Picture the following model of the interaction between space and time: At the axis of the Universe stands a tree, Yggdrasil by name. In its branches lie the worlds of both gods and men. From beneath its roots springs a well of silvery water-the Well of Wyrd. Any actions from within the Worlds, any events, any "doings" or "sayings", manifest as drops of water that fall like silvery drops of dew into the Well at the base of the tree.

The tree is tended by three: the Norns - Urdh, Verdhandi and Skuld. Urdh - what has become, Verdhandi - that which is becoming, and Skuld - that which should become. The Norns tend the waters of the Well. They set the fates of men, and water the Tree with the waters of the Well. The cycle is clear: the past flows to the future, which in turn becomes part of the formative past. It is important to note that in this model there is no room for a pre-determined "future". New actions, new layers in the Well are not merely stacked on top of each other as a linear archeological record of the past. Each event, each action that occurs in the Tree drips down and mixes throughout the waters. The past- a fluid repository of all actions and events in the tree-is mutable, everchanging. The potential future that flows from it fluxes as well.

This scenario/model is intrinsically Norse, but it illustrates a concept that is universal: the flow of patterns and the movement of the patterning principle as it sculpts a new future out of all actions that have become. In Urdh's House, we will call this flow from "what has been", to "that which could become" the Flow of Wyrd. Work within the House will center around apprehending the Flow. For the Student of Urdh's House, (and we are all students) the ultimate magical goal is to learn to direct the Flow of Wyrd in a willed fashion. Each of our initiatory paths flowers from within a matrix of Wyrd. Apprehending and directly working with this matrix will be the Great Work of the House.

To dip into the Well as fully as possible, the Student of the House may need to actively explore receptive states: discrete states of consciousness such as meditative states, hypnotic states, dreamstates, trance states, or other altered/discrete states of consciousness. (Altered states explored within the framework of the House are expected to be induced by natural means. The recreational or magical use of mood altering drugs or psychotropics has no place within the House.) The Student of the House is expected to pursue such exploration in as objective a manner as possible. This is best accomplished by various method of triangulation. Subjective exploration
There is no substitute for actualized personal experience. The mind and body of the black magician is an incredible laboratory and the Student is encouraged to experiment, and to learn how his/her body/mind interacts with the Universe and with itself.

The goal at all times is the development of useful states and useful ways to manipulate states in a way as to produce GBM changes in the subjective/objective universe. In the initial stages of exploration, however, studies may at times take the form of "mere" data acquisition; simply experiencing the particular state in question and noting its characteristics. This is true of any scientific endeavor. Objective exploration

For a Setian, the ability to build an objective foundation is vital to the exploration of subjective/receptive states. Being grounded is very important. It will help prevent rampant meaningless mysticism of the irritating kind.

Becoming familiar with related academic research is strongly recommended. The student is expected to become familiar with academic or scientific studies relating to the student's experiences. This can range from quantum mechanical models of the Universe to biofeedback research on meditative states.

It may also be useful for the Student to approach his/her explorations from a historical/anthropologic perspective. Does the experience/state being explored have parallels in other cultures, primitive religions? Can we utilize these parallels?

As an example, an Initiate interested in dream states might ask if there similarities between certain lucid dream experiences and a shamanic initiatory journey. Can we therefore use a lucid dream program to induce a shamanic initiatory experience? Communication

Students of the House will be expected, at least initially, to work closely with the Lady of the House and/or each other.
The idea behind such an avenue of study is to find the universal thread that holds the magical experience together.
Through this work it is expected that the student will learn to become a Master of his/her own destiny. And to learn what "destiny" really is.