No; not in the least as I found out last night…She doesn’t sugar-coat anything and is brutally honest, but I’ll get to that. So, were to begin? Well, I guess let’s start out with yesterday, shall we? All day I had been feeling very much out of sorts – irritable, agitated, scatterbrained and anxious. This actually really surprised me because I’d been rolling along all happy and feeling full of inspiration, riding the out the Imbolc high. Yesterday started out weird, very much feeling Odin’s persistent tap on the shoulder just to let me know that he’s still here (yes, thanks for reminding me – as if I didn’t know that!) Anywho, Odin seems to be making more and more frequent appearances as of late; showing up in a lot of books, articles and blogs I read, meeting people who have a strong connection with him and reading and listening to their experiences – some of which totally freaked me out, which probably led to a lot of my discontent yesterday. I’m not going to lie – it scares me. How the hell could I have attracted the attention of such a deity?? For some of you who know me personally, you know that I tend to be more on the Dianic side. I’ve never felt a connection with any god…until Odin starting making an appearance here and there when I was living in Alaska several years ago. I’m quite aware of the berserker and warrior side of him, but to be honest, I don’t know or see that side of him. Coming across this from Wyrd Dottir kind of set my mind (and soul) at ease – THANK YOU! To me, he appears very sagely – almost Gandalf-ish, very much “Odin, the Wanderer“. He’s so wise; yet he’s curious, still thirsting for knowledge. He craves wisdom, knowledge and inspires and drives me to seek out and do the same, soaking it up like a sponge and leaving me wanting more. I feel like he’s hanging over my shoulder, even now as I write this to see what’s going on – to see what I’m doing or reading, seeing what wisdom and knowledge might lie there. So, now what? As much as I’ve been trying to ignore him hoping that he’ll leave me along and go away, he’s still there…Yet, a part of me instinctively knows, knows what? Knows that he’s not going away and that I may need him as much as he needs me.
So, working on this internal struggle during a solar eruption that happened yesterday – and a pretty intense one at that. A little FYI about solar flares – according to Astrologyinaction.com, ”In addition to affecting Earth, solar flares affect each of us both physiologically and astrologically. The Sun is the giver of all life. Astrologically, the Sun is our primary influence, determining our character, our behavior and our purpose. When the Sun experiences high solar flare activity, it’s normal for us to feel physiological disruptions or just simply feel off kilter. In fact, when either of our luminaries experience celestial events, we are affected in a rather personal way.” Also, visit Carliniinstitute.com and read “The Effects of Recent Solar Flares“. During such events, Heather Carlini advises to “be sure to drink extra water when we are having solar flares. The reason is that it takes extra water from the brain to process these energies. I also suggest vitamin B complex and a product from the health food store called Curamin as this helps. Omega 3 is also needed at this time. Cut back on caffeine as it revves up the nervous system even more during high solar activity. Also for upset stomach, tap on the cheekbones on both sides of the face just under the eyes as this helps release energy blockages in the stomach.” Well now, I guess this explains a lot…
Moving onto last night’s ritual. I set up my altar downstairs after making sure the kids were asleep so I’d have no interruptions. Well, I guess I should’ve made sure the husband was asleep as well…ugh, a whole other topic that I don’t need to get into here. My ritual wasn’t dedicated to any Dark Mother or Crone in particular. I lit my black candle and charcoal that didn’t seem to want to light or stay lit, burned sage and lavender to purify and consecrate the space (which apparently was the main cause of discontent with my husband), and followed a real loose ADF COoR inspired ritual. I had my iPhone ready with what seemed like an appropriate guided meditation/self-hypnosis to the Underworld setup ready to go, pen, paper, runes and Wisdom of the Hidden Realms Oracle Cards (just because I wasn’t sure what method of divination I wanted to use and wanted to make sure I had some options depending on what felt right at the moment). I made offerings of Dragon’s Blood resin and whiskey to the Dark Mother and decided to grab my bag of runes to take an omen – to see if my offerings had been accepted and that it was OK to proceed to Her. This was the first time using runes as I’ve always been intimated for some reason by them. I’d been reading about them for awhile now and felt confident enough to say “what the heck, let’s try it tonight.” I’m actually pretty glad I did because they were easier for me to use and interpret than what I had previously thought. Well, let’s just say that my first rune I picked wasn’t all that great – Tiwaz inverted. This seemed to sum it pretty well (as well as here and here). It was actually pretty disheartening, but deep down, I knew to be true. I then drew another after asking my new main question, “How do I change this?” I picked Sowilo - a very good rune that gave me hope and encouragement. Then as I was putting them back, Isa dropped out followed by Dagaz. My interpretation – Yes, I’ve got some shit to work out that has been holding me back, keeping my energy drained and not fulfilling my potential. I do need to prove myself and can’t expect things to be handed to me. However, Sowilo offers hope – it’s the sun, fire – perhaps a guide of sorts that will light my way and melt the stagnant and depression that Isa signifies. However, Isa isn’t all that bad either, because sometimes you do need to rest, take a step back and be cautious before trekking forward. Dagaz is my goal – learning balance, receiving enlightenment from Odin and learning to balance and appreciate the Male and Female aspects of the Divine. I’ve also been reading Northern Mysteries and Magick by Freya Aswenn and Taking Up the Runes by Diana Paxson that seem to be very helpful in understanding and connecting their message together. Needless to say, I pretty much ended the ritual there.
