The Power of Wuotan

The Power of Wuotan.

Now, it’s rushing through Your veins, oh friend, the power of Wuotan.                                                          

You can’t control and can’t reverse the power of Wuotan.                                                                               

It’s not from you but it is Yours, the power of Wuotan.                                                                                      

And will to do just what though shall…the power of Wuotan.

 

 It is source of the poets’ lip-streams and makes you as huge as a mountain and those old berserkers don’t seem so crazy anymore Wearing their wolfskins and twisting their bodies to the bad rhythms of the Earth…  Now you know - they are intoxicated with the power of the God Wuotan.

 

It won’t stop just take it! Take it take it take it!... the power of Wuotan!  

Oh, what your relatives are going to say about the madness in Your dreamy eyes and that unnatural smile, ei? 

How are you going to explain to your good friends that you are possessed, so possessed that you are grinding your teeth and you can’t be their friend no more?

That’s the Old Spear Thrower that has gotten you, my friend. Now you have to be the Healer and the Killer. The Lock and the Key. The Horse and Its Rider. The Lover and the Beloved. All of It in One.. and capable of anything.

The runes have been discovered and blooded. And the power is unmasking the face of God slowly but steadily. You have mastered the pen, but do you know how to use the sword that bites deep into flesh like a mad dog, leaving no choices?                                                                                                              

We were taught that it’s a sin to feel powerful and obtrusive.                     

To intensely desire and be loved in return. To use wit and be smart – “sure, why not die as sheep?”

the Wolves are convincing the herd…

No. That Won’t do . Will pray to the Old Powers. Unite with the Old Gods; The Eternal Allies will be our friends, and enter the ring where only freedom is real; die free if needed, and keep dancing on the other side with those old berserkers, twisting your body to the bad rhythms of the Other Earth…

Now you know, oh friend that there is no salvation and yes, you destined to forever be intoxicated with the power of the God Wuotan.

Mantrawork

After a very long hiatus I was again drawn to some mantra work.

Mantras are sound formulas, usually being a phrase from the sacred texts from what came to be known as "Hinduism" but what is actually many different religious approaches, and Buddhism, but occasionally they are compressed phrases or even just a sound or several , as in the case of “OM”.

There is no adequate, scientific way to describe how mantras effect a practitioner, for now let’s just say that depending on which mantra you choose for your practice there will be a different purpose set ahead, such as for example reception of a boon, or cleansing, perhaps a more abstract one such as perceiving the form and essence of a deity.

I look at a mantra as a perfect prism, which allows you to look at the world not through your own eyes, but through the eye of a deity. In other words, mantra work requires you to surrender your self, at least for a time being, and allow the sound formula to penetrate your consciousness, thus creating a film of sound, which will serve as a prism. The longer the repetition the better, as it is giving you a lot of time to fully get into the dome of sound created by the mantra.

The real mantra comes to you on its own, as it is a representation of a higher power in a sound, and was obviously created long before any of us lived. Although I am not able to chant the mantras out loud at work, which is where I spend most of my day time, I am able to listen to them on a youtube through a pretty good pair of headphones, which is I think not much different from a chant.

 

The real mantra comes to you as I said on its own, as it is a representation of a higher power in a sound, and was obviously created long before any of us lived. I think it’s best to keep your mind open, and approach this practice with the spirit of experimentation, as mantra work creates many questions, but also resolves many problems. Some of the questions that arise during the mantra practice are these

1. What do I want/need?
2. Is the deity real?
3. Is this exactly what I need?
4. Does the mantra work?
5. What makes the mantra work?  …..and so on and so on,

Beyond all these important but ultimately useless questions is the wall of sound of the mantra, the deity and the dreams come true. May be slowly at a snail pace, but nevertheless completing itself.

An Old Story about a Cook

Long time ago (no one knows exactly how long) there was a ruler, who was known to have had employed the best cook in the whole world. The cook was discerning and mild in manners, never over or under cooking, using the elements and the spices in the right proportion. However, there came a time when he felt stagnated - he felt that there was nothing more that he could learn or perfect himself in his art, everything was just too perfect.


