Frigga Blot
by Mist
This is one of the rituals donated by Kenaz Kindred. This ritual is designed for mid-to-late winter. You will need a horn of mead for offering. At the beginning of the rite, the Gyðja speaks:
Gyðja: Fé, Vit, Friðr, Grið, Heill. (Fay, Veet, Freeth, Greeth, Hayl).
Assistant: Wealth, Wisdom, Harmony, Security and Health [i]
At this point, we peform the Hammer Rite,
which was created by Edred Thorsson. Rather than reprinting it here, we
encourage people to find it themselves – it is available in his book Futhark: A Handbook of Rune
Magic, and one web search will give you
dozens of places where it is available on the Internet. The rite essentially
calls the quarters, first in Old Norse and then in modern English, calling upon
the four dwarves of the sacred directions. The Gyðja and her assistant walk to
the four quarters and perform this rite; alternately, some other ritual of
creating sacred space could be used.
Gyðja: I hallow and make holy to the service of Odin and Frigga, the gods of the Ǽsir and Vanir and Jötunn this harrow and stead, may the might of our all-mother and father be with us this day, as we honour the goddess of the folk, home and hearth.
This day we honour one who was for many years left to the women of the tribe to honour. Her name was spoken in whispers at every birth, called upon when the family needed help and aid. From the lips of ancient women her name was uttered, from the hands of women her offerings laid out, her memory never lost. The ritual we do today is to honour this mighty goddess who is known to us as Frigga, wife of Odin, the All-Mother of both gods and humans. In her honour we conduct this rite.
For those of you who are new to Heathenry, we thought we would explain each part of the ritual as we go, so you have some idea as to what is going on. The first offering we pour is for the blót or sacrificial part of the ritual. This initial offering is for all the gods on the Heathen Path. We ask that your mind be focused on them, the gods of the ancient Northmen, as we pour this offering to them
The Gyðja lifts the horn of mead, and draws the rune Perthro with her finger over the opening.
We hallow this horn with the symbol of Perthro,
The symbol of Frigga, as Mistress of Wyrd,
Mother of the folk, and keeper of mysteries.
We dedicate this sacrifice to:
Oðinn Old Wanderer, Allfather of the folk!
Loki Long-Fettered, bringer of treasures!
Thórr Thunder-Hammer, protector of Midgarð!
Freyr Field-Blesser, rider of the boar!
Freyja Falcon-Cloak, weeping bride!
Frigga Frith-Seeker, wise to fates!
Njorðr Noatun-Master, wealth-giver!
Nerthus Nether-Earth, peace-maker!
Balder Bearer-of-Rings, guest in Hel's hall!
Nanna Never-Lonely, grief-stricken.
Heimdall Horn-Blower, guardian of the bridge!
Ægir Ale-Brewer, ship-wrecker!
Ran Receiver-of-the-Drowned, mother of Waves!
Tiw Trust-Bearer, wolf-binder!
Sif Sunshine-Hair, thunder-hall key-keeper!
Forseti Finder-of-Springs, ship-steerer!
Idunna Immortal-Apples, keeper of youth!
Bragi Blithe-Tongue, skald-patron!
We do you honour! Hail!
The horn of mead is poured out for the Gods. Then the Gyðja continues:
Odin, all-father of the folk
We call to you this day with loving hearts,
For today, we honor she who walks among your halls,
She who lays beside you in slumber,
She who wakes you in the light of day,
With her hands, cares for you, your home and children,
Your wife, Frigga, the silent, we honor this day,
For the gracious gifts she gives both gods and man,
Odin, we praise you and your wife,
And ask your hand to cast us favor
Through the honor we bring to your beloved wife, mother of Balder,
She who remains for us a tribute of grace, beauty and wisdom.
Hail Odin, husband of Frigga, chief of the Aesir, ruler of Asgard.
Four women come forward, to speak for Frigga. Ideally they should be happily married women, or at least widows.
First Caller:
To Frigga, the All-Mother,
You have shown me great comfort in times of pain,
In my greatest hour, you helped me achieve the greatest act of female power,
And gave me a treasured daughter.
You have granted me patience when I prayed for it,
Wisdom, when I asked,
And have shown me that my sacrifices are not for nothing,
But are essential to my life and calling.
To you, Great Mother, I call,
And ask you to remind us the power that we women share with each other.
Frigga looks deep within others and knows them.
