Sample Profession Rite

RITE OF DEDICATION/PROFESSION

By Steve Wilson

(Written c. Midsummer, 1993)

(Note from Jordsvin: many of us choose a Heathen name when we “sign on the dotted line,” so to speak, with the Aesir and Vanir. It isn’t necessary, but denotes a new beginning.  For that matter, the Profession or Dedication Rite is also optional!  Individuals with names implicitly associated with a hostile, rival faith are particularly likely to take new, specifically Heathen names. Imagine a Heathen named “Christian”! Some folks legally change their names to their Heathen names; others do not.)

Harrow should be set up with recels and burners, vessel of drink, drinking horn, and holy token (hammer, sunwheel, etc.) to be given to newly dedicated Asatruar. Blessing bolli and teinn are also needed.

HALLOWING: Cleanse area with recels, then perform hamarsetnung. Salute each quarter, beginning in North, and set a Hammer-Sign:

“HAMARR, HELGA VE THETTA OK HINDRA ALLA ILLSKA!”

Then stand at harrow, facing North, in Elhaz-Stodhur:

“I HALLOW AND MAKE HOLY THIS HARROW AND STEAD, BANISHING ALL INFLUENCES UNHOLY OR IMPURE. MAY OUR MINDS, IN THIS HOLY PLACE, LIKEWISE BE HALLOWED, AS IS OUR WILL, TO THE JUST SERVICE OF THE GODS. AS THE GOD HEIMDALL GUARDS BIFROST BRIDGE, MAY THIS STEAD BE WARDED AGAINST ALL WIGHTS BANEFUL TO OUR WORK HERE TODAY.”

INVOCATION: Still standing in Elhaz-Stodhur and facing North:

“MIGHTY ONES OF THE NORTHERN LANDS, GODS AND GODDESSES OF OUR ANCESTORS, WE CALL UPON YOU,TO BE WITH US AND TO WITNESS THIS DEDICATION OF (NAME) INTO YOUR TROTH. WE ASK THAT YOU ALL, AESIR AND VANIR ALIKE, FILL THIS HOLY PLACE WITH YOUR PRESENCE AND MIGHT, AND BLESS OUR NEW BROTHER/SISTER WITH YOUR GIFTS. WE STAND BEFORE YOU AS DID OUR FOREFATHERS IN DAYS GONE BY, AND INVITE YOU TO JOIN WITH US AND CELEBRATE THIS HAPPY DAY.”

OFFERING: Godi fills horn from vessel and holds it high:

“ODIN AND FRIGGA, THOR AND SIF, FREY AND FREYA, AND ALL YOU KIN, WE CALL YOU, AND OFFER YOU SACRIFICE: NOT OF BLOOD, BUT THE FREE GIVING OF OUR HUMAN EFFORTS, OUR STRUGGLES, AND OUR DEVOTION! MAY IT AID US, GODS AND HUMANKIND ALIKE, IN OUR BATTLE AGAINST THOSE WHO WOULD WAR AGAINST ASGARD, OR SEEK TO SET GREY SLAVERY IN MIDGARD. ACCEPT OUR GIFTS, NOT AS FROM SLAVES, FOR WE HAVE NO MASTERS, NOR AS AN AP-PEASEMENT, FOR WE STAND IN GOOD STEAD WITH YOU: BUT AS A SIGN OF OUR KINSHIP AND COMMUNION!”

When godi feels offering has been accepted, he will pour out a small libation on the ground and return horn to harrow.

LOADING: Godi makes handstodhur over horn:

“MIGHTY ONES, YOU HAVE RECEIVED OUR SACRIFICE, SYMBOLIZED BY THE ALE IN THIS HORN. POUR NOW INTO IT YOUR POWER AND BLESSINGS, MAKING IT FOR US A TRUE DRAUGHT OF MIGHT AND MAIN, THAT WE MAY GROW CLOSER TO YOU AND EACH OTHER BY SHARING IT AMONG US.”

When godi feels ale is charged, he will then continue with rite;

DEDICATION: Godi will turn to person being dedicated and say:

“THE KINSHIP OF ASATRU IS A FAMILY OF FREE INDIVIDUALS WHO COME TOGETHER TO HONOR THE GODS AND GODDESSES OF ASGARD. WE RESPECT EACH OTHER, AND STRIVE TO LIVE UP TO THE HIGH IDEALS OF OUR ANCESTORS. THESE IDEALS INCLUDE PERSONAL HONOR, COURAGE, STRENGTH, HONESTY, REALISM, AND A LUSTY JOY IN LIVING. THOUGH WE LOOK TO THE LESSONS OF OUR PAST AND OUR FOREFATHERS FOR OUR FOUNDATIONS, WE ALSO LOOK TO THE FUTURE, AND WORK TO CARRY OUR RELIGION INTO GENERATIONS YET TO COME. DO YOU FREELY, OF YOUR OWN WILL AND DESIRE, WISH TO BE BROUGHT INTO THE KINSHIP OF ASATRU?”

Dedicant will answer.

(Note from Jordsvin: rest of rite contingent on an affirmative response!)

“BY WHAT NAME WILL YOU BE KNOWN TO THE FOLK?”

Dedicant will answer.

“(NAME), I INVITE YOU NOW TO MAKE YOUR OATH TO THE GODS AND GODDESSES OF OUR FOLK.”

Dedicant will then make his/her oath to the Gods. Godi will then pour some ale into bolli. With teinn, he will mark a hammersign over the dedicant’s forehead, lips, heart, left shoulder, and right shoulder, making the large personal Hammer-Sign, speaking the blessing of the appropriate God or Goddess at each station:

“(FOREHEAD) MAY TYR GRANT YOU NOBILITY OF BEARING, AND STEADFASTNESS IN HONOR.

