Untitled - Awaken Video

Chapter 2. Connections 49
success or a failure, i.e. a functional worldview. In the 20 th century, there are
several problems which recur in the therapy rooms of counselors, psychologists,
and psychiatrists: feelings of isolation or alienation, depression, addictions, feelings
of powerlessness or victimization, low self-esteem and a variety of psycho-somatic
illnesses. Some seek out help from conventional medicine while others try to improve
their spiritual side by connecting with all different kinds of cults, sects, organized
churches or alternative medical practices such as homeopathy, shamanic counseling,
crystal healing, etc. The bottom line is that many would like to know how they fit
into the world as it stands today, and a good spiritual philosophy should be able to
define that role.
The ancient Germanic spiritual philosophy is applicable today in that it matches
well with the current knowledge base of the scientific and, in particular, the medical
communities, but, more importantly, by shifting modern man’s point of view from
material things more toward the relationships between events, people, places, etc.,
one is free to find one’s role in the overall functioning of the world in a realistic
fashion, free to relate to the world in such a way that all can benefit. The spiritual
explorer will find that after applying this weltanschauung, the role of any single
individual appears relatively small and usually fairly insignificant within the scope
of the entire picture, but also with this same realization comes a sense of belonging.
An incredible sense of freedom begins to develop out of the idea that the future
is still unwritten. At every turn of the present, one is granted a series of choices,
choices which will place him in the mainstream of life if he so chooses. Choosing
to look at the currents (relationships) flowing through the world rather than at the
myriad material things reminds people that they are never truly isolated; 40 the very
existence of any single person is, in essence,entirely dependent on the number and
quality of relationships that the individual has to the rest of the world; pathological
ego-centrism, which is the taproot of all the psychological problems listed above, is
not a part of this philosophy although self-enjoyment and love of life are certainly
good possible outcomes. Always, though, the answer to the first question is personal
and individualized.
Many changes can be brought about by the mere acceptance of this ancient
philosophy, but there are many changes necessary in the way a person lives before
benefits can be won. Individualism, for example, is a trait commonly ascribed to
the ancient Germanic peoples of the Viking Era (roughly 700 - 1000 CE) and even
40 Through this book the imagery of water, the flowing of water, movements of water are
prevalent. This is not an error. I have chosen to avoid the traditional interpretation of ”fate as
the universal weaving” mainly because I find it a tired metaphor, but also because the ancient
Norse (and the early Indo-European culture in general) placed the imagery of water into their
cosmologies. I personally find the concept of water much easier to work with and much more
prevalent in eddaic/ sagaic literature and in later folk lore as well.