The Havamal teaches us that Odin discovered the
runes as a form of communication and divinatory wisdom by suffering
the ordeal of hanging from Yggdrasil, the World Tree. Odin crossed
the boundry between the nine worlds to gain this knowledge. Perhaps
you, too, feel the need to undergo an ordeal experience (crossing
the axis mundi) in order to have shamanic wisdom revealed to you.
Those
that choose the path of Odin's Ordeal will be cloistered together,
respecting the way of the Norse by living by some of
their rules and traditions. There will be Blots in honor of the
Gods, and Sumbels in honor of your fellow men and women. You
will learn the way of the runes, the practice of the Holmgang,
and other
bits of recreated Norse life.
Piercing, energy pulls, and suspension
are all a possible part of this experience, but they are not
the only way through which you may face your ordeal. There will
be
piercing, and there will be blood. (And there will be saftey
talks and procedures!) You will also be called to help serve
as Guardian
for others during their ordeal. This is not a track for the
timid, for the meek, or for those under 21 years of age.
Presenters: This track
is being presented by the Sacred Mark Sanctuary, a body spirituality
group highly experienced in body modification rituals.
Sacred Mark Sanctuary promotes and explores the interconnectedness
between body and spirit. Presenting for SMS: -Captain Gordon
Staub
is a professional tattooist, body piercer, and overall
body modification
artist with over 14 years experience concentrating on a
spiritual focus. -Abraham walks the path of healer as a ritual
body
mod artist, percussionist, tantric shaman, Reiki master and teacher.
-Del,
as well as being a priestess and ordeal master for SMS,
studies with and serves as Gythia for the Blank Rune, an Asatru
discussion/ritual
group in Gaithersburg, MD.
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