But I Don’t Own A House…
(An Apartment Lover’s Guide to Harrows)
by Patricia Lafayllve
Let’s face it, not all of us own a home or have access to a yard. This article is really more of a quick reference guide. Having lived in apartments nearly all of my Asatru life, I have often wished I could have a place of my own, a hof I could preserve and go to when performing my blots and sumbels. These are some tips I picked up along the way.
| 1) | Having an altar |
| Renting an apartment often means not having enough space. Those fortunate enough to afford a spare bedroom can turn it into the “ritual room” easily enough. However, studio living or one-bedroom flats might require more creative thinking. A folding table, one whose sides lift up to form an oval shape, is a great option. When not in use, it can be folded down and will fit nicely along a corner wall. Keep a statue on it, to serve as a mental reminder, perhaps with candles to either side. Then, when it is time for blot, simply pull the table out, lift the sides into position and you’re ready to go. | |
| 2) | The offering bowl and other tools |
| Recently, I found a smooth, dark wooden bowl in the kitchen section of a local discount store. It is perfect for making salads-or for using as a libation holder. Find a good size bowl, one that is slightly larger than you think you might need. Tuck it up into a kitchen cabinet (those ones above most refrigerators that only tall people can reach work well) until it is time to use it. The practical Heathen in me uses my offering bowl for salad as well, in a pinch, but you might want to keep yours to a specified use. Regarding hammers, any common hammer will do. My favorite hammer to use during a Disir blot is a red-handled wooden mallet hanging in my kitchen. It is, in fact, a meat tenderizer-a useful tool any kitchen-dis would prefer. The thing to remember is that while having specific tools only used in blot/sumbel or other ritual is great, being practical and creative might serve just as well. | |
| 3) | A Harrow |
| While a large pile of rocks might look exceptionally out of place in your living room, a single rock often goes unnoticed. The next time you are out walking, keep your eyes open for a rock about the size of a grapefruit. If you see one that calls to you, you can ask if it would mind serving as a house for your apartment-wights. Bring it home, and let the wights know this is their place. When you want to leave an offering, leave a shot-glass full of whatever you are imbibing in front of your rock. Your wights will appreciate it! This can be used on a smaller scale, as well. Smaller rocks work well on windowsills or above a sink. Larger rocks can serve as “doorstops” in the entryways. | |
| 4) | Representations, Icons, and other items |
| Still looking for that perfect statue of your favorite god/dess? In the meantime, look for other things that remind you of him or her. An amber necklace might well serve as an image of Brisingamen, hung in a sunny spot. Maybe you have a spear you can hang on the wall (they look great hung with evergreen at Yule). A sledgehammer can lean in a corner anywhere, and if its handle is short, so much the better. Photographs of your family scattered about will remind you of your Disir and Alfar. The point is to think simply. Representations do not have to come from a particular set of images, nor do they have to be clustered in one special area of the apartment. |
Here are a few other things to remember. If you have pets, a high shelf they cannot reach is a handy place to leave your offerings. Shot glasses were mentioned earlier due to their convenient size. Food offerings can be left in small finger bowls just as easily. Changing the color of the candles in a matched pair of candlesticks can serve to represent the different deities you are honoring at blot if you are in a pinch. Carve the name of the deity you are honoring into the candle itself with a butter knife (use runes if you know them).
These are just a few basic tips. Use your space. If you have the room or the inclination to set up a semi-permanent area for your sacred objects, by all means do that. Keep in mind, of course, that when the lease is up, it all has to be able to move! However, lacking space should not prove to be an impediment to establishing an indoor harrow.
-TRK-
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