My Totem Journey: The Beginning

Hi everyone, it's been a while!

First of all, I had a break of practicing for a few months (which explain why I haven't been posting anything here), and I couldn't feel more great to be back on my path. I realised that I was looking elsewhere for something vain, and I was loosing myself, who I truly am, while trying to accomplish something that wouldn't really make me happier. But since I starting getting back into it, I really do feel better and I even started a new quest.

Finding my totem animal.

I don't know anything about shamanism and I think both are pretty much going with one another. But I really feel the urge to start on this path, and to start with finding my totem. I got a book that I barely started reading, a simple but very clear one (It's in French but I'll try to find it's English title). I hope it will get me to learn more about shamanism, cause it looks really interesting and very ressourceful.

I had my first meditation looking for a sign of my totem. My fiancé and I just started making a relaxing/meditating space in our bedroom and I had the chance to test it. I burned amber resin, but some music and started breathing. I first started in a sitting position, but I usually like to meditate laying on my back, and I felt the urge to do so after a while. I saw myself walking in the woods, barefoot in the snow but I wasn't really feeling the cold. It just felt really comfortable. I standed still for a while, and then began walking.

I have heard a few birds, but didn't come accross any animal yet. But when I got up, I feel so great! I think it's one of the best meditation I had so far. I felt energized and full of love, I felt my heart chakra open and balanced. And the rest of my day was simply great.

I can't wait to have another session. Hopefully I'll meet a spirit next time.

What are the Runes and how can we work with them.

You probably know, at least vaguely, what they look like. You might know that some uses them for divination. You might even know the names and meaning of a few of them. But, being stated in the Eddas, found all around Scandinavia on stones, tools, weapons and jewelry, there might be a bit more about them than divination. There is so much to learn about them, and so many ways to work with them. I might be far from a Rune master, but I sure do love them and love working with them since the day I started. The path is different for each one of us, but one thing is sure, it will be very interesting and very rewarding if you are willing to go deeper in the knowledge of the Runes.


The Runic Alphabets in History

The first runic alphabet, the Elder Futhark, first appeared around CE 150 and was used to write various Germanic language before the adoption of the Latin alphabet, but kept being used even after that for more specialized purposes. The Elder Futhark kept being used until about CE 800, were it got replaced by the Younger Futhark until around CE 1100. In the meantime, CE 400 to 1100, born from the Elder Futhark, came the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc. The Youger Futhark later evolved into the Medieval runes (1100-1500) which evolve to the Dalecarlian runes.

But while a lot of artifacts found during those periods bears the name of their crafter, there is also inscriptions that have yet to be translated, and some common combinations of Runes, such as “alu”, “gibu auja” or “fff” seems to indicate that the Runes were probably used for magical purpose too. Also, Björketorp Runestone, dated around CE 600, says “I, master of the runes(?) conceal here runes of power. Incessantly (plagued by) maleficence, (doomed to) insidious death (is) he who breaks this (monument). I prophesy destruction / prophecy of destruction. ” That exact same phrase was also found on another runestone, Stentoften runestone, along with what seems to describe a sacrifice for the year good harvest.


Even though some texts seems to indicate that the Runes were also used for divination, we have yet to find anything on how they were used for such purpose at that time.


The knowledge of the Runes

I ween that I hung on the windy tree,

Hung there for nights full nine;

With the spear I was wounded, and offered I was
To Odin, myself to myself,

On the tree that none may ever know

What root beneath it runs.

None made me happy with loaf or horn,

And there below I looked;

I took up the Runes, shrieking I took them,

And forthwith back I fell.

It is through Odin that the knowledge of the Runes came to men. In search of wisdom, He went to the World-Tree, Yggdrasil, and hung himself for nine days and nine nights. In addition, he also starved himself and stabbed himself with His own spear, shedding His own blood. His sacrifice gave him the knowledge of the Runes.

The first thing to know about the Runes, is that they are more than just letters, more than concepts also. They are entities, with different kind of energy, with different purposes. They are very much alive, and can have different meanings depending on the situation, the context, or even the person reading them. This is why working with the Runes take a lot of time and a lot of practice.

