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"Good morning, class", Professor Rose smiled at the students as they took their seats, "Here are your Quizzes. You all did well on it. Everyone get ready to take notes and turn your textbooks to Chapter 41."
After she noted everyone was ready, the professor began the lesson. "Today class we will be talking about another complex runecasting method called the Worldstead layout.
The professor waved her wand and a drawing appeared on the board:
"As you may note, the words on this drawing are Norse. In our past lessons we noted that the runeset we are working with and many of the layouts are also Norse. The design on this cloth is called Worldstead. The pattern of this cloth mirrors the Norse �ttir of the Heavens (which points out North, South, East and West, and the quadrants between) is combined with the other most obvious division of "space", that of the nine worlds of Yggdrasil, to form the Worldstead design used to divide the casting cloth into fields of meaning", the professor explained, "I should also mention that the actual cloth does not have labels of the areas on it. These labels are to help us learn how to use this complex runecasting method."
"Using your books and the drawing on the board, can anyone name the nine areas of the cloth and what they mean?", Rose asked, then called on a young Gryffindor, "Laura?"
"Yes, Ma'am", Laura of Gryffindor answered, "The inner circles made up of Midhgardr-�sgardhr-Hel-Lj�ss�lfheimr-Svart�lfheimr give a reading of psychological state of, or influences on, the person. Those of Lj�ss�lfheimr and Svart�lfheimr are more "personal", while those of �sgardhr and Hel are more "transpersonal". The outer fields of Niflheimr-Muspellsheimr-Vanaheimr-J�tunheimr clarify the state of the objective universe and how it affects the person in question. Note carefully the special synthesizing function of Midhgard;the center;where all potentialities are (or can be) manifested."
"Good, Laura", Rose smiled, "Five points to Gryffindor. That's the general idea. Can anyone tell me what each area means individually? Maddy?"
"Yes", Maddy responded as she consulted her textbook, "Here are what the nine areas on the cloth are and what they mean individually:
Niflheim: Nordhr (North). That which resists you. Passive or restrictive influences from the outside. Things tending toward dormancy. The deepest part of the shadow in the unconscious. Nifelhel of Niflheim means literally "fog world". Fog is an intangible, insidious state between water and air. All the rejects of the conscious get deposited here. It is the place from which conflicts originate.
Jotunheim: Austr (East). That which confuses you. That which may be left to chance. Forces pressing for change. Realm of crisis. Disruptive, raw masculine forces of the unconscious; the destructive male urge; the chaotic part of the self.
�sgard: Landnordhr (Northeast). Higher influences. Nature of relationships with the divinities. The veiled branches of the question. Matters of honor, positive (active) influence from past states of existence ("incarnations:)--�rl�g. Individuality. Highest plane. Higher self. Spirituality.
Vanaheim: Vestr (West). Promotes growth. Erotic relationships. Persons of the opposite sex. Balancing influences. Forces of continuity, structure, and well being. Feeling (Water).
Lj�ss�lfheim: Utnordhr (Northwest). Mental influences. Family matters. Messages of Huginn;directions in which you should plan. What will help you. Paths to help you realize influences from �sgardhr. (Air). Plants, elves, tree spirits and birds are ruled over by Freyr, Lord of the Vanir.
Midgard: Center. The way people come together to manifest themselves in life. The outcome in life. Ego consciousness. The Personality, Ego Consciousness or Lower self.
Hel: Utsudhr (Southwest). Hidden or suppressed instinctual desires. Nature of automatic functions or behaviors. The hidden route of the question. Negative (passive, restrictive) influence from pasts states of existence&emdash;�rl�g. Destructive part of the Feminine, hidden fourth aspect of the moon; the devouring part of the mother; the half-alive half-dead daughter of Loki, half black, half white.
Svart�lfheim: Landsudhr (Southeast). Creative emotional influences. Money matters. Messages from Muninn&emdash;things you should reflect on. Paths to realize influence from Hel. Sensation (Earth). The Dark Elves are smiths, like Volund, working with minerals, taking base materials from the earth and transmuting them into higher materials.
Muspellsheim: Sudhr (South). State of vial energies, that which vitalizes you. Active influences from outside. Things tending toward activity."
"Very good, Maddy", Rose smiled, "Five points to Hufflepuff".
"Now we shall go over how we do a reading with this complex casting method. The runes are cast blindly upon the cloth and are read as they lie on the cloth in their areas of meaning. According to personal custom, runes which land face down may be read as murk-staves or they may be removed from the cloth and set aside. "Inverted" runes cannot be read as such operations of this kind. Those that fall off the cloth altogether should be disregarded. (Note, however, what these runes are;they may be significant by their absence!)
Once a final configuration has been established, a complex picture may appear. This kind of casting is sometimes so complex that it cannot be fully interpreted in one sitting (especially by beginning runecasters). Therefore, be sure and draw out a record of the casting. Often the direction a lot is facing;it may seem to be "pointing to" another lot;gives subtle clues which reveal nuances in the lot's interpretation. For this reason a sketched record is preferred. The true significance of the casting may not be realized until sometime later when you are contemplating the working record.
The pattern resulting from a casting upon the airts can be read in several ways. You may start from what is now manifesting itself in Midhgardhr and work out to the more remotely influential realms, e.g., from Midhgardhr to Lj�ss�lfheimr and Svart�lfheimr, and from this pairing to �sgardhr and Hel, and from there to the outermost realms of Vanaheimr. Or, you might reverse this process working from Niflheimr and Muspellsheimr back to Midhgardhr. Ultimately, intuition may be each runecaster's best guide."
