Courses

Shaman or Showman? - Performance

In the novel "Sacred Ground" by Mercedes Lackey a character is asked whether he is a shaman or a showman. His reply acknowledges both. Ritual acts, whether or not they are strictly necessary, in a divinatory setting acknowledge the special nature of what we are doing and help us move more quickly to the correct mindset, putting our everyday mundane reality aside. For those who are inexperienced and nervous, invoking a deity or announcing what they are about to do can provide a confidence boost.

If a person goes to someone for an act of divination there is an expectation that the person they are consulting is skilled in what they are being asked to do and secondly that this is a special gift or skills and not something that just anyone could do. Even if this course demonstrates that learning the runes is relatively straightforward and that while they are magical they are not really mystical, that is not what most clients want to hear. Most want that little bit of Razzmatazz, those fancy gestures, those strange sounding words, a few props - just a little show put on for them. Rune casting then involves some human psychology and some showmanship.

In this lecture we will be examining the practical aspects of conducting a rune reading such as location, dress, props and ritual. Whilst a reading can be something that just happens, in many cases it is preplanned carefully to create the right atmosphere. In considering the planning of a reading there are a number of different types of factor which determine the content. These are

• magical/mystical
• devotional components
• magical/mystical components
• atmospheric/theatrical components
• practical components

Components

A "magical/mystical" component is one that interacts with and changes reality in some way. Thus it is genuine magic. For many readings the only component which falls into this category is the drawing and interpretation of the runes themselves. There are others though. If a Wiccan were to cast a circle and conduct their reading within the circle this would be a magical/mystical component of that reading.

Whether or not you are Asatru, and the majority of rune readers are not, it does not hurt to remember there is a complex mythology underlying the runes and at least acknowledge it. Even if you do not hold particular beliefs, be aware that others do and treat their deities with respect. Components of a reading which reflect the mythology or honor the deities are "devotional".

Those components whose only purpose is to create the correct ambience and so put reader and client into the correct mindset are classed as "atmospheric". Whereas those that are solely for the clients benefit may be called "theatrical".

"Practical" components are those which are common sense and offer a clear and measurable practical benefit, such as providing a table on which to lay the runes as they are drawn.

These assignments are not fixed, but depend on the personality and beliefs of the reader. A component of a reading, such as the use of a candle on the table, could be devotional for one reader and theatrical for another. A component can also serve more than one purpose. For example it is a good idea before starting any rune casting to wash your hands. This avoids getting your runes dirty and so it is of practical use but it also shows respect to them and acknowledges their magical nature (devotional). You may if you wish turn the washing into a simple ritual of purification. Along with the dirt visualize your fears and doubts washing away into the sink. Imagine a shining white light being revealed around your hand as the dirt is removed. Visualize this spreading along your arms..enveloping your body. Feel the power in and around you as you walk back to where you will do the casting. KNOW that you can do this. Thus in making the washing of your hands part of a ritual you have made it into a magical/mystical component of the reading.

Location

One can conduct a rune reading absolutely anywhere, whether it is half way up a mountain or in the middle of a swamp. However most of us will not carry out our readings in such extreme conditions. We will normally read in our home, our client's home or in premises procured for conducting readings. If the reading takes place at the client's home then the familiarity of the surroundings should put them at ease. What about in other locations though? The diagram below shows three room/seating layouts:

The first is similar to a standard office layout. There are two chairs, one of which is larger and more dominant. A wide desk keeps the two parties far apart. In this layout there is a clear power differential between the two seating positions. The person behind the desk is clearly a figure of authority and in charge.

In the second diagram all four positions are an equal distance apart. No seat dominates though any two people who are seated will be on different sides of the table. This layout thus continues to separate out reader and client.

In the final diagram both chairs are side by side. Again no single seat predominates and both people will be next to each other though this does restrict the space available for each. Some may prefer the coziness of this arrangement. Others will feel for a reading it brings the two parties too close.

There is not a perfect arrangement for setting out a room. Some readers prefer being close to the client whereas others like more space to layout the runes and also more distance so they can look at their client more easily. Like all these things, it comes down to the personality of the reader in the end. What we are seeking to do is make you aware that in any seating arrangement there are issues of power dynamics. Equally the color scheme of your room and furniture can send its own message. Blues and greens are thought of as calming colors for instance.

Props

An object which some rune readers use is a rune cloth. they form an inexpensive prop, reinforce the special nature of the runes and also help to avoid getting them dirty. They are used only on a special cloth which is placed on the table prior to the reading. As runes are drawn they are placed on the cloth. This can be a simple plain colored piece of material, silk is ideal, or it can be something much more elaborate. Some spreads require specially made rune cloths marked up with detailed designs, for example dividing the cloth up into Past, Present and Future or maybe the four elements. These type of rune cloths are particularly good with rune dice but can be used with any runes. One method which some rune casters adopt is to have a different cloth for each rune spread. The spread is marked out upon the cloth so that each rune can be easily laid down in the correct position.

