Neil Lewis

©
 

Neil Lewis, Gode of Ull V’e, lives on a farm in the foothills of the snowy mountains in the north-east of Victoria. He leads a life that is as close to the original ways of the Norse as is possible in today’s world. Surrounded by heavily treed hills and steep grassed valleys the farm provides for one of the best martial and spiritual training venues in Australia.

In 1997 Neil met Gode Anthony Lange of Tyr V’e in Manly, Sydney at a pagan festival in NSW. Actually having missed out on the classes being provided by Anthony, Neil struck up conversation and before he knew it was travelling regularly to Sydney to train. These were active years for the core members of Stáv Australia and Neil, Gode Rodney Bennet of Frey V’e (in Geelong) and Anthony spent many weekends training together in Sydney. Originally in the earlier years this tuition was under Master Ronayne Lorderus who ran Avalon Hov in Sydney. On various occasions Grandmaster Ivar Hafskjold came to Australia to tutor also. It was in this way that Stáv Australia first came to be. Various other students who trained under Ivar, Ronayne, and Anthony are as deserving of mention. These would include Amanda Roberts who specialises in the Seidr aspect and Kane Hannan. I apologise to those students whom I have omitted but would wish to recognise anyone else who studied under Ivar and Ronayne at this time.

Neil has always believed in the strength of family, in truth there is no stronger bond, and actively encourages them in his Stáv learning. Watching Neil learn and grow in Stáv his son, wife and stepsons soon recognised the inherent value of the system and began study in their own rite. Neil’s focus on community provides him with an active group of practitioners with whom he can regularly practice the martial aspects and discuss the Rúnar, the mythology and the healing teachings of Stáv. Alongside his family he tutors students including Yvette Smit, Gode of Freya V’e, also in the north-east of Victoria, and Gode Rick and Kristina White of Alvheimr V’e in the north-east of Georgia, USA.

Neil has taken time to travel to Heimbu to train one on one with Ivar on two occasions. The first time he visited he returned to Australia with a greater sense of the system and an increase in awareness of the fundamental aspects of Stáv that he used to better the knowledge of all his students. Although Neil was able to discuss the theory and mythology with Ivar on his second trip he was not able to train martially.

In 2002 Neil was crushed in a work accident and the road to recovery has been long and hard. He drew on the lessons of galdr to give him strength and continued to study. Surrounded with family, friends and with the great support of the Stáv community Neil now possesses a well respected place in the system and forms part of the Grey Council.

In the late 1990’s Ronayne left Australia for America where he still teaches and in his absence Neil started learning from Master David Watkinson of the Watkinson Stáv Hov in England. David, seeing the trouble Neil was having with practicing the martial aspect of the system during his recovery, helped him develop complimentary Stáv techniques that allowed him to begin practicing in the martial aspect once again, albeit we hope much more gently. Master Watkinson, being of Herse aspect has travelled to Australia on 2 occasions training with the Gode of the various V’e, delivering many insights into the system and furthering Stav’s martial technique within his students.

Neil continues to live with his wife Barbara and their dog Jack on the farm. His improved health and stamina are a testament to his devotion to Stáv. He still teaches, and revels in the interaction he has with his students. He is available for workshops and provides a complete Stáv experience for those who are willing to visit and share his way of life.

Contact us: Yggdrasil Centre ygggdrasilcentre@bigpond.com