Saturday, April 30, 2011

Spirit Guide or Fylgia Meditation

Contacting your Spirit Guide


Some describe a fylgja as a supernatural being or creature which accompanies a person in connection to their fate or fortune. Others contend that the fylgia is a part of your overall being, yet is semi–independent.

Fylgjur (plural), usually appear in the form of an animal and commonly appears during sleep, but the sagas relate that they could appear while a person is awake as well, and that seeing one's fylgja is an omen of one's impending death. However, when fylgjur appear in the form of women, they are then supposedly guardian spirits for people or clans.

In his books “ His Dark Materials” Philip Pullman draws on this theme, and applies a daemon to each person, which is described as an integral part of the persons soul, but takes the form of an independent, or perhaps interdependent,  animal.
 


 
- his first book was also made in to a Movie - the Golden Compass


My Stáv instructor Graham Butcher introduced me to a meditation technique to contact my Fylgia. He guided us through the meditation, which is an ideal way to try this, but if you are doing this solo, here is a transcript of a similar session you can use for reference.

The text below is a transcript of a recorded guided meditation conducted by Philip Brough. I would suggest you record this, either yourself, or have someone do it for you. Then play it back to guide you in the meditation. I used this technique and it was very effective.

Fylgia meditation - Philip Brough


“You are in a comfortable familiar room. The room is warm and comfortable. The carpet on the floor is warm and soft to the touch. There is a fire in the middle of the room on a raised hearth. There is a small fire burning on the hearth, you feel the warmth on your face. On the fire there is a small grill and also a stove. You look around the room and return to the hearth. You see on the hearth a jug with a drink. Next to the jug there are vessels. You pick one up and feel the weight of the vessel and the texture against your skin. You fill the vessel from the jug and then look down at the drink. You see the reflection in the surface of the liquid. You bring the vessel up to your lips to drink, still watching the reflections, you see your own eyes in the surface as you begin to drink.

When you have drunk, you replace the vessel by the hearth and look again around the room. As you look around again you notice the details of the room. There are doors on each wall. They are old doors, well used and solid. There are carvings around the edge of the door and a raised panel in the middle of each door. You turn to the North and focus on one of the four doors on that wall. You look at the panel and see the Rune carved on it. You focus on that rune, chanting it over and over in your mind

You continue to look at the door and slowly start walking towards it. As you approach, the door slowly opens. You still focus on the rune and watch it . You stoop as you slowly pass through the door all the time focusing on the rune, chanting the sound of it, over and over in your mind.

When you pass through the door, you see the land before you. You travel through the land seeing all around you. You go deeper and deeper into the world, moving closer to a meeting place deep in the heart of the land. You look around you and see all the colors of the land and you stop and listen for a moment and hear the sounds of the land. You move on again moving deeper into this land, continue your journey, proceed until you find a safe place.

Once you’re there, stop, take a moment to feel the place, you become aware of a presence, turn around and look.”

{…breath and meditate on your Fylgia for 5 minutes…….}

“You now feel that it is time to return. You bid farewell to the creature and beings you have met, and you make your way back through the land to the doorway. You still take in your surroundings, the smells, the sounds, the colors. As you approach the doorway, you stoop again to pass through it. When you are back in the room you turn around to watch it close behind you.

You once again look around the comfortable familiar room, and when you are ready you open your eyes.”


Click the Otter (my Fylgia)  to download or play the MP3 file narrated by Phil Brough.









Thursday, April 28, 2011

Quotes from Freya Aswynn's Review of my book..

Freya Aswynn (world famous author on runes) is about half way through my book, and is writing the review as she goes. She shared some material with me this morning, and I wanted to share it with you. I've pulled out snippets, as the review is lengthy. I feel like a kid at Yule!

Overall:

"This book is the single most comprehensive guide to manifold branches of the Northern Tradition." - Freya Aswynn

Chapter 1:

"The first thing which strikes me about this book, is the writing style, easy and unpretentious, simple and straight. No waffle anywhere. The first chapter is written with a enthusiasm for the subject radiating off every page. I especially noticed that it would be very very suitable for kids. Especially young boys who can identify with ‘Viking’ and Anglo/Saxon Warrior culture. It should be introduced at schools. " - Freya Aswynn

On my Herb Lore Chapter:

"The Next section of the book is occupied with healing herb lore derived from original source material. Wonderfully balanced and backed up by comparisons with other healing traditions. Recipes of herbs and remedies for a variety of conditions are detailed described from traditional lore but also it's chemical compositions. A sound reference for home made remedies for small ailments. A viking first aid kit:-)" - Freya Aswynn


Anyway, needless to say I'm pretty thrilled, Freya has been an inspiration to me for many years, and to get such praise from her is a dream come true.

This will be great for the back cover of my next edition :)