Hi, Nonny. Wicca is an entirely different religion from Heathenry, with a different ritual format and, at least for reconstructionists, a different ritual calendar. It’s also totally acceptable to hold a blót on a day that isn’t an established holiday.
You can find posts about how modern Heathens structure their rites here, here, here, and here.
Also, I’m assuming it was a typo, but just in case: Sabbath is a Christian/Jewish thing (I can’t remember which though, or if both religions partake in it). The pagan term you’re looking for is “sabbat.”
I’m not a Heimdallr devotee and haven’t gone to nearly the same extent to research him as I have, e.g., Loki and Odin. But I can toss out some of the stuff I’ve run into over the years and point you to people who almost definitely know more than me.
Again, I am not pretending to have done all that much research in this area, so I encourage others to add resources!
– Mod E
Sharing for my own reference mostly.
I have nothing to add except all I have up for Heimdall is a Funko of him from the first Thor movie, sitting on a mirrored wall plaque that has a plant box on it. Behind the plant box is a carved tree with a mirror behind it, kinda representing the world tree. It’s mounted directly across the room from the front door.
A blót (blote) is an incredibly important ritual that a heathen can incorporate into their practice. It can be as simple or as ornate as you wish. It can be held alone or with others. It can be indoors or outdoors. It is not binding rules of a blót that makes it special, but rather the reasoning behind it. It is a time where you can set aside everything to honor the gods. So what is a blót anyway?
The word comes from Proto-Germanic blōtą, meaning to worship with sacrifice. The Old Norse word, blóta, has been used within such words as blót-hús (house of worship).
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In Heimskringla, written by Snorri Sturluson, one can get a clear picture of the purpose and feeling of a blót.
The text below speaks of a blót held by Sigurd Håkonsson, son of the first jarl of Hlaðir: Håkon Grjotgardsson.
Sigurd, earl of Hlader, was one of the greatest men for sacrifices, and so had Hakon his father been; and Sigurd always presided on account of the king at all the festivals of sacrifice in the Throndhjem country.
It was an old custom, that when there was to be sacrifice all the bondes should come to the spot where the temple stood and bring with them all that they required while the festival of the sacrifice lasted.
To this festival all the men brought ale with them; and all kinds of cattle, as well as horses, were slaughtered, and all the blood that came from them was called “hlaut”, and the vessels in which it was collected were called hlaut-vessels.
Hlaut-staves were made, like sprinkling brushes, with which the whole of the altars and the temple walls, both outside and inside, were sprinkled over, and also the people were sprinkled with the blood; but the flesh was boiled into savoury meat for those present.
The fire was in the middle of the floor of the temple, and over it hung the kettles, and the full goblets were handed across the fire; and he who made the feast, and was a chief, blessed the full goblets, and all the meat of the sacrifice.
And first Odin’s goblet was emptied for victory and power to his king; thereafter, Niord’s and Freyja’s goblets for peace and a good season.
Then it was the custom of many to empty the brage-goblet; and then the guests emptied a goblet to the memory of departed friends, called the remembrance goblet.
Purpose
While it is more common to hold a blót for the gods, you may also sacrifice to the landvættir (land wights), the álfar, the dísir, or your ancestors. In heathenry, the idea of “a gift for a gift” runs deep within our practice, just as Odin gave his eye for his wisdom. You will most likely never see a heathen get down on their knees and pray to a god (or an ancestor) for help without giving anything in return. Instead, you will see them give a sacrifice (whether it be a physical item or an action) and ask for the strength in helping them achieve what they wish to achieve.
A side note: as a heathen you should be primarily looking to your ancestors for help in your daily life. While it’s important to honor the gods for all the gifts they have given (that is if they’ve taken the time to give you any) – they do not and will never care for you as much as your ancestors do.
A blót does not need to be held just because you have a request. A blót may also be held simply to honor any of the beings I’ve listed above. There is no wrong reason to hold a blót, just so long as it is done with respect.
Specific Blóts
Many heathens hold a blót during a specific time of the year. While a blót can be held anytime, here are only a handful that are held during certain times of the year:
*Winter Nights (vetrnætr)
*Dísablót
*Yule Blót
*Sigrblót
There are many others, some held as a tradition only in certain countries and to certain gods, so feel free to research these if you wish to incorporate them into your practice!
