Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Jutland
I expected to walk with the seiðr so that she could answer my questions; but now, it is her questions that fill our conversation. She asks me the source of this gift of ‘eternal healing’ as I explained my circumstance of life and life again.
I try, “This unlikely twist of nature was intended to speak a message of spiritual resilience, ‘on earth as it is in heaven.’ My friend bestowed this on me so that I would be an earthly, mortal sign. Now, here I am the earthbound metaphorical example of life and life again. I am a tangible sign for the spiritual nature of resurrection.”
She answers, “Umph.”
I try to amend the confusion, “It’s a Christian thing I guess.”
Maybe she guesses, but apparently, she isn’t interested in the identity of this gifting friend.
She asks, “How is it that you say you saw a creature who is considered to be mythical?”
“You mean an auroch? It wasn’t mythical several hundred years ago. People hunted it. All of the giant oxen were felled by well-placed arrows. So, tell me of the ancestors of your own people and your gods.”
“Were you not there to see them for yourself in the ancient times?”
“No, I wasn’t. Mostly what is in my memory is narrowly Christian.”
Actually, my oddity would easily be explained to any Christian who knew the gospel story of the raising of Lazarus. [John 11] But to a Pagan, probably unfamiliar with Christian scriptures, there is a conundrum or at best a sermon. I’m sure she wouldn’t like a sermon. What can I say?
So, I turn the question. “What about this time and place? I still want to know about your runes and writings so that I may better understand the language and the people where I am right now.”
“You know, for someone who claims all the time in the world, you aren’t very patient. It may seem long and slow, but we are walking to a better place of understanding.”
It is possible she is taking me to what some call ‘thin places’ as are on an island of Christian saints. I’m thinking maybe these gods actually are many names for the one God who speaks to each spirit, touching us with understanding, needing no voice or words.
But not so.
(Continues Tuesday, February 18)
Lazarus Ink 