The Four Paths of the Destructive Self

The four paths of the Destructive Self

The destructive self as stated in the tenets of this path is a concept that is inherent in the human character and can be seen in the history of humanity. The destructive aspect which has given humanity it's ability to survive and overcome great obstacles is also the one that has lead to mass war, conquest, and environmental damages. The destructive self inherently is individual but as history has proven it is also collective. In order to understand the collective use of the destructive aspect of the collective human one must understand that there are four different destructive process in the human individual. The first is catalyst reaction. One pushes the other pushes back. The second is catalyst, means then action. One pushes the other clenches his or her fist or grabs a club then strikes their opponent. The third is catalyst, thought, means and action. One pushes the other knows that the assailant has to go to their car, the victim acquires their means and waits for their assailant to walk to their car the victim then proceed to stab their assailant to death. The fourth kind of destructive self is catalyst, thought, forethought, means, then action. One pushes the other knows that their assailant lives next door to them he wants to kill the assailant, he wants to burn the house down but knows theirs a fire alarm inside the house in order to obliterate his enemy he must disable the fire alarm which means he will have to either become a home repair man or break into their house and permanently damage the alarm system. He decides to wait until his assailant walks out of the house then beat him with a bass ball bat. Then the victim thinks if all goes well their will be a bludgeoned dead body on the street corner but if someone sees he will probably be sent to prison. He decides to not worry about it and to deal with the assailant within an already working system, so he calls the police has the assailant arrested. With this information in mind one can accurately understand organized armies and defensive units.

Type one and two are usually organized into infantry battalions that are used as basic ground forces, the guys one sees on TV, their personality type is conducive to killing lots of people. The insurgent fires at them they fire back killing them. Type three personalities are usually best placed as snipers or artillery and tank divisions. These type of people are charged with special duties which require them to think about their course of action. Exampled an infantry unit is set to be deployed in an area that has a larger number of their enemy or has a technological advantage. The commander decides that he or she needs to tip the balance in the favor of his or her infantry unit he or she decides to call in an artillery strike. The artillery specialist is given the command and the information needed for the strike. On the grid there are several disadvantages to the artillery specialist, there's a school, a hospital, and religious center in close proximity to a mortar unit and missile launcher. He or she is also aware that anti aircraft tanks are positioned next to the school and a park. The artillery specialist now must think about how he or she is going to accomplish he's or her objectives. He or she decides to use smaller deep penetrating missiles with a low explosive kill area. These kinds of missiles will not only damage and destroy the opponents weapons system but also reduce the number of civilian casualties. This kind of artillery is known as kinetic artillery they use the force of the object to destroy their targets rather then an explode them. A bullet is a basic example. Type five personalities are usually placed in areas of high command like the pentagon or executive branches their job is simple to make the dissension based on whats happening and the repercussions of said action. An other examplem enemy force has a stronghold in Watsonville California at an old hospital, their numbers are only slightly greater then the commanders own but the commander knows that said enemy has snipers. If the commander sends a ground force then there is great risk of loss of life if he calls for a stinger missile to be launched then civilian causalities may be incurred. The commander also must consider retaliatory actions which is based off the information of how popular the group is to the locals. If not very popular the commander will call a siege which he or she hopes will give enough inference to the local population to find a means of escape. After civilians are cleared he or she will order a bombardment of stinger missiles targeting the snipers after the snipers are cleared tear gas will be launched by missile into the building. Then the ground forces will be sent in wearing proper attire for gas.

Most people are type one or two personalities and have to be trained to work as three. Type fours are usually really keen type ones or type threes that have been seen to make the proper decisions. History has shown that effective use of all four types creates a stable group but it has also shown that the civilizations can become destabilized by type twos and ones in order to even out this factor the proper thing to do is to train the the ones and twos to fulfill the capacities of a four and to give type fours a higher standard of living or a living that ones and two's and strive for and obtain. In storm fall terms reduce the neophytes through advancement and placation.

Tyr

These next couple of section will be a further in depth look at five Gods mentioned in the introduction. This will also be constantly updated. The first one will be Tyr.

