only eaten seasonal food that they grew or raised themselves or bartered or traded for.

Many today consider living off the land to be ‘harsh’ or ‘too difficult’, certainly ‘inconvenient’, yet this is how their ancestors lived. And I’m of the mind that living in accord with nature would have brought, yes, hardship, but also great reward; an idea I base on my grandparents, who raised and grew 90% of their food. And it is this accord with nature that brings about a since of calm centeredness or place. For example, many Heathens today make note of the agitated condition of society around them, the stress and depression, the violence and lack of values. As a Völva there is but one way to remove myself from this, and that is to lift the mantle of darkness that the ‘convenience’ of society uses to keep me disconnected from my ancestral might. In short, for me – as both a Seiðwoman and a Heathen – to fully embrace my ancestral birthright, I need to experience eating locally grown foods and drink pure water. In this way will I begin to experience the wholesome weal of my ancestral Folkway.

Part of this outlook involves a positive affectation, or the practice of being frith- and grithful in thought, word and deed. Certainly my ancestors, who were locavores, did not succumbed to despair or negative thinking, as genuinely seen in the Eddas and Sagas. For what I read there are their innermost thoughts on hearty health, wunjo mind and frithful being.

Finally, living as a locavore can only bring about a profound sense of Self, which can be nothing less than the vibrant song of my Folksoul. After all, a true Seiðfolk is one who has arrived at a profound sense of Self, of Wyrd Consciousness, or that which abides from peering deep into the Well, of swimming within the flow of meaning and purpose, of moving beyond communion with Nature to directly experience Nature.

My New Year Resolution then is to deeply embrace the sustainable lifestyle and eco-conscious awareness of a bioregional perspective, to bring myself one step closer to the locavoric outlook of my ancestors.

Live Deliberately!

Yngona Desmond

*Seiðr Nutrition and Forn Threifa are coined phrases and ideas copyrighted by the author.

New Year Resolution

2010-12-31T09:35:00.000-08:00

For many, its ‘that time of year again’ .. yes, its New Year, and though many look forward to the New Year they dread the resolution part.

Why?

Well, resolutions, it seems, are broke before they’re even made. And so guilt or remorse sets in, which creates a downward spiral of inadequacy and ‘starting the year on a sour note’.

“Nonsense!”, I say!

So what is a resolution? Well, according to dictionary.com its “a formal expression of opinion or intention made, usually after voting, by a formal organization, a legislature, a club, or other group.”

Alright .. but what about us individuals?

Its “a resolve or determination; the mental state or quality of being resolved or resolute; firmness of purpose”.

At this, I know some of you are thinking about all those past New Year Resolutions that went belly up, but .. hey .. its all about intent! Right?

Well, I don’t mean to be the New Year party poop here but .. err .. no, good intentions are not good enough!

Why?

Well, imagine you and five friends sitting about a table, chatting, laughing, having a good time. One of you says, “I want to tour Scandinavia.” Another chimes in with, “So do I!” Then a third with, “Me too!” So the conversation turns to the trip .. planning, organizing, best dates. How very exciting .. Scandinavia .. the Arctic Circle, fjords, hot springs surrounded by snow and ice, the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo, the Jorvic Viking Centre, Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies, Ädelost with Knäckebröd, Bokkøl with Fenalår. True historic Heathen haven!

So how many of you and the five friends go?

None. Nej. Zero. Zip. You get the picture. Intent and intention are not the same as commit and commitment.

So what’s it going to be this year: A New Years Intention or a New Years Commitment? I mean, honestly, we can resolve to do something, be determined to do something, be firm in our purpose to do something, but do we actually do that thingamajig?

Ah .. therein is the difference between intention and commitment!

I think the primary reason why so many New Year Resolutions fail is due to lack of research. Yes .. research. After all, to go anywhere – heck, to even be spontaneous – it takes a degree of research and planning. For example, I love being spontaneous, but that spontaneity also depends on where I find myself. And with a little bit of knowing where I’m going, I can be even more spontaneous!

I rarely make New Year Resolutions. In fact, I can count on one finger the times I have. Which is why this year is momentous .. because I’ve been researching a resolution.

First, the reason I don’t make New Year Resolutions is because I can resolve myself to do anything I want on any day of the year. I can make a resolution 365 times if I want to! So saving up for just once a year seems sort of .. well, sort of lame actually. Honestly, think about it: Do you only resolve to do something once a year? No, not at all. In fact, we make resolutions every day; for example: we resolve to get out of bed, we resolve to go to work, we resolve to eat breakfast or not, we resolve to be happy or grumpy; and so it goes.

Yea, yea .. New Year Resolutions are supposed to be big resolves .. but, it doesn’t always work out that way .. does it? Which is where I started this blog entry .. about making a resolution, not following through on it, then feeling like twaddle for it.

So if you really, Really, REAL-ly want to resolve yourself to change, then look into it first. See if it fits into your schedule. See if it’s something you can do every day. See if you know someone(s) who will support you when feeling less resolved. In essence .. don’t set yourself up for failure before you’ve even begun!

Now to my resolution: I’ve been looking into this, and for the last year have been making steps in this direction, so feel fairly confident I can manage this. I’ve resolved myself to only eat Georgia grown / produced food for a month.

-Looking into it: I’ve checked to see the local crops available this time of year, and the local providers, so feel confident that there is plenty of both food and variety for me to do this for 30 days.

-Making steps in this direction: I’ve been working on the 100 Thing Challenge for about a year. Which doesn’t mean I only live off of 100 things (though, in truth, I’m pretty darn close), just that I’ve been gearing my thinking in that direction. Additionally, I’ve been researching living history / survival living,* which emphasize a reductionist outlook in that they encourage natural ways and means. (*More than 'preparedness', survival living is prepping to live in a SHTF manner.)

-Feel fairly confident: I’ve been focusing on sustainable living for more than a few years, and since I started looking at the “reduce, refuse, rejigger” mentality, have been even more keen on what that means on a daily basis.

So with these three under my belt, I feel ready to live solely on Georgia grown fruits and veggies for 30 days.

Will it be a challenge? I’m sure, and I welcome it! .. but isn’t that part of the fun of a resolution .. testing your will? Or at least, it is for me. And I do love a challenge!

Mind you, part of this resolution involves not wasting what I have, which includes using the produce already in my refrigerator. My primary diet is Live Vegan (80-90% of the time), so I shop weekly, which means I have a few newly purchased items, plus a few left over pieces, but will be mostly starting from scratch tomorrow .. January 1st.

I’m looking forward to it, because it’s an opportunity to apply the research I’ve already done in the sustainable living area (which includes survival and living history), to experience what it means to truly live locally (as my ancestors did), and to journey towards a way of thinking and being that I’ve never explored before.

Resolve Deliberately!

Yngona Desmond

Yard Tree, Yule Tree

2010-12-28T06:39:00.000-08:00

In Sweden the tradition of the vartrad or tuntree is still upheld; likewise other parts of Europe. In Germany a yard-tree is placed on the highest peak of a roof during construction, and so called the 'rooftree' .. a word also synonymous for ones immediate family. Also in Germany, there is a woman who wards this tree .. the Askafroa, 'Ash Tree Lady'. The church has incorporated this Heathen custom into Ash Wednesday, so that many Germans today will make offerings to their yard-tree (an actual tree in their yard), and ask the
Askafroa to accept the gift - generally of milk, beer and bread. Yet another German lady associated with the yard- or rooftree is Frau Wachholder, 'Lady Juniper'. The juniper has long been considered sacred to Old Europeans, and is used in medicine, cooking, and gruit making.

Other significant examples of honoring trees is found throughout Scandinavia and northern Germany, namely through the haugbonden / ru(e)dkallen trees (hill farm / field row). These are 'ancestral' trees, or old growth trees on family land, generally where one's ancestors are buried, and umbilical cords tied. Think on
them as a "family tree", like one would see in genealogy, for this is one's rooftree or Aett tree. Likewise, regular offerings were made to these trees - such as churned butter, fresh milk, honey and the the like.

These are wonderful traditions for modern Heathens today .. to either plant a tree in one's yard to represent their ancestors, or designated an older tree as the same. Words of gratitude can be written on strips of colored cloth and tied to its branches, strings of popcorn garland made for the landwights, and regular
rites can be done there, with the tree as the central focal point.

Traditionally, the Yultree was a yard-tree .. an actual tree in the yard that the family would gather about, sing about, drink wassail about, and the like. It was not brought into the house until much later. (Which strikes me as odd in that the christmas tree is dead, rather like their Jesus on a cross of dead wood.)

In all .. our primal parents are Ask and Embla .. making us treefolk, so its only right to honor them as the roots of our family line.

Live Deliberately!
Yngona Desmond

Heathen Evolution

2010-12-28T06:11:00.000-08:00

We are on a journey of evolution through experience. Evolution is an interactionary process.

Mostly one sits and stares, hunched like a troll before glowing screens. This is only illusionary experience, topical and external excitement that leads one to believe they are changing or learning or growing through interaction with electronic media. You must learn firsthand from your personal experience, which means interaction with the natural world around you, which includes real world contact with human beings, especially your folk.

As an example, interacting with ‘human beings’ is not just co-workers, for your job is a programed experience, which is why the sensation of ‘every day is the same’ is so prevalent and despondently crippling in our society today.

Nor is the idea of ‘god’ an external expression, but a spark of creativity within us. Our ancestors knew this, for they recognized the “ruling powers” as kindred spirits, as ancestors, however distant. So that Heathen Tivar are not simply ‘one-eyed wanderers’, or ‘red-headed hammer welders’, or ‘magically and sexually charged seductresses’, but limitless potential that is everywhere within reach, and closer still, within us. Our gods are conscious expression, creative intuition, or that which expresses itself through wind and fire, water and earth .. through our very life essence.

As such, if you limit yourself to seeing Wodan or Donar or Friadis as simply one thing or another, if you limit yourself to the Eddas alone, then when these constructs are found wanting or unfulfilling then they will disintegrate, they will merely slip away as beach before wave. And when this occurs, trauma follows, so that many will retreat ‘into the woods’, or go on ‘sabbatical’, or ‘step away’ for a time. But .. your folk essence is not something that you simply take leave of, for it is not a ‘calling’ or mantle that one simply dons for a time. Just as Heathen Tivar are not ‘patrons’, but fultrui / full-trusted one, which means first recognizing similarity between one’s self and a particular Tivaric energy pattern, and then manifesting it through being, through existence and experience.

The idea of a ‘patron’ (and now ‘matron’) stems from fiction (from the ‘Hammer and Cross’ books). To our ancestors, only Godfolk were fultrui to a Tivar, and next to them, a Lord / Lady followed that lead, and next to them, all those who fell under them. To express this in modern terms, the head of a kindred’s fultrui would be the same for those who come under the banner’s might of their kindred head.

Nor is this idea one of lip service or the occasional raising a horn to, but regular and generous blot towards.

Returning to our Tivar as personal experience expressed through ourselves .. ‘patron’ is a Latin word meaning “legal protector; a lord and master; a father”. And though this idea may sound akin to what you feel, you are thinking (and so expressing) like a modern being, a product of your me-only society; for a patron only looks to your personal interest. Our ancestors lived and thrived collectively, so the strength of many became the strength of one. The Heathen worldview was not of ‘me’ or ‘me alone’, but of ‘kin’ and ‘sippe’.

When we resolve to accept a “fully trusted one”, to enter a sacred contract with a Luck Giver / Ring Giver, then our might flourishes not because we alone are unique but what we bring to our kin so that collectively we are made strong. A single thread does not a garment make.

