“The Norse Conspiracy Chart”
Get to know the Norse Gods
A quick rundown!
(Following that one other post I made about the Norse Goddesses)
Þórr, the Terrible. Son of the Earth Goddess Jörd and the God of Gods Óðinn, a fierce and powerful figure who’s known for his short temper and for being the strongest of the Æsir. Despite this, he is the protector of mankind and a great drinker, as he enjoys having a good time. He is associated with thunder and lightning.
Freyr, the Fair. The kind and generous son of the sea God Njördr, he lives in the world of the elves. He is most known for the story in which he gives up his treasured sword to please Gerðr, the woman he loved, dooming himself to die in Ragnarök due to his lack of weapon. He is associated with harvests, welcome rains and fertility.
Týr, the One-Handed. A poised and coolheaded figure, known to have sacrificed a hand in order to bind the wolf Fenrir. He accompanies Thor in a lot of his travels and often voices wise advice for the Gods. Though he is also associated with negotiation and justice, he is generally considered a God of war strategy, battle and sacrifice.
Loki, the Trickster. A troublemaker in Asgard, often causing conflict which he is always forced to solve himself. He notably accomplished the feat of causing the death of Óðinn’s beloved son Baldr. However in most cases, his legendary wit manages to avoid him the consequences of his actions. He is associated with trickery, mischief and cunning.
Óðinn, the Wanderer. One of the most important figures in norse mythology and the wise leader of the Æsir Gods. He is constantly in search for knowledge, having namely discovered the runes. He often disguises himself as an old traveler to wander the lands, and is known to bring deceased warriors to his hall of Valhalla. He is associated with wisdom, knowledge and death.
Baldr, the Good. Son of Óðinn and Frigg, the most beloved of the Gods who all revered his innocence and generosity. He was said to be gracious, cheerful and so beautiful he appeared luminous, though early sources make him out to be as fierce as a son of Óðinn would be. As the story goes, he foresaw his own death through a dream. He is associated with light, purity and beauty.
Heimdallr, the Watcher. The important figure who watches over the Bifrost, the bridge which leads to Asgard. He lives in a high fortress to properly utilize his keen senses: legendary eyesight and hearing. He is said to be able to hear grass growing and see as much by day or by night. As the Gods’ watcher, he stays vigilant at all times until Ragnarök, when he will blow the Gjallarhorn to inform Asgard of the enemy’s approach.
Forseti, the Lawspeaker. The obscure justice-maker of the Gods, who presides over their legal assemblies as divine judge. According to Snorri’s Prose Edda, he is the son of Baldr and Nanna. His hall is Glitnir, golden and bright, and there he settles conflicts and exacts fair judgment. For this reason, he is associated with the law, peacemaking and justice.
Bonus:
Víðarr, the Silent. Son of Óðinn and renowned for his legendarily silence and cold-bloodedness, he was created for the sole purpose of avenging his father in Ragnarök. After Óðinn is swallowed by the wolf Fenrir, Víðarr will step down with one foot on the beast’s lower jaw and tear its mouth in half. He is the God of Revenge.
The Ultimate Guide to Potion Bases
We all spend so much time thinking about the correspondences of the actual ingredients that go into our potions that we often forget to think about what the potion base represents! (At least I do.) It would be nice to have a list of all the various liquids that can be used in place of water. Naturally, I can’t think of everything but I think this is a pretty good starting point! What else can be used? Eventually, at some point down the road, I will compile all these thoughts into a book on potion making and want to include this! Keep in mind that these are my own correspondences. Let me know if you disagree or if you’d change anything up! Let’s see how big we can make this list. Also, I should probably note that not all of these liquids can be ingested. (Obviously.)
The List
Vinegar: Used for cleansing and purification potions.
Lemon Juice: Used in hexing, cursing, or revenge potions.
Cranberry Juice: Used in love potions.
Apple Juice: Used in healing, knowledge, and youth potions.
Ammonia: Used in banishing, cursing, purification, and protection
Red Wine: Love potions and potions dealing with death and the afterlife.
White Wine: Used in platonic love potions as well as success brews.
Rum: Used in potions involving spirit work.
Whisky: Another good base for potion work.
Vodka: A good base for work involving rapid banishing.
Laundry detergent: Good for cleansing potions.
Oils: Used to speed up a process.
Molasses: Used in potions intended to slow a situation down.
Rubbing Alcohol: Another good base for cleansing and purification.
Hydrogen Peroxide: Used in healing potions.
Milk: Used in potions to promote sleep and peace.
Sour Milk: Used to cause nightmares or in potions designed to torment.
Orange Juice: For potions of solar importance, healing, success.
Soda Water: Used in potions designed to encourage laughter and giddiness.
Ginger Ale: Used in health or healing potions.
Olive Juice: Used in peace potions.
Honey: Used in potions to sweeten up another’s disposition.
