The Norse Shaman: Ancient Spiritual Practices of the Northern Tradition

$13.26 $18.95
Write a review

An experiential guide to the wisdom preserved in Europe's far north

 

- Includes shamanic journeys to connect with deities and your ancestral shamans

 

- Provides step-by-step instructions to prepare for and conduct a seiðr ceremony

 

- Draws on archaeological evidence and surviving written records from Iceland

 

- Reveals the long tradition of female shamans in northern European shamanism

 

Shamanism is humanity's oldest spiritual tradition. In much of the Western world, the indigenous pre-Christian spiritual practices have been lost. Yet at the northern fringes of Europe, Christianity did not displace the original shamanic practices until the end of the Viking age. Remnants of Norse shamanic spirituality have survived in myths, folk traditions, and written records from Iceland, providing many clues about the ancient European shaman's world, especially when examined in conjunction with other shamanic cultures in northern Eurasia, such as the Sami and the tribes of Siberia.

 

Reconstructing the shamanic practices of the hunter-gatherers of Scandinavia, Evelyn Rysdyk explores the evolution of Norse shamanism from its earliest female roots to the pre-Christian Viking Age. She explains how to enter Yggdrasil, the World Tree, to travel to other realms and provides shamanic journeys to connect with the ancestral shamans of your family tree, including the Norse goddess Freyja, the very first shaman. She offers exercises to connect with the ancient goddesses of fate, the Norns, and introduces the overnight wilderness quest of útiseta for reconnecting with the powers of nature. She explains the key concepts of Ørlög and Wyrd--the two most powerful forces that shape human lives--and provides exercises for letting go of harmful behavior patterns and transforming simple knowledge into profound wisdom by connecting with Óðinn.

 

Thoroughly examining the shamanic rituals of seiðr, the oracular magic of the Nordic cultures, the author provides step-by-step instructions to prepare for and conduct a seiðr ceremony, including creating your own seiðr staff and hood, and explores the ancestral use of shamanic songs or varðlokur to accompany the ceremony. Woven throughout these exercises, Rysdyk provides archaeological evidence from Neolithic sites supporting the long tradition of venerating wise women, grandmothers, and mothers in ancient cultures and the important role of female shamans at the heart of northern European shamanism. Providing an accessible guide for anyone trying to fulfill their shamanic callings, these powerful rituals can provide personal healing and a clear path for finding our way into a harmonious relationship with the natural world.

Reviews:

" . . . brilliantly written, very well researched, and filled with fascinating historical stories and a wealth of exercises to help readers fully experience the powerful ancient shamanic practices of the Norse shamans. This book is superb!"-- "Sandra Ingerman, M.A., coauthor of Speaking with Nature and author of Walking in Light: The Everyday"


"An exceptional, authentic, and wonderfully informative exploration of the ancient ancestry, landscape, and mythology of Northern Europe and Norse shamanism--interspersed with accessible practical exercises reconstructing traditional practices of seiðr for contemporary personal use. One of the best books on this subject I have read. If you are looking for a book on Norse shamanism, this is it."-- "June Kent, editor and founder of Indie Shaman magazine"


"According to Norse mythology, whoever drinks from the Mead of Poetry will gain the abilities of a scholar-poet and be able to solve any riddle or problem presented to them. With this beautifully written and powerfully instructive book, Evelyn Rysdyk has popped the cork on this precious elixir and is offering us a taste of the wisdom to be found in the teachings of northern European shamanism."-- "Hillary S. Webb, author of Exploring Shamanism and Traveling between the Worlds: Conversations with"


"Wise woman Rysdyk opens the mysterious portals to the ancient ancestral female shamanic traditions of Scandinavia and invites us to connect with the spiritual power found therein. She is a knowledgeable, trustworthy, and generous guide."-- "Mama Donna Henes, urban shaman and author of Celestially Auspicious Occasions: Seasons, Cycles, and"


" The Norse Shaman skillfully weaves scholarly insight with an abundance of guided, hands-on experience. In an exceptionally clear and thorough voice, Evelyn Rysdyk inspires us to make the earth-honoring wisdom of the far north--and the magic of the distant past--come alive in our hearts, and in our world, today."-- "Llyn Roberts, coauthor of Speaking with Nature, recipient of the Nautilus Book Awards Gold Medal"


"Evelyn Rysdyk uses her shaman's discerning heart and wide-ranging intelligence to unearth precious, hard-won wisdom from our northernmost European ancestors, integrating it with the latest findings in anthropology, genetics, and the unsettling lessons of quantum physics to offer us exciting new ways to understand our humanity and place in the Universe. This is a book to change your life. Do the exercises and you'll never feel alone and helpless again."-- "Ellen Winner, author of World Shaman and Thoughts in the Mind of God"


"This book is a gem! Part historical review, part instruction manual, the author stokes the fires of her Norse heritage to warm the hearts and kindle the minds of her readers. Evelyn Rysdyk is a triple threat--a brilliant illustrator, a renowned shamanic healer and teacher, and a gifted writer at the height of her craft. A very satisfying read. Highly recommended."-- "Paul Bowersox coauthor of Seeing in the Dark"

