A Vanic Priestess during a ritual in the Hafr eða Griðungr Templet which involves several animals that are sacred to the Storish Vanafolk.
A Vanic Priestess is a Vanakvinna who officiates in sacred rites and/or performs or presides over rituals and ceremonies of the Storish Ancient Ways. The role of Vanic Priestess has since times ancient beyond the memory of woman been recognized as a Sacred Calling, for those who wished to serve a Vanic deity, within one of the many Temples which were built in His or Her honour. In Stormark and its Bilander Vanic Priestesses are held in very high regard and treated with the utmost of respect.
About
A Vanic Priestess is a vessel of Eternity… a servant of the Divine, of Truth, of Beauty, of Wisdom, and a conduit of Love. She is a woman awake in her femininity and the power of the Divine Female in her body temple. She is a spiritual activist doing the work of the Divine in the world. A seeker, a mystic, a poetess, a dancer, a lover, a warrior, a mother, a sorceress, a crone, the Vanic Priestess allows all of the ways of the Divine to live in her. She is a revolutionary force of kindness and compassion and strength and fortitude. Dancing with the elements, she practices self-love as a devotion to the Divine. She listens. She responds. She is still and moving at the same time. From her connection to Divine, she is a beacon of spirit and soul, radiating blessings around her and enlivening any being who comes into contact with her.
Everyone is the artist of their lives, and the Vanic Priestess is trained to become a devotional artist of service and healing. She is rooted in her internal relationship with spirit and from there she can do inspired work in the world. When a Vanakvinna becomes a Vanic Priestess, she enters into seriously playful intimacy with the powers that create our lives. She roams purposefully in the wilds of her heart, letting her authentic nature guide her.
One ancient way of referring to the Vanir is, "They Who Hear the Cries of Reikistjarna." The Vanic Priestess hears these cries, she feels them in her body, indelibly etched in her cells. The Vanic Priestess has an inborn sense of responsibility - literally the "ability to respond"– which motivates her to a life of service. She cultivates her life as a practical mystic, being a leader by her radical choice to fully inhabit her feminine nature. The Vanic Priestess is a pillar of support and a chalice of guidance as humanity writes this next chapter of the Great Story.
Becoming a Vanic Priestess
Ever since times ancient beyond the memory of woman there are seven stages in the process of becoming a Vanic Priestess. Each of those stages, except for the seventh and final stage, lasts at least thirteen moon cycles.
The seven stages of Vanic Priestessly Initiation are:
- Fledgling;
- Novice;
- Temple Handmaiden;
- Sacred Voyage Lady;
- Priesstess Trainee;
- Priestess Initiate;
- Priestess.
A Fledgeling is a female who enrolls in a temple of a Vanir God or Goddess of whom she should like to become a Priestess. Such Lady must upon joining the aforesaid temple take vows of secrecy. Fledglings are under the direct supervision of a Fledgling Mistress.
The newly Vanic Priestessly Initiate shall in this part of the initiation process serve as a temple attendant. She shall also train in the sacred arts of the Ancient Ways - such as yoiking, dancing, spinning, archery, meditation, yoga, and gardening as well as study recipes, artwork, poetry, songs, prose, prayers, rites, rituals, spells, ways to connect and commune with the Vanir, and practical Divine wisdom put together by countless generations of Vanic Priestesses, all in preparation for her future ordination.
Stage 2: Novice
When the temple leadership is satisfied that a Fledgling has gained sufficient knowledge and skills they may create her a Novice. This occurs in a special ceremony.
Novices may assist Priestesses and more senior Vanic Priestessly Initiates as temple attendants with rites, rituals and ceremonies as well as other duties, tasks and functions. They also keep enriching their knowledge and skills, especially their ways to connect and commune with the Lords and Ladies Divine. Novices are under the direct supervision of a Novice Mistress.
Stage 3: Temple Handmaiden
A Novice who (already) has received the Gift of Fertility and is able to reach the Higher State of Mind may, through a special ceremony, be promoted to Temple Handmaiden in the event that the temple leadership deems such Novice worthy of such rank. A Temple Handmaiden is assigned a (senior) Priestess as a mentor.
As a Temple Handmaiden the Vanic Priestessly Initiate makes her first voyages to Vanaheim - the home world of the Vanic Lords and Ladies Divine - to get acquainted with that Sacred Realm, takes for the first time - under supervision of her mentor - part in sexual rites and rituals, and may also with the guidance of the aforesaid (senior) Priestess preside over rites, rituals and ceremonies.
Stage 4: Sacred Voyage Lady
After having successfully completed the stage of Temple Handmaiden, this once again to be determined by the temple leadership, the Vanic Priestessly Initiate becomes a Sacred Voyage Lady.
A Sacred Voyage Lady is required by Vanic custom ancient beyond the memory of woman to accomplish a seven-year working trip, which is called the Sacred Voyage Lady Years, in which she travels throughout the world from temple to temple and from sacred site to sacred site to gain more knowledge, insight, skills and experience.
The Vanic Priestessly Initiate also pays several visits to Vanaheim to meet, commune and work with, and learn from the Lord or Lady Divine she wants to devote herself to in a much deeper way.
The purpose of a Vanic Priestessly Initiate's travels as a Sacred Voyage Lady is to allow her soul to mature into an appreciation of what it means to truly walk as a Vanic Priestess.
Stage 5: Priestess Trainee
In this stage the Vanic Priestessly Initiate enrolls in a temple of the Vanir God or Goddess she wants to become a Priestess of and also chooses her Priestessly specialization such as scribe, healer, teacher, initiatress, Seiðkona, wisewoman, etc. etc.
As a Priestess Trainee the Vanic Priestessly Initiate makes several more voyages to Vanaheim, may take independently part in sexual rites and rituals, and may also on her own preside over rites, rituals and ceremonies. A Priestess Trainee is assigned a senior Priestess as a mentor-promoter.
Stage 6: Priestess Initiate
This phase of the initiation process culminates in ordination as a Vanic Priestess. The Vanic Priestessly Initiate is, with the assistance of her mentor-promoter, to go through thirteen different Rites of Ordination, all in accordance with the ways and personality of the deity she wishes to devote herself to.
If the aforesaid efforts of the Vanic Priestessly Initiate please the Lord or Lady Divine he or she shall, in accordance with the provisions of the Ancient Covenant, appear to affirm the Vanic Priestessly Initiate as a Priestess of him or hers, exchange the solemn vows of sacred fealthy, and confer the full Priestessly Powers upon his or her devotee.
Stage 7: Priestess
After the affirmation, the exchange of the solemn vows of sacred fealthy, and the conferment of the full Priestessly Powers, the Vanic Priestessly Initiate has become a full-fledged Priestess and shall serve, while walking her own Priestessly Path, the Vanic God or Goddess she has devoted herself to at a temple or as a wandering Priestess.
The Priestessly Path is an incomparable journey of personal growth and spiritual evolution. It opens the portal of one's heart, deepens one's knowing of one's purpose, enables one to come into one's true power, expands one's reality, and promotes one's verisimilitude.