Skadhi Blot
by Mist of Kenaz Kindred
This ritual is designed for mid-to-late winter. At the beginning of the rite, the Gyðja speaks:
It is appropriate during this dark and cold part of the season to blót to the huntress of the Nine Worlds. It is fitting to call upon Skadhi during this time of year, as she is the symbol of the hunter in the winter, and that is what we all are. The last part of winter looms and we find ourselves reflecting on the nature of survival, the time when food was scarce, and perhaps the hunt un-yielding of any bounty.
It is fitting to call upon a winter giant, and in this blót we honour her and her clan. The story of Skadhi is story of one that was not willing to lie down and take what had happened to her, but in fact journeyed forth to the Gods and demanded compensation.
Tonight, we shall honour and remember the strength and wonder of the goddess Skadhi. Although traditionally this blót would take place when hunting is at its peak, it seems fitting that it also be when the winter is harsh and brutal. Skadhi is protective and strong, and in this guise of the warrior we can call her forth to protect us from the elements that may threaten the return of warmth and light.
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 Gythia 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 this harrow and stead in the name of Skadhi, ex-wife of Njord, stepmother of Frey and Freyja, wife of Ullr, daughter of Thiazi, defender of the realms of winter from the coming storms. In your name we make this place fitting for our gods and kin.
A bowl is brought forth full of ice cubes with a white candle in the middle. The Gyðja says:
Before the Jotun goddess Skadi came to Asgard after her father's death to claim her inheritance and a husband, she was worshipped widely in Midgard among the humanfolk. She went often among them during the winter months, preferring to spend the summer months either in Niflheim or in the far northeastern reaches of Jotunheim, where it was snowy year-round. It was Skadi who first taught them the making of skis for the quick and snowshoes for the slow, of winter dogsleds and traps of many kinds, of tracking and recognizing spoor even in the bitter cold, and slowly they became winter hunters under her guidance. She taught a few of them, also, of the ways of the stars, and how to read their chill and gleaming knowledge.
Among the northerners of Midgard – who lived more than half the year in snow and ice – Skadi was much beloved, and also not a little feared. To gain her favour could mean the difference between surviving the bitterest winter in reasonable comfort, or seeing one's children perish of cold and starvation. They did not fool themselves into thinking that Skadi was a kindly mother goddess; she was a maiden of ice, a white wolf in the snow with blood on her breast, a spear of ice falling upon the unwary. They knew her nature, both cold and bloodthirsty, and they offered her sacrifices.
When the seers looked upon the signs of Nature in the autumn, and knew with sinking heart that this winter would be especially harsh, a young man was chosen among the handsomest of the village, and offered to Skadi as consort and sacrifice. He was sent naked to a bower built for them in the snow, there to await her pleasure, and she could take it as she wished. Then he was lashed to a tree, and his testicles tied to a buck livestock animal of some sort - goat or bull - and they were ripped from him. Whether he lived or died was up to Skadi and how well he had pleased her, but he would never share his seed with another woman again. His blood was caught in a vessel of carven stone and left on her altar, and she would have mercy on the village and send them plentiful game, and fewer snowstorms.
In modern day, we do not offer the sacrifice of flesh or blood, but to Skadhi we offer this, our devotion and love in the form of the blót.
Tonight, as we raise our glasses to her, perhaps her favour will smile down upon us and we will once again see the wonderful budding trees and blossoms as Frey and Freyja bring life to the land once more.
Invocation to Skadhi I
Skadhi, clear-eyed huntress and
bow-woman,
Thjazi's daughter, battle-maid avenging
with flashing sword his death, accepter
of weregild, courageous and beautiful
bride of brave Njord, sea-god and shore-dweller
whose hall you left for the peaks of Thrymheim.
Dear to you are the howls of wolves, Skadhi,
dark lady who brings the snows of winter;
the fiercest storms and deadly ice are yours.
Guide our arrows to their goals, shining one,
keep us safe in our winter travels.
Skadhi, great huntress and serpent-hanger,
Njord's husband and snowshoe-goddess,
We ask you, O Shining Bride of the Gods
To join with us on this night of darkness,
For the winds are wailing and the wolves are howling in the hills.
O mighty winter-goddess, woman of the wild,
As the darkness covers the fields and the folk,
We pray that you share your strength with us,
That you guide us in our goings and doings,
And that you bring the light of your wisdom
to fill the hall and the folk
again.
Hail Skadhi!
An offering of liquor is poured out to Skadhi.
Invocation to
Skadi II
Hail, Huntress of the snow and ice!
Hail, wife of Njord the sea-god
Who would not compromise with anyone,
Nor live on the shore near the sea-birds
Rather than your beloved snowy mountains.
