Seiðr, Sejd & Fornsed

The contemporary Swedish word Fornsed means "the old customs and traditions". The word Seiðr is Icelandic (but Old Norse in origin). Sejd is the contemporary Swedish word for Seiðr. People always ask how these words are pronounced: well, it depends on what Scandinavian language you choose to speak but an approximation is "foornsayd" (Fornsed), "sayd" (sejd) and "saythr" (seiðr ) respectively.

My introduction course covers the larger field of spiritual and mystical traditions I will refer to as Norse Shamanism: the indigenous ancestral pathways of Northern Europe.  I teach this material in traditional ways, closely following both the ancient texts (meaning the Poetic Edda and Prose Edda)  and the old Scandinavian traditions and folklore.

However, we can't all "become Vikings" and go live in Scandinavia! In my courses  I marry serious scholarship to direct revelation. (Meaning that we study the old material very closely but we also invite the gods, goddesses and inhabitants of the Nine Worlds to communicate with us directly and tell us how they wish to work with us in the context of the 21st century. Years of teaching tells me that the gods need human beings to evolve - as much as human beings need the gods to evolve. It is a sacred partnership - not one-way traffic! 

COURSE CONTENT 

The Norse Sagas and Myths

We will explore Norse Creation Stories as well as the myths about the end of the world: Ragnarök or Ragnarøkkr (Old Norse; meaning Fate of the Gods and Twilight of the Gods, respectively). 

Yggdrasil and the inhabitants of the Nine Worlds

I will introduce Yggdrasil (the world tree that holds up the universe) and the inhabitants of all the Nine Worlds (gods, goddesses, Norns, Valkyries, dwarves, elves, giants etc.) and provide a map for exploring these worlds.

Urdr's Web

We will explore the workings of Urdr's Web (commonly translated into English as The Web of Wyrd) and the role of the Norns in spinning the lines of destiny (even for the gods!) We will look briefly at the concept of Changing the Weave (and we will take that much further during advanced work in my 2 year program in Sweden)

Uteseita or Sitting Out

Sitting out, ideally at night and on grave mounds (or at cross roads), to contact dead Volvas, ancestors, deities or other spirit beings is a traditional way of receiving guidance and visions. (Native American peoples call this a vision quest but "sitting out" is an indigenous terms from Northern Europe. (I make every effort to avoid cultural appropriation as I do not practice any Native American form of shamanism and I have not worked with Native American teachers!)

Shapeshifting and berserking

The principles underlying these phenomena as explained by "the anatomy of soul" viewed through the Old Norse lens

Galder
The magical power of songs and speech

Blot
Ceremonial offerings to the gods, especially at particular times of the year (major festivals)

The Wisdom or Knowledge competitions in the Eddas

Way may taste "divine speech" and learning through this tool. 

(In the old Icelandic sages there often occur between a god and a giant, or between a hero and a giant. The loser risks losing their life, bride or greatest treasure...)