Wolfs-Head

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Wolfs-Head: Óðinn, the Ecstatic God of Tethers & Skin-Turning
[Volume II of the Óðinn Trilogy within the Northern Otherworld Series]

by Shani Oates

Illustrations by BFR Art

Typeset, Layout, & Design by G. McCaughry

“As a transpersonal state, ‘berserkergangr’ has attracted a host of theories that attempt to explain or rationalise it as a drug induced frenzy, or insanity. Too few studies are open to the possibility of an enhanced state of spiritual intoxication, of ‘god possession.’ Being an ecstatic madness, that dedication to an extreme warrior code is more akin to the mysterious disciplines of the east that demand, privation, ordeal and self-sacrifice. It is the path of the zealot, the hero and the priest combined.” (…)

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5.25 x 8.5 inches. 240 pages. German Binding. Velvet Matte (Scuff Free) finish. Silver Foil stamping on Cover and Backcover. Thoroughly illustrated throughout by BFR Art, Fine typography, printed on Tango Opaque White 140M quality paper.
ISBN: 978-1-989339-06-0
5.25 x 8.5 inches. 210 pages. Hardbound 100pts, bound in Blue-Grey Setalux fine Italian bookcloth. Gold foil blocking on rounded spine and Blind Deboss Bind-Rune on the cover. B&W interior, with "Black-coloured" with Coarse Grain pattern embossing Endpapers. Blue & White Headbands. Fully Illustrated. Fine typography, printed on Cougar Natural Offset Smooth 160M archive-quality paper. Hand-numbered.
Limited to 705 copies | ISBN: 978-1-989339-05-3
5.25 x 8.5 inches. 210 pages. Hardbound 100pts, bound in Navy Aristo Eurobond leather. Gold foil blocking on rounded spine and Blind Deboss + Gold foil on the cover as well. B&W interior, with "Black-coloured" with Coarse Grain pattern embossing Endpapers. Blue & White Headbands. Fully Illustrated. Fine typography, printed on Cougar Natural Offset Smooth 160M archive-quality paper. Comes with a carton-plate insert glued on the interior, individually hand-numbered, and signed by the author Shani Oates.
Limited to 206 copies | ISBN: 978-1-989339-05-3
5.25 x 8.5 inches. 210 pages. Hardbound 100pts, Bound in Vellum-style 'off-white/light-grey' Genuine Calf Leather. Gold Foil blocking on cover and on rounded spine + Blind Embossing on the back-cover. Raised bands on spine. Gold-colored Satin Ribbon, as well as, brown & yellow cotton head & tail bands. 18-Karat Paint (or 24 Karat Gold Leaf appliqué) treatment on the edges.
Handmade 'rock style' blue and reddish marbled endpapers. Fully Illustrated. Fine typography, printed on Cougar Natural Offset 160M archive-quality paper. Glued, hand-numbered bookplate, signed by the author inside.
Comes with a Slipcase wrapped in handmade Nepal paper made from the fibers of Lokta (a native Nepali plant, also called the Daphne Shrub or Lokta Bush). This paper is unique in its texture and is acid-free. Features a huge wrap-around flat-bed printed motif.
Strictly limited to 33 copies | ISBN: 978-1-989339-05-3

Contents

Preface
Introduction by Ulric Goding, Magister of the Clan of Tubal Cain

Part One: Skin-Turners and Shape-Shifters
Inherited Virtue
Of Soul Dispersal and (reflex) Shamanism
Adoption of Animal Identity Through Hamr, Hugr and Fylgjur
The Exstasis of Skin-Turning and Shape-Shifting
Influential Medieval Literary Sources
The Scythian Wolf (Mother)
Totemism
Alamanni Wolves and Divine Twins
Dance and Ritual Guising: The Trance State.
Berserkir and Úlfhéðnar – Óðinn’s True Wolf Warriors
Warrior Culture Reclaimed
Motifs of Magic in Battle
Wulf on wealda – Herewulfas

Part Two: Tethers of Law and Death
Outlawry, Männerbunde and Wergild in the Icelandic sagas
Waerg/Warg: Becoming ‘Other’
Of Girdles, Withies, Rods, Sorcerers and She-Wulves
The Millennial Beast
Battle Beasts
Guðfani – Raven War Banner
Wælceasega – Carrion Host
Death Rites and Improper Burial
Lok: Matters of Justice, Law and Covenants
Wǽr-loga: Of Wards and Warlocks
Varðlo(k)kur: Of Warding and Binding the Dead
The Red Thread: Wyrd
Snakes, Dragons and the Wyrm
Dog Heads of War: The Cynocephalic Saints
The Legend of St George

Epilogue

Appendices
Appendix I: Etymology (selected terms)
Appendix II: Chronology (and corresponding poets)
Appendix III: Heimskringla (selected chapters)

Description

Óðinn’s identity as the Ecstatic God of the Tethers of Law and Death, is least recognised through his Skin-Turning and Shape-shifting techniques as gifts of the highest craft he imparts to a shamanic warrior elite. Those themes are explored in this volume, alighting upon a wide range of magics and histories identified within the Óðinnic cultus. Medieval source materials yield a wealth of information relating to Totemism; Ritual Guising; the Berserkir and Úlfhéðnar as Óðinn’s True Wolf Warriors; Motifs of Magical Beasts in Battle; the Wælceasega as Carrion Host; the Law and Covenants relating to Wǽr-loga; Outlawry; She-Wulves; The Red Thread of Wyrd, Warding and Binding the Dead, Varðlo(k)kur - the call to spirit; Dragons, the Wyrm, and finally, to the malefic sorcery of the Dog Heads of War, The Zmei, The Roggenwolf and the Bukka, whose presence in the wheat, rye and barley knots of the blessed harvest grains, all wend a path through to the real St George, to Green George.

Enchanted thread, girdles, withies and staves, seiðr and the völur are woven through the time-honoured mysteries shared by Beowulf, Grendel and his brimwylf (‘sea-wolf’) mother. Nordic culture drew inspiration and influence from the magical and martial disciplines of the Sámi, Slavic, north-European and Eurasian peoples. Invoking the divine ecstasy of creation, Shamen priests and warriors, stand ‘outside’ time. Óðinn’s antinomian challenges generated considerable friction within societal ‘law.’ The dehumanisation of the skóggarmaðr (wild men of the forest) outlawed for following his rule, rendered them indistinct from the forest-wolf’s status, and were perceived as equal quarry. Transpersonal experiences shaped their realities, relating to identification through a clan totem, namely the wolf, and later the dragon, wyrm and raven, not merely as wild beasts of battle, but of ancestry, mind, of wit and wisdom. Couched in ambiguities, the role of the Valkyrjur,’ the ‘handmaidens of Óðinn is re-evaluated, leading to a new conclusion for their association with (battle) carnage and the ‘Cult of the Dead.’