7/26 Sleipnir’s Day: Aid with Meditational Journeys

Even if you are not familiar with the Norse Pantheon, most likely you have heard of Odhinn, the All-Father. Odhinn is the Shaman-King that travels through the three worlds on his eight-legged horse Sleipnir. These three worlds are known to the Norse and Celts as the Upperworld (Asgard to the Norse and the Sky/Star World to the Celts), the Middleworld (our world that we call Earth; Midgard to the Norse and Surface/Stone World to the Celts) and the Underworld (Utgard to the Norse and the Ocean/Sea World to the Celts).

Sleipnir could run on land, sea or air, which are the three worlds or three realms of the Tree of Life or World Tree of the Celts and Norse. The name for the World Tree among the Norse was Yggdrasil; “Yggr” being one of the names for Odhinn and “drassil” meant both “horse” and “gallows”. Sacrifices to Odhinn were hung on gallows, another version of the World Tree.

Another symbol associated with the shaman-horse Sleipnir is the Rune Eh (M) which means “horse”. “Eh” propels the soul through the Otherworlds, the other spheres of consciousness, so you can call upon his aid with meditation and journeys. Horses were considered sacred to the Norse and horses the color of cloud-gray were said to be one of the methods of travel for the Valkyries. Perhaps you could instill the aid of a Valkyries for your Otherworld journeys as well? The rune Eh can signify a mutual partnership as well as transitional movement, so it is not out of the question to be able to work with Sleipnir or the Valkyries.

July 26th is the day set aside by the Asutru to commemorate the death-steed Sleipnir.

THE SPELL:

This is a very simple spell to help you with your meditations. Many people struggle with meditating, so calling in a little extra help never hurts. If you are already familiar with meditation and journeying, then Sleipnir will be able to take you swiftly (he has eight legs after all) through the worlds and levels of consciousness, enhancing your meditation experiences.

If possible, do this spell and meditation outside with a real-life tree. If this is not possible die to weather or lack or privacy, then simply sit indoors and use your visualizing skills to imagine the World Tree before you.

Supplies: offering to Sleipnir (a nice offering for Sleipnir would be something that a horse would eat, perhaps some sugar cubes would be a nice treat? You need not place your offering at the gallows, instead the base of a tree would work just fine.). Offering to the tree (again, think of what a tree needs; perhaps some fertilizer or water to aid in its growth?).

Stand at a tree with your offering and say:

“I call to Odhinn’s eight-legged steed:

In hand I have _____ for you to feed.”

Place the offering at the base of the tree and say:

“I place this offering here at the Tree

In hopes of the partnership between you and me.”

Sit with your back propped up against the trunk of the tree. Mentally connect to the spirit of the tree and let it know that you wish to make a partnership so you can meditate and travel the three worlds of the World Tree. To show the spirit of the tree that you have good intentions, place your offering at the roots. If you wish, you can also draw the Rune Eh (shaped similarly to the capital letter “M”) in the air or on the ground to seal your “compact:” with the tree.

Now, simply begin your meditation. If it helps, visualize yourself riding on the back of Sleipnir, his gray mane flowing in the air, the hooves making a rhythmic sound that takes you deeper and deeper into a relaxed state. State the purpose of your meditation; what answers do you seek? Ask the Universe your question so you and Sleipnir can find the answers. Say:

“Shaman Steed of air, land and sea,

As I sit here beneath this tree;

Move me through the worlds of three,

Aid me on my shamanic journey.”

Close your eyes and go ahead with your meditation. When you come back to normal consciousness, move your fingers and toes, stretch and come to standing. Thank the tree and say:

“Cloud-Gray horse of the Valkyries,

Thank you for aiding my journeys.

Together we worked magick well

And this concludes my magick spell.

Stay if you will, and go if you must;

In perfect love and perfect trust.

By the power of threes times three,

As my will, so mote it be.”

