Rituals & Reflections

Daily Practice

  • It is important to remember that your relationship to the gods is a conversation. In any conversation, it does no good for one person to always speak and never listen. Gothheyrani must listen for the messages of the gods so they may live in harmony with them.

  • The easiest way to hear the gods is to be still. It is a good daily practice to find a play outdoors or by an clear window, calm your mind, focus your breath and hear the unspoken words of the gods.

    Breath deeply and deliberately, let your heart find stillness. Observe the world before you; the air, the earth, the animals, the plants. Open your heart to the gods and let them place their words in your chest.

    There is no right or wrong way to find stillness. Some will enter an almost meditative state, others will quietly concentrate on leaves in the breeze, still others might quietly reaffirm their oaths.

  • The gods have many ways to speak with us. Some are lucky enough to meet the gods, we tell stories of these encounters. Others feel the divine whisper; the unconscious pull and presence of the gods in their thoughts and emotions. For many the gods speak through the world around them.

    Sometimes these messages are through events and coincidence, things that happen at unexpected moments or exactly the right times. Messages of synchronicity given to make us realize what we might not have otherwise seen.

    A common method the gods use is theriophorises - the use of animals to deliver messages. Birds are a very powerful and common messenger among the gods - with the species and behavior of the bird giving great clues regarding the messages of the gods. Other animals are also powerful, though less common messengers.

  • Attuning yourself to the gods is the best way to recieve their messages. Spend time in reflection of the world around you, your place within it, what you hope for, and what your personal goth may want for you and from you.

    There are some who approach this attunement in meditation in a quiet place, this is well-loved by many gods. Others will find attunement by being in nature, alone or in small group - indeed, some find it during physical activities such as climbing, hunting, or even floating quietly in a lake.

    There are others who find their best attunement with careful attention and preparation to their sleep. They ritualize the end of their day in order to commune with the gods in the liminal fields of their dreams.

Sacred Geography

  • For those who are able, worship and kinship can take place as their Ve - their temple. For those who do not have a temple, or even for those who do, it is helpful to consecrate places of practice to help bring focus to your spiritual journey.

    When selecting these places, it is important to make sure you are welcome to these areas, make no trespass or transgression. Maintain your welcome, also. Do not undertake practices, displays, or rituals which are unwanted.

    It is also good to find places that bring some peace and solitude so that you might properly commune. It is good to choose the highest point for your first site, but the second, third, or even fourth highest point might be more suitable in accessibility or atmosphere.

  • It is good to call upon the gods to visit a place where you wish to consecrate. Draw their symbol upon the ground, either in loose soil, chalk, or simply by tracing it with intention. Invite them to visit that space with you, to walk with you and know it. If you are uncomfortable or unsure of which god you should call to a space, you may always call to your personal goth.

    You may use any invocation but this is a common one that you may find useful:

    By oath and kinship, I call all Gods of the Nine Realms to stand witness. May this land be hallowed, this boundary made sacred, each site tied into the web of the Nine. I pledge my honor, and hold fast my covenant.

  • The highest place. The area you name for Asgard should be a summit, a ridgeline, or a hilltop. This is Othin’s domain and the place that watches over all other areas.

    Othin, Ve, or Frigg are all acceptable gods to call upon to consecrate this land.

    A common invocation would be: (named god), I call you to this high place. Bless this summit as a beacon of wisdom and light. Let your watchful presence shape our eyes and our purpose.

    An offering of a feather would not be uncommon as a way to bind this invocation. You may also offer an oath to let this ground be a place of wisdom and vision.

  • The garden. The area you name for Vanaheim should be a garden or a field; it is especially good if you can find a meadow within a forest glade

    Freya, Freyr, and Njorthr are all acceptable gods to call upon to consecrate this land.

    A common invocation would be: (named god), come to this glade of life. Breathe green growth, fertility, and balance here. Let this grove echo your nurturing song.

    An offering of a seed would not be uncommon as a way to bind this invocation. You may also offer an oath to let this ground promote hope and renewal.

  • The human world. The area you name for Midgard should be a place of human activity; a crossroads, a square or a meeting place.

    Thor and Sif are acceptable gods to call upon to consecrate this land.

    A common invocation would be: (named god), come to this crossroad of community. Shelter our gathering, strengthen our bonds. Let this meeting-place hold peace and cooperation.

    An offering of bread, wine, or ale would not be uncommon as a way to bind this invocation. You may also offer an oath to let this ground stand for kinship and justice.

  • The world of mists. The area you name for Alfheim should be a low place of waters and woods; a small forest spring, a swampy area, or a hidden creek.

    Hoenir, Saga, and Ve are acceptable gods to call upon to consecrate this land.