Tyr-During the day in times of need
Humankind turns towards the sun.
Under the birch, the ice becomes water.
Joy in this sacred space.

The name Tyr (Tiwaz) means "Sky Father" or "Father of the Daytime Sky"and in some circles the name Tyr is associated with the name "God". The stories written about Tyr are few and far between, in the Nordic legends their are only two stories, in my awareness, in which Tyr plays any predominate role. The first one is the classic tale of the Fenris Wolf in which said God volunteers to sacrifice he's left hand for the sake of Asgard. The second is the story in which Tyr and Thor go on a beer run to Tyr's fathers house. These stories do not tell us a lot about the role of the god in Nordic or Germanic society so to understand Tyr one must look at the environment which he's name derives from. The Sky. Their are four phases of sky; night sky, dawn sky, midday sky, and sunset sky. If we add that with the five colors of the sky's transitions; black, indigo, light blue, white and orange. The cumulative number would be nine, the mystical number of the Scandinavian and Germanic peoples. Nine is important for in the mystical thoughts of the Norse, Yggr an other name for Odin, was said to ride a horse through these nine realms were different beings were said to reside. Nine is a number that brakes the ever turning wheels of eight, apoun breaking eight one attains completeness and becomes uninhibited in their path. If we take the first letter of each of these nine phases and apply the runes it would indicated the nine, for lake of a better term, "faces" of the Sky Father.

The first rune is Nyd, the second rune is Dagaz, the third rune is Mannaz meaning man. Sowilo is the fourth meaning sun or sun-wheel, berkanno is the fifth meaning birch tree and is some cases bear. Issa is the sixth rune meaning ice or stillness, lagaz the seventh meaning water or lake. The eighth rune is the wunjo rune meaning pleasure, joy or grape and the last rune is Othin meaning Odin. 

Below is a sun-wheel, with these runes on them it's used for chanting and to better understand Tyr. The reason we use the sun-wheel is because the sun appears to travel through the sky giving the above it's color. It is the bringer of knowledge of the Sky Father, the traveler who passes through the above. It's rays give us the knowledge of mind and insight to Tyr.

Berkanno which means birch or is used as short hand for bear is in the northern quadrant. Trees especially birch and apple were sacred to the Norse. The world tree whose branches stretched into the upper sky realm and who's roots dug deep into the lower realm. In some interpretation the berkanna rune is short hand for bear, the constellation of Ursa Major was and is sometimes called the great bear in it's tail resides the north star. The north star is used in navigation and rarely wavers. It is the guiding star, the truest star. Just as Tyr is the god of truth who would presided over matters of state with unbiased wisdom. The issa rune which means ice is the solid state of water, lagaz which falls from the sky in the form of rain. Rain and water is the life force of the planet, all living things who's roots enter the ground and all things that drink need rain. The wunjo rune meaning joy, happiness, or sometime wine; when the sun reaches it's zenith the sky appears white. The midday sun is at it's hottest casting it's life giving rays onto the planet, giving plants the essential element to grow. The Odin rune is a representation of Odin the God of magic and Shamanism. In all cultures that worshiped the sky was the holy man, the one who would communicate with the Sky Father. In that shaman was the ability to project he's mind and soul into the metaphysical realms. The god Odin, as mentioned above, would either ride the horse or send he's mind in the form of Hugen and Munnin into the these realms. The nyd rune, which means need or distress. In the sky there are seven layers, these seven layers of sky are there to protect the planet from the sun harmful rays and asteroids that pelt the planet. Without them the planet would die, in essence we need the sky. The dagaz rune means the daylight which comes from the sun, sowilo. The daylight is what gives the sky it's color, depending on were the sun is in the sky will determine the color of the sky. Mannaz is the last rune this rune means humankind or man. In this context it is the patriarchal nature of sky worship, and represents the dualism of pagan worship. The Sky Father countered and in union with the Earth Mother. To know Tyr is to know the sky for the sky is tangible and tangibility is closer to truth, the love of Tyr second only to war.

