Photoshopping the Divine: Personal Anecdote # 7337

This will be a quick blog as I'm quite sleep deprived at this point. But the above is my extremely modest altar to Odin, I thought I'd share it. The plan is to eventually surround the thing with artwork(and not burn the house down(I may need to move it to a deeper shelf).

The idea I had was that since I'm poor, and can't feed my deities with a bunch of rum and whatever, I'll make them art(need to get better toner for my printer first) and frame it and put it around the room. I was thinking of this in relation to how in my webcomic I've got the pages sort of set up as altars to different aspects of the card I'm working with and the dieties I work with. I'm thinking a similar thing can be done with the specific purpose of honoring the various gods I deal with, in this case Odin. This will also serve to enhance the relationship, with all of these visual cues around the room(part of why I think Iconography is so popular in most religions--I think for some people this type of thing can definitely enhance the experience).

Anyways. I wanted to pass along the idea of collage altars. And show you the modest beginnings at play here, and maybe in a few months check back in with an update on the sitch.

The Sephirot, the Tarot, and a Small Anecdote

Learning the Sephirot is probably one of the most important things you can do for understanding the Thoth deck. The more you work with the Sephirot, the more the cards open up for you. I would actually say this is more important than learning the nuanced meaning of every card. Because once you figure each cards place on the Sephirot out, a lot of their meaning can be figured out just from that. I would say probably the two biggest knowledge systems for the Thoth deck are the Sephirot and Zodiac, with the former being more important than the latter.

"Qabalists have widely applied the cards of the tarot as keys to the Tree of Life. The 22 trumps (major arcana) are seen as corresponding to the 22 Hebrew letters and the 22 paths of the Tree; the ace to ten in each suit correspond to the ten Sephiroth in the four Qabalistic worlds; and the sixteen court cards relate to the classical elements in the four worlds.^[9][10] While the sephiroth describe the nature of God, the paths between them describe ways of knowing God.^[11]"

^"The emanations of creation arising from Ain Suph Aur are ten in number, and are called Sephiroth (סְפִירוֹת, singular Sephirah סְפִירָה, "enumeration"). These are conceptualised somewhat differently in Hermetic Qabbalah to the way they are in Jewish Kabbalah^[5]. See Sephirot for the Jewish conceptualisation.

From Ain Suph Aur crystallises Kether, the first sephirah of the Hermetic Qabalistic tree of life. From Kether emanate the rest of the sephirot in turn, viz. Kether (1), Chokhmah (2), Binah (3), Daath, Chesed (4), Geburah (5), Tiphareth (6), Netzach (7), Hod (8), Yesod (9), Malkuth (10). Daath is not assigned a number as it is considered either a false or a hidden sephirah^[6].

Each sephirah is considered to be an emanation of the divine energy (often described as 'the divine light') which ever flows from the unmanifest, through Kether into manifestation^[7]. This flow of light is indicated by the lightning flash shown on diagrams of the sephirotic tree which passes through each sephirah in turn according to their enumerations.

Each sephirah is a nexus of divine energy and each has a number of attributions. These attributions enable the Qabalist to form a comprehension of each particular sephirah's characteristics. This manner of applying many attributions to each sephirah is an exemplar of the diverse nature of Hermetic Qabalah. For example the sephirah Hod has the attributions of; Glory, perfect intelligence, the eights of the tarot deck, the planet Mercury, the Egyptian god Thoth, the archangel Michael, the Roman god Mercury and the alchemical element Mercury^[8]. The general principle involved is that the Qabalist will meditate on all these attributions and by this means acquire an understanding of the character of the sephirah."

It's funny, I had a brief flirtation with Qabalah back in early high school, if I had known better I would have just stuck with it. I wonder if I still have that old book? I'm slightly reticent about the Qabalah now in this post-Madonna world, but whatever, "I needz ur knowluge gunz, knowz!"