SOURCES:

Animal Magick by DJ Conway

Pagan Book of Days by Nigel Pennick

Rune Mysteries by Silver RavenWolf and Nigel Jackson

Tree of Enchantment: Ancient Wisdom and Magic Practices of the Faery Tradition by Orion Foxwood

  Recently I had the honor of meeting with author and paranormal investigator Todd Clements. He was a wonderful individual that I really enjoyed talking with and we traded books. His book goes with the tours he leads in Mackinac called Haunts of Mackinac. Since then I have read his book and found it incredibly fascinating. He covers numerous different legends and paranormal sightings all around Mackinac. When I was reading through them I couldn't believe not only how many stories he was able to report, but the details he was able to include were fantastic. My personal favorite tale was that of Private James Brown, a soldier who "accidentally" murdered his superior officer. I would recommend this book to anyone, especially if you're interested in the paranormal or local history (local for Michiganders, that is), and everyone should be aware of the mischievous dwarf fairies. The book is complete with an introductory description of the different types of phenomena as defined by Todd (and most other paranormalists). For those of you in book clubs, frequent readers, or those who need sometime to relax, I'd recommend picking up Todd Clements Haunts of Mackinac as your next book of choice and if you ever get up to Mackinac Island yourself, join him on one of his tours and experience the legends for yourself!

Check out his link at HauntsOfMackinac.com.

This Saturday, June 26th the Capricorn moon will undergo a partial eclipse beginning at 4:55am EST and ending 10:22am EST. This eclipse will be visible in the Pacific and parts of Australia, but those of us in the United States would be lucky to catch a glimpse as the moon goes down (get more details at http://www.astrologycom.com/partialeclipseJun26.pdf) . However, you can still make use of the energy of the lunar eclipse.

Throughout history, lunar eclipses have foretold change. This is an excellent time to perform a spell for change, or to do some divination. This eclipse combines the energy of the full moon in Capricorn and the sun in Cancer with the Earth's constant energy suggests that this is a good time to focus your magical energy on bringing about positive change related to the family, especially male family members or matters relating to the family business or any business proposition that will benefit the family unit. I will personally be working to help my husband find a better job, with better hours that will allow him to spend more time with the family (and more time jamming with our son!).

Just how does a lunar eclipse affect your magical workings? First, understand that lunar eclipses always take place during a full moon, so you are working with strong full moon energy. The lunar eclipse mimics a lunar cycle, what usually takes nearly a few months in just a few hours. This increases the power of your work by magnifying the energy of the full moon by the energy of the rest of a lunar cycle and can speed up the manifestations of your desires.

  I'm not going to lie, I rarely follow other state's politics, and for those of you who are from South Carolina or do follow it's politics, you might be asking who is Alvin Greene? Don't feel bad, you're not the only one. Alvin Greene flipped the world of politics upside down when he beat all other candidates for the primary Democratic candidate for US Senate. Alvin Greene in the political sense, is a nobody. Greene is an unemployed Army veteran who lives with his father. During Greene's campaign, he spent no money on adds, signs, commercials and led no debates. He did not speak once to the public, which has left everyone confused as to how this man won 60% of the votes. Michael Sigman, writer for The Huffington Post, posed the idea that voters thought they were voting for a different Al Greene (there is a famous singer known as Al Greene). However others, such as John Stewart, have found that people voted for Greene because his name appeared alphabetically first. Despite accusations that Greene was a plant by the Republicans, inquiries about his mental health, and a pending felony for showing pornography to a college student, Greene claims he is the people's choice and has no intent in backing out. Could Alvin Greene be the next US Senator? I have heard some lead the debate that all politicians are idiots so how could it hurt to have Greene in office... honestly, how bad could it get? Well, I leave you with this; how bad did it get when we elected an idiot to be president?

References: Fox News, The Huffington Post, The Christian Science Monitor

Midsummer Water Spirit Spell
Boudicca Andarta

Midsummer is considered a fire festival, but it is also a water festival as well. Rivers, lakes, wells and springs were considered holy and pilgrimages were made on this holy day to make offerings, solicit cures and work magick.

