Death Maidens Claim

The Hel Runes Claim: Life of the Oseberg priestess (783-834 AD) by Maria Kvilhaug
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thordis adjusts to life among the savage like Viking Rus. As the days go by her different nature is coming to the forefront. During the day she picks herbs for healing and hunts different animals. Then once she kills the animals she eats them raw. Ivarr, the young warrior she has been honing eyes her bathing the blood off herself when he decides he wants to humiliate her. Ivarr does humiliate her he has to get humiliated in order to win back her favor.
Thordis experiences more blots and festivals. The HeL Rune, mare and seven sisters make their appearances more than once. These maidens who are sworn to Hela, goddess of the dead, make prophecies, assist in battle and participate in ritual. There is always a price to pay.

Prophecy foretell that a Thordis will be a sif of the Gods, doing their will with no thought of her own. She will always be directed by strong willed men. Thordis is not destined to stay with just one man.

The gods throw twists and turns . Arnulf, the heri is given a very interesting marriage proposal. Zivah finds out some very Viking about her background which changes the dynamics of her love with Thiodolf. A rival family wages war on Arnulfs clan that threatens to possible wipe Arnulfs clan out.

Thordis proceeds with her destiny.

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420 the Magical Number

Liber 420: Cannabis, Magickal Herbs and the Occult by Chris Bennett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Liber 420

Ah the magic of THC and it’s effect on the body, mind and soul. Throughout the ages ethneogen or psychedelic herbs have been used in a variety of spiritual and magical streams in ways we are unfamiliar with. Chris Bennet does more than an awesome job of explaining the role of cannabis in the evolution of the human spirit. But this book delivers so much more. It gives you a very thorough history of magic.

Starting with the Scythian’s use of cannabis opium and ephedra in their elixir called Soma. They also used to burn cannabis seeds in their rites for the dead . The spiritual use of cannabis spread to Iran and India. In India the mixture was called Haoma. It was sacred to Shiva and Kali. In Iran the early Zoroastrianists would melt hashish into the wine and drink it. This produced visions of holiness. The usage of cannabis would proceed to used by the sufis and from the Sufis it spread to the Assassins of Alamut.

The crusades brought on an era of cultural exchane between Europe and the Middle East. One of the things that was brought back was the use of marijuana.the Templars learned a lot from the assassins, almost their entire spirituality may have been taught to the Templars via the assassins.

Cannabis usage was used by the ancient Israelites during the temple times and even during the early era of Christianity. It was an ingredient in their incences and may have been used in the annointing oil. There is evidence that it may have been used in healing potions.

From the Middle East the use would spread to Europe where in it was used by witches , alchemists and mystics.
The book is long and packed with information. If you want to learn more read the book. This tome is a classic and no review could give it proper justice.

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