Runic Prayers Continued.

version 1. The world of mankind resides in the darkness of need in that darkness we long and pray for the light of the sun and the fullness of the moon. In that darkness we create lights of own understanding. In these lights we forget that a light exists in the heavens the light of the stars. Theses lights that show us the paths when the sun and the moon no longer shines.
version 2. Mankinds world resides in the darkness of nyd in that darkness we long for the sun and the fullness of the moon to show us our paths. But when the sun no longer shows and the moon no longer reveals it's brightness we create lights of our own understanding. In these lights we blot out the light of the stars who give us guidance in the darkness of need.

Thoraz-Hail to you Sky God Thoraz. Divine son of Odin, rider of tangrisnir divine protector. Son of Odin.

Thoraz: Hail to you, Thoraz, divine son of Odin. Rider of the chariot tangrisnir wielder of the power of Tyr. Protector of thous who wander under the sky.

Thoraz-Hail Thor Valiant in his glory.

Kunaz-Divine flame origins unknown bring warmth to my soul and protect the hearth.

Kenaz- Protector of the hearth divine flame barer of good fortune, protect the divine soul the hearth.

Kaon-Divine flame of good fortune, protect the divine soul the hearth,

Cen-Divine soul barer of good fortune bringer of the flame protect the hearth.

Kannaz- Divine soul barer of the flame bringer of good fortune protect the house.

Kannaz-Divine protector barer of the flame                                                                                             bringer of good fortune we pray in need to you.

Kennaz : The fire that strikes the field rejuvenates 

the fern allowing the seed to grow. 

The fire that strikes who's destruction is total

       cleans the forest on the ash let all things come forth with 

the coming of spring and rain. 

Isa- Halo of the moon, stillness of the night, keeper of the silver ray, light all the paths of night.

Isa- Halo of the moon, stillness of the night guide my feet with your light.

Sowillo/Sigil: Sun who's light is bent in ice and water I call to you to give forth your generous ray apoun the land in which I pray.

Ansur- The path of darkness is the same as the path to light. The wind that brings the warship, curves the arrow, the bullet, the spear to strike is the same which brings the wind to mast, the bird it's song the Gods their divinity and man it's life.

Runic Prayers

Here are the Runic Prayers: This will be updated periodically as they are all not yet written.





Dagaz-Light of the Sun, Lord of the Day riser of the chariot of dawn, with you the warmth of the eternal flows. With you the light of heaven is born, bestow upon this land all the good graces of the sun.

Tyr- God of the sky, Lord of the above embrace us as the sky embrace the land grant us strength as the sword grants victory to the warrior.

















Lagaz- Calming waters, cleanser of the earth purity from the sky, life current bring peace to my mind.

 Eiwar- Mighty yew tree, arm of the hunter. poison to the taste bestow of strength to the fields man. Grant the hunter he's hunt and shade for rest from he's labors.

Eihow- Horse of war barer of warriors strider of the blood stained field. The beast of battle granter of victors a force unbridled terror of the enemy below grant me this victory over my foe great horse of the war throw.

 Uruz- Field protector wheel turner puller of the plow tuner of the earth, yoke barer. Energy within the power of it's mighty fours. Uruz mighty archo's grant the will and strength to preserver.

Fehar-Wealth of the land reaped by the labors of man continue to grow from seed and soil. Blessing apoun this earth bless the plow and the seed.

Algiz- Calm in manner furious in battle great beast of the woods. Elk of earth and sky granter of wisdom. I call on you now in my meditation.

Ingwaz-Lord of weather, bringer of peace, granter of prosperity my thanks unto you.

Igwaz- I give my anger and prayer to you oh god Ingwaz who's peace is all encompassing like the shades of the willow groves. Who's prosperity he can rain as the waters from the sky. I ask or you great deity of the earth, child of the sea, to take this anger from me.
You oh fighting lord who has fought only once, clear this pain of conflict as the rain clears the sky. Grant peace on your will sword giver to your faithful devotee.