The magick people would work would either refer to nourishing the crops (Russia), granting fertility to childless women (Scotland) or ask for healing (England). In exchange for these, offerings of pins, flowers and coins were made to the Guardian Spirit or the Water Nymphs. This guardian was not always seen in human form; instead they would sometimes appear as a frog, mermaid, a winged serpent or a fly. In any form, the Guardian was honored and considered holy.

The reason that the aquatic site was held in such high regard is because it was thought that wells and springs issued form the womb of Mother Earth, the life-giving Goddess. Springs and wells like caves were through to be the entrance to Mother Earth’s womb; from which all life springs forth and all life must return to. Water from such sites were considered so holy that women would bathe in it (Sweden), it was drunk from a special vessel (England), sacrifices of treasure were made to it (Scotland) or flowers would adorn the site (England).

These practices lived on even after the church took ever the land. In Ireland, many wells that had been dedicated to the goddess Brighid were now under the domain of St. Brigit. In Britain, the goddess that was known by Anna, Annis or Anu had many wells as well, and these were “given” to St. Ann. Finally, Midsummer was also known as the festival of Sul Minerva, named after the goddess of healing springs that were located in modern-day Bath were Pagans would honor the spirit of the water.

The Spell

I am fortunate to live on land that has many natural springs, but not everyone is so lucky. That doesn’t’ mean that you cannot honor the Guardian Water Spirit where you live. Do you have a creek, river or lake in your area? Is there a campsite with one of those “old-fashioned” hand-pumps? Can you create a lovely water-fountain in your garden or buy a miniature one to place inside your house or apartment? Find whichever method works best for you and then prepare to make offering sin exchange for your special request.

Your request is up to you as this spell is not limited to fertility (children or crops) or healing, although you could work magick to “fertilize” your bank account or heal your debt in these uncertain economic times. Make yourself a list of what you will ask for from the Water Guardian Spirit and get your offerings ready.

Your offerings can be the traditional coins, flowers and pins, but feel free to use your imagination. You could buy some shell corn or bird seed as an offering to the animals and nature spirits. You could tie pretty ribbons to branches on a tree. You could even pant a tree, adding to the landscape. Think about what kind of offering is best suited for your environment and situation before making your decision.

Decorate your altar in the manner of your choosing. Adjust your decorations to fit working outdoors (think about the windy conditions) or working indoors. Midsummer is a fire festival, so let’s add that into the mix. After all, you can mix fire and water; fire-water or alcohol is considered a spirit isn’t it? Make sure to have a candle (indoor-working) or a Tiki Torch (outdoor-working and it can help to keep the bugs away!) lit during your magical working. But, all you really need is you, your wish-list and the water itself. If working indoors, place a bowl of water on your altar and if outdoors, being at the site of the water source is ideal.

Create Sacred Space or Cast Circle in a manner of your choosing. Then, make your statement of intent after you light your candle or torch:

“On this longest day of the year

Light and fire are king.

But on this day I also honor

The Goddess and the Spirit of the Spring.”

Place your offering upon the altar or at the aquatic site and say:

“From rain to creek to river to lake;

Water feeds humans and Mother Earth.

This I give to Guardian Spirit

For the Goddess giving life birth.”

Speak to the Mother Earth Goddess and the Water Guardian Spirit in your own words, respectfully requesting one-by-one the items on your wish-list. Explain form your heart why you need to remove or add these things in your life. Also, ask for guidance as to how you can make these things happen on the mundane level through physical means.

When finished, than the Goddess and the Water Guardian Spirit and say:

“Goddess and Guardian, my thanks to you

Pales aid me in the works I do;

For the good of all and With harm to none,

So say I, so shall it be done.”

Source: Midsummer: Magical Celebrations of the Summer Solstice by Anna Franklin