Seiðr & Spæ
Seiðr & Spæ are two types of magic (if you can call it that) found within the practice of heathenry. These two arts are mentioned in the Edda, and many of the Seiðr & Spæ practitioners provide extensive historical research about these two paths.
From what we can gather, from the workers and their web sites it is a type of oracle divination, similar to what oracles practice. It connects the reader to another world and returns prophecy from that place to this one. The worker experiences visions and interprets them for those seeking this kind of divination. It seems similar to shamanic work combined with ‘mediumship’ and trancework. It revolves around a reader (mostly women from what we can gather) “sitting” on a platform or in the center of a circle and going into a type of trance. Finding out exactly what Seiðr & Spæ are, is somewhat difficult. If you have time to do the research, you should…it is quite interesting to read.
From the sounds of it, it requires an extensive amount of training and does require some ‘accruements’ to practice. In one discussion with a Seiðr practitioner, we did discover that it is similar to practices of path-walking or dream walking in which one can talk to, even interact with other beings including the gods.
Kenaz Kindred did interview at least two of the foremost Seiðr workers (Diana L. Paxson & Yngona Desmond) in our newsletter The Ravens Cackle , in these interviews they do share at least some basic information for those interested in beginning the long process of understanding and learning this particular kind of divination. I will be posting an archive of all the interviews we did as soon as I can.
Personally, I am not even going to attempt to write anything in reference to these practices, as I cannot even begin to figure them out. The descriptions are vague at best, and the details are sketchy and vary from writer to writer. I would not suggest anyone just attempting these arts…they obviously require a great amount of skill and knowledge that seems to be kept by those who practice it.
In its descriptions, they sound very similar to “medium” work or “shaman” work in which people transcend or contact the other worlds for advice.
I would suggest in order to do adequate justice to these arts that you visit the web sites below for more information:
http://www.seidh.org/articles/seidh.html
http://noctilucae.com/janfries/#
http://www.freyja.org/seidr.htm
http://www.vinlandsvolva.com/seidr.html
