HowlingFire aka Marie
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Post by HowlingFire aka Marie on Feb 2, 2017 13:34:47 GMT
Jan, I don't know anyone in England, but I will keep my eyes open and ask a few acquaintances I have there. Even in the Heathen community here, I often find myself on the edges. "We", those devoted to Odin and Berserks usually find eachother. It was at a Troth gathering a couple years ago, that the ones devoted to Odin actually were recognized by the community. During an Odin Rite, we were asked to step inside the circle of people, and place our hands on spears that were provided. It was a way for the community to acknowledge and support those of us on this harsh path.
When I go to Blots ect with other Heathens, I have to mind my manners as it were. The Gatherings were one place where most of us could "let our Spirit hair down". I try to find someplace each year, a gathering, a get together, camping ect that I can have time to let my inner animal to roam. I also use blood as an offering but it can make most people nervous. I do it in private or discreetly.
It is hard to find places that We can be US. It took me many decades to find my people. At least at this time, we can find each other via the interwebs! Without Wayland's work, I fear many more of us would have been lost, jailed, gone mad or committed suicide. I very much appreciate his writings and teachings.
I do spend sometime with the Jotuns. Loki and I had a mad love affair, so I have that connection. The blood of Jotuns flow through my blood. We are all Grandchildren of Bestla.
They will know us, when we are needed. Marie
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Post by Jan Crate on Feb 8, 2017 15:35:03 GMT
Bjorne,
I was thinking of you and your berserk initiation and thought of the walknot rite practised by the sons of Odin group. They fast for nine nights and aren't allowed to speak, plus cut the walknot into their flesh as a dedication to Odin.
The fasting and cutting will bring on the gangr which again can be dedicated to the old one. Dangerous as if your not sincere he will make your life a living hell.
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HowlingFire aka Marie
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Post by HowlingFire aka Marie on Feb 9, 2017 0:03:36 GMT
I have nothing to do with that group. I am a Universalist Heathen.
I will say, that a vow of silence is very powerful.
Marie
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Post by Wayland_S on Feb 9, 2017 2:48:38 GMT
Insofar as using pain in ritual to trigger an elevation response, shallow cuts are good. They are mildly traumatic, and the subconscious has a useful hardwired set of reactions to the sight of your own blood. If you really need to dig deep, this is a good technique.
Not a good idea for regular use, though, for a lot of health related reasons. Ideally, for ordinary ritual, you want pain without damage. Tugging sharply on the beard can be effective for you bearded folk. Punching yourself in the face, hard, is excellent. Not so much if you have crowns, though. If you have nails, sharp pinching might help.
You can achieve the same triggering even without pain, though. Try arching your back and neck all the way back, as far as you can, into a C shape. This puts you in a position where, if a little more force were applied, your spine could theoretically break. Your subconscious mind is programmed to worry about this, and respond with adrenaline release, just like with pain.
Also, try headbanging. Yeah, like metalheads do. The act keeps flexing and widening the blood vessels at the base of your neck. This is right where a couple of huge bundles of nerves enter the spinal column, too. Stimulating this area in this manner washes your brain in oxygen, calories, and electrical signals. This promotes elevation and adrenaline release, It is a well known martial arts technique even outside the berserkergang.
Additionally, clench your jaw. This also, for physiological reasons going back to our distant mammalian ancestors, stimulates adrenaline release. Don't rely on it too much. You try that while berserkering and you can literally crack your own teeth.
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Post by Jan Crate on Feb 9, 2017 14:37:14 GMT
I've had two red mist moments recently involving pain, both through combat knife training, one the guy I was up against almost wrenched my arm out of the socket and I began to go straight into fight or flight mode and started growling at him and wouldn't back down, the other through repeating the same patterns with the knife over and over again.
Pain is powerful as a trigger.
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Post by DTheWalker on Feb 11, 2017 0:36:34 GMT
Hello everyone,
I'm new to the boards, and its all thanks to Wayland. I've begun reading (and re-reading) his books, I reached out to him and he brought me here. I'm here for knowledge and guidance. My entire life I've always had a certain anger, not to go as far to say "rage issues" but when that anger creeps up it is something I'm even having a hard time explaining. I've always been told to control it, and the more I read about the berserkgang the more I realize that I truly feel it.
