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THE FUNDAMENTAL IMPORTANCE AND USE OF SEIDH by Graena Vanswynn, Assistant High Rede
In Nordic History there have been two kinds of magick practiced among the peoples of the Ancient North. One begin Galdr, the other being Seidh. Galdr develops one's will and self control of their conscience and environment, Galdr implements the usage of symbols for communication or divination; these symbols being Runes, staves, et cetera. Seidh, however, is about the loss of one's control of self, conscience, and environment; it is about the inhibited sumbersion of one's self into something outside the practicer's persona. Seidh has been called the Shamanism of the North. It was the Vanic Goddess Freya who first taught the art of Seidh to the Aes, specifically the Alfather Odhinn. Seidh is the original magickal art of the Wanes, thus Galdr is of the Ases. It is best advised that Vans practice and be well informed in the practices and methods of Seidh (I will discuss three in this series). Seidh was the magic of the common man, it was not perceptive only to specific classes, but rather to any and all willing to learn its ways. Seidh was practiced mostly by female practitioners, though there is no reason why males cannot practice it. In pagan times, specifically in the northern European countries, Seidh had the reputation of being "shameful" or "unmanly". Seidh was considered such because of its uncontrolled nature and lack of mind set; it was considered unmanly due to the practice of ergi. These slanders did not, however, decrease or have any impact on the use of Seidh among solitary practitioners or pagan groups. Once Christianity raped the lands of the Teutonic Peoples, the magick of Freya was especially singled out for the harshest punishment. This caused the loss of many traditions in the practice of Seidh. It is easy for one to draw connecting lines between Seidh and modern Wiccan practices. The theories and practices may be different, yet both in history have evolved the same, with the practitioner seeking magic from within to better his or her surroundings. Next month: Part 2 (one of the three methods of practicing Seidh)
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