High Seat Rite

How the high chair rite is performed. **Disclaimer: This is not my work. This is the work of Katie Gerrard, who wrote the book: Seidr- The Gate is Open. I’m simply sharing it. **

Casting Instructions for ‘High Seat Rite’

Roles:

Seer- the one who journeys to Helheim
Master of Ceremonies- the one who directs the rite
Watcher(s)- the one(s) who watch and observe the rite
Battery- the ones raising the energy
Chorus- the ones invoking the spirits, and singing
Audience- the ones who ask questions
Purify the working space. For this type of working, you might want to invoke a disir circle for protection. Invoke the deities of your choosing: Freyja, Odin and Hel. Request Hel for permission to enter her realm, Helheim. BE AWARE OF THE ANSWER. If you feel that you received a no, do not try to continue with the rite. After youve been given permission, being to increase energy for the rite. Typically this is done through ecstatic dancing, drumming, where everyone is moving and acting in this. When the drumming quitens, everyone sits in a circle and begins to invoke the ancestors and wights.

Now, visualize the world tree in the centre of the space. The whole group begins to chant galdr, and the vardlokkur. Everyone should influence, move, clap, or otherwise take part in some physical way. This is all to ready the Seer. When the Seer is prepared, they are handed the staff and cloak. The Master of Ceremonies keeps an eye on the Seer, and will be the one who determines when it is time for them to pathwalk. Everything quitens. The Master of Ceremonies leads the Seer through the pathwalking, by directing them through visualization: You stand in a field amongst the soft, brown soil. Gradually, you feel yourself beginning to sink into the cool ground beneath your feet…

The Seer is physically led to walk in a spiral. This signifies climbing Yggdrasil. They start the pathwalking experience of journeying to Helheim. The Master of Ceremonies continues to direct them through this visualization. The Seer then sits on the High Chair, and is asked to explain what they see. The Master of Ceremonies will guide the questions. The Seer from this point on is not called by name. They are known as Seer to keep from ripping them from their trance. When the questions are finished, the Seer leaves Helheim. They are then called by their name, and brought back. The cloak is eliminated. The music stops, offering is provided, and thanks are created.