A practitioner of trolddom is called a troldmand. The troldmand is a paranormal kind of magician (unlike the stage illusionist), and can also be referred to as an enchanter, mage, magus, shaman, witch, thaumaturge, thaumaturgist, or theurgist. Troldmand (also troldmanden) is the proper male term and troldkvinde (also troldmander) is the proper female term. The word troldmand is still used in the Danish language today.
In the ancient practice of thaumaturgy, we study the paranormal in all of its aspects, and interact with the paranormal on behalf of our clients. Whether dealing with a ghost in a haunting situation; making contact with the spirit of a departed one, a spirit animal, vaettr or wight (earth spirits and magical beings); or in the removal of a possessing entity - the paranormal world is the world of thaumaturgy, and the profession of the thaumaturgist.
A troldmand is a combination of a spiritualist medium and a shaman. Trolddom encompasses these abilities as relates to spiritual interaction. Whether this interaction involves communicating with spirit or interacting with benevolent or malevolent spirit activity, conjuration or vanquishment of spirit or energy, etc., the troldmand is the intermediary with the Norse culture and the spirit realms.
Soul travel as it is known in shamanism is also related to trolddom. Shamanic traditions work on the basis that there are different levels of reality: the consensual everyday reality, and the other worlds. The world tree appears in most shamanic cultures and acts as the axis-mundi, or center of the universe, connecting the different worlds and realities. In the Northern tradition, the horse has related symbolic meaning, representing a means of transport to the other world (the shaman being the rider). Similarly the world tree is called 'Yggdrasil'. A troldmand, when in an altered state, can travel up, down, or along Yggdrasil to access the other worlds. As mentioned before, soul travel was used by the troldmand as a form of astral projection. Trolddom soul travel also appears in myth when Hermod rides to Helheim to petition the Goddess Hella to release Baldur, whose untimely death was caused by Loki. Some soul travel may include shape shifting. The key to trolddom is the altered state.
Necromancy has a place in trolddom, as the realms of the dead may be visited in soul travel in the same way as the realms of the living can. Troldmand often carried out the trolddom trance and dealt with ghosts and spirits. They also had the ability and knowledge to keep unwanted spirits of the dead away. Myth has its examples of necromancy; e.g. when Hermod journeyed to Helheim as mentioned earlier. Oðin and Freya both have a psychopomp role and share the souls of the brave, amassing armies to fight the forces of darkness at Ragnorok.
Meditation is useful for achieving altered states. There are many forms of meditation such as the quiet mind, intent meditation, deep meditation, etc., all of which are practiced by the troldmand.
The Perthro rune is the Norse Futhark rune of magic (specifically “knowledge of örlög” or “the mysteries of the universe”) and holds great significance to the troldmand.
Trolddom also connects with the bind runes. Bind Runes are the Futhark Runes combined or bound in a way that their magic (energy) directs itself into a desired way in a kind of magical spell.
Trolddom also connects with the valknut. Much has been said about this symbol, but some of the real secrets are still to be understood. The valknut is not simply a symbol of Oðin, but is more associated with the processes he undertakes. It can effectively symbolize the troldmand. Its knot of nine angles made by three interlocking triangles has been called the knot of the slain. While it can be a symbol of the dead, it is also a symbol of an altered state (these two concepts are intimately linked throughout the world). The slain are also those who accept their lot and are thus liberated to act their will. Oðin achieved this through an initiatory working which climaxed in his ordeal on the tree. The three triangles can be said to represent the three Nornir: Urda, Werdandi, and Skuld, the goddesses determining past, present, and that which is necessitated by the present (European heathens did not have any concept of future beyond this). The three Nornir map out Wyrd, and the magician knows his place (or limits/background) and works freely in accordance with it, possibly transcending it to some degree. The magician is a master of time as well as space. The nine points represent the nine worlds which the troldmand is at liberty to visit; thus the valknut symbolizes the process of transcendental magic in its most pragmatic sense. Oðinn rides through the universe on his magical horse taking part in this process, hence his association with this symbol.
