Norse goddess magic : trancework, mythology, and ritual

240 Pages·2015·0.78 MB·English

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Spirituality/New age $ 1 6.95 U.S. a
$20.50 Can. r
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“Norse Goddess Magic is a powerful, evocative, and above all practical book d
ó
by a highly qualified author. Alice Karlsdóttir was involved in the Germanic t
t
religious revival in America from its earliest days, and her insights will be i
r
valuable for anyone desiring to experience the goddesses of the ancient and
eternal North.”
StepheN McNalleN, founder of the Asatru Folk Assembly
N
Combining traditional research on folklore and the Eddas with trancework
and meditation techniques, Alice Karlsdóttir was able to rediscover the femi- o
nine side of the Norse pantheon and assemble working knowledge of 13 Norse
goddesses for both group ritual and personal spirit work. r
Detailing her trancework journeys to connect with the goddesses, the author
s
reveals the long-lost personalities and powers of each deity. She explores the
Norse goddess Frigg the Allmother, wife of Odin, along with the 12 Asynjur, e
or Aesir goddesses, associated with her, such as Sjofn the Peacemaker, Eir the

Healer, and Vor the Wisewoman. She shares their appearances in the Eddas and
G
Germanic mythology and explains the meanings of their names, their relation-
ships to each other, and their connections to the roles of women in Old Norse
o
society. She provides detailed instructions for invocations and rituals to call
each goddess forth for personal and group spirit work. She also offers a com- d
prehensive guide to ritual tranceworking to allow anyone to directly experience
deities and spiritual beings and develop spirit-work relationships with them. d
AliCE KARlSDóTTiR has been involved in the Germanic
e
Heathen revival since 1974, both as a student of Scandinavian
and Northern European mythology and folklore and as a practic- s
ing Norse Pagan (Asatru). She is a master in the Rune Gild, an
s
initiatic organization for the teaching and research of runelore

and runework, and has been a priestess in several kindreds.
M
She has contributed articles to a number of publications, including Gnosis
Magazine, as well as given workshops and presentations on runes, trancework-
a
ing, and ritual at various festivals. She lives in Houston, Texas.
G
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Norse
Goddess
MaGic
“In this important and original work Alice Karlsdóttir, a lead-
ing expert on Norse religion, makes new and dramatic teachings
available and applies these methods in a practical way in order
that the ancient Norse goddesses can speak directly to those who
seek their ageless wisdom. This book is something that can guide
practitioners in all traditions in a process of esoteric discovery of
what lies hidden in often obscure and scant mythological refer-
ences. She concentrates on the often neglected goddesses of the
Norse pantheon, especially the goddess Frigg. The teachings pio-
neered by this author show the way to move from the known to
the unknown and shine a light that illuminates the darkness.”
Stephen Flowers, Ph.D.,
author of Icelandic Magic
and Lords of the Left-Hand Path
“Karlsdóttir’s accessible, practical, and engaging guide to the god-
desses of the Norse tradition covers not only the mother goddess
Frigg but many of the lesser-known deities as well. By studying
myth, reading ancient texts, and engaging in trancework you can
experience these ancient archetypes yourself and strengthen your
connection with them. Karlsdóttir explains the necessary steps to
enter the trance state and embark upon an enjoyable journey and
safe return. She introduces thirteen Norse goddesses, among them
healers, protectors, counselors, and messengers. Norse Goddess
Magic: Trancework, Mythology, and Ritual is a wonderful a ddition
NoGoMa.indd 1 4/8/15 3:59 PM
to any library and will enrich your knowledge of mythology,
magic, and the Divine Feminine.”
Skye Alexander, author of
The Modern Guide to Witchcraft
and Sex Magic for Beginners
“Alice Karlsdóttir brings the thirteen Norse goddesses of the Aesir
alive within us through her research but especially through her
teachings of trance. She shows us how to experience each goddess
personally and the values each has to teach. The values taught by
each goddess take the meaning of compassion, nurturance, and
protection to a much deeper level of our soul, the soul of the fam-
ily, the community, and of our Great Earth Mother.”
Nicholas E. Brink, Ph.D., author of
Baldr’s Magic: The Power of Norse
Shamanism and Ecstatic Trance
and Beowulf’s Ecstatic Trance Magic
NoGoMa.indd 2 4/8/15 3:59 PM
Norse
Goddess
MaGic
Trancework, MyThology,
and riTual
alice karlsdóTTir
Destiny Books
Rochester, Vermont • Toronto, Canada
NoGoMa.indd 3 4/8/15 3:59 PM
Destiny Books
One Park Street
Rochester, Vermont 05767
www.DestinyBooks.com
Destiny Books is a division of Inner Traditions International
Copyright © 2003, 2015 by Alice Karlsdóttir
Originally published in 2003 by Runa-Raven Press under the title Magic of the
Norse Goddesses: Mythology, Ritual, Tranceworking
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in
any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,
recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission
in writing from the publisher.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Karlsdóttir, Alice.
[Magic of the Norse goddesses]
Norse goddess magic : trancework, mythology, and ritual / Alice Karlsdóttir.
pages cm
Originally published under the title: Magic of the Norse goddesses : mythology,
ritual, tranceworking. Smithville, Tex. : Runa-Raven Press, 2003.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Summary: “A practical guide to the magic of the feminine side of the Norse
pantheon” — Provided by publisher.
ISBN 978-1-62055-407-4 (pbk.) — ISBN 978-1-62055-408-1 (e-book)
1. Goddesses, Norse. 2. Mythology, Norse. 3. Trance. I. Title.
BL863.K37 2015
133.4'3—dc23
2014042245

