Every faith has its traditions and rituals that allow the followers to feel closer to their god or gods. Catholics have confession and the offering of sacrament, for instance. Muslims have their daily prayers for which they face towards Mecca, as well as their pilgrimage to that holy city. By participating in these traditions, followers of these faiths can make their religion a part of their daily lives. The same is true for those who practice pagan religions, which are often polytheistic. For those who follow Asatru, which is the modern practice of worshipping the Norse gods that were revered in Scandinavia and parts of Northern Europe, the most common way of bringing faith and day-to-day life together is by participating in a blot (pronounced like the word bloat).
A blot is, at its core, nothing more than a sacrifice to the gods. This shows the person’s devotion to their god or goddess, and it reminds them that there is a relationship that must be maintained. Respect must be given if it’s to be earned, and for the gods to aid and watch over you it must be clear that you view them as more than an emergency red button to push when things get hard. A blot though is also different from the rituals mentioned for other religions above… it can be performed anyplace, any time, and with any number of people participating in it.
In olden times, people would sacrifice crops or animals to the gods. The reason for that was that crops and animals were what the people relied upon. It showed that they were willing to give up something of value in order to give it to the gods and goddesses they worship. Today few people raise animals, and far fewer people live on farms of any sort. So modern Asatru rarely sacrifice animals or offer wheat to their gods. They instead design more practical rituals, with other sacrifices that are still fitting for this day and age.
As an example, let’s say that a person wanted to perform a blot to offer praise and sacrifice to Odin. Odin is a god of wisdom, war, travel, and he is strongly associated with poetry and mead. Many people will offer mead to Odin, or when no mead is on hand, another form of strong drink. They will typically make some sort of sign such as the sign of the hammer (drawing an upside down T in the air) and then speak a sincere statement of their offering such as, “All-Father, Runemaster, a gift of spirits, wisdom, and courage.” Then the devotee would pour out a small amount of the liquid. He or she would take a drink from the glass, and then pass it around to all others participating in the blot. Those other participants may repeat the opening statement, or offer words of their own before drinking. When the circle was complete, another draught would be poured out (usually onto the ground) to show the sacrifice was completed.
That’s a general blot formula, but it can be altered as you see fit. The offering may change, the words may change, the god or goddess may change, the activity may change, and the number of participants may change, but the purpose of the blot remains the same. For instance, if you wanted to offer a blot to Frey or Freya, then you might make a toast of wine or some other romantic beverage and then have sex, since both of them are fertility deities. You and your partner could then take a drink and pour out a second draught to close the offering. You could also offer up an energy drink before a workout inn honor of Thor (or either of his children, Modi or Magni), giving not only the sacrifice of the beverage but dedicating the energy you spend exercising to a deity of strength.
One last point that you should take note of. When you decide to make a sacrifice in a blot, make sure that it’s appropriate and that you approach it with sincerity. Don’t get too serious, the gods like to have fun too, but don’t make it flippant. A simple offer of respect, admiration, and camaraderie with the god or goddess that you want to be a part of your life is the essence of the Asatru blot.
