A container to learn right relationship to yourself and the world around you through working with the Runes.
Living the Runes is an animistic, relational framework that focuses on the health of the spiritual ecology of your spiritual and physical world.
This is the time of great change, of needing to know yourself to build resiliency of mind and spirit. To say yes to the things our spirit has been asking for for so long and to begin to be very real with ourselves.
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The runes are the compassionate council of elders that want to help guide you toward deep embodiment, awareness, and loving strength met with wisdom.
A Journey
the mystic begins
When I came to the runes in 2017, I didn't know what was in store for me. I was living isolated in the redwoods of the Santa Cruz mountains and was spending more time in the presence of the moist darkness of those trees than I was around people. The runes had begun to sweep me away--I was finding them in every bough, every water drop, every bird chatter. But I didn't know how to begin.
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At the time, I was living with layers and layers of societal and religious programming casting long shadows over my senses that kept me lost, confused, and at odds with myself. I longed for a teacher: someone to show me the way and, though I did have an incredible connection with a rune mentor, a dedicated teacher, someone to guide me with a firm, but gentle hand & clear sight, would prove difficult to find. I would pass through my fair share of charlatans, near cult leaders, and dogmatic do-gooders, but it wasn't until I gave up the fight, proclaimed "fuck it!" and went about following my highest passion that the runes came to me and said "here we are."
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A whole host of 33 Elders stood before me, each with unique perspectives, wisdoms, and choice words. And the interesting thing is that all the wisdom pointed back to one thing: "You are your own greatest Teacher." But how do we begin to feel confident in that?
There's something curious about the runes. They're not what you think they are. I mean, sure, yes, on the outside they're an ancient alphabet system and maybe even an esoteric symbolic system tied to norse pagan beliefs. They've been used in divination, fortune telling, and have links to the practice of seidr. But have you ever felt their presence as living, breathing beings? Ancient, primordial keepers of wisdom that are as alive today as they were thousands of years ago.
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I have been working with the runes for eight years now and as I've evolved in my relationship with them, I've come to find them to be the most effective and specific teachers I've ever had. They create portals in my life, experiences to learn things I didn't even know I was asking for; they make opportunities, help me meet my needs, and provide psychedelic-like experiences that shake the foundation of what I know to be real to open me to new ways of thinking and being.
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The runes are the keys of wisdom we will use to unlock and unblock the myriad ways we relate to our individual and collective life. They have the ability to break us free from our illusions and open a way to completely alter our perceptions and begin to work on us from the inside-out.
Why the Runes?
the council of elders
Runic Mentorship
what is it?
Living the Runes is a resourced and embodied mentorship that guides you back to your authentic self – that person who knew who they were before the world started telling them who they were supposed to be.
This work centers relational (animistic) living and community accountability to begin to prepare us for a new way of life – one of right relationship to yourself and the world around you.
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We will spend 24 weeks together engaging with the runes as tools of reflection to deepen our understanding and clarify our relationship to the aspects of existence they represent and embody.
The specifics of the mentorship will be different for each person, but the basic framework relies on honest communication and trust to begin to break down illusory ways of living and connect us in with our truth. That may sound new-agey-nebulous, but the beauty of the runes is they don't care how cheesy or cringe it looks: they just want it to work.​
This is a path for those who want to see blind spots, root out the colonized mind, take back the ceded territories within oneself, and embrace the parts of yourself you’ve previously cast aside. It is for those who want to prepare the way within themselves for living in integrals community.
You don't have to know the runes right now, but they are going to be front and center in this work, so get ready to be familiar.
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This is for those who already know magic, may call themselves witchy, or feel drawn to a more spirit-filled life. If you have some background in traditions, it can be helpful for grounding, but it can also potentially set up more structures to break down. If you have no specific experience with magical living, this will be approachable but there may be a slight learning curve. You'll likely feel totally at ease within no time!
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But a word of caution: this is not a path without brambles. We are going to confront things you have thus far avoided looking at, strengthen your bond to the Divine, and open lines of communication with your guides you might have shut down, and bring you back into right relationship. This means reparations. This means admitting where you've done yourself harm. But it never, ever means shaming or blaming. This is a non-dual, radiantly empowered approach wherein you are no longer the victim of your life, but its author.
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If that sounds intriguing, even if a little harrowing, you're in the right place!
Who is this for?
do I have to know the runes?
Why River?
who is she?
My name is River North and I'm a Rune Mystic, for lack of a better term. What I mean by that is that I am in deep relationship with the runes as my principle teachers and guides on my path. I am also dedicated to Odin as a triune trans deity of wisdom, warriorship, and will and work with these attributes in my spiritual practice. I've been on this path for 8 years now and have worked in mentorship capacities in various ways along the path, but never in dedicated runic service.
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Until now.
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I am a gentle friend with a fierceness for truth. I have incisive seeing, but warmhearted understanding. I choose enjoyment, silliness, and frivolity because this work can be mired in seriousness and mirky darkness. I am always learning, just as you. I have a way of speaking to the parts of yourself that are as of yet still unfamiliar and bringing them round the campfire to play and chat. I am anything but formulaic because this work is too wily and people are too unique to rely on systems. I am led by runic understanding, which is radical, relational, and real. I am ruled by Mercury (Odin, ha!) and it is obvious. :)
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My background:
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Mentored by Lara Veleda Vesta and part of Runic Feminine Gnosis Group
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Bardic Grade in the Order of Bards, Ovates, & Druids (OBOD)
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Reiki Master trained by Lisa Belvoir | VortexHealing Foundational with Lorraine Goldbloom
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[This informs, but is not included in my work: Lifelong Herbal Studies | Naturopathic Counseling | Trained in TCM by Dr. Perkins]
The container is 6 months, but structures are different depending on the person's needs. Meetings may be at least twice monthly, but can be up to weekly depending on the work needed.
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Cost is $455 monthly or $2700 upfront. Every client is unique and how these offerings arrange themselves is always different, but here is what you can expect:
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- a handmade rune set & guidance on coming into relationship with the runes
- monthly bindrunes and/or assistance making your own
- wearable bindrune talisman made after you create a bindrune for yourself
- access to me via email and text
- monthly energy work, rune readings
- resources to begin feeling confidently alive in your own life, including zines, journals, and prompts
What are the details
cost, benefits, length of mentorship
If you're ready to begin Living the Runes and finding confidence in letting your spirit lead, apply at the link here -->
Have more questions?