So, one day he went to the known wise man and complained about his feelings. Well, the wise man had thought for a while and asked the cook to make something for him. The cook just took the minor ingredients that the wise man already had at his disposal and made something truly tasty and amazingly nutritious. After trying the dish, wise man was baffled by the perfection that the cook had achieved. He said, "Yes,  there really is so much magic in your skill that you could make even a dead mammoth happy with your cooking, much more so a human. There is only one small flaw." The cook was surprised, and intrigued. He went back to his residence and started to think and experiment. So he did for a while, then came back to the wise man and asked him to check out his cooking once more. So the wise man again asked him to prepare a dish, which of course turned out to be even better than the previous one. The wise man said, "Yes, this is definitely even a better dish than the previous one. It is in fact so good, that if you feed hungry ghosts with it they would feel perfectly content and not feel hungry anymore. But there is one small flaw!"


The cook became very serious now, as he was clueless as to what could be wrong with his cooking. He went back and started to think and experiment even more. He did so for a while, and then came back to the wise man to see if he made any progress. Needless to say, the newly prepared dish was fit for some Celestial Beings much more so for any human beings. The wise man was very happy, he was laughing with vigor and praising the deities that they have allowed for this companionship to take place....."however..." he said, "there is one small flaw....." The cook looked at the wise man with the eyes full of sadness and silent prayer. He asked, "Please tell me what is it? I am out of ideas! My life would not be fulfilled if I don't figure out the answer to this riddle!" The wise man looked back, smiled as he always did in those special moments, and uttered "Dear Cook, you are too perfect, you have never let go of your skill, therefore you are bound to be a Divine Cook...." The Cook was intrigued, but these words only produced a laughter in him. He said, "But isn't that what I want?" "Isn't that what I am?" The wise man said, "Yes.....and no". "Unless you let go of that you can and know you will not reach the ultimate. That is how I feel now."


After this conversation the cook wasn't distressed anymore, but he stopped all that he was doing. He quit his job at the palace and became a yogi. To his close circle he became known as the Blissful Magician and had a reputation of being a really good cook.

Relax and Follow the Flow (unfinished)

Relax and follow the flow,

What more you should know?

The vintage respite from all of the world’s might.

It’s easy it's simple has no law attached,

Just follow the flow of the song and detach.

You are it, so it has been confirmed by the sages,

So free so amazing the essence of aging.

You are young by the flower’s oath, and by

Creator’s prayer. The wind you will answer,

And sword made of pollen proudly bare.

Provided A Microbe Is Really That Small (for the true lovers of science))

Provided a Microbe is Really That Small.

 

Science, science, science, class. Didn't know – but it exists.

Small and vial – artful guile. Microbes will all defile.

They are small and highly naughty,

Worse than Rat Pack on their night-outty. They jump and sit on your

Hands, holler and demand that you pay them respects!

 

Microbes will be and are such problem. They are swarming like an ant hill.

They are lively they are nasty – they will somehow make you hasty.

They don’t care if you lawyer, if you doctor if you’re Oscar-winning employer.

They will get you and won’t pet, and with nasty stuff infect your bread.

 

Now if you just mind and matter, and your hands just wash.

Microbes won’t project their platter of the nasty stuff that they themselves employ.

So just look and hear, listen. Have you ever washed your hands? Those microbes are

non-existent.

And subtracted from my skin.

Meditation On That Which Is Absolutely Blank.

Meditation On That, Which Is Absolutely Blank.

 

I have entered the desired state. Past affects I’ve burned like hell.

A little more and I’ll be blank…. If that is what I want myself.

“That which is blank is real, yes!“  Or so the Buddhists claim,

But they have not achieved it though. Whoever did has died insane.

 

That which is blank is special breed,

Of color and of smell, It is so big, and wide and all,

But really - its blank….

