Modern Norse Shamansim

January 2025 – October 2025 at Illuminations in Cedar Rapids, IA

Embark on a 10-month exploration of Seiðr and Norse Shamanism with Laina Pilkenton, a shamanic practitioner. This 10-month course includes an exploration of spiritual and mystical traditions, as well as modern wisdom teachings from the Norse gods and goddesses. Throughout the year, we will explore the following things:

• Navigating Yggdrasil, the World Tree
• The Inhabitants of the Nine Realms
• The Norse Sagas and Myths
• The Norse Gods and Goddesses
• The Norns
• The Witte Wieven (Wise Pale Ladies)
• Seiðr and trolldomr
• The Elder Futhark
• Other rune variations
• Crafting your own set of runes
• Staves, sigils, bindrunes, and signature runes

• Divination and prophecy
• Shapeshifting (Hamrammr)
• Refining the weave
• Tool crafting
• Aspects of the soul
• Galdr and Galdic chanting
• Blót (offering ceremony)
• Ancestor connection and veneration
• Shamanic journeying
• Conducting ceremony
• How to work with the runes in our modern lives

Tool Crafting and Ceremony

The work that you complete in this course requires reflecting on your spiritual journey, your work with the gods and goddesses, your connection to the land, and your ancestral work. You will be required to either craft a spiritual tool that reflects your personal practice and spiritual work or to design a ceremonial practice based on your own strengths and perspective. 

Throughout the year, we will hold various ceremonies that are designed to help you determine how you add to the structure and flow of ceremony. On Ceremony Day in October, each student will present and utilize their tool(s) and/or ceremonial practice. 

One-on-One Session With Laina

This course also includes a 60-minute 1:1 session with Laina that can be used to discuss your spiritual journey, your connection to the Norse gods and goddesses, ancestral work, divination practices, shadow work, tool crafting, etc. You can also utilize this session for spiritual guidance (a reading) or energy work.

Enrollment

If you are interested in enrolling in this course and would like to pay for the full 10 months in advance, you are eligible for a discount. To do this, please reach out to Laina directly via email at lainapilkenton@gmail.com. This course is capped at 22 students. Once it is full it will be full for the year. Please be sure that you are ready to commit to the full 10 month series prior to registering so as to avoid taking the spot of someone else who is ready.

January 4, 2025 | 10:00 am - 6:00 pm | $130

The Way of Fire and Ice

Month 1 - Journey into Norse Shamanism and the healing practice of seiðr throughout this course. This month, we will explore Norse mythology including the creation of the cosmos, the World Tree Yggdrasil, and more. This 10-month course also features a series of energetic transmissions or rites from the Norse gods and goddesses that are designed to help you discover your true essence and align with your highest destiny.

January Rites: Refining Fire with Loki and Clarifying Ice with Skaði. These two Rites utilize the powers of fire and ice to cleanse and clear your aura, and energy system, as well as your mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical body of anything that no longer serves your highest path or destiny. 

February 1, 2025 | 10:00 am - 6:00 pm | $130

The Nine Realms

Month 2 - Continued studies in Norse mythology including the Nine Realms, the 12 realms of Asgard, the roles of Giantesses and Dwarves, the three-fold gift of the Aesir, The Serpent, the Squirrel, and the Eagle, and more.

February Rite: The Sun and Moon Rite with Freya and Hel. This Rite is an alchemical Rite that weaves gold and silver threads into your luminous energy field (aura) thus enhancing your connection to the Sun and Moon. It also works to weave supportive threads between the conscious mind and the subconscious mind.

March 1, 2025 | 10:00 am - 6:00 pm | $130

The Aesir and the Vanir

Month 3 - Learn about the Aesir and Vanir Norse gods and goddesses, their specialties, and how to work with them in these modern times. We will also discuss how to maintain the relationship of sacred reciprocity with the gods and goddesses who choose us. During class, we will also take a journey to connect with a god and a journey to connect with a goddess.

March Rite: Releasing individual, inherited, and collective anger, guilt, and shame with Angrboða. We cannot step into our highest path if we harbor anger, guilt, fear, or shame within our minds and bodies. During this Rite, we connect to the Jötunn Angrboða who resides in a place referred to as the Járnviðr (Ironwood) to begin the process of releasing these dense energies.

April 5, 2025 | 10:00 am - 6:00 pm | $130

Taking Up the Runes

Month 4 - Learn about the meanings of the Elder Futhark runes, their history, and how to work with them. In this class, you will also make your own set of runes, have practice time using them for divination, and participate in a rune reading ceremony. Other topics include rune walks, bindrunes, signature runes, staves, and sigils. We will also take a journey to connect on a deeper level with the runes.

