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Post by bjorna on Jan 23, 2017 23:14:26 GMT
I have a spirit guide that helps me too. Working with him makes me feel much safer. Marie, I think I remember you talking about dancing on the old forum. What would you say to someone who would like to dance but hasn't learned how yet? I sometimes feel moved to dance but it makes me self-conscious if people are watching.
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Post by Wayland_S on Jan 24, 2017 2:23:32 GMT
Heilsa, everyone.
I am Wayland Skallagrimsson, one of the five founders of the old somafera pack and forum. I was the moderator of that forum while it lasted, and am the only person to attend every Gathering. I've written a couple of books and websites on the subject of somafera. I am an ulfhedhinn, a wolfish berserker. I work extensively in both types of madspace.
I am done with the public involvement thing, for the most part. But I am very grateful to Bjorna for starting this forum. It had always been the hope of me and the other four originals to spark something that would outlast our direct involvement. Seeing Bjorna step up and create a new virtual home for our people gladdens me. She has acted in the finest tradition of the old Pack. One of the things I was always proud to tell new members is that we had no hierarchy, no leaders. We had no structure or organization. Instead, people who cared to be responsible stepped up and solved problems when they saw them. People who did so were respected and their advice was heeded. Bjorna has shown herself to be what we always used for leaders in the old Pack: a person who takes personal responsibility to fix a problem. So I will respect where respect is due, and reverse my "done with public involvement" thing to some extent.So, to do my bit, I will lurk here, rarely posting, except when I see some question or problem I can particularly help with.
I will also share some history of the old Pack, when it is relevant. One relevant thing that I have to relate is that Greywindsky and I have managed to hold onto the land that we had bought for the Pack's benefit. It has been tough, in this time of economic difficulty, but we kept making the payments even when everyone else quit. So there is still the hope that, some day, those who are sufficiently motivated can work with me to finish construction on the training and ritual hall the old Pack had begun, as well as living quarters for students when school would be in session.
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Post by bjorna on Jan 24, 2017 3:50:52 GMT
Thanks for posting, Wayland. And that's good news about the land. I also have some land that's good for camping and bonfires, maybe medium sized gatherings. I'm in Tennessee. I always wanted to visit the land in Montana but never got the chance.
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HowlingFire aka Marie
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Post by HowlingFire aka Marie on Jan 24, 2017 21:20:32 GMT
Having a space again to speak to these aspects brings me great gladness. I was also a part of the land venture at one point,I am glad to hear that it still going. I was able to attend Gatherings in Montana and New Hampshire, and though I came to these things later in my life, it is my duty and honor to share what I have learned. ., The things I learned, I have continued to share in Community and one of the reasons I reached out here. I have been going to many Heathen Gatherings seeking others as well as educating when I could. There are few who wish to face these aspects of themselves and to take it on shows great courage and heart, thank you Bjorna for creating a safe space. There are few in my life I can speak to about such things.
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HowlingFire aka Marie
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Post by HowlingFire aka Marie on Jan 25, 2017 15:15:32 GMT
Someone has asked a question about shallow cutting on Wayland's blog. For privacy reasons, I chose to answer here. (thanks to Bjorna) I have to say I use this technique fairly regularly. I have a couple that I do on a regular basis, one in devotion to Odin, whom came and found me in Crystal Palace in London. Others I have done as Ordeal work, cut by another. It is tricky, I find to do a cutting well on your own, I am usually trying to carve runes. Knowing where it is safe to do so is important, I had a good teacher in this. I use certain runes for certain types of healing I wish to generate or ways of being I wish to create in my life. I found this type of work to be personally powerful. The blood...the blood. I tend to only do it once a month or when I schedule a Rite for myself. Offering my blood, my pain. Transforming pain into ecstatic energy to transform and heal. As a woman I find, my relationship with my own blood a very interesting. Menstrual blood is a very powerful thing as well. I have used it to especially consecrate my sword and weapons.
Bjorna, your question on dance. Dance is just moving the body to rythym. Do it in the privacy of your own home. One of the Pagan Gatherings I attend has a great drum/fire circle. Just around and around, and around, the fire. It is being in your body and feeling the Wod move through your veins. I would say, find a nice drum heavy song, Voo Doo by Godsmack has a great primal beat. Just light a candle, and place it somewhere you can move around safely with your eyes closed. Just feel the beat, let your body move the way it wishes without any judgment. This is a Moving Meditation. Learning to shut off the judgmental part of your brain, and LISTEN with your heart open. Loosing self judgement is important. Trusting oneself is key. Dance is also martial arts. When I dance, I also move 'like an assassin" in my head, or punching moves. Irish step dancing was a form of martial arts training way back.....
