Seidr Norse Shamanism with Imelda Almqvist

April 4-7, 2024

Thursday-Sunday

Join UK international author and teacher, Imelda Almqvist, for Seiðr/Fornsed & Norse Shamanism. This 4-day introduction course covers a large field of spiritual and mystical traditions where we will explore the indigenous ancestral pathways and spiritual wisdom teachings of Northern Europe. See about Imelda: www.shaman-healer-painter.com

 This course offers a foundation in the sacred arts of the Volva and Rune Magician (we study and practice oracular work and we make our own set of runes; we learn how to perform divination work for others and ourselves). This material is taught in traditional ways, closely following both the ancient texts (meaning the Poetic Edda, Prose Edda and sagas) and the old Scandinavian traditions and folklore. Imelda teaches this course with an academic and linguistic underpinning: She is fluent in Swedish ( and also understands, and  does research in, Norwegian and Danish) and has a working knowledge of Old Norse. 

However, we can't all "become Vikings" and go live in Scandinavia! Therefore I marry scholarship to the principle of personal revelation. (Meaning that we study the old material very closely but we also invite the gods, goddesses and inhabitants of the Nine Worlds to communicate with us directly and tell us how they wish to work with us in the context of the 21st century!) 

We will explore the following things:

Yggdrasil and the Inhabitants of the Nine Worlds

We will be introduced to  Yggdrasil (the world tree that holds up the universe) and the inhabitants of all the Nine Worlds (gods, goddesses, Norns, Valkyries, dwarves, elves, giants etc.) and provide a map for exploring these worlds.

The Norse Sagas and Myths

We will explore Norse Creation Stories as well as the myths about the end of the world: Ragnarök or Ragnarøkkr (Old Norse; meaning Fate of the Gods or Twilight of the Gods).  The NornsWe will explore the workings of the Web of Wyrd and the role of the Norns in spinning the lines of destiny (even for the gods!) We will also look briefly at the concept of Changing the Weave, (this will be taken much further during advanced work in my 2 year program in Sweden) 

Carving or creating our own set of runes

We study the runes, following the Norse order and names (not the Anglo-Saxon system!) and carve (or create in another way) a personal set of runes for divination and magical work. We explore what it takes and what it means to work as a rune magician in the 21st century!TrolldomWe take a brief  look at spells and traditional magical workings 

Shapeshifting and Berserking

I introduce the principles underlying these phenomena as explained by "the anatomy of soul" viewed through the Old Norse lens 

Galdr

We will touch on the magical power of songs and speech and how they relate to the ancient art of poetry. 

Blót

We will perform an offering ceremony. Blogs are offering ceremonies to the gods, traditionally performed at particular times of the year (major festivals) but often also for personal or global reasons. 

The Norse Gods and Goddesses

 We look at the roles of the goði and.gyðja (priest and priestess). We meet the Norse gods and goddesses: their teachings, myths, energy and unique character traits.  

Human Roles

The roles of human beings in this cosmology: the Völva as the ‘Sibyll’, Prophetess. The Godhi and Gydja: the local spiritual leaders and spirit workers.  

The Concept of the Spiritual Warrior in Norse Lore

The principle of sacrifice made in return for spiritual gain. Examples are Odin's Eye and Tyr's arm or hand. 

Divination and Prophecy

We explore how Seiðr can be used for divination and oracular work. 

High Seat Ceremony

We will perform a High Seat ceremony. Some people may have experienced a High Seat Ceremony introduced by American teachers with different personal backgrounds and varying levels of scholarship (and mastering Scandinavian languages - or not, as may be). I wish to make it very clear upfront that the High Seat Ceremony we will perform is the traditional Scandinavian version as it has always been performed in local communities - not an Americanized  interpretation of the sagas.

Workshop Times:

9:00 Thursday to 4:00 Sunday

Workshop will go into the evening hours.

Fee: $750 Meals included.

Lodging Options

Camp $60

Shared Cabin Room $135

Single Private Cabin Room $255

Breakfast included.

Cabins have twin-beds with linen and towels provided. Cabin is heated & air conditioned and has electricity. Bathroom with shower a one-minute walk from cabin. 

About the Instructor

Imelda Almqvist is an international teacher of Sacred Art and Seidr/Norse shamanism (the ancestral wisdom teachings of Northern Europe). She has published two books: Natural Born Shamans: A Spiritual Toolkit for Life (Using shamanism creatively with young people of all ages) in 2016 and Sacred Art: A Hollow Bone for Spirit (Where Art Meets Shamanism) in 2019. She has presented her work on both The Shift Network and Sounds True. She appears in a TV program, titled Ice Age Shaman, made for the Smithsonian Museum, in the series Mystic Britain, talking about Neolithic arctic deer shamanism. Her third book, Medicine of the Imagination - Dwelling in possibility (an impassioned plea for fearless imagination)will be published by Moon Books in October She is currently working on her fourth book, about the pre-Christian spirituality of The Netherlands and Low Countries.