    A common invocation would be: (named god), call your wisdom into mist and shadow. Let this hollow be open to dreams, visions, and the subtle voice between worlds.

    An offering of a glass bead or purified water would not be uncommon as a way to bind this invocation. You may also offer an oath to let this ground stand for mystery and revelation.

  • The world of stone. The area you name for Svartlfaheim should be a place of stone or darkness. A quarry, a large rock, or a cave mouth.

    Forseti, Bragi, and Brimir are acceptable gods to call upon to consecrate this land.

    A common invocation would be: (named god), call your careful craft to stone and root. Let this rock speak with justice, let work be worthy and lawful.

    An offering of some metalwork or jewelry would not be uncommon as a way to bind this invocation. You may also offer an oath to let this ground stand for justice and skill.

  • The world of giants. The area you name for Jotunheim should be a place of cold wilderness. A rocky slope, a barren field, a place without comfort.

    Thor, Tyr, and Heimdallr are acceptable gods to call upon to consecrate this land.

    A common invocation would be: (named god), stand guard at this wilderness boundary. Shield us against chaos and hold order at the edge. Let this place witness the struggle of wild and domesticated.

    An offering of flint, raw iron, or driftwood would not be uncommon as a way to bind this invocation. You may also offer an oath to keep this boundary strong.

  • The world of the dead. The area you name for Helheim should be a place of the dead. An old burial ground, cemetery, or mausoleum.

    Hel is the only acceptable god to call upon to consecrate this land.

    A common invocation would be: Hel — ruler of the realm of the dead — come to this sacred mound. Honor ancestors, watch over rest, let peace dwell here. Let memory and transition be honored.

    An offering of quiet lament is the best way to bind this invocation. You may also offer an oath to make this place a sanctuary for departed kin.

  • The world of Fire. The area you name for Mulspelheim should be a place of fire or destruction. An industrial area, a large hearth or forge, a piece of nature destroyed by asphalt or gravel.

    Syn and Tyr are acceptable gods to call upon to consecrate this land.

    A common invocation would be: (named god), protect against destruction coerced by unfairness; let this place carry transformation, not ruin. Though fire tempers steel, let it not burn honor.

    An offering of charcoal (unlit) would not be uncommon as a way to bind this invocation. You may also offer an oath to let this ground transform without tyranny.

  • The world of ice. The area you name for Niflheim should be a place of decay and hoplessness. A bog, a dead lake, a wind-swept tundra.

    Mani and Hermothr are acceptable gods to call upon to consecrate this land.

    A common invocation would be: (named god), guide through mist, light the path through cold and shadow. Let this place be hallowed, a threshold for memory and passage.

    This invocation is often done in the light of the moon, watching the moon through a reflective surface. You may also offer an oath to let this ground stand as a beacon in the mist.

  • In addition to these sites, you may also choose to consecrate two addition areas. An Othin Tree and a Well of Memory.

    For the Othin Tree, it is best to choose a large and very old tree. It is used to mark Othin’s day and to ask the all-father for guidance. Othin is the god who should be invoked for this consecration.

    To consecrate this tree, a common invocation would be: Othin, who hung nine nights upon the winds, I call you to this tree. Let it stand as the axis of vision, where the seeker sacrifices ignorance for sight. Guide our instinct; grant understanding. Through root and crown, let wisdom flow.

    No offering is necessary to seal this invocation.

    For the Well of Memory, a reflective pool or pond is ideal - one that persists through all seasons. For this consecration, Mimir, Frigg, and Saga should be invoked.

    Mimir of the deep knowing, Frigg who guards what is hidden, and Saga who remembers all tales — come to this well. Let its waters hold our oaths and reflect our truths. Grant clarity to those who kneel, and remembrance to those who listen.

    Mead or clear water should then be poured into the pool to consecrate the site.

Gatherings

  • Gothheyrandi

    The most common member of a kinship. The Gothheyrandi are those who have heard the calling of the gods. They may or may not have chosen a personal Goth, and may or may not have sworn their oaths to the kinship. They are honoured and served by all others, for they embody the living heart of the faith.

    Most kinships are guided spiritually by the Gothheyrandi collectively, as the gods speak through many voices, not one.

    Gothkallari

    The Gothkallari are those who call to the gods. They have walked within a kinship for at least two years and have taken the Oaths of Emergence, aligning themselves with a personal Goth. Every Gothkallari swears an oath to aid and care for all members of their kinship.

    They serve as counselors, mediators, and ritual assistants, helping to maintain harmony within the kinship and ensuring the wellbeing of all who dwell within it.

