It has been a while since this site has been updated. And much has happened. The spring was filled with a lot of change for me and my family. Tower and Hagalaz change along with Eihwaz. a lot of time and energy was just spent on keeping things moving along and orderly, so the blog was not updated regularly. Podcast episodes were still recorded and posted. I had some very interesting guests and topics.
- Episodes this year are:
- 45 Ancestral Tarot author Nancy Hendrickson
- 46 Blood Unbound: A Loki Devotional editor Bat Collazo
- 47 5 year “Wyrd”iversary
- 48 Freya Chat with Freya Lady Vanadis author Patty LaFayllve
- 49 Allthingi anthology editors Joshua Gillingham and Muhammad Ahmed
- 50 Urban Paganism with Paul Mercurio
- 51 Circle of Frith: A Devotional to Frigg and her Handmaidens author Maira Durkan
- 52 The Jotunn War graphic novel author Ian Sturate Sharpe
The podcast is available on Podbean’s app or giftsofthewyrd.podbean.com. It’s also now on Spotify and Stitcher as well as through Apple and Google podcasts and other podcast catchers.
Thanks for the support and please have a listen to catch up or share with others.
Follow me on Instagram at @wyrdgifts1 and FB @giftsofthewyrd
There are many in the Heathen community who are very quick to pronounce “you are doing it wrong!” Especially when it comes to practices of a magical, modern, or “not found in the lore.” What those attitudes fail to recognize or acknowledge (in their own idea of what heathenry was) is that in the random time period they select as THE point for all things heathen/asatru is that even at that point – they were practicing UPG (unverified personal gnosis), modern practices, and WITHOUT the “lore”.
mixed with the suppositions and practices that have become established from hopeful surmisings, and provides a way that one with whom this resonates can implement in their day to day practice. The end goal of the book, in my first reading, seems to be that the most important thing to do is connect with Them on a level that you can. Regardless if it was practiced 1500 years ago, 1000 years ago, 500 years ago, or 30 years ago (regardless of the source of the practice – verifiably historical [rare] or reconstructed (from lore sources) or imagined [what they think how viking-era people should have practiced]).
The interesting way the book is structured is a very layered style. It’s not necessarily a progressive A-Z manual of steps, although he has certainly put forth early on very key basic information. What he does do is intertwine the knowledge based information (such as who the Gods are, the nature of the Nine Worlds, basic concepts such as good versus evil etc) with experiential exercises. Such as how to meet and get to know the God/desses calling or one wants to meet.
One of the best features of the book is the plentiful amount of rites, invocations and meditations. While most have a similar structure, including using the same openings and setting of boundaries, this is very good to establish a familiarity with how to set and maintain well sacred space and activity within it. This will help it become second nature so that as we grow and progress, we can alter and add different elements, poems, incantations, modes and Beings to work with.
Overall, this is a book of introduction and connection to the [Heidhrinn/Heathen] heart. It will be a very good resource for a small study group of folks who can experience, read, discuss, and encourage each other along the path. Some may find it too basic depending on their style of Heathen practice or length of time practicing. But it is a book that can benefit many who are truly seeking to connect with the Northern Divine culture, called to the magical practice of a Norse Witch, and desire to make that a daily experience to enrich their relationships with Them (Gods/Goddesses/Beings) for a spiritually awakened life here on Midgard.
Gifts of the Wyrd 