Step inside...
Have you ever tried to return to all this?" he asked, gesturing. Quiet, warm, inhabited houses. Late-night cars. The real world...She shook her head. All fire burns, little baby. You'll learn. "You can't. It's one or the other. Nobody ever gets both." - Neverwhere, Neil Gaiman
Welcome to the personal website of Laure Lynch--writer, spirit worker, and Odinic Witch. (Also known in various places online as Gunnlod-Hjarta and Wodandis.) Here you'll find some of my thoughts on building a devotional, religious and magickal practice centered on Odin and Gunnlod, my patrons, as well as others in my personal pantheon.
If you're looking for oracular seidhr, please visit this page.
I am an odd sort of hybrid, spiritually. Although most of the Gods and spirits I work with are part of the Northern Tradition, a few are not; for this reason, among others, I no longer refer to myself as Heathen or Asatru. I have even begun to wonder, lately, whether I might be something of a syncretist. Although I certainly do not hold that the Gods of any one cultural pantheon are identical to the Gods of another unrelated culture based on Their similar characteristics and spheres of influence, it could be argued that it verges on syncretic practice to honor the Aesir, Vanir and Jotnar in combination,as I do.
Although many of my own practices, as well as my approach to spirituality in general, could be described as shamanic, I do not claim the title of shaman for myself (at this point) because I don't serve a human tribe in that capacity. Although I act as Gythia to a small and rather idiosyncratic Kindred, I do not feel called to be a priestess to the masses. I serve Odin as a mortal spouse, Door, seeress, and priestess (among other things). Quite simply, I am a Witch.
This site is meant to serve as a home for some of my writings that might otherwise disappear into the ether, as well as a staging area for material that will be used in forthcoming books. (For that reason, please respect the fact that all text here is under a copyright, and refrain from reprinting anything on this site without my written permission.)
Even more importantly still, it is my hope that my writings may prove helpful to those who come here seeking inspiration for their own spiritual practices. There is an abundance of material online and in books about working with the Jotnar and even the Vanir in a shamanic or magickal format, yet most of the available resources on working with the Aesir (Odin's family, the sky Gods of culture, the arts, communications, consciousness, and ascension) are limited to an Asatru or Heathen framework. I intend for this site and my forthcoming books to help bridge that gap.
Blessings to you on your path,
Laure (Gunnlod-Hjarta)
©2008
wodandis@gmail.com