So now what? It’s been an interesting time – with the sparks and lightning flashes at Imbolc, the New Moon in Aquarius, this recent solar flare and Mercury in “the Shadow” getting ready to go retrograde…Oy vey! Well, for me, it maybe a time to heed Isa, it’s time to open up, sit back and think – it’s time to realize my goals. It’s time to organize and plan. It’s time to think about what is really important and what will aid me in achieving my goals. It’s time to plant those seeds and really nurture them. It’s a time to learn balance - to balance Isa with Sowlio’s warm nurturing sun energy to achieve Dagaz…all while keeping in mind however Mercury is getting ready to go retrograde here on February 23 (Mercury entered “the Shadow” on February 8. According to Sue on Magnoliaswest.com pertaining to Mercury entering “the Shadow”: “This window is when you may become aware of what you will be dealing with in the coming retrograde cycle. Events and situations that arise for you during this time will continue to unfold during the retrograde itself.”) So get ready my friends!
Reblogged this on The Journeys of a Nomadic Pagan.
No, dark mother does not hold back at all. I shall put into play tomorrow the protective Big Freaking Spell that may or may not have been dropped into my head by one of the Dark Goddesses. It is Her night, after all.
You’re awesome Lady!
Debatable, but I’ll take all the ego-stroking I can get right now
Lots to comment on here. I do not practice the Nordic religions, but do work with runes at times. To me Odin is a psychopompos, much like Mercury and even Merlin, so he is leading your through a transformation perhaps. In Tarot I never reverse the cards because in the Thoth deck I use there is already plenty of negatives even in the upright cards and they are very complex, but in Runes which are simpler the reversed does have meaning. I think if the rune is upside down and hidden then it is not speaking to you. Also, if a rune is reversed, once you discern the meaning then magickally grab hold of that rune and upright it as a ritual of changing the negative energy to a positive one. Oracles tell us possibilities, not something written in stone, and we as magickians can work with the flow and bend the energies, which is what witchcraft is all about anyway. Regarding the woman in the video married to Odin, I know in Vodoun this happens, but it is my humble opinion she could use a dom boyfriend, lol. But bless her for her devotion, as long as it does not take her over the edge. And yes I think the first waxing crescent moon after Imbolc is definitely a time of starting something new in one’s life. Blessings.
Thanks for your wonderful insight. I can definitely see and understand the psychopompos aspect you speak of regarding Odin. I can’t help but wonder that since I’ve really been feeling a pull towards shamanism and seiðr (which was taught to Odin by Freyja) that that too may have something to do with it – thus leading to the psychopompos aspect you speak of. Good stuff to think about!
After the initial “shock” and disappointment that came with picking Tiwaz in reverse, I was also taking into account the upright meaning; but this was the Dark Moon I was working with, and exposing and dealing with the Shadows is part of the working and that energy and to be honest, really examining myself and past actions, it was spot on. I believe that’s where Sowilo came into play – to reinforce that positive aspect of Tiwaz and show what is possible *if* I don’t get discouraged and give up too easily if things don’t work out the first time or I “fail” at something (which I can honestly say has always been an issue for me).
“Also, if a rune is reversed, once you discern the meaning then magickally grab hold of that rune and upright it as a ritual of changing the negative energy to a positive one.” – Absolutely wonderful! I think I will incorporate it into my “New Moon” ritual – or what I consider to be the New Moon
Dear, any thing to do with loki is mischief. to wit and you only think you have free will. 27 years of riseing kundalini. hermes thoth , has five friends . teachers of Muldahara kundalini. from personel experience. i have a nagas saree wearing female who loves to seduce one with passionate charged emtions . i don;t advertise it. i found her in bali in the forest . i saw her with long hair down to her bottom she was bathing drying her self when i saw her.from a bridge , i smiled and kept on walking. . so i got home from this trip. and one morning there is this one metre long dark hair on my pillow. who is she. ? tara red. i guess she is family. i don’t go around putting it on utube.
I just wanted to say that, as someone who has encountered and communed with Odin several times, I have always found him to be a marvelous adviser and a wonderful friend. I am always happy when he appears to other people, because it assures me that they have one of the greatest protective forces I have ever experienced. His comfort has a very different feeling than that of the goddesses I work with, but it is very strong, and led me to do more work and coping with my issues than I thought I was capable of at the time.
Also, on Isa-while the interpretation of holding back is absolutely true, I just wanted to put in that oftentimes when Isa appears to me she is speaking of slowing down everything closer to the surface so that I have the ability to really notice and strengthen that current deep, deep inside of me that I have not been paying enough attention to lately, or maybe haven’t acknowledged at all. By really tuning into that one flow that’s too deep to have frozen over, that self-knowledge bursts into more power and energy. Then the ice melts and I can return to whatever my task is with all of my energy, and the knowledge of what I really, truly need to focus on the most. Particularly if you’ve been feeling drawn to certain things, but unsure of exactly what needs to happen or how to go about it, I would consider incorporate this message of Isa’s into your reading.
Your advice and experiences have provided some much needed relief and reassurance and your interpretation on Isa make a lot of sense. Thank you so much for sharing – it is MUCH appreciated!!!
Your experience with Odin sounds familiar. I’d worked primarily with local deities (in the North of England) for a few years until Gywn ap Nudd who’s associated with Wales and Somerset (and coincidentally like Odin also a psychopomp and leader of the wild hunt) appeared in my life. Which was a surprise / shock / mind blowing experience. And my life hasn’t been the same since….