To tell you that I’m going to share with you the old ways of seiðr
would be a lie. We do not know the rituals of the original seiðkonur. Instead,
I would love to share ways I’ve learned through personal study, gained by
inspiration from Odin, and things that I have experienced and utilized in my
practice that have had tangible results.
To preface all of this, I think it’s only fair to say the
following. Seiðr is a practice championed by Odin and Freyja (there are others,
so I’m being painfully simplistic here for the sake of the article). It would
be silly for me to say that you have to honor these gods to practice seiðr
because I think everyone can learn it. However, at the very least if you are to
incorporate it into your work, at least meditate upon the place it came from,
if even for a second. Nothing elaborate, just recognize the origins of the
knowledge of this craft. It doesn’t hurt to learn a little about the gods if
you don’t know much about them!
Getting Started
The most important part of seiðr is the ability to put
yourself into a trance. For some people the simple mention of the word
“meditation” is daunting because they just can’t quiet their minds enough to
meditate, let alone go into a trance. For starters, let me clarify the
definitions I use when using the words “meditation” and “trance”:
Meditation: quieting your mind
Trance: shutting off the world
The Concept
What’s the first piece of advice that pops into your mind
when you think of meditation or trance work?
“Find a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed”
“Make sure to set aside time in the morning or at night when
everyone is quiet”
It’s just fine to find a quiet place to do your thing. However, I was taught to embrace noise in your meditative state to
really learn how to shut out the world. If you only learn how to go into a
trance when it’s quiet, how (truly) useful is that? Instead, I will teach you how
to shut out the world even in the busiest of places so that you are able to do
it anywhere, even more so when it’s quiet.
Your Homework
Go to a park, your backyard, your balcony – somewhere with
continuous noise. If you feel self-conscious about meditating or going into a
trance where people can see you, start somewhere private. Since you are just
learning to do this you do not want to go to a place where there is an
overwhelming amount of noise. While you will be able to eventually block out
any kind of noise, it’s best to start simple. I started learning to do this in
my backyard where there was a constant stream of traffic noise, birds, and kids
playing along with other random noises that would pop up.
Close your eyes and take deep breaths. Breathe in and count
to four, and as you exhale count to six. When you breathe in
make sure your breaths are mindful and that the core of your stomach is pushing
out as you breathe in and pushing in while you breathe out.
Don’t worry about clearing your mind. Instead, take notice
of all of the sounds around you. What do you hear? Single them out and listen
to them individually for a moment. Listen to the birds singing and try to
imagine where they are spatially. Are the birds talking to each other or is it
just one bird individually. Focus just on the birds. After a while focus on
another noise. The humming of the engines of the cars that are driving by.
Imagine where each person is going and how they have somewhere to be. Do this
for each individual sound you hear and single them out while meditating on
them. Take as long as you need on each sound.
Once you’ve heard each sound, it’s time to hear them all as
one. Open your mind’s ear to focus on the birds, the cars, the kids, and every
other noise you didn’t notice around you all at once. You are in the center of all of this.
Your mind should be relaxed but your attention should be awake. You are now in
control of what you hear. Let the noise become static around you. You’ve
identified each noise, now let it melt into your mind. If you’re having trouble with this part, go back to each individual sound.
In the case that there is a sudden noise such as a car
honking loudly (because sometimes it happens), don’t open your eyes and get
upset. You will find that you can easily go right back into the state you were
in prior to the noise happening. If you were absolutely pulled out of your calm
yet aware state, simply do a quick version of listening to all the sounds again
to get right back where you were.
You are on the very edge of being in a trance at this point.
So what do you do once you’ve reached this state? Well, you travel. Soul traveling
is what puts you into a trance as you block out the physical world for the
spirit one. Next I will tell you about protection, learning to identify and
ride your fylgja, and how to fare forth into the worlds beyond ours.
What I would suggest doing in the meantime is practicing what I’ve said
above. You will soon find the more you do it the easier it is to get on the
edge of a trance. You will eventually not have to single out each sound and
instead will be able allow the noise around you become static in your mind by simply willing it. Try it out in busier places, try it out with the TV on,
try it out anywhere. If you have trouble with this exercise, keep at it. It may not come as easily as you are hoping for it to be, but you will get there.
I look forward to sharing the next steps in the near future. Thank you for reading and if
you have any questions please let me know.
