The Norse Shaman : Ancient Spiritual Practices of the Northern Tradition

Reconstructing the shamanic practices of the hunter-gatherers of Scandinavia, Evelyn Rysdyk explores the evolution of Norse shamanism from its earliest female roots to the pre-Christian Viking Age. The author provides step-by-step instructions to prepare for and conduct shamanic rituals and ceremonies.;Cover Image; Title Page; Dedication; Epigraph; Acknowledgments; Table of Contents; Author's Note; Simplified Pronunciation Guide to the Norse Words in This Book; Introduction: The Power of Norse Shamanism; Chapter 1: Visionaries in Our Family Tree; TECHNICIANS OF ECSTASY; SHAMANIC WORLDVIEW; Chapter 2: Long Ago and Far Away; Chapter 3: Power in the Female Body; AN ASSURANCE OF ABUNDANCE; Chapter 4: Worlds of the Shaman; Chapter 5: The First Shaman Becomes a Goddess; Chapter 6: The Norns; WEAVING REALITY; THE THREE MA Y BE ONE; A WELLSPRING OF WISDOM; URĐ AND THE NEW PHYSICS An experiential guide to the wisdom preserved in Europe's far north • Includes shamanic journeys to connect with deities and your ancestral shamans • Provides step-by-step instructions to prepare for and conduct a seiðr ceremony • Draws on archaeological evidence and surviving written records from Iceland • Reveals the long tradition of female shamans in northern European shamanism Shamanism is humanity's oldest spiritual tradition. In much of the Western world, the indigenous pre-Christian spiritual practices have been lost. Yet at the northern fringes of Europe, Christianity did not displace the original shamanic practices until the end of the Viking age. Remnants of Norse shamanic spirituality have survived in myths, folk traditions, and written records from Iceland, providing many clues about the ancient European shaman's world, especially when examined in conjunction with other shamanic cultures in northern Eurasia, such as the Sami and the tribes of Siberia. Reconstructing the shamanic practices of the hunter-gatherers of Scandinavia, Evelyn Rysdyk explores the evolution of Norse shamanism from its earliest female roots to the pre-Christian Viking Age. She explains how to enter Yggdrasil , the World Tree, to travel to other realms and provides shamanic journeys to connect with the ancestral shamans of your family tree, including the Norse goddess Freyja , the very first shaman. She offers exercises to connect with the ancient goddesses of fate, the Norns, and introduces the overnight wilderness quest of útiseta for reconnecting with the powers of nature. She explains the key concepts of Ørlög and Wyrd —the two most powerful forces that shape human lives—and provides exercises for letting go of harmful behavior patterns and transforming simple knowledge into profound wisdom by connecting with Óðinn . Thoroughly examining the shamanic rituals of seiðr , the oracular magic of the Nordic cultures, the author provides step-by-step instructions to prepare for and conduct a seiðr ceremony, including creating your own seiðr staff and hood, and explores the ancestral use of shamanic songs or varðlokur to accompany the ceremony. Woven throughout these exercises, Rysdyk provides archaeological evidence from Neolithic sites supporting the long tradition of venerating wise women, grandmothers, and mothers in ancient cultures and the important role of female shamans at the heart of northern European shamanism. Providing an accessible guide for anyone trying to fulfill their shamanic callings, these powerful rituals can provide personal healing and a clear path for finding our way into a harmonious relationship with the natural world. An experiential guide to the wisdom preserved in Europe's far north Includes shamanic journeys to connect with deities and your ancestral shamans Provides step-by-step instructions to prepare for and conduct a seiðr ceremony Draws on archaeological evidence and surviving written records from Iceland Reveals the long tradition of female shamans in northern European shamanism Shamanism is humanity's oldest spiritual tradition. In much of the Western world, the indigenous pre-Christian spiritual practices have been lost. Yet at the northern fringes of Europe, Christianity did not displace the original shamanic practices until the end of the Viking age. Remnants of Norse shamanic spirituality have survived in myths, folk traditions, and written records from Iceland, providing many clues about the ancient European shaman's world, especially when examined in conjunction with other shamanic cultures in northern Eurasia, such as the Sami and the tribes of Siberia. Reconstructing the shamanic practices of the hunter-gatherers of Scandinavia, Evelyn Rysdyk explores the evolution of Norse shamanism from its earliest female roots to the pre-Christian Viking Age. She explains how to enter Yggdrasil, the World Tree, to travel to