"I love how this work blends the wisdom we find in mythology with the insights that modern technology, science, and new physics has given us. Evelyn is a shaman who embodies the knowledge and practice of Norse shamanism through ancestry, calling, profession, and daily life."-- "Colleen Deatsman, shamanic practitioner, author of The Hollow Bone, and coauthor of Seeing in the Da"


"Evelyn Rysdyk has written a very important book. For anyone longing to deepen their personal transformation, enhance their shamanic practice, help our modern society restore balance and harmony with nature and its inhabitants, and bring back the sacred feminine in all aspects of their lives, I recommend this book as an integral part of their toolbox."-- "Claude Poncelet, Ph.D., author of The Shaman Within"


"This fascinating book weaves together the history and evolution of shamanism in northern Europe with the impact of climate change and human migration at least 12,000 years ago. Rysdyk has generously illustrated aspects of shamanic life with her original pen and ink drawings. Materials and instructions for journeying are offered throughout the book. It is an essential read for anyone interested in shamanic traditions.-- "Jennifer Barker, author of The Goddess Within and Persephone Woman"


Author: Evelyn C Rysdyk

Publish Date: August 27, 2016

Binding: Paperback

Physical Info: 0.7" H x 8.9" L x 5.9" W (0.95 lbs) 272 pages

Author Bio: Evelyn C. Rysdyk is an internationally recognized shamanic healer, teacher, speaker, and author of Spirit Walking: A Course in Shamanic Power, Modern Shamanic Living, and A Spirit Walker's Guide to Shamanic Tools. She is a founding member of the Society for Shamanic Practitioners and a presenter for international events such as the Shamanism Global Summit and the Year of Ceremony. She enjoys living and working on the coast of Maine.

Flat rate shipping of $5 on all United States orders.

You can choose carrier-based shipping at checkout if you prefer. If you chose to pay for your own shipping you will calculate this at checkout. Shipping is calculated by the weight of your total order via standard shipping rates from our provided carriers.

Orders containing products we stock in-house (these are the majority of our products) will be pack and shipped on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Some products are printed at the time of order (mostly clothing and some home accessories) and have  3-10 business days processing time (may be longer around major holidays), while they are being made especially for you!

If your order is a combination of both custom and regularly stocked times, your order may ship in more than 1 package.

You will receive an email confirmation and tracking information when each part of your order ships.

We understand that shipping is very important to our customers, as it is to us anytime we are consumers. We strive to bring you the easiest, most cost-effective shipping possible. We also completely understand that sometimes shipping can be confusing, as such, if you have any questions feel free to contact us at support@seidora.com or on our Contact page.

At this time we are only shipping to the US. We hope to be shipping outside of the US very soon, so keep checking back!

We are currently using USPS and UPS as our shipping carriers. If there is one you would prefer us to add please contact us at support@seidora.com and we will do our best to accommodate you.

If you require a faster form of shipping than the ones supplied to you via our Shipping Estimator, please contact us by adding a note into your cart, or at support@seidora.com with your order number, and we will generate a shipping quote for you.

After placing your order you can track your shipment from our Tracking Page via the footer menu or your Account Page. You will also be emailed updates on your shipping progress as they happen as well as a tracking number.

Please Note: Seidora is not responsible for lost or stolen packages once the shipment has been delivered. At that point (when the carrier's tracking states the package has been delivered), there is little to nothing we can do on our end. It is suggested that you contact your local police department if you suspect theft or your local post office if you suspect the package was delivered to the wrong address.

Ethical sourcing is extremely important to us, and we want to remain as transparent as we can to how we source our products.

Animal Remains:

The majority of our animal products come from trusted US or Canadian based taxidermists who source their products from ranches, farms, as byproducts from other industries (where the remains would otherwise be discarded), and from their own private taxidermist businesses.

We do, however, carry a few products, from time-to-time, that are imported from overseas. We use a trusted importer that has been in business since the 1970s.

Seidora honors every animal, or insect (even the botanicals for that matter), product we carry by treating them with the utmost care and respect the entire time they are with us. We feel good about the fact that instead of these pieces being discarded, they can now go to a good home, where they will be cherished.

The hard truth about ethical sourcing is that there are no official standards, certifications, or laws in place to help verify the validity of ethical sourcing claims. As hard as we try to make sure that the businesses we work with are indeed ethical, we can not guarantee, beyond a doubt, that everything we have purchased was ethically sourced. This is why we do not use the words "ethically sourced" on our site.

If you have any questions or would like more information, feel free to contact us at support@seidora.com.

Most of our Wardrobe and some of our Hearth items are made especially for you after placing your order. These products can take anywhere from 2-6 business days off peak and 9-12 business days on peak. Peak times center around holidays but can vary. Please allow enough time for production and shipping when ordering these products.

  • Valentines Day - February 14th

  • St Patrick's Day - March 17th

  • Easter - End of March

  • Mother's Day - May around the 3rd weekend

  • Father's Day -  June around the 3rd weekend

  • 4th of July - July 4th

  • Back to School -College Sports August thru middle of September

  • Halloween - October 31st

  • Thanksgiving - November 25th

  • Yule/Christmas/New Years  December 25th & January 1st

You may also like

Recently viewed