For the last few weeks, I've been studying and practicing a bit of ecstatic posture--which is holding a posture, often related to a Deity, Spirit, or Energy, and trancing/journeying often to the beat of a rattle and/or drum. I have experience with this work already, but since the group that I was practicing with online no longer has Facebook Lives (I'm also not on FB anymore), I haven't done it in a while.
Until the end of summer. I was first looking at postures in the book that I'm reading, as well as practising with my statues and figurines, and looking at Norse depictions and statues of the Gods and Spirits.
Some successes and fails.
This past week, with cooler evening temperatures, I've been going outside. On Apple Music, I've found some shamanic rattling and drumming that I like for this work. I just put in my earbuds, take a sitting posture, and press play.
In years past, my most intense journeys have been with drumming and rattling--but either with me doing it, or another person--not a recording. Day 1 of the experiment and Manannan mac Lir showed me a red egg shaker that I have and haven't used for spiritual practice, despite that is what I bought it for years ago, along with my metal darbuka drum. The drums, yes, I've used spiritually quite a bit over the years. The egg shakers not so much. I think it's because rattles in general can be louder than the drums--or at least the smaller ones that I have. Obviously drums can be quite loud (my husband's a drummer in a local band).
I have one rattle that I specifically use for Spirit Work--particularly banishing troublesome spirits and entities from people's home. That rattle is extremely loud--almost an assault on the ears--and made up of black nut shells. It's dedicated to Freyja and has a special name. But my egg rattles are softer, more pleasant voices. Not as attention drawing either.
I'm thinking that Manannan wants me to do away with the recordings and practise with the egg shaker. Although having a live person or a recording certainly helps with the pose. Maybe just practice without posture for now.
I also practise Seidr, which is like a kind of Norse shamanism--it's a type of Spirit Work. With Seidr, you use staffs or Spirit Sticks. My Spirit Stick has bells on it. When working, I hold it with both hands and shake the staff and tap the ground. Definitely no room for Ecstatic Posture there. But it's also quite loud!
I think that's one of my issues with using spiritual instruments, because I mostly practise them outside. Yes, I'm out in the country and yes we're on the edge of the neighborhood, but I still don't like to draw attention to myself when practising drumming or rattling, and especially not with my Spirit Stick. But that's something that I'm just going to have to get over--get more comfortable with. The instruments don't just draw the corporeal's attention, but also the incorporeal--and that's what you want (with certain wards in place, of course).
I do love using spiritual instruments!
Perhaps this evening, I'll head out to my spot with little red egg shaker in hand. If nothing else, I do enjoy playing for the Nature Spirits.
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