Regular work with the gods is generally well established among experienced rune specialists and practitioners who have long followed the Norse tradition and live by it. At the beginning of the path, however, certain factors can hold us back. I went through this myself, and everyone has their own obstacles.
RESPONSIBILITY
Working with any spiritual powers requires responsibility and consistency. In most cases, people do not want to bind themselves to lifelong obligations to a spiritual power. Of course, there are also casual visitors who simply want someone to tell them quickly where and how to draw a few runes, so they can rush off to change their destiny. But when runic practice becomes a serious pursuit, even if only for personal use, a person inevitably begins to explore the Norse tradition, because it contains a wealth of knowledge. Communication with the gods is a normal part of this tradition. And responsibility… what about responsibility? Why should it frighten a reasonable, self-aware person? Every day, we take responsibility for our actions, our words, the people around us, our work commitments, our magical practice, and more. This does not frighten us; we consider it normal because it is part of our lives. If runic magic is part of your life, responsibility for it comes with the territory. Fear of responsibility to the gods should therefore no longer hold you back.
FEAR
More precisely, the fear of doing something wrong. The gods are powerful and undoubtedly greater and more powerful than human beings. Like other spiritual powers, they may not always be favourably disposed. This creates a desire to do everything correctly or not to do anything at all. Yet the idea of what is “correct” is broad and means something different to everyone. You can find authentic rituals as well as modern ones, and they differ from one practitioner to another. Why? Because the rules in this area are conditional, and everyone has their own path to the gods. Some approaches to working with spiritual powers seem too complicated and impossible to carry out; others seem too simple and are therefore assumed to be wrong. This is a fundamentally mistaken judgement: it is possible to build your own path and your own connection with the gods. But we must acknowledge that we do not actually know what was considered correct in those times, and our way of life today is very different. Nothing stands still; everything develops over time, and you certainly do not have to return to an ancient way of life to gain the gods’ favour. What matters is finding your own path and possibilities. The decisive factors are will and desire. These matter more than mere “correctness”.
UNCERTAINTY
Do I need this at all? Working with the gods means entering a tradition. I am not talking about initiation, but about an inner understanding. To praise them today, work with them, and receive what you want, only to switch sides or forget them tomorrow, seems dangerous. Runes are powerful symbols in their own right, and you can avoid responsibility to the gods by choosing not to work with them. Here, once again, conscious awareness comes into play. Before taking the first step, you need to decide what you need this for and whether you need it at all.
WHERE TO BEGIN
Like other practitioners, I have followed my own path to the gods. There is no ready-made ritual or set of instructions that will lead you to them and establish a working relationship. The key word here is “work”. However, I teach a course on this subject and see the attitudes people sometimes bring with them, as well as how their individual paths develop. I therefore believe that anyone considering working with the gods should ask themselves a few questions before trying to force their way through the gates of Valhalla. The guiding principles on this path are sincerity and honesty with yourself.
WHY DO I NEED THIS?
What draws you to working with the gods? Following a trend, working with runes, searching for yourself, seeking spiritual patrons, feeling that you belong, or wanting to become part of this culture? This is an important question. The answer determines the quality of your future work.
WHAT DO I NEED THIS FOR?
Many established practitioners came to magic—not only runic magic—through hardship, shattered lives, situations on the edge of life and death, and similar experiences. It is perfectly natural for their first requests to concern resolving such serious problems. Everyday concerns come next: money, love, success, and so on. But what happens after that? Working with higher powers cannot be based on the principle of “use them and walk away”. Practitioners understand this; perhaps that is precisely why they are practitioners and why they receive protection and support from higher powers. But not everyone understands this when taking their first step towards working with the gods.
WHAT CAN I OFFER THE GODS IN RETURN?
The gods are not servants of our whims. Yet they will not refuse help and protection if a person is worthy of it and has value in their eyes. The important point is that this value cannot be bought. Odin himself, the creator of worlds and human beings, gave up a part of himself and sacrificed himself to gain knowledge. His path is much deeper, however; it is not simply an attempt to become the wisest. If you want a deep relationship with the gods and to develop your worth in their eyes, you cannot stop at offerings based on a simple “you give me this, and I give you that” exchange.
If the culture of the Norse tradition resonates with you, working with the gods and understanding the mythology are fundamental. They contain its history, wisdom, and laws. The gods are strong and mighty. Yet the gods remain “alive” as long as we believe in them. It is a kind of energetic symbiosis.
If the Norse tradition is not your primary faith, but you take runic magic seriously, honouring the gods and interacting with them are still important parts of this magic. I hold the view that runes are powerful symbols in their own right and can work without invoking the gods. Yet runic magic and the runes themselves are, in essence, knowledge that Odin once gained. They are therefore inseparable. Whatever tradition you practise within, honouring its gods is a sign of respect for this gift and the opportunity it provides. However, there is little point in seriously approaching the gods if runic practice is merely a temporary stage in achieving your goals. Working with the gods involves a deep immersion in the tradition.
Working with the gods is, of course, not compulsory, but interacting with them offers much more. The gods can provide support, grant knowledge and strength, and offer protection. The gods are power! Working with them opens up greater possibilities for magical practice, personal development, improving your quality of life, and achieving better results with runes. The gods teach, guide, offer lessons and knowledge, and give you the strength to put that knowledge into practice. The gods themselves are a practitioner’s principal teachers.
Through regular, serious work with them, your strength grows and your knowledge deepens. If you establish yourself as someone worthy of their patronage, that patronage will surely follow, together with help, protection, and support.
Many approaches to working with the gods have been described. For the most part, these reflect other practitioners’ personal paths, individual perspectives, and experience gained through practice. You can always use them as a foundation for your own path and adapt them to suit you. There is nothing wrong or frightening about this. The important thing is to take the first step. For a long time, I did not know how to begin, and recommendations on forums often left me even more confused and afraid. I therefore kept putting work with the gods aside until I decided to look at it from a different angle. That was when all my fears and uncertainties fell away.
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© Helga_V
Master of runic practice and researcher of the Norse tradition
