he/they

Æsir Baldr Bragi Eir Frigg Heimdallr  Lofn Máni Nanna Njörun Oðin Rán Sigyn Sól Thor Tyr Üllr Víðarr 

Vanir Freyja Freyr Njörðr

Jötnar Ægir Jörð Skaði Rökkr Hati and Sköll Hel Fenrir Loki

Sometimes it's sweeping.

Sometimes it's weeding the garden.

when it comes to husvaettir: do they only exist as they do in folklore in europe? i.e. would it be relevant or make sense to do practices associated with germanic or scandinavian folklore if i do not live there?

what happens if you try to make a connection with the local husvaettir and then you mess up? i know they dislike having offerings being missed and may be upset if you don't upkeep your house, so as an anxious disabled practitioner i have no idea how to balance this. is it better off just not reaching out?

(upg) on that same note, do they inherently exist in every home space, or do some not have any? if so, does not reaching out make a difference?

sincerely, a heathen with a deep love for spirits but no idea how to syncretize this into my modern practice, if at all? (and also a heathen lacking proper sources since my computer broke)

All houses have husvaetter, because spirits live everywhere, including alongside humans. "Husvaetter" isn't a "species" of spirit, but rather a word that refers to any kind of spirit that likes to dwell (and is known for dwelling) in a domestic setting. Nisse/Tomte (gnomes) are one example, but so are ghosts.

The husvaetter I've cohabited with aren't always Scandinavian. You get a mixed bag here in the US with spirits. Just like every place has its own flora and fauna, so too does it have its own spirits. (Though some Scandinavian spirits did come over with the diaspora.)

I've lived in residences that had a Nisse, but not all of them do, and this is true even in the Scandinavian countries. If you want a Nisse for a neighbor, you need to set your place up to be enticing for one, similar to how you need to set up a bathouse if you want bats. A Nisse is more likely to move in when you set up the environment for one.

As for messing up...spirits aren't really concerned about people "messing up," because "messing up" implies they care more about our performance as assets than about our character as people. They don't.

(Additionally, if you're concentrating on trying to "do things right," then your focus is not actually on your relationship with them, but rather on your relationship with your performance. They find that rude in my experience.)

It's not neccessarily clutter or uncleanliness that Nisse dislike—it's inhospitality. The story of the Nisse throwing a tantrum about not getting butter on their porridge? It's about being the Nisse being a picky eater, sure, but it's also an allegory about a host who did not care.

Keeping a space clean is just a way of showing hospitality, the same way making sure the food's hot and tasty is a way of showing hospitality. Curating a space for the Nisse and giving them gifts they like is another way of showing hospitality. It's demonstrating care, not fulfilling an obligation, that makes a Nisse happy to be your neighbor.

This rune represents the mysteriousness of our life path. The end and the beginning are set, while the middle remains the mystery of our lives.

The Norns (in ancient Norse Heathenry) or the Fates (in ancient Greco-Roman Paganism) were the keepers of destiny and it was they who rolled the dice for each and every soul that came into this world. It is no mistake that this rune looks like that very dice cup, tilted on its side.

It is no surprise to me that this rune was the first picked in my Rune of the Day draw. A very fitting acknowledgement that I am embarking on a new adventure, as I am sure so many of us out there are.

Welcome to seidr eclectics, where I offer you knowledge, maybe a little insight (like this Rune Draw was for me), and the opportunity to enjoy merch specifically created for those interested in the many wonders that witchery, heathenry and outdoors life have to offer. With, perhaps, a little bit of nerdiness splashed in. After all, this brand is a reflection of my passions in this Unknown Life.

If Perthro speaks to you, you can visit my Etsy shop listing for the handsome coffee mug I've made in honor of this poetic pull and always keep that connection close:

Perthro Prayer

and Affirmations.

Divine Creator,

We come before you today

to offer our devotion and gratitude

for the mysterious power

of the Futhark Rune Perthro.

As we seek to deepen our spiritual journey

and connect with the hidden forces

of the universe,

we call upon the guidance and wisdom

of this sacred symbol.

