Happy Belated Mothers Day to those who observe. My weekend was pretty nice. On Saturday, we had finally had a nice, dry--but windy--weekend day. So I tried out an pop up tent that I got for visiting the lake beach. It's big! It'll totally fits our cooler, stuff, and the 4-5 of us. It's short, so I can't stand in it, but that's fine. I got it to keep our stuff somewhat secured and to give us a break from the sun to rest, eat, and hydrate. Our cooler will be heavy enough to keep it from blowing away--I have long tent pegs, I just don't know if they'll work in sand. I'll try those out, too. My midkid also has big rocks that we can try, too. Now to have more warm days so the lake gets to comfortable swimming temps.
I also thought I had trouble getting up from the ground, turns out that I can get up from the earth just fine. It's hard man-made surfaces that I struggle with. Hurts my knees. No give. Whereas I can chill on my knees just fine on the earth. I'm way more flexible outside, than in. I did a lot of moving in that tent, from just playing around with it, to figuring out guylines and the rainfly. Still can't figure out how to fold the darn thing up so it fits in the bag, but other than that, I love it.
Then came Sunday and my back spasmed and was sore. Still sore today, but doing better.
Once my back rests, I'll take the tent and a thicker bed roll out again for some spiritual work to prepare for an utiseti--a seiðr (saythur) "sitting out" in nature practice to connect with the Nature Spirits and other entities, and to learn my varðlokkurs (varth-lockers) or Spirit Calling songs.
Some hardcore seið workers would say that one needs to be uncomfortable for an utiseti, but if I'm uncomfortable, I ain't getting anything done. I've been a practicing pagan for over 30 years, with regular practice--I know what does and doesn't work for me. I'm allergic to lots of plants, including grass AND I attract allllll of the vampires. AND I'm allergic to ant, flea, and mosquito bites. I get blister clusters with flea and mosquito bites and I've had even worse reactions with a single ant bite. No knowledge is worth setting off my allergies and possibly dying for. There's discomfort and then there's life threatening dangerous shit. I can't risk getting bit by the wrong bug to please some "hardcore" strangers who only they know what real seiðr is. Not sorry to all of the seið edgelords out there.
Plus my Kindred fully support me using a tent and being comfortable for my future utisetis and whatever other spiritual things, as long as I'm outside. The Gods and Spirits are way more important than the broseiðr alphas out there.
Aside from tents, I also have a popup fully enclosed mosquito netting, too, that grass can poke up through a little. I got it because I like to experiment with different methods. Maybe I will have a better connection with the netting instead the tent? Just as long as I'm protected from the tiny things that like to bite/sting/feed on me, I'm good with either.
It was lovely to lay on the floor of the tent and still feel the earth beneath me. If I can connect to the earth through concrete, steel, wood, and linoleum of my man-made hard floor, I can have a connection through the thin fabric of my tent floor.
On Sunday--Mothers Day--the family surprised me with iced chai, gluten-free donuts, a pride flag charm, and handmade cards from the kids. Hubs also took me to my second favorite spiritual shop in Columbus, The Magical Druid, where I got two books:
Later, hubs made lemon pepper pork chops and corn-on-the-cob, with dragon fruit for dessert. Very very nummy.
I'm very grateful to my family, and I feel very appreciated.
When I started this post, I actually wanted to write about Following the Sun and my work with the Norse Sun Sol/Sunna. A comfortable utiseti has also been on my mind, apparently that's what wanted to come out.
I guess if you believe that you need to (safely and ethically) suffer for spiritual knowledge--research, plan, experiment, and do your thing. If you don't, don't let the bros and alphas make you feel bad. Your path is between you and the Gods/Spirits/Energies. If Freyja says its okay to use a tent for your utiseti, then use a tent.
Say you're not really an outdoorsy person but you also want to practice seiðr and do an utiseti, get a tent, go glamping if its more of your style. They also have tents that can attach to SUVs, vans, etc, if you'd feel more secure in your vehicle. Rent an RV. Heck, get a cabin, even. If you feel safer with a buddy(s), bring em, too. Go outside into nature, away from the city.
Spiritual discomfort can be a lot of things--like just challenging yourself to spend a night outside.
Although not everyone can. I imagine you can figure out how to do a safe urban utiseti. There's spirits all over the place, even urban spirits. Cities got nature spirits, too--there's nature in the strays, nature in the rats, nature in the house spiders, nature in the rains and winds, nature in the sun and the moon, nature in the weeds growing up through the cracks in concrete, and even in the concrete--it's gravel, rocks! What's steel made from? Natural materials. Forged Earth. Glass is heated sand. Natures in the City, too! Meditate in your safe space, ask for the presence of your guardians, and call to these Urban Nature Spirits. Maybe they can aid you with your Spirit Work? Come up with an Urban Utiseti.
Just because your environment is different doesn't mean you can't practice. Surrounded by concrete instead of trees? You can still find a way. Those beings can adapt and so can you.
All right, I'm rambling and getting off track. I'm going to get back to reading this book, then hopefully find that spark to write what I originally wanted to write about.
Thanks for all of the support!
Face to the Sun. Trust in Joy. Follow the Foxes and the Bees...
- Priestess Foxlyn