The idea that you ‘stand alone’, or that you are a ‘heinz 57’, or a ‘lone wolf’, has been engineered by the Church and perpetuated by marketing media and big business to control you, to keep you divided to better rule you. This idea is not natural to the world – which is easily discerned when we step away from the computer and television to experience the natural world firsthand. Cooperation is the natural expression of Earth and the wights that reside there; likewise the fact of kin and tribe, that our relations include all that lives upon land, sea and sky.

Grotti is a great turning wheel that we all tread. Fenja and Menja, akin to Hugin and Munin, or Geri and Freki – even Frei and Freia, and the Alcis – are twin expressions of evolution, of mind, body, spirit and protection (respectively).

Simply: consider one’s self as a fiber, a solitary thread. Wood and plant have fibers .. many conjoined to create the overall. Just as each member of a kindred is more than a singular entity but part of the overall whole. We are each a weft, living a horizontal – past, present, future – experience; whereas our personal experience, our very evolution, is the warp, or the vertical expression – from root to branch. So woven we are the weave of those who came before us; we are the sum total of our ancestry.

Remember, we are on a journey of evolution, and that involves experience. Evolution is an interactionary process, and that involves relationships .. kinship. You are what you think.

Live Deliberately!

Yngona Desmond

Seidwoman Fasts, Day Five - Why Fast?

2010-12-14T04:28:00.000-08:00

Why would someone fast?

There are many reasons why one would fast. Akin to becoming a vegetarian or vegan, the reasons may be ethical, environmental, religious, spiritual, economic, cultural, or for health.

Fasting is integral to all the major religions and several lesser known ones; such as, Hinduism and Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism, Judaism and Christianity, Islam and Baha’i Faith, Rastafari’s and many tribal folkways all fast.

And they all fast for different reasons – from non-violence to reciprocity, from compassion to animism, from politics to the development of negative traits, and from the enhancement of mystic awareness to vibrancy. Nor are any of these new ideas, for the Classical Greeks and Romans fasted for health, longevity, and harmony with nature. Finally, among many American fasters, the two most commonly cited reasons are detoxification and healing.

So why do I fast?

Seið is a discipline (not a passing interest or fascination) that I equivocate to Northern European Shamanism, as such, it requires mightful deeds that must be accomplished on a regular basis and during certain times. Likewise, it is necessary to remove self from the physical constraints of Midgard to maintain balance between all worlds. In that fasting, as a mystical-spiritual practice, alters the practitioner’s biology, psychology and metaphysicality, it is an excellent means of acquiring that balance. Such feats are attested to not only among tribal shamans of lore, but in many ancient grimoires.

Simply: Fasting changes the polarity of the physical body while raising it s energetic vibrations, which has the effect of sensitizing the Seiðu to the primal tunes of Nature. From a physical perspective this means the autonomic nervous system becomes a honed edge, making it a sharp receptor for receiving psychic impressions which are mostly overlooked by those who do not engage in such practices.

From a psychologically position fasting creates an elevation of consciousness open to expansion, so that any practice carried out at this time – runes, galdr or utiseta, for example – turns the subconscious response towards that wind. Fasting is more than abstaining from food, but a means of inner navigation, where the body and mind become orientated towards spirit and the messages received from divine communications.

The body becomes cleansed of toxin (that take bench in the fat stores) which makes way for the attraction of spirit beings that, by their nature, steer clear of such noxious effluvia. One such spirit being is the fetch.

So when the body no longer receives nourishment from food it seeks out other routes, from rivulets small yet which lead to greater seas. As a Seið practice fasting teaches restraint from the fetters of Midgard

In any event, a true fast begins after the 12 to 24 hour mark, and from a chemical perspective, not until the body’s carbohydrate stores are accessed for energy. (One never wants to tap into the body’s protein stores, for this is the beginning of starvation.) Other true fasting indicators are (generally in order):

-Reduction in body temperature (due to a slowed metabolic rate, reduced function in the digestive and other systems);

-A drop in blood sugar, which prompts the use of glucose reserves (found in liver glycogen); and

-Reduction of the Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR), which conserves the body’s energy levels.

After these have occurred the Human Growth Hormones (HGH) and the Anti-Aging Hormones (AAH) are released, prompting a greater efficiency in overall hormone production.

So that, fasting – for whatever reason (environmental, ethic, religious, Seið, et all) – is a proven means of body and mind rejuvenation and extended life expectancy. It is the best way to rid the body of toxins that have accumulated over the years in the fat stores (all the more reason not to be overweight – toxins cling to fat, and there are many verses in Havamal that speak against the "fat man"). And finally, fasting allows the body to heal – to repair even damaged organs.

Live Deliberately!

Yngona Desmond

Seidwoman Fasts, Day Four - Feeling Ill

2010-12-12T14:35:00.000-08:00

For those new to fasting, getting sick is relatively common; yet, so infrequent, that it’s rarely mentioned in fasting information.

So what would make one sick during a fast?

Simple: The cleansing crisis.

When one stops eating the body begins to change within hours (many have no doubt noticed this when a long time has occurred between meals). When on stops eating for 24 hours the body begins to eliminate toxins, which is the beginning of the cleansing crisis.

The symptoms of a cleansing crisis vary, but generally include headache and dizziness, shortness of breath, feeling tired or ‘crabby’, or general aches and pain is if one is on the verge of a cold. Again, among those new to fasting, this is relatively common.

The best way to start fasting is for a 24 hour period. Some religious and spiritual groups will fast from “sunset to sunset”, for example. If one has never fasted before, going more than three days is never recommended; and for some new fasters, two days is pushing their limit.

Think: ‘too much, too soon’, or that one’s body is not yet ready or familiar with such a drastic change. The occasional faster may or may not have similar issues, and the expert faster, never. It all has to do with experience, both body experience and mind experience.

If a newbie starts with a 24 hour fast, this gently introduces the idea of fasting to the body and mind. After doing several 24 hour fasts (and I recommend one to two a month), then the newbie can start branching out .. say, 36 hours, then 48 hours, and the like.

Other than experience, another reason those new to fasting may start to feel ill or get sick is hydration. It is important to not just fast on juice, for example, but to make sure one is fully hydrated; and if on a water only fast, to add some electrolytes to the water, by way of lemon or lime juice.

Another reason may be how the juice (or water) is drunk. Most of those new to fasting will simply drink their juice, mostly because they are hungry so want to get rid of the hunger pangs quickly. Drinking too quickly can unsettle the stomach, making one feel ill, but it will also make one feel hungry sooner.

In a juice fast, for example, it is very imortant that one CHEWS their juice. This simply means to swish it around in the mouth for 15-30 seconds. Not only does this activate the digestive fluids (saliva is a digestive fluid), but it helps the juice ‘sit’ better on the stomach. It also has the added benefit of making one feel full for longer.

Remember, the cleansing crisis is a time of detoxification, which means the body is working to get rid of all the unhealthy toxins. It is best to be patient during a cleansing crisis, which is why mindful activities and deep breathing exercises are often recommended. Both are especially helpful during this time.

Think of one’s self as a drug addict – addicted to the chemicals found in processed foods. So like any junkie, when the ‘drug’ is removed, the body experiences withdrawal. And like a junkie, realize that this time – though uncomfortable – is necessary to reach the ‘other side’ of wellness, and non-addiction.

Yet another consideration is that most newbies to fasting are not attuned to their body, so following a menu that may include fruits and veggies unfamiliar to their body may trigger an immunity compromise. Couple that with not being attuned to the warning messages their body receives, and they get sick.

Those who have fasted a few times – the occasional faster – has more experience with what fruits and veggies work best for their body; likewise, the physical and mental messages their body and mind is sending. This makes them better equipped to Adapt, Adjust and Accommodate for their unique needs (the three Ansurs).

Whereas expert fasters .. well, speaking for myself: I give fasting little to no thought because I’ve been fasting for many years, with many different approaches. Couple this with mindful and Seid orientated living and it allows me to put my attention where it should be during a fast .. on Wyrd Consciousness matters.

So what should the newbie faster do if they start getting sick?

Gently break the fast by introducing healing foods. One good example is miso soup – the Vegan’s version of chicken soup – with minced veggies added in, such as carrot or ginger. After this, another gentle healing meal is brown rice with steamed vegetables and any one or combination of these healing herbs (to personal tastes):

-Cinnamon (and/or sticks)

-Chilli

-Cloves

-Curry Leaves,

-Bay leaves

-Turmeric (powder or root)

-Asafoetida

-Fenugreek

-Peppercorns

-Onion

-Ginger.

In all – the combination of miso soup, then rice with veggies and spice – will ease the newbie faster back to health by being gentle on their digestive system, while nurturing the immune systems return to a higher level.

Another thing that must be considered is physical activity. Many new to fasting carry on business-as-usual, to often include their usual aerobics class or morning run. It is important that during a fast, one settles into a calming routine, one filled with stillness and reflection. Overtaxing the body when the blood sugar and other levels are lowered is simply not a good idea; and the definition of ‘overtaxing’ is any form of exercise.

With the exception of Healing/Chikitsa Yoga.

Some 15 years ago I designed a Yoga class specifically for those who are ill, or injured, who are fasting, and/or in need of healing. It is an internal energy routine that realigns the body's energy centers (the cauldrons, / the chakras, and nadis / the meridian), awhile assisting the body in what it does best – heal itself.

You see, fasting – akin to healing – is never a single activity. One must be proactive in the healing process, to begin with understanding how one’s body works, how one’s mind functions, and the nature of one’s spirit.

So too much physical activity for newbies and occasional fasters can have an adverse affect because, when fasting, not only does the body’s energy level drop – making it an excellent time to focus on spiritual matters – but the blood pressure and body temperature drop.

Regarding body temperature (most who fast, at every level) experience a drop in body temperature; which is yet another reason for deep breathing while fasting – especially Yoga Breathing. And for blood pressure drops, keeping exercise light and easy assures one will not get dizzy or otherwise feeling light-headed.

From all this, it can be seen why all fasting information comes with a disclaimer that one should ‘ask your physician’ before beginning. In lieu of that – and only if one is attuned to the processes of their body and mind – fasting is a safe and effective means of health management.

Fast Deliberately!

Yngona Desmond

Seidwoman Fasts, Day Three - Emotions

2010-12-12T08:55:00.000-08:00

When we think about ‘fasting’ we think about food – mainly, going without. Yet fasting is far more than abstinence from food, for it also involves the mind; and the mind has two aspects – emotions and intellect.

When fasting – either on water alone, or juice alone, or even if one only eats fruits and veggies (abstaining from grains, dairy and the like) – one may experience an emotional flux, a roller coaster of highs and lows, from tears to laughter. This is the mind cleansing its self. Just as the body rids its self of toxins, the mind rids its self of dross.

Initially the body’s white blood cells (the lymphocytes) do their job by seeking out and eliminating toxic residues, allowing the body to be rid of carcinogenic pollutants. This is why, the longer one fasts, the better one feels.

What this means is .. when the toxic residues enter the blood stream they create a body and mind situation that often manifests as dizziness and weakness, headaches and nausea, vague discomfort and isolated pain. This is akin to when a runner hits the wall (glycogen depletion).

The faster’s wall must be broke through – even when the hunger pangs feel unbearable, or when one’s initial enthusiasm turns to reluctance to continue. In this difficult moment (and truly, it is but momentary), consider that your body is dumping all the toxins it encounters on a daily basis. From:

-Mold and Fungus, found in every home, as well as peanuts, wheat, corn and alcoholic drinks; putting one at risk for asthma, diabetes, heart disease and multiple sclerosis.

