I seem to get asked the questions, “Don’t you need to be a Pagan to be a Norse Shaman?” or “Do you follow the Viking Religion and Odin as your God?” to even…“How can you claim to be a shaman if you’re not Native American?”
What most don’t understand is that Shamanism is one of the oldest professions dating back to the earliest of times. Historical records have been found and documented by archaeologists that date back to 27,000 years ago showing Shamans and Shamanism being practiced all over the world by multiple cultures.
When I began stepping into and learning to accept my gifts, I was lead to learn more about what society labels the Norse/Germanic Shaman, or Völva, and those that practice the Ancient form of Seiðr. While reading and attending workshops and seminars, I learned that this was practiced mostly by women in the Norse culture for the welfare of the entire community, for healing, divination, and aid in decision making when it came to land for dwelling or hunting. Like most shamans around the world, they would undergo a ritual of death and rebirth, to gain their powers. This could be done physically or while in a meditative trance-like state. This was said to allow them to come back with a new body, fit to the future tasks of the shaman while working in the world of spirits.
Looking at my own life, I began to realize why I was led to learn these practices. It was only after a slew of hardships and adversities that led me to be on my knees with a gun pointed at my head by a man who loved me and wanted to be with me, that I understood why I had to endure each hardship and life lesson. I had to face the moment of “death” and appreciate “rebirth” into the spiritual world. Now, I am able to share healing messages with all beings.
With all of that said…and to get back to those original questions, while yes, a lot of research connects Seiðr with the Viking Age and Odin, I have taken into consideration that this is so much older than the Vikings. I have been led by my Spiritual Team, to see behind any label of religion or culture, to the source of the Divine, the Spirits, and the Power of Nature. For my Spiritual Team and I, we use the word “Shaman and Völva” as a way to show our respect and honor one’s ability at connecting to the power of the Divine to facilitate and bring messages of healing to the world.
I found meditation and, sitting in silence, I began to find myself. Through my meditation, I began to feel all of the things that made me originally question my “faith” in the first place. Such as…why, when I step on the ground with bare feet, do I feel the pulse from the Earth run through me? Why, when I look into an animal’s eyes, no matter the animal, does it seem they have a message for me?