Rune readings

Divination is probably the most well known use of the Runes, beside as an alphabets. Once you worked on each one of the Runes, getting used to them and what they mean, it pretty much works just like the Tarot. Of course, the different spread will be a little different, and what you can get from a reading will be a bit different too. You can't tell the future with the Runes. They can tell you things about what has been, what is becoming, and what can become. They will tell you about your past, or about how you came into the current situation. They will they will tell you about the current situation, where you are now. And they will tell you about what will mostly be the outcome, given the current aspect of the situation, and follow some advice that they have to give you.

Most of all, reading the Runes is a great way to learn about yourself, to open your eyes of thing that you might now see at that moment, or put the spotlight on details that you might not have been giving enough attention to, but that you should work with.

Bindrunes and Talismans

A talisman is an object charged with energy, most of the time for a specific purpose. The object will be worn on or be placed into a location where the effects are needed. Of course, like any kind of magickal work you could do, you can never expect it to work alone. It also needs your effort to change your situation and better your life. But sometime, a little magick can help. It is possible to use the Runes to make a talismans, invoking their energy to achieve a specific goal by carving them into the object, or by staining the object. It can be an actual tool, a jewel, a piece of wood or even a piece of paper. But usually, when the talisman was accomplished his goal, it should be disposed of by being burned or buried.

Carving or staining the Runes one after another (if you need more than one) is a way to do it, but it is also possible to create what we call Bindrunes. Like the name states it, it is created by binding multiple Runes together, letting them amplify or direct their individual energy for a specific purpose. For example, Berkana is a good Rune for general healing. We can combine it with Uruz, which is a Rune of grounding and consciousness and restoration of the self. We can also add Sowelo, which is good to restore energy and vitality. Combined together, they can make a great healing bindrune. We can also combine Berkana with Hagalaz to heal deep buried pain.

Galdr

The word Galdr comes from the Old Norse verb “gala”, which means “to crow, to cry, to scream”. Basically, it is a chanting or a singing filled with energy and conducted by energy itself, taking form into our world through sounds. It is not meant to sound good, but to connect with us an with the world, giving us visions or feelings. Galdr is not only about the Runes, but is a good way to work and to connect with them. After centering and grounding yourself, one would concentrate on a Rune, and start chanting its name, and let the energy of the Rune control the note and the pitch of your voice. Eventually, chanting the name of the Rune might be too restraining, so it would switch to raw and primal sound.

It might be a bit embarrassing at first, since we are so used to listening to melodies, but Galdr isn't meant to be a melody. Galdr is meant to manifest an energy. The more you do it, the easier it becomes, and the Rune will start to communicate with you through images, smells, feelings and emotions. With more practice, you can even start to do some work that way, like healing, or bringing good luck.

The Elements

I have yet took the time to really studies the elements, but I'm really interested in doing so soon enough. But I had a few experiences with their presence and there meanings, even though I don't understand everything that's going on.

I believe than within all beings there is all of the four elements (or five, if you follow the Chinese philosophy), and the amount of each one of them define some aspects of who we are. I believe that most people have one dominant element, which would define more dominant aspects of them, and a secondary element, maybe two, that defines secondary aspects of them. I guess that the elements given by zodiac sign coincide most of the time, if not all the time (but I really don't know much about astrology, another subject I want to study) For example, I know that my dominant is Fire. I've always known so. It coincide with my zodiac sign, which is Aries. I have a short temper (that I try to control). I'm passionate. I'm enthusiastic. I am a fiery person. I think these are few of the many aspects of my personality that is influenced by the Fire within me. I'm not sure what my secondary element would be. My ascendent is Virgo, which would mean my secondary would be Earth, which could make sense, but I really need to look into it to be sure.

I've also had an experience earlier this year in my Reiki class. I did the first level, and loved it, and still apply what I have learned in my life, and still practice treatments on myself, my fiance and other people close to us when they ask for it. The class in itself was also awesome. I learned so much and our group was awesome. We were a few people, but all from different background, with different belief and at different stage of our spiritual path too. It was really a great experience. toward the end of that first level, we at to practice treatment on each other, and since we were an odd number of students, there was to be a group of 3. I was in that group, with, in my opinion, the most advanced in her spiritual path (she had strong belief in the Angels, she was a medium too, still trying not to absorb all the emotion and pain of the people she was treating), and also the less experimented (she told us at the end that she almost dropped the class after the first one cause it seemed too much for her, but decided to stay anyway and just learn what she could). And it was one of the most interesting experience I ever had, and also the best feedback that I could receive, from both of these ladies.

