This is my anecdotal experience with perceiving the realites of the studies in soul lore that I will give full credit in the recommended reading list that follows. First I want to give my interpretation of the Primary Source study that enacted my new direction. Since I don't know the Icelandic or Old Norse language yet, this is not a translation. It is an interpretation based upon the best translations of others who know more.

Here I give my interpretation through study.

This return to runes and lore will take different directions in the booklets and life experiences that result. Ideally the life experiences and booklets will be congruent and consistant in victory. One direction is the expression of the Runatal Thattr Odhinns section of the Havamal that will look at the 18 Charms and give a divination method. Another direction is in allowing the doctoral thesis of Stephen E. Flowers to teach me to understand through semiotics the complex soul lore that addresses the theme of a more comprehensive understanding of the human, Divine, and trans-human presence of Souls in a more dynamic way.

It has been awhile since I left the last post with an intention to make Germanic concepts more real in my life. I immediatly opened the Lee M. Hollander translation of the "Poetic Edda" to the Havamal stanza that begins the 'Runatalsthattr Odhins' verses of the Havamal. It seemed that something was telling me to begin again with operant knowledge of runes. I had 25 years of experience and knowledge with Futhark runes with what I had learned from the best teachers like Stephen E. Flowers. Yet it seemed it was time to begin again and get new understanding. In front of me on the bookshelf was Stephen E. Flowers doctoral thesis, "Runes and Magic : Magical Formulaic Elements in the Older Runic Tradition". It seems it is time to learn a more valid semiotic contact with the ways of my ancestors.
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Here is the interpretation I use of Havamal stanzas 138 - 142 that signaled the direction given to me. I call this an 'interpretation' rather than a 'translation' since I don't know Icelandic. I'm using the Edred Thorsson, Lee M. Hollander and Carolyne Larrington translation as the basis.

138

"I know that I hung + + + + + on a wind swept Tree
All of nights nine,
wounded by the gar + + + + + given to Odin,
self given to Greater Self,
On that Tree, + + + + + of which no one knows
from what roots it rises."

139

"They delt me no bread + + + + + nor drinking horn;
I looked down
I took up the runes, + + + + + roaring I took them,
and returned again from there."

140

"From the son of Bolthor, + + + + + Bestla's father,
I mastered nine mighty songs,
And a drink I had + + + + + of the dearest mead,
gotten from Odhroerir."

141

"Then I began to grow + + + + + and gain insight,
to gain in wisdom :
one verse led on + + + + + to another verse,
one poem led on + + + + + to another poem."

142

"Runes wilt thou find + + + + + and rightly read,
of wondrous weight,
of mighty magic,
which carved the great God,
which made the holy hosts,
and were carved by Odin"

Those are the stanzas of the Havamal that led to my renewal of a more thorough study of rune lore and a greater contact with the influence of the Mysteries. I will present some of the relevent concepts that meet the theme of this message in gaining integral authenticity in esoteric ways for living well.

An expanded perception and authentic representation of our soul-lore was the subject of the previous blog entry. I presented the conceptual poverty of the standard way society presents the ego/non-ego notion. Then I went forth to enact a more comrehensive way of living our better understanding.

Immediately I opened the Lee M. Hollander translation of "The Poetic Edda" to the page with the 'Runatalsthattr Odhins' section of the Havamal. This was a random opening of the book. Normally, I don't have much regard for my connection to 'bibliomancy' yet this time something seemed to guide my actions. I'll give my interpretation of the lore later. For now I want to present the anecdotal evidence of our more comprehensive soul lore. It seems that my actions are guided by my Self to again "take up the runes" and advance toward a more profitable life. I resumed my studies in earnest and felt a sense of direction.

Soon I had a dream where I was surrounded by people with empty, lifeless qualities. They had abondoned their 'egos' and were living in a zombie state while they awaited instruction from the forces that encouraged their empty state. It was most horrifying to me when I met my uncle who has always had an adventurous, fun, and prosperous attitude toward life. He is accomplished in many fields of prosperity. In this dream he no longer had any ambition or interest in anything other than the instruction to arrive from the forces of non-ego. I determined to beat the swamis of emptyness that were going to guide them to a low life state. I wanted to bring them back to themselves. I spoke forcefully to the empty people in my dream and most especially to my uncle. What followed was a perceptual and visual presentation of the richness of Spirit that was available to them.

I told them that their ego self was a central means of connecting the orbit of their many aspects of Soul Spirit. I pointed above them to the 'Wode' that is their own supernatural power of inspiration and enthused direction. Then I pointed to the image and presence of their 'Wode Self' which they can use as an intermediary to contact and enact the power of the Wode. While they stood in awe of what they were seeing I showed them the 'dyrfylgja' as an animal spirit guide that they each have. I was started to advance toward showing them the images of the 'Mannsfylgja' which is an opposite sex aspect of themselves in the numinous which acts as a guide and can even cause events. This is much like Carl Jung's description of this dimension of our souls. Then I saw that they should comprehend what they had seen first. Then I awoke from my dream with a sense that my mission had advanced beyond mere theory.

My next blog entry will explain more about the lore in literature that leads to our return to our legacy and destiny of power.