Nothing keeps hidden from her, and yet she accepts everyone.
Frigga is the Mother who lays the mantle of her gentleness protectively on us.
In her fold one is sheltered safely and lovingly.
Frigga asks no questions, for she already knows the answer.
She knows one will talk when the time has come.
Frigga is the Mother who takes care of her children intimately and devotedly.
Always she is there, and has an open ear for them.
Second Caller:
Twist me, twist me, Frigga,
Into your distaff,
Spin me, Spin me, Frigga,
Into your wheel,
Mould me, mould me, Frigga,
Into some wool,
Fix me, fix me, Frigga,
Into the web of wyrd.
Third Caller:
Nothing is recorded about Frigga prior to her marriage to Odin, but her gift is her ability to move outside of convention and yet still remain a loyal wife. She is very much the political wife in manners of state, but in her marshy hall of Fensalir she sits in relaxed contemplation. She runs Odin’s house with an iron fist, but in her hall she is but one of several women that complete the important tasks of weaving and spinning.
She is known as the great spinner, she who spins the wool that the Norns will use to create the great web of Wyrd. Renowned for her ability to keep secrets, she does not reveal any knowledge unless the person proves trustworthy, and even then does not reveal everything. In order to perform this work she owns a marvelous jeweled spinning wheel or distaff, which at night shines brightly in the sky in the shape of a constellation, known in the North as Frigga’s Spinning Wheel, while the inhabitants of the South called the same stars Orion’s Girdle.
Fourth Caller:
Frigga’s marriage to Odin caused such general rejoicing in Asgard, where the goddess was greatly beloved, that ever after it was customary to celebrate its anniversary with feast and song, She was declared patroness of marriage; her health was always proposed with that of Odin and Thor at wedding feasts.
Frigga is the goddess of the atmosphere and the clouds, and is sometimes represented as wearing either snow-white or dark garments according to her somewhat variable moods. She is crowned with heron plumes – the symbol of silence or forgetfulness – and her white robes are secured at the waist by a golden girdle from which hangs a bunch of keys – the distinctive sign of the Northern housewife, whose special patroness she is said to be. She is Queen of the Aesir, and she alone has the privilege of sitting on the throne Hlidskialf beside her husband Odin. From thence she, too, can look over the entire world and see what is happening. According to our ancestors’ declarations, she possessed the knowledge of the future, which no one could ever prevail upon her to reveal, thus proving that Northern women could keep a secret inviolate.
First Caller:
Frigga is considered the goddess of conjugal and motherly love, and is specially worshiped by married lovers and tender parents. This exalted office does not so entirely absorb all her thoughts, however, that she has no time for other matters; for we are told that she is very fond of dress, and whenever she appears before the assembled gods her attire is rich and becoming, and her jewels always chosen with much taste. This love of adornment once led her sadly astray, for, in her longing to possess some new jewel, she secretly purloined a piece of gold from a statue representing her husband, which had just been placed in his temple. The stolen metal was entrusted to the dwarfs, with instructions to fashion a marvelous necklace for her use. This jewel, once finished, was so resplendent that it greatly enhanced her charms and even increased Odin’s love for her.
Second Caller:
But when Odin discovered the theft of the gold, he angrily summoned the dwarfs and bade them reveal who had dared to touch his statue. Unwilling to betray the queen of the gods, the dwarfs remained obstinately silent, and, seeing that no information could be elicited from them, Odin commanded that the statue should be placed above the temple gate, and set to work to devise runes which should endow it with the power of speech and enable it to denounce the thief. When Frigga heard these tidings she trembled with fear, and implored her sister and favorite attendant Fulla to invent some means of protecting her from Allfather’s wrath. Fulla, who was always ready to serve her mistress, immediately departed, and soon returned, accompanied by a hideous dwarf, who promised to prevent the statue from speaking if Frigga would only deign to smile graciously upon him. This boon having been granted, the dwarf hastened off to the temple, caused a deep sleep to fall upon the guards, and while they were thus unconscious, pulled the statue down from its perch and broke it to pieces, so that it could never betray Frigga’s theft in spite of all Odin’s efforts to give it the power of speech.