-Phthalates, found in anything that contains ‘fragrance’, from soap to shampoo to deodorant, and the plastic containers they come in. They are also found in plastic sandwich bags, plastic wrap, and plastic storage containers, so that it will leach into food. These chemicals attack the endocrine system because they mimic hormones.

-PCBs, an industrial chemical found in farm-raised salmon, putting one at risk of cancer and impaired brain function.

-Pesticides are carcinogenic, and their residue is found on 50-95% of the produce one eats. Pesticides put one at risk of miscarriage and birth defects, Parkinson’s disease and cancer, and even if one tries to eat healthy, pesticides block the body from absorbing nutrients.

-Heavy Metals like aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury are found in drinking water and fish, antiperspirants and pesticides, dental fillings and building materials, and vaccines. Heavy Metals accumulate in the body’s soft tissues put one at risk of arthritis and neurological disorders, Alzheimer’s and decreased memory capacity, abnormal heart rhythm and damaged blood vessels, nausea and vomiting.

-Dioxins are found in animal fat. In fact, 95% of the average persons exposure comes from eating meat. Dioxins affect reproduction and developmental disorders, prompt skin rashes and acne-like lesions, and cause liver damage.

-Chlorine is found in most household cleaners, in tap water, in paper (books and the like), and in industrial environments (in the office). Chlorine is highly toxic and will cause skin and eye irritation, sore throat and coughing, narrowed bronchi and wheezing, fluid retention in the lungs and asthma.

-VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) are found in drinking water and air fresheners, household cleansing products and cosmetics, deodorants and dry cleaning chemicals, moth repellants and varnishes. VOCs put one at risk of cancer, headaches and memory impairment, eye and lung irritation, and dizziness.

And the list goes one .. sulphates and parabens, PCBs and formaldehyde, to Big Macs and fries, to chocolate bars and sodas .. in virtually everything you eat, drink or have in your home .. these environmental toxins can be flushed out during fasting. But one must endure past the faster’s wall, equally as one fasts on a regular basis (twice a month, for one day, for example), and actively seek to clean the home, and over all exposure to toxins.

Endurance is the key .. and as any endurance runner will tell you, ‘easier said than done’. Yet, this endurance is what will see you through the fasting crisis to the healing process.

So what are the emotional effects of a fast? Well, just as toxins rise to the surface and are expelled through the bodies natural elimination process, so too may one experience the rise of anger, disgust, fear or sadness. However, emotions are not so easily expelled, for they must be recognized, analyzed, and cast off in an actively conscious manner. And in doing so, one’s Will to Power is discovered, and/or bolstered.

Two of the most common emotions that occur during fasting are sadness and anger. Regarding the latter, anger is unfulfilled expectation, so first, one must recognize the anger, then analyze the unfulfilled expectation. For example, when one truly knows that anger turns every mole hill into a mountain, then one is better able to not turn someone else’s anger into their own. In no way does this mean to ‘turn the other cheek’, or to otherwise render one defenseless, for one is still able to communicate their position, and defend themselves where need be, but in a non-angry, non-violent manner (for me, this is a viable definition of frith). Finally, the best way to cast off anger is through wunjo and weal.

In all, mastering the body is simple .. mastering the emotions – one’s words and deeds – is difficult. So never suppress the emotions, for they must be allowed sufficient expression for their root to be discovered, then analyzed, and finally cast off.

Fasting is a time of inner discovery, so slow down and appreciate the moment. We are more than the body, so allow yourself to not just consider that, but to honor that. Fasting is not about going without, but about opening within.

Live Deliberately!

Yngona Desmond

Seidwoman Fasts, Day Two - IE medicine, Cleaning Produce, Chew your Juice

2010-12-09T06:05:00.000-08:00

I started the day with a healthy constitution, I then weighed myself.   Yesterday, Day One of the Seidwoman Fast, I weighed 129lbs .. this morning I weigh 125lbs.   A four pound quick weight loss is usual for this body .. so don’t think this is ‘normal’ or that your result will be the same.

In addition to being a Seidwoman, I am also a Yogini who own a Yoga studio, is a Thai Yoga Massage Therapist, and an Ayurveda Lifestyle Consultant. Among other things, this means I am a Vata bodytype, which means I know this body very well.

Over the last 20+ years I have noted what I refer to as a “floating three to five pounds”, which means this body easily gains and/or loses five pounds routinely. This is acceptable for this body.   For example, I can enjoy a meal out with friends and gain 3-5lbs, but by the next morning, its gone.   Sometimes the ‘floating five’ lasts longer .. mostly over the winter (which it is now).   So that during the cold months of the year, I carry an extra five pounds; which means I weigh (generally) 130lbs in the autumn and winter, and 125lbs in the spring and summer.

I also know, based on living in this body, that 125 is my bottom line for health.   Anything less, even minus one pound, and I start to feel off-center.   I can literally feel the immunity system declining.   But then, I rarely drop below 125 because it is my NORMAL body weight.

According to Ayurveda - the Indo-European approach to life and living - one’s “normal” body weight is generally established between the ages of 18 and 28 (approximately).   So that, one should be able to wear the same clothes they wore in high school, regardless of their age. Which is why, at 51 years of age, I am the same weight I was when I was 18.

Otherwise, this morning’s first smile .. ‘put the lime in the coconut drink ‘em both up’! Nothing like starting Day Two of a Seidwoman Fast with a Live Vegan drink!    Be sure to read yesterdays post (Seidwoman Fasts, Day One) to find out about the amazing benefits of drinking Lime and Coconut Water first thing in the morning.   Forget caffeine!   Not only will the combo of Lime and Coconut Water convert you from a zombie to an alert being, but will gently start your digestive system, promote fat burn and weight loss, and get the belly read for a healthy breakfast of fruits and greens!

All too often, the "fat man" verses in Havamal are looked over or outright ignored. Clearly, our ancestors frowned on over indulgence; respecting strength, fitness and stamina, coupled with knowledge.

~ ~ ~

When Juicing its not just important, but VERY important to wash fruits and vegetables.   Especially those that are conventionally grown.

Conventional produce is covered in residue from pesticides, mold, bug parts, possibly fecal matter, and other nastiness. The most popular fruits and veggies are also the most pesticide and chemically laden, because they must be grown quickly, preserved and sent to market to meet consumer demands.

Before eating any fruit or veggie – and especially before Juicing them – they must be washed.     I am sure many of you have seen the ‘fruit and veggie wash’ at the grocery). Well, save your dollars!   Soak conventional veggies in water and baking soda for 15 minutes to remove loose reside (you can also add vinegar). Then, scrub them with a veggie brush under running water.   Then you can safely eat and/or juice them without peeling!

A recipe:
I fill a large bowl with water, add 1 Tablespoon Baking Soda, and 1/2 cup of vinegar.   Again, soak for 15 minutes, scrub and rinse.

Now .. how can you tell which veggies and fruits are organic or conventionally grown?   “Easy”, you say, “they are marked at the grocery store.”

“Ah .. not always so”, says the Vinland's Volva!   I have found many a conventional fruit in the organic bin, and vice versa, enough times to check the PLU #.

The PLU means “Price Look Up”, and its a code that not only helps with inventory but identifies for the consumer what they are buying (it may also identify country of origin, harvest date, and the like).    Ok .. you really should write this down and keep it in your purse or wallet:

Organic produce starts with 9, and is a five digit number.

Conventional produce starts with 3 and 4, and is a four digit number.

Genetically modified (GMO) produce starts with an 8, and is a 5 digit number.

And an easy way to remember:

“Nine to Thrive. Four is okay. Never put Eight on your plate!”

Or

“Nine is fine. Eight I hate. Four is a bore.”

Now a word about GMO’s. Where Organic Farmers must adhere to strict rules, this is not the case with GMOs. Big Farma does not have labeling restrictions! So if something contains corn, cotton seed, soy or canola – in America – you can be 99% certain its been genetically modified. Be Aware and Beware!

For more information on PLU#:
http://www.plucodes.com/

~ ~ ~

Fasting is a natural and healthy way to generate abundant health and energy; however, it can come with some symptoms.    For those not used to Fasting, you may experience headaches, dizziness, fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, increased body odor, and negative emotional responses.

Take heart .. IF this is from fasting .. its only temporary. Consider that your body is DETOXING .. rapidly. Fasting increases the detoxification process, so physical and/or emotional issues that may have been in the background are now rushed forward .. quickly.

Be sure to CHEW your JUICE .. this gives you the most nutrients and a full feeling.   Be sure to rest often .. so refrain from heavy physical activity. Be sure to listen to soothing/meditational music, and/or read spiritual literature.

DO NOT drink colas or alcohol, or eat chemically laden processed foods while fasting.

More than just drinking Juice, we need to actually assist the body in the cleansing process.   By following the suggestions above, we can experience many positive experiences while Fasting.   Such as, a heightened sense of awareness and connectivity, an abundance of energy that prompts you to laugh and smile, the ability to clearly focus and delve deep into troubling issues.   You may also notice a greater empathy for those around you, and your senses may sharpen .. so that you are able to better articulate your thoughts, your sense of smell is enhanced, your vision improved, your sense of touch intensified, and overall, take on a glowing appearance.

Fasting is temporary, so the effects we have are also temporary .. while the benefits are long term!

Seidwoman Fasts, Day One - Sauna and Exercise

2010-12-08T05:07:00.000-08:00

I have agreed to join some facebook friends n a Five Day, Live / Raw Vegan, Fast. The collective of the group has its own reasons for fasting, and though mine may be similar, my approach is uniquely Heathen.

Day One, morning: Regardless of fasting, I always start the day with lime and coconut water.

Lime (akin to Lemon) gentle awakens the digestive system from its overnight sleep-fast; making it gentle on the body .. the best way to break-fast.

Lime stimulates the liver in the production of bile, which activates the digestive system; very important for the absorption of nutrients. Many think that the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients from the food they eat are automatically absorbed by the body. This is not always the case. A healthy digestive system coupled with a healthy lower intestine – the ‘heart’ of nutrient absorption – is a must.

Coconut water’s benefits are many; first, it is rich in lauric acid, which is an antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral, then, it is one of the highest sources of electrolytes known to man.

The creative genius of Coconut Water is wondrous to ponder, for it is remarkably close to blood plasma (plasma being 55% of human blood); enough that in an emergency it can be used in blood transfusions. Therefore, Coconut Water is a universal donor.

Coconut Water will lower blood pressure, boost energy levels, purify the blood, lower cholesterol, fortify the immune system, increase metabolism .. which promotes healthy thyroid function, improves diabetes and chronic fatigue, reduces heart disease, rejuvenates skin to prevent wrinkles, and helps one maintain a healthy weight. Coconut Water can be drank daily, and are best in their young form.

Finally, Coconuts are prehistoric plants that can survive many months floating at sea. They are a seed upon the primordial waters of life!

This morning I weighed 129lbs. I said a galdr for Healing Hands; and placed a crystal Mala about my neck. Every day is a blessed day, and a day that begins with fasting, is worth many blessings.

We gain many things from our ancestors .. health being but one part of their gift. Yet, health is also very much our personal responsibility. The Trinity of

Óð, Vili, and Ve - bestowed upon all men, - the energies of soul, sense, and motion-hue, or Soul, Mind, and Body. I choose not to squander my gifts.

Live Deliberately!

Yngona Desmond

PS: This blog entry will be updated throughout the day with every juice I drink on this, the beginning, of a Five Day Live Vegan Fast.