Perthro,

symbol of the unknown,

we humbly ask for your assistance

as we navigate the unpredictable

twists and turns of life.

Help us to trust in the divine plan

and to have faith in the unseen forces

that guide us on our path.

May your energy infuse us

with the courage to explore

new possibilities and the strength

to embrace the unknown.

Grant us the insight and intuition

to discern the hidden truths and messages

that are revealed to us through the symbols

and signs around us.

May we be blessed with the gifts

of mystery and wonder,

and may our hearts and minds

be open to the infinite possibilities

of the universe.

May we be guided by your ancient wisdom

and your deep knowledge

of the mysteries of the universe.

We offer our hearts and minds to you,

Futhark Rune Perthro,

and ask for your blessings

and guidance on our spiritual journey.

Amen.

Affirmations:

I trust in the divine plan and have faith in the unseen forces that guide me on my path.

I embrace the unknown and have the courage to explore new possibilities.

I am open to the messages and symbols around me, and trust in my intuition and insight.

I am blessed with the gifts of mystery and wonder, and am guided by the ancient wisdom of the universe.

Ægir (Old Norse “sea”) is a sea giant, god of the ocean and king of the sea creatures in Norse mythology. He is also known for hosting elaborate parties for the gods. Artwork for Gulveig: Fate of the Norns.

Is it still possible to connect with harvest and nature deities such as Freyr during the cold season?

Long answer short, yes. Obviously, absolutely. But you all saw that answer coming, right? So I’m here to give you some ideas, as the person who’s favorite season is winter and who made it their mission to help everybody like winter just a little more. And since I feel especially close to Yngvi-Freyr when it comes to the Gods, I will use him as an example throughout this post, though a lot of the following could apply to most nature deities.

Let us first examine a common misconception before we get to the bottom of this topic: the fields don’t die when the sun sets on the 31st of October. The earth still lives under thick layers of snow. The process of dormancy is absolutely crucial to the cycles of nature. And if, like me, you find Freyr to be a sort of guardian of these cycles, then you’ll know he manifests himself in so many ways, even where you might not think to look.

Have you heard about the holly and ivy tradition? It was common during the European Medieval times to decorate houses and halls using holly and ivy, because they were the two plants with leaves that stayed green, even in the dark and cold of winter. This type of practice is often referred to as "bringing the outside in", and it's something I'm quite fond of. I've no doubt it could be a great help if you're the type to feel depressed during the winter time. It's a way to remind oneself of how everpresent nature actually is. Lots of greenery remains despite the snow! And to ackowledge this fact and to work with it is such a great way to connect with nature Gods in general! It goes to show that you appreciate their blessings all year round, not just during spring and summer. While it's true that in many cases, the presence of deities such as Freyr may feel somehow "dimmed" during the winter time, I assure you, they don't disappear once the first snow falls! On the contrary, they are every bit as present and active as when spring comes! They simply manifest themselves in a different manner.

When winter comes, I love to work with evergreen spirits. I incorporate spruce, fir and cedar into my practice and in my offerings. I won't go into too much detail for this topic however, because I've written posts that pertained to it in the past (namely, this post on tree work and this one on land spirits). Since I don't have easy access to holly or ivy, I make due with evergreen! Not with any actual branches, except when I'm lucky enough to find some that were torn away by the wind. But rather, using representations of it. In the same manner, and in the spirit of "bringing the outside in", it's also possible to decorate using representations of the sun! Harvest deities such as Freyr are often associated with it due to its crucial role in the cycles of plant growth. Candles also make for great solar symbols, and to place them around the home is like lighting a handful of little suns to bring much needed light and warmth inside. What's more, lighting candles on the winter solstice night is a widespread practice among pagans today! It serves to symbolize the return of the sun, as the days start to grow longer again. Until then however, it can be soothing for one to light a candle every morning before school or work, and to call upon any harvest, nature or solar deity of their choice to ask for strength and motivation throught the day. Even when it's difficult for us to feel their presence, they always hear us.

