The Hammer Rite (Hamarssetning) is the strongest of the three main protective rituals used by the godhi, vitki, or runester to banish any negative forces which may be around and to prevent their return. The Hammer Rite generally is performed during the opening ritual before beginning any ceremonial work. This type of ritual can be performed each and everyday for protective purposes.

The Following example below has been taken from FUTHARK: A Handbook of Rune Magic by Edred Thorsson pp91-93. Edred Thorsson is the original Founder of the Rune Gild.

This example is written in a northward orientation, and appropriate changes of course should be made in the order of galdrar in any rites performed in an eastward orientation.

Step 1

With the Rune Wand in the right hand, face the North Star.

Step 2

Beginning with FEHU in the North, sign and send the Runes of the Futhark in a ring around you at the level of the solar plexus as far out as the circle on the ground or floor, always with the sun in a clockwise direction. The Runes should form a complete band ending with OTHALA next to FEHU in the north.

Step 3

Stand in the cross stadha (feet together and arms straight out to each side at shoulder level) and visualize an equilaterial cross lying horizontally in the plane of the Rune ring and your solar plexus, with that point as the center of the cross. The arms of this cross should end at the points where they intersect the Rune band. Imagine a surrounding sphere of shimmering blue light with the red Rune band as its equator. Then visualize the vertical axis coming through your length from the infinite space above and from the infinite space below.

Step 4

Feel and see the force flowing into your center from all six directions as it builds a sphere of glowing red might. The colour may be altered depending on the ritual intention.

Step 5

The vitki should touch the hinder part of the wand to the breast at the center of power and thrust it forward, projecting the force from that center to a point on the inside face of the outer sphere. Then the Runester should sign the hammer hamarsmark from the mass of magickal might. The sign should be traced as shown to the right. During this process intone the following

Hamarr i Nordhri helga ve thetta ok hald vordh!¹
(Hammer in the North hallow and hold this holy-stead!)

Then turning 90 degrees to the Right, send and sign another hammer sign vibrating

Hamarr i Austri helga ve thetta ok hald vordh!
(Hammer in the East hallow and hold this holy-stead!)

And in the South

Hamarr i Sudhri helga ve thetta ok hald vordh!
(Hammer in the South hallow and hold this holy-stead!)

And in the West

Hamarr i Vestri helga ve thetta ok hald vordh!
(Hammer in the West hallow and hold this holy-stead!)

Returning to the North, direct your attention overhead, there send and sign the hammer on the ceiling of the sphere, while saying

Hamarr yfir mer helga ve thetta ok hald vordh!
(Hammer over me hallow and hold this holy-stead!)

And then project the hammer sign below to the floor of the sphere (not the ground or room floor) and intone

Hamarr undir mer helga ve thetta ok hald vordh!
(Hammer under me hallow and hold this holy-stead!)

Step 6

Now Strike the cross stadha again and sing

Hamarr helga ve thetta ok hald vordh!
(Hammer hallow and hold this holy-stead!

Turning in the center of the ve meaning sacred enclosure repeat this once for each of the four directions and once again for the vertical axis. The visual effect should be one of axes connecting all six shining red hammers to your personal center, all engulfed by a field of sparkling deep blue light and surrounded by a band of bright red runes.

Step 7

Finally center all the forces of the ve by folding your arms from the cross stadha in toward your center, with fingertips touch at the solar plexus, and saying

Um mik ok i mer Asgardhr ok Midgardhr!
(Around me and in me Asgardhr and Midgardhr!)

This ritual may be repeated at the end of a working or exercise, and the entire sphere may be drawn into the personal center, or the walls of the globe may be split with the knife allowing the collected energy to flow to its goal. This basic rite given here is intended to shield the consciousness of the godhi, vitki, or runester for meditational and magickal work.

¹ A literal translation of this phrase would be

Hammer in the North hallow this sacred enclosure and keep watch (over it)!

Just a note for individuals not familiar with Runic Workings. This is indeed a very powerful form of protection used by most runesters in various modified forms. Runic signing and sending is a whole practice in itself. Before trying this ritual please ensure that you are familiar with signing and sending Runes. To change this Hammer Rite to be orientated to the East, one would sign FEHU in the east and end up with OTHALA next to it again in the East. And it would be modified as such for the South or the West.