Text design and layout by Virginia Scott Bowman
This book was typeset in Garamond Premier Pro and Neue Hammer Unziale used
as the display typeface
To send correspondence to the author of this book, mail a first-class letter to the
author c/o Inner Traditions • Bear & Company, One Park Street, Rochester, VT
05767, and we will forward the communication.
NoGoMa.indd 4 4/8/15 3:59 PM
This book is dedicated to David Byron Bragwin James,
who was the best of teachers in so many areas—
metaphysics, poetry, languages, fine wines, and
everything in between. He was also the dearest and most
charming of friends. May he feast with his gods and
ancestors (and may he give a chuckle now and then for
those of us still striving in Midgard).
NoGoMa.indd 5 4/8/15 3:59 PM
Abbreviations
OE Old English
Gmc. Germanic
OHG Old High German
ON Old Norse
ch. chapter
st. stanza
A Note on Special Characters
In writing certain words in languages such as Old Norse or Old
English, certain special written characters are used. When repre-
senting these words in the current set of characters used in English,
please note these correspondences:
Þ, þ = th
Ð, ð = dh
NoGoMa.indd 6 4/8/15 3:59 PM
Contents

Acknowledgments xi

Preface to the Second Edition: The Balance
between Trance Knowledge and Lore Knowledge xiii

Preface to the First Edition: The Role of
Tranceworking in the Heathen Community xv
Part One
Looking for a Goddess
Discovering Mythology and
Understanding Tranceworking
1
The Importance of Mythology 5
2
Exploring Norse Mythology 10
3
Defining Trance and Its Many Manifestations 17
4
How to Do Trancework 22
5
A Visit to Fensalir—An Example of Trancework 36
6
Challenges of Tranceworking 41
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Part twO
Frigg and Her Women
The Lore and Trance Methods
for Finding the Goddesses
7
The Influence of the Queen of the Gods
on Germanic Culture 51
8
Frigg—The Allmother and a Sample
Goddess Ritual 86
9
Eir—The Doctor 102
10
Saga—The Storyteller 113
11
Gna—The Messenger 120
12
Gefjon—The Worker 126
13
Snotra—The Prudent One 135
14
Lofn—The Champion 145
15
Sjofn—The Peacemaker 153
16
Var—The Hearer of Oaths 160
17
Fulla—The Sister 168
18
Hlin—The Protector 176
19
Syn—The Guardian 184
20
Vor—The Wisewoman 191

Afterword 198
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