Pre-Ritual Work
Get people to think about what they would say to thank the Norse gods and goddesses with their experiences and how it has helped or shaped them.
The Norse Pantheon
The idea behind this ritual is to give thanks to the Norse pantheon as a whole and the impact the Norse gods and goddesses have had on people.
Starting the Ritual
Initiating the Rite
Blow a horn and then state:
“We have come to honor the Norse pantheon. May our words, actions, and offerings help us communicate our respect and appreciation of their contributions to our lives and our pagan faiths.
A blessing on our time together today, a blessing on our lives, and a blessing on the land.”
Purification
While the main priest walks around with water for people to purify themselves with, everyone else will be taking slow, centering deep breaths in, and slow exhalations out. The main priest will say as they dip their fingers into the water and tap it upon their heads (or sprinkle) and over their hearts, “May your cares and worries be washed away.”
Once the deep breathing is finished and everyone has purified themselves, the main priest will state aloud:
“We have centered ourselves and we are now stepping away from mundane life.
We have prepared ourselves to work with the three kindred.
Our worries and cares are left behind as we engage in our work here.”
All: “Remember we are all brothers and sisters
All people, animals, stones, trees, and the wind.
We descend from the gods and goddesses
We live among the nature spirits
And we all become ancestors.
We are connected to this world and the next.
We come together to honor our connection
May we learn from the ancestors,
May we work in harmony with the land wights
And may our actions, words, and deeds honor the shining ones.
So be it.”
Acknowledgement of the Outsiders
Have the person take the offerings and cup and place them outside the ritual area and say:
“To the outsiders interested in our affairs
We acknowledge you all and choose to share
A bit of what we have to distract from our cares,
Our workings, our magic, and our prayers.”
Torch Hallowing
“May the gods guide us,
May our oaths keep us,
May our deeds free us,
May our ancestors aid us always.
May the gods banish from this land and wood all evil and wrong,
Hallow this Ve; shield this area from all baneful wights,
Let the gods’ blessing be over our heads!”
Honoring the Earth Mother
Get the steel cut oats to offer to Jord before speaking the words, empowering the offering in your hands.
“Great Earth Mother Jord, we honor you.
Daughter of Nott and Anarr, we honor you.
Mother of Thor, we honor you.
We hear the songs of the birds and think of what you’ve created.
We smell the blossoming of the flowers and the cool earth beneath our feet and thank you for these gifts.
We feel the wind upon our cheek and the warmth of the sun upon our skin. We experience and are thankful for the magic of your creation.
We thank you for all you provide for us and all of your children. Your blessing is appreciated.
Jord, accept our offering.”
All: “Jord, accept our offering!”
Statement of Purpose
“We stand here together to pay our respects to the Norse pantheon. The reach of their legends and stories have impacted many different pagan faiths. We see the echoes of these gods and goddesses in Anglo Saxon heathenry, in Slavic heathenry, and Germanic heathenry. Their legends we see upon the screen and read about in books of all kinds. Today, we gather to honor them.”
Recreating the Cosmos
Here we will empower the fire with an offering, put proper offerings in the well, and our energy and give offerings to the tree. All three people will move to where the pillar of the cosmos they will be empowering and start giving it their energy before and after their spoken piece.
Well:
“We come to give offerings to the well so that it may stand as our connection to the mighty dead. May our well connect to the waters that lead to the underworld so the ancestors can find their way to join us here for our ritual and our workings.”
Tree:
“We come before the tree and to pay our respects to the landvaettir in their burrows, in the World Woods that connect the lands of the past and present throughout our world. May this tree serve as a beacon to help those land wights that want to work with us in positive and beneficial ways to us for our ritual and our workings.”
Fire:
“We come to empower the fire so that it may stand as our beacon and connection to the Bifrost and to the gods, goddesses, their Jotun allies. May our fires become a beacon to the Norse pantheon so that they may find their ways to join us here for our ritual and our workings.”
Fire, Well, and Tree together:
“With this done, the portals are now open to the three realms.”
Meditation
Here the main priest will do the meditation to connect to the Norse mythology as if they were a raven flying through time past and present to see the world of the Norse gods.
Opening the Gates
“We invite Heimdall the all-seeing and all-hearing, to open the Bifrost between our realm and the other realms.
Heimdall who is ready to alert all worlds of first signs of Ragnarok.
We ask you, Heimdall, who sees and knows all paths, both known and hidden, help us connect with Asgard and with all the allies of the Aesir and Vanir–gods, goddesses, and Jotun. We ask you join us.
Heimdall, the all-seeing, we ask that the gates be opened.”
Make the offering to the gatekeeper.
“The gates are now open!”
All: “The gates are now open!”
Offerings to the Spirits of Inspiration
“We make an offering so to Bragi, poet and musician to the gods and people, so that our words and actions today may be divinely inspired so all in attendance may connect with the Norse pantheon and grow to better understand them.”
Bragi, accept our offering!”
All: “Bragi, accept our offering!”