~ ~ ~

Took a sauna-type bath - very traditional Heathen. I did this by putting a space heater in the bathroom, then taking a very hot bath. I exfoliated with Coconut Oil and volcanic sand, and then used a neti pot. Heat coupled with exfoliation, and nasal cleansing are great ways to assist the body during a fast. All the while, I listened to Shakti Mantras – songs to enliven female healing/empowerment energy.

The exfoliation and oils counteract rigidity in the muscles, soft tissue and joints, reaching deep to nourish the whole being. Coconut and Sesame oils aid deep breathing, which is important during a fast, to create a supply body and nervous system. Both increase the flow of Wod through the bodies energy channels, and so increases our vigor.

The neti cleanse alleviates allergies, sinus headaches, dizziness, and brain fatigue.

~ ~ ~

Green Juice. One bunch Organic Spinach, one White Winter Beet, a thumb sized piece of ginger, and an Organic Apple. I drink all juices through a straw, then 'chew' them. The latter means to swish the juice around in the mouth for about 30 seconds. Digestion begins in the mouth, so by chewing our juice, we not only aid the digestive process but we help assure the body receives the most nutrients. For me, the process of chewing the juice takes about 45 minutes .. so it is a mindful process, allowing us to stay focused on the sacred process of healing.

~ ~ ~

Earthy Orange Juice. Just made a lovely earthy orange colored juice made from Organic Savoy Cabbage, Organic Carrots, and Turmeric.

"Cabbage, garlic and onion", my grandmother always said, "are god's medicine on earth." And its true! All three are incredible healthy, often cited as 'poor man's penicillin', and have well established healing properties - either singly or together.

Turmeric has been used in India for over 2,500 years. Its active ingredient - curcumin - has been shown to prevent and/or cure cancer in laboratory tests. But then, its medicinal use has a long history in Ayurveda, where it is used to cleanse the liver, as an anti-inflammatory, to bolster the skin, heart and lungs, to purify the body and mind, and in the treatment of tumors.

Modern applications include use as an antibacterial, antioxidant, antiseptic (for open wounds and staph infections), for cardiovascular ailments, as a stimulant, a diuretic, in the treatment of food poisoning, ease gallstones and indigestion.

Turmeric helps regulate the female reproductive system, and purifies the uterus and breast milk (or lactation problems). In men, it purifies and builds semen. It is useful in reducing fever, easing diarrhea, and treating urinary disorders. It is useful in reducing excess phlegm in the throat, and can be used to wash out the eyes and ears. It helps balance cholesterol levels, boosts the immunity system, and modern research has found it beneficial in the treatment of Alzheimer's. For centuries, woman have used it as a beauty aid .. to clarify their skin.

Its a wonderful addition in the kitchen, with many applications. For example, add it to cauliflower to prevent prostate cancer, and sprinkle on any food to boost the metabolism and so help with weight management.

In fact, there are so many benefits that I can't list them all! Simply search "turmeric health benefits" for additional information and ways you an add it to your diet today!

~ ~ ~

After the 5pm Yoga class, I juiced 1/2 a Sweet Potato, and an Apple. Then, after the 7pm class I juiced an Apple, Orange and Delicata. The Sweet Potato makes a ‘heavy’ juice, so was very filling. The Delicata – like all squash and winter pumpkins – are perfect juice ingredients during the cold months because they are seasonal.

I taught three Yoga classes today, and did Headstands in two of them. The day has been a huge success!

Struggling with Christianity

2010-12-06T10:22:00.000-08:00

The more principle-centered we become,

the more we develop an abundance mentality;

the more we are genuinely happy for the successes,
well-being, achievements, recognition, and good fortune of other people.
We believe their success adds to, rather than detracts from, our lives."

-Stephen R. Covey

The other day I commented that Heathens focus too much on Christianity. The response was that since it was part of our folkway, it was not so easily separated.

Yes, I agree with this, equally as I consider it a weed that needs be pulled from the path that we walk upon. All too often it seems the path to our folkway is overgrown with weeds - Christian weeds, Wiccan weeds, Voodoo weeds, Ceremonial Magic weeds, Kabala weeds, and the like. A weed is often defined as 'a herb not yet identified', yet these weeds are well known to us, and they are not herbs, let alone healing ones, or part of our Nine Herb lore, or our wortcunning. They are invasive to our folkway and risk choking out the same.

In the above quote the idea of being "principle-centered" is the gist of the message. But what principles? Whose principles? When we struggle between Christian and Heathen, or Wiccan and Heathen (and the like) we are always off balance .. teetering from one to the other, always being a hedgerider.

I know a tenth, if I see a hedgerider playing upon the air:

I work towards their not knowing how to journey

towards their hama or hugr (skin-shape or mind).

-Havamal 155 (Desmond translation)

Likewise, there are many examples in Havamal of generosity, even to strangers .. so that our folk are portrayed as open-handed, "genuinely happy for the successes, well-being, achievements, recognition, and good fortune" of others. It seems many Heathens today have gotten away from this notion, opting instead to snipe and conspire to harm fellow Heathens. Principles perhaps from folkways not our own?

As many threads tie to make a rope, we grow stronger through affiliation.

After all, does not "success add to, rather than detract from, our lives"?

Live Deliberately!

Yngona Desmond

Birthing a Wolf

2010-08-11T07:58:00.000-07:00

In a dreamvision early this morning I was pregnant with a wolf. Dreamvisions are vertha, or Verthandic .. 'that which is happening now', so that I was pregnant in the now .. at 51 years of age.

This is perfectly reasonable to me. In fact, *during* the dreamvision I was recalling another dreamvision, some eight months earlier:
http://vinlands-volva.blogspot.com/2009/12/dreamvision.html

Over the years my dreamvisions have always come in threes, so that a singlur dreamvision plays out over the course of three nights. In the current acceleration of time my dreamvisions have been coming in threes in one night.

So, the dreamvision begins with me being pregnant with a wolf. Aside from that I was noticing the pronounced change in my body. I was not overly large for being pregnant, but with a well defined lean muscle mass. I felt alive and vibrant, almost feral. My entire body seemed to ripple with every move. In waketime, I am fairly lean - think 20+ hours of Yoga a week, coupled with running - but the leanness in the dreamvision was different .. more sinuous, more like one would see on a wolf, for example.

After this examination I woke up. No need to relieve myself, but a strong desire to get up, go to the window and look outside. Which I did. I stood there for a time, considering the dreamvision I had just woken from, then went back to bed. There, the dreamvision went into 'part two'.

There was a man there who was watching over me, protecting me. I never got the impression he was the father of the wolfchild, but he was certainly a wolfling, akin to the ones I had encountered in my previous dreamvision. I noticed his very pronounced eyes .. wolf eyes, and it occured to me that my eyes were changing. So that my body was not only becoming a fit vessel to hold a wolfchild, but there were other changes taking place as well.

The wolfman / protector never spoke but he did communicate to me. Never in words but through an intuitive sense, so that when he looked at me, his directed thoughts were very clear to me. And when he was not there, if he directed his thought towards me, I 'heard' that as well. He spoke to me at length, relating many profound things that I will not relate here. I will say, however, that this was certainly a continuation from the previous wolf dreamvision (from the link above).

Then I woke up, and again, had a strong urge to go to the window and look outside. I saw nothing in particular, just the night. It occured to me that my vision might somehow be improved - because of the wolf eyes in the dreamvision - but I didnt notice anything out of the ordinary, so returned to bed.

The dreamvision's third part began. I was in the woods, the pack was there, and as in the previous dreamvision, they were in various forms: half-human, half-wolf, or fully one or the other. There was a sense of safety there, and surety. No one in particular was protecting or watching over me, but I felt an overwhelming sense of calm abiding.

The 'man' appeared, the one from the second part of the dreamvision. When he arrived, all the wolfmen took notice but from their reaction it seemed that this man was the pack leader. No words were spoken, yet each looked each other intently in the eye, and some touched heads, so that I know thoughts were exchanged. He made his way to me, where I sat sipping tea that I had just brewed. He looked down at me, where I sat. I looked up, and when our eyes met he verbally spoke: "Soon."

And then I woke up.

This morning it occured to me that the previous wolfish dreamvision was eight months ago, so considering a normal gestation period of nine months, I suppose it is "soon".

Otherwise, upon waking this morning I had a powerful drive to be outside and go running. So Staff in hand, Lilka at my side, I stepped out my front door, down the yard, across the creek, and entered the 1.25 mile wooded trail behind the house. I ran and it felt good.

Stand at Zero

2010-08-09T08:49:00.000-07:00

Howard Bloom, an American science writer and music industry publicist, wrote an essay entitled, "Reality is a shared hallucination." This title has since become a would-be counter culture cliche.

Some would have us believe that there is no 'unique subjective perception', that there is only an objective reality that we have been seemingly plugged into by 'the system'. And that this 'system' has managed to do this through its 'government, law, expectation, state religion' and the like. So that those who uphold the idea that 'reality is a shared hallucination' are living in a matrix, where they are 'often unknowingly .. forced to accept', and so perpetuate the shared hallucination.

Clearly there is a common societal dictate that many fall into step with. A daily existence where one asks no life-affirming questions, never seeking to be free from the box - let alone considering that they are living in a box. And it is from this dead weight that society is formed. Even so, there are those who live outside of this box, who even consider the idea of 'thinking outside the box' but an extension of the box itself. For the latter, I am referring to beings who are self-aware, who are perhaps even supra-conscious. I am referring to those who have not only reached but now reside in one level or another of Wryd Consciousness.

Certainly, if one is stirred enough they may raise their head and realize, "Oh .. reality is a shared hallucination." But what then? Will they then lay their head back upon the lap of collective sleep, to dream those dreams they were told to dream? Or will they awaken to realize they are fettered and so seek a means to be free?

In all things: real is as real does; Seid is as Seid does; honor is as honor does; and the like.

It is not easy to become conscious of individual perception, for its rather like not being able to see the forest for the trees. It is not easy to plum the depths of individual psyche - to dissect the layers of Urlag - so that one may then begin to awaken to the moments when they are being mislead by smoke and shadow (shared / objective reality).

If one does manage to awaken to real, then they may then be able to expand their sense of reality - beyond that of mere "hallucination" (which is nothing but belief and assumption), and so evolve into real. To even, perhaps, Stand at Zero.

Glib quotes do nothing to elucidate the Absolute, if anything they only weigh down one's sense of self-awareness. No doubt, society at large is sculpted by the mindless masses. Which is all the more reason to be dangerous, to explore impulses, to be irrational .. for therein is truth found.

As a Heathen I seek out the heroic, for freedom is often found in uncertainty and crisis, boldness and intelligence. Meaning, for me, questioning values is not a spurious attitude but a descent into the chaos of ordered society itself. To do otherwise is to succumb to insanity. In fact, I will go so far as to
state that the 'shared hallucination' of society can only exist due to the non-ordinary utlanders - the Seidfolk and Shamans who strenuously purify and elevate thought so that the weight of collective 'real' does not crush the floundering masses of ordinary.

My point is: If one truly feels that 'reality is a shared hallucination' then I suggest their first business to be that of self-knowledge. A general course of action for this may look like this:
-Identify the collective reality.
-Remove yourself from it.
-Create your own light to illumine the terrain around you.
-Find others who are also free from group-think.
-If the new plateau you find yourself upon becomes quigmired, then repeat the course of action to arrive at the next level.

Do not accept society’s singular pitch, a singular vibration. Ginnunga-gap - the Unified Field - is not a monotone. Nature love diversity. The weight of insanity bears down upon society so that it drones on in a dark corner - babbling like a foolish man - unable to turn about.

Step out of the cave and into Sunna’s embrace. Awaken to Real.