Ingwaz-Hail Ingwaz Lord of the Earth, Lord of Weather, Lord of Harvest, Lord of Fertility. I ask of you to grant fertility onto the land in which I will give back when generously received.

Runic Prayers: Introduction on Runes

The runes have been a subject of much interest to thous in the pagan and non pagan world, this interest is mostly centered around their function within pre-Christian Scandinavia. As far as we know the runes were used as a written language on land boundaries, grave sights, and memorials to various kings and their achievements. According to Neil Price lecture at Cornell University on the Viking Age, the runes written for grave markers were written in a particular form. This form followed as such; who was buried in the mound followed by who raised the stone. The alphabet of the runes is known as Elder Futhark. This alphabet is known as a phonetic alphabet, meaning each sound has a symbol and was taught by members of the family or the rune caver. As far as any scholar knows the runic alphabet was not taught in any institution but due to their frequency must have been known by a substantial portion of the population. The Elder Futhark runes were made up of twenty-four characters, the fist letter is the f sound and the last is the d sound. The construction of the cipher of the alphabet is unique and does not follow the alpha beta construction (a,b,c,d) like other alphabets from the Mediterranean crescent. This has made futhark a matter of much scholarly inquiry on the development of said language. It is my speculation that the construction of the runes came through trade with other cultures of Europe. The odd arrangement of the letters may have been in the order of importance to the Germanic and Scandinavian societies. Each letter in the runic alphabet has a name associated with them, this makes the runes easier to memorize and has led many to postulate on other uses. For example the first letter of the runic alphabet is called Fehur meaning wealth or cattle. The second letter is called Uruz meaning ox, bull or cow and the third is called Thoraz which means giant or the god Thor. The names of the characters are to help in memorization and as a form of short hand when conveying messages. According to myth the runes were said to possess an other worldly quality, that there power was so great that even a misspelling of a word could lead to catastrophic consequences. There is an old story in which a Swedish king relinquishes a curse on a peasant simply by scrapping the misspelled runes away. In the Lay of Sigrdrifa specific runes were mentioned to give specific powers, the naud rune for example was given to ensure that woman wouldn't beguile a mans trust. In the Sayings of the Old High One, Wotan was said to have hung on the World Ash to gain the true meaning of the runes. All these stories point to the magical use of the runes although these uses may be and to a certain extent historically founded. I propose a different usage of the runes and only of certain runes. This usage is prayer. It is a belief of mine that the runic characters themselves are in fact deities. Even in the most conventional of mystical interpretations there are certain runes that are symbols for the gods, such as the Othil rune or the Ing rune but these are not the only ones. Some runes are representative of nature or of natural phenomena such as Sigil which is a representation of the rays of sunlight or Kenaz which can mean many things but the most literal is the rejuvenating fire that clears the underbrush. In the next article I will show how these runes and others are used in prayer.

Four Cycles

Their are four cycles that all people are trapped in; the external, the inherent, the imposed, and the internal.

1. The external cycle is the cycle that we encounter every day; traffic, school, taxes and on a broader scale the season.
2. The second cycle is the inherited cycle this cycle is the one were born into. Some would call it fate or luck, the aspects of this cycle are poverty, blindness, birth defects and other problems of the body and mind that one had no choice in.
3. The third cycle is the imposed cycle, this cycle is the one that we place on ourselves or is placed on us by others. Slavery, drunkenness, addiction and diet.
4. The last and fourth cycle is the internal cycle this cycle is the mental and spiritual struggle that one confronts every day. This cycle is in all peoples of faith weather they be Christian, Muslim, Buddhist or pagan. In this cycle we struggle to understand the divine and the workings of said entities. In this cycle we look into the mirror and see what one may not want to see. In this cycle people of faith are bombarded with the constant attacks of thous who may not understand a chosen or called path. The warriors of this cycle are depression, self doubt, the ignorance of others and the ignorance of once's self.

