Sacred Shadows & Spirit Work
Dark moon seiðr readings + this week's powerful rune messages + are you seeing synchronicities?
Hej all!
Welcome to this week’s newsletter, for the week of Oct 24. As we approach what some celebrate as Samhain and those of Norse following may celebrate as Vetrnætr, the veil (and the moon!) grows thin. This week's energies call us to examine what we're ready to release while honoring our connections to ancestors and working with wights. Pour yourself some mead (or tea!), settle in, and let's explore the week ahead.
Weekly Affirmation
I stand rooted like Yggdrasil, drawing strength from my ancestors. Through me flows the wisdom of those who came before, guiding my steps forward.
🌗 Current Moon Phase 🌗
Today marks the Last Quarter Moon phase. You can use this time as a chance to release, reflect, and prepare for new beginnings. As the moon wanes it encourages us to pause and evaluate the progress we have made since the Full Moon. Take a moment to consider what has served you well and what you need to release to make space for future growth.
As we move through this phase, here are some questions to reflect or journal on. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section, let’s give that area some attention and make new friends.
What lessons have I learned in the past week?
What am I ready to release to allow for new growth?
Where do I want new growth to happen?
🌑 The Lunar Look Ahead 🌑
Looking ahead to next Thursday, October 31, 2024, we'll be in the very deep end of the waxing moon, getting a dark moon right before the new moon the following week. The dark moon is coinciding beautifully with the thinning veil and Samhain or norse Vetrnætr celebrations! As we head into the dark moon it's the perfect time to connect or honor ancestors, connect with your local land spirits, or do deep shadow work.
🕯️Special Announcement: 🕯️
Traditional Oracular Seiðr
As we approach the dark moon, I'll be offering readings through traditional Old Norse practices of seiðr and shamanic trance work. Using these ancient techniques passed down through generations of völur (seers), I seek answers with the guidance of spirits and gods. For those unfamiliar with this practice, this is best described as an altered state between worlds, where I interact with, and receive messages from the spirit world or deities.
One free question per person. If you need a followup question, we can discuss a fee.
Important Notes:
I cannot guarantee a specific answer or that spirits/gods will choose to respond. Sometimes they feel mortal questions are beneath them. Sometimes they take delight in entertaining any and all questions.
If they do respond, the answer may not be what you expect or want to hear. I try my best to provide the answers directly as given me to avoid any misinterpretation.
The spirits who aid this work are direct and often brutally honest - they don’t have the same understanding of human sensitivities.
Before Sending Your Question:
Please note that you will need to make a small spiritual offering around the time I do the reading (dark moon) - the time doesn’t need to be exact just within those days of the dark moon.
Some examples you can offer:
A portion of mead, wine, or milk poured onto the earth
Fresh bread left at a crossroads
Honey dripped onto your ancestor altar (please use a plate or something!)
Dried herbs burned as incense
When you send your question, include what offering you will make - this helps create a stronger connection between you, the spirits, and the work we'll do together.
Sessions will be conducted during the dark moon phase (November 1st-2nd). Expect responses within 3-5 days.
Weekly Reading: Runes
As we head into the deep part of Autumn - let's use the runes to reflect on specific insights we may need as we approach the season of ancestors.
First Rune - Ehwaz ᛖ (Upright)
This rune, with the original meaning of “horse” gallops into our reading, bringing a positive message of steady progress and partnership. Ehwaz reminds us that movement and change are constants in our journey - (possibly a hard lesson for us Tauruses and other stubborn signs).
Have you been feeling an instinctive need to move forward lately, like you’re supposed to be getting somewhere or doing something specific? The runes are telling me that there may be other powers in place, and that persistent nudge you're experiencing isn't just coincidence – it's a call to blend with the natural flow of transformation around you this season. This may be a time when embracing partnerships (either within the mortal or spiritual realm) is beneficial.
Second Position - Dagaz ᛞ (Upright)
Dagaz, is the rune of breakthroughs and enlightenment. This week it is shining its message on us. Are any patterns in your suddenly becoming clearer? This rune suggests we're entering a period of clarity and transformation (there is that transformation message again). Any moments of insight over the next week, especially during twilight hours, can have significance. Dagaz reminds us that even in darkness, light is never far away. Watch for sudden revelations, particularly around the weekend.
Third Position - Algiz ᛉ (Reversed)
The protective rune Algiz appears reversed. When this happens it is calling us to examine where we might be overprotecting ourselves. Are you perhaps holding too tightly to old habits or feelings of safety that no longer serve you? This position is a gentle suggestion that perhaps it's time to carefully lower some of our defensive walls, and allow genuine connection and growth. While protection is important, too much can block our path forward.
Weekly Guidance
Some advice I am getting from these runes is:
Creating sacred space for daily reflection, especially during dawn and dusk
Opening yourself to new partnerships or deepening existing ones
Practicing discernment about which boundaries to maintain and which to release
Watch for these synchronicities:
Repeated sightings of horses or horse imagery
Moments of sudden clarity, especially around dawn
Protective symbols appearing in unexpected places
This Week’s Ritual Suggestion
Create an ancestral connection ritual by placing a white candle in your northern window (or area of your home) each evening. As you light it, trace the Ehwaz rune in the air and speak aloud one partnership you're grateful for. This simple practice will help align you with the week's energies and strengthen your connections, both seen and unseen.
Focus Areas
Relationships: Open yourself to deeper trust and authentic connection
Personal Growth: Embrace sudden insights and breakthrough moments
Protection: Examine which boundaries serve and which limit you
Spiritual Practice: Connect with ancestral wisdom through simple daily rituals
💎 Crystal of the Week: Black Obsidian
With the veil thinning and spirits drawing near, Black Obsidian feels like the perfect ally for this intense week. I've worked with this stone during countless ancestral connections, and its protective energy never disappoints.
What This Stone Does
Think of Black Obsidian as your spiritual bodyguard - it keeps the unwanted energies at bay while helping you see through any spiritual fog. Perfect for those deep dives into ancestor work, especially when the veil is this thin.
Working With It
Pop it on your altar when you're doing any spirit work - it helps keep the energy clean and clear. I keep mine by my bed during heavy dreamwork seasons like this. Fair warning though - this stone won't sugarcoat anything!
🌳Wellness Practice: Forest Bathing
You know those moments when the spirit work gets intense and you need to ground yourself? Here's my go-to practice for staying anchored during heavy ancestral work.
Find yourself a patch of forest or even just a tree-lined street if its easiest. Imagine that your feet are sinking into the earth with each step, like you're trying to leave footprints in soft moss. Listen for the rustle of leaves, feel the autumn breeze on your skin. Smell the crisp air around you. Stay out there until your mind settles - for me, that's usually about 15 minutes, but trust your gut on this one.
Until next week!
Remember to leave out some mead for the wights, keep that Black Obsidian close during your spirit work, and trust those gut feelings - especially during twilight hours….And hey, if you're doing any rune work this week, drop me a line. I'd love to hear what messages you're receiving!
And please spread the magic! Not only is it nice to me 😊 you can also earn cool things by referring this to others