Life and Striving After Life

2010-08-01T12:47:00.000-07:00

I spoke at length regarding "probability" in my book, Voluspa: Seid as Wyrd Consciousness. You see, there is no 'path', there are only threads streaming from Ginnunga-gap, and they are not linear.

These threads of probability continual weave into infinite and distinct worlds/multiverses. The sensation of continuity from one world to another is organic and natural to our perception. This conscious process reveals itself as innumerable threads flowing into a collective tapestry.

This image lends itself to the idea of predetermination, yet in truth, we each are free of will in the creation of our individual thread - which has become unique due to the knots, the decision points, along our individual thread.

What is commonly considered as 'past' and 'future' are but the beginning and end of the thread, so already exists. So that we are not psychic so much as we are sensitive to the vibration - the pulling / tugging - along the thread. This sensitivity allows all of us - to varying degrees - to know something in advance. Equally as it allows us the opportunity to create that something in advance. This idea is found in the Norns and in the runes, which they write upon the flesh of all that lives.

If one is experiencing difficult dreams at this time - dark and confusing images - then one is sensitive to the threads moving from option to option.

As the threads of one's life is woven into the tapestry of All That Lives, personal experience becomes merged / similar with that of others. Immediately, those of our kin, then our kith, then further afield, with our neighborhood, county, city, state, country and world. This perspective is further enhanced by the media - the Internet, television, radio, magazines.

The bad dreams and dark visions are coming about because of this compression. It would appear that we have more options but in truth we have less .. and that number is growing smaller still. Already humans are unable to comprehend vast amounts of their own technology, so this expansion is occurring faster than our ability to adapt in our current form. Right now, simple individual choices impact larger groups of people. For example, our mutual future is being determined by a mouse click.

Sunna shines overhead. Mani is quick behind her. Soon the wolves will swallow them both, creating a cohesive being, a cohesive world, a cohesive people. From treefolk we are dissolving into mudfolk, into stonefolk, into a conglomerate that is solid and unable to make an individual decision based on the group weaving of all past decisions.

Instead of being nourished by Audhumla's raw milk, we are drinking homoginized, pastuerized and mucus laden filth. We are drinking from the teat of a globalized civilization.

If there is any hope for our tribe - the Heathen tribe - we must sever the fetters that drag us into a collective where individual identity is cauterized and discarded in the midden heap of free will. Our choice is being taken from us so that we are increasingly left with only a unified outcome.

The onslaught of connectivity is obfuscating our attainment as a viable tribe, so instead of enjoying the warmth of the hall, the door is being shut and we are left in the dark coldness.

All the more reason for each of you to carefully weigh the warp and weft of your decisions - even down to the smallest and seemingly insignificant - so that they benefit all of Heathenry.

If you awaken from dreams feeling as if something is very wrong with the way you/we are living, or if your uplitni (meditations) leave you with this lingering sensation, then you are vaguely attuned to the world's tapestry and so realize that something is deeply flawed.

The Tree has been hacked and is on the verge of falling. No fear, for all that lives must die and all that dies must live. This is the nature of failsafe. For Heathens to not be lost in the coming crash of the Old Tree, they must nurture a seed within. As Ask and Embla are our progenitors, so must we harbor Lif and Lifthrasir within, first, our individual being, then within our kin, then with fellow Heathens. For without Life and Striving After Life, we all fail.

Organic Heathenry

2010-06-27T06:08:00.000-07:00

Yesterday some heathens got together to celebrate solstice. The topic of "ego-based heathenry" came up a few times. Mostly because many heathens see this as the dark underbelly of heathenry and so something that needs be overcome for true growth in our folkway to occur.

I will give my account of some of those topics and my reasoning behind them. Others can give their own.

One topic was the role of "thrall". My take is that thralls are "newcomers" who visit the regular group, and everyone gets to know each other. These newbies earn their reputation by what they contribute - beer, food, song, lore - while at moot with the established group.

For example, aside from our monthly moots we do other things together, like go on hikes, camping trips, Yoga and/or MA classes, attend workshops and other moots, and the like. In all this, everyone gets to know the newbie and the newbie gets to know the established group. Its organic. At one point - an unspoken one, an organic one - the newbie simply is part of the group. Everyone has learned from firsthand experience that they are dependable, that they can be relied upon, that they are upright human beings.

"Leadership" is like this. Leadership in heathenry can be (often has shown to be) a dreaded ego-vehicle. In my mind, no one needs establish them self as a leader, chieftain, lord or other, because this too happens organically - when the folk mutually recognize who that may be. In my experience: Yes .. there is a driving pulse usually in one or two, who motivate the others, but every one is a leader at something. And for me, something I do - being a natural leader - is encourage others to find their own inner leadership potential.

In our group, for example, we have many skilled individuals - cooks and mechanics, child nurturers and gardeners, welders and knife throwers, woodsmen and hunters, IT specialists and nurses, storytellers and candle makers, Seidwise and Thule, soldiers and students, and more. Together we fill the blanks of what each of us need, so that over the years have come to rely on each other / to call on each other. After all .. far better to call a kinsman for aid than an 'other'.

Another topic was the difference between laws and thew. For me, thew is also organic - it is the "given", the unspoken expectation. Thew is, for me, mutual respect .. the common sense among the commonly grounded kin. So there is no need for law where thew is the undercurrent. And again, thew is more what is expected, or simply the 'right' thing to do. Thew is doing what needs be done to benefit the folk, because when they are benefited, the individual is in a stronger place, a more secure place. Being thewful, the individual has organically created their 'rightful' place within them self and those they call 'kin'.

And so this is why I use the word "organic" a lot .. to emphasis the way our ancestors would have lived. They didn't have an organizational chart .. they simply came together and did what came naturally to them. And along the way, grew richer for it.

Summer Solstice, June 23, 2010

2010-06-19T07:03:00.000-07:00

Hearing I ask of the hallowed kindred .. both low and highborn of Rig-Heimdal!

This Summer's Solstice I suggest that one leave one's self open to many new experiences. Likewise bear in mind that this is not a singular day/event, but the beginning of an acceleration. Being receptive to receptivity, being able to flow, is very, very important right now.

Look at old thoughts. Look at where one is getting stuck in relations - clearly repeating patterns, reliving experiences because the lesson has yet to be surmounted.

Consider what some are calling "Timewave Zero", for example. But remember, this is but one name for this moment. So using that phrase I - as Vinlands Volva - tell you: We are creating the Wave.

Speaking personally, much has transpired since the first Yule, the first of the year. In this time I have experienced several 'revelations', un-furlings and un-woundings, openings and the sort. In short, my perspective has shifted, in some ways, radically to what it was before.

Call it yet, if one chooses, a 'shamanic death'.

As such, the world is different because I am different. Likewise I have been focused on 'not contributing' to anything around me. Which may sound odd to one, depending on their perspective, but for me is perfectly normal for where I am and why I chose to be born during this time.

This year .. 2010 .. this is THE year. It begins here.

Not just for one person or kindred, not for just one tribe or country, but for all of children of Earth. We have lived through great change before. This will be similar, so its best to do nothing but re-remember such change, to better embrace it when it comes.

'Change' .. yes. And duality. So some have asked, "What should Ido?" I suggest not being caught up in right or wrong, good or bad, and especially .. FORGET THE PAST. Which prompts us to relive it and so not progress as we should.

As I began .. listen again: Leave yourself open to new experiences. This is very important. Yes, we have all lived through the SHIFT before, but how we dealt with that shift in the past is what must be NEW. Do not fall back on the past, on what was done 'before'. Look forward, not back.

Look forward to find what one doesnt like about self. What one finds unacceptable. Dont delay this task. Do not sweep this under the rug yet again. If one is to survive the coming transition - and I am not necessarily referring to physical survival - one must be prepared to FLOW. To embrace - NOT endure - the transformation.

If one is able to do this .. then one will 'get it'. One will come to realize at their most fundamental, primal, yet wisdom level, that there is nothing to do but realize Self.

I have said this to many of you before: What you say you are, so mind your words, for they are thoughts made manifest! It is not 'we are our deeds', but YOU are YOUR deeds!

Things are accelerating now. Events worldwide are speeding up. This means our time to react is also accelerated. When this happens, as in the past, one tends to have knee-jerk replies, to re-act instead of act. Truly, at this time, dont allow ego to think. Give it no headway. Let Self reply. Let Self act.

At this time, now more than ever, if one re-acts in pain, pain is immediately returned. If one is accepting, then acceptance fills their being. If one extends a hand in frith, then frith becomes their support. Again, let ego fall to the wayside, for when the way opens before you, there will be no hesitation, no thought of 'is this it?'. One will KNOW immediately because one has (presumedly) allowed one's Self to be open to this flow. This knowing, this is the Cunning Way.

But know this as well: This is not a gentle, meandering flow, but a rushing current that can either sweep one helplessly away into past and stagnant eddys, or onwards towards the Great Sea.

So how will one KNOW? There is no coincidence, only synchronicity. Do nothing but be where you are and do only in THAT MOMENT. See the past rear its head in that moment and without falling prey to it, strike quickly and BE. In short: The more diligently you strive to bring forth the divine fire that burns within, the more you will realize what is Real.

The Great Sea is before us, yet there are many obstacles yet to be rid of, so that one may flow unhindered.

Remember how I have talked about time, how it is a manmade construct. How we created it. And now, like an errant child, it controls us. Do not be fooled by this creation any longer. There is no time, only this moment .. this very breath .. this very Wyrd moment.

What sort of mind do you want to practice? To live? To Realize?

Remember the example I offered before - of 'past', 'present' and 'future' drawn on a piece of paper? How when that paper is rolled up, it shows us what truly is? That 'time' is cyclical. That everything exists Now. That everything that has ever existed is existing Now. That to change the past one only needs change the Now.

As Vinland's Volva I have said all this before. For all to see, in 2005, I wrote this clearly in my book, Voluspa: Seidhr as Wyrd Consciousness.

All the earth is YOUR creation. Each of your are but constructs of each others creations. This - what we call 'life' - is but consciousness. Wyrd Consciousness. Think of each of us as individual cells, the center of our own existence, yet part of a greater whole. Each of these cells has come together, to interact, to divide and conquer, to merge and reproduce, to be born and die .. time and again. All within a greater awareness - a vast Hall with a Shimmering Roof.

Each of us is playing a game. Each of us are but golden pieces upon a checkered board that rests upon a Green Field. We are all that is experiencing itself as Self already is.

I am you and you are we and we are one together.

It is our choice to perceive events as either external or internal. Currently, most events worldwide are external. If one makes the shift - gets into the flow - then by example others will do the same. The more one flows towards the Great Sea, the greater the pull of the current. The more powerful the pull towards internal perception, the quicker we arrive at ZERO.

Timewave Zero (TWZ) is not a graph or chart. Not even an idea. It is not a map of history or technology, nor a map of evolution or consciousness. TWZ is a current, a wave of external realization. Its highs and lows, its dips and novelties are external expression. It is because we are. Its fluctuations represent that which we give value to, that we focus our attention upon.

By releasing the past, by living Now, the Time WAVES will smooth out. As a twig in a river is jostled from shore to shore - sometimes caught, sometimes not - we have the ability to ride the central current and so not become quigmired in the stagnant eddys.

If one finds their Being tossed into a raging current .. do not struggle, for this will tire one out. Float instead - do nothing, enjoy the upward view - and rest assured that one will reach the far shore.

