Freyr Blot - Building a Howe - 
Freyr was, and remains, one of the most popular god figures in our religion. He is known by many names and is considered the original king of Sweden. Many books and articles have been written about him, and mentions of Freyr are replete in the Lore. He is truly a “god of the world” and represents fertility, frith, and has associations with the dead. He has a boar, Gullinbursti, and a magical ship, Skidbladnir, which can fold up small enough to be carried in a pocket.
This blot contains within it a literal building of a howe for Freyr to reside in. This is done in accordance with the stories of how Freyr, at his death, was buried. Offerings of gold, silver, etc. were still collected and given to him, poured directly into his howe, for several years before the people caught on to the fact that he had died. The author built a howe on her property with the help of the local community as a way to specifically honor this very important deity. She intends to leave the howe in place, even if the house is sold to another owner. Imagine a future landowner’s surprise if this gets unearthed! This blot can be done in similar fashion without the building of a howe. It is the author’s considered opinion that building a home for a god to “live in” should be undertaken only after serious study, contemplation, and commitment.
Those attending the blot should understand that their offerings to Freyr are permanent ones. Attendees should be told to bring items they wish to add to Freyr’s hoard, and be told they are building a howe. It should be especially important that all attendees of the blot be asked to remove all weapons, and place them in a secluded area away from the sacred space. In a blot such as this one, a feast afterward is probably a vital part of the event itself. The feast should, in respect to Freyr, contain a course of pork, or wild boar if available. Even vegetarians can make an offering of pork and leave it out for Freyr to eat!
Supplies Needed:
Altar
Hammer
Offering Bowl
Drinking Horn
Oath Ring
Mead
Statue, antler, or other representative image of Freyr
Hoard items, silver or gold, art pieces, etc.
Stones
Earth
A location for the howe, pre-decided and cleared.
A Note on Location:
Obviously, this is an outdoor blot and howe building. In this case, the author’s own yard was used. Ideally this should be the case, because the howe will need regular tending. One thing to consider would be a nearby area in which to sit near the howe for meditation purposes (especially if it is too small to sit upon!). If a howe were to be built on publicly owned property, authorities should be consulted first to gain permission, and time spent offering to the local land wights to ensure the howe would be welcomed. The blot itself was carried out in the author’s garden, where stones have been settled into the shape of the rune Ingwaz.
Hallow the Space:
Set up the altar and place items needed on it. The statue or item representing Freyr should be prominently placed. Raise the hammer and hallow the space using words of a hammer rite similar to the following:
Holy hammer of Thor, defender of Midgard,
Sacred Mjollnir, mighty weapon,
Hallow and hold this holy stead!
Summoning:
Call the gods, then the ancestors, then the wights. Allow all present to echo the hails at the end. Use words such as those found below:
Aesir! Vanir! Mighty dwellers of Asgard and Vanaheim!
We come today to honor one of your strongest members!
Please, we ask that you stand with us and look over this work.
Hail the Aesir! Hail the Vanir! Hail the gods!
Ancient ones, Alfar and Disir, those who come before!
This day we honor the lord of the Alfar!
Help us, attend this work and offer your blessings.
Hail the Ancestors!
Spirits of this land, those who go seen and unseen!
Today we welcome a god of the world to this space!
Join us, and share your space with him in frith as you do with us.
Hail the landvaettir!
Invocation:
The specifics of the invocation to Freyr should be heartfelt words. As yet, the author has no poem or song to use. She hopes one will come to her to honor the god of the world with. In the meantime, words such as these can be used:
God of frith, in whose presence we put down all our weapons,
Mighty Van, lord and ruler of Sweden, you who loved so deeply you surrendered the very weapon needed to spare your own life in the end of days, hear us.
We have prepared a home for you here. We welcome you this day, and offer you this sacred space. We do this in your memory, that you have a place of your own to visit when you come to this land.
Freyr, Ingvi, Lord, we ask that you attend and share your blessings of fertility and frith with us.
Hail Freyr!
Blot:
Pour the mead into the drinking horn. Calling on Aegir, ask for his blessings on the drink you have prepared. Hallow the mead by tracing a hammer sign over it. There should be between one and three rounds here, all dedicated to Freyr and talking about the work you are doing, building a howe for him. After each round, pour some of the mead into the offering bowl. When the rounds are complete, any excess mead should be offered to Freyr. As always, what works best in this situation are carefully considered words that come from one’s heart. What follows is a sample of wording that might be used.
Frith-bringer, golden ruler, Lady’s brother, Lord of the Alfar,
I raise this horn in your presence and in your honor.
Wagon-rider, ship owner, antler-wielder,
I offer this work to you, building you a home on this place,
That you will be ever welcome.
Hail Freyr!
Leave offering bowl on the altar for the time being, and move into blessing the howe.
Blessing and building the howe:
Go to the space you have prepared for the howe to be built. Trace ingwaz over the area, and have the group galdr ingwaz three times as a way to call Frey’s attention to the spot. Use the following words, or something similar, as a blessing:
Freyr, god of the world,
We have prepared this place as a place of rest for you.
Feel free to attend it often, we welcome you.
God of Frith, bless this space as your own.
Go to the altar and bring the figure of Freyr/representative item to the space reserved for the howe. Place it in the center. If it is possible, have a wagon handy and use that to transport Freyr’s image in. At this time, all attendees should place the items they wish to give to Freyr to the statue on the now-sacred space. Words such as this can be spoken, or silent prayers offered:
Freyr, please accept this offering in frith and plenty.
Shine your blessings down upon this place and upon us gathered here.
We do you honor, please accept our hospitality.
Hail Freyr!
When the hoard building is finished, return to the altar and retrieve the offering bowl. Offer the entire contents of the bowl to Freyr by pouring it directly onto the gathered hoard and statue. Use words such as:
Freyr, Lord of frith, god of the world,
We share this drink with you in friendship.
May we share your peace and plenty.
Hail Freyr!
Gather rocks. Cover the entire mound with stones until nothing is showing. When finished, do the same thing with the earth you have collected. The entire company can assist in this, or a few can leave to begin feast preparations while others complete the work, but the work must be completed once begun. Be certain to “tamp” down the earth, so that a solid and thick layer is formed. Author’s note: due to erosion and other natural factors, be prepared to have to cover the mound again over time!
Closing:
Say farewell to the gods and goddesses, ancestors and land wights. Gather back at the altar space to do this, so that Freyr is not disturbed in his mound. Words such as the following can be used:
Aesir! Asyniur! Dwellers of Asgard and Vanaheim!
We thank you for your presence here today as we honored one of your own.
Hail the Aesir! Hail the Vanir! Hail the gods!
Alfar! Disir! Honored and victorious dead!
We thank you for attending this rite and sharing with us your strength!
Hail the Alfar! Hail the disir! Hail the ancestors!
You landvaettir whose presence is known among us,
Those who dwell in this place, we thank you for being here,
And we thank you for sharing your space with us.
Hail the landvaettir!
People should not move to pick up their weapons until after this is complete. As mentioned above, definitely move on to feast! It would be wise at this time to make a plate of the food being eaten, and a full horn or glass of mead/ale, and set it at the howe for Freyr. After all, he is definitely present and should be made welcome!
-TRK-
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