First Oracular Seidh - Dress Rehearsal
[was Seidhjallr]
Not yesterday, but last Monday, I went up in the chair as a sort of dress-rehearsal for the next day's Oracular Seidh.
I should have written this down much sooner, but I've been busy and overwhelmed.
DLP gave me a choice of two scarves for my own veil, and I chose the one that was green with silver (the other choice being black with rainbow, very pretty, but not very me).
I was nervous as all... um, well, Hel, but Friday had gone reasonably well, and I've been through performance anxiety before, so I wasn't terribly worried.
LWood lead the journey. It was a little too fast for me, because my nervousness had me visualizing just a tad slower than perhaps I can usually, but it generally all worked out well. She is very good at falling into rapport with me, and correctly sensed my needs once we got down into Helheim.
The front hall is much the same as it was on Friday. The arches directly to the left and right of me are somewhat brighter than the others, and the brazier in the middle of the room holds a bright fire that lights the room to it's edges, though in greys, not golds as before.
My first question is from DW, who asks me about two choices. Nothing immediately presents itself, so I ponder how to find an answer. Two choices, eh? Well, there are two brighter arches here... what if I choose the right one?
A small path through a very bright green wood opens into a small clearing with a pedestal in the middle that holds water. I am reminded very much of the ace of pentacles in my chatty Tarot deck. Behind this stands a man who smiles. I know the water is healthy to drink for the querant. I ask the man if the querant's choice was right. He laughs and says of course it was. The real question is WHY did he make that choice.
I don't remember which of these next two questions are first:
A said he had two birds, one in the hand, and one in the bush - which is better? Immediately I see a man with one hand behind his back, holding a terrified bird. His other hand is held palm up in front of his chest, and the illusion of a standing bird hovers just above his skin. At first I see no other bird, despite looking for a bush. A askes for clarification, as to which bird will land first, perhaps misunderstanding my description of a bird that hovers above the hand.
Now I see a bird calmly perched in a bush, going about it's business in it's natural competent fashion, and tell him that the illusory bird and the terrified real bird held by the man are neither worth more than this calm creature.
DtS asked after a friend who may or may not need her help. I pictured a man standing, facing a brick wall with two sides of brick wall close to him on the left and right, yet open, glowing space behind him. He stubbornly faces the brick wall despite being able to go nowhere. I am immediately reminded of a cat in an "Elizabethan" collar who, unlike must cats, tries to move *forward* to get out of it. Why the broken instinct?
She asks where she is in this picture, and I see that she is on the other side of this brick wall, the point of focus he moves towards and cannot reach. She does not appear to be trapped, however.
The last question was Nithogg asking after meeting up with a new otherworld contact. The image was taken from an illustration from a story in MZB Fantasy magazine called "Going There". A glowing woman sitting on a rectangular pedestal looking startled, who grows frightened when she sees Nithogg approaching with such fervor. I advise him to approach more carefully, calmly, so that he will not overwhelm her so. I do not specify a gender, because I don't get the clear impression that the image of a woman was chosen for his sake, but rather because the image of the mood happened to be that of a woman.
Returning was not terribly difficult, but grounding out took a bit of effort.
If I was surprised at anything, it was how easy this is.
--Ember--
Not yesterday, but last Monday, I went up in the chair as a sort of dress-rehearsal for the next day's Oracular Seidh.
I should have written this down much sooner, but I've been busy and overwhelmed.
DLP gave me a choice of two scarves for my own veil, and I chose the one that was green with silver (the other choice being black with rainbow, very pretty, but not very me).
I was nervous as all... um, well, Hel, but Friday had gone reasonably well, and I've been through performance anxiety before, so I wasn't terribly worried.
LWood lead the journey. It was a little too fast for me, because my nervousness had me visualizing just a tad slower than perhaps I can usually, but it generally all worked out well. She is very good at falling into rapport with me, and correctly sensed my needs once we got down into Helheim.
The front hall is much the same as it was on Friday. The arches directly to the left and right of me are somewhat brighter than the others, and the brazier in the middle of the room holds a bright fire that lights the room to it's edges, though in greys, not golds as before.
My first question is from DW, who asks me about two choices. Nothing immediately presents itself, so I ponder how to find an answer. Two choices, eh? Well, there are two brighter arches here... what if I choose the right one?
A small path through a very bright green wood opens into a small clearing with a pedestal in the middle that holds water. I am reminded very much of the ace of pentacles in my chatty Tarot deck. Behind this stands a man who smiles. I know the water is healthy to drink for the querant. I ask the man if the querant's choice was right. He laughs and says of course it was. The real question is WHY did he make that choice.
I don't remember which of these next two questions are first:
A said he had two birds, one in the hand, and one in the bush - which is better? Immediately I see a man with one hand behind his back, holding a terrified bird. His other hand is held palm up in front of his chest, and the illusion of a standing bird hovers just above his skin. At first I see no other bird, despite looking for a bush. A askes for clarification, as to which bird will land first, perhaps misunderstanding my description of a bird that hovers above the hand.
Now I see a bird calmly perched in a bush, going about it's business in it's natural competent fashion, and tell him that the illusory bird and the terrified real bird held by the man are neither worth more than this calm creature.
DtS asked after a friend who may or may not need her help. I pictured a man standing, facing a brick wall with two sides of brick wall close to him on the left and right, yet open, glowing space behind him. He stubbornly faces the brick wall despite being able to go nowhere. I am immediately reminded of a cat in an "Elizabethan" collar who, unlike must cats, tries to move *forward* to get out of it. Why the broken instinct?
She asks where she is in this picture, and I see that she is on the other side of this brick wall, the point of focus he moves towards and cannot reach. She does not appear to be trapped, however.
The last question was Nithogg asking after meeting up with a new otherworld contact. The image was taken from an illustration from a story in MZB Fantasy magazine called "Going There". A glowing woman sitting on a rectangular pedestal looking startled, who grows frightened when she sees Nithogg approaching with such fervor. I advise him to approach more carefully, calmly, so that he will not overwhelm her so. I do not specify a gender, because I don't get the clear impression that the image of a woman was chosen for his sake, but rather because the image of the mood happened to be that of a woman.
Returning was not terribly difficult, but grounding out took a bit of effort.
If I was surprised at anything, it was how easy this is.
--Ember--