Tag: heathenry

A cold and crisply clear Saturday afternoon, Ymer called for an open Midwinter Blót. We gathered behind the Royal Mounds in Old Uppsala in...

Today marks the beginning of the Yule celebration, a festival which in heathen contexts is also known as the Midwinter Blót. It is a time when community stands at the center, and when the turning of the year is observed through gathering, gift-giving, and shared celebration. Under the light of the full moon, horns are raised to Odin and Freyr, gods associated with wisdom, fertility, and responsibility for both humankind and the world.

The Nordic Asa-community presents the Annual Rites – a new ritual order developed by the Goði/Gyðja-circle, which was put into use at the turn of the year. These rites follow the movements of the sun and the changing seasons and mark points in the annual cycle: the spring and autumn equinoxes as well as the winter solstice and the summer solstice.

On Sunday, December 21, parts of the blót kindred gathered at Ale Viking Farm to hold a rite in honor of the winter solstice. For all of us, this was a new way to observe and celebrate the year’s darkest day. We gathered at the farm, and as always, many were happy and expectant.

On Sunday, 21/12-2025, blót kindred Idavallen gathered at the home of the Vähäsalo family to hold the Winter Solstice rite. For us members, this moment marks not only the turning point of the light, but it is also the anniversary of our fellowship, our blót kindred.

As we now look back on 2025, we can conclude that it has been a year of historic victories, deeper roots, and a community that has grown stronger than it has been in a very long time. It has been the year when a long struggle finally bore fruit, and when we quite literally put the spade into the ground for the future. A year in which perseverance, unity, and long-term commitment proved their true worth. We have demonstrated that Ásatrú is not a relic of the past – it is a living reality for thousands of people here and now.

What has recently occurred in Gamla Uppsala is a desecration – an assault, not only against the land but against our shared heritage, our folk memory, and the rest of our ancestors. When around forty looting pits were discovered on December 9th, something deep trembled within many of us. This is not merely vandalism – it is a violation of sacred ground.

For the third time we now hold the Álfablót at the Fagertofta burial ground, a 10-minute drive from Nässjö. The burial ground has in folk speech been called “The Judgement Seat,” which derives from all the stone circles found there. The burial ground is a very majestic site that lies beautifully down in a valley. It is truly well-maintained and the place is orderly. This is a place you should all visit when you have the chance, preferably when Draupnir holds a blót there. This is a dear place to us, and we gladly return many times.

8/10 Vergelmer held an Álfablót at Gültzauudden in Luleå. We were three people who took part this weekend. It is the time of year when we together look back to our loved ones who are no longer among us, those who have left to take their next journey to a new world.

On Saturday, the 8th of November, the blót kindred Idavallen gathered at the venerable Dye stone circle to hold our customary Álfablót. This sacred celebration has come to be one of the most appreciated within our honored blót kindred. Sunna would have blessed us with her spectacular journey westward if it were not for the clouds that blocked the view of this display as we arrived on a November afternoon at the Dye stone circle. A place we return to every year to honor our forefathers and our ancient traditions.