#Norse name for the Merkabah

[volmarrsheathenism]

Merkabah Called the High Seat or Hlidskjalf, in the Norse Tradition

In the Norse pagan tradition, the Merkabah is often referred to as the “high seat” or “Hlidskjalf,” which is a term used to describe a throne or seat of power. This high seat is said to be a device or vehicle that can be used for spiritual ascension, time travel, and other mystical purposes. One of the most famous users of the high seat in Norse mythology is the god Odin, who is often depicted…

[hadit93]

I hope you are doing well.

I wanted to ask you if you've ever tried Shamanism (as an umbrella term). Are shamanism and Kabbalistic teachings related?

From what I've read so far, it seems like the new wave of Shamanism is rooted in the West and each culture had their own traditional shamanistic practices which might be quite different from the revived tradition.

Also, it would be great if you can suggest me some books to begin with. Thanks.

Shamanism as an umbrella term is a very broad term. I would argue the shaman lives in a world populated by spirits. Their magic is ecstatic and practical. Visionary yet rooted in the physical world around them also.

I think certain types of witchcraft are shamanic- sabbatic craft being a prime example. Travelling in the dream body to the witches sabbat is certainly related in my opinion to shamanic journeying. The use of herbal ointments and various other techniques to induce different states of consciousness is also tied in. Norse Seidr is also a form of shamanism, the swaying is trance inducing.

As for Kabbalah again I would say there is a connection particularly in the merkabah practice in which the heavens are explored astrally. There was a grimoire associated with this visionary practice and the spirits names and keys were listed. However the name escapes me. Rising on the planes in western magick based on the tree of life is derived from the merkabah mystics.

There is also the assertion made by Aaron Leitch in his “Secrets of the Magical Grimoires” that early grimoires are shamanic in nature often utilising sacred plants. He draws various similarities in that book that are compelling.

Really shamanism as a specific path doesn’t exist. Like I say I believe the main feature is ecstatic union with the spirit world, an emphasis on practical magic, and functioning as a spiritual explorer and healer- an intermediary between humans and spirit. This takes many forms in magical traditions.

I can’t recommend any books I’m afraid for general shamanism. The only one that comes to mind is the one by Christopher Penczak. However I’ve never read it in full and can’t remember it.

I’m of the opinion that all valid magical traditions have shamanic aspects about them. Without a spiritual connection and ecstatic union there isn’t much magick. In my humble opinion. For the Thelemite this takes the form of the unfolding union with the Holy Guardian Angel.

As I have said many times I don’t believe magick is for everyone. I believe those selected by the spirits are modern day shamans irrespective of the outer form their craft takes. There are people that are ‘spirit touched’ all that differs is how they interact with that portion of reality.

[eirikrjs]

Random tidbits, volume 3 (下)

[Linked the first part of these the other day and realized I didn’t respond to the second. Anyway, gonna rate your fanfic. In italics.]  _________________________________________________________

The next two questions are more on the opinion/headcanon front. Or we can be honest and call this a “Rate this fanfiction premise” section.

3. Would the following narrative help justify Odin’s role in SMT4A?

Before events of SMT4 Maitreya approached Odin with an invitation to join Divine Powers and a plan to recreate the world. Odin refused. He saw that world was close to ending and for him it meant Ragnarok, something that he was prepared to meet with spear in hand even knowing that it would be his end. His brothers Vili and Ve didn’t share his outlook. In Maitreya’s suggestion they saw an opportunity to guide humans of the new world to re-conceptualize the Norse pantheon as truly immortal. They already once ruled in Odin’s absence. They could do so again, but for that Odin had to be absent. They lured him somewhere Heimdal wouldn’t spot them, “shattered” his identity, by separating his “thought” from his “memory”. Whether it was a part of the process or just to help with the disguise, each brother took one of Odin’s raven’s and assumed his identity. One set course back to Asgard to convince other Aesir to join, the other went to Maitreya to try and patch things up.

