Seidr & Stav, finding the feminine in the Younger Futhark runes.

Stav is based on the 16 runes of the Younger Futhark

The healing arts within Stav: A Personal Perspective

I work within the Stav lineage, and my teacher is Shaun. I was fascinated, yet slightly unnerved, to read the chapter on the healing bind rune in the recently published book, “Stav” by Roland Zerpe.

I am grateful to have so much of the tradition collated into one book. However, I feel unsettled by the lack of distinction between the tradition and the author's personal experience. Both are valid, but it’s important to clarify the difference.

So, I wanted to share my experience to add a different perspective.

Understanding the Six Healing Arts in Stav

In Stav, there are six healing arts:

Mott

Mott involves treating the physical body through techniques like massage, stretches, or movements similar to chiropractic sessions.

Lysgalder

Lysgalder uses the runes as a basis for open conversations. This may include creating a bind-rune for someone and explaining the meaning of each rune.

Lokkseidr

Lokkseidr involves entering an altered state of consciousness, traditionally through chant, to work in the non-physical realms.

Megin

Megin focuses on energy healing.

Murkgalder

Murkgalder uses rune magic without someone’s specific consent or understanding of what you are doing. For instance, I might create a bind-rune for someone to use as an amulet without explaining each rune's meaning.

Teinseidr

Teinseidr involves herbal medicine, which may include working with plant allies in a more shamanic manner.

I have used each of these arts at some point, but my primary focus is on lokk-seidr.

My Experience with Lokkseidr

I have been teaching and using lokk-seidr professionally with clients for over ten years. I want to balance out some of the negative comments about lokk-seidr with my professional experience.

Each of the healing arts listed has the potential to be dangerous. Yet, in the book, only lokk-seidr comes with a warning. Here is a more balanced view on the warnings I believe each of the arts needs.

Mott

It seems obvious, but using physical manipulation techniques—especially concerning the neck and back—without a proper understanding of the body and the client's health can be very dangerous. Just because a technique is based on a rune does not make it safe.

Shaun regularly performed a neck release technique on me, which helped my migraines. However, I dread to think of the damage that could occur without the right understanding.

Lysgalder

The danger here is less pronounced, as it tends to be more conversational. Still, if the practitioner isn’t fully aware of someone’s mental health or lacks empathy, this could potentially harm a client.

The book includes the passage: “The difference from lokkseid is that lysgalder is controlled and structured, with the healer having control of what is happening. In lokkseid, there is no control or safety mechanism.” This reflects the author's personal perspective rather than what can be achieved by an experienced lokk-seidr practitioner.

Just today, a client shared a dream with me. Using a lysgalder technique, I actively listened and shared the intuitive wisdom that came to me. She asked if we could journey for more guidance. So, I chanted and connected to her guides, receiving a powerful message for her. The two techniques blended perfectly.

If a seidr practitioner has no control and no safety mechanism, then I agree they should not be working with seidr. This reflects a lack of experience rather than an issue with the healing art.

The client remembered a previous journey I had done for her, where my guide covered my face. The client was being attacked by another magical practitioner, and my guide was hiding my identity. My safety mechanism is my guide. This relationship protects both me and my client during the journey.

Lokkseidr

There is a warning about lokk-seidr in the book, and I disagree with it. “There is a veil between us and the invisible world for a reason; seidr can be likened to tearing away this veil.” This may be the author's experience, but it is not universal.

Many of my clients were born without this veil fully in place or had it removed due to trauma. To define everyone as having this veil firmly in place ignores the reality for many people.

For me, lokk-seidr helped me decide when to put the veil in place and be fully in this mundane world, and when to lift the veil and connect. Before my training with Shaun, I had little control, which seriously affected my mental health.

Many of my clients and students have already had this veil torn off. They seek someone to teach them how to control when and to what degree the veil is lifted. With proper training in seidr, this can be achieved and is a huge support for many people's mental health.

Megin

The author asks, “What is the worst that can happen?” and offers no warning about energy healing. So, I will share my story as a cautionary tale.

A good friend was in a terrible emotional state before I started using lokk-seidr as a healing art. I sat with her, placed my hand on her heart chakra, and felt a rush of energy. She sighed, relaxed, and we sank into the healing.

At the end, she hugged me and headed home feeling amazing. However, I slept for over 24 hours.

Instead of grounding myself and channeling earth energy, I had given her mine. I never repeated that mistake!

Murkgalder

We need to be careful when using rune magic without clear consent. I believe free will and consent are the foundation of any healing relationship. It is too easy for a healer to make ego-based decisions and not fully appreciate what their client truly needs.

Of all the healing arts, this one carries my biggest warning.

Teinseidr

I can only presume that not including a warning about using herbs for healing was an oversight. Even herbs that are generally safe can interfere with mainstream medicine.

If you are using herbs as a tonic or for healing, educate yourself and take responsibility for your knowledge. Runic associations are only a starting point.

At the end of the chapter, the author comments, “Each rune in the bind rune can be seen as a descriptor of what humans need to thrive.” I wholeheartedly agree with this statement.

Conclusion: The Importance of Each Healing Art

I see each of the healing arts as equally valid, important, powerful, dangerous, and useful.

I want to reclaim the feminine healing art of lokk-seidr and shake off the fear-mongering surrounding my most beloved practice.