Superstitious or not - you can decide for yourself - in Scandinavian tradition you are not to keep or bring anything related to healing or magic into a room where somebody - cats and goldfish included - are sleeping. Sleepers are extremely vulnerable to the powers that such things hold, since they are halfway - but normally not consciously - in that state (or realm, if you like) where "magic happens". So, it is definitely regarded as unsafe. I suppose risking the wellbeing of other beings also could be called rude? The object could also be at risk, since we (and maybe also the sleeper herself) have no way to know what the sleeper is up to in that state.
I'm familiar with a few Scandinavian traditions - not exhaustively, but a few; and I am unfamiliar with this injunction. I can understand the "liminality as vulnerable" argument. However, the notion that one can only do healing or magic on a person who is conscious is a crawsticker for me. How do you heal if you must interrupt the process every time they sleep?
What then of the crosses, hammers and vulknots that festoon the walls of bedrooms, heathen and otherwise? For that matter, what of the myriad altars that people have in their bedrooms? I really think this should be addressed by ASKING your Deities. After all, despite our expertise in OUR traditions, we are just a random bunch of voices on the Internet. Go right to the top - and then LISTEN TO WHAT THEY SAY!
My Gyden's say go for it - but why should you listen to me? No reason at all.
...one can only do healing or magic on a person who is conscious...That is a completely different matter, the person isn't asleep, but you still bring only that which is required for the work you have to do
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...one can only do healing or magic on a person who is conscious... That is a completely different matter, the person isn't asleep, but you still bring only that which is required for the work you have to do. So by this reading, unconsciousness is not a liminal state? I would disagree, but it IS your tradition. It still requires you remove your gear every time they take a nap.
While it is true that hammers and valknots are found within åsatru and neo-heathenry also in Scandinavia, people in general don't tend to use crosses and hammers as decoration in their bedrooms, if at allMost people DON'T use them for "decoration" nor did I state they did. People use them for their intended purpose, protection and/or spiritual focus
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It's only unsafe to my knowledge (and I'm a shamanic-type person, not a witch, so ....) for the sake of the bindings. I don't see how it's rude. In fact, if these books are important to you, that's a compliment to the authors.
Maybe these books are so well-loved that they've picked up your energy and it's better to have them near?
I look at it this way: not all that long ago, there were no banks or at least, very few that could be trusted. The common folk, those who weren't rich and/or in possession of a stout safe or other secure case, tended to keep money and other valuables (jewelry, etc.) under the mattress or sewn into it and the bedclothes. As I see it, books contain knowledge, which is valuable. So basically, you're guarding precious things the same way our ancestors might. Was it considered rude or unsafe to sleep on their life savings? On the contrary, it was considered sensible. Hell, I used to sleep with books IN my bed next to me, before I began sharing one with my husband. I feel weird when I can't reach something to read and I can't sleep.
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What then of the crosses, hammers and vulknots that festoon the walls of bedrooms, heathen and otherwise? For that matter, what of the myriad altars that people have in their bedrooms? I really think this should be addressed by ASKING your Deities. After all, despite our expertise in OUR traditions, we are just a random bunch of voices on the Internet. Go right to the top - and then LISTEN TO WHAT THEY SAY!
My Gyden's say go for it - but why should you listen to me? No reason at all.
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That is a completely different matter, the person isn't asleep, but you still bring only that which is required for the work you have to do. So by this reading, unconsciousness is not a liminal state? I would disagree, but it IS your tradition. It still requires you remove your gear every time they take a nap.
While it is true that hammers and valknots are found within åsatru and neo-heathenry also in Scandinavia, people in general don't tend to use crosses and hammers as decoration in their bedrooms, if at allMost people DON'T use them for "decoration" nor did I state they did. People use them for their intended purpose, protection and/or spiritual focus ( ... )
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Maybe these books are so well-loved that they've picked up your energy and it's better to have them near?
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I look at it this way: not all that long ago, there were no banks or at least, very few that could be trusted. The common folk, those who weren't rich and/or in possession of a stout safe or other secure case, tended to keep money and other valuables (jewelry, etc.) under the mattress or sewn into it and the bedclothes. As I see it, books contain knowledge, which is valuable. So basically, you're guarding precious things the same way our ancestors might. Was it considered rude or unsafe to sleep on their life savings? On the contrary, it was considered sensible. Hell, I used to sleep with books IN my bed next to me, before I began sharing one with my husband. I feel weird when I can't reach something to read and I can't sleep.
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