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Seiðr Magic: The Norse Tradition of Divination and Trance — Tarot Divination

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Seiðr Magic: The Norse Tradition of Divination and Trance

Name: Seiðr Magic: The Norse Tradition of Divination and Trance
Price: 19.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781644119440

✍️ Kirkland, Dean

Reader Score

4.6

(1 review)

$19.99 ~~$24.00~~ Save $4.01 (16%)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Dean Kirkland unveils seiðr, the profound Norse shamanic tradition often overshadowed by runes. This essential guide meticulously reconstructs ancient trance techniques for spirit journeying across the Nine Realms and engaging with deities. Learn to craft and empower seiðr tools, master Norse divination, alter fate, and practice soul retrieval. Drawing from sagas and archaeology, Kirkland dispels myths, revealing seiðr as an accessible, powerful path for any practitioner called to its ancient wisdom.

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Tarot & Divination

Praise for this book

“In this captivating work, Kirkland delves into the realms of seiðr with a thesis that is truly wonderful, unraveling the intricacies of its power. Despite the limited recorded information on seiðr, Kirkland's meticulous research shines through. He skillfully uncovers the available knowledge and, through insightful comparisons with magical practices from diverse cultures, presents a guide to attaining the magic for…”

— Nicholas E. Brink, Ph.D., author of The Power of Ecstatic Trance, Baldr's Magic, and Beowulf&r

🏛 Destiny Books 📅 2024 📖 256 pages 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781644119440

Fun Fact

Kirkland's Seiðr Magic is a groundbreaking and refreshingly practical guide, meticulously reconstructing an often-misunderstood Norse tradition. It excels in offering clear, actionable techniques for trance work and spirit journeying, grounded in historical evidence. While it may disappoint those seeking a purely theoretical overview, it's an indispensable resource for serious practitioners ready to engage directly with ancestral Norse shamanism, solidifying its place as a core text.

📝 Description: Seiðr Magic: The Norse Tradition of Divination and Trance

A practical guide to the Norse shamanic techniques of seiðr - Explains the techniques used to achieve trance in seiðr, how to journey in the Nine Realms, and the different gods and spirits you may encounter - Discusses the tools of seiðr, such as the seiðr staff and hood, and how to create them, empower them, and care for them - Details Norse divination methods, ways to alter fate, healing techniques, the use of protective songs, and the practice of Norse soul retrieval While Norse rune work is well known, there is another major ancient Norse magical practice: seiðr (pronounced "sayther"), a form of trance spirit work and divination. Although seiðr is often considered an ancient form of witchcraft, recent archaeological evidence suggests it is more closely related to shamanism. In this practical guide to seiðr, Dean Kirkland, Ph. D., reconstructs the magical and shamanic techniques of the seiðr priest or priestess using the sagas and other literature from the Viking Age, tools found in the archaeological record, and surviving indigenous shamanic traditions. He addresses the misconception that seiðr was reserved only for women and shows how anyone called to this work can practice it in the modern world. He discusses the tools of seiðr--how to create them, empower them, and care for them--and he explores the use of protective songs (varðlokur) that involve forming bonds with spirits, a practice he likens to the medicine songs of Amazonian shamans. Looking at trance journeying in the Nine Realms of the Norse cosmos, the author discusses the different gods and spirits the seiðr practitioner may encounter in the Upper, Middle, and Lower realms. He shares methods of divination using the seiðr staff as well as ways to alter ørlög, or fate, through spiritual work. Discussing soul-healing techniques in seiðr, the author looks in depth at the Norse shamanic practices of soul retrieval and reintegration of the soul parts. He then explores the role of seiðr in death, dying, and dealing with the dead, including work with the valkyries and the ancestors. Presenting a historically based handbook for contemporary heathens, this book offers a practical path for anyone seeking to explore Norse trance magic and mysticism.

