Lewis Stead

The Ravenbook

raised and a

toast drunk to the God. The horn is then passed around to the Folk

and a personal toast repeated. The only rule here is that the round

is dedicated to the God invoked. Many times the toasts are personal

thanksgiving or requests for aid or wisdom.

At the end of the round the remains of the horn (and there should be

some) are poured into the blotbowl.

Remaining toasts

We then take two more rounds to toast whatever Gods, ancestors, and

beings each person wishes. There is not necessarily any continuity

from one person to the next. Brags or oaths are also appropriate at

this time. Professions, other major oaths, and major works of

thanksgiving or praise are usually done before the blot. The second

and third toasts are usually reserved for small things.

Thank deity

Finally we always remember to thank the deity and ask for his

continued blessings on the Folk present.

Oath Ring ceremony

Our kindred has a ceremony that affirms our dedication to each other,

to the kindred, and to the Gods. Each full Professed and accepted

Kindred member comes forward and takes hold of the oath ring. (We are

blessed in having a 6 diameter brass oath ring made for us by a

kindred member.) One person then recites a rede concerning itself with

the symbol of a ring and something which connects us to the Gods, the

Earth, and to each other.

I should repeat, only kindred Members participate in this. If you

havent sworn on the oath ring, you dont take part in the ceremony.

We have enlarged this at public events to all Professed persons, but

change the rede to remove references to the kindred.

Pour libation

Finally we leave the Hof and pour a libation on the physical earth,

adjourning outside to do so if we are indoors. The blot hitting the

ground signals that the ritual is truly over. When we are working

indoors in a living room or other non-dedicated space I always make

sure I am the first to return and extinguish candles, turn on electric

lights, etc. This provides a good hint to peoples minds that the

ritual is, in fact, over. If we had a dedicated space, the procession

outside to pour the blot would also empty the Hof and we would adjourn

to the feast rather than returning to the temple.

HAILING THE SUN: A SAMPLE BLOT TO HONOR SUNNA AT THE SUMMER SOLSTICE

This ritual would be ideally performed at sunrise on the day of the

summer Solstice. If possible the folk should gather while it is still

dark or even better, remain awake throughout the night in vigil. A

secondary time would be at noon on the Solstice. This ritual should

not be performed at night.

At any point in this ritual, within the realm of logic and dramatic

flow, the parts marked as Gothi and Gythia may be shared among the

folk. In addition, the parts are not necessarily sex specific, but

the terminology is used as a convenience.

Set Up: An altar should be placed in the center and the folk should

form a circle around it, leaving space in the center for the action

to take place. For this ritual you will need some sort of mead or

beer, a horn or chalice, an offering bowl, a hammer for consecrations,

and a wheel of some sort, preferably a wagon wheel to symbolize the

turning of the wheel of the year. Any reasonable tools may be

substituted. The Wheel is placed on the ground near the altar or on

the altar with candles around the rim (unlit).

Consecration of space

The Gothi goes to the center of the folk and forms the invocational

position of the elhaz rune, both hands in the air at a rough 45

angle.

Gothi: We gather here to honor our sacred lady Sunna, who on this

Solstice Morning, reaches her height of power. All hail Sunna!

All: Hail Sunna!

The Gythia takes the hammer and walks to each of the four corners and

consecrates the space.

Gythia: Hammer, hallow and hold this holy stead, that it will be a

fitting place for our worship of our sacred lady Sunna! Hammar, Helga

ve thetta ok hindra alla illska!

Gythia returns hammer to altar and faces the altar.

Gythia: I consecrate and hallow this altar to the work of our sacred

lady Sunna! Here on this Solstice morning may the might of the Gods be

brought to our holy stead. May the warm light of Sunna heat our

hearts and hold our spirits.