Blot or Ritual to honour and feel closer to the Norse Gods.

[algiz]

Any recommendations on the above? I know many will say it is through your deeds you will feel closer etc to our pantheons but I would also like to do some rituals/Blots.

Thanks for any suggestions in advance.

[Megatherium]

Any recommendations on the above? I know many will say it is through your deeds you will feel closer etc to our pantheons but I would also like to do some rituals/Blots.

Thanks for any suggestions in advance.

Unfortunately, our knowledge of domestic/family worship is even worse than our knowledge of public/community rituals. However, there is an association of Anglo-Saxon Heathens (Larhus Fyrnsida) which has published some excellent articles on household worship, prayer and ritual format. Due to the aforementioned lack of info, these rituals are informed by  Indo-European cultures in general, but I think it is certainly an excellent place to start. Here is the link:

https://larhusfyrnsida.com/ritual/

[Jainarayan]

Any recommendations on the above? I know many will say it is through your deeds you will feel closer etc to our pantheons but I would also like to do some rituals/Blots.

Thanks for any suggestions in advance.

There was a blog that I drew a lot from, including blóts for various occasions. Unfortunately the owner of the blog made good on his promise to take it down (lack of time to commit to it). I created an "everyday blót" based on his formats, though technically because it doesn't involve blood, it's really just a votive offering. But here it is from my Word collection. Tweak it as you need to and see fit. You could keep it similar to what it is, or change it for a single Holy Power, such as a blót to Thor only. Please note that some Heathens rail at the Sign of the Hammer, considering it baggage from Christianity. But I believe one king did indeed make the motion over a drinking bowl or horn.

As Megatherium mentioned, we really don't know what the ancient Heathens did or did not do. Some people think the archaeological and written records are complete, but I don't believe that for a second. Just because it's not there or recorded doesn't mean it didn't happen... "absence of evidence is not evidence of absence". Follow your UPG. I believe the gods are happy and touched by all sincere shows of devotion.

Moreover, this is not unlike a Hindu home puja (except that we don't use alcohol or meat offerings). I suspect that the ritual offerings and personal worship methods are pert'near the same across the Indo-European spectrum.

Everyday Blót To the Holy Powers

Invocation and calling

< Ring bell or blow horn >

Hail the Æsir! Hail the Vanir!
Glorious Host of the Nine Worlds
We bid you welcome, High Ones
Stand with us, as in days of old
We bid you accept our offerings true

Hail the Gods of the North
Shining Ones, Mighty Ones
We give honor to you, Holy Kin
So that our Troth may be renewed

Hail the Álfar! Hail the Dísir!
Worthy ancestors of our blood
We bid you welcome, Honored Kin
Stand with us, as in days of old
We bid you accept our offerings true

Hail the ancestors of our lines
Ancient Ones, Recent Ones
We give honor to you, Worthy Kin
So that our Urð may be strengthened

Hail the Landvættir! Hail the Huldrafolk!
Hidden dwellers of Midgard
We bid you welcome, Beloved Friends
Stand with me, as in days of old
We bid you accept our offerings true

Hail Unseen Ones, greetings we give
Holy vættir, full of Might and Main
We give honor to you, warders of land and home
So that this place may be protected

Holy Offering

< Raise the DRINKING HORN into the air >

Hail Thor, Mighty Warder of Miðgarðr, we bid you protect our homes and land!
Hail the Æsir! Hail the Vanir! Hail the landvættir! Hail the house gods! Hail the Ancestors!

We bid you join us and receive our offerings.
We raise this horn in your honor and share it as a token of our gratitude for the gifts you have given us.

Accept this sacrifice, a symbol of our labor to provide for our families, and find it worthy.

Grant us your blessings and keep us safe. Protect us from all ill-willing wights, trolls, and niðlings.
Keep our homes safe from storms and make our hearths warm.

Let good friends find comfort in our company and may we find that food is plentiful and our cups are always full.
We offer up this horn to you, may it be well received.

In days of old our folk spilled the blood of sacred animals,
offering up the life of the sacred animal and the livelihood of our folk,
as a gift for the blessings they had received.

< Pour the contents of the DRINKING HORN into the HLAUTBOLLI. Make a Hammer Sign over the horn and say “Thor, make sacred." Raise the horn into the air >

Today we raise this horn in place of blood, a symbol of our livelihood in our modern world.
It is a token of the work we do to provide for our families and is something dearly cherished.
This is the most precious thing we have to offer, may it be well received.
 
Hail Thor!
Hail the Æsir! Hail the Vanir!
Hail the Ancestors! Hail the Landvættir!

