Magick in the Northern Tradition (2) Battle Magic
PMITNT, pp123-127. Mention about Berserkers in squads, Ulfhednar as guerillas. Ulfhamir, with wolf shirts, fought
like the berserkers without weapons. Svinfylking fought in boar formation, and used superhuman strength.

Sieðr
One of the aspects of seidr is oracular divination. It also shape shifting, which is called specifically hamrammr.
Another is communicating with animals. Another is sex magic. The later sagas usually were negative about this,
although Freyja could teach Odin it without anything being said against it, while he taught her galdr in exchange. I
think it could be said that as males became more prominent, and Christianity was having its repressive effect, this
dismissal or denegration of siedr came more to the fore.

Galdr
This is specifically related to the use of the voice, of calling, either through chant, or kennings, or singing, as used in a
magical context, and usually with the runes or their phonemes involved.  It is illustrated in the Norse saga Eiriks Saga
Rauða, PMITNT pp.121-122.

Oracular Seidh
This type of technique works for larger events in the future, rather than the more normal short term precognition.

Seer/ess must have someone to sing songs (galdr), or lead them through pathworking, and someone to ask questions.
Anymore than this is not required. Semi-conscious states are required. The Guide is the master of ceremonies, the
drummer, the facilitator. Wardens are another possibility, especially when there is a large group or audience. They are
basically assistant Guides. What is also required is a high seat, which can be improvised by putting a chair on a table.
The wearing of northern costumes can help with the illusin, but is not necessary.

After each question, the stat of the seer/ess‘s state, physically, should be checked. In early training, no more than 3
questions should be asked. Querents have to be controlled so as to not keep repeating aspects of the same question
over and over.

The nature of the pathworking/travel is to go to the underworld, Hel. Go up to the gates, and then the seeress goes
beyond them.

Spiritual Exercises
Position magic - pp. 115 of PMINT, Keltensitz and stodhar. Cernunnos on the Gundestrop Cauldron is in a semi lotus
cross leged position, Keltensitz. Keltensitz is used in sitting out, or utiseta.

Assuming runic postures, re Nigel Pennick, Freya Aswynn, and especially Jan Fries, and many others, has an ancient
basis, known as stödhur.

The main aspects of spiritual exercise is the same as in many other paths:

1. Posture
2. Breathing
3. Concentration - banishment of unwanted thoughts
4. The call - galdr specifically. The use of song, of sound, of a rune, or group of runes, or of a deity whose runic
components of the name are broken up and sung. When galdr is sung, the phonemes of the runes are sung in different
combinations, so that one hearing it might think it could sound silly.

Witte Wijven (Frisian Wise Women - Witches)
p.118 of PMINT. They lived in the Dutch provinces of Drenthe and West Friesland. They lived in earth houses, and
practiced their crafts of healing and divination and magic for those of the right nature who visited them. The earth
houses were hollow earth mounds entered by steps cut in the mound‘s side. On top was a wooden platform, with
access gained by a chimney from inside the lodge. The platforms were bedecked with skulls and magic items. On
posts outside the houses were more magical items which were there to protect from natural and supernatural forces.
The basic form of the platform was a grid structure, a 9 grid structure, as on p.118-119.
 

Magical Terms
Erilaz
Runemaster
 

Gothi/Gothia
Priest/ess

Vitki
Magus, wizard, runemaster

Ond
Vital breath, soul.

Orlog
Fate, destiny. See as part of Wyrd.

Rammankin
Superhuman strength.

Ve
Sacred enclosure.

Warlock
A Scottish term denoting a person who has the power to shut in or enclose, or make binding spells.

Framsynn
Far sighted.

Ofreskir
Second Sight.

Berserkers, Ulfhednar and Svinfylking Warriors
PMITNT, pp.123-127  and the following from Freya Aswynn‘s Folk Runic Workshop Lessons
 

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