Third Caller:
Odin, discovering this sacrilege on the morrow, was very angry indeed; so angry that he left Asgard and utterly disappeared, carrying away with him all the blessings which he had been wont to shower upon gods and men. According to some authorities, his brothers Vili and Ve, took advantage of his absence to assume his form and secure possession of his throne and wife; but although they looked exactly like him they could not restore the lost blessings, and allowed the ice giants, or Jotuns, to invade the earth and bind it fast in their cold fetters. These wicked giants also pinched the leaves and buds till they all shriveled up, stripped the trees bare, shrouded the earth in a great white coverlet, and veiled it in impenetrable mists.
But at the end of seven weary months the true Odin relented and returned, and when he saw all the evil that had been done he drove the usurpers away, forced the frost giants to beat a hasty retreat, released the earth from her icy bonds, and again showered all his blessings down upon her, cheering her with the light of his smile.
Fourth Caller:
Lady of Asgard,
You who hears the secrets of the All-Father,
You who holds his heart in your hands,
In you we seek what we need,
And you provide, greatly,
Let us remember your gifts,
And honor you with well wrought work,
From our hands and our hearts,
May we aid each other in times of need,
Through you, Frigga we can learn much,
And in you are mysteries that we seek to understand,
Wind us in your distaff, dole us fair and just fate,
Through you, Frigga we ask, that this life,
Be full of love, light, and needed strength,
Great Mother, accept our offering,
Not of blood, but of our efforts and devotion,
Our love and desire to honor you
Hail Frigga! Hail Frigga! Hail Frigga!
All repeat “Hail Frigga!” as it is spoken. The Gyðja stands forth with the refilled horn and says:
We ask all of you to think on community and family, and as we pass the horn, lift it in the name of mothers. You may lift it to your own mother or to Frigga herself.
The horn is passed, and toasts are made to mothers. The horn is then refilled, and the Gyðja says:
We shall also this day make offering to the family disir, the women spirits who watch over us:
First Caller:
Around the hearth of the house
They gather, old and young,
A whispering and rowning of women,
Growing, receding, never silent.
Present, but ungraspable,
Watching over their own,
Dignified, Guarding, Keeping.
A coming and going –
All have passed on, yet all stayed.
Mothers, Matrons, Aunts,
United for years round the same hearth,
Joined over the ages,
Caring, Blessing, Gifting.
Gray, flax-blond, raven-black,
Faces melding, bound together by love,
Together, Giving, Bearing.
Names fade,
Time passes, community lasts,
Guarding, Caring, Watching.
Women they were, Disir they are.
The Gyðja pours out the offering horn, saying:
We pour this offering for the disir of all families in attendance this day. May you grace our homes with blessings of kindness, love and security. We will now call upon Frigga’s hand-maidens!
Second Caller:
Frigga, Beloved, Asgard’s Queen
Saga, ancient story-teller supreme
Eir, physician, healing maid
Gefion, giver, a land did make
Fulla, plenty all around
Sjofn, affection does abound
Lofn, permission granted thus
Sin, defender, warding us
Hlin, protectress, warrior friend
Var, hearing oaths until the end
Vor, does know all that we seek
Snotra, wise of what to speak
Gna, swift messenger of Frigg
Goddesses, much do you give.
Third Caller:
Hail to you all, may you ever be strong,
May your days be joyful and your nights full of song.
May you grant me and mine love, peace and health,
Wisdom, kindness, good-luck and good wealth.
May it be that you are with us
Through our days and our nights,
To grant us comfort and strength
Through the dark and the light.
Hail to you Goddesses for your blessings this day,
Hail to you Goddesses for the blessings on their way.
The offering is poured out to the
Handmaidens, perhaps by the Fourth Caller, who says, “Hail to you all, Ladies!”
Then the Gyðja stands forth and explains Sumbel to
those who do not know about it.
Gyðja: There are of three rounds in our Sumbel rite. If you do not wish to speak during Sumbel, please just raise the horn and pass it to the next person. If you notice that the horn is getting empty, please raise your hand and we will refill it.
The first round is to the Gods. This can be to any god or goddess, and if you don’t have one than just raise your glass to whatever you wish to celebrate.
The second round is to the Ancestors. This round celebrates our ancestors, heroes, family members or anyone that has come before us.
The third round is for you. Say whatever you want; it can be a song, poem, or words about some personal accomplishment. But be warned that if you make a promise of any kind, you are promising it to the Well of Wyrd, which is binding. So be sure that you promise something that you actually have the intention of doing.
Sumbel is done, and the rite is concluded.
[i] Esoteric Theological Seminary; used with permission: http://northernway.org/asaprayers.html
Artwork by Ronald Chironna.