    Frumandi

    A rare rank among the Gothheyrandi, the Frumandi are those seeking to become Gothjonn. They assist in spiritual observances, sing the songs of the gods during ceremonies, and tend to temples and sacred sites. The Frumandi also learn to guide others through spiritual troubles and the quiet burdens of life.

    Their path is one of service, humility, and learning.

    Gothjonn

    The Gothjonn are servants of the gods and caretakers of the sacred. Their charge is to mark ceremonial days, maintain temples and holy sites, and ensure that every soul in the kinship feels welcome and seen.

    It is a mistake to think of the Gothjonn as holding command or privilege; they are servants to their kinship as much as to the gods themselves. Their devotion is expressed through service, not dominion.

    Eidvardi

    The Oath-Bearers are elected leaders chosen from among the Gothkallari to guide the kinship for one year. Rarely do any serve consecutive terms, and never more than three in a lifetime.

    The Eidvardi arbitrate disputes within and between kinships. They call and preside over communal gatherings, where all Gothheyrandi may speak and judge matters of importance. The Eidvardi maintain order but do not vote, except in cases of deadlock.

    They may suspend members for no more than one moon’s passing, or petition for longer suspensions or banishment in grave cases — such judgments requiring near-unanimous consent of the kinship.

    Gothheyr

    From time to time, one arises as a Gothheyr — an elder Gothjonn who communes directly with the gods. The Gothheyr serves as interpreter of doctrine and myth, custodian of sacred oaths, and living bridge between the mortal and divine.

    It is said that when one Gothheyr lives, another walks the world unseen. When they pass, it may be decades before the gods call another. It is not a rank sought, but an attainment that crowns a lifetime of service and devotion.

  • There is no requirement of initiation to begin your path with the gods, but there are many who choose to solidify their oaths, commitments and bonds. This rite is a common one for those who wish to undertake such a path.

    During one of the festivals that allows the marking of a personal Goth, find a private place either alone or in the company of other Gothheyrandi. Bring with you a small bowl to light a fire in, fuel for that fire, a small amount of pure water, a small amount of strong drink, a small amount of honey, and a small amount of bread. You may also bring a small knife or spear point, but this is optional.

    Place the bowl on the ground, fill it with enough fuel to last the rite, and place the other items near by.

    Recite the following: I have heard the calling of the old gods. I have a mind to listen to their words, and a heart to understand their will. I come before the world without compulsion to speak these oaths. Let this fire focus my thoughts and cleanse my spirit.

    Light the fire and take a moment to stare into the flames, let them bring calm and stillness to your purpose.

    I call upon (personal goth), to witness my oaths.

    (If any kinship are present you may call upon kinship to join in this witness)

    From this day until my last, I swear to honour the bonds of my kin as they are honoured for me. I taste this honey as the sweetness of my bond. I give this taste for (personal goth) to share in my joy.

    Take a small taste of the honey and pour a little into the fire.

    I swear that my word shall bind me, that I shall live by the sanctity of my oaths. I shall not bear any false promise, nor offer any betrayal of my vows. I drink of this water and share it with (personal goth) as a reminder of the vital necessity of my word.

    Sip from the water and pour a very small amount into the fire - take care not to extinguish it.

    I swear to give as I am given, to answer offering with offering, and to live in balance between taking and return. What I owe, I shall repay; what I receive, I shall honor. I take this bread and share it with you, (personal goth), a gift of the gods that I honour and return.

    Take the piece of bread, eat some and put a little bit into the fire.

    I swear to walk a path of growth, to learn from trial and from stillness alike. I will shape myself through effort and through sacrifice. I take this drink of a reminder of Mimir’s gift of wisdom, and share it with (personal goth) as all knowledge should be shared.

    Sip from the strong drink and pour a little bit into the fire.

    At this point, if a small knife or spear point is being used, the tip of the blade may be placed into the fire.

    (By flame and by edge, I swear this oath: that my deeds shall answer my words, and my will shall bear the weight of its making. Let the fire burn falsehood from my tongue and the steel remind me that all choices cut both ways. I will not turn from the cost of what I swear.)

    Now prepare to step over the fire. Take care that this is not a leap or a test of courage, the fire should be safe and low; the step should be physically easy but spiritually significant.

    Now, (personal goth), bear witness; I step through fire and into my covenant. What was divided, I now make whole — what was dormant, I now awaken. I step forth in honor, in kinship, and in truth.

  • There are many ways that kinship gather and assemble, there is no wrong way.

    Often there is a small fire that the kinship gather around. In an equal circle around the fire are placed three objects. Sometimes they are rough and natural, other times they are ornately crafted.

    They are a stone to represent the everlasting presence of the gods; a branch or piece of wood to represent the ever growing nature of the kinship; and a bowl of water to represent the purity and clarity of reflection.