Author of NATURAL BORN SHAMANS:  A Spiritual Toolkit For Life(Using shamanism creatively with young people of all ages)

SACRED ART: A Hollow Bone for Spirit (Where Art Meets Shamanism)

MEDICINE OF THE IMAGINATION: Dwelling In Possibility

CANCELLATION AND PAYMENT POLICY

A $100 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your spot with the balance due 30-days prior to the event.  You can use the link in the invoice to make the payment or payments over the year.  

Refunds minus the $100 non-refundable deposit will be given until 30-days prior to workshop date. Refunds will not be given after that date. Exceptions are not made to this policy. No refunds are given for no-shows or non-completion of program. 

The minimum number of participants for this course is 15 people. We reserve the right to cancel the course if this number is not reached. If we cancel, all monies paid will be refunded. The maximum number of participants is 28.

October 10-13, 2024

Join UK international author and teacher, Imelda Almqvist, for Advanced Seiðr Norse Shamanism. This 4-day introduction course covers a large field of spiritual and mystical traditions where we will explore the indigenous ancestral pathways and spiritual wisdom teachings of Northern Europe. See about Imelda: www.shaman-healer-painter.com

The Norns, the Vitki and Changing the Weave! 

Module #2

In this advanced Norse module we will work with the Norns: Urðr, Skuld and Verðandi, individually and as a collective. We will have a close look at their names (often misunderstood and mistranslated). They are said to decide the fate of all beings (and not just human beings, also animals, land etc.) but how do they do that?

There are not only three Norns. We are all said to be assigned a personal norn at birth and during this course we will establish a relationship with our norn.

Odin hangs on Yggdrasil ( world tree of Norse cosmology) for nine days. The Norns then gift him the runes and the understanding of how to work with the runes. We will explore some more advanced (or complex) ways of working with the runes (the role of the Vitki or Rune Magician).

There is a concept called The Change of the Weave. What does it mean and what does it involve? Can Seiðr practitioners actively work with this and change the fate of other beings (for instance through doing powerful healing work)? Does doing this work have consequences for our own fate or destiny? What role do the Norns play in our work with clients? Where does human free will end and the Norns take over? What role do tricksters and the forces of chaos (conceptualized as “giants”) play in this process?

We will look at the concept of ørlǫg and “the threads of fate”. What is the difference between fate and destiny?

We will also look at the prophecies of the Vǫlva who speaks in the Vǫluspá and how they shape our current world or universe (and reality).

Register at: https://glh.as.me/advancednorse 

Pre-requisite: 

Must have completed the Seidr Norse Shamanism Introduction Course (which will run again at the Golden Light Healing Center from April. 4 – 7, 2024). Please bring your set of runes!

Workshop Times:

9:00 Thursday to 4:00 Sunday

Workshop will go into the evening hours.

Fee: $750 Meals included.

Lodging Options

Camp $60

Shared Cabin Room $135

Single Private Cabin Room $255

Breakfast included.

Cabins have twin-beds with linen and towels provided. Cabin is heated & air conditioned and has electricity. Bathroom with shower a one-minute walk from cabin. 

About the Instructor

Imelda Almqvist is an international teacher of Sacred Art and Seidr/Norse shamanism (the ancestral wisdom teachings of Northern Europe). She has published two books: Natural Born Shamans: A Spiritual Toolkit for Life (Using shamanism creatively with young people of all ages) in 2016 and Sacred Art: A Hollow Bone for Spirit (Where Art Meets Shamanism) in 2019. She has presented her work on both The Shift Network and Sounds True. She appears in a TV program, titled Ice Age Shaman, made for the Smithsonian Museum, in the series Mystic Britain, talking about Neolithic arctic deer shamanism. Her third book, Medicine of the Imagination - Dwelling in possibility (an impassioned plea for fearless imagination)will be published by Moon Books in October She is currently working on her fourth book, about the pre-Christian spirituality of The Netherlands and Low Countries.

Author of NATURAL BORN SHAMANS:  A Spiritual Toolkit For Life(Using shamanism creatively with young people of all ages)

SACRED ART: A Hollow Bone for Spirit (Where Art Meets Shamanism)

MEDICINE OF THE IMAGINATION: Dwelling In Possibility

CANCELLATION AND PAYMENT POLICY

A $100 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your spot with the balance due 30-days prior to the event.  You can use the link in the invoice to make the payment or payments over the year.  

Refunds minus the $100 non-refundable deposit will be given until 30-days prior to workshop date. Refunds will not be given after that date. Exceptions are not made to this policy. No refunds are given for no-shows or non-completion of program. 

The minimum number of participants for this course is 15 people. We reserve the right to cancel the course if this number is not reached. If we cancel, all monies paid will be refunded. The maximum number of participants is 28.