The most experienced told me that while I was getting ready to treat her and making the connection with energy, she felt warmth coming for me. It was so perceptive that she could tell exactly where I was around her even though her eyes were closed. She also said that my hands were really warm. The less experienced one felt it too, but while she was treating me. She felt overwhelmed by the warmth and by the energy, it made her feel sick and she had to go sit at the other end of the class while the most experienced was finishing the treatment. I guess I do have a lot of fire inside me.

But even if we do have a dominant element, I think that the key to be a balanced person is to balance those elements too. Fire is a very hungry element, and it's easy to be overwhelmed by it. Others felt it around me, but it can overwhelm myself too if I'm not careful. Like, if I give in to anger. Or if I'm too passionate about something and don't think of consequences. Of course, meditation and relaxation helps a lot, but sometimes, I actually need another element to balance and calm down the fire. In my case, water usually work very well. When I feel angry, or even sad (because I tend to transform sadness into anger if I'm not careful), when I feel aggressive, I take a shower. A long and warm shower (warm helps not piss off the fire, and let the water calm it). And everytime, it works.

I also had a dream last night. I was holding my Tarot deck, and I almost dropped it. A card did fall out, it was the Moon, and felt into water. It wasn't floating at the surface, but really was in the water. I'm still trying to figure out what that dream is supposed to mean. I know that the Moon is very much associated to water, so it seems to fit. But still.

I guess I still have a lot to learn about the Elements.

My relationship with my Tarot deck

The Strength, the Devil and the Hermit

 I've been owning a Tarot deck for quite I while now. I don't use it much since I don't know it that much, and to be honest, I should study it more. The little I know about each cards is very interesting, and I know there's a lot of exercises to connect with them and get used to what they mean. I chose a Marseille tarot deck for many reasons. I wanted a classic and traditional look, but I also wanted a traditional path to Tarot reading, at least to get me started. I also really like that everything you need to know about the meaning of the card is in its picture.

Since I'm not yet really used to it, I don't use it that often. I usually just grab my Runes and go with spreads I'm comfortable with. But, now and then, I do grab my Tarot deck, and see what happens. About every time I do so, I get very interesting results. And pretty accurate too. I do have to read about each cards that comes out, and one of the spread that I like is pretty complex so I tend to follow it through my book. It still works well and I learn a lot each time.

A few months ago, I did a reading for the months to come, and the cards warned me about difficult times to come. It was pretty precise of what it would concern, without exactly telling what it would be. I didn't want to know either. I would just overall prepare myself to go through something difficult, and see what would happen. A few weeks ago, I thought it was happening since it was becoming a little harder in that particular domain, but, really, it was nothing. I'm currently going through a very difficult time, and I know it's what the Tarot had in mind.

As I'm trying to go through the smoothest way I can, I meditate a lot and spend a lot of time withing myself. Reading, learning, practicing, it all helps me go through. My spirituality warms me like a soft mantle. I am sad. I am scared. But it all helps me stay stable. I just had a little trouble seeing how it would evolve, how life would be once I get through. So, I thought I could grab my deck again, and see what the cards would have to tell me.

I did the same spread that a few months ago. And it was very interesting. Hopefully, there was no big bad news to be seen. The reading was actually pretty optimistic. Maybe a bit too much for my understanding. I did understand what the cards wanted to tell me, but for many of them, I couldn't see how such great things would happen after that difficult thing I'm going through right now. For example, one of the cards is for the financial aspect for the months to come. And the strength came out. Which means being in control of the situation. But in the past weeks, as things were staring not to go so well, I had to work less hours, meaning less money. And because of what I'm going through, I won't work at all for the next two weeks. After that comes Christmas (yeah, I will celebrate Yule AND Christmas, since even though our families are not really religious, its still part of the tradition), and overall winter, and winter in Canada means, you need warm clothes, a good winter coats and good winter boots. So, lots of thing that cost money while I won't make any until December. So I can't imagine how I could be in control financially with all those facts. Same thing with the Devil coming out. It came out in a very positive way, telling me (again) of money coming in, and also a great vitality and a time of pleasure. All of this is great, but again, thinking of whats currently going on, I can't see how it could change so fast. Of course, it's not meant to tell me of what will happen tomorrow morning, but even the next months feel too close.