    The Eidvardi begins by standing at the fire and striking a piece of metal (sometimes a spearpoint) upon a flat stone three times.

    Kin of oath and bond, gather now beneath the eyes of the gods. Come in peace, speak in truth, and honour each other.

    Each member steps forward, placing a hand over their heart and speaking their name and what personal goth they stand for if applicable. The Gothjonn (or Frumandi if one is available) record attendance and ensure the fire burns evenly.

    The Gothjonn approaches the Oathfire and speaks:

    Gods who witness the breath and the word, look upon this kinship. May our voices be clear, our tempers just, and our hearts open. Let deceit find no home in our tongues this day.

    They sip from a strong drink or pure water and pour some into the fire, symbolizing preservation of truth.

    This opens the council portion, where disputes, grievances, or proposals are presented.

    Those involved step within the fire’s circle and acknowledge the Eidvardi.

    The Eidvardi recognizes each speaker in turn.

    The Gothkallari are free to offer counsel at any time; this is best done by quoting from ancestral wisdom or myth.

    Decisions are reached through discussion or, if needed, vote.

    The Eidvardi only casts judgment if the kin are evenly divided.

    Between matters, the Gothjonn or Frumandi often lead others to sing softly — songs invoking Ve or Frigg — to cool tempers and remind all of shared kinship.

    When all matters are settled, the Eidvardi proclaims:

    As the fire burns, so do our bonds endure. Speak now if you would renew your oaths.

    Any member may step forward to reaffirm their oaths aloud or in silence, touching the stone, the branch, or the water depending on which bond they renew - to the gods, to the kinship, or to truth.

    When all have had the chance to make their oaths, the Gothjonn extinguishes the flame with a pour of water, saying:

    The fire sleeps but is not gone. So too may our words rest, until called again in need or joy. Let peace stand between us until the next assembly.

    All respond:

    So it shall stand.

    The bowl of water is scattered to the earth, and the stone and branch are returned to their places of keeping.

  • There are times when an oath must be released for it can no longer be kept; not to escape its weight, but to acknowledge truth, restore balance, and make peace with both the gods and the kinship.

    This is a heavy rite and one that should never be undertaken lightly.

    The ceremony is often held privately or before trusted witnesses, depending on the nature of the oath. Present should be the oath-breaker, a Gothjonn or Eidvardi, and potentially some Gothkallari for support.

    A small fire is prepared at the center.

    Beside it are placed a stone, representing the gods who bore witness to the oath; a bowl of water, representing truth and cleansing; and a thread, cord, or written token, representing the oath itself. The oath-breaker should bring some strong drink - whiskey, mead, or ale, though they must not drink from it.

    The Gothjonn should begin the ceremony.

    We are gathered in truth, not in judgment. The gods know that every oath is a bridge between what was promised and what is possible. When that bridge can no longer stand, it must be unmade with care.

    The Gothjonn touches the stone and continues.

    Let the gods bear witness that what is done today is not done in deceit, but in courage.

    The Oath-Breaker places a hand comfortably over the flame, and speaks:

    Once I swore by my word and will. That oath was true when it was spoken, and I do not deny its truth. But the world has turned, a new day dawned, and I can no longer keep it whole. I choose honesty over falsehood, and peace over pretense. I come to release the bond, not to erase it.

    The Gothjonn nods and responds:

    The gods hear. The kinship remembers. You remain within the circle of honor.

    The Oath-Breaker picks up the thread or token, holds it over the fire and says:

    As this bond unravels, so too I release what was bound. May the gods know that I seek not freedom from duty, but truth in my path. Let the ashes rise as memory, not as burden.

    The token is burned. When it is fully consumed, the Gothjonn dips fingers in the water and flicks droplets into the flames, saying:

    As water cools fire, so may truth temper will. All oaths shape the world; none end without echo. What was promised has not vanished, it has changed form. The gods ask not perfection, but honesty. You have chosen to speak what is real. In that, your oath is made whole again, not in keeping but in truth.

    The Oath-Breaker lifts a cup of strong drink and holds it before the fire.

    Let this fire and this drink bear witness that I seek no freedom bought by falsehood, only peace through truth spoken and owned. May the flame carry this spirit upward, and may no bitterness remain between us.

    A small pour is then cast into the flame. The Gothjonn should spend a moment in reflection and then continue:

    The oath is ended, its burden released. The gods have heard, and the truth stands in its place. What was bound in will is now given to wisdom. Let no shadow cling to this name, and let the path ahead be walked in clarity. Let honour stand in all your words from this day forward.

    The oath-breaker replies:

    So shall it stand.