Uncle Thor's Magazine Online

Almost 25 years ago, I received a unique invitation. Several acquaintances made me an offer. They would teach me the basics of occultism It would be done so as to get me using my talents “in the right direction.” Initiation into their group was not an option. They only offered that to members of a very specific European ethnic group. The reason for the gift was that these people saw talent and did not want to see it wasted. In return, I taught them what I knew of the Runes.

Back then, I had not settled on any one path. I had the Runes and German magick, and used it. However, I was looking into everything. Call it something of a magickal candy store. I learned where it was offered, and took instruction from those who were obviously the real thing. During those years I studied Hermetics, Wicca, Metaphysics, and other things. The Runes, German magick and my connection to Thor were my “fall back position.” They were my “base” and my refuge in times of trouble.

The lessons were interesting and I enjoyed them. The material was basic, for the most part. My friends explained that with a good foundation in the basics, everything else would come of itself. Where had I heard that before? The best teachers I met said something along the same lines.

Here is an example. When I studied metaphysics, the organization offered classes. One set of these lessons could lead to the title of “practitioner.” I decided to take a few of the lessons. Frankly, it was boring . The teacher opened the textbook and pretty much did a line by line analysis of it. Another word for it is exegesis.

While going to one of the classes, I was stopped by one of the best teachers they had. She told me that going to the classes was not going to do anything for me. She suggested I take the basic principles and study and practice them until I could use them. Her advice was that if I focused on a few principles and worked at them, I would eventually be able to make them work for me. That was much better, she said, than going to a lot of classes just to get a title. As she said, “All they do is learn about it. What good is a title if they cannot do it? If you follow my advice, you will be ahead of all of them. You will able to do it.”

Study and practice basic principles. It worked. It always works if you apply yourself to mastering the basics.

Most good magickal instruction is but the learning of one version of the art. Each system has its own methods and tools and lexicon. The trick to looking at them is not to add the one upon another, but to seek the correspondences between them. In other words, translate one to its equivalent in another.

For my purposes, I have found the Norse and German method the most practical. Hermetics is fraught with man-made complexities and doctrinal differences. Metaphyiscs has a few good techniques, but limits itself. Its best tool is its ability to explain magickal things in plain English. As a religion, Wicca fits many people. For magick, it has an unfortunate tendency toward superstition. Celtic traditions are circular in motion, with a tendency to waste energy. Norse and German traditions are direct and tend to be linear. Nothing is wasted.

Several bouts with severely bad times and dire circumstances gave me adequate opportunity to put my instruction to the test. The stuff that worked best under adverse conditions was Norse / German. Spoken spells, knot spells, Runes and a few other tricks. Just do not forget to check in with the Gods. Thor will protect you, Odin will guide you,Freyja will love you and Frigga will comfort you. Njord listens, Heimdall wards, Tyr prepares for battle and for court. Aegir and Ran inspire mysterious artful talents. Call on them and you will never starve. If you are in a pinch and do not know which to call, just call whichever one comes to mind. For a brother or sister, any Ase or Vane will help when called.

Though I no longer work with other traditions, except that when invited I will join Wiccan friends in their circle, I do not discard the baby with the bath water. They all had something to teach me.

Two things do not impress me: the eclectic approach to magick and the purist approach. I do not believe in smorgasbord magick, but I also do not believe in ignoring things that work just to follow one system. A frequent observation is that those who play a “pick and choose” spirituality never get past the surface. Somewhere a person has to make a stand, even if temporarily, and follow one system beyond the superficial.

The purist approach is equally flawed, especially in the Norse / German tradition. There is so much we do not know. I remember a fellow complaining that the Elements were not in the old lore. There were a lot of things that were not recorded in the old lore, or were omitted in parts of it.. The fact that the Elements exist in every other Indo-European tradition and that they fit seamlessly with the Runes and other Norse / German lore is a clue. Much of the symbolism based on four is related to the Elements, such as the four dwarves of the Brisingamen story.

Here is an outside inclusion for you: The Thor’s Hammer ritual. It is not in the old lore. The Thor’s Hammer rite is an adaptation of the Pagan “calling of the quarters”, which is used when hallowing a circle. The Pagan rite is very similar to the Pentagram ritual of Golden Dawn Ceremonial Magick. Despite any claims to antiquity, the Hammer rite is obviously of mroe recent origin. Nobody complains that it is not “old lore.” They are content that it works well.

We can use things from other schools if they work for us. That does not mean we are bringing it into the Norse / German Tradition. It just means that it is something that works and is going to be used.

For instance, the Tarot is a popular thing. I learned its use years ago and I enjoy using it. The Tarot is NOT of Scandinavian, German, Austrian, Dutch, or English origin. The Tarot is NOT Germanic. Its symbolism is a bizarre mix of unusual characters and pre-Christian Mediterranean themes. In many decks, the symbols have been rendered to fit Christian society.

