Automatic writing / A cry from my subconscious

The below post is cut and pasted from my personal blog on the UK Pagan Community website. It refers to the following conversation thread http://thevalley.ukpagan.com/topic/85677-coincidence-or-not/page__st__30



Just been reading back one of the posts I wrote here earlier today. The one about ravens and whether or not they represent communication from Odin.

In it, I explain that I would apply a rational or mundane explanation for the presence of ravens on 99.9% of occasions, but just sometimes I will take them as what is, perhaps, best described as a warning.

My post ends with, "Not sure why I do this, but as it doesn't happen all the time, I doubt it is just the presence of ravens."

Thing is, I don't actually remember typing that last bit. That wasn't the message I was looking to put across. While it is not completely untrue, my point with the message was to be 'if something seems like it could be a natural occurrence, it probably is....'.

I suppose I should interpret this as my polytheist subconscious trying to express itself? My rational side might be atheist, but I'm a complex little blighter. Maybe I haven't been doing enough of late to properly sate that part of myself?

Lyrics: Slayer - Seasons In The Abyss

Remember hearing this back in the early 90s when I lived in the middle of nowhere in Lincolnshire.

Wasn't until quite a bit later that I started to find this song made me think of Odin. Must be the grim, visceeral nature of it and all the talk of death and insanity.

Anyhow, enjoy...





"Seasons In The Abyss"


[Hanneman/Araya]

Razors edge
Outlines the dead
Incisions in my head
Anticipation the stimulation
To kill the exhilaration

[CHORUS]
Close your eyes
Look deep in your soul
Step outside yourself
And let your mind go
Frozen eyes stare deep in your mind as you die

[CHORUS 2]
Close your eyes
And forget your name
Step outside yourself
And let your thoughts drain
As you go insane... go insane

Innate seed
To watch you bleed
A demanding physical need
Desecrated eviscerated
Time perpetuated

[CHORUS]

[CHORUS 2]

Inert flesh
A bloody tomb
A decorated splatter brightens the room
An execution a sadist ritual
Mad intervals of mind residuals

[CHORUS]

[CHORUS 2]

Potential new beginnings

Just enjoying a drop of wine (Chilean Pinot Noir for those for whom that kind of thing matters). Gave a little toast to Thor, too, as I have a job interview on Tuesday that would benefit from a little luck/divine assistance.

I am in work currently already - but my commute is long, busy and tedious and perhaps around two and a half hours of every work day are spent behind the wheel of my car. I would appreciate some of that time being spent with my family instead. Hence this interview being so important to me.

Regardless of whether I get this job or not, I know there will be some new start (at a new company?) on the horizon soon. Can't help feeling a bit like a viking. Waging my future and my reputation on a risky enterprise (whether that is sacking a foreign land or switching to a new job).

Something occurs to me: Odin, Loki , Beer and Wine

Question originally asked on the UK Pagan forum.

If, as Loki says in the Lokasenna, Odin has said he will refuse any ale not also served to Loki, is that part of the reason why Odin is said to drink wine? I.E. To avoid having to share the offering with Loki?

Or is there something more to it?

Just a thought.




Answers on a postcard, please! (Or maybe the comments section on this site would be easier?)

Pondering dedication to Odin & Loki - from Dec 2013

The below is an old blogpost of mine from around Dec 2013. By way of an update - two feet is perhaps an overestimation of the wingspan of the Huginn that I had tattooed onto my shoulder. At least 18 inches, though.



Despite having a distinctly Jungian opinion of gods, I can't ignore the fact that I feel a very strong draw to Odin. He appeals to me on so many levels, it is unreal. However, being the kind of guy who doesn't particularly want a spearshaft projecting from my perineum, I'd rather not put myself in the position of being dedicated/beholden to him.

Despite this, and despite not really being much of a 'viking'*, I'd still quite like to 'show my appreciation' for want of a better term, in some way. I already have a raven tattoo of some two feet or so in wingspan on my shoulder, but I'm looking for something else.

It will be an acknowledgement of both Odin and Loki, as I feel the two go together and would somehow feel wrong in recognising one in such a fashion without, at least, a tip of the hat to the other. Strangely, though, despite Loki's reputation, it is his blood brother that I am more wary of, by far.

I am trying to think of something I can offer that will sate the need I have to do something like this and yet won't paint a bloody great target on my gonads, if you'll pardon my French. Until I think of something I'm happy with, I'll keep things as they are. Whatever happens, I will continue to recognise and 'honour' all the gods and goddesses.

There are other gods I feel something of a connection to, also - yes. Skadi, Bragi and Freyja to name a few. I know I don't yet see gods as distinct beings, which might be a stumbling block for some people. But even as aspects of my own consciousness or Jungian archetypes, I can see no reason why I can't feel a 'draw' to them, similar in some ways to how a theist might. I also fear that allying myself to an Odinesque aspect of my own consciousness could be detrimental in a similar way to how aligning to such a god could. I have a very healthy respect for the power of the human mind, and I have a young family for which I am responsible.

And, besides, I never said I was concretely certain in my atheism. ;)



* At the very least, I am not very Viking minded. Not at all aggressive. More of a hippy, really. Though being tall with long hair and beard does tend to cause others to bring up the Viking label without any impetus from me.

Heathenry: More than just a Viking religion?

Heathenry, heathenism, odinism, northern tradition - call it what you will. It rarely gets any exposure under its own merits. Whenever anyone new comes to heathenry, they are introduced to it as "The religion of the Vikings" or it is presented as some kind of warrior cult. Over the next few articles that I post here (some my own, some borrowed from other, more learned writers) I hope to alter that image. I want to present heathenry in clearer terms - at least, my version of heathenry.

Silence I ask of all the sacred folk,
high and low ones,
Silence of the kin of Heimdall:
At your will, Valföðr,
I shall relate
The songs of men,
the oldest I remember.

This blog is intended to be a source of discussion, news and outright blathering on the subject of neopaganism.  Specifically heathenry as practiced by myself here in the UK.  Despite being a muggle, I will also cover magic and related occult matters, just to help broaden the subject base and to try to ensure that I keep a fairly healthy post count to keep the readership logging on.