Don’t look back thinking there is a key to unlock the future. You have the key! It is the fire in your spirit, and it was there the whole time. Don’t fear it. You have come too far and overcome far worse. Rise above your fears and you are halfway there. Fear does not prevent pain; it serves to oppress and suppress the very spirit you yearn for. Freedom awaits! Put that pen to paper and write the future you imagined that you wished for and dreamed of. It is said there is a special kind of magic in ink and paper, and I concur!
There is an inn, a merry old inn beneath an old grey hill, And there they brew a beer so brown That the Man in the Moon himself came down one night to drink his fill.
The ostler has a tipsy cat that plays a five-stringed fiddle; And up and down he saws his bow Now squeaking high, now purring low, now sawing in the middle.
The landlord keeps a little dog that is mighty fond of jokes; When there’s good cheer among the guests, He cocks an ear at all the jests and laughs until he chokes.
They also keep a hornéd cow as proud as any queen; But music turns her head like ale, And makes her wave her tufted tail and dance upon the green.
And O! the rows of silver dishes and the store of silver spoons! For Sunday there’s a special pair, And these they polish up with care on Saturday afternoons.
The Man in the Moon was drinking deep, and the cat began to wail; A dish and a spoon on the table danced, The cow in the garden madly pranced and the little dog chased his tail.
The Man in the Moon took another mug, and then rolled beneath his chair; And there he dozed and dreamed of ale, Till in the sky the stars were pale, and dawn was in the air.
Then the ostler said to his tipsy cat: ‘The white horses of the Moon, They neigh and champ their silver bits; But their master’s been and drowned his wits, and the Sun’ll be rising soon!’
So the cat on the fiddle played hey-diddle-diddle, a jig that would wake the dead: He squeaked and sawed and quickened the tune, While the landlord shook the Man in the Moon: ‘It’s after three!’ he said.
They rolled the Man slowly up the hill and bundled him into the Moon, While his horses galloped up in rear, And the cow came capering like a deer, and a dish ran up with the spoon.
Now quicker the fiddle went deedle-dum-diddle; the dog began to roar, The cow and the horses stood on their heads; The guests all bounded from their beds and danced upon the floor.
With a ping and a pang the fiddle-strings broke! the cow jumped over the Moon, And the little dog laughed to see such fun, And the Saturday dish went off at a run with the silver Sunday spoon.
The round Moon rolled behind the hill, as the Sun raised up her head. She* hardly believed her fiery eyes; For though it was day, to her surprise they all went back to bed!
As time moves on and seasons change we are reminded of the precious nature of life itself. In protecting our spirit, soul and being, we protect the world around us. Protect what you love, Protect what you admire, Protect the unseen, Protect all that is known. Embrace that inner strength, Rise above the chaos of the mind, Rise above the troubles that cloud the view, Rise above the ego that shackles the spirit, Protect – the soul, the spirit, the mind, and essence of life itself. 𝓢𝓳𝓕 September, 2022
Lend me your primal strength and the wisdom of your glowing eyes
Teach me to stand in defense of those I love
Show me the hidden paths and the moonlit fields
Fierce spirit, walk with me in solitude
Howl with me in joy
Guard me as I move through this world
Indebted I shall be.
Garm now howls loud before Looming-cave, the bond will break, and the ravenous one run; much lore she knows, I see further ahead, of the powers’ fate, implacable, of the victory-gods.
Norse-Germanic-Icelandic heathenry is huge! There is no one dogma that is correct or right.
Susie j Folmer 2020
There are no cheat sheets, handy guides, nor easy paths, and I assure you no “bible” type of book to turn to. The Edda’s and old writings give us insights into traditions through stories, belief systems, and oral history and lore that has travelled from generation to generation. A person’s life is determined by fate, established, and tended by the norns at birth and throughout life, and each person is responsible for our own actions and the way in which their wyrd is weaved.
“Dogma: a fixed, especially religious, belief or set of beliefs that people are expected to accept without any doubts”
(Cambridge University Press 2020)
We come from far away to come together as that is the way, and long was. With us we bring our narratives, our own mind’s eye, our own way we lead a life we can be proud of and with that our own life experiences. My experience is going to be unique to me and yours to you. The things that may connect, unify, and bind us. We have a pantheon of gods, goddesses, deities, and entities we look to, learn from, and have faith in. They represent the world, nature, and life in all its forms from love to hate, compassion to deceit and everything in between.