I was excited as a kid, a yogi and a sage, to definitely reach that state and absolutely did.

 

And now I’m free from all the thoughts. Or am I really free?

Just sitting here making noise, deliberately being me.

 

Is there greater power in the world, that’s simple and that’s free?

If you should reach it let me know – so both blank we be.

Poetry Hour: Cosmic Will Inside the Dot

Cosmic Will inside the Dot.


I have seen the beauty in a dot.

And have seen a dream within the palace.

 Gods themselves have blessed my lonely flight,
They, have filled my ever-empty chalice.

 I’ve imagined shapes that brought me joy,

Leonardo’s walked the path untrodden.



And  have marveled at the cosmic ploy,                                                                                        
InKing Solomon’s prayer reverently muttered.
But there never was a greater plan,

There does not exist more perfect of a coda,



Then the look and feel of simple dot,

Silent, booming voice of greater order.

 

Prayer for Peace

Prayer for Peace

 
May we all live in Peace,

May we all experience happiness and harmony for ever and ever


May we drink from the well of wisdom and generosity and enrich


Ourselves and those around us.

May we seize all self-conscious thoughts and  be blissful.

May we respect consent and confirm with dissent,

May the healing of our country and our planet come swiftly

And may we all live in Peace

Sword Dance.

I dance with my sword
I move with my blade,
I am empty I am true oh what a pleasure to be one with you!
I am a kid I am a man I am a boy I am a dread.
I know the moves that honor the ancestors
I know the moves that can defend and kill.
I swirl around defying death the only motive - not to cut myself!


I squat - it cuts, I turn - it thrusts - the lamp deflects off the light of blade,
Oh sword be nice and play my game,.


The beat of drum awakened the beast but the beast is tame, the beast is happy and insane,
let's dance on the razor edge - beast and man
different and same.

Poetry Hour: "Old Berserker" by Iggy.

Old Berserker.

 

An old berserker gnawing, bad;

His face is twisted, raging…..it’s scarred by war paws he has met, along his war-torn-trails.

He’s brooding, drunk, of all delights - delighted in his pain

 His best friend – rage, the only one that’s left impervious to death.

“Oh Holy Anger, greatest friend who hath become my patron,

I have destroyed so many men, their pride I used as weapon.

I killed and slaughtered left and right, dismantled many bodies

I also fooled the dwarves of a political might and sneaked around the law-bodies.

I snuffed out gold, I had no need in riches or in money,

And wished no-good on enemies I did, and killed them in my mind.

So hear me now the Sacred One, and properly respond please.

 I’ve been your faithful servant then, and always bid your will so,

 Just give me now the latest deal - as I have always given. Now listen,

My freedom is my rage,    

 my rage is my food,                                                                                                                          

 my power is my will,                                                                                                                            

my purpose is my strength,                                                                                                                   

my strength is my Grief,                                                                                                                         

my grief is my anger,                                                                                              

my anger is  my power!                                                                                                                                                 

Oh Holy Anger, be with me – propel me to my death now,

Bring healing balm, alleviate the pain and answer Viking’s prayer.

I’ll cross the plain where nothing grows, and meet old friends that I have lost

I’ll meet Old Man - and see his eyes, and won’t dread the loss of life.

The only thing I’ll miss, it’s true, the fighting storm and flower’s hue.

RAGNAROK.

I state and I share – is anyone there?

Listen the traveller and understand

The Ultimate Riddle/The Ultimate End

The Sagas has brought up before us I urge you to hear and see,

 

Is life to continue? Or is it to end?

Ass’ Will shall prevail - or horror?

How are we to know if there is doom by the well?

No walls will there be there before us…

 

A One God of Stalwarts has found the key,

And sacrificed Self to Himself… He

Fell back on Earth just to appear again  - as strong

And as cunning and this time (they say)

Was greater devoted to Freja.