Incidentally, I had incidence to use the tarot this weekend. I had arrived at a crossroads in the middle of Pennslyvania, both literal and figurative. And I ended up using the tarot to help me get perspective on the options available to me. I also made an offering to Odin there, leaving some coins at the crossroad juncture. 10 minutes later it was storming and pouring down rain(it had been pretty clear to that point). I also saw a ton of ravens, and everyone was walking their dog in front of me(I'd parked in a pet area on accident). I still need to get much much better if I'm ever to make proper sense of any of that, but I try. There's no sense in doing magic if you aren't going to bring it in on the major events of your life.

Rune of the Week: Ansuz

This week's rune is Ansuz. And let me tell you. I am glad for it. Thurisaz was a miserable rune, and I'm just grateful to have made it through the damn thing. I almost don't even care what Ansuz is. Just so long as it's not Thurisaz.

Ansuz means both God and Mouth(think, in the beginning there was the word). This is a very magical rune, in the sense that words are the foundation for all magic, and this rune has a very close relation to words. Here are the poems:

As
Estuary is the way of most journeys;
but a scabbard is of swords.

The Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem
Os
The mouth is the source of all language,
a pillar of wisdom and a comfort to wise men,
a blessing and a joy to every knight.

The Icelandic Rune Poem
God
Aged Gautr
and prince of Ásgardr
and lord of Vallhalla.

This is a rune that is closely associated with Odin obviously, and it's a useful rune to think about when opening discussions with the divine because of it's meaning. This is a rune for telling stories. So probably the best way to honor this particular rune is to gather some friends around and engage in some spirited story swapping. Some other helpful aspects of this rune are wisdom, clarity of thought, and comfort. It really is the perfect rune to come out of the traumas of Thurisaz.

Influencing Probablity Game and Evocation Process

I thought this game from Occult Forums was an interesting ritual game to play:

"Influencing probability by odds calculation practice. This is quite simply "the dice-rolling game". For it you need:

* A pair of dice.
* A notebook.
* A writing instrument, i.e., pen or pencil, or crayon for those of you who are not allowed to have sharps.

Open the notebook. Write down the date/time at the top of the page. Pick up the dice. Pick up the pen/pencil. Roll the dice. Write down your result--this can either be a combined result, i.e., "9" or an itemized result: "3, 6". Roll the dice again; write the result down again. Keep doing that for awhile without thinking about anything. Once you start to see a pattern emerge--for example, you may be rolling a lot of 10s (in which case I will never play Yahtzee with you)--start TRYING TO ROLL that result. Make a mark in your notebook where you started trying for a particular result, and write down the result you want like in the margin. Once you start trying to roll a certain number or combination of numbers, keep track of how many times you "win" and how many "losses" you have.

Your notebook will look something like this:

28 February 2008, 1155

4, 2 (6)
4, 6 (10)
3, 1 (4)
6, 5 (11)
(etc. Now I notice I'm rolling a lot of 4s, either in combination with another number or combined, so I start rolling for 4s.)

4

3, 2 L
1, 3 W
4, 6 W
(etc.)

IMPORTANT NOTE: Don't work on this for more than a half an hour or 45 minutes at a time, especially if you live with someone else. It will scare them, and they will start thinking about sending you for mental health services. Trust me on this. Plus an obsession can develop, and you don't want that. So yeah--half an hour, 45 minutes, then stop. Set a timer so you won't have to keep looking at the clock.

When you do this exercise, try not to place a lot of expectations on yourself, or get too discouraged if you can't seem to influence the dice as you would like to. This is something that takes a LOT of practice. You may work on it for weeks before you start seeing some results. I do know people who get the hang of it fairly quickly but then have a hard time applying the trick to things in real life, to whom I say: Once you start getting results with this, start paying more attention to what is going on in your mind when it seems to be working. When my dad was in military service, he used to win tons of money off people playing dice. I have discussed this with him many times and asked him to show me how to do this, but all he can do now is describe it to me, since he was in a really bad car wreck some years ago and messed up his hands to the point that he can't roll dice anymore. Nevertheless, when he described what he was doing to me when he WAS able to win at dice, he said pretty much what I'm telling you here: "It's not just what you do with your hand, you have to think of a certain thing," and I would of course ask him what that thing was, and he would kind of shrug and reply, "It's not really a THING, but the order your thoughts go in when you are thinking. I can't describe it, but you know it when you have it." In other words, what he was telling me about was magic.

