Thorrablot

Thor’s Blot is January 19^th, and it is the time when the farmer — love he Aesir or Vanir — petitions the great Thor for clement weather for the year. A farmer lives and dies by the weather, sometimes rather literally. If there is not enough sun or rain, if there is too much late or early frost, he can be ruined or, in older times, starve. Therefore, while the Vanic practitioner may work with the Gods of the earth in his daily work, that work must also take into account the occasional payment to the Gods of the sky. That is one reason why Thor allied himself with the common man — someone among the Aesir had to speak for the farmer who begged for decent weather.

For this reason, Thor should be honoured on his day. He is not a god who likes fanciness; the best thing to do is to go outside and face the sky, even if it is raining, snowing, windy, or any other bad weather. Lift your arms and call out to the sky:

Hail Thor who brings the rain on the fields,

Who all the gods of Earth cannot do without.

Let there be drink for the fields,

But do not wash them away.

Let there be water for our drink,

But do not drown us.

Let there be water for washing,

But do not wipe us away.

Let there be water for the creatures

In shed and in wood,

But not too much, we pray, O Thor.

Look upon us with a kindly hand

And save your hammer for the unworthy.

Pour him out a glass of mead or beer — not onto the Earth directly, but flung in a great arc toward the sky (and hopefully not in a direction where it will fall on the people below). It is also politic to leave him a joint of meat as well, but make sure that the bones are not broken but neatly jointed out.

Artwork by Jarreau Wimberly.