 

He came in disguise – as an Old man we see Him:

His spear as sharp as his tongue. So who will subdue

This Hangadróttinn? Which creature in Cosmos will dare?

 

The only one known to have challenged the man – is hunger itself ; nothing’s greater.

The hunger for knowledge has slaughtered  God-man, oh joy is there any death I’d choose better?

 

This time the Wicked One fallen again – Yet Again! his smile as twisted as ever. He said, “Just wait….I ll return From the Chaos to face the Fernir again and face it - my hunger has never been greater."

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Humans

I've been getting many questions lately from the people of the various age groups. So I'll mention two here. One is from a person belonging to the teenage tribe, a freshman and an honor student, and it is "How to deal with the awkward situations at school?" Another one from a much more older person and a parent and it is, "What to do when a teenager distances him or herself from you, when you are trying to be friendly?"

1) The first question has to do with the fact that a teenager is usually encouraged to be a good student and not get distracted from their studies. This creates a separation between an adult and a young individual and the distance widens by the fact that then a young person has to look for an advice in other places - media, peers. As much as a listening ear from a peer (rhyme?:) is a plus, peers have to advise from their own standpoint of their experience, which is usually not great, but is there, and naturally, they want to be respected for it. However, if we recall ourselves in that age, usually it is a lot of neurosis, "do this or that thing", very reactionary, and very much based on a hearsay of other people's opinions. So, we have to look twice, and also understand our own past and our own approach to dealing with other people of the same age. My major set back has been my vulnerability - getting mad for no reason and harboring bad feelings. "My way or highway" as it were. It took me many years to start seeing those feelings in perspective and realize that the 1st thing that comes to mind doesn't have to be the only thing available as a response or the answer to the problem of communication. As a result I often times hold back on any response, and rather choose to have a momentary lapse in the conversation, before I gather my talents, and choose a good response based not on the reflexes, but on something else, call it what you may - reason, experience, or nothing. I think I can't go wrong if I offer it as an advice to a teenager.

2) The second question has to do with the approach. I think the teens usually feel that the "adults" simply don't understand their situation, thus inability to assist. That's true in many ways, as those who we call "adults" don't listen, because they think that they already know, and are very opinionated. This creates a gap in communication. I have tried this technique many times, but it became especially helpful during my student teaching in the last year of college. Back then I decided to do something radical - I erased the boundary of respect that has to exist between the students and myself as their instructor and simply allowed them to be themselves in class. This became a bona fide experience in communication as both sides of the teachers' desk started to feel very comfortable with each other, and there was created a bond of trust. The not-so-great aspect of this was the fact that my department, which was Social Studies did not understand what I was doing, and the fact that what I was proposing was a technique, and not just acting out of being young. Well, whatever it is I can't dwell on the fact that someone doesn't understand my approach, because it works. Erase the age difference, and listen to a teenager or whoever, as you would to an adult. They got a lot to say, and have an amazing level of wit and understanding of their own environment and what is needed to survive in it, from which we can learn.

To make a short summary. in the 1st case to avoid the situation of awkwardness with your peers - just wait. Gather up what you want to say, or accomplish during the next meeting with your friend, or whoever, then go in and share. Allow the silence to do the work for you. In the 2nd case - listen and learn. Forget about the fact that you earned respect - may be you haven't and yet to earn it. Erase the boundary and allow for the other person to be themselves.

Sincerely,

Iggy.

Quotes

                                            

It took me quite a long time to collect these quotes from various luminaries. None of them belong to me, they are all from someone. They don't have any particular structure in them, besides the fact that I found them very interesting. They had that certain....something that made me copy and save them....and now I share them. Many of  them have to do with the martial arts and way that I adore so much, there are other both eso- and exoteric topics too. This collection is a very personal one and I thank those men and women whose wisdom I am or have borrowed I suppose. Well....you be the judge...

Relaxation creates no force. Extreme yin that manifests itself as a yang by moving retaining its soft center.

