Wane Wyrds

My Own Altar with Offerings One of the first questions people ask when they begin working with a particular God or Goddess is how to offer to them. Virtually ever forum I have been in, someone at one time or another has asked this question, "What offerings are good for (insert God/Goddess name)." Inevitably what follows are list of foods, drinks, crystals, incense types, etc. that are either mythologically inspired or have been found to be personally relevant to the particular divinity through upg. I myself have answered this question just as many times as another, with a list of materials and matter I found to have been well received. This in itself to me is not a problem, if we are able, I cannot see any reason we should not invest in the Gods which help and guide us through our journey of life. However, sometimes I think that our focus on the material aspect of offering is skewed by our lifestyle in the first world. We hear the word offering or gift, and our mind sw...

I find that in talking about seidr, shamanisms, and astral travel in general, there is little discussion about how we protect ourselves as we journey forth into unknown territory. One often hears it proclaimed that the need for protection is great, the spirits can be dangerous and malevolent in nature, one must know what they are doing, etc. But outside of basic warding and protection techniques, I haven't found much information on how to shield oneself from harm when one fares forth. One reason perhaps is the perceived need for secrecy when it comes to preserving traditions or personal insights. Another perhaps is the reluctance to accept spirit communication as real, and the fear of being labeled mentally unstable or ill. Another is simply self doubt of what one experiences, and the internal conflict between what is imagined and what is "real." My dedication to Freyja and the Vanir has led me on an interesting path, which is enabling me to let go of reluctance and be...