 

 (LIPS) MAY ODIN GRANT YOU QUICKNESS OF MIND AND WISDOM IN SPEECH.

 

 (HEART) MAY THOR GRANT YOU COURAGE OF HEART AND STRENGTH OF BODY.

 

 (LEFT SHOULDER) MAY FREYA GRANT YOU JOY, PLEASURE, AND LUST FOR LIVING.

 

 (RIGHT SHOULDER) MAY FREY GRANT YOU HEALTH, PROSPERITY, AND THE GOOD

 THINGS OF LIFE.”

 

Godi will then take up the holy token and bless it with the ale:

“MAY THE GODS AND GODDESSES OF THE FOLK BLESS THIS (NAME OF TOKEN), FILLING IT WITH THEIR POWER AND THEIR MIGHT. MAY IT PROTECT OUR BROTHER/SISTER FROM HARM, AND SERVE AS A REMINDER TO HIM/HER OF HIS/HER OATHS AND HIS/HER STANDING AS A MEMBER OF THIS KINSHIP.”

Godi will then present holy token to dedicant. If other folk are present at dedication, godi will then present dedicant to them:

“ALL HAIL OUR NEW BROTHER/SISTER, (NAME)!”

Godi will then take up horn and drink, then give horn to dedicant:

“(NAME), I GIVE YOU THE BLESSINGS OF THE AESIR AND VANIR, AND WELCOME YOU INTO THEIR TROTH!”

Dedicant will drink, then pour out small libation to the Gods:

DEDICANT: “HAIL THE AESIR AND VANIR AND THE HOLY TROTH OF ASATRU!”

If other folk are present for this rite dedicant may then pass horn to each of the folk in turn, moving sunwise:

“I GIVE YOU THE BLESSING OF THE AESIR AND VANIR.”

Dedicant will then return horn to harrow, and godi will speak:

“LET US ALL REFLECT NOW ON THE MEANTNG OF OUR FAITH, AND OUR OWN PERSONAL DEDICATION TO THE GODS.”

All should stand in silent reflection for a period of time. When godi feels enough time has passed, he will speak:

“THIS RITE IS DONE. MAY IT STRENGTHEN US TN DEVOTION TO THE GODS OF OUR ANCESTORS, AND RENEW IN OUR HEARTS OUR DETERMINATION TO LIVE AS WORTHY FOLK OF ASATRU. NAY WE GO FORTH FROM HERE WITH ALL THE GREATER RESOLUTION TO LIVE TRUE AND FREE–WITH COURAGE, WITH TRUST IN OUR STRENGTH, AND HONORING THE BONDS OF KINSHIP, UNTIL WE BE GATHERED TO THE GODS.”

CLOSING: Godi will turn to face North, standing in Elhaz-Stodhur:

“MIGHTY GODS AND GODDESSES OF ASATRU, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENCE HERE TODAY! AS YOU WEND TO ASGARD, CARRY WITH YOU THE THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS OF WE WHO DWELL IN MIDGARD. PRAISE TO YOU. AND FAREWELL!”

Godi will turn to each quarter, starting in the North:

“HAIL AND FAREWELL!”

Afterwards, folk should welcome in new sibling with food and celebration

How was your Osatra??

Today the first two members (Russell and myself) of the recreated Kaerhrafnr kindred celebrated Ostara.  Though we were not as prepared as we wanted the rite went with ease.  I will add here briefly what Ostara ( or also known as Eostre to my Anglo Saxon kin) is.

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Ostara is celebrated on the spring equinox around March 21. This feast marks the beginning of the summer half of the year. It is named after the goddess Ostara (Anglo-Saxon Eostre), who was such an integral part of heathen Germanic culture that the Christians stole and absorbed it as their own spring feast which was adapted for the Paschal holiday, and was converted to the Christian Easter. Her name is related to the Germanic words for “east” and “glory”; she was the embodiment of the springtime and the renewal of life.

At the equinox, the sun rises directly in the east and sets directly in the west. In the northern hemisphere, before Ostara, the sun rises and sets more and more to the south, and afterwards, it rises and sets more and more to the north.

spring equinox is the beginning of spring in the northern hemisphere. The holiday is a celebration the rejuvenation of the Earth, fertility and growth; traditional decorations include budding boughs, flowers, decorated eggs and the Rabbit motif.
Heathen folk customs associated especially with Ostara’s feast include the painting and hunting of Easter eggs, which, according to German tradition, were brought or laid by the ‘Easter Hare’ (the earliest form of the slightly diminished American ‘Easter Bunny’). The Hare was the holy beast of Ostara, slain and eaten only at her blessing. In Germany, bakeries sell hare-shaped cakes at this time of year. Fires were also kindled on the hilltops at dawn, especially in Germany. Another common folk-custom which still survives in rural areas is the performance of plays at which Summer battles with Winter and drives him out, or at which an effigy embodying Winter is beaten, burned, or drowned.
Today, Ostara is seen as the feast to awakening the Earth, the gods and goddesses, and the human soul. Life becomes brighter and more joyful after the Ostara feast has been rightly held.

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After this rite (blot) was finished we thanked the goddess for joining us and asked that when she returned to Asgard she tell the Kin and gods are desires and needs.  As we set off from the site a falcon flew over us to the east making its call.. We both felt her blessings were upon us. ( some in Asatru attribute the goddess to Freyja or Idunna.. with what happened my opinion leans towards Freyja)