April Rite: Feminine Empowerment Rite with Frigg. Specializing in domestic matters and feminine wisdom, Frigg embodies the archetypal matriarch. She is also an excellent businesswoman. During this Rite, we connect with Frigg for a transmission designed to heal, empower, and strengthen our feminine aspect of self.

May 3, 2025 | 10:00 am - 6:00 pm | $130

The Norns

Month 5 - Learn about and connect with the three norns Urðr, Verðandi, and Skuld. Learn the significance of their roles, what we can learn from them, and how we can work with them individually and as a collective. Journey to connect with the three norns to learn more about your individual path and journey to connect with your personal norn, the norn you were assigned at birth. We will also conduct a group Norn Water Ceremony to honor the norns. Additional topics include the concepts of fate and destiny and how we can access the highest versions of those via a process called “Refining the Weave.”

May Rite: Masculine Empowerment Rite with Tyr. Considered the most honorable of the Aesir, Tyr embodies the Honorable Masculine. During this Rite, we connect with Tyr to heal, empower, and strengthen our masculine aspect of self. 

June 7, 2025 | 10:00 am - 6:00 pm | $130

The Multi-Faceted Soul

Month 6 - Within the Northern tradition, there are multiple aspects of the soul. In today’s class, we will explore each of those aspects (Lík, ǫnd, Óð, Hugr, Minni, Hamr, Fylgja, and Hammingja), and how they inform us about our spiritual practice and life path journey. We will journey to connect with our fylgja and our kínfylgja. 

June Rite: Bifröst Rainbow Bridge Rite. The god who controls the Rainbow Bridge to Asgard known as the Bifröst, Heimdallr sees and hears all. It is said that he can even hear the wool growing on a sheep’s back. During this Rite, we connect with Heimdallr to enhance our connection to the Higher Realms and to Source.

July 5, 2025 | 10:00 am - 6:00 pm | $130

Shapeshifting and Animism

Month 7 - Explore the Northern concept of hamrammr (shapeshifting and animism), as well as other spirits we come into contact with such as the landvættir, and house spirits. We will also learn about the Wise Pale Ladies of the Low Countries known as the Witte Wieven. We will also take a deeper look at the role of the völva, the Norse Viking witch, as well as the role of prophecy and divination in our modern lives.

July Rite: Expression of Divine Will Rite with Bragi. Breath is one of the three-fold gifts of the Aesir, which means we should utilize it wisely. As human beings walking conscious paths, we should be aware of the power of our words and the creative energy of our thoughts. During this Rite, we connect with Bragi to remember the power we hold and to enhance the expression of our Divine Will.

August 2, 2025 | 10:00 am - 6:00 pm | $130

Aligning With Your Highest Destiny

Month 8 - Learn about the evolution of souls according to Norse mythology, the cyclical nature of how the dead gives way to resurrection, death, the afterlife, and reincarnation. Also learn about the Twelve Heavens and the Norse concept of salvation. Learn how to create a Rune Soul Chart to shed light on your life path, gifts, needs, and highest destiny. Participate in a galdr chanting ceremony.

August Rite: Gifts of the Ancestors Rite with Hel. In addition to enhancing our inherent gifts, this Rite helps us unlock the gifts our ancestors passed on to us. This Rite also unlocks and integrates gifts and abilities from past lives.

September 6, 2025 | 10:00 am - 6:00 pm | $130

Practicing Trolldomr and Seiðr (Continued)

Month 9 - Advanced practices: further explore how to practice trolldomr and seiðr. Begin preparing for Ceremony Day in October. Participate in and assist with facilitating a High Seat Ceremony.

September Rite: Universal Wisdom Rite with Odin. Understanding that we have access to Source and Wisdom from the Cosmos is a critical part of walking a conscious path. This Rite strengthens your connection and access to Universal Wisdom.

October 4, 2025 | 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm | $40

Month 10 - Ceremony Day - Class will not be held at Illuminations. Presentations: present your tool(s) and/or ceremonial practice during our three ceremonies: Álfablót, Dísablót, and god and goddess blót. An overnight retreat option is available for an additional cost.

More About This Course

This course is intended to deepen your knowledge of Norse mythology, the gods and goddesses, and concepts and practices within Norse shamanism. Please note that this is not an apprenticeship nor is it a certification for a modality. After completing all 10 classes, you will receive a Certificate of Completion.