Remember, there is NO Time, only Zero - the Great Circle, like a Great Serpent, that ever rolls upon itself. And in this, consider that we will make contact with 'other beings'. Not just those that have existed and will exist on earth, but those that have existed and will exist on other planes of existence (yes, even other planets). It is not wise to assume that humans are the only intelligent species or that we are the only ones considering Zero. Can we so boldly say that we are? Or can we consider that other beings fully realize Zero, and once we do, we shall encounter each other?

Therefore, be prepared to experience something wholly new this coming solstice. To include the merging of Time Waves. Be prepared to Stand at Zero. And in doing so, inter-act, inter-be, with other beings.

But this is not 'the' shift. Just one of the larger 'pushes' that is occuring now. Consider this solstice the shift before the shift before the shift. Some may consider this the prelude to 'Revelation' or 'Armageddon' or the 'Mayan calendar' or the 'Hopi prophecy' or 'Ragnarok'. Rest assured .. these are but words - bogey men and hobgoblins to keep us from not only straying off course but to remember to re-remember who we are. To re-remember how we have done this before, how this time is critical for reaching the next peak, and that the inner struggle between Self and ego is pointless. An 'Apocalypse' is the end, the final destruction of ego - of old ideas and patterns. And as the example of Ragnarok shows - a new beginning. The galdr found in the last verse of Voluspa, is comforting for Seid Bearers.

So what does one really want to accomplish? What is one's truest intent? Who is it that you dream you are yet cant quite manifest? Who is the 'you' that struggles through the muddy depths to rise whole? Who do you know you really are?

Cast aside those things that do not represent you, as a child puts aside childish things. Cast off that which you know hinders you, as a weed that chokes out the healing herb.

We are approaching a fork in the road, so it is best to know which path to take before we get there.

Stay true to Self. Know that Self creates reality and reality creates now and now creates who you are and what will occur. There is no future, for even looking changes it, just as dipping a finger in water causes ripples.

Be the change. Let Self emerge.

Live Deliberately!

The Time is Now

2010-06-18T09:57:00.000-07:00

Hearing I ask of the hallowed folk! Listen with your hearts at every hearth!

As Night follows Day, so has the measure arrived when I speak to the hearts of all kindreds, all tribes, all rooftrees and temple mounts.

I speak from the roots of our Tree .. from the Earth from which sprang the great branches, with its many nourishing springs and wells.

I, Vinland's Volva, have a vision and wish to share with all heathen tribes, with all tribes across Midgard.

As these words spill form my heart, as mead from a horn, the Wights of this world - of land, sea and sky - do suffer and die. Those that walk on land, who swim in sea and fly through sky are threatened.

Nor is this blackness restricted to the Gulf. For as threads upon a loom, so are the currents of fire and wind and water.

Like a horn blast, the call to arms is at hand. Like a troll-shot, all healers must respond.

Earthus is spewing poison from an open wound. A wound inflicted by her own children. Like Aurgelmir before her, Midgard will be transformed by this deed.

Those who are spae-wise and galdrmen, those who are hexen and herb rich, I speak to you to stand together upon the Plains of Idavollr - the Splendid Green Fields - to raise your voice in a single thread to our ancestors.

Staff wise and Stone wise, long have you sang the old songs to our Ancient Mother. Long have you re-remembered her loving ways. Do not cease now but join with others across every hedge to gather our flax, to spin our accord, to weave our purpose so that a healing potion may enter the wound of our Mother.

Pray for all beings that the un-wounding begins. Galdr the wind to calm. Rune the deep currents to still. Jolk the love of mother in her ever-renewing form. Chant the old songs.

And include wisdom for us, her human children, that such assaults may cease and our wisdom shall flourish.

Let every kinsman come. Let every tribe gather. Let all unite their voice - their most heartfelt desire - for healing, for wisdom, for un-wounding.

By staff and stone, by rune and galdr, by cauldron and wand, by sash and paten, by book and candle, by rosary and incense, by flower and water, silence and sound .. unite for this purpose.

Pray Deliberately!
Yngona Desmond

Please share this prayer freely .. with all your relations. No matter the day or night, seek healing for your Earth Mother.

Two Threads that Merge

2010-06-17T05:12:00.000-07:00

Daily, the news headlines outline for me a dysfunctional world society; which, in turn, is representative of a dysfunctional human mind. If Seid is not about viewing the world from a different perspective, then what is it?

So that those who would know Seid should be only those who realize the urgent
need for radical change in heathen consciousness, in human consciousness.

We are tree folk - born from trees. Our need for wholeness then can only come
from Earth, from the body of that which we rose from.

If Seidfolk are not engaged in the willingness to embrace a new consciousness -
a Wyrd Consciousness - then what are they doing?

Listen to the voice of your ancestors, strive harder still if it is but a
whisper. The rising tide of water that leads us from familar shores towards
uncharted waters must be faced with courage, even knowing that we may do so
without a compass.

For many, the Old Ways are rigid. For others they are fluid and gushing and do
not tolerate well the boundaries that many set for them. I choose to not be
captured but to roam as wind upon wide green fields.

Recently, two topics have surfaced on the Internet that have captured my attention. One is the need for a 'return to tribalism' and the second is a call to 'pass the torch' of heathendom to our children.

These are twin threads.

More and more, reading the headlines, following the news articles, it appears that America, as I know it, is collapsing. As such, my thoughts have included: "Let the collapse come so tribalism can rise again."

Romantic on one hand, real world frakkn' scary on the other. Now toss in the
idea that I have to live somewhere in between (like a good Seidwoman).

What will become of 'heathen culture' if a collapse occurs? Who is your
kindred? Are they prepared to survive, or are they just preppers?

For me - with an eye in all worlds - what is taking place across America and the
globe is akin to what is happening inside heathenry. In short: lack of
direction that could lead to collapse and/or dissolution.

If a kindred cant hold itself together on common ground for, say, 2 years or
more, then what will happen in an economic collapse?

If a tribe is not a sustainable model in our society today, will it be during
and after an economic collapse?

My point is: Heathenry is not a luxury, not a pasttime, not an excuse to drink
beer with buddies and 'Hail Odin'. For heathenry to truly survive it must be
history based. And that history must be applied to daily circumstance. Not in
the cute t-shirt cliche way of 'WWTD?', but in a real world, worst case scenerio
sort of world.

Setting aside a Ragnarok scenerio for a moment .. I remember back in the 70s when the Pagan community had a general philosophy of not teaching their children Paganism so they could 'get old enough to make their own decision'.

I thought it was a senseless idea because a child is best raised with family
values. Then I considered that maybe Pagan parents were not willing to teach
their kids because they themselves were not wholly commited to Paganism.

Fast forward to today: Paganism far outnumbers Asatru/Heathenry. At the least,
representing a substantial part of the population:
http://www.paganpride.org/lc/paganpop.html

Google the same thing ("asatru statistics population") and you find how the
Asatru prison population is expanding.

Im all for 'passing the torch'. In fact, Im a huge advocate of home schooling
among heathens for this very reason. But do I think this will be enough to
assure that Heathenry suvives? No.

Asatru/Heathens tend to cut off their nose to spite their face. They are too
quick to make snap judgments, effectively scaring off all new comers and
interested people. Too willing to not educate themselves first, let alone the
new kid on the list/forum/group.

I was reading Mark Stinson's latest essay on 'internet issues'. Simply: how in
public we dont attack each other. I disagree. Ive seen many a hand 'o
hospitality retracted towards someone perceived as 'not part of the Innengard'.

In fact, that very idea - Innengard and Utgard - has taken on its own overtones. If anything, its the new 'racism', or way to say that 'my group is better than
your group'. And it doesnt stop at those who are not heathen, but includes
those who are!

Lunacy!

So yea .. teach your children well. Build a family unit .. a KINdred. This
means letting them know their grandparents and great-grandparents. This means
teaching them their FAMILY history, the line of their relations. This means
letting them see their parents do heathen things, not just read them bedtime
stories about 'gods' and 'giants' and 'beautiful maidens' - but teach what those
things mean!

Its not enough to read something. Heaven knows, Ive met my fairshare of
Asatruers who either:
-have not read Havamal or anything in the Eddas,
-have only read the Havamal and a short saga,
-have never read any history on the subject,
-and/or have formulated their ideas in a bubble, without discussion with other
heathens, so that when they get on an Internet group, they sound like uneducated
and ill-informed pixels that are quickly attacked by those who have little more
information than those being attacked.

Live Deliberately!
Yngona Desmond

It is Unfortunate

2010-05-12T11:19:00.000-07:00

On more than a few of my wall posts (facebook), comments have been left regarding the similarity between what I say - as a Volva - and Buddhism. Some have even written private posts asking me to explain this.

Perhaps those who read my wall think this way because I own a Yoga studio and have been a practitioner of Yoga since the age of eleven. Perhaps, knowing this, they correlate the revelation of my Wyrd Consciousness with Eastern thought.

Undeniably, the well of my being contains the wisdom of Yogic philosophy; and it cannot be otherwise for I have dedicated my self to its ineffable depths. In doing so, I discerned first weft – the original and sublime current that flowed from the womb of Mother Saraswati, the connecting cultural thread – to be the “divine language” (Devabhasa, or ‘Sanskrit’). And therein found the ideas and values, the folklore and folkway, of the Northern European tribes.

What is the cultural thread, the primal discourse of thought and word and deed, but the fountainhead of both external and internal culture. And as all things external, topical culture is fleetingly brief in the greater loom of things. For that which our ancestors held dear has evolved, revolved and been revised. Hence, why so many today struggle with ‘fitting’ the old into modern day living, and in so doing, create ‘new traditions’, based on the decay of heritage and re-defined culture.

Ever searching, many look far afield from their ancestral wisdom, which explains the incorporation of ideas that – at first – appear wholly Eastern in origin. Which is why the comments to my wall that make this correlation are ‘unfortunate’, for it means that many have lost sight of the Germanic Philosophers.

“Yes”, some may agree, that therein lies the spun thread of our folk .. the internal and unchanging culture, that began with Saraswati – Lady Language and Learning, Lady Swastika – to continue today in the language that you now read. Yes .. English is an Indo-European language, and it is that branch that can be traced back to the Great Tree of our ancestors.

“The Wise speak of As'vattha (World Tree) and of its imperishability, having its roots above and its branches below, whose leaves are the meters and hymns (fornyrðislag, galdralag, etc). Who knows this knows the Veda (vit, 'wisdom'; cunning, 'knowing'; Vitki / Volva ?).

Below and above spread its branches, nourished by the Gunas (Norns, the Weavers, the String’s of Existence), and the senses are its buds (sound, feeling, appearance, taste, smell). Below, in the world of men (Midgard), stretch forth the roots, originating action (doom (deeds), ‘karma’).

Its form is not perceived here as such, neither its end nor its origin, nor its foundation and maintenance. The World Tree must be sought for – the place of going that one never returns from – and surrendered to (hung from, “self to Self”), for this is the place of Origin, where one must merge.

Then that road (rune), from which none returns, is made open. Seek then refuge in the Primeval Purusha (Aurgelmir) that flowed forth from the origin of everything (Ginnunga-gap).”

-Bhagavad Gita 15:1-4

These ideas, and many more, rushed forth from language to fill the hearts of the Northern European (Germanic) Philosophers. From great minds such as Leibniz, Schopenhauer, Muller, Nietzsche, Steiner, Guenon, Jung and Schuon (to list a but a few).