Though the runes are grounded in the element Earth, different runes symbolize the different elements. For example Fehu (Feoh) is linked with the element Fire. Some runecasters like to have some symbol of the different elements on the table with them. The four cardinal points of the compass are also linked to the elements though here there is a complication as there are two different systems, as shown in the diagram:

It doesn't matter which system you adopt as long as you are consistent though as you will be aware from previous lectures, the Western system was the one used by the ancient Northern Europeans. Work out which way your table, cloth, work surface etc faces and place an object to represent the appropriate element in each compass direction. Something simple might be a candle for Fire, a saucer of water for Water, a feather for Air and a rock for Earth. In Norse mythology the universe was brought into being by the union of Fire and Ice and some rune casters prefer to acknowledge this instead, with perhaps a candle and a bowl of ice cubes. Having placed the objects representing the elements you will need to decide if they are purely decorative or if you will make practical use of them in your ceremony. You might for example want to pass the bag or runes or the deck of cards over each of the four elements in turn, saying a few words at each. Remember though that this is all optional, none of it is needed in order for the runes to work.

Ritual

Both for reasons of respect (devotional) and drama (theatrical) some readers like to include spoken ritual elements, often as the opening or closing of a reading. Here a little common sense is required. What is not needed is a 3-hour theatrical performance and rite to Odin conducted in Old Norse! The KISS methodology is a good principle to apply

Keep It Simple

There is a fine line between respect and indulgence which is around six lines of text. More than this and you are wasting your client's time. If you really need to conduct something this long do it before the client arrives.

Anything said in front of the client should be understandable by them, or you risk isolating them. Hence limit use of non-English words. So refer to the "Nine Worlds" rather than listing them for example.

Sincerity is obvious in simplicity and obscured by complex vocabulary and phrasing. If you are asking Odin to ensure your runes read truly and you interpret correctly, then say this. These were the gods of a largely non-literate population and the ancient farmers of Northern Europe managed to communicate fine with the gods. It is not necessary to use elevated poetic diction or to make what you say rhyme. We would not though advise you to invoke gods that you do not believe in, just for effect, though some people do. Apart from the potential danger of annoying deities, it undermines your relationship with the client which should be built on honesty. The client needs to have faith in what you say. If you say something in front of them and the client detects that you don't mean it then you have blown your professional credibility.

Performance

By "performance" we mean successfully linking the different components together. What is produced needs to be something that you feel comfortable doing. No purpose will be served unless it rings true for both you and client. While you may be giving a performance, you are not an actor and everything you do should be grounded in reality.

We are not surprised to be exhorted to "have a nice day" when leaving a store. The person saying this is a professional doing what is expected in their working environment. It is their "performance" but you will always remember the ones who say it as though they mean it. As a rune reader you need to:

• achieve the correct mindset for a reading
• put the client at ease
• convince the client of your reliability and trustworthiness
• speak confidently and authoritatively on the runes
• conduct the reading with confidence and professionally

These are the aims of your "performance" and any components which you build into your reading should fulfil one or more of these aims. Try things out first with a group of friends and ask them for their reactions.

Conclusion

Back in Lesson 14 we looked at how the runes were activated by your will (belief+intent). The types of ritual elements we have been discussing here do not activate the runes. However by putting yourself into the correct mindset and giving you confidence these reading components do enable you to activate yourself . With your belief in yourself strengthened and in the right state of mind to accept the other realms you will be able to manifest stronger will and so activate the runes more easily.

In essence this lecture is about confidence. Firstly building your own. With the contents of this course absorbed you should be able to recognize, name and describe the meanings of runes without reference to books. The more you do this, and the more practice you put in, the better reader you will ultimately be. Having self belief and acting with confidence is important because it can help to reassure the client. The other side of this then is the client's confidence. It is important to relax the client and to project an air of confidence and authority which persuades them to have faith in your abilities. The more a client trusts you, the more likely he/she is to listen and act upon the advice received from the runes. Ultimately any reading is about a client and their needs otherwise it is pointless. Projecting a professional image of yourself as a competent rune reader will help to ensure that clients not only attend readings but trust what you say enough to listen, reflect upon the message of the runes and make the necessary decisions in their lives.

You have completed the lesson. Read it as many times as you need to in order to feel you understand it. Then return here for:
Lesson 20 - Comprehension Tests, Reading and Further Exercises

Please ensure you complete these exercises before moving on to the next lesson.