This ritual calls upon six Gods. There are two divine male triplicities in Norse mythology – the older elemental triplicity of Aegir (sea), Logi (fire), and Kari (the North Wind) – and the younger Aesir creative triplicity Odin, Vili, and Vé. The first three brothers were all the sons of Fornjotr (also called Mistblindi), an ancient frost-giant, by three different wives. The second three brothers were the sons of Bor and Bestla, an early Aesir man and a frost-giantess. This rite calls upon each of them in turn, protecting a person or family from above and below.

You will need six kinds of liquor for this ritual, at least a generous cupful of each kind, which makes it a bit expensive, but worth it. You will also need a source of fire large enough to pour the liquor into without danger. Outside with a bonfire is best, but if that is not possible, large metal firepit-bowls are available that can be filled with charcoal or wood to set aflame, and this could be done in a driveway or back yard. We do not recommend doing this indoors unless you are very careful.

Which liquors to pick? It may be useful to wander around the liquor store and see what your intuition tells you. Aegir the Sea-King is a brewer, so I generally offer him high-quality local organic beer – nothing with nasty chemicals. Logi is a god of Fire, so he gets something spicy and hot. For Kari the North Wind, I look for some sort of clear flavored vodka in “ice mint” or that sort of thing. Odin is traditionally fond of aquavit. Vili is the god of Will, so one could find as high-proof a liquor as you can, such as Everclear. Ve is the giver of psychic ability, so one could go with a herbal liqueur.

Find six cups in the following colors: cobalt blue for Odin, yellow for Vili, purple or clear for Ve, red for Logi, white for Kari, and sea-blue or sea-green for Aegir. Find a recaning stick of dried mugwort, and divide a good-sized loaf of bread into six pieces. Pour the liquor into the cups and light the fire. Once the fire is going, light the mugwort stick and blow it out, creating smoke. Walk around the space with the smoking stick. To make the protection rite stronger, I suggest learning the Anglo-Saxon song listed in the “Creating Sacred Space” rite and using that as your opening. However, at the very least, recan the area with sacred smoke.

Next, call out the following:

Hail to you, Ancient Ones!

Hail to the Three and Three who circle about the World Tree!

I come to you with open hands,

Asking for your protection

As you love the world, and humanity, and life itself.

First I call upon Kari, Eldest Brother,

North Wind of the Land of Frost,

Coldest blizzard sweeping down on us.

Hide me from all who would harm me and mine

In the white veil of your snowy train,

And may your breath chill their flames

Until they lose interest and turn aside.

Hail Kari, Fornjotr’s son, father of Frost.

Pour out the white cup into the fire, and place a piece of bread thereon.

Next I call upon Logi, Brother of Flame,

Fire that devours all things,

Bowl and spoon and house itself,

And yet gives us warmth in the cold,

Forges our tools, cooks our feasts,

And brings joy and merriment to our dark nights.

Protect me and mine with the heat of your fire,

Let no one and nothing strike me down,

Surround us in a wall of flame that harms us not.

Hail Logi, Fornjotr’s son, brother of Sea and Wind!

Pour out the red cup into the fire, and place a piece of bread thereon.

Next I call upon Aegir, Brother of Ocean,

King of the Northern Seas that roll,

Depths and billows, currents and eddies,

Husband to Ran of the emerald eyes and weedy hair,

Father to the Nine Waves that kiss the shore.

Protect me and mine with the thundering force

Of your breakers that sweep away all resistance.

Protect the salt blood in our veins,

Let it run in peace and safety through our hearts.

Hail Aegir, Fornjotr’s son, brother of Wind and Fire!

Pour out the sea-colored cup into the fire, and place a piece of bread thereon. Now extend your arms to the side, and call out:

Hail to the Three Brothers, older than old,

Who sang your songs to my ancestors

As they lived by Fire and Sea and Winter Winds.

Let nothing come up from below to ensnare me,

Let nothing come from the fires of rage,

Let nothing come from the ocean of resentment,

Let nothing come from the winds of chance

To stop my feet upon my true road.

Move back to the firepit again, to call upon the next deity.

Next I call upon Vili, God of Will,

Brother of Odin and son of Bor,

Who gave wit and intelligence to mankind,

Who gave the hands that touch and make,

And the will to see things through.

Place your sacred will against the obstacles

That wait to swoop down upon me.

Make me safe in the yellow light of day,

And give me the wits to know danger where it lies

And not to imagine it where it is not.

Hail Vili, firstborn of Bestla, ancient wise one!

Pour out the yellow cup onto the fire, and place a piece of bread thereon.

Next I call upon Vé, Lord of Sacredness,

Brother of Odin and son of Bor,

Who gave the eyes that see to mankind,

Who gave speech and sacred words to mankind,

Who gave eyes that see and ears that hear,

Who gave the smile and the frown,

And the ability to see the sacred.

May I see clearly where I need protection,

May I hear clearly the warning words of others,

May your words of power be with me as I walk.

Hail Vé, second son of Bestla, Lord of the Shrine of Holiness!

Pour out the purple or clear cup onto the fire, and place a piece of bread thereon.

Next I call upon Odin, All-Father of the Aesir,

Son of Bor, brother of Vili and Vé,

Who gave life itself to Ask and Embla,

Who gave inspiration to seek higher and farther,

Who lay soul into their wooden bodies

And brought them to life, and love, and spirit.

O Odin, protect me and mine where we stand,

Do not let the hail of misfortune tear us down,

And do not let any who would plot against us

Come within three steps of our home and our works.

Look after us with all five eyes, O Lord of Asgard,

One blue and wise, four black and twinkling

And fluttering on feathered wings of magic.

Shield us with the breadth of your knowledge

And deliver us from any ill fortune that may escape you.

Hail Odin, youngest son of Bestla, Wanderer, Warrior, Wod-Keeper!

Pour out the cobalt-blue cup onto the fire, and place a piece of bread thereon. Now extend your arms upward and call out:

Hail to the Three Brothers, wise and fair

Who spoke your words to the ancestors,

As they learned to master their minds.

Let nothing come down from above to ensnare me,

Let nothing come from the will of others,

Let nothing come from the words of others,

Let nothing come from the spirit of others

To stop my feet upon my true road.

Put out the fire, and the rite is ended.