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Post by Jan Crate on Jan 25, 2017 15:28:54 GMT
I've had my spirit guardian for a while, saved my arse several times.
Important subject I thought I'd raise is that of balancing the inner rage with feelings of joy, happiness etc, especially when you can feel the gangr coming on. One method I'm learning to use is to plough all my energy and thoughts into things that make me and only me happy.
I'm still doing this at baby step speed.
Howling Fire if the idiot who interrupted my horsing hadn't rubbed the Ehwaz rune off my head and run off I'd have hurt him badly,.
Guardians have also snapped me out of a gangr by making my phone ring, come down almost made me fall over.
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Post by bjorna on Jan 26, 2017 0:22:30 GMT
Thanks for the suggestions. Yeah, I'm still at baby steps to with the joy thing. Subconsciously I sometimes just suppress rage all together (or try...doesn't typically work) and the anger just converts into anxiety. So lately I'm thinking on ways to just let out rage but getting away from others when I feel it coming on or if I'm in a situation that usually enrages me.
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Post by bjorna on Jan 26, 2017 0:25:38 GMT
I've also been training myself to feel more on a cold harsh type of rage in situations where a firey rage would et me in trouble. I still revert back to instinctual behavior but the instincts tell me to use cutting words not fists. When it works at least. Again, baby steps. I probably need an initiation to get better at this stuff.
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Post by bjorna on Jan 27, 2017 0:19:47 GMT
One more thing: The topic of cutting made me think of this. What are some pain techniques that can be used? Cutting is one. Fire is another. And there is fighting. Anybody know of any others? And the best ways in which to do these things?
Some people like pain during sex. While that's not something I do, I'm betting that people who use pain on a regular basis would have good ideas on how to do some things, and safely.
I've studied some on ordeal work as well. I saw the picture of Galina Krasskova with hooks in her back. What are other ways? I'm trying to make a list and think through the pros and cons of each for my initiation.
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Post by Jan Crate on Jan 27, 2017 19:27:20 GMT
I used body piercings such as having my nipples pierced deeply. I'm one of these people that used to enjoy the endorphins that were produced, so much so I'd begin laughing out loud.
Since taken them out as they served their purpose.
Hope this may help.
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Post by bjorna on Jan 28, 2017 5:44:11 GMT
Yeah! Did that actually make you elevate, or even go full berserk? Sometimes the anticipation brings me more endorphins than the pain itself. Example: my tattoo didn't hurt at all, but I exected it to before hand so I didn't go full berserk but did get an adrenaline buzz while waiting for the tsttoo artist to start. I was surprised when the tat really didn't hurt. Goes to show how much anticipation can do.
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Post by bjorna on Jan 28, 2017 5:49:11 GMT
One thing though: maybe the tattoo would have hurt if the anticipation hadn't gotten my adrenaline level super high. Maybe I elevated and didn't realize it. Hard to tell.
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HowlingFire aka Marie
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Post by HowlingFire aka Marie on Jan 28, 2017 15:23:33 GMT
I have had a couple of hand poked tats done. Those were more like ordeal work for me. It was a powerful and spiritual experience, but it went to fast. I think longer time getting tat work done may work. Also Jan, thanks for the reminder, piercings.
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Post by Jan Crate. on Jan 28, 2017 19:18:08 GMT
Marie,
Do you know of any people over here in England who truly follow Odin as most I have come across use asatru to pose around and act like idiots. I got thrown out of the last blot I attended for cutting my hand and offering Odin my blood.
People were offering up cakes full of cannibis and hard liquor.
Not one knew how to deal with a berserk and no one could tell me how to control it, so that led me to turn my back on all of them and go and study different practises, including satanism, some voodoo and traditional witchcraft, like Odin I use whatever works and throw out the bullshit.
I have even gone to speak to the giant races of the Norse religion, especially Angrboda, hag of the iron wood, as it is my belief that they were the original gods, who were upsurped by the Vanir farmer gods, who then got upsurped by Odin and co.
What I learnt was the giant state of berserker gangr is like channeling pure chaos a very wild and dangerous thing, but at the same time very primal. Hard to explain.
Anyone on here gone to the giants
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Post by Bjorna on Jan 31, 2017 16:38:10 GMT
I've never gone to the giants, but there are people in the US who worship the Jotnar. As far as offering blood goes, I've met people who would be perfectly OK with that. It's your body. I've given blood and other bodily things as offerings. Then again I go out of my way to search for open minded heathens and avoid racists and overly squeamish people. Berserkers are a controversial topic here. My best friend is a heathen and knows a lot about our kind. Others say there is no such thing as a berserker in modern times.
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