While they were occupied with that. Odin’s absence was noticed in Asgard. Nobody was really worried since everybody knew how Odin liked his excursions to Midgard, but Thor, ever the brash and impulsive one, headed out to look for him. A bit later, “Odin”-1 (disguised Vili or Ve, doesn’t matter which) returns and announces that they are joining the Divine Powers, but with the gossip of how categorically the Allfather refused Maitreya’s offer, everyone was a bit confused and suspicious of this sudden turnabout. As wise as Odin was, and as capricious as he could be, he usually wasn’t one to suddenly change his decision. Tension was rising. Aesir were getting more and more uneasy, “Odin”-1 was getting more and more forceful in his orders. Eventually it escalated to a civil war. Most Aesir vs. whatever would there be that is blindly loyal to Odin, no matter what (maybe Einherjar).

So that’s the setup. Thor finds Odin, organizes a couple of spectacular fights for him to witness that would bridge his “thought” and “memory”. Odin remembers everything, promises Flynn and the two other involved Hunters a place at Valhalla (completely sincerely), and departs for Asgard with Thor. “Odin”-2 starts acting more openly, now that Thor and Odin left Tokyo, SMT4A happens. Meanwhile, Odin and Thor reach Asgard and start dealing with “Odin”-1.

This whole story was born from two things: your article on SMT4A Odin, and (to me) baffling shortage of Norse bosses in SMT4A. If Odin from SMT4 is the same as the one in SMT4A, then Thor’s absence is glaring and confusing. Something must be off (assuming it isn’t the writing).

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This is probably WAY too complicated a (sub) scenario for SMT. One unspoken hallmark of SMT that the new games continue is that everything is seen from the protagonist’s perspective. So, you’d have to contrive a way for the protag to witness all the Asgard drama–which wouldn’t have much impact if they were told and not shown. But I do like expanding on the SMT4 Odin sidequest that’s more Norse than 4A, as you say. It’s a decent starting point for something like this.

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4. If I remember correctly, you were not fond of the justification for going after YHVH in SMT4A and of the idea that Zurvan is behind events of SMT:if… What if we combined the two scenarios?

YHVH being mostly his Judaic version works towards an apocalyptic scenario, in our hypothetical case, one that involves the end of the concept of time (I think it’s the one described in Zohar, correct me if I’m wrong). Zurvan, embodying among other things infinite time (his name with epithet Zurvan Akarana apparently means exactly that, ‘infinite time’) is not down for this direct existential threat to himself and so tries to make/find/empower a champion/Messiah/Godslayer/protagonist who (if player chooses this path) would side with Zurvan and slay YHVH… and whoever protects him… and Lucifer for thoroughness. After that we have two options.

Option 1: Zurvan takes YHVH’s place and Ahura Mazda assumes the role of Law’s top enforcer (basically takes over Merkabah/Metatron/Michael/Satan depending on the scenario).

Option 2: Ahura Mazda takes over YHVH, Zurvan returns to his preferred state of simply being a dispassionate embodiment of all space, time, matter and energy, doing sweet FA.

In both cases, Angra Mainyu takes charge of forces of Chaos.

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I’m in favor of any alternate Law gods. Zurvan, Melek Taus, even the tin can I just crushed (it was made… according to a plan) would probably be more interesting than YHVH and co. again.

In fact, don’t make it YHVH vs. Zurvan. It’ll be more interesting if it’s just Zurvan, Ahura Mazda, and Angra Mainyu. The time conflict is good, though. But like Judaism, Zoroastrianism does have a definite end of time, at least in terrestrial terms. I think Zurvan’s description of “infinite time” describes the god and not the timeline of history; the Kabbalah describes Yahweh similarly, as infinite in all things until the tzimtzum (contraction of his existence that allowed the lower existences to… exist).

So give Zurvan the Ein Sof role and Ahura Mazda as the more “comprehensible” Yahweh. Their time vs. practically anything poly as most have cyclical time. Does this improve 4A? Not sure about that but your idea is nonetheless an interesting thing to build off of!