Tarot does not equate seamlessly with the Runes. Some cards equate with some Runes better than others, but there is never more than a 65% fit. Tarot cards may equate with two or more Runes, and a Rune may connect with one or more cards. I have found it fun to speculate, but a waste of time to actually mix the two. Tarot is Tarot and Runes are Runes. Use one or the other. You cannot use them both together.

I use Tarot on its own merits, as its own system. The Tarot method of divination is practical and useful. Besides, I like the different decks with their various artistic renderings of the themes and images. Using Tarot does not make me any less Heathen.

A thing that disturbs me is people think that knowing one tradition is like knowing all of them. They try to make a “one size fits all” spirituality. A recent case had a fellow who knew Santeria thinking he could also discourse on the Nordic Gods. It is not that easy! Knowing one is not knowing the other. Archetypes have their part, but the other differences are far from subtle. Different traditions are distinct in many, many ways. Pick one and make it your home base.

My first instruction in German tradition was the Runes and a few spells. The Gods were treated more like household spirits. I could probably have recorded all the technical parts of it in a single monograph. Like many of these old things, it was vestigial. I doubt Willi knew the importance of all of it. The main thing was not what was taught, but how it was taught. For instance, I think the idea of experiencing the Runes via their worldly manifestations was brilliant.

I knew that what I had was the core of something larger. Understanding it would come years later. One of the core events that led to understanding was the series of troubles that erupted in my life during the 1980s. With everything in short supply and having to face it all alone, the only recourse was magick. Actually using these skills in serious situations was a great teacher. Without that crucible in which to “proof” things, nothing would have happened. No books, no classes, no Trollwise Press.

Experience with other types of esoteric study helped fill in some of the blanks. Take spoken spells. High magick explains some of the use of words, but Metaphysics had done a credible job of dissecting the inner processes. I found that the technology of German and Norse spoken spells was similar to the principles, if not the actual outworking, of Metaphysics. The older German spells had the advantage of being more natural to human nature, whereas Metaphysics required training and was somewhat forced.

Ritual needed the most work. I knew from experiences with Ceremonial Magick and Wicca how a good rite should feel. As with all things Norse / German, it had to be kept simple and direct. The goal was to develop rites for the household, perhaps one to ten people. The little bit of household worship I had learned from Willi gave me a core. It was little more than an invocation and lighting a candle, but it was a start.

Much of the work was in expanding understanding of the Runes, Gods, and underlying principles. That required a greater shift to the Nordic side of things where I was always most comfortable. Perhaps it was ancestry, or maybe something else, but I was always more comfortable with the Norse names and lore. From there it was easy to observe and let it show me, rather than me trying to force it. Force only pushes it away. I had to ease into it. Ease draws it to you. That is the secret.

Again, it was that time of trouble that led to my greatest lessons and gave me the place to test it. Test? At the time I was not concerned with testing. I needed it to work for me. That is one heck of a way to learn what works and what does not.

When I wrote the first Trollwise books and The Road to Bifrost, I had no contact with other modern Heathen groups or individuals. All I knew were Pagans. I wrote the books and adapted the materials with Pagans sin mind. A few things were done to make it easier for Pagans to learn,. Rather than teach something entirely different from their experience, I built on things they would already have known. I handled teaching ritual that way, for instance. It is easier to teach people by using their own experience.

Magick and all is very nice, but the important thing is making it relevant to the people of this day. Our challenge is to take this and apply it to the needs and concerns of our time. Therein lies my present work.

We are once again able to print our master text. These are the six volumes of our first and greatest work, The Road to Bifrost. It was written in 1990as a record of our experiences and insights into magick and Norse Tradition. Each volume contains valuable information and proven techniques. The Road to Bifrost is a treasure trove of magickal information that takes the reader from beginner to advanced. To celebrate the return of these titles to print, we are offering The Road to Bifrost for the lowest price in twelve years!

Vol II: Mind and the Magickal Universe: The development of the magician and understanding of the mind from an esoteric viewpoint:

Vol III: Runes and Holy Signs: The Runes, their interpretations and uses. Also covers many Northern sigils and symbols.

Vol IV The Bifrost Spellcaster An encyclopedia of Northern European spellcraft for the Heathen magician

Vol V: The Mysteries On Bifrost's Path: The Gods, Jotuns, mythic characters and mystery content of Norse / Germanic lore deciphered and explained.

Vol VI: In Bifrost's Gate: The inner side of Heathen magickal and mystical study.Includes advanced Rune codes, ethical guidelines and other materials.

Individually, volumes sell for $27 to $30 apiece. Our usual package deal offers three volumes for $65, or all six for $130. (Prices include postage for the US only.) For a limited time, I am going to make you an even better offer.

For a limited time, get all six volumes for only $105 (for US addresses). The price includes shipping to anywhere in the U.S.A. Save $25 off the previous package price. (If you buy each volume individually, you would pay$155.)

The Road to Bifrost is a special order item. We print each copy as it is ordered. Your individually printed copy of this six volume master work usually ships within a week of placing your order. On rare occasion it might take a few days longer. Road to Bifrost orders are printed in the order in which we receive them.

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