How to Combat the Jotuns

How Modern American Shamanism works with the power of deeds, the mind, and even words in the context of Fire and Ice Shamanism.

  The Jotuns represent Chaos and in the German tradition, they work to control us through creating chaos in our everyday lives and even in our conscious and unconscious minds.

Chaos of Consciousness or How the Jotuns Work to Control Us

In Germanic lore the Jotuns manipulate humans in four simple ways. Those ways are:

1.     Rootlessness

2.     Apathy

3.     Ignorance

4.     Unenlightened self-interest

  These can be countered by living the Nine Simple Words and making them your, everyday deeds!

Rootlessness – (particularly toxic to people of European descent) We are all social creatures and as such, we are driven to find people to interact with. It can be a major problem when a society has a large percentage of its population disconnected or even ignorant of being disconnected. Forgetting our ancestors and where we come from is a big problem that most people simply refuse to see as an issue. In the past one’s ancestors were seen as always watching over their family line. They were asked for help on important matters, they were honored by telling their stories and passing their names on to their descendants. The idea of rootlessness is less than a thousand years old, but it has become one of the most effective tools in the Jotun’s tool chest.

Apathy - the lack of interest or concern/indifference. This feeds directly into the idea of rootlessness and may even enhance it. We all must be vigilant to make sure they do not spiral together and take us by surprise.

Ignorance - lack of knowledge or information. It is a shame and maybe even funny that in what is known as the “Information Age” people can be ignorant of important concepts that negatively affect their lives.

Unenlightened Self-Interest – do things that do not benefit us in a positive way. This one kind of speaks for itself but should always be looked out for.

The concept of the Evolution of the Soul is well known and within the Germanic, Heathen community, Holle's Mill, etc. We believe in the idea that the gods want us to be, by the end of this cosmic cycle, where they were at the beginning of it. There is also the understanding that if we fail at this evolution, the gods will allow the humans to go extinct, German version of Ragnarok. Then the gods will give the dwarves a chance to prove themselves and take our place.

Nine Simple Words and how they combat the Jotuns hold on humanity. Don’t get lost in the idea of “WORDS” they should represent your “DEEDS”!

a.     Definition of the Nine Simple Words:

·        Courage – the ability to do something that you know is difficult or dangerous.

·        Truth – the real facts about something: the things that are true, the quality or state of being true, a statement or idea that is true or accepted as true.

·        Honor – respect that is given to someone who is admired, has a good reputation, good quality or character as judged by others.

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·        Fidelity – the quality of being faithful to your husband, wife, or sexual partner, the quality of being faithful or loyal to a country, organization, etc., the degree to which something matches or copies something else.

·        Discipline – control that is gained by requiring that rules or orders be obeyed and punishing bad behavior, a way of behaving that shows a willingness to obey rules or orders, behavior that is judged by how well it follows a set of rules or orders.

·        Hospitality – generous and friendly treatment of visitors and guests: hospitable treatment, the activity of providing food, drinks, etc. for people who are the guests or customers of an organization.

·        Self-Reliance – reliance on one’s own efforts and abilities.

·        Perseverance – the quality that allows someone to continue trying to do something even though it is difficult.

·        Wisdom - the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment; the quality of being wise. The soundness of an action or decision with regard to the application of experience, knowledge, and good judgment

  The practice and application of the Nine Simple Words is not only a code of ethics, but a health practice as well, because they help balance the powers of the mind and emotions. This balance is the basis of health and longevity in my first book. The idea and meaning of these words are learned from direct experience not just from intellectual exercises. One strives to practice and work with them at all times. No one is perfect though, so just recognize that every time you fail, you can get back up again and learn what to do differently next time.

    In Fire and Ice Shamanism the practice of the Nine Simple Words has several different levels of use. The first level is simply a code of ethics, the second level involves working with the Nine Simple Words as a health practice. It is a simple and easy way to help keep the powers of the mind and emotions in balance. The third level is using these “words” is as a mantra to improve ourselves mentally and focus our minds. The fourth level is making these words or deeds and using them as an effective tool to combat the Jotuns in Midgard. The final method is accomplished by adding the meaning to each virtue and creating secondary mantra.  

  Learning to use these words comes from experience and active daily practice, not from intellectual exercises. They need to be brought into one’s everyday life one or two at a time. Take a few weeks or a month and work with them one at a time. See how easy or difficult it can be to work them into your everyday life. Once you have worked all nine into your life, strive to practice them at all times. The Nine Simple Words are an important part of the cultivation of life, inner nature, and forge a solid foundation for one’s Inner Journey work.

·        The Cultivation of Life, as in life force/Megin, and this section is related to work with the body and energy.

·        Cultivation of the Inner Nature is the work with the emotional mind, the nine parts of the self, and the mind.

·        Start with Inner Nature first.

o   This can direct you to spiritual development.

o   Development of the Nine Simple Words.

§  Courage

§  Truth

§  Honor

§  Fidelity

§  Discipline

§  Hospitality

§  Self-Reliance

§  Perseverance

§  Wisdom

  The most important point to think about is that these should not be looked at as nine separate words or even “virtues.” To focus and clear the mind as well as help a person turn them into deeds, they must work together as whole.