There are names in many languages and cultures or even within each culture, separate cults with different names for 'forces of nature'. Allies, guides, elementals, fairies, elves, gnomes, leprechauns and so
list would grow into thousands. How many different dimensions or M-branes we might interact with at some level of our 'cosmic soup' is part of question? There are different ways to access and varied levels or degrees of access. Not all are reliably replicable by same techniques. Some element of consciousness exists in these ethereal forces which chooses not to communicate according to factors beyond control of soul or human who wishes such contact. Certain times are more propitious for such contact according to most beliefs that seek to relate with these forces. The differing brain wavelengths of people make separate variations of ritualistic methods necessary. A medium, sensitive, or psychic will have their own biorhythm to control and 'center' or 'fix' if they want to commune with any of these endless variations of force. At one level or dimension a force might appear a certain way but it too may be impacted by forces from another dimension. The shamanic 'Tree of Yggdrasil' has similar ethnic relatives such as Hebraic 'Tree of Life' and though this universal 'tree' is more than simple primary forces that constitute 'allies' it is necessary perhaps to know a lot more in order to see nature of forces in general. We have words of a 'practical guide' that uses few ritualistic or cultish prerogatives to guide us a little in this trek beyond world we see that seems so important. "According to some shamanic traditions of northern peoples, Upper, Middle and Lower 'worlds' comprised nine realms of existence and these could be indicated on Tree of Yggdrasil.
At top of vertical column was a 'heavenly' realm, sometimes called Asgard, where celestial beings existed. Below it was 'Place of Enlightenment' - realm of Mind, Abode of Thought, and fertile birthplace of Ideas. In middle was realm of material manifestation which was conditioned by Time, Home of personality self and of ego-consciousness {With conditioning galore and little ease of escape to find essence of other more inclusive 'realities'.}. Below was a subterranean realm, related to subconscious activity, where shapes were formed from thought patterns…
{N.B.-creativity and hallucination are closely connected. Right Thought or integrating purpose of creator with created is part of dynamic.} In matter of using primary forces with their North, South, East and West locations and Wind, Fire, Water, Earth expressions we must remember our perceptual starting point may limit these forces ability to allow their conscious reality to meld with our INTENT! Nothing is more important than intent to a practitioner of what has been known as 'black arts' to those who priests sought to keep ignorant of their own use thereof.}.
At base of column was a realm of inertia - Place of Potential. It was sometimes referred to as 'Hel' - a Germanic word meaning 'covering', because it covered deepest areas of unconscious. It had none of associations attributed to fiery 'Hell' of myths of later religions. {Plagiarizers and ridiculing epithet hurlers.}
On horizontal plane were other aspects of being and of experience, which similarly formed part of 'hidden' knowledge of shamans.
The Runic shamans of ancient northern peoples acquired 'hidden' {Trans. 'occult'} knowledge by use of angular symbols (Runes) which could easily be carved on wood or chiselled into stone. Contrary to modern belief (based on conjecture of some anthropologists), Runes were not simply a secret code whose characters were used as substitutes for letters of common alphabet. It is likely that majority of Runic shamans could not read or write their own language, or Latin, which became language of scholar after Roman influence. Runes actually represented patterns of manifestation and laws responsible for shaping forms {N.B.AGAIN!} into which energies could find expression. They were - and are - symbols of a Cosmic language, and are valid on all levels of existence.
In Runic 'alphabet', known as Elder Futhark because it is considered oldest of known Runic systems {Divinatory systems have been around since man first thought. The sticks of I Ching and black and white painted sides of coconut shells used by 'Orisha' worshippers such as voudou and Santeria, are probably far older than any European hominid, and certainly any white man.} and because word 'f- u-th-a-r-k' is made up of its first six characters, there are twenty-four Runes. There are also just twenty-four possible paths between nine realms indicated on Tree of Yggdrasil. So Runes can serve also as 'travel permits', enabling Runic shaman to explore Inner Space, and as 'passports' to these other realms of existence within Cosmic Web.
Shamans of Britain and Northern Europe were thus aware that Cosmos functions at different levels of existence, and that these broadly correspond to various aspects of mind. Such a concept was fairly widespread among indigenous peoples, and can be seen represented on certain tribal artefacts, such as totem poles of red-skinned Indians of western North America {Actually not red-skinned but'-the use of ochre as a spiritual protection among Beothuk of Labrador led Europeans to ridicule all Indians in this manner. The same can be said for how Kelts were portrayed as tattooed 'savages' by Caesar.} and brown-skinned Maoris of New Zealand, {Who with British help in 19th century wiped out last Kelts on Chatham Islands.} or specially carved crystal wands used by some American Indian shamans. {The sceptres of European royalty and popery.} These artefacts often depicted three principal 'spirits' on top of one another, supported by an animal-like figure at bottom. On a totem pole top figure usually had wings to suggest an ability to travel far and wide. These figures could be used to symbolize aspects of human being, of principal levels of awareness, and of conscious, subconscious, superconscious and even unconscious aspects of mind.
Although these various states of mind were not recognized by modern psychology until end of nineteenth century, shamans had personified them as 'spirits' {Or aspects.} for hundreds of years. Kahuna shamans of Hawaii (once part of a mighty prehistoric continent called Mu, which disappeared under Pacific Ocean during an ecological disaster when Earth was pulled into a new and slightly longer orbit of Sun) likened subconscious to a 'hidden' spirit within human entity which although it was not able to talk, experienced emotion and secretly and silently served consciousness of individual to whom it was attached.” (4)