The latest experience I've had, at least I believe, with the gangr was actually on the road, nearly getting into a collision with another driver who ran a red light and almost crashed directly into me. I went into a state of unthinking, I wanted to follow this driver wherever he was going, to me it was the only purpose in my life. I ended up pulling over and just having to breath out the fire in me.On a normal basis, I enjoy lifting weights, I enjoy pushing myself but I get that sense of focus, of mental purity, and I feel something take over. I don't drop weights around like someone trying to seek attention, I mute scream, my face says I'm screaming but I am silent. I have since tried to embrace this as a possible form of the berserkergang, and hope that I am on the right path.
So I am very happy to be here, and to learn.
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Post by Jan Crate. on Feb 11, 2017 11:52:09 GMT
Bjorna,
You mentioned dancing previously. Watch Laura Grizzlypaws on you tube dancing with her bear spirit. This is what I meant about allowing yourself to be horsed and allowing the bear to take over.
Our people would have painted their bodies put on the pelt and had drummers play. One person may have embodied Odin who would have danced with you or more than likely the God himself came and danced.
I need to dance again and yes I'm self aware and worried if Odin takes me over. Native bear dancers have the eagle dancers watching them and dancing alongside to keep the bear in check.
Jan
Hello dthwalker are you a wolf or a bear berserk.
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Post by DTheWalker on Feb 13, 2017 0:00:53 GMT
Bear, or so I believe.
-D
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Post by Jan Crate on Feb 17, 2017 13:08:40 GMT
Thinking of other ways to bring on rage.
One I have heard about is to taunt the person going through ritual. Sun dancers have people offer them water and food to test their oaths to the people and the spirits.
You could blindfold the person going through ritual berserk gangr and then push pull and shove them whilst taunting. An extreme version I've heard about is to get the person drunk and stoned then make them connect to their real spirit guides.
My friend who's a medicine man has had this done to him as well as being made to hold hot coals and heated objects.
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Post by Bjorna on Feb 17, 2017 15:46:49 GMT
Speaking of the teeth clenching thing, I do that already, very often, and usually don't realize I've been doing it until later when my jaw was sore. I had a dream last night that I cracked all my teeth. It might have been a warning to be more careful. Especially since to much constriction in there is bad for your voice if you're a singer. But it does work for people in a ritual context!
Where is the safest place to cut, so you don't end up in the er?
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Post by bjorna on Feb 17, 2017 15:54:22 GMT
Also,welcome DTheWalker. I'm a bear too.
Wayland: would the headbanging and back arching work in an initiation or is that too lite? Sometimes headbanging onstage I do feel the bear come out but it's not exactly planned. I just always assumed it was a result of stage fright raising my adrenaline.
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Post by Wayland_S on Feb 21, 2017 2:53:09 GMT
No reason it can't be both the physical effect and stage fright.
These should be used to help during the initiation. They have too mild an effect to do the job themselves if you are not initiated, though.
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HowlingFire aka Marie
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Post by HowlingFire aka Marie on Feb 22, 2017 13:16:50 GMT
Jan, the jaw clenching thing. I had that for many years, it was underlying anger and rage. I am a survivor of abuse, and during therapy I found it was anger and rage. Being mindful of speaking my mind, when I am angered at something has lessened that. Sometimes you gotta speak your mind. If your dreaming about it, it looks like time to take a look inward to see what "demons" are lurking. Headbanging...yes, I have used it for astral travel as well.
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Post by DTheWalker on Feb 23, 2017 2:29:23 GMT
To the knowledgeable, I am truly interested in an initiation. I am very eager to learn somafera, to determine what I feel it is and what it truly is. I am looking for advice and guidance.
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Post by Bertje on Feb 23, 2017 18:29:13 GMT
Hey Dthewalker Im also new to this.. maybe you like to chat to exchange experiences?
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