This culture embraces nature, spirituality, lore, myths, and tales; valuing kith and kin, grith and frith. Honour guides us in all things. Some say they “cringe” when we use the word spirituality in describing these ways, and that puzzles me as I do not think there was one linear worldview in the old days. Rather, it was a cyclical life with no beginning and no ending. People’s perceptions were unique to them, their kindred, community and these varied from place to place. Shifting, growing, integrating, adapting, and changing with time.
Everything in nature repeats itself
The moral element meant honour was everything and it was honourable to be magnanimous, witty, wise, kind, resourceful, gentle, faithful, beautiful, healthy, strong, skillful, and brave. Spirituality is found in courage, willpower, inspiration, strength, perseverance, loyalty, kindness, and lore as these are cultural traditions, as are life, death, afterlife, and rebirth. People in times of past core spiritual understanding of the world was centered around the notion of the continuation of life after each death, just as in nature as we are a part of it, not an imposition on it. The cyclical nature of human life connected to nature, and nature providing life sustaining gifts.
For example, it is each person’s choice what symbols they choose to adorn the home and self with and why. A deep understanding of those chosen is integral to the connection to one’s soul. In honouring the self, we are honouring the ancestors and pantheon. There is no regimented way or style, it is free flowing and from my heart. Spirituality is complex to define, and some people resort to a narrow, simplistic notion of it to dismiss it. We cannot constrain it nor dictate it; it has no dogma. To constrain the creative spiritual nature would be to confine and reduce this free-flowing culture, which has existed for thousands of years across time and place.
My loyal guardian here on earth, Saw me in my full armour. She took me by the hand, And spoke to me the truth ‘You’ve been fighting the entire time that I have known you – Your warrior must now rest. She has much work ahead, Many choices to be made. Make them with your clarity, But only after rest.’ ‘I shall not leave your side, I will carry what I can.’ Eyes now locked she heard me, My silent cry for help. Again, she gently told me ‘Your warrior must now rest, Feel no fear – you’ve faced far worse This time will make more sense, I swear to you it shall.’ Into the cold dark night she departed, Her silver glow surrounding her. The warrior must now rest, For there are things to come I know, That will be my greatest test.
Insight relies on mindset and a balanced perspective. It can be healthy to take time and ask ourselves: What are the major aspects that need to be in my sight and most important of my attention? What is the minor stuff that is clouding my insight?
Life’s journey requires insight into life and all of its intricacies. It shows us what is treasured and valued. Human understanding needs insight to fully understand and appreciate the spiritual world. Being in touch with one’s spiritual self gives greater insight into the complexity of life. In Aristotle’s construct, physical insight is natural, but ethical insight is learned.
Insight can be a miracle of perception; it can be a goal which helps us to continue exploring life and personal fulfilment of which one can aspire. Insight assists to develop a perspective of awareness. Herodotus said, “The worst pain a man can suffer: to have insight into much and power over nothing”. Insight therefore requires a certain level of power, more so empowerment, so that the goal of ultimate peace of mind can be attained.
Insight is something regarded in spiritual circles as a gift. With all that we understand about insight, this gift is therefore in reach of all people should they choose to navigate these waters. Some may be raised in a way that makes insight an easily reached goal, while others may not. Some may be born naturally with the gifts that enable insight to come with ease. With life’s ebbs and flows no matter how we have developed or are developing our insight, it will wane at times in life, and return if we want it to, in order to show us new perspectives. The epiphones that come into life are burgeoning insights.
“May you have the hindsight to know where you have been, the foresight to know where you are going, and the insight to know when you have gone too far.”
We are cradled in water while our life begins. We are born when that water is ready to realease us and begin the life we are given. We are water personified – we rely on water to survive. We ride the waves of life’s events and the ebbs and flows that come and go. Water is essential. Water is nurturing, yet it is dangerous, and it is life itself. We cannot embrace water without a vessel to hold it. We are the vessel that needs to be embraced, nurtured and respected.
Spiritual, Creative & Academic Writing & Arts by Susie j 