Syrup: Used in abundance and prosperity potions.
Beer: Used in potions intended to induce slumber.
Clam Juice: Used in aphrodisiacs.
Cough Syrup: Used in healing potions and to make someone ‘cough it up.’
Soy Sauce: Used in protection potions. (Thanks Lexa Rosean for this one!)
Pineapple Juice: Used in abundance potions and fidelity potions.
Coconut Milk: Used in spiritual and magical cleansing potions.
Ice: Solid first, then melted for transformation potions.
Coffee: Really, a potion in and of itself in my book.
Vanilla Extract: In small amounts, used in passion potions.
Witch Hazel: Used in communication and cleansing potions.
What else can you all think of?
Rituals
Generally I'll tell people, that the Norse faiths, Asatru and such, are a neo-heathen practice where most rituals and interpretations are very modern. We have no clue about what they actually did 1000 years ago, when calling on the gods.
But there's a few things we know, and I can also give some recommendations on what to do, if you are at loss for inspiration.
OK. What do we know?
We know Yule was important. And there are a few descriptions of the Yule feast.
- Pig was eaten and people could make Yule Oaths (New Year Resolutions) on the pig roast.
- It was called Drinking Yule, so cheers and alcohol was shared aplenty.
- The new year started, meaning that the hired staff would get payment, gifts and made agreements for the next year. Later in history it was still important to gift the House Spirits, so they would stay on the farm another year.
Naming ceremony. Rather simple. The mother present the child to the head of the household. If the child is accepted, the name will be declared and it's a part of the family. If the head of one household won't accept the child, another can do it, and it will be of their family.
Weddings where important for the rich people. Not as much for poorer people, for them moving together and living together for a while, was the same as getting married. For the upper class it was mainly a secular commitment, and divorce was definitely possible, but blessings where of course welcome. What we know:
- The wedding oath was made in the name of Vår/Vár. Her purpose is to keep an eye on these oaths.
- Thors Hammer, not Thor himself, was used to bless the union.
- It was often called Drinking Wedding cheers and alcohol was shared as a part of the wedding.
Death. Not much is known other than what Ibn Fadlan described. But we still call it Drinking Grave-Beer. And considering how we drink wedding and drink yule, it might be as old as the other rites.
For everything else, there's not many details. We know food and drinks was shared with the gods. We know that people might sacrifice animals for the gods, though it seems like they'd often eat the meat afterwards. We know that sacrifice where left on altars or by nature formations. We know that they did had sacred places, but they would also call on the gods when and where it was needed.
------------
So. What do we do today?
It's really up to the individual or the group. We are neo heathen. It's not a continuous faith, we are reconnecting, reinterpreting and reinventing our faith and rituals. We must choose our own traditions and rites. Something that fits modern culture and people.
Do I have some suggestions? Yes:
Simple ritual:
Declare the ground sacred by calling on 4 gods of your own choosing, or the 4 dwarves in the corners of the world.
Use a horn or wooden bowl to share drinks with the gods. Most will use mead, but any other ting is fine too. I've used everything from wine to elderberry cordial. (But remember one myth states that Loki will drink too, whenever Odin drinks beer. So if you use beer and contact Odin, you might get a visit from Loki.)
Call on the regin (powers) you want to invoke by name. Thank them and tell them what you want their help with. Share your drink with the gods by drinking from the horn/bowl and pouring something on the ground. (Have a bowl to pour into if you do it inside.)
If sacrificing, place the sacrifice on the ground, in nearby water og on fire, depending where you are and what you've provided. A sacrifice should mean something to you. If you don'g have chickens, sacrificing a chicken isn't important. Use something with meaning. Like if you knit, burn/bury something you've made. A sacrifice can also be food.
Thank the local entities by sharing a drink with them. We are their guests.
De-sacrosanct the place. You shouldn't leave sacred places all over the place.
If in a group, share a meal or just tea and cookies. The meal afterwards is also important.
You can make hundreds of variations over this. And remember to have fun and feel good. Rituals are joyous, not bleak.
Rituals
Generally I'll tell people, that the Norse faiths, Asatru and such, are a neo-heathen practice where most rituals and interpretations are very modern. We have no clue about what they actually did 1000 years ago, when calling on the gods.
But there's a few things we know, and I can also give some recommendations on what to do, if you are at loss for inspiration.
OK. What do we know?
We know Yule was important. And there are a few descriptions of the Yule feast.
- Pig was eaten and people could make Yule Oaths (New Year Resolutions) on the pig roast.
- It was called Drinking Yule, so cheers and alcohol was shared aplenty.
- The new year started, meaning that the hired staff would get payment, gifts and made agreements for the next year. Later in history it was still important to gift the House Spirits, so they would stay on the farm another year.
Naming ceremony. Rather simple. The mother present the child to the head of the household. If the child is accepted, the name will be declared and it's a part of the family. If the head of one household won't accept the child, another can do it, and it will be of their family.
