So a lot happened along this 9 day devotional with the Goddess Hel. Some is private, some is for those who will be in the upcoming Seidr/ Death Doula Course, but some I can share…
Meditation through Chanted Prayer
I come across people all the time that have difficulty or just flat out can not meditate in the way meditation is generally presented. They can not quite their mind, concentrating solely on the present without getting distracted. Guided meditation may help, but it also locks them into a specific journey someone else created. I was one of those people, so I had to find a different way.
The thing that has helped me, and many others, is a form of meditative chant using the premise of Mala beads. This is a string of 108 beads or knots and one master bead/knot. I generally suggest starting out with a string and knot style, like the red one in the picture above. It allows you to experiment and get the hang of it without any real cost financially. – I’m a frugal witch so those things are always a consideration for me.
The Master Bead/ Knot is for a prayer. Setting the intention or goal of this session. When I started out on the 9 days with Hel I had a basic format for my prayer. It is one I have used in various format before.
Goddess Hel, I ask that you walk with me…
(state the purpose of the walk/ journey : what I wanted to accomplish or have Her show me)
To walk with you means to have faith,
Faith requires sacrifice,
Sacrifice does not exist without Love.
For the 108 beads I had a specific chant based on the Bind symbol She created for Herself. I will not go into the meaning of it or the rhythm behind how to vocalize (Galdr) it, that is held for those in the course, but I will show you the phonetics of it: Hĭn BĭG Y ah
The Witch Works with Eyes Closed
Throughout the process of the chanting, my eyes are closed and I am moving my fingers across each knot/bead – One chant to one bead.
With this, you are freeing your mind from counting or being distracted by trying to keep track of how many you have done. You are also training your body to be distracted. Giving it a job to focus on that is repetitive and becomes a muscle memory.
As you chant – focus on the chant, its rhythm and tone, coming from your lips. Feeling the breath and vibration throughout the chest, throat, and to the lips. This is creating a focus and distraction for the conscious mind. Through that process you are freeing the soul and subconscious to connect and do higher work purposefully.
“A Witch Works with Her Eyes Closed” Our eyes, visual sight, is a distraction. I find it is best, especially in the beginning, to do this work with your eyes closed or a cover/hood over them.
Trance and Spirit Walking
Those who have difficulty meditating in the way that is commonly taught, often struggle with channeling – trance – and Spirit Walking (astral travel). I believe everyone has the potential to do these things, they just need to find the right technique for them.
Through the base mala technique above, you are training and developing that skill within yourself. After awhile, you will not need these tools to enter that state, you can just consciously choose to. Your body, mind, and soul already know what to do.
Although others may have a different perspective, for me – trance, channeling, and spirit walking all start with the same core skill. What differentiates them is what you do within it and the control you master with it. These are some high overview of each.
Are you bringing in spirits/messages while staying firmly placed in your body? – Channeling. Your spirit is not traveling outside the body, you are bringing one to you. It is more like getting downloads from your Guides/ Divine/ spirits or them speaking through you. Messages, visions, and so forth.
Are you slightly separated from your body but still connected (half in half out)? – Trance. This allows for an even deeper immersion than channeling in my opinion. You are in the space of spirit yet not traveling away from the body. You are participating with the soul in spirit form, allowing for different experiences and activities but not leaving the space of the body. With practice you can use magic in this state (and the traveling state), creating changes within the energy and tapestry of things, that in turn alter the physical state.
Spirit Walking or as some may call it – astral travel, is your spirit going forth to other places. To see, experience, and explore this realm or others. You can not only learn about other places/ times but see, experience, and interact with them.
The Last Day
On the last day of the 9 days, Hel gave me a new prayer.
I was doing a card channeling with Her as I have done every morning during this. Allowing Her to tell me whatever She wanted, and asking “what question I am not asking?” – Side Note here: If you channel in any form, but especially with some type of tool like tarot/Oracle, I would suggest giving this a try. It is really interesting sometimes, what our Guides have to say, because it is usually something not even on our minds – but needs to be.
So on the last day, when I asked what I was not asking – She gave me a new prayer. I am going to show the cards that were drawn below so you can get an idea of what that looks like. Remember, the cards give a focus and show inspirations, but Hel had Her order and words too.
Now I will share the prayer. Again, I will share the words, but the deeper meanings behind them and the directions within each line are not for public consumption. This doesn’t mean you can not use it and have your own understandings of it, just that the original has its own.
In the solitude I hear You
You Awaken my spirit and walk me into the Unknown
Watching, Protecting, Guiding me
As I forge – learn – and grow
We celebrate together
Our Bonds – Our Love – and in Faith it shows
Together – we are Home.
Personal Experiences
I didn’t know where this was going to go or why I was so drawn to do it. I had ideas – an intention – but it went much deeper than I anticipated. This doesn’t surprise me anymore. It is why I leave so much room for my Guide to take me wherever They want to go – because Their plans are usually bigger than mine – bigger picture.
Throughout the process aspects of the Seidr/ Death Doula course kept coming up. Some expansions and things She wanted to add to already existing pieces. Although the contents are a culmination of a lifetime of works, This is Hel’s domain. She wanted some new rituals and prayers for the work, some expanded knowledge to be included, and so forth. She also has a deeper plan for some afterwards – one that I had not anticipated but am really interested to see how it takes shape.
Mirrors were coming up shortly before the journey, but Hel went deeper into that. I have used mirrors in different ways in my practice, but what She wants to teach me now is a different lesson/ ability when it comes to mirrors and time. I’ll talk about it more as I dive deeper myself. I am intrigued though…
Much of our conversations and spirit walking did not lead to “new revelations” but just a strengthening of our bond. Listening, recapping old knowledge, and sharing stories. Almost like catching up with an old friend. Since Hel is taking the primary role on this new evolution of my path, it feels right that we took this time to get into that head-space and shift some perspectives.
Take a Journey
Whether it is a new Guide/ Deity or an old one, taking a 9 days devotional journey with Them can always be a fun adventure. Sometimes we may not know where we need to go – yet They do. Sometimes we just want to deepen that connection and Bond, showing gratitude for it – and They reciprocate during it. Sometimes They are shifting Their place within our practices and lives, and it helps to make the process more seamless.
In the end it really is just a celebration – a celebration of our Unity together. Showing up for it and being present within it.
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