So don't get discouraged. Try to apply the dice exercise to other things that involve probability, such as the behavior of animals or people in a group setting, for example: There are two women sitting at the bar; which one will get up to use the bathroom first? and stuff like that. (DON'T start placing bets on this stuff, as it will lead to a gambling habit. See my above caution about obsession.)"

And here's a simple rundown on the evocation process my friend and I have used successfully to summon out Loki and Odin:

1. Went to a location where we felt a good magical vibe. In this case a forest.
2. Poured screwdrivers, lit candles.
3. Asked for the blessing and protection of the spirits of the forest.
4. Poured some of the screwdrivers into the ground.
5. We took turns describing the god we were summoning, using song, and chant, trying to build up a free conscious flow of voice and sound to enter into a trance state.
6. Once we got a sense of the gods vague presence, we started to describe and enhance that.
7. the gods started to appear on our periphery in the forest, and we described how they looked to one another, until both of us could see what the other was seeing.
8. We then entreated the gods to come closer and join with us in a drink.
9. We told them our intent for wanting to work with them. We poured them drinks. And then circled back out of the ritual, thanking the gods for coming, thanking the forest for its protection. And then we left the grounds.


Results:
Earliest results.
More results: I've since started a rune ritual to learn the runes, which I hadn't been that interested in before this ritual summoning Odin. I was thinking of working more with Scrying at the time. Some people have said I've become a little meaner and more irritable. I'm not sure how true that is. I've had a rush of information and learning sine that time period as it pertains to magic. And while I've encountered resistances, they've generally been ones that have made me stronger and more articulate. I've also started an altar ritual for Odin, I will explain later. And then I've begun experiencing the runes I'm studying in life changing ways. For instance, last week the rune was wealth. And in that time span I had a job interview that went so well that I will soon be going in for a follow up, and that seems promising. And then I also sold my car these two things are almost last minute, but even just the car thing will allow me to hold on financially for one more month. The Old man has also crept into my writing. I've done one short story, and one short comic script that both seemed to have Odin in a prominent role in the background guiding the proceedings. And then he's cropped up in other writings as well.
I've also had a few experiences where I've felt or seen him on the periphery of my day to day life. Including hearing the hoofclomps of Sleipnir during the lighting of the Altar I have made for Odin. And seeing his eye through a window while I was thinking about when to buy cookies for my rune ritual.

So, so far the ritual has been a success. There's still a long way to go. But things are progressing nicely.

Ravens are smart too!

Some interesting things about ravens today:

"In conclusion, the results of the string-pulling experiment indicate that ravens rely on logic to guide their actions. The results of the pilfer anti-pilfer experiments show that ravens react to their competitors based on what they remember them being able to observe, that they can accurately attribute the capacity of knowledge to their competitors, and that they integrate this knowledge together with social status to make strategic decisions when retrieving food caches."

Odin's Raven's are Hugin and Munin:

"O'er Mithgarth Hugin | and Munin both
Each day set forth to fly;
For Hugin I fear | lest he come not home,
But for Munin my care is more."

~Grimnismol

And here is a talking Raven:

Personal Anecdote #2: Odin, Berzerkers, Spooky Armonicas

I think this is great, it's a glass armonica, with what looks like Ben Franklin playing it:


Thank you Grinding.be.
Berzerkers and Odin as the Patron Saint of Outlaws

"Berserkers (or Berserks) were Norse warriors who wore coats of wolf or bear skin and who were commonly understood to have fought in an uncontrollable rage or trance of fury; the berserkergang."