other realms and provides shamanic journeys to connect with the ancestral shamans of your family tree, including the Norse goddess Freyja, the very first shaman. She offers exercises to connect with the ancient goddesses of fate, the Norns, and introduces the overnight wilderness quest of utiseta for reconnecting with the powers of nature. She explains the key concepts of Ørlog and Wyrd--the two most powerful forces that shape human lives--and provides exercises for letting go of harmful behavior patterns and transforming simple knowledge into profound wisdom by connecting with Oðinn. Thoroughly examining the shamanic rituals of seiðr, the oracular magic of the Nordic cultures, the author provides step-by-step instructions to prepare for and conduct a seiðr ceremony, including creating your own seiðr staff and hood, and explores the ancestral use of shamanic songs or varðlokur to accompany the ceremony. Woven throughout these exercises, Rysdyk provides archaeological evidence from Neolithic sites supporting the long tradition of venerating wise women, grandmothers, and mothers in ancient cultures and the important role of female shamans at the heart of northern European shamanism. Providing an accessible guide for anyone trying to fulfill their shamanic callings, these powerful rituals can provide personal healing and a clear path for finding our way into a harmonious relationship with the natural world Cover Image Title Page Dedication Epigraph Acknowledgments Table of Contents Author's Note Simplified Pronunciation Guide to the Norse Words in This Book Introduction: The Power of Norse Shamanism Chapter 1: Visionaries in Our Family Tree TECHNICIANS OF ECSTASY SHAMANIC WORLDVIEW Chapter 2: Long Ago and Far Away Chapter 3: Power in the Female Body AN ASSURANCE OF ABUNDANCE Chapter 4: Worlds of the Shaman Chapter 5: The First Shaman Becomes a Goddess Chapter 6: The Norns WEAVING REALITY THE THREE MA Y BE ONE A WELLSPRING OF WISDOM URĐ AND THE NEW PHYSICS FREYJA SHOWS US THE WAYChapter 7: Ørlög and Wyrd Chapter 8: Seiðr as Shamanic Ritual WISE WOMEN SONGS FOR THE SPIRITS THE TRAPPINGS OF RITUAL OFFICE THE HIGH SEAT Chapter 9: Seiðr and the Sami Connection SAMI SPIRITUALITY SAMI SHAMANS Chapter 10: Preparing to Perform Seiðr ELEMENTS OF SEIĐR THE SEIĐSTAFR OR VÖL VARĐLOKUR: THE SEIĐR RITUAL SONGS THE SEIĐR HOOD AND CLOAK PREPARING THE SPACE FOR A COMMUNITY SEIĐR CEREMONY Chapter 11: Other Accoutrements of the Völva MASKS SHAPE-SHIFTING TALISMANS OR TAUFR Chapter 12: Útiseta PREPARING FOR ÚTISETA Chapter 13: Performing a Group Seiðr RitualChapter 14: The Many Faces of Seiðr REVEALING HIDDEN INFORMATION WORKING WITH NATURE AND THE ELEMENTS FUNCTIONING AS A HEALER Chapter 15: Learning to See SURRENDERING THE EGO FOR KNOWLEDGE SACRIFICING THE ORDINARY WAY OF SEEING THE WORLD STEPPING INTO BALANCE A VISION FOR LIFE Chapter 16: The Nurturing Tree EVERLASTING, EVERGREEN HOLDING ALL THE WORLDS THE MOTHER TREE CREATRIX THE WORLD TREE AS WOMB TUNTRE/VÅRDTRÄD: HONORING YOUR OWN SACRED TREE Conclusion: Ragnarök or Renewal? Appendix A: An Introduction to Shamanic Journeying Appendix B: Making a Seiðr HoodCHOOSING FABRIC MAKING THE HOOD SURFACE DECORATION Appendix C: Resources ORGANIZATIONS PERIODICALS ATMOSPHERIC NORSE MUSIC SHAMANIC SUPPLIES VIKING-ERA JEWELRY AND CLOTHING RESOURCES BOOKS FOR THE SHAMANIC JOURNEY PROCESS Glossary of Terms Footnotes Endnotes Bibliography About the Author About Inner Traditions Bear & Company Books of Related Interest Copyright & Permissions Index Simplified pronunciation guide to the Norse words in this book Introduction the power of Norse shamanism Visionaries in our family tree Long ago and far away: discovering our ancestors' gifts Power in the female body Worlds of the shaman The first shaman becomes a goddess The Norns: mistresses of cosmic patterns Örlög and Wyrd: creation has no beginning or end Seiðr as shamanic ritual Seiðr and the sami connection Preparing to perform Seiðr Other accoutrements of the Völvav Utiseta: connecting with nature's power Performing a group Seiðr ritual The many faces of Seiðr Learning to see: meeting Ódinn The nurturing tree Conclusion: Ragnarök or renewal? Appendix A: An introduction to shamanic journeying ; Appendix B: Making a Seiðr hood Appendix C: Resources Glossary of terms. Shamanism is humanity's oldest spiritual tradition. Reconstructing the shamanic practices of the hunter-gatherers of Scandinavia, Evelyn Rysdyk explores the evolution of Norse shamanism from its earliest female roots to the pre-Christian Viking Age. Woven throughout these exercises, Rysdyk provides archaeological evidence from Neolithic sites supporting the long tradition of venerating wise women, grandmothers, and mothers in ancient cultures and the important role of female shamans at the heart of northern European shamanism. Spirituality/Shamanism