Offerings
While the slaughtering of animals has come out of style for modern heathens, there is still much to give to the gods during a blót. The most popular choice is alcohol, usually mead, or for those who are not able to drink alcohol, juice or any other non-alcoholic beverage will suffice.
A blót can be as simple or as detailed as you wish to make it. The same goes for any offerings you wish to give. Some have even offered weapons, sex, poetry, or food alongside (or rather after giving) their alcoholic (or non-alcoholic) gift.
The important part is not the expense of what you’re giving, so if you cannot afford expensive alcohol, do not think you are not worthy of holding a blót. As I’ve said above, as long as it is done with true intent and respect, then you are doing it right.
Other Items
Along with your drink of choice, you should have something to hold the drink in to pass around. The typical go-to item is a drinking horn, however anything that can hold liquid will be just fine. Along with your horn (or cup) you will also want to have a hlautbowl, or an honoring bowl, for the libation at the end. Some people opt to have a sprig of evergreen so that they may sprinkle the drink that is being offered as a blessing.
Of course, anything else you see fit is welcome at a blót such as statues of the deities, a lit fire, weaponry, etc. It is supposed to be an occasion that you put your heart into, so include items with meaning.
Hallowing the Space
While one can hold a blót anywhere, just so long as the space has been hallowed, our ancestors mostly held their ceremonies in sacrificial sites. One example is Onsholt, Odin’s Holt, located in Jutland. However, unless you are lucky enough to be in a sacred site, you will most likely have to hallow a new one that is closer to you.
You may use a hörgr (an altar made of stones, a sacred space outside as opposed to a hof which is a sacred building) or a vé (a shrine, like most of us have for the gods within our homes) for your space. You can also hold your blót within a lund (grove), or a haug (sacred mound). While some places, such as sacred mounds, are not within our reach – it is best to create a space that feels right.
Before inviting the gods to witness what you have to offer them, it is important to hallow the space in which you will be hosting them. The ritual of hallowing a space absolutely varies from person to person but generally follows the same outline.
For example, when I hallow a space I have not ever used for ritual purposes, I first make an offering to the landvættir by giving honey, milk, or bread. I then call upon Thor to consecrate and protect the space in which I am about to use. I then hallow each item I will be using for the ritual by making the sign of Mjölnir over each object (think of it as an upside down T) and asking the deities that will be honored to accept each item that will be offered. After, I set up my items as they will be placed for the ritual itself.
The Blót
Depending on who you are with and what you wish to achieve, the ritual will vary greatly. Usually, when holding a blót with a kindred, the Goði or Gyðja will lead. However, your blót does not need to be as intricate as they can sometimes get when working with a kindred.
After hallowing the space, as I’ve mentioned above, you will invoke the deity (or your ancestors, wights, etc) to be present. It is then time to pass around the mead (or whatever liquid you have) and make a toast to the deity. Usually there is more than one round of passing the vessel in which the drink is in. Some people opt to use this time to honor a different deity. In that case, invoke the deity and pass your drinks again. When given the drink you may speak aloud to the deity, honoring their name and their deeds, or you may simply say a simple hail to them such as, “Hail Odin!”. After each round, empty the remaining drink into the hlautbowl and refill your horn.
When the passing of the drink is finished, again, pour the remaining drink into the hlautbowl. At this point, you can take the sprig of evergreen (if you have it) and sprinkle the drink from the hlautbowl all around the space in which you’ve held the blót, or on the altar or shrine, if you have one. You can even sprinkle it on the foreheads of the attendants as a blessing. If you do not wish to do this, you can then pour the contents of the hlautbowl into the Earth and thank the gods (or whoever you invited) for attending.
While the blót can end there, some opt to continue their celebrations after, especially if sharing this time with other heathens. It is a great way to bring frith into the space, and a even greater way to build the bond between you and your folk. Eat, drink, and be merry.
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There are so many other ways to host a blót. As long as it’s done with heart, feeling, and honor – you are doing it right. Thank you for reading.
@mythonetwork: event 3: favorite locations: the nine worlds
There are nine worlds in Norse Mythology, they are called Asgard,
Alfheim,
Svartalfheim,
Midgard, Jotunheim, Vanaheim, Niflheim,
Muspelheim, Helheim. The nine worlds in Norse mythology are held in the branches and roots of the world tree Yggdrasil. These realms are the home of different kind of beings, like the home of the Gods and Goddesses or giants.
Who were the Vikings? What were they really like? And what was their world? Fill your horn with mead and take your place by the hearthside, for the night is young and our stories have yet to be sung!