The troldmand is both a thaumaturge and warrior, for he not only interacts with spirits (ghosts, spirits, demons, vaettrs, etc.), but also protects against them.
In the ancient practice of thaumaturgy, we study the paranormal in all of its aspects, and interact with the paranormal on behalf of our clients. Whether dealing with a ghost in a haunting situation; making contact with the spirit of a departed one, a spirit animal, vaettr or wight (earth spirits and magical beings); or in the removal of a possessing entity - the paranormal world is the world of thaumaturgy, and the profession of the thaumaturgist.
A troldmand is a combination of a spiritualist medium and a shaman. Trolddom encompasses these abilities as relates to spiritual interaction. Whether this interaction involves communicating with spirit or interacting with benevolent or malevolent spirit activity, conjuration or vanquishment of spirit or energy, etc., the troldmand is the intermediary with the Norse culture and the spirit realms.
Soul travel as it is known in shamanism is also related to trolddom. Shamanic traditions work on the basis that there are different levels of reality: the consensual everyday reality, and the other worlds. The world tree appears in most shamanic cultures and acts as the axis-mundi, or center of the universe, connecting the different worlds and realities. In the Northern tradition, the horse has related symbolic meaning, representing a means of transport to the other world (the shaman being the rider). Similarly the world tree is called 'Yggdrasil'. A troldmand, when in an altered state, can travel up, down, or along Yggdrasil to access the other worlds. As mentioned before, soul travel was used by the troldmand as a form of astral projection. Trolddom soul travel also appears in myth when Hermod rides to Helheim to petition the Goddess Hella to release Baldur, whose untimely death was caused by Loki. Some soul travel may include shape shifting. The key to trolddom is the altered state.
Necromancy has a place in trolddom, as the realms of the dead may be visited in soul travel in the same way as the realms of the living can. Troldmand often carried out the trolddom trance and dealt with ghosts and spirits. They also had the ability and knowledge to keep unwanted spirits of the dead away. Myth has its examples of necromancy; e.g. when Hermod journeyed to Helheim as mentioned earlier. Oðin and Freya both have a psychopomp role and share the souls of the brave, amassing armies to fight the forces of darkness at Ragnorok.
Meditation is useful for achieving altered states. There are many forms of meditation such as the quiet mind, intent meditation, deep meditation, etc., all of which are practiced by the troldmand.
The Perthro rune is the Norse Futhark rune of magic (specifically “knowledge of örlög” or “the mysteries of the universe”) and holds great significance to the troldmand.
Trolddom also connects with the bind runes. Bind Runes are the Futhark Runes combined or bound in a way that their magic (energy) directs itself into a desired way in a kind of magical spell.
Trolddom also connects with the valknut. Much has been said about this symbol, but some of the real secrets are still to be understood. The valknut is not simply a symbol of Oðin, but is more associated with the processes he undertakes. It can effectively symbolize the troldmand. Its knot of nine angles made by three interlocking triangles has been called the knot of the slain. While it can be a symbol of the dead, it is also a symbol of an altered state (these two concepts are intimately linked throughout the world). The slain are also those who accept their lot and are thus liberated to act their will. Oðin achieved this through an initiatory working which climaxed in his ordeal on the tree. The three triangles can be said to represent the three Nornir: Urda, Werdandi, and Skuld, the goddesses determining past, present, and that which is necessitated by the present (European heathens did not have any concept of future beyond this). The three Nornir map out Wyrd, and the magician knows his place (or limits/background) and works freely in accordance with it, possibly transcending it to some degree. The magician is a master of time as well as space. The nine points represent the nine worlds which the troldmand is at liberty to visit; thus the valknut symbolizes the process of transcendental magic in its most pragmatic sense. Oðinn rides through the universe on his magical horse taking part in this process, hence his association with this symbol.
The troldmand is both a thaumaturge and warrior, for he not only interacts with spirits (ghosts, spirits, demons, vaettrs, etc.), but also protects against them.