The professor had the students practice runecasting using this method and take notes as she explained, "This may seem very confusing at first, but as you work with it, it seems to get easier."
She walked around the classroom assisting as needed.
The professor stopped at Annelicca of Gryffindor's desk. She seemed puzzled, "Am I doing this right, Professor?"
The professor checked Annelicca's work."Yes, that's correct, Annelicca."
Annelicca smiled.
All too soon the bell rang.
"As part of your homework, I would like everyone to tell me if you liked this runecasting method. Tell me what you like or don't like about it and why".
With a wave of her wand, Professor Rose gave the students their homework parchments.
The students gathered their belongings and proceeded to their next class. Rose smiled. The students had behaved today.
Featured in this lesson were:
Dippydaydreamer (Laura) of Gryffindor
brunette_chicks_rule (Annelicce) of Gryffindor
soccerchika101 (Maddy) of Hufflepuff
who had requested to be featured in the lessons continuously.
HOMEWORK:
1. What is this layout called? (5 hp)
This layout is called the Worldstead layout.
2. Explain why this layout is named as in question #1. (5 hp)
It is called the Worldstead layout because the design on this cloth is called Worldstead. The pattern of this cloth mirrors the Norse �ttir of the Heavens (which points out North, South, East and West, and the quadrants between) is combined with the other most obvious division of "space", that of the nine worlds of Yggdrasil, to form the Worldstead design used to divide the casting cloth into fields of meaning.
3. Name the 9 areas of the cloth and what they mean. (5 hp)
(Credit was given if students named the general ideas as well.)
Niflheim: Nordhr (North). That which resists you. Passive or restrictive influences from the outside. Things tending toward dormancy. The deepest part of the shadow in the unconscious. Nifelhel of Niflheim means literally "fog world". Fog is an intangible, insidious state between water and air. All the rejects of the conscious get deposited here. It is the place from which conflicts originate.
Jotunheim: Austr (East). That which confuses you. That which may be left to chance. Forces pressing for change. Realm of crisis. Disruptive, raw masculine forces of the unconscious; the destructive male urge; the chaotic part of the self.
�sgard: Landnordhr (Northeast). Higher influences. Nature of relationships with the divinities. The veiled branches of the question. Matters of honor, positive (active) influence from past states of existence ("incarnations:)--�rl�g. Individuality. Highest plane. Higher self. Spirituality.
Vanaheim: Vestr (West). Promotes growth. Erotic relationships. Persons of the opposite sex. Balancing influences. Forces of continuity, structure, and well being. Feeling (Water).
Lj�ss�lfheim: Utnordhr (Northwest). Mental influences. Family matters. Messages of Huginn;directions in which you should plan. What will help you. Paths to help you realize influences from �sgardhr. (Air). Plants, elves, tree spirits and birds are ruled over by Freyr, Lord of the Vanir.
Midgard: Center. The way people come together to manifest themselves in life. The outcome in life. Ego consciousness. The Personality, Ego Consciousness or Lower self.
Hel: Utsudhr (Southwest). Hidden or suppressed instinctual desires. Nature of automatic functions or behaviors. The hidden route of the question. Negative (passive, restrictive) influence from pasts states of existence&emdash;�rl�g. Destructive part of the Feminine, hidden fourth aspect of the moon; the devouring part of the mother; the half-alive half-dead daughter of Loki, half black, half white.
Svart�lfheim: Landsudhr (Southeast). Creative emotional influences. Money matters. Messages from Muninn&emdash;things you should reflect on. Paths to realize influence from Hel. Sensation (Earth). The Dark Elves are smiths, like Volund, working with minerals, taking base materials from the earth and transmuting them into higher materials.
Muspellsheim: Sudhr (South). State of vial energies, that which vitalizes you. Active influences from outside. Things tending toward activity.
4. Explain how this casting method is done. (5 hp)
The runes are cast blindly upon the cloth and are read as they lie on the cloth in their areas of meaning. According to personal custom, runes which land face down may be read as murk-staves or they may be removed from the cloth and set aside. "Inverted" runes cannot be read as such operations of this kind. Those that fall off the cloth altogether should be disregarded. (Note, however, what these runes are;they may be significant by their absence!)
Once a final configuration has been established, a complex picture may appear. This kind of casting is sometimes so complex that it cannot be fully interpreted in one sitting (especially by beginning runecasters). Therefore, be sure and draw out a record of the casting. Often the direction a lot is facing;it may seem to be "pointing to" another lot;gives subtle clues which reveal nuances in the lot's interpretation. For this reason a sketched record is preferred. The true significance of the casting may not be realized until sometime later when you are contemplating the working record.
The pattern resulting from a casting upon the airts can be read in several ways. You may start from what is now manifesting itself in Midhgardhr and work out to the more remotely influential realms, e.g., from Midhgardhr to Lj�ss�lfheimr and Svart�lfheimr, and from this pairing to �sgardhr and Hel, and from there to the outermost realms of Vanaheimr. Or, you might reverse this process working from Niflheimr and Muspellsheimr back to Midhgardhr. Ultimately, intuition may be each runecaster's best guide.
EXTRA CREDIT: For an optional 10 hp. Did you like this layout? Tell me what you like or don't like about this layout and why.
I received some good answers here. :)
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