Inviting/Offerings to the Three Kindred
Well:
Facing the gathered people, but also focused on the well:
“Mighty dead! We call to you to, ancestors of our blood, and the blood of others
We call out to you through the dark waters to the underworld.
We call out to the warriors, the farmers, the woodsmen and women,
The wise women and men, the hedge witches,
The seidr, the shaman, the warriors, the skalds, and the scholars.
Ancestors of blood and spirit, accept our offering!”
All: “Ancestors of blood and spirit, accept our offering!”
Tree:
Facing the gathered people with one hand pointing towards the tree:
“Landvaettir and the spirits of nature! We call to you,
Those who look after the safety and fertility of the land,
And to the creatures that swim, walk,
Fly, and crawl, spirits of the land, sky, and sea.
To the landvaettir of our heathen pantheons,
To the elemental spirits of the land and homes,
Spirits of nature, accept this offering!”
All: “Spirits of nature, accept this offering!”
Fire:
Stand behind the fire, facing the gathered people while focusing your energy and words into it.
“Shining ones of the Aesir, Vanir, and allied Jotun from the realms above,
Those who watch from on high and who hear our requests.
Those who love and are attuned to nature,
We call out to you and hope you hear our call.
Gods and goddesses, come join us.
Shining ones, accept our offering!”
All: “Shining ones, accept our offering!”
Tree, Well, and Fire:
“Gathered kindred, we welcome you to our ritual.”
All: “Gathered kindred, we welcome you to our ritual.”
Key Offerings
Selu:
“Selu, corn mother of these sacred lands we stand upon,
First woman of the Cherokee, we honor you.
Harvest goddess of the Red Earth and of our grove,
Selu, we honor you.
Selu, accept our offering!”
All: “Selu, accept our offering!”
Frigg:
“Frigg, patron of magic for our grove,
Goddess who guides our hands and hearts when we perform ritual magic,
We honor you.
You how know seidr, spa, and galdr, we honor you.
Frigg, accept our offering!”
All: “Frigg, accept our offering!”
The Kings and Queens of Our Pantheons:
“To the kings and queens of the pantheons of those gathered here,
We thank you for your presence in our lives and in the goddesses and gods we work with. We honor you.
Kings and queens of our pantheons, accept our offerings!”
All: “Kings and queens of our pantheons, accept our offerings!”
The Norse Pantheon Blót
“We call upon you, gods, goddesses, and allies of the Norse pantheon!
Hail to thee, Oðinn, leader of the Aesir and king of Asgard! Hail!
Hanged god who gave us the runes and wisdom, hail!
Hail to thee, Frigga, queen of the Aesir and wife of Oðinn, hail!
Mother of Baldr, daughter of Fjorgynn, and dweller of Fensalir, hail!
Hail to thee, Thor, wielder of Mjolnir and protector of Asgard and mankind, hail!
Husband to Sif and god of thunder, hail!
Hail to thee, Sif, fertility of the earth and goddess of the harvest, hail!
Wife to Thor, mother of Ullr, and keeper of frith, hail!
Hail to Freyr, god of the fertile season and the harvest, hail!
Son of Njörðr, brother to Freyja, husband to Gerðr, hail!
Hail to Freyja, goddess of magic and seiðkona, hail!
Daughter of Njörðr, sister of Freyr, lady of the Vanir and queen of the Volva, hail!
Hail to Ullr, leader of the Wild Hunt and god of winter, hail!
God of the wild places, oath taker, and leader in Oðinn’s absence, hail!
Hail to Eir, goddess of healing and best of physicians, hail!
Valkyrie and she who keeps sickness and pestilence at bay, hail!
Hail to Njörðr, chief god amongst the Vanir and keeper of the oceans, hail! Husband to Skaði, father of Freyr and Freyja, protectors of sailors and travelers, hail!
Hail to Skaði, Jotun goddess of the hunt and skiing, hail!
Wife to Njörðr and lady of the cold and the mountains, hail!
Hail to Tyr, god of justice, laws, and god of the thing, hail!
One-handed god, bane of Garm, and god of oaths, hail!
Hail to Heimdall, the all-seeing and all hearing guardian of the Bifrost, hail!
Wielder of the horn Gjallarhorn and the ever vigilant, hail!
Hail to Hel, goddess of Helheim and of the dead, hail!
Guardian of those who have died by natural means, hail!
Hail to Baldur, wisest god so beloved by all the gods and goddesses, hail!
Husband of Nanna, father of Forseti, and he from which light shines, hail!
Hail to Saga, goddess of history and storytelling, hail!
Keeper of tales, sharer of the golden cup, and librarian of the gods, hail!
Hail to Iðunna, goddess of spring and eternal youth, hail!
Keeper of the apples of youth and fertility, hail
To the Aesir, Vanir, and allied Jotun present, we welcome you!”
All: “To the Aesir, Vanir, and allied Jotun present, we welcome you!”
(Usually) The Blot Reading
Here people will speak about how the Norse gods/goddess/their heathen faith has helped them and what they mean to said person.
