Blot Basics: A Model For Beginners By: Shawn Rowland    Many Heathens will come to Asatru all revved up and ready to worship, but not knowing the first thing about how.  I know I was in that boat when I first started, and I remember being quite happy when I found a basic blot outline.  For those who might come to this site and are need of that information, I hope to be of good use with this article on blot basics.    When doing a blot, there are a few key things to ask yourself: a) Who/what is it for? b) How much prep time do you need? c) Is it a holy day or large feast? d) What time is appropriate to have it? e) How much will the materials cost? f) Why do you feel compelled to do it? g) What will be a proper sacrifice? h) Do you include art, poetry, music? i) What if you have room mates? The answers to those questions will be different depending on your specific situations, but they sometimes are questions which need asking.  For instance, if you don’t have a line of communication already with Heimdallr, what would be the grounds on which you welcome him into your life?  Seemingly small concern, but in the long run could mean big things for you.  Also, if you are having a Yule blot, it is only considerate to attempt at having or attending a feast.  Having a joy of food and warm company is a far more appropriate way of celebrating Yuletide than having a quite, meditative ceremony!    Blots also need not be big events though.  Sometimes it will be appropriate to sing a few charms, pour out some beer as a libation, and that’s that.  Sometimes the local landwights really want some milk and you don’t have time for a lengthy ritual.  We all need to roll with life’s circumstances.  The Gods(or the landwights) will not feel slighted.  They are practical and empathic beings after all.    If you are able to, it is also good to have a stalli(ON, indoor altar) with your blot materials and idols and other such on it.  All ancestral religions have the function of the household altar around which all the ceremonies take place.  If able, it is also good to have ancestral altars, or shelves, and one for the wights of house and land as well.  If not, the spirits certainly understand.  We like our drinking horns and hammers and other stuff, but if the spirit of the blot is sincere it matters not if there is a gold-rimmed glass goblet or a paper cup, it is gifted all the same.    I hope those few pointers help you out, and now, on to the blot structure! I)The Gathering: This is the beginning.  People gather around the site, calm down, maybe mediate a bit, it is a time of establishing blot mind-set. II)The Warding: There are several ways to ward.  The most popular are the various forms of the “Hammer-rite”(that is, blessing the area and the directions with the sign of the Thorr’s Hammer and an appropriate saying like, “Hammer, hallow and hold this holy stead!”).  Another way which is gaining popularity is the circling the area with the “need-fire”(depending on circumstances, maybe a torch, a candle, or a lamp) and singing a song of warding.  Either way, it establishes the holiness of the place and bids all woe-wishing wights away. III)The Reason: I add this here, to distinguish the official announcing of why a blot is being done, from other oral parts of the blot.  This is when it is firmly established why the ceremony is to take place. IV)The Calling: The Gods, ancestors, wights, etc. which are to be honoured and invoked are done so now.  It is traditional to invoke them by poetic description and kennings.  Things like “thunders maker”, “goat hallower”, or “the mighty son of earthen meadow” would be appropriate for Thorr.  As time goes one you will discover this art on your own as you become more and more familiar with the Eddas and kennings.  It is also good to call them forth through song and music.  The Gods love a party! V)The Reading: If anything from the Eddas, Sagas, modern folklore, or personally written tales are to be told, this is when you do it.  Obviously it should be in accord with the blot reason(i.e. don’t read about Ragnarok if you are celebrating a birthday). VI)The Fulls: In blot, we drink a round from the drinking horn in honour of those we called and to boast of deeds done.  It is usually a three-round toast.  First for Gods, second for ancestors, third for boasts.  Sometimes more will be done and those are free for alls and you can hail or boast whatever you want.  Before the Fulls the Godhi or Gydhia will usually imbue the drink with runic forces appropriate for the meeting(like Jera for a harvest fest). VII)The Gifting: The left over drink, and set aside food are now presented to the idols representing the Gods and ancestors and blessed in their name as a gift. VIII)The Working: If any sort of rune work or shamanism is to be performed, this is when it is done. IX)The Feast: All folk present now feast on the food prepared for the event. X) The Leaving: The folk present thank the Gods and ancestors for their attention and leave the food outdoors over night, and pour the libation into the earth.  The Warding is performed again to close the blot, and all good will has been done.    In closing, I hope this has been of help and that you can use this to have a pleasant experience with blots and other rites and ways of Asatru.