In heathenry we have a few different forms of magick. Many practice the widely popular Seidr magick, myself included. However, there are few sources which tell of Galdr magick and its uses. This will be an in depth explanation that will explain the uses and combinations of Galdr into the other forms of Norse Sorcery.
As most are aware, Galdr magick is usually performed with words, statements, and overall speaking. Generally, the caster would speak in poems. Now a days, almost any kind of speaking will suffice to create a proper way to cast. Generally, galdr is casting spells, meaning that your words have power. Unlike other forms of spell casting, Galdr uses verbal vibrations along with emotion. Usually a Galdr casting is sung through a song of sorts and felt with emotion. Almost anything is possible with Galdr, from cursing, healing, and so on. Just imagine, your voice has power, the vibrations you put off from your voice has that power depending on the intention you wish to put out. Instead of just mental will, the Galdr is powered by mostly verbal singing or speaking with some form of intense emotion. As you sing and get more into the song or the words, it begins to form the desire you wish to imply outward, or in some cases, inward.
Galdr can actually be combined with Seidr and Runic magick. While Seidr focuses mainly on trance, a Galdr song can be performed to help one enter trance that is most needed for Seidr or even aid in the magick of Seidr. Runic magick is also very unique, as you do not just deal with symbols of the runes, but their names as well. The names of the runes can be chanted in Galdr to create a specific effect which is associated with that particular rune. Combining runes and Galdr means that you are combining your own power with that of the rune, which can also make a extremely powerful magickal ritual in and of its self. Galdr can also be combined with different musical instruments.
Have you ever felt this feeling when you hear a song, or when you sing one yourself? Have you ever felt that intensity inside you building up? Have you ever felt such a strong emotion when hearing a song, or singing one that it makes you cry? This intensity reaches far within ones self. When we Galdr, we create a vibration, and if that vibration is strong enough to bring about an emotion inside of you, then you are accessing part of your energy, that inner most deep energy which makes you who you are. When you Galdr with who you are, you can make things happen, either within or outside of yourself. Essentially, you’re accessing part of your soul, the inner self, your magickal self too. This power inside you is what also powers part of the Galdr magick. Galdr magick is specific to vibrations, not just general sound, like the beat of drumming or the whistle of the flute but, it is also the voice. It is power of the voice, realizing that your voice has power. When you speak with your voice and realize what you’re saying, you are speaking in Galdr. When voice affects someone with tremendous emotion, that is also Galdr, maybe unintentionally but, still a powerful weapon that most people use everyday.
When you perform Galdr magick, it is to speak with the voice, to allow part of your inner self to access your voice and through those vibrations and emotions, the magick creates the effect that shall be. When you use the power of Galdr, you must be mindful of what you say and do, because this means you must also master your voice because, what you say might come to pass. It might also affect people in ways that you didn’t realize. While we already do this on a daily basis with our mundane lives, there is one thing you must be aware of. Galdr is mastery of the voice, it is being aware of your voice, your words and the actions you perform by speaking. It is a powerful form of magick, being able to control your voice on a whim, being able to realize what that affect will do once it is uttered.
This may sound ridiculous, but if you have ever played the game Skyrim, you’ll know what I am talking about. In that game, you are the dragonborn, you have power over the voice. Galdr is very similar to this. I’ve noticed that the way the Greybeards work in that game is very similar to the way Galdr can work. To work with the voice is to take whatever name or words inside of you, making it become part of you. When you do this, you start to master your voice and come to a realization of just how powerful your voice truly is. Even on an everyday basis, we can offend or please with our voices. Galdr is true mastery of the voice, being able to to control what you say, how you say it, and to express your voice with feeling through words or song that vibrates outward to create the magick we desire.
For when you’re fed up with a situation’s bullshit and
unhelpful vague advice. Best results if you shuffle while screaming at
any extraplanar influence involved in what the actual fuck you’re trying
to reason to show up and fucking help or get their claws out of your
life. Or anything you want the advice of.
what the fuck Contributing factors from the past; part of what’s “wrong”; state or event
WHAT THE FUCK What’s happening or what’s needed right now; what is just over the horizon; state or event
What The Actual Fuck The
root of what’s up, what all this is about; what’s at the end of the
tunnel; concept or event either in the immanent future or Right The Fuck
Now
+ 5. Actually, though… Contributing or clarifying aspects of #3; components of the situation; ‘friendly advice’
Bonus: it looks kinda like a raised middle finger. Y’know. If you’re just that pissed at the whole mess.
may the bridges I burn light the way 