Balder Blot

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By Steve Wilson

(Adapted from RITUALS OF ASATRU; Volumes One and Two, by Stephen A. McNallen; published by World Tree Publications, copyright 1990, and also from the generalized style of the blots performed by the Hammerstead Kindred of Lexington, KY; 1997-1998.)

Harrow should be set up with sword, drekkjahom, vessel of mead or apple cider, recels-pot with recels, blessing-bowl and evergreen tine.

HALLOWING: Godi should circle three times in a sunwise direction around the stead with the receispot and burning recels. The godi then picks up the sheathed sword from the harrow and unsheathes it in the view of all present. Starting in the north, the four directions are hallowed in sunwise order by drawing with the sword and declaring, ," SVERD, HELGA VE THETTA OK HINDRA ALLA ILSKA!" Holding the sword overhead, the Godhi declares, while facing north: "I HALLOW AND MAKE HOLY THIS HARROW AND STEAD TO THE JUST SERVICE OF BALDER, BANISHING ALL POWERS UNHOLY OR IMPURE. MAY OUR MINDS LII(EWISE BE HALLOWED TO THE JUST SERVICE OF BALDER. AS HEIMDALL BRIGHT WARDS BIFROST BRIDGE, MAY THIS STEAD BE WARDED AGAINST ALL WIGHTS BANEFUL TO OUR WORK HERE TONIGHT!" The Godhi then places the sword, still unsheathed, on the harrow.

INVOCATION:

"BALDER, NOBLE WARRIOR, HAIL! STRONG LIKE THE OAK AND

 BRILLIANT AS THE SUN, YOU INSPIRE US TO BOLDNESS AND WARM OUR SPIRITS

 AS THE YEAR PROGRESSES. ODIN'S MOST BELOVED HEIR, BRAVE IN BATTLE

 AND SHINING OF PRESENCE, YOU SPEAK TO US DURING TIMES OF HARDSHIP

 WHEN THE NEED FOR BOLDNESS IS GREATEST. WE CALL TO YOU TO HELP US

 FIND STRENGTH WITHIN OURSELVES AND TO TEACH US YOUR WISDOM OF THE

 MYSTERIES OF REBIRTH."

As the godi proclaims each kenning, the gathered folk will reply:

Godi: "SON OF ODIN AND FRIGGA!"

Folk: "WE MAKE YOU WELCOME!"

Godi: "FORTSETI'S FATHER!"

Folk: "WE MAKE YOU WELCOME!"

Godi: "WHITE BROWED GOD!"

Folk: "WE MAKE YOU WELCOME!"

Godi: "NANNA'S LOVER!"

Folk: "WE MAKE YOU WELCOME!"

Godi: "BEAUTIFUL GOD!"

Folk: "WE MAKE YOU WELCOME!"

Godi: "WARRIOR OF THE LIGHT!"

Folk: "WE MAKE YOU WELCOME!"

Godi: "MASTER OF REBIRTH!"

Folk: "WE MAKE YOU WELCOME!"

Greeting: Godi and the gathered folk then greet Balder together:

"AS TIME GOES BY, THE DAYS BECOME LONGER

 SUNNA BLAZES HER LONG COURSE

 THE AIR GROWS WARM, WE ALL GROW STRONGER

 WE FEEL THINGS CHANGE WITH A MIGHTY FORCE

 WITH SHINING FACE AND JOYOUS LAUGH

 WE FEEL BALDER GROWING NEAR

 WITH DEEDS WELL DONE NOT TOLD BY HALF

 WITH VOICES WE SPEAK AND WITH EARS WE HEAR

 HAIL BALDER! HAlL BALDER! HAIL BALDER!"

Rede: The godi then performs a reading or gives personal insight about the Balder myth.

Godi then fills up horn with drink from vessel:

"BALDER, WE WELCOME YOU, AND WE OFFER YOU SACRIFICE! NOT OF BLOOD,

 BUT OF THE FREE GIVING OF OUR HUMAN EFFORTS, OUR STRUGGLES, AND OUR

 DEVOTION! MAY IT AID US, GODS AND HUMANKIND ALIKE, IN OUR STRUGGLES

 AGAINST THOSE WHO WOULD WAR AGAINST ASGARD OR SEEK GREY SLAVERY

 IN MIDGARD! BALDER, ACCEPT OUR GIFTS, NOT AS FROM SLAVES, FOR WE HAVE

 NO MASTERS, NOR AS A SIGN OF APPEASEMENT FOR WE STAND IN IN GOOD

 STEAD WITH YOU; BUT RATHER AS A SIGN OF OUR KINSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP!"

When godi feels the offering has been accepted, he will pour a libation onto the ground. Godi then refills the horn with liquid from the vessel and holds the horn in his hands:

"BALDER, YOU HAVE RECEIVED OUR SACRIFICE AS SYMBOLIZED BY THIS DRINK.

 POUR NOW INTO IT YOUR MIGHT AND BLESSINGS, SO THAT WE GROW CLOSER

 TO YOU AND TO EACH OTHER BY SHARING IT AMONG US."

BLESSING: When godi feels that the drink is charged with Balder's might, a small libation is then poured into the blessing-bowl over the tine. The harrow is then sprinkled on all four sides by the tine, in the shape of a Gebo rune. Then each of the folk are sprinkled with the tine, one at a time:

"I GIVE YOU THE BLESSINGS OF BALDER!"

Godi then sets the blessing bowl back onto the harrow. The drinking horn, which is still filled with blessed liquid is passed around to each of the folk, and offered a drink:

"DRINK TO THE MIGHT OF BALDER!"

CLOSING: After a moment of silence, the godi speaks:

"THIS BLOT IS DONE. MAY IT STRENGTHEN OUR BOND OF KINSHIP BETWEEN THE AESIR, THE VANIR, AND OURSELVES."

The godi then salutes the four directions, in reverse order, starting in the west, while dissolving the sun wheel:

"HAIL BALDER, AND FAREWELL."

Sword is resheathed.

Godi then circles with recels counterclockwise three times.

Created by Chandonn and Jordsvin

all works used by permission of the authors