From a member in Indiana who couldn’t attend: “It really is a difficult thing to say, to say thank you to those who have provided the foundation of your culture and existence. Yet, the very first thing I need to say actually is thank you all. These mighty, beautiful, intelligent beings here before me, they are all the basis of my existence, of my nation’s, of my family and friends’, of my ancestors, of my entire species.
Eons their lives continue to span, to influence and guide the procession of the universe; honestly I know my mind never can fully fathom the true effects of their actions enact. I can only show my gratitude for the endless items these gods and goddesses have given humanity, and will continue far beyond the end of my days. The legends and truths I have learned from words and belief has shaped me into something I never thought I could be–a better father, a better son, a better husband, and a better man. Thank you for everything.”
People will have the chance to thank the Norse gods and such as they feel like here.
Praise Offerings
First round will be ADF style where people toss small pieces of apple into the fire as a gift of youth to the Norse gods and goddesses.
Second round will be open to personal offerings to gods, goddesses, ancestors, and land wights.
Prayer of Sacrifice:
“To the gathered members of the Norse pantheon, thank you for hearing our words and accepting our offering!
May what was freely given be happily accepted. Norse gods, goddesses, and allies, accept our offerings!”
All: “Norse gods, goddesses, and allies, accept our offerings!”
Omen:
Here are the three questions:
1. What gifts do the ancestors bestow upon us in return for our offerings?
2. What gifts do the nature spirits bestow upon us in return for our offerings?
3. What gifts do the gods and goddess bestow upon us in return for our offerings?
Calling for the Blessings/Waters of Life:
“Gathered kindred, as we have given to you, we ask that you grant your blessings to us.”
Lift up the bowl, hold it in the direction of the fire to get the energy of the gods and goddesses, then towards the well, and finally towards the tree, pausing at each until it feels like the energy has infused the horn from their blessings.
“The mighty dead, the land wights, and the shining ones, pour forth your blessing into this vessel I hold in my hands! Grant us your gifts so that we may take them within us!”
Hold the bowl slightly above you and feel the energy from the gathered kindred and all the work you’ve done entering it.
Hallowing the Blessing:
“This vessel now holds the sacrifices we have all made and that have been accepted and blessed by the kindred! We accept your gifts!”
All: “I accept your gifts!”
Affirming the Blessing
For those who choose to have the mead poured into a cup, a paper cup will be provided and will have the mead poured from the bottle. For those who choose to drink from the horn, they will be able to do so. When each person holds the horn or the paper cup poured for them, this is when they will share what their faith in the Norse gods have had on them.
Workings
Two members chose to do special workings here–one in remembrance of a recently passed loved one and another on how the gods, goddesses, and grove members helped her continue to survive and heal from a difficult surgery and illness.
Thanking the Beings
Fire:
“Goddesses and gods of the Aesir and Vanir as well as their beloved allies, we thank you for being here with us tonight and the blessings you have given us. The shining ones, we thank you and bid you farewell.”
All: “The shining ones, we thank you and bid you farewell!”
Tree:
“Landvaettir, we hope we are able to make use of the gifts of friendship you gave us and that all the we might do in the present and future in our world. Spirits of nature, travel safely and we bid you farewell.”
All: “Land wights, travel safely and we bid you farewell!”
Well:
“To the ancestors, we thank you for the wisdom you’ve passed down so that we may connect to the lands through the guidance of your experience, the wisdom of your interactions through the stories and myths we might read or hear. May we benefit and learn from what you have to teach us. The mighty dead, we thank you and bid you farewell!”
All: “The mighty dead, we thank you and bid you farewell!”
Thanking the Spirits of Inspiration:
“Bragi, we thank you for your presence in granting us the gift of inspiring words so that we may speak and perform our ritual with beauty, love, wisdom, and truth.
Bragi, we thank you and bid you farewell!”
All: “Bragi, we thank you and bid you farewell!”
Closing the Gates
Fire:
“May this beacon of flame to the shining ones be just a fire.”
Tree:
“May this connection to the World Woods be just an ordinary tree.”
Well:
“May the deep waters that connect us to our beloved ancestors be just water.”
The priest brings their hands together in a clap. “May the gates be closed.”
Thanking the Earth Mother
“Jord, you who keeps our world alive through your creations and systems, We thank you for your presence in this ritual and in our lives. Don, we thank you and bid you farewell!”
All: “Jord, we thank you and bid you farewell!”
Ending Prayer
All: “Remember we are all brothers and sisters
All people, animals, stones, trees, and the wind.
We descend from the gods and goddesses
We live among the nature spirits
And we all become ancestors.
We are connected to this world and the next.
We come together to honor our connection
May we learn from the ancestors,
May we work in harmony with the land wights
And may our actions, words, and deeds honor the shining ones.
So be it.”
Closing the Rite
“As has been done before by those who have come before us, we have thanked and honored the gods, the ancestors, and the nature spirits. May their gifts, wisdom, and strength grant us what we need to be able to properly honor them all and continue to do our work to help us all.”
Blow the horn three times to signify the end of the ritual.
What if you don’t have a well?