📑 What's inside

Acknowledgments
Foreign Terms and Pronunciation
An Introduction to Seiðr
1 Seiðr Practice Historically and Today
2 Seiðr Trance
3 The Tools of Seiðr
4 Varðlokur and Protection
5 Traveling the Nine Realms
6 Wyrd and Divination
7 The Hearth Cult, Cofgodas, and the Landvættir
8 Basic Healing in Seiðr
9 Death, Dying, and Dealing with the Dead
10 Gandr and Venom
Epilogue
Glossary of Terms
Works Cited
Index

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Kirkland offers a compelling reconstruction of seiðr, effectively bridging the gap between archaeological record and modern practice. The text is well-researched, drawing on sagas to provide authentic context for trance techniques and deity engagement. However, this book does not suit readers seeking purely academic historical analysis or those uninterested in active spiritual practice. It may also disappoint those looking for complex theoretical frameworks rather than practical application. The focus remains strictly on accessible methods for the modern practitioner. While the approach is inviting, it requires a willingness to engage with shamanic concepts that might feel unfamiliar to rune-focused witches. Overall, it is a solid introduction for those ready to dive into Norse spiritual journeying.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Practitioners deeply interested in Norse spirituality will find this guide invaluable for accessing the lesser-known aspects of their heritage. It is perfect for those seeking to move beyond rune casting into the profound depths of trance work and spirit journeying across the Nine Realms. Readers eager to connect with deities or engage in soul retrieval will appreciate the meticulous reconstruction of ancient techniques. This book empowers individuals to craft seiðr tools and master divination methods, offering a path to alter fate through accessible wisdom. It serves those called by ancient traditions who wish to dispel myths and embrace a powerful, practical approach to Norse shamanism without needing prior esoteric expertise.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

If you're drawn to Norse spirituality beyond runes, or seek a historically grounded shamanic path, this book is for you. It's ideal for practitioners ready to engage deeply with ancient trance work, spirit journeying, and the profound art of seiðr, offering accessible wisdom for all.

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

Kirkland offers a compelling reconstruction of seiðr, effectively bridging the gap between archaeological record and modern practice. The text is well-researched, drawing on sagas to provide authentic context for trance techniques and deity engagement. However, this book does not suit readers seeking purely academic historical analysis or those uninterested in active spiritual practice. It may also disappoint those looking for complex theoretical frameworks rather than practical application. The focus remains strictly on accessible methods for the modern practitioner. While the approach is inviting, it requires a willingness to engage with shamanic concepts that might feel unfamiliar to rune-focused witches. Overall, it is a solid introduction for those ready to dive into Norse spiritual journeying.

❓ Frequently asked questions

No, Dean Kirkland explicitly addresses this historical misconception. While often associated with female practitioners in some sagas, archaeological evidence and broader shamanic parallels suggest seiðr was accessible to anyone called to the practice, regardless of gender. This book opens the path to all sincere seekers.

While both are Norse magical practices, rune work typically involves interpreting symbolic characters for divination or charm casting. Seiðr, conversely, is a spirit-focused shamanic practice centered on trance induction, spirit journeying, direct interaction with deities, and altering reality through intentional will and spiritual connection.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Crafting Your Seiðr Journey

Beyond theory, the book provides hands-on guidance for engaging with seiðr. Discover how to prepare for spirit work, journey through the Nine Realms, and interact with various deities and spirits. Crucially, it instructs on creating and consecrating essential seiðr implements like the staff and hood, integrating them into your magical practice.

Divining and Shaping Destiny

While runes are familiar, seiðr offers unique methods for glimpsing and even influencing destiny. This work explores specific Norse divination techniques, protective chants, and practices aimed at altering the course of fate. It also covers profound healing modalities, including the powerful tradition of Norse soul retrieval, for holistic spiritual well-being.

📜 Historical context

Seiðr originates in the Viking Age, documented in sagas and archaeological finds, often misidentified as mere witchcraft. This book meticulously reconstructs it as a sophisticated shamanic tradition, drawing parallels with global indigenous practices. It positions Kirkland's work as a crucial bridge, bringing ancient Norse trance, divination, and healing techniques into contemporary practice with historical integrity.

📚 Glossary

Seiðr
Nine Realms
Seiðr Staff

📔 Questions to reflect on

What preconceived notions about Norse magic or shamanism do you bring to this practice, and how might they open or limit your exploration of seiðr?
Reflect on a time you felt a strong connection to nature or an altered state of consciousness. How might you intentionally cultivate such states for spiritual journeying?
Consider the concept of 'altering fate.' What personal or collective fate would you seek to influence through intentional spiritual work, and why?