The Freyablot went well and all is happy in the stead.
We took a look at my lovely organic garden, my micro-water system, and rain-water barrels. We discussed what can be used as replacements for chemicals like pestasides and weedkillers.
Being in Florida pretty much means that our growing seasons are reversed. Summer is the time to keep things fallow. The summer heat bakes almost any vegetable you want to grow. At this time of year, I really only grow herbs and tend my fruit trees.
Growing fruits: Apple, Peach, 2 kinds of orange, fig, lychee, dragon fruit, avocado, cherry, pomagrant, muscodine grape, bread fuit, jackfuit, passionfruit, papaya and mango.
Next, I borrowed a blot to Freya (see below)
And lastly, we ate some foods prepared from my garden. A tomato tarte tatine (aka tomato pie) and babaganush (eggplant spread) and kuozot (Hungarian goatcheese spread).
And let me not forget the most important part, we played with my chickens and the goats.
(for the May Day)
By Lisa and Steve Wilson
(Adapted from RITUALS OF ASATRU; Volume One--Major Blots, by Stephen A. McNallen; published by World Tree Publications, copyright 1990.)
Harrow should be set up with gandr, drekkjarhorn, vessel of ale, blessing bowl, and evergreen tine. There should also be a small number of seeds which are intended for planting in a garden at the time of the blot. Harrow may also be decorated with flowers of the season, and should face west.
HALLOWING: Godi raises gandr and makes salutation to the quarters, sunwise, beginning in the west:
"GANDR, HELGA VE THETTA OK HINDRA ALLA ILLSKA!"
Godi returns to harrow, faces west, and holds gandr high overhead:
"I hallow and make holy to the service of Freya this harrow and stead, banishing all influences unholy or impure. May our minds, in this hallowed place, likewise be hallowed, as is our will, to the just service of Freya. As the god Heimdall guards the bifrost bride, may this place be warded against all foces unharmonious to our work here today."
INVOCATION: Godi places gandr back onto harrow, stands in Elhaz-Stodhur.
"Lady Freya, Goddess of sensual delights, of love and fertility, of earthly joy in all ots richness! We know you in the new life filling the world, in the fecund beasts in the fields, and in the quickened wombs of womankind. Goddess of the joyful embrace, we give praise to you for the many pleasures of our lives, and for the gentle, yet strong, ways of love. We sing your praises, as do the newborn babe, those bonded on love and the mothers whose lives you touch – and even as fo the fallen heros whom you gather to the haven of your bosom. Hearken, fair goddess, as we call to you, and come to us in your cat-drawn wain.”
As the Godi proclaims each kenning, the gathered folk will reply:
Godi: "GODDESS OF LOVE AND LUST!"
Folk: "WE MAKE YOU WELCOME!"
Godi: "DAUGHTER OF NIORD!"
Folk: "WE MAKE YOU WELCOME!"
Godi: "SISTER OF FREY!"
Folk: "WE MAKE YOU WELCOME!"
Godi: "GODDESS OF THE VANIR!"
Folk: "WE MAKE YOU WELCOME!"
Godi: "WIFE OF OD!"
Folk: "WE MAKE YOU WELCOME!"
Godi: "MISTRESS OF MAGIC!"
Folk: "WE MAKE YOU WELCOME!"
Godi: "GODDESS OF THE NECKLACE!"
Folk: "WE MAKE YOU WELCOME!"
Godi: "VALKYR'S CHIEF!"
Folk: "WE MAKE YOU WELCOME!"
Godi: "LADY OF DESIRE!"
Folk: "WE MAKE YOU WELCOME!"
The godi then continues:
"Come to us, Vanadis, to receive the sacrifice prepared for you. Withhold not your gifts form us but continue to pour, them forth, that the world may not merely be, but that it may be in prosperity and in the full joy of all things sensual. Let us, by our celebration and sacrifice, attempt to dry the golden tears you weep. Most beautiful of goddesses, we invoke you –“
OFFERING: The gydia takes up the drekkjarhorn and holds it as the godi fills it from the vessel of ale:
"And we offer you sacrifice! Not of blood, but the free giving of our human efforts, our struggle, and our devotion. May it aid us, gods and humankind alike.
Godi takes filled horn from gydia and holds it aloft in offering:
"Freya, accept our gifts, not as from slaves, for we have no master, nor as an appeasement, for we stand in good, stead with you; but as a sign of our kinship and fellowship.
When godi feels offering has been accepted, he will pour a small libation on the ground in front of (to the west) the harrow. then hand horn back to gydia.
LOADING: Godi holds his hands over the horn:
"Freya, you have received our sacrifice, as 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 to each other by sharing it among us
BLESSING: When godi feels ale is charged, he picks up blessing bowl and places tine into it. Gydia pours a small amount of ale over the tine into bowl. Godi sprinkles harrow, then turns and sprinkles the folk:
"I Give you the blessings of Freya.”
Godi will then sprinkle the seeds placed on the harrow:
"Freya, bless these seeds that they may grow and give pleasure to us and glory to your name.”
DRINKING: Godi sets bowl back on harrow. He takes horn from gydia, and drinks a small sip. Then, moving sunwise, he offers
"(NAME), FREYA'S BLESSING."
As each person takes a sip from the horn, they may, if they wish, offer a toast to Freya, or simply say, "HAIL FREYA!" After all have taken a drink, godi will return to the harrow, and offer the horn to the gydia. After she drinks, she may pour the remaining ale onto the ground.
CLOSING: After a brief moment of silence and reflection, the godi speaks:
"This sacrifice is done. May it strengthen us in our devotion to the goddesses of our ancestors, and renew in our hearts our determination to live as worthy sisters (and brothers) of Freya. May we go forth from here today with all the greater resolve to live free and true—with courage, with trust in our strength, and honoring the bonds of kinship, until we be gathered to the gods.”
Godi will then face west, standing in Elhaz-Stodhur (Jordsvin's note: standing straight up, legs together, arms uplifted. You look like an upside-down peace symbol without the circle).
"Freya, lovely lady, we thank you for your presence here today. As you wend to Asgard, bear with you the thoughts, and prayers of your brothers and sisters who dwell in Midgard. Praise to you, Freya, and farewell."
Godi will pick up gandr and salute each of the quarters:
"HAIL FREYA! FAREWELL!"
Afterwards, the blessed seeds should be planted in their intended place, and the folk should celebrate with food, frolic, and fellowship.
all works used by permission of the authors
last modified 12/30/2003