But I trust the cards. They were right before, and even though I don't understand what is coming for me, I sure hope they are right again. I sure could use a bit of financial help, and even more of great times and feeling better. 

The power of writing

I didn't have a Book of Shadow until recently, and I have yet took the time to really write in it. I did have a lot of notebooks everywhere in my home with, well, notes, but never actual texts, well written and well constructed. I do read a lot and love to go back to my books when I feel the need. I didn't feel the need to write my own texts, even though I considered it a few times. Never took time to do it.

Early this morning, I couldn't sleep some more, as a wave of inspiration came in. I've been in a little group called the Apple Tree Kindred, at first formed only by two of my pagan friends and I, just for the fun of giving our trio a name, and recently, we expanded to more people willing to share with us. So we have Pagans, Wiccans and Asatruar, and some open minded people willing to learn about paganism. As we tried to find activities to do together, the ideas of having workshops came out. A member could choose a subject he's familiar with and would be willing to talk about, and hold a discussion on that subject. Of course, I had to come out with a Runes Workshop.

So this morning, while I couldn't sleep, I started thinking about it, and soon enough, I was starting to write about the first workshop that I would lead. Because, yes, I am planning to have a few of them. The first one would be fairly simple, being an overview of what Runes are, where they come from and how we can work with them. As I was writing, I was looking information over the internet, in my books and in my notebooks, and it made me pay more attention to details I overlooked before. By the end of my paper, by writing down explanation of some concepts, I realized that I was also understanding those concepts better myself. I realized the importance of writing down my studies.

I can't wait to have my first workshop, and have feedback about it. I hope the members will like it and learn from it at least as much as I have learned writing it. But whatever happen, I think I will keep writing more of them. If its not for others, it will be for myself.

Who is the Vinland Witch

So, a little bit about myself...

I am a young mom of a lovely little girl named Raphaëlle, and currently pregnant of a second child. I am engaged to a wonderful man who's very supportive of all my (many) projects. I live in Canada, in the province of Quebec to be more precise, which is why I choose The Vinland Witch as a name, even though Vinland would be more to the east of where I actually live. I'm currently working in retail, but planning to go back to school after our second child is born. In the mean time, I make natural soaps and other bath products for sale. I just started, so I don't know yet where it will take me in the future.

Now, about my path. Like many other, I discovered the existence of witchcraft during high school. I've also learned about Wicca at that time, and had my first contact with the Runes. I didn't really learn their meanings, but learned the Elder Futhark as an alphabet. But beside reading about all those things, I never really practiced.

It's only a few years after high school that I came back in contact with paganism. I found a book about the Runes (Runes: Theory and Practice by Galina Krasskova), and started reading it, again and again. It took my about one more year to start meditating about them, and really studying them further. It was also at that moment that I looked out about Wicca, and at first, I thought it my be the right path for me. There was one problem though. I didn't feel any connection at all with the God and Goddess. So I kept looking.

I've had heard about Asatru before, and a knew a few Norse deities well because of my studies of the Runes. I don't know why I didn't consider it as a path before. I started researching more about the Aesirs, the Vanirs and the Jotuns, and it just felt right. It felt comfortable. I felt like I was at the right place. It still took a while before I started calling myself an Asatruar. Just like it took me long enough before actually work with the Runes, and even longer before I agreed calling myself a witch.

It's only two years that I started doing Runework. I've started doing Rune readings for myself and invoke their power through talismans. About a year later, I started doing Galdr and Rune readings for others. Everytime, it feels incredible. Every experiences teach me so much. And it feels like I'm doing the right thing. So I keep going.

On the side, I also started studying herbs and crystals. I attended a Reiki class and loved it. I'm currently learning a bit more about Tarot. About astrology too. And I'm learning how to use my pendulum. It's only recently that I agreed to call myself a witch. For some reason, it didn't felt right before. I guess I had bad experience with witches, as the few I knew were exactly what I didn't want to be. But once I realized that calling myself a witch wouldn't shape who I am, and that I found witches that I really liked over the internet, I felt better about the name.

So here I am, starting a blog about my work, my experiences and my practices. Because if there is a lot of great blogs of eclectic witches or Wiccan witch, I have yet to find one about someone including their Asatruar beliefs into their witchcraft. And even if I still have a lot to learn (when do we stop learning anyway?), both about witchcraft and my religious path, I think I'll enjoy sharing it with you guys.

Blessings!