Mordgud’s Ritual for Blessing a Guard
by Ari
While the Rite of Heimdall that I wrote
is a general blessing to keep a guard safe and alert, this ritual calls upon
Mordgud as Guardian of the Gate of the Underworld to bless their mental health.
Some guards must keep the door between the outside world and very damaged
people – prisoners, mental patients, addicts in rehabilitation facilities, etc.
Being the doorway in such a situation can take a heavy toll on a guardian,
dragging them down into a hard, cold, depressed, fatalistic, negative place. In
this rite we call upon Mordgud to help them as their ward the entry to some
very dark places, keeping their mind, heart, and soul intact and compassionate
throughout the work.
First, a sigil is made from wood painted black with a white bind rune of the runes Ear and Algiz. A cup of liquor is brought, of some sort red as spilled blood. It should be hung on a loop of leather thong, for the neck or the keychain as they will. A candle of black is lit with the words “Maiden of the Helgrind!” The guard is recaned with smoke of any of the following dried herbs: elderflower, wormwood, snapdragon, and toadflax.
Mordgud, Maiden of the murky realm,
Helheim’s Guardian, hallowed and hale,
Stalwart sentinel of Death’s doorway,
You watch the dead walk down your road
And cross the bridge of gold and knives,
And watch them weep and wail their woe,
And make all their excuses proud.
You know their wounds, their hate, their fears,
And yet you welcome every one
With compassion’s candle as cord is cut,
Making them welcome at your mistress’s wall.
Bless this your guard with such serenity
And ward off darkness from this watcher’s mind.
Protect him/her, Mordgud, Armored Maiden,
And let him/her not slide down the slope
To coldness cruel and bitter belief.
Bring them hope when hope is needed,
Bear their heart up when it falls,
Keep them sound within their walls.
Then a drop of wine from the cup is placed on the center of the forehead and on the heart, with the words: “Joy of heart, joy of mind.” The liquor is given to the guard to take a swallow, and the rest they pour out as a libation to Mordgud with the words “Hail Hela’s Home-guard!” The guard hands the cup over, and is given the sigil in trade, with the words: “This hope stays in your heart; this sigil stays at your side.” Then the guard should, ideally, go straight to work, with Mordgud’s blessing.