On Saturday, April 12th, Blót kindred Idavallen was meant to hold its customary open Victory Blót at Hammarsudde, Hammarö in Värmland, Sweden. However, this was not the case this time, as our blót kindred leader and NBR Thommy Vähäsalo was unfortunately struck by illness.
As a result, the planning fell through, and we decided instead to hold the Victory Blót separately.
A few brief words from Thommy, who held his blót in his Gudahof Trätälja:
To feel weakness and disappointment before a Victory Blót are emotions I am very unaccustomed to bearing, but this time they lie upon me like a wet blanket.
Not fulfilling what one has promised—regardless of it being due to illness in this case—feels deeply wrong, but I too can be affected by sickness and had to cancel Idavallen’s official Victory Blót.
Nevertheless, the blót remains just as important, and for my part, it was carried out in the Gudahof Trätälja.
By Odin,
/T
As for myself, I went to the Mogårdern burial ground, located in Kils municipality, Värmland in Sweden. A burial site from the Late Iron Age, consisting of 22 mounds and 5 round stone settings. A very beautiful and accessible place which I had previously only driven past.
After just over an hour of walking around and attuning myself to the place, I held my Victory Blót with the raven as my only companion.
I reflected deeply on what has passed, as well as what still lies hidden from us behind the veil of the future. My thoughts and emotions turned to my own choices and commitments. To my beloved family, my blót kindred, and its future. To the powers I found relevant there and then, with the intention that they might assist me and those I hold dear with the tools to carve out a future worthy of what we seek and strive to achieve. But also gratitude for all that has already been.
As always, when one holds a blót alone and hopefully in the company of the powers, a different feeling arises compared to when performing it with one’s blót kindred. I don’t necessarily think one is better than the other—rather, they are just different.
With a blót kindred, where the ceremony is properly led by one of the community’s officiants, I always feel strong fellowship with my fellow people, and great focus is placed on what everyone has to say. One is also gently guided through the entire blót.
When performing it alone, it becomes more meditative, allowing one to go deeper within and take each moment entirely at one’s own pace, according to what feels right at the time.
As I said, one does not exclude the other, and both are very rewarding in their own right.
Hail to the Powers!
Hail Idavallen!
Hail Nordic Asa-community
