The meditative paradigms of the Seidr are highly beneficial spiritually, but also provide a great amount of wisdom in our ancient traditions for health and wholeness in many areas of life.
In Seidr No. 6, an entire village was suffering from a contagious outbreak of some kind, yet they all noticed the wise woman who worked with the Green World did not succumb like the rest of them. Usually we discuss these details as or within the meditative paradigm that can be seen at the bottom of this post, but I thought it would be helpful to share what we call The Five Purities as a list which can be practiced outside of the meditation itself.
I intend to hang these on my wall for the New Year and incorporate them better into my routines this year. I hope it is helpful to some of you as well!
Glad Jül and Happy New Year. Blessings for a fresh, bright new start around the Wheel!
Practice for Maintaining Health
from the Seidr, No. 6
The Five Purities:
1. Sunning: avoid looking directly at the Sun, as everyone knows is prudent, yet visualize the Golden Light of Baldur and Sunna (Spiritual and Physical aspects of the Sun’s energy and light) entering the internal organs for cleansing and strengthening. *May I emphasize- do NOT look directly at the Sun. This is an energetic practice of visualization :) *
2. Sitting in a natural body of cold running water, as a stream in the North would have been, allowing the element of the water and its therapeutic soundscape to purge one’s thoughts from the worries and cares of whatever is going on in life currently. Use this practice to empty and clear the mind.
3. Drink pure water, sourced directly from springs at the source in the Earth, before they’ve had a chance to flow farther downstream and become contaminated by runoff and other pollution. In our modern world, a simple observance of this could be to purchase a high-end water filter to eliminate the pharmaceuticals, fluoride, and chlorine, as well as pathogens that can still be found after leaving our water treatment facilities. Spring water can also be very good when sourced properly.
4. Fast, or refrain from eating (but continue drinking water) – only if medically appropriate to one’s personal state of health – for four days a month. *This was a customary practice in earlier times, and I reiterate I am sharing this as part of the ancient practice rather than health advice. It may not be suitable for every person and each should only perform this if it is medically permitted for said individual and it is in line with one's own personal health convictions and decisions*
5. Sit and do not think about anything, clearing the mind. Sit for the sake of sitting and relieving oneself from the constant act of doing. Whilst practicing this, allow the elements of nature – the wind in rushes, a rushing brook, leaves blowing, calling frogs – to sweep the system clear.
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Here is the original meditative paradigm itself:
Seidr, No. 6
An illness came and took the frail. Lady of small green things helped some, the vitki others. The lady who spun and wove, she never faltered, though it struck about her house. At her stoop she lay unrobed in Summer sweat. In the cold day, brisk drove the herd with only a shawl about. In Ostara's cold water was she seen by the men o'weirs.
They came to ask this weft-woman, why never afflicts you? And she told the five purities. I sweat Balder's gaze but may no return it – this be first. I lay in Sunna's smile and ask She probe my innards with light, the dark moon chase, this the second. I sit the cold fast water 'til it is faster than my thought and rumbles out cares for three. Drink I only from skins I fill at the high stony brooks and eat not the day, this every month for four. I sit and do not ponder, do not do. Once it be wind in rushes-they sweep me clean. Again a brook rushed past and next 'twas leaves before a storm. Last dusk it was a thousand calling frogs. Into the shadow I gaze, where none will look, or to tan grasses, wind-rustled, they sweep me clear. Or in the babble of brook the play of Sunna's greeting washes eyes as stone-speech cleanse the ear, and this be five.
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