Now, how to actually feel more connected to nature? Oftentimes, connecting with nature and connecting with Yngvi-Freyr are one and the same. And on a more personal note, a lot of the advice I received from him pertained exactly to that: I believe he's often urged me to go spend more time in nature when I am going through rough patches. I know the cold and the cloudy weather can make it depressing for a lot of people to go out. My advice on this is to take it step by step: no need to go on long, four-hour long hikes right away! After all,there is already much beauty to be seen close to home. And I can't put enough emphasis on that: dress warmly! Also, as a tool for motivation, prepare a treat for yourself to enjoy after you've gone out. Part of what makes me enjoy winter so much is the thought of the warmth and light which await inside after I’ve gone out into the cold. The home is as sacred as the outside world! So why not buy, or prepare a batch of cookies, a cup of hot chocolate or a spicy dinner! It's something I love to do as a way to motivate myself to go out more often. And I like to offer part of these to local land spirits and to the Vanir, to show my appreciation for the beauty of this season. Just as an aside, I find snow water to be a great such offering as well!

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・。.。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

I’ve heard so much varying information on The Phase going around here lately, I wanted to understand the concept from the source. I spent hours reading the extremely long textbook from the original creator, and would like to summarize some basic information that will help clarify what The Phase is.

As always, it’s important to remember this is just one way of explaining and exploring these out-of-body phenomena and should not be taken as a holy grail. I always encourage everyone to listen to their intuition and choose methods that align with their natural strengths.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・。.。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

✩ What is The Phase? ✩

The Phase is a state of consciousness between wakefulness and REM sleep where individuals can experience lucid dreaming, out-of-body experiences, and other paranormal phenomena.

Diagram from The Phase textbook by Michael Raduga.

Phase states includes lucid dreaming, astral projection, sleep paralysis, and other OOBE. If you become lucid in a dream, or are able to induce sleep paralysis - congrats you’re already in a phase state, and don’t need to use The Phase Method.

This specific concept of The Phase was introduced by Michael Raduga. He has worked with groups of people for years helping them get into phase states with his Phase Method, and proven his techniques to be very effective.

✩ What is the Phase Method? ✩

The Phase Method is a series of techniques used to get into a phase state. It uses the natural awakenings we have in the early morning hours - where sleep is lighter and REM is more frequent - to try to induce a phase state.

✩ What are the steps to the Phase Method? ✩

Step 1: Sleep 6 hours and wake up with (or without) an alarm clock. Waking up around this time will cause lighter and more frequent REM sleep, which will make it easier to induce phase states.

Note: it’s not necessary to use an alarm clock if you already wake up frequently during the night. You can honestly just skip this step and go right to step 2, make your intention before bed, and using every natural awakening to induce a phase state. There are many successful astral projectors who use a simplified version of the phase method based on this idea, without disrupting their sleep cycles, which I will link in the resources below.

Step 2: Go back to sleep with intention. What do you want to do? Lucid dream? Astral travel? Enter the void? Decide what you want and what you will do to induce it.

Examples:

“When I wake up, I will remain still and focus on the blackness behind my eyes, which will take me to the void, where I will affirm for my desires.”

“When I fall asleep, I will enter a lucid dream. I will create a portal in my dream that will take me to my DR”.

Step 3: Perform a “separation technique” - a way for your mind to move your awareness away from your body. This can be done in various ways such as: peering into the darkness behind your eyes, listening to noises in your head, affirming your desires, making an imagined movement like sitting up, rolling over, or pulling a rope to disconnect your astral body from your physical.

Step 4+5: Repeat techniques until something happens. If nothing happens after a few minutes, go back to sleep and try again at the next natural awakening.

✩ Where can I learn more? ✩

The original Phase textbook by Michael Raduga

The Ultimate Astral Projection Guide, a simplified version of the Phase used by many successful travelers.

“Xanth’s Phasing Method” from an older website

The Phase Method for entering the void by @voidprincessblog

Variation on the phase method that incorporates the recliner method by @pinksssecret

The Phase Method for Shifting Reddit post

Small altar to Freyr. I can do better on the wood burning, but it’s a start.