For some years now, in fact, the better part of the past decade, I have emphasized the need and desirability to slay one's ego in concert with achieving any meaningful progress. I have lived by this very rule myself for more than a decade now. However, as I listened with great interest one day not too long ago, to another Gothi and Kinsman of mine (who was once my Apprentice) echo my hero's journey metaphor regarding slaying the ego in order to advance and ascend to the next level of initiation. I was both proud of his teaching mannerism and his point hitting home with the neophyte. More so, this other Gothi had taught me something when he echoed my own teaching, albeit unbeknownst to him.

It seems that the very reverberations of my lesson to him had penetrated deeply within my subconscious, which would, more than a week later, surface in my own meditations and thereafter inform me of the inadequacy of my earlier teaching; thus warranting some adjusting. Feedback indeed.

Though I had always stressed the difference between the positive and negative ego, I had never the less advised, and staunchly so, the suppression of the ego in order to advance upon our Northern path. This would be an oxymoron wherefore I teach these same men in esoteric studies-the need to embrace the dark as well the light if they would come to know and understand the balance in all things. For does not the ego exist in both, the shades and the realm of light? Indeed it does.

In light of the afore stated, I am now compelled to adjust my earlier teaching to encompass the positive ego and the negative ego as two separate egos in relationship to the self in its entirety as the id. In asserting thus, I must now advise that while I continue to advocate the identification and suppression of the negative ego as a means of procuring progress and advance­ment, I would be remiss if I omitted to equally assert the validity of the positive ego and the role it assumes as the id in aiding in our subjective, evolutionary transformation on a continuum. Be it not for me to leave the matter at bay in the shallows of assumption that it was to be an automatic understanding.

The inroads to the Northern path are manifold and oft fraught with uncertainty. It is neither my desire, nor inclination to contribute to the myriad of uncertainties at large within our path, wherefore your growth and endeavor toward ascension and self transformation are in regard. Quite the contrary. For it is my sincere desire to guide those worthy souls over the Isa Bridge and into the very clutches of mystery and the esoteric in an effort to assist the seeker in descrying that wisdom via the vehicle of experience.

I realize that this month's Hof service is more academic, or exoteric than my usual fare, albeit, I believe it will go a great distance towards taming the ego and thereafter afford one the means to achieve a greater degree of advancement in the deeper and esoteric studies of our noble path.

Certainly more than the usual food for thought, albeit well worth the contemplative journey during the tide of new beginnings and growth.

I remain in service to the Gods and folk of the Holy Nation of Odin.

In Frith with thee always.

Perform an Odin's Blót and meditate upon the following runes:

Ansuz( ), Dagaz ( ), Eiwaz ( ), Kenaz ( ), Hagalaz ( ), Nauoiz ( )

and Mannaz ( ).

Certainly more than the usual food for thought, albeit well worth the contemplative journey during the tide of new beginnings and growth.

I remain in service to the Gods and folk of the Holy Nation of Odin.

In Frith with thee always.

"If struggle, controversy and hardship are absent from your life... Surely you must be dead inside and therefore, incapable of growth." --Dr. Casper Odinson Cröwell, Ph.D.