Occult Mead

For over half a century I have been delving into the world of Germanic myth and magic on both academic and esoteric levels. Rarely do I find thinkers and writers who contribute an authentic, deep-level concept which is an addition to what I have already learned from my teachers, older traditions, or as a result of direct noetic apprehension. This work by Eirik Westcoat delivers repeatedly in this regard on many different levels. The author explores the lore with a true Odian spirit-inspired and courageous-not shrinking from controversy and the forbidden. This collection of writings is filled with ideas worthy of thoughtful consideration by serious students dedicated to an integral understanding of the Germanic traditions. -Stephen Edred Flowers, PhD, author of The Northern Dawn In Occult Mead, Eirik Westcoat connects these wide-ranging essays to synthesize topics that seem disconnected on the surface; yet, they are united through their underlying pursuit of Rûna-the eternal Mystery that lies behind all things, seen here through the lens of the unending quest for the Grail. He shows, through the story of his own journey, that the Grail is not merely what is sought: it is emblematic of the quest itself and the crucial self-transformation that results from the very act of seeking. -Sir Saturnin, Grand Master of the Order of the Trapezoid In this unique book, the reader gains a deeper understanding of themes from the European Germanic Tradition. Eirik Westcoat presents the mysteries surrounding the Grail and the Alchemical Stone in an insightful way. The esoteric meaning of the runes is described, and the chapter on the so-called Black Sun is a unique and important in-depth study of an often misunderstood subject. The chapter ""The Canon of Nine: A Spiritual Call to Arms"" inspires and points out valuable virtues for every Seeker and Spiritual Warrior on the quest for true wisdom. -Thomas Karlsson, PhD, author of Nightside of the Runes and Draconian Initiations Poet and scholar Eirik Westcoat has wandered widely in his quest for wisdom, and the resulting collection of essays, Occult Mead, is a cornucopia overflowing with the hard-won fruits of his quest. The nine works herein tackle a range of topics, from the elusive Grail-whether immaterial or moldavite-to new numerical readings of runic poems; to the tropes of worthy traditions; to the beacons and flashes of insight that have lit the way on the author's own initiatory path. Running through it all is a higher theme, the trinity of holy spirit (divine inspiration), elixir vitae (inspired medium), and coveted chalice (vessel of transmission). A potential reader may ask the pressing question, ""But how does this book's elixir taste on the tongue?"" Well, as the Old Man's proverb says: Stolen mead is sweeter. -Michael Moynihan, PhD, co-editor of The Rune Poems: A Reawakened Tradition