All these cycles can be broken in time some apoun death while others with day to day thought. One way of doing this is to recognize recurring destructive thoughts. By picking up on the patterns of thought one can then break one of the four cycles. Example a person wakes up in the morning and always stubs their toe in the doorway. Sooner or later said person figures out the gig and steps over the high ledge in the doorway thus ending the cycle. The same concept applies but to destructive thought.
What is destructive thought; ideas that can lead to ones harming of oneself and others. When destructive thought is recognized by either oneself or by others the next step is to ask oneself "why do I think like this?" then one must be willing to find, contemplate and hear the variety of issues that causes the thought. When the issue is recognized then one can deal with the issues that are the cause of the destructive thought. As thinking people who are trying to reach some sort of serenity before they die, we must always fight, contemplate and remove these destructive thoughts. We have to be like Thor, a half god half giant who is always fighting he's fate. For like Thor, who in the final battle of Ragnarok destroys the mid-gard serpent we ourselves must fight our chaos. Like Thor we must be willing to fight this chaos even if it leads to our own destruction. By doing so we become better then thous who refuses to understand themselves and live a life blinded by their own willful ignorance. When one try's to understand themselves they become ready to change, to grow, to become better then they were before. It is like a toddler who can then walk, run and explore the world around them. Thous who refuse to understand themselves and others are like the toddler unwilling to move on unwilling to find peace. When the cycle's are broken peace can then be found, for me peace comes with having a job and simply living my life. For others it may be a more complex peace but remember that peace is different for all. Below is an image of the four cycles.

The Prayer

The Prayer

I believe in the Fire

I believe in the rain

I believe in the earth

I believe in the oak

the sycamore

the cypress

the redwood

the holly

the willow

and the birch

I believe in Odin

All-father, traveler of nine worlds

May he slaughter the serpent and ward off evil

I believe is Fryr god of peace and prosperity

May he bring peace and prosperity to me and thous around me

I believe in Thor god of the sky, god of thunder, god of lightning

may he give me strength and endurance in my upcoming work

I thank the gods for what they have given me

I thank the gods for what they have taken from me

I thank the gods for what they will give me

and I thank the gods for what they will from me

I thank the gods for the breath that I breath and I thank the gods for the earth that I walk

I thank the gods for the body in which I, my spirit, resides

I thank the gods for all that has been done and will be done.

May Odin Grant me wisdom

May Fryr grant me peace

and may Thor grant me strength in my upcoming work.

“I am a Pagan a stone in the sacred circle balanced on the earth open to the winds of the gods forever enduring.” -DJ Conway

As it is as it always will be.

The Seven Selves

The Seven Selves

1. The Masculine: The aspects of this self are hard to define seeing as how society plays such a large role in the shaping of what it means to be masculine so what I write may not be the ultimate definition. With that said these are the masculine characteristics I've found in myself. Comradery is an aspect of masculinity, companionship in the face of obstacles, needless self sacrifice for an idea, the attainment of wealth and the blindness that comes with it. Pigheadedness, sacrifice for the betterment of the whole, commitment to an idea no matter how far down hill it appears to be going. Wild frivolity in the natural world. The need to make a name for oneself, hopeless depression when this need is not met. The drive to push oneself beyond capacity, stubbornness, over barring dominance, onesidedness, giving and passionate anger.

2. The Feminine: This aspect is going to be bias seeing as how I am not a female these are just aspects I recognize in myself and observed in other. Over barring protection, child blindness, the unwillingness to let go, kindness to strangers, shallowness, selective memory and repetitive nagging. Forgiveness, protection of ones own, self sacrifice for ones own, crippling self confidence issues, acceptance, and jealousy. Other aspects of this side are compassion, relationships beyond the physical or some sort of gain, caring, color blindness, non-judgmental, patients and scorn.

3.The Destructor: This aspect of this self are pain, selfish acts of violence and death. This aspect thinks only of the death of thous who have done them wrong. The destructor aspect of oneself also comes the need to survive. The will to kill in order to preserve oneself, to this aspect comes the will to preserve. Greed want beyond reason and pleasure in the unwilling pain of others.To the destructor aspect the need to survive and continue.

