With Goddess Skadi, Norse Goddess of Winter and Wolves – November 2024

‘Who are you? and who were you before that? and who were you before even that?’

If you have ever been to an Awakened Belly Dance Meditation with me, I will have spoken this phrase to you as I believe it to be one of the most important enquiries to ask of ourselves – Who am I?

When I ask this of you in the trance of dance, and now in this newlsetter’s words, it is an invitation to unravel all that is not yours, to peel away the layers that have gathered up around you; layers of societal and family expectations, peer pressure, the judgements and conditions of others, or those we have placed upon ourselves due to fear, worry, hope and love.

~ Perhaps you went down a career path, because it was what was expected of you (but you feel unfulfilled and have dreams untended)
~ Perhaps you stayed in a relationship long after it was healthy to do so (but couldn’t decide whether it was more painful in or out of it)
~ Perhaps you drink/smoke/eat a certain food/do a certain exercise because it seems trendy or S.M told you to do it (but know it doesn;t support your best self)
~ Maybe you feel like you should wear certain clothes, have your hair a certain way or go to certain events, speak with another’s words and tone, or only have certain friends because you want to fit in (but never feel completely comfortable and still never quite feel at home)

Beneath all the other, is you, your truth. Some layers, yes, may have been added with good intention or were necessary at a certain time or situation.

But we need to peel them off, or at least be able to see them for what they are and see through them to get to the core, the original essence of Self.  

Why?

So you can live your most authentic, and therefore, also fulfilled, life.

I have never been one who has found it easy to fit in. To many other people I have been ‘too much’ ‘too little’ ‘not enough’, sometimes too forgettable, other times too memorable – does this resonate?
I always knew in school, growing up and since, that it would take being lesser than myself to truly fit in.
And i could just never compromise who I am, even when it meant instead being alone, even when it meant carving a path different to the norm, even when I was faced with dissapproval, misunderstanding or rejection.

Fitting in can sometimes feel even more uncomfortable than being alone because it is not what you actually need to thrive and your opportunity for authentic expression and fufillment will remain limited as long as you are not true to yourself. 
I have had to stick to what i know to be true about myself (that I am deserving of love, valuable and enough, exactly as i am!!) and i’ve had to stuck to what i desire and know to be truth with a courageous and tenacious Wolf devotion i never thought possible of myself. I had to do it for me, cos I am the answer to all that I need and the only one responsible for my life and joy.
In the end, no one else can truly ever know what it is that need we want or need. We need ourselves to show up for us because we are the best person to do so.

Imagine if trees never put down roots, but expected the earth to just hold them. It is a point of meeting, the trees takes responsbility to send down it’s roots, knowing that the earth will accept, meet and offer its earth for those roots to anchor. It seeks the water knowing it will find it; it explores direction and depth until it finds a water source that can give it what it needs.    

To reach our greatest potential we must stick to our own authentic lane and follow the guiding light of our own heart and soul before any other opinion.

I loved the myth of the Norse Goddess Skadi as soon as I heard it! She is fierce, independent and sticks to her guns (well, a bow and arrow in her case).

She is one of the Wolf goddesses in my book ‘Wolf’ and she displays Wolf tenacity, determination and sticking power. She can inspire in you the very same energy.
In her myth she embodies the archetype of Lone Wolf; they who creates a path previously unknown – she seeks justice for the murder of her father, she leaves her husband to return to her own land and she finds peace in aligning with her truth and honouring it. 

If you have ever asked the questions ‘Who am i?, ‘what am I meant to be doing’, or ‘what would it mean or take to live a life truly authentic and fulfilled’ she is the perfect ally. 

In my upcoming online ‘Journey with Skadi’ I will be introducing you to the mythology, symbology, lessons and wisdom of Skadi in greater depth and you will have to chance to meet her for yourself and receive from her the strength, courage, independence, self-affirmation and validation that you need right now.

With all that is happening in this world, what is needed is for you to be YOUR difference, to take your authentic and aligned place, so that you can be the difference that you are meant to offer, so that not only can you live a life of satisfaction and joy but also that you can fulfill your destiny and contribute your true skills and knowledge to make the best impact on humanity that you can with this lifetime.

Continue reading to discover more about Skadi and please feel free to share with me your thoughts and reflections in our facebook group, commenting below or by messaging me 🙂 

Norse Goddess Skadi 

Skadi/ Skadhi is the Norse Goddess mountains and winter, as well as ice, snow, the hunt, wolves and skiing. Her name may mean ‘destruction’ or ‘shadow’, which could refer to the wild, untamed, barren snowscapes of her mountain home.

She can support you with:
❄️ Finding and drawing on your inner strength and resilience. Call on her anytime you need to boost or affirm your courage and tenacity.
❄️ Accessing the gifts and lessons of independence. To be alone offers its own rewards and she will help you find them.

In this short introductory video, Rachel shares her top 3 tips for connecting with Skadi, including:

🏔 How to connect to her Mountain home for peace, grounding and strength
⛸ The symbol of snow shoes and how they can protect you
🐺 Her lessons, wisdom and teachings as she-wolf, lone wolf and elemental wolf of air

Please put any questions in the comments.

 May Skadi remind you of your strength and affirm your inner compass.

CLICK HERE to watch or the picture above

From ‘Wolf. How to Embody Your Inner Wolf‘ where I talk about cultivating greater tenacity, discernment, intuition and perspective.

This is the energy and wisdom of Skadi!!!

Know who you are, tend to her with devotion and use grounded and aligned discernment on behalf of your heat, soul, body and path. 

Journey with Skadi, The Norse Goddess of Winter

We will gather:

TUESDAY 10th December

7pm – 9pm (U.K TIME) (2-4pm EST)

Online via Zoom

Enjoy:

A brief intro and talk with Rachel about Skadi, her mythology, symbology and how she can support and inspire you!

A LIVE 60-minute guided journey and relaxing meditation to meet Goddess Skadi and receive her wisdom and healing. Journey through beautiful snow capped mountains and enchanted forests and experience a nourishing meditative journey in the realms of Norse myth and legend. Rachel will guide you with her voice into the inner realms where you will receive the support, guidance and nurturance that you need right now.

FOLLOWED BY . . .

Optional community sharing and Q & A 8:30 – 9pm

BOOKING CLOSES MONDAY 9TH DECEMBER

Find out more or book HERE in my dance shop:

www.underthedancingtree.co.uk/shop

I look forward to seeing you and facilitating this magical journey for you very soon!

With much excitement,

Rachel xx

Journey with Skadi, The Norse Goddess of Winter

We will gather:

TUESDAY 10th December

7pm – 9pm (U.K TIME) (2-4pm EST)

Online via Zoom

Enjoy:

A brief intro and talk with Rachel about Skadi, her mythology, symbology and how she can support and inspire you!

A LIVE 60-minute guided journey and relaxing meditation to meet Goddess Skadi and receive her wisdom and healing. Journey through beautiful snow capped mountains and enchanted forests and experience a nourishing meditative journey in the realms of Norse myth and legend. Rachel will guide you with her voice into the inner realms where you will receive the support, guidance and nurturance that you need right now.

FOLLOWED BY . . .

Optional community sharing and Q & A 8:30 – 9pm

BOOKING CLOSES MONDAY 9TH DECEMBER

Find out more or book HERE in my dance shop:

www.underthedancingtree.co.uk/shop

I look forward to seeing you and facilitating this magical journey for you very soon!

With much excitement,

Rachel xx