This ritual is made to establish any form of sacred space, or even the settlement of a home. We have seen that the creation of the stead must revolve around sanctifying the area, then firmly maintaining it as a peace-stead, which shall be the purpose of the rite.
Under the Elements section of the Tools, we saw the evidence for use of fire during the Helga and how this relates to the settlement and consecration of land. The protection and sanctity of the area must be kept by the Goðorð or priesthood, and violations of the sanctuary must be met with swift recourse.
As previously noted, the area is sanctified using holy fire carried in the Eldskál or Fire-Bowl. If carrying the bowl, it is recommended to use chains and to be safe when walking with fire. When walking the area you can either walk in a straight line, as we see in some sources, or walk around it, as others say. You can see evidence for carrying of the fire under the “Elements” section above. With the sanctification of the area comes the declaration of Friðhelga, which is established to create a sacred space that is inviolate, and thus means “Peace-Holy.”
To violate the stead is to blaspheme the divine, for we must recognize the importance of welcoming them into our realm, where they are given special places that are prepared for their coming, and these places must be kept pristine and sanctified. From the hearth of the home to the largest of temples, Gods must have a place where they are welcome in order for them to grant their blessings.
(an excerpt from Æfinrúnar1: A Book of Sedian Rites and Prayers Bk. 1: The Reconstruction https://a.co/d/5EQ9RGQ )
Tools: Eldskál with Need-Fire, Hamarr.
Preparation
- Map out your processional path.
- Make sure you begin and end the path in the North.
- Use some form of vessel for the fire that allows you to carry it.
Biðja–Pray
First, kindle the Need-Fire (see) or use the Vigðan Eld, then Hamarsigna the fire (see below). Then
call upon Þórr with the following invocation:
Biðjum Þórr
í hugum sitja,
Þórr er þeira framast,
sá er kallaðr er Ása-Þórr
eða Ǫku-Þórr.
Hann er sterkastr
allra goðanna ok manna.
Hjálpaðu nú Ása-Þórr,
ek kalla þik nú58
Komið hefi ek nