Solitary Affirmation Ritual

Place a flame at the north point of the stone circle, saying:

“I give honour to the Lands of my Gods,
Ancient and good.
And the power that is within them.
Hail Odin!”

Put a flame at the east point, saying:

“I give honour to the Winds of my Gods
Ever fresh and new,
And the power that is within them.
Hail Odin!”

Put a flame at the south point, saying:

“I give honour to the warm Sun of my Gods,
Ever giving of new life,
And the power that is within.
Hail Odin!”

Put a flame at the west point, saying:

“I give honour to the seas and lakes
And rivers of my Gods,
And the power that is within them.
Hail Odin!”

Stand before the altar and place a light before the Rune of Odin, saluting and saying:

“hail Odin, giver of victory,
Thou who knowest the runes of wisdom,
And of power.
Bring me again to be with thy people.
Those who know the strength of thy
Ancient ways.
Give me of thy wisdom.
That I may better honour thee
As I prosper in thy name.
Hail Odin!”

Add any other items which you might wish to mention to Odin, and then drink in his honour. Next place a light before the Rune of Thor, saluting and saying:
“Hail Thor, laughing, red-bearded
Thundered and guardian.
Bring me again to be with thy people.
Those who know the joy and robust power of thine
Ancient Ways.
Give me of thy might, and of thy laughter
That I may better honour thee
As I prosper in thy name.
Hail Thor!”

Add any other items which you might wish to mention before Thor, and then drink in his honour. Next place a light before the Rune of Freya, saluting and saying:

“Hail Freya the Fair One,
Beautiful enchantress, jewel of the Gods
And chooser of the mortals who are most honoured.
Bring me again to be with thy people.
Those who know the magick and beauty
And triumph of thine Ancient Ways.
Give me of thy pride and persuasion
That I may better honour thee
As I prosper in thy name.
Hail Freya!”

Add any other items which you might wish to mention before Freya, and then drink in her honour.

Stand silently for a long while, meditating on the presences of the Old Ones, the Gods of our folk who are eternally young, eternally powerful, and returning again here and now to cast their sacred presences about you. Sense their power about you. Now is the time to add any words which you would deem appropriate, for yourself or for others.

When you feel that the rite should end, face the runes of the Gods and take up the chalice one last time, saying:

“O Great Ones of High Valhalla,
I give honour to thee
For being with me here.
May some of thy presences
Remain within me as I leave.
And be ever near me, as well as with
Those who are my true people.
To thee do I drink this toast,
And pour this libation.
Hail Freya! (salute)
Hail Thor! (salute)
Hail Odin! (salute)

Pour some of the drink out before the altar, and drink what remains. Then put out the candles at the North, East, South and West. Stand before the altar with your arms out, saying:

“I thank thee, O Great Ones.
The rite is ended.”

Maiden’s Day (February 2)

Set up the ritual so that you face North. Take eight stones and lay them down at equal intervals starting from the north and working sunwise. Between the altar and the stone marking the north-point of the circle, place or draw the runes of the Gods: Odin at the center, Freya to one side and Thor at the other. Have a full chalice on the altar as well.

Light the candles at he four quarters and recite:

“I light here a flame
In honour of the coming season
Of chill, and of solitude.
Be with me now Odin, Freya, Thor!”

Light the candle on the altar.

“O Great Ones, I dedicate this place
In thy honour and for thy magicks.
Be with me, and in me, and of me,
Odin the Wise,
Freya the Beautiful,
Thor the Mighty.”

Sit before the altar and then raise the chalice.

“I drink to thee, O Great Ones.
Though I am the only one of our people
Here in this place, it is still
A place of the Gods.
So long as thy magical flame
Burns in my heart.
Hail Odin! (drink)
Hail Freya! (drink)
Hail Thor! (drink)
Hail Hulda! (drink)
I salute also the spirit of the Vala,
The far-seeing prophetess
Who sought out the patterns
Of the future for Great Odin.
Grant me thy clear vision,
O Wise Woman! (drink)”

Lay out the runestones which are symbolic of the coming season. Then take up pen and paper and write the runes which best summarize why you feel guilty, and all that you feel you have done wrong in the past. Scribe the runes, and write plainly all that bothers you the most about yourself. Spend a lengthy time looking at the runes and meditating on them all, looking for the link between the symbols and the season and what you wish to accomplish. Finally, fold your paper with your own personal desires runed on it, and burn it in the cauldron, saying:

“Hear me, O Hulda,
Dark Goddess of times for distant.
I place before thee the symbols
Of all which hinders,
Harms, and makes guilty
Within my own soul.
As this flame burns, O Ancient Norn,
I ask thee to consume all my guilt, all my pain,
That it be gone forever.
And leave me pure
In thy holy Name.
I swear by the Sun, O Dark One,
That I shall do all within my power
To build myself stronger, better,
And more noble
In the year to come.
And I thank thee,
O Goddess before the Gods.
Hail Hulda!”

Gaze into the flames for a long while to see if you can perceive impressions, images or patterns which might give some hint of the future. If so, write them down.

Next this time you may perform any other observances or meditations which you feel are appropriate.

When you feel that the rite should end, face the runes of the Gods and take up the chalice one last time, saying:

“O Great Ones of High Valhalla,
I give honour to thee
For being with me here.
May some of thy sacred presences
Remain within me as I leave.
And be ever near me, as well as with
Those who are my true people.
To thee I drink this toast,
And pour this libation.
Hail Hulda! (salute)
Hail Freya! (salute)
Hail Thor! (salute)
Hail Odin! (salute)

Pour some of the drink out before the altar, and drink what remains. Then put out the candles at the North, East, South and West. Then stand before the altar with your arms out, saying:

“I thank thee, O Great Ones,
This rite is ended.”