Join me on this History Raid to learn more about the Vikings!
Just a reminder: Heathenry does have a term for smoke-cleansing.
Recaning. To recan. (Or reocan, in Old West Saxon.) This is cleansing via smoke, whether through incense or a bundle of herbs put together for a particular type of cleansing. Juniper and mugwort are both favorites for this.
In case you’re wondering how to pronounce it, it sounds like reekening. The word “reeks” is actually derived from it, signifying a potent smell.
For Old Norse fans, this seems to be related to the work reykr. In case you were wondering, Reykjavik in Iceland translates to “Smoky Bay”.
*dances around the entire pagan community waving this post like a fucking banner* THANK YOU.
Just a little addendum: Mugwort can be dangerous due to mildly psychoactive properties in the herb. Use with caution and avail yourself of the following list of free-use alternatives:
Basil (any kind, noting that Sweet Basil smells the best)
Sage (any type, but keep in mind that White Sage is becoming endangered)
Rosemary
Peppermint
Lavender
Cedar Tips or Shavings
Thyme (especially Lemon)
In Norwegian it is traditionally called “røyking” (verb: “å røyke”), and juniper is the herb to go to. There are also certain combination of herbs that are used (3, 5, 7, 9, 13, 21 are the amounts of different herbs and incenses used). Some are homemade (called “smoke bundles” – and made similarly to American Native smudge sticks), others used to be bought at the apothecary’s (these were usually more like the grainy powders you can buy today). When you use the method against something specific you “smoke for” such and such. You can “smoke for trolls”, for instance, and – indeed – one specific and very popular mix from the apothecary’s was actually called “Troll incense” and contained 13 ingredients (incense = “røkelse”).
When mugwort is used in mixtures for smoking we use the dried root.
Addendum: That’s juniper as in Juniperus communis!
I forgot to address @breelandwalker’s little addendum properly:
Every herb or resin or what have you is used for very specific purposes. The plants you suggest have their uses – even for smoking – but some of them are anything but alternatives to juniper and mugwort!
When you smoke to cleanse, that’s what you want – smoke! And you want it to sting and smell! That’s smell like in stink; there is a reason why the modern English verb reek is cognate to the Old Norse verb reykja and the “New Norse” verb røyke (smoke). It’s supposed to make your eyes burn and your nose run. And it’s supposed to make noises!
If you think about it, when you use smoke to cleanse, you’re not freshening up your habitat to make it smell nice; you’re kicking troll arse. If you don’t find it unpleasant, you can bet your own arse the trolls won’t either. You can pull out the basil and the lavender to sweeten the air afterwards, as long as you’re aware they don’t have any tradition in heathen Northern Europe.
You’re also supposed to yell and shout and poke that burning juniper branch or bundle in all directions and tell the trolls off, that you burn out their eyes, that you put their children on fire!
You can smoke for nasty humans as well, and you can name them too, “You thieving neighbour Such and Such, who stole my tomatoes right off my plant by the fence! I put your unborn babies on fire, you thieving bastard! Shame on you, and shame on your descendants, stealing my family’s food! Take this and this and this!” Stab! Stab! Stab!
And, when you’re finished, you open doors and windows to let the smoke out along with the trolls, and you will sleep peacefully like a baby all night.
This ritual is to be performed three times in a row for full effect; either two Thursdays and one Sunday, or one Thursday and two Sundays.
And, to OP, why would you invent a new fake quasi-Germanic word for something you already have excellent words for in your native – and entirely Germanic – language? Besides, recan is already a word for something totally different.
For the newcomers, let me explain; In the old Scandinavian religion (Thor, Odin and all that) it’s explained that there are no dwarf women. Instead dwarves “craft” children using magic. They were amazing craftsmen and could create living beings of flesh and blood. Apart from their famous skills with a hammer, their lack of women was considered the main thing that set them apart from other races. They did love women though. Women could always buy their services by sleeping with them.
Jotun men get pregnant several times in all sorts of different ways in the old stories. They might sleeps with another man, woman, monster or animal and birth everything from perfectly normal jotun babies to weird monsters (Loki was nothing special in that aspect), or they might get spontaneously pregnant. The first jotun Ymir had both male and female sex organs and mated with himself. He later birthed the jotun race.
Oh Vikings, thanks for leaving this goldmine of weirdness for us.
fair--y backup 