Hásæti

After nearly two years of working together as a group, though with many personnel changes, the seiðr group sponsored by Iðhavelli Hof now has a name--well, a working title. The Old Norse word for "high seat" gave some the impression that it focuses the group's intent solely on spá, the oracular side of seiðr craft. But, by the end of last night's meeting, the group had agreed that Hásæti was something to work with, and if anything, it put a spotlight on our origin. We began as an oracular group, and we still perform spá rites in our community (14 November is our next public ritual) more than we work seiðr. Seiðr was the topic of the previous meeting, which I missed due to migraine, and evidence of seiðr craft was shared from the Eddas and sagas. I'm excited to work on this, the 'practical' magic of seiðr, and galdr. Vidholf commented that we do not yet possess the skills to chant, sing, speak spells off the cuff, and that it is something little practiced as it is, and should be, driven by need. And so, we as members have been charged with bringing our need for seiðr to the group, that we might have a little practice.

I'm eager to work galdr with the group. It's something I do for myself to great effect, but I have been to self-conscious to experiment with it during spá, with the exception of our last working session. I am keeping an open mind to working it spontaneously, during public ritual as well as in our working meetings. I've always had a bit of stage fright, and the only way for me to get around it is to power through. When I was performing secular music, each and every time I would get on stage, I felt like I was going to get sick, everything in my body told me to run away, and fast. But I would open my mouth, and after the reassurance of three steady notes, I would be okay. I'll never be one of those dynamic stage performers, not in the realm of secular music. But I think I could be comfortable enough to do this within ritual, after a fashion.

So, hail Hásæti! Hail our Hof! May we continue to grow and aid our community, with the blessings of the gods.