We who struggle between the tracks
Left by Your winter sleigh,
We whose bloody marks You track,
Skillful in your cold eye,
We hail you, Mistress of Survival!
Etin-bride of winter, Your cloak
Spreads white over the fields,
The icy wind Your breath,
White wolf in the snow,
Lady of the crisp clean starry sky
Over the frozen tundra.
Teach us of the narrow edge between
Living and dying, and of that struggle,
And the cold, naked truth that it reveals.
Catch us naked in the snow, Lady,
We shall bare our throats to your wisdom
And count ourselves lucky.
Libations are now brought out for Skadhi’s family members – Ullr, Frey, Freya, Njord, Thiazi, and the Frost Giants. After each invocation is read, everyone echoes “Hail _______!” and their offering is poured out.
Invocation to Ullr
Ullr, great huntsman and master of the bow,
Sif's son and Snowshoe-Aesir,
We ask you O Glory of Winter
to join with us on this dark night,
For the frost is thick and the cold is chilling to the bone
O mighty shield-god, fair of face and fight,
As the darkness covers the fields and the folk,
We pray that you share your strength with us,
That your skiff should shield us from harm,
And that your shining light should fill the hall the and folk again.
Hail Ullr!
Invocation to Frey and Freyja
Though she did not live with you long,
Her love with you both has stayed,
For Frey to Gerd she did bring,
And brought the blessings of a love true and lasting,
For Freyja she caught up the trickster with ease,
And comforted you by binding his bones,
To you both she showed a love, lasting longer than vows.
As it is our way to honor the clan and family
Of the god we are blótting to this day,
We offer this gift to you in like kind,
As family and kin to the lady of winter.
Hail to Frey and Freya!
Njord
To you, great god of the sea,
We bring you gifts this day
In honour of your marriage to the lady of winter,
Though neither could reside in the hall of the other,
We learn that even if circumstances change,
It is possible to part in peace and friendship,
As with your children, we offer you the same,
A gift in kind, to the goddess we celebrate this day.
Hail Njord!
Thjazi
Swift you were to steal Idun,
And for punishment slain by the gods of Asgard,
But still in this death,
A beacon of memory given to your daughter,
Two stars within the sky,
To watch over the people of Midgard,
In the midst of the cold and snow, when above we look,
The stars known to us as Gemini remind us of you,
To your daughter we honour,
For from you came a daughter with strength
And wisdom upon her bestowed,
To you, father of Skadhi, we give you hail,
And welcome you to our humble feast.
Hail Thiazi!
Frost Giants
Giants of the cold lands,
Of frost and ice,
We come this day to ask you now to slumber once more,
The winter sky is still cold,
And the light of summer far from our sight,
But we ask you now to remove yourself from our land.
In thanks for our survival,
We offer you humble offerings
To implore you to return once more
To the cold and frosty places of the great Ash.
Hail the Frost Giants!
After the last hailing and libation, the Gyðja says:
Although traditionally a ritual dedicated to Skadhi and Ullr often followed a hunt, we can perhaps only strive to honour them in our own way. We felt that they would be more apparent during this time of year than in November, because frankly it is now when we need reminding of surviving the rest of a winter that goes on too long. Skadhi protects those in Midgard from terrifying storms, that decimate not only the land but our desire to go outside at all. It is very depressing to see the world so dark and cold, and she illuminates it with a protective force, reminding us that there is fun to be had even if we absolutely hate the cold!
Ullr is one that represents the hunt, and in that role can provide the success needed in all endeavours. Normally, at this time, weapons would be dedicated to Ullr to provide successful hunting; however, he is also good at providing a great deal of success to those seeking personal change and transformation. It is in this form we will ask all of you to come forward and ask Skadhi for whatever you wish … this does not have to be a request heard out loud, but can be personal and quite if you wish.
After you state your wish to Skadhi, please sip from the cup, as a gift from her to you.
Ullr, the companion of Skadhi, is said to hold Odin’s throne while he is wandering the world of Midgard over the cold and frosty months. As a god of success in all endeavors, the god of glory and of skill, we ask that those who wish to may come and place an offering to Ullr into the bowl. If you have anything that you wish to have success in at the moment, feel free to ask Ullr for his blessings. As a gift for your offering, please eat a piece of this white cake.
Participants come forth and ask their boons, and give their personal offerings. As this ritual was meant to be a short one, we then ask if anyone wishes to have a rune reading done during the rite, and if not we will begin Sumbel, to close the rite.
Our Kindred Rituals could not have been
created without the help of:
Michaela Macha at http://www.odins-gift.com, who has helped provide a great deal of the poetry and music in our rituals.
Gary Penzler for his permission to use the blot poem in our rituals
Jordsvin's Norse Heathen Pages: http://home.earthlink.net/~jordsvin/
...and Google!
Artwork by Margaret Seidler.