< Drink from the horn >

Closing

Gods and Goddesses, Aesir and Vanir, and all the Holy Powers, thank you for being here with us today and for giving your blessings.

Hail the Æsir! Hail the Vanir!
Hail the Ancestors! Hail the Landvættir!
Hail the Holy Powers!

< Pour the contents of the HLAUTBOLLI onto the HÖRGR or under a tree. >

From the Gods to the Earth to us,
From us to the Earth to the Gods,
A gift for a gift. Hail!

[algiz]

There was a blog that I drew a lot from, including blóts for various occasions. Unfortunately the owner of the blog made good on his promise to take it down (lack of time to commit to it). I created an "everyday blót" based on his formats, though technically because it doesn't involve blood, it's really just a votive offering. But here it is from my Word collection. Tweak it as you need to and see fit. You could keep it similar to what it is, or change it for a single Holy Power, such as a blót to Thor only. Please note that some Heathens rail at the Sign of the Hammer, considering it baggage from Christianity. But I believe one king did indeed make the motion over a drinking bowl or horn.

As Megatherium mentioned, we really don't know what the ancient Heathens did or did not do. Some people think the archaeological and written records are complete, but I don't believe that for a second. Just because it's not there or recorded doesn't mean it didn't happen... "absence of evidence is not evidence of absence". Follow your UPG. I believe the gods are happy and touched by all sincere shows of devotion.

Moreover, this is not unlike a Hindu home puja (except that we don't use alcohol or meat offerings). I suspect that the ritual offerings and personal worship methods are pert'near the same across the Indo-European spectrum.

Everyday Blót To the Holy Powers

Invocation and calling

< Ring bell or blow horn >

Hail the Æsir! Hail the Vanir!
Glorious Host of the Nine Worlds
We bid you welcome, High Ones
Stand with us, as in days of old
We bid you accept our offerings true

Hail the Gods of the North
Shining Ones, Mighty Ones
We give honor to you, Holy Kin
So that our Troth may be renewed

Hail the Álfar! Hail the Dísir!
Worthy ancestors of our blood
We bid you welcome, Honored Kin
Stand with us, as in days of old
We bid you accept our offerings true

Hail the ancestors of our lines
Ancient Ones, Recent Ones
We give honor to you, Worthy Kin
So that our Urð may be strengthened

Hail the Landvættir! Hail the Huldrafolk!
Hidden dwellers of Midgard
We bid you welcome, Beloved Friends
Stand with me, as in days of old
We bid you accept our offerings true

Hail Unseen Ones, greetings we give
Holy vættir, full of Might and Main
We give honor to you, warders of land and home
So that this place may be protected

Holy Offering

< Raise the DRINKING HORN into the air >

Hail Thor, Mighty Warder of Miðgarðr, we bid you protect our homes and land!
Hail the Æsir! Hail the Vanir! Hail the landvættir! Hail the house gods! Hail the Ancestors!

We bid you join us and receive our offerings.
We raise this horn in your honor and share it as a token of our gratitude for the gifts you have given us.

Accept this sacrifice, a symbol of our labor to provide for our families, and find it worthy.

Grant us your blessings and keep us safe. Protect us from all ill-willing wights, trolls, and niðlings.
Keep our homes safe from storms and make our hearths warm.

Let good friends find comfort in our company and may we find that food is plentiful and our cups are always full.
We offer up this horn to you, may it be well received.

In days of old our folk spilled the blood of sacred animals,
offering up the life of the sacred animal and the livelihood of our folk,
as a gift for the blessings they had received.

< Pour the contents of the DRINKING HORN into the HLAUTBOLLI. Make a Hammer Sign over the horn and say “Thor, make sacred." Raise the horn into the air >

Today we raise this horn in place of blood, a symbol of our livelihood in our modern world.
It is a token of the work we do to provide for our families and is something dearly cherished.
This is the most precious thing we have to offer, may it be well received.
 
Hail Thor!
Hail the Æsir! Hail the Vanir!
Hail the Ancestors! Hail the Landvættir!

< Drink from the horn >

Closing

Gods and Goddesses, Aesir and Vanir, and all the Holy Powers, thank you for being here with us today and for giving your blessings.

Hail the Æsir! Hail the Vanir!
Hail the Ancestors! Hail the Landvættir!
Hail the Holy Powers!

< Pour the contents of the HLAUTBOLLI onto the HÖRGR or under a tree. >

From the Gods to the Earth to us,
From us to the Earth to the Gods,
A gift for a gift. Hail!

Thanks so much. That is a great read and is something i will use and that really helps. Thanks again!

[Jainarayan]

Thanks so much. That is a great read and is something i will use and that really helps. Thanks again!

You're quite welcome.