In the words of the Mongolian Tiger: before I was a tiger strong but unapproachable, now I’m like a house cat – some nice women can put me on her knees and pet.

It is a difficult task to enter the spirit of a past time, as Goethe's Faust complains to Wagner: bygone days are a book with seven seals, and what we call the spirit of the times is basically our own spirit, in which the times are reflected.

Reputation for power is power

Thomas Hobbs

listen to the falling rain as it falls

Uknown

History and archaeology both show us that no progress in the quality or quantity of arms can secure peace. It can only lead us into ever more horrible and inhuman wars.

Thor Heyerdahl

He is gonna be a pretty sour, bruised up boy for quite a while starting with right now.

Announcer at Marciano vs. Lastarza

What is ‘power’?

Here is the definition as a noun:

the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others or the course of events.

Here is the definition as a verb:

move or travel with great speed or force.

Dr. Hammond

VALKNOT:Appearing in ancient sacred images associated with Odin. The "knot of the slain" is the symbolic sign of the coming together of the powers from the 9 worlds of the universe. This is the symbol of Odin, showing his power to bind or loosen the minds and souls of man, subtly affecting the knotted web of fate as he lays bonds upon them, so that they become helpless in battle, or he could loosen the grip of fear by his gifts of intoxicating battle-madness and divine inspiration. Valknot.

Odinvolk website,

“If you are in the character you can do anything”

Clint Eastwood

“And when you gaze long enough into the abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you”

Fredrick Nietzsche

Ayaw na mayan kaw magtimud sin way na (Don't try to scrape the plate when there is no more...) 

Bodhi Chenevey

The one that really sticks out in my mind comes from my mom. She’d always tell me that you have to be your best on your worst day, because what if the Olympics fall on a bad day?”

Linda Rousey

Think not lightly of your Guru should he lack letters and learning. Take the Truth he teaches and ignore the rest. Know well that a boat, painted and adorned, will carry you across the river; so also will one that is plain and simple

Avadhut Gita

Opponents confront us continually, but actually there is no opponent there. Enter deeply into an attack and neutralize it as you draw that misdirected force into your own sphere.

Morihei Ueshiba

Pride is the beginning of inattention, and the origin of destruction.

Tokimune Takeda

"The more you know you're a man, the more you become a god”

Athenian graffito.

“Charity starts first at home”

Muhammed Ali

Еще 50 лет назад ленинградская улица меня научила одному правилу: «Если драка неизбежна, бить надо первым».

V.V.Putin.

Дружба между мужчиной и женщиной очень слабеет при наступлении ночи

"Friendship between a man and a woman weakens considerably with the advent of the night"

Otto von Bismarck.

“Virtue is not photogenic”

Kirk Douglas

“Samootravlenie sobstvennoi fantaziei”

“Self-poisoning with self-fantasizing.”

Dostoevski

“The line isn’t wrong until you put a next one down”

Miles Davis answering a question about drawing.

E poi... volevo dirti che io ti amo che ti amo non meno di una volta, che ancora tu sei l'anima dell'anima mia. (G. D'Annunzio, Il piacere)

А потом ... Я хотел сказать вам, что я люблю тебя Я люблю тебя не меньше, чем когда-то, что до сих пор ты душа моей души. (Г. Д'Аннунцио, удовольствие)

“Na vremja obijatsa opasno I glupo”

"It's dangerous and stupid to be mad at time"

Director, Mark Zakharov

"The most beautiful sound I ever heard, was the sound of your key in the door of my life." -Bukowski-

“We loved with a love that was more than love.” —Edgar Allan Poe, “Annabel Lee”

Work is hard. Distractions are plentiful. And time is short

Author Adam Hochschild

paper is luxury. Some people think luxury is the opposite of poverty. It is not. It is the opposite of vulgarity. Coco CHANEL.

Study the kata completely, and then move freely without being hindered by the kata. However, all of that is kata. This is perfection. Sugino Sensei

Thanks for participating!

Iggy.