It is unfortunate that their wisdom has been lost, either partially are in toto, to heathens today. It is unfortunate that heathens today hear their wisdom – which floods Wyrd Consciousness – and think ‘Buddhism’, ‘Wicca’, ‘new age’ or some other offing far removed from their ancestral folkway. And it is unfortunate that our Northern European ideas are considered first ‘foreign’ then native (if ever):

“The Buddha declined to make any statement in regard to the ultimate divine Reality; all he would talk about was Nirvana, which is the name of the experience that comes to the totally selfless and one-pointed. Maintaining the attitude of a strict operationalist, the Buddha would speak only of the spiritual experience, not of the metaphysical entity presumed by the theologians of other religions, and also of later Buddhism, to be the object and (since in contemplation the knower, the known and the knowledge are all one) at the same time the subject and substance of that experience.”

-Aldous Huxley, ‘The Perennial Philosophy’

But then, such ignorance is a goad for this Seidwoman to write essays that, akin to seeds, may perhaps find their way within the folk soil to sprout anew the rich Philosophie Immerwahrende.

“What, if some day or night a demon were to steal after you into your loneliest loneliness and say to you: “This life as you now live it and have lived it, you will have to live once more and innumerable times more; and there will be nothing new in it, but every pain and every joy and every thought and sigh and everything unutterably small or great in your life will have to return to you, all in the same succession and sequence – even this spider and this moonlight between the trees, and even this moment and I myself. The eternal hourglass of existence is turned upside down again and again, and you with it, speck of dust!" Would you not throw yourself down and gnash your teeth and curse the demon who spoke thus? Or, how well disposed would you have to become to yourself and to life to crave nothing more fervently than this ultimate eternal confirmation and seal?”

-Nietzsche, ‘The Gay Science’

( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sXGzFuoF8g )

Live Deliberately! For .. Du Bist Das!

Yngona Desmond

Wild Women

2010-04-20T12:52:00.000-07:00

An Iranian cleric said earthquakes were caused by “women who do not dress modestly”.

( http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8631775.stm )

~ ~

To this I say:

We Are Women Hear Us Roar!

We are Might and Mainstay.

We birth earthquakes and cause lightning to burn the sky.

Tsunamis burst from our wombs and floods gush from our breasts.

You veil us because you fear us!

Ur-Eine

2010-03-07T06:16:00.000-08:00

Nietzsche wrote of the Ur-Eine, the ‘primal oneness’ of all things, the ‘one origin’, or what Jung later termed, the ‘Collective Unconscious’. Other definitions include: the ‘shifting, evanescent becoming’, a ‘primal undifferentiation’, the ‘swirling complexity’, the ‘doctrine of Conscious Illusion’, the ‘chaotic being of groundless depth’, a ‘sheer and undifferentiated flux’, and a ‘blind, empty, structureless thereness’. Simply put: the return to an aesthetic beginning.

These are heathen thoughts .. the thoughts of our ancestors.

Which explains, to a degree, the deep longing that those of Northern European (NE) descent feel. Certainly, assigning a word or phrase to such a sensation helps to flesh it out, but it does little to apply it every day. In fact, such efforts along those lines generally tend to be reduced to suspicion of those either not of NE descent or disdain for those who are because they do not hold the same (let alone similar) beliefs.

So where is the heathen realm of frith, of accord – if not without then within? Where can one find freedom from fetters? The idea of such a condition of being is found among our Indo-European cousins, so this Seidwoman is inclined to think that such a state of oneness – an Ur-Eine – was known. At the least among Thules, and certainly among Seidfolk – those Bearers of Sacral Lore.

As Vinland’s Volva: The highest achievement of Ur-Eine is the firm conviction of heathen potential. Or that heathens possess the ability to take responsibility for what they think and feel, do and say. Not in a collective ‘community’ sense of ‘we are our deeds’, but in the individual sense of ‘you are your deeds’. The Ur-Eine, akin to the Einherjar, is singular, and that singularity is the greatest of our expression, for what is of value to one is their greatest expression of strength. One needs not agree with that expression, let alone understand its origin, but to discount it off-handedly or trample it outright weakens the total expression of any collective potential that may be had. So that ‘strength in numbers’ only comes about when one is not only able to wholly express their oneness, but to find another of like-mind: “I thought myself rich, until I met another. Man is man’s best company.” (Havamal 47)

Being heathen is a living expression, one that can be seen within the cycles of the Tree, in the cycles of growth and decay. Each of us begins as a seed, a scion from another, and given the opportunity, one may bursts forth with innumerable roots and branches. And like the Tree, heathens and their heathenry are equally affected by the seasons; meaning, not one expression over another holds the greatest sway. Just as there is no one age within heathen history that can be exalted above another, nor one bit of lore or saga greater than another.

All began as a singularity, with Ginnunga-gap. All will return to the Screaming Void. It depends on how one lives their individual life that determines the means by which we return and or perpetually reside upon the green homestead: “I see a standing homestead, embellished and beautiful like the sun; golden roof upon Gimlé [of the] Cut-Stone. There shall the worthy folk dwell with endless delight, benefiting greatly.” (Voluspa 63) This is no far off vision, but an abode that lies within those who cultivate it. No dream but an aspiration. Not some future existence after all has been destroyed but a current reality for those who reclaim the Ur-Eine that rests dormant and waiting within them.

Waiting to be Saved ?

2010-03-06T12:38:00.001-08:00

Many are conditioned to believe that someone is going to save them. Mostly, that a god or gods. Some scoff at the idea of 'Jesus the savior', only to pray to Thor or Wodan.

Or what of some other 'savior', like a national organization, or a gothi, or some other external entity. It seems that too many follow the fiction of complete satisfaction, of the grass being greener somewhere else. So that all one needs is 'that one thing' and life will be perfect.

Recognizing the emptiness, the folly, of this manner of thinking, and living without such nonsensical ideas, opens one up to an incredible wealth of space, of true heart-felt expansion.

Life is the only savior. Refraining from external attachments is the only savior. Trusting in self is stronger than both sword and shield.

Some will feel that, without a close and personal relationship to their 'patron god', life would be harsh or meaningless. Yet, the lore talks about being cut free from fetters. To better experience long-lasting fulfillment, one must be free, unbound, able to experience life without being hindered to one thing. Whether it be one thought, one god or set of gods, one virtue or set of virtues, one group or organization, one ideal, one realization.

I choose to be unfettered, to not condemn or shun the world, but to sacrilize it by living fully in the world. By walking Earth's face as if upon sacred ground .. to honor all beings akin to the respect of my ancestors. For those beings are the ancestors of someone, just not my personal ones, which does not give me reign to discount or disrespect them.

There are too many experiences, to many thoughts and memories to disregard, when there is ample room in the vessel of my heart.

Wild Calling

2010-03-05T11:34:00.000-08:00

The more I immerse myself in Seid, the more Seid fills my life to overflowing.

And it is an immersion .. a diving into the Well .. being caught in the current that is Ginnunga-gap. Sinking down and looking up. Wholly engaged and steeped in the steepness. Fully absorbed so that every particle of being is flowing involvement, is engrossed purification, is engulfed in the saturation of the ineffable.

But .. Ive wandered .. like the gentle stream across stone.

A few years back I wrote about the Six-Mile Radius and the importance of it in our daily life and sustainability. I then heard this was called 'bio-regionalism'. Then, I came upon the idea of having only 99 objects .. just 99 personal possessions. I then found out about the 100 Things Challenge.

Its all in the Gap .. floating ideas, ready to be plucked and participated in.

Unknown to us all where the road will turn. Unknown to me that the course of a Six-Mile Radius would lead to downsizing, would lead to minimizing, would lead to considering being a full-time wandering Seidwoman. To being off-grid once again.

So here I am .. spring cleaning an entire life.

What to keep and what to throw away is an amazing exploration into self. Into who I am, into why I hold onto certain things (physical and mental), into the value of value .. of sentimentality .. of Mugin.

Hugin may fly far away, but woe to loose Mugin.

For me, Mugin is the true value of a thing, an object, a bauble that can be held in the hand. What memory does this thing contain? How important is that memory? Where did that memory come from? I mean, that memory has been there all along .. yet, it has not risen to the surface of conscious thought until just now .. this very moment .. holding this object.

Is that then the value of an object? The many treasures that we surround ourselves with? That it calls back Mugin from afar?

It would seem so. Cleaning out a closet or a drawer reveals a memory .. complete with emotion. Some objects bring tears, some joy, some neutrality, some indifference, some a question ..

A question. So many different questions, so many layers being pulled back and revealed, so many conveniently set aside matters - conversations and deeds - neatly laid to rest, only to rise up and stir the depths of Mimir's Well .. Memory's Well.

Are the waters muddy? Or are they clear? From where I stand now .. how do I perceive myself then? From where I sit - comfortably holding an object not held in some years - do I judge or condemn, do I muse on the value of countless interactions .. the why's and wherefore's, and wonder: 'What now? What impression remains?'

Every horn held high is the mind's memory. Within the depths of every horn reside - for all time - every moment, whether remembered or not, whether neatly forgotten or not, whether chokingly painful or not, whether joyously embraced or not .. IT is still there.

Not in the past, in some forgotten realm, brushed aside like a page in a history book, but still there. Sharp as any sword it is .. ready to re-heave you anew or cut through the dross that has been holding you back.

All will be revealed ..

This is why the Norns dance as three, for one cannot separate the past from the self, no more than one can cancel the future. Nonetheless .. its still dead weight, unless its picked up and re-evaluated. Its value determined, its weight on current affairs measured. Only then can it either be tossed aside as having no more impact, or carefully set aside to be brought out again at some unknown time in the future.

So I sit with a box on one side, a garbage bag on the other, and a pile of memory before me. More goes into the garbage .. for it is but an object. Its real worth resides within.

Sunna Again!

2010-03-02T05:51:00.000-08:00

Sunna Again! O Lady of Light.

Change the way we live!

Rise from the ocean,
Wake the predator and prey,
Awash Mani's dark face!

Radiant beams touch meadow grass and garden,
Caressing dew.

We stand in the wake ..
Waking ..
Awakening.

Listen to the wisdom of birdspeak and know Seid!

Heathen Soul

2010-02-14T06:17:00.001-08:00

I have been meaning to write an essay on this subject, so when someone asked about this on one of the lists I am on, I decided to share my reply here.

Someone asked [[Is there a source text for the soul in the Northern Tradition]]

My reply: There is no 'source text'. Everything written on the subject is conjecture.

As such, here is my own ideas on the subject. Wodan is most associated with the 'soul', or the mindfulness process of realization and actualization. As such:
-Geri and Freki represent the body ('hunger and thirst').
-Hugin and Munin represent the mind ('thought and memory')
-Wodan represents the spirit (Wod).
Combined, they are body, mind and soul.

Just a thought ..

... Yngona Desmond

Valentine's Day

2010-02-13T21:12:00.000-08:00

Love is being with kin. Love is Seid. Love is the solution. Love is the richest of all treasures. Love is the ancestors and the ancestors are love. Love is accessible. Love is the process of returning to Self. Love is not sexually orientated.

Love is eternal. Love is divine. Love is the ultimate and highest goal. Love is being who we are. Love is a praxis. Love is realistic. Love is not vague. Love is in the air. Love is what we are born with. Love is everywhere.

Love is simple. Love is the foundation of a good solid relationship with one's self. Love is beyond the physical being. Love is the purest feeling. Love is the most excellent way. Love is all inclusive, omnipresent, innate and self abiding. Love is ceaseless self-offering and endless tivar-becoming.

Love is amazing. Love is all we need. Love is like a child. Love is an essence. Love is your pole star. Love is a wonderful path. Love is all I will ever have for you. Love is a gift given. Love is inspirational. Love is patient. Love is healing. Love is what we weave into our life.

