Lewis Stead

The Ravenbook

(without a dissertation to

explain them fully, both words translate roughly to fate) can be

examined and to some extent tell us what is going to happen. On the

other hand, we do not believe in predestination. Future events are

shaped by our actions, and we can change them. If we change our

actions, we change the future. So the runes are not a perfect

prediction of what will occur because the future is in flux. They

are, however, an important tool for exactly the same reason.

The most common way to read the runes is to pull forth three runes

representing the past, present, and future. All of these are

important, because only in looking at the past and present can we

understand a prediction of what will occur in the future.

However, divination is but a small part of runic magic. The runes are

important and powerful symbols that represent the very forces that

hold the nine worlds together, and they make very powerful

meditational symbols.

The runes are also useful in active magic. The most common way to use

them in this manner is to carve a bind rune or a symbol made up of

more than one rune, all of which together are intended to produce an

effect. The most common of these would be a rune carved on a single

line with one rune pointing to the left and the other to the right.

However, the more complex a rune is, the more powerful it can become.

For more information on runes, consult the books recommended in the

appendix.

Another important type of magic is called seidhr, which seems to have

been a shamanic tradition within ancient Asatru. This type of magic

involves going into a trance, and journeying to the other worlds.

Here, one could journey to consult the spirits of nature, the Disir,

or the ancestors. Unfortunately little information is left to us

about seidhr. We know that Freya was a skilled practitioner and that

she taught it to Odin. It was considered to be a womans magic, and

Odin is taunted about it by Loki. Although today most persons

exploring seidhr are women, there is no such prejudice against men

interested in it.

In what records we do have, the trance of the seidhrwoman was created

through another person singing songs or chanting while the seidhrwoman

was elevated on a platform. We dont know much else about the

practice. However, around the world shamanic techniques are

remarkably similar, and the main difference seems to be the cultural

context, which provides a map to interpreting the otherworlds. The

best approach might to be explore some of the material on the general

phenonenon of shamanism, and then apply that to what little we do

know.

The third major type of magic found in modern Asatru is galdr or

chant magic. The simplest form of this is rune galdr or the simple

chanting and vibrating of the sounds of the runes in order to invoke

their powers.

RAVEN KINDRED CALENDAR

The Raven Kindred meets on the first weekend of each month and for the

four major Norse holidays: Summer and Winter Finding (Spring & Fall

Equinox), Summer Solstice, and Yule. Traditional festivals which have

been moved to fit our monthly schedule have their traditional date in

parenthesis. Festivals marked with a * are particular to the Raven

Kindred. There are other holidays which our kindred does not meet to

celebrate, but which are recognized by Asatru and celebrated on an

individual or family basis.

Snowmoon/January

1st weekend -- Frigs Distaff -- Celebration of Frigga and the home

(Trad.1/2)

Horning/February

1st weekend -- Disting -- Celebration of Freya and the Disir (Trad.

2/14 )

Lenting/March

1st weekend -- Founding of the World. Celebration of Odin, Vili, and

3/21 -- Summer Finding - Celebration of the Goddess Ostara. Also a

celebration of the Raven Kindreds founding, Spring Equinox 1991.

Ostara/April

1st weekend -- Alfarblot. Sacrifice to the elves and nature spirits

(traditionally celebrated as part of Disting)

Merry-Moon/May

1st weekend -- May Day/Walpurgis. Celebration of spring which we

dedicate to Njord and Nerthus. (Trad. 5/1)

Fallow/June

1st weekend -- Festival of Mead dedicated to Aegir and also to Bygvir

and Beyla*

3/21 Summer Solstice -- Dedicated to Sunna, Goddess of the Sun

Haymoon/July