Here's an interesting paragraph on the use of berzerkers in modern society:

"Of what benefit is the berserkergang in a larger, societal sense? There are two ways this is possible. One is that such practices serve as "release valves" for those born too different to fit into society, who might otherwise employ their energies in a destructive manner. But the other use is the more important one, for it is the very function in society that Odin serves (his function as Lord of Valhalla is actually incidental and only secondary). This is the role of the seidh-man, the warg, the outlaw, a person who deliberately lives outside of society in order to grow along a different path. You see, that which is static is dead. Life needs change to sustain itself. But it is difficult to sustain real change from within, for in the long run society tends to the conservative, to the static. So there is occasionally a need for a real outsider, something which can bring the new, which is in the Utgards, to the Innangards.

An example of such in modern times is Einstein, a self-educated scientist at a time when science was at a standstill, unable to learn anything further. Much of modern scientific and technological development is because he came at things from a unique point of view. The berserkergang is a great torrent of power and inspiration that can be directed and focused in a number of ways. Any pursuit the berserk engages in can be rendered easier and more effective by it, including highly intellectual ones like art and poetry, science and math. But it has its price, and anyone devoted to benefiting from it must also devote his life to coping with it, a thing that is not always easy. I suppose it would be possible to learn the berserkergang without being born a berserk, but it would not in the long run be desirable. Berserks can easily develop strong emotional blocks and inhibitions involving the gangr, and find themselves with a strong mind-body connection that is working against them. All sorts of psychosomatic illnesses can develop as a result which can turn into serious long-term health problems."

There's a lot of interesting things in there, one of which is Einstein as an outlaw, but the other is Odin as God of the Outlaws. This may explain some of my affinity for the old man.

Here's a Barbelith thread on an experience one person had in their evocation of Odin.

Another personal anecdote:
My friend and I spent an evening out in the woods the other week evoking Loki and Odin. Loki, because that god has kind of chosen my friend, and I am interested in working with Odin, because there are a lot of attributes that he has that resonate with me. At any rate, the ritual was set up that we basically sat across from one another over a candle, and traded evokation poems, songs, and stories while drinking screwdrivers and keeping an eye out in the woods. And sure enough, the two of them started to appear on the edges of the forest, and as we continued to talk to them and enchant them closer they both came to within about fifteen feet of both of us. We invited them to drink with us, but they wanted to kind of stand there and observe.

Odin was this tall gaunt figure, semi-obscured by the trees, who wore a white cloak over black clothes and his one eye glowed like the moonlight. Loki was more difficult to pin down. He was constantly peeking out from trees and waving. I think part of what kept them at bay was that we had enlisted my friend's dog as a guardian spirit for our ritual, and I think they were a bit weary of him. He was fascinating to watch, because after we evoked a guardian spirit into him, his whole manner changed, such that for much of the ritual he was literally patrolling the perimeter, and when we ended the ritual, he actually vanished deep in the woods in the direction which Odin and Loki had gone, seemingly to make sure they were gone. It was very interesting.

Anyways. Since that ritual, I've had a much more focused approach to my magic, and I've swung into rune study with a lot of aplomb. I've also picked up a lot of scars, and have become more irritable than normal. But my ideas seem to be flowing much faster now and my understanding of magical systems seems to be growing by leaps and bounds. I'm finding a lot of resources now very quickly, and picking out of them the ideas that are most useful very easily. And I think some of that is to do with beginning to work with Odin.

I know the old man has a bit of a reputation, but I think since my friend is working with Loki, that his temper will be pretty good so long as that keeps up, because I think a lot of people have bad experiences with Odin when they deal with him on their own on his own. Odin generally needs Loki around to be in the best of spirits. I also think that you should be prepared for trials when working with any powerful God. You have to earn the respect of that entity. Odin hung on a tree for nine days for his magical knowledge. He's not going to think much of just handing over knowledge without any work. So one has to be prepared for that.

This is the Barbelith thread on Odin.

I really should get an account there.