Love shines within the heart. Love is my folkway. Love is the heart of Seid. Love is the source of all rivers. Love is about being whole. Love is kind. Love is abundant. Love is human. Love is the greatest force in all the worlds. Love is pure and unconditional. Love is the indwelling spirit.

Love is your very self .. love that, and you are complete.

Odsmal

2010-02-13T18:13:00.000-08:00

'Odsmal', written by Gudrun Kristin Magnusdottir, compares various Eddas (the lore in general) with the 'Bhagavad Gita'. Some have found this idea to be difficult to follow, neither 'seeing' or sensing the connection. As both a Seidwoman and Yogini, I see the thread quite clearly.

The Bhagavad Gita takes place, literally, at the beginning of an epic battle, in the open field between two opposing forces. It is a conversation between Arjuna, a great warrior, and Krishna, his childhood friend and the embodiment of god. Arjuna is reluctant - heartsick even - over the idea of killing his brothers and cousins, his uncles and grandsires; while Krishna elucidates the need of this action.

Many read the Bhagavad Gita and never understand its true meaning. The message here is that one must battle and kill one's inner enemies, not outer enemies. That as long as one has outer enemies, one will always have inner enemies. That by killing an outer enemy, one creates an inner enemy, so destroying the inner enemy is absolutely necessary to the destruction of all outer enemies. According to the Bhagavad Gita, this is the true battle that each of us faces.

What does this have to do with the Eddas? Well, to get the opinion of Iceland's Volva, then read her book. Otherwise, let me simplify her message to us ..

The message of both the Gita and the Eddas is that neither frith or grith is had by war, that only wisdom brings frith and grith. In the Gita, for example, the Pandavas 'win' because they conquer their outer enemies and so rule the kingdom .. yet, they never have peace after that.

Sri Ramakrishna, a famous Yogi and saint, was asked, "Sir, what is the essence of the Gita?" His reply was, "Repeat the word 'Gita' ten times continuously and you get the essence." I suggest the same for the word "Edda", because, if it means what many scholars think it does, then its essence is "ancestors".

So that the message of the Gita is to create inner frith so one will have outer grith. As such, the message of the Eddas could mean something similar, because it is the voice of our ancestors speaking to us - sharing this simple truth.

The Gita explains itself by relating: "All the Upanishads (personal, family teachings) are the cows, the son of the cowherd is the milker (Krishna, the gods), Partha is the calf, men of purified intellect are the drinkers and the supreme nectar Gita is the milk."

Some may consider it a stretch, but Heathenry too has a sacred cow, that brings forth the Primal Sound, that manifests the events of the Eddas. Could not our Eddas be Audhumla? The cowherder be Aurgelmir? The sons of that cowherder by Odr, Villi and Ve? Could then, Ask and Embla be the calf? And those that seek frith and grith - so that all of Heathendom may prosper - be the drinkers of supreme nectar? Or does this idea belong solely to Volva's and Vitki's - our ancient wisdom keepers?

Just a thought ..

From the Gita:
"'A non-hater of all beings, friendly and compassionate, free of "mine," free of ego, indifferent to pain and pleasure, patient, always satisfied, self-restrained, firmly resolved with mind and intuition focused.."

From the Havamal:
"Of wisdom shall no man boast to have, rather be heedful of mind. So that wise and silent you come to the homestead, for seldom then will you have to defend your lip. Therefore be resolute and forever grasp the friendship of your greater mind." (Desmond translation)

From the Gita:
"He is the best of all those, who treats everyone fairly, as himself, and considers happiness and unhappiness of others as his own."

From the Havamal:
"Having means and good stores of food, the gracious man is warmed when accepting a gift; and one so rich with money is never loathed to be rewarded a gift." And, "Mild (gracious) and valiant men live the best, seldom bearing sickness or sorrow; but cowardly men fear everything, complaining always, stingy towards giving." (Desmond translation)

Reading Odsmal, the wisdom sayings of Iceland's Volva, I wonder: 'How can Heathens dislike or hate each other if they listen to the poetry of the Edda?' And I wonder, 'If a Heathen were to honestly treat other Heathens as those who have ancestors, just as they have ancestors .. and who honor the tivar, just as other honor the tivar, then how can they mistreat, or slander, or denounce another Heathen?

Or .. perhaps .. these are things that only Volva's ponder upon ..

Heathen Progress

2010-02-12T07:48:00.000-08:00

I had an interesting conversation the other day, while thinking of why Heathenry has not progressed in 40+ years. Why its still a fringe neo-paganism. The individual I was speaking with offered a Vince Lombardi quote by way of explanation: "The strength of the groups is the strength of the leaders."

With that said, I define progress as "continuous improvement; the development of an individual or society in a direction considered more beneficial than and superior to the previous level."

Some in Heathenry consider the number of Heathens today as a measure of growth. Longevity is not necessarily a sign of progress. For example, far too few have been around since the beginning (40 years ago). Including myself, I can count on one hand those who have been around for 30 years. There are a few more 20 year adherents, more than a few 10 year adherents, and on, but the 'eat your own' mentality coupled with outright attacks on newcomers, has kept us from retaining who could be quality folk.

Some have contended that "our beliefs are more detailed", and "our rites" have more meaning. To this I must point out that, there is no "our". There are groups who are working in specific areas - in accord with the historic model - but there is no 'community'. Nor do I consider that progress. Top of my list for progress is more Hofs and Heathen homeschools.

Some have pointed out that the christian mindset seems to predominate Heathenry. I agree, and have long seen this as an obstacle to progress, because those who come to Heathenry bring their christian baggage with them. Because there is already a 'thousand years' of overlay, all the more reason to eradicate it like a weed, to come closer to the original and living idea of one's ancestors.

Some have pointed out the lack of Heathen elders, and to this, I also agree. Likewise the lack of progress among those Heathens who may have internalized their praxis. For example, there are a plethora of 101 books on the market, all of them are rudimentary at best. The reason for this is that if one has been Heathen for any length of time, has internalized a segment of the lore, and has decided to write a book on that perspective, it is often not understood. (My books are a good example of this.)

Some have suggested that early Heathendom's appreciation for women has stunted our progress. I agree here as well. In my case, I had to push like Hel to get accepted into BOSH, even after demonstrating longtime proven skills and athleticism. Otherwise, it has taken many years for the male-oriented 'founders' of Heathenry to recognize the idea that the hearth was and is the central place of every family, and so the 'high seat' of every woman. (An idea that did not exist for our first 25 years .. imo.)

Some have pointed out Heathendom's overall lack of becoming. I agree with this, and further point out that this idea is so fundamental, that one could be led to believe that others share this idea. Sadly, ego and the subsequent power struggles, and one-upmanship rule, rather than respect for the elders and scholars in our midst.

Towards a hoary Thule, never laugh - often good, what the old say.
Often out of withered skin come clear words –
from those who hang fast among the skins
and skulk among the scrolls and weave among the wise-descendants.
-Havamal 134 (Desmond translation)

Some have pointed out that the number of hammers worn by individuals today is a sign of Heathen progress. To which I relate my own experience when encountering those who wear hammers - largely, its a fashion item.

Paying the Volva

2010-02-12T07:38:00.000-08:00

Paying a Volva for her service is not part of our cultural paradigm because the idea of NOT paying is never considered. Nor can a sacred praxis have a 'price tag'.

As a Seidwoman providing a spiritual service it's appropriate to gift me with an envelope of cahs, a haunch of venison, or some other valuable item. Historically, one who receives aid from a Seidwoman would continue to provide gifts for years to come.

With that said, I define seid as "magic", which is in accord with academic research (McLeod and Mees, among others). And as I have long pointed out: "Now its a matter of defining what sort of magic."

I cannot help but compare the words seid, seide and seita, the last two being Sami "spirit stones" and/or "ancestor idols", which can be either rock or tree, river or landmass. Researching further, I note that seide and seita are related to samana and sramana, which are Indo-European in origin and denote 'effort', 'labor', learning', and 'austerity'. By extension, these words could also be related to sadhu and sadhana. If so, my musing still remains: "How did my ancestors understand the role of 'spirit', 'ancestor', 'effort, labor, learning' and 'good'?"

Personally, I only use the word 'shaman' (which is further related to many of the words above) when describing what Seid is 'akin to'. So that, Seid is akin to Shamanism, but not Shamanism; or, as Ripinsky-Naxon describes it, “People who have a strong interest in their surrounding environment and the society of which they are a part.” Now, in tangent with my contemporaries (Sami Noaides, Siberian Shamans and Scandinavia Seidfolk), my praxis of Seid includes:
-uplitni (up-looking, meditation, breathing techniques) ,

-utiseti (out-sitting, 'vision questing', communion with the dead and/or unseen entities),

-faringforth (shape-shifting, astral projection),

-fetchfaring (asking my fetch to journey),

-healing (to include soul-sickness [akin to 'soul retrieval'], and Forn Threifa [ancient touch healing]),

-wortcunning or teinseid (using plants as helpers in various applications),

-runic divination ('whispered, secret' discernment, to foresee what is 'hidden'),

-fordaeda (communing with ancient Volvas, Disir and Gygja),

-sjonhverfing (eye-turning, optical illusion),

-and other traditional indigenous practices (as they are discovered and discerned) that are carefully applied to contemporary living.

Additionally, I have long threaded the role of Thule and Seid, based on examples of the former consulting the tivar and/or utiseti to reach a thewful decision. As such, my counsel includes that of law-speaker and historian.

Aside from the above, where my praxis demarcates from "oracular seidhr" (as seen in Hrafnar and others) is in the practice of "trance". At the root of this approach is the idea that the practitioner is separate from the tivar and ancestors. Umbanda – an Afro-Brazilian-Catholic religion which Hrafnar is firmly rooted in, is such a trance practice, where the “medium” involves the god to ‘ride’ them, so that one becomes ‘possessed’. Additionally, Umbanda ‘invites’ the ‘audience’ to participate in the trance (again, a Hrafnar practice). This dualistic approach – where spirit and matter stand aside from each other, as seen in Neo-Platonic Hellenistic thought and the Sankhya philosophies of ancient India – is one that aims to free spirit from the trammels of matter.

This idea is foreign to one's Northern Euoropean ancestors, to whom the wights were real-world co-habitants of Midgard, the tivar were ‘distant cousins’, and the ancestors were present in everyday affairs. Simply put: Hrafnar’s “oracular seidhr” views the gods and ancestors as outside of creation, because their primary means of contacting them is to either pull them into themselves for a time, or “journey towards” them. This perspective further invites the idea of communion with the tivar and ancestors as a special grace conferred by them, rather than the idea of a Folksoul – which is the continuious thread that fetters us to them, through our blood, DNA and folk minne (and the like).

As such, Seid then, is the praxis of permanent transformation of consciousness through constant (realization of) communion. Which explains my definition of it as ‘Wyrd Consciousness’.

Therefore, Seid, akin to the Folksoul, is a knowingness which is part of who we are as Heathens. It is the forever presence of our ancestors and tivar – which are the root of our potential, of our progressing, of our becoming Heathens. And potential is not separate from us, nor does anything separate come from potential. So where Hrafnar’s approach is one of ‘merging’ with the ancestors and gods, my approach – the way of Wyrd Consciousness – is realizing that the ancestors and tivar reside within us, and that our life is an expression of that truth.

In summation, the average Heathen’s role is to gradually discover and realize (bring into one’s self) the ancestors and tivar. Whereas the Seidbearer’s role is that of heightened awareness, sensitivity and observation. Neither is a guarantee from poor judgment, but observations that help us realize that, through persistent effort, one may settle in a condition of personal frith and grith, and so powerfully contribute to the whole of Heathen culture.