4. The Creator: This aspect of this self is the making of order to bring peace to ones self, bringing life to make life. Creation of order to bring harmony to ones environment. Procreation, the combining of two things to bring forth life. The slaying of something for the continuation of life. Music, art, poetry the ability to seemingly pull ideas out of nowhere. The development of thought, problem solving, the need to care for something. The ability to make things grow. The changing process from seed to plant. Evolution of mind and body.

5.The Uninhibited: The aspects of this self are lust, unbridled passion, love in the moment, quick unthinking anger, unstoppable desire, unmoderated consumption of pleasurable food and drinks. The uninhibited aspects of ones self has a constant need to consume, with this aspect the thought of why does not exist only the desire and the drive to continue to be uninhibited. This aspect strives for unthinking stimulation moving from one action of pleasure to the next. It does not have goals in the larger since but lets the tide of the present carry it. The uninhibited also has the ability to stay in the moment and to love without social disgression or stigma.

6.The Liberated: The liberated Self is the highest form of self one can attain in this lifetime. Aspects of this state of being are unknown but through meditation, prayer, offerings to the Gods/Goddesses and humility to such beings one can attain pieces of what it means to be liberated. For example some would consider freedom from earthly pain and eternal calm as liberation. All people no matter their similarity with one an other have a unique view of what it means to become liberated. Being out of ones self could be considered a liberated state or the breaking of one self destructive cycle could be considered liberated.

7. The Eternal: The eternal self is the part of the human that carries on after one dies. It is neither changing nor unchanging. Like water this self can be formed into a shape and frozen but it's still two hydrogen one oxygen and will eventually go back to it's original state. This self is unaffected by the processes of physical action or thought. It is ambivalent and in reality the purpose, if any, is still unknown.

Rules and Beliefs.

If you follow this way you can leave at anytime this way is a choice as it was for me. If you choice to follow what has been laid out for you and take the wisdom I am giving to heart then I applaud you and hope that these prayers enrich your faith. If you follow this way of thought know that it is religion. It comes from the Nordic cultural belief system and although it's practices are new it is truly a pagan way of belief. As with all religions their are certain rules and modes of thought that one has to follow these modes of thought are as such.

1. Their is a spiritual self.
2. Humans are creatures of polarity.
3. Birth and death are physical states of being.
4. True birth comes when you know your spiritual self.
5. True death is when you are forgotten.
6. Weather spiritually or physically there is something above you.
7. Everything living has a god to it.
8. There is an underlying current to everything and that current is unbreakable.
9. Reincarnation and the afterlife are realities. They exist deal with it.

Their are tenants in this way and if you follow this way you will follow these tenants to the best of ones ability these tenants are as follows:

1. Be honest.
2. Be polite.
3. Deal with the problems as they arise.
4. Always ask questions.
5. Take pride but do not boast.
6. Defend yourself if attacked but don't seek bodily harm on others.
7. Never give up but don't continue a loss cause.
8. Except the mistakes you have made learn and move on.
9. Give only as much as you think you should give.

These are the beliefs and tenants of the Elhaz they are for the way of the Elhaz not for the governing of society. For society should never be governed as religion is governed and the two should always be separate if you follow the way of the Elhaz you too also believe this.

The Way of Elhaz

Elhaz, also known as Algiz is a rune which meaning is either prayer, protection, elk or life. To some in the mystical community it means either a priestess or a witch but seeing as how I am neither a female nor a Wicca this rune means something else something found in all religions, prayer. This blog is entirely dedicated to way of prayer and meditation to the Gods and Goddesses of the Norse pantheon. The deities these prayers and meditative practice are pertaining to are Odin, Thor, Ingwaz, Njord and Tyr. All of these prayers and poems have come to me from them and are to them. I write these prayers as a duty to my fellow community of pagans. This blog also contains runic prayers, yes prayers, and wise sayings. This way is not for the shiftless this way is for thous who truly believe in the gods. If you truly believe than welcome my knowledge and way is your knowledge and way but if you do not believe please do not use any of the prayers that I have written down here. You can choose to stay or leave.