Weddings where important for the rich people. Not as much for poorer people, for them moving together and living together for a while, was the same as getting married. For the upper class it was mainly a secular commitment, and divorce was definitely possible, but blessings where of course welcome. What we know:
- The wedding oath was made in the name of Vår/Vár. Her purpose is to keep an eye on these oaths.
- Thors Hammer, not Thor himself, was used to bless the union.
- It was often called Drinking Wedding cheers and alcohol was shared as a part of the wedding.
Death. Not much is known other than what Ibn Fadlan described. But we still call it Drinking Grave-Beer. And considering how we drink wedding and drink yule, it might be as old as the other rites.
For everything else, there's not many details. We know food and drinks was shared with the gods. We know that people might sacrifice animals for the gods, though it seems like they'd often eat the meat afterwards. We know that sacrifice where left on altars or by nature formations. We know that they did had sacred places, but they would also call on the gods when and where it was needed.
------------
So. What do we do today?
It's really up to the individual or the group. We are neo heathen. It's not a continuous faith, we are reconnecting, reinterpreting and reinventing our faith and rituals. We must choose our own traditions and rites. Something that fits modern culture and people.
Do I have some suggestions? Yes:
Simple ritual:
Declare the ground sacred by calling on 4 gods of your own choosing, or the 4 dwarves in the corners of the world.
Use a horn or wooden bowl to share drinks with the gods. Most will use mead, but any other ting is fine too. I've used everything from wine to elderberry cordial. (But remember one myth states that Loki will drink too, whenever Odin drinks beer. So if you use beer and contact Odin, you might get a visit from Loki.)
Call on the regin (powers) you want to invoke by name. Thank them and tell them what you want their help with. Share your drink with the gods by drinking from the horn/bowl and pouring something on the ground. (Have a bowl to pour into if you do it inside.)
If sacrificing, place the sacrifice on the ground, in nearby water og on fire, depending where you are and what you've provided. A sacrifice should mean something to you. If you don'g have chickens, sacrificing a chicken isn't important. Use something with meaning. Like if you knit, burn/bury something you've made. A sacrifice can also be food.
Thank the local entities by sharing a drink with them. We are their guests.
De-sacrosanct the place. You shouldn't leave sacred places all over the place.
If in a group, share a meal or just tea and cookies. The meal afterwards is also important.
You can make hundreds of variations over this. And remember to have fun and feel good. Rituals are joyous, not bleak.
Anonymous asked:
Have you ever done any multiple hour long rituals?
his-craft answered:
Hours? What kind of fancy pants establishment do you think this is? The Caretaker? My work is quick and it is dirty. Thank you very much.
I have this multiple hour long ritual that I call napping. I perform it at least twice a week. It's been working its magic for a few years now and I plan on keeping up with it.
This addition is way funnier than what I said so here you guys
The Most Common Tarot Reader Mistakes
Trusting Your Books Over Your Intuition
If a famous author says The Magician is manifestation, yet when you drew the card, all you felt was trickery and manipulation, listen to yourself. When it comes to tarot, even the best books are just crutches until you learn to walk by yourself.
Speaking Countless Possibilities
Since every card has many meanings, a spread can show a myriad stories. But your cards will tell you which is real. Do not go looking for Sleeping Beauty and Snow White, when Cinderella is looking right at you with eyes so bright.
Not Being Brave Enough to Face the Truth
The Devil can mean passion. But flanked by the misery of the Nine of Swords and the tyranny of The Emperor reversed, it obviously means oppression. Harsh readings do not mean tarot hates you. It means it cares enough to warn you.
Thinking that Negativity Makes You Edgy
But do not give a reading a dark twist because it seems too good to be true. Or because you think too much lightness would not make people respect you. Listen to what the cards are saying. That is all you should be speaking.
Not Letting the Querent Touch Your Cards
“You shuffle, they cut,” my elders taught me. Shuffling lets the cards connect you to the source. Cutting allows the cards to feel the querent’s life force. Refusing contact would be like being a doctor who makes a diagnosis without fully knowing the symptoms.
Thinking the Cards are Replaceable
Tarot has a collective consciousness bigger than any single deck. It remembers any mortal’s previous mistrust and past maltreatment. So never forgo etiquette. Always show your cards respect.
Collecting Decks Merely for Decoration
Use your cards, and use them often. Some decks have been spilled on, and some have been torn. But nothing is sadder than a deck that has been forgotten. Do not deny your cards their purpose. That would simply be heartless.
To his friend a man | a friend shall prove,
And gifts with gifts requite;
But men shall mocking | with mockery answer,
And fraud with falsehood meet.
Hávamál - The Sayings of Har, stanza 42
Vin sínum skal maðr vinr vera ok gjalda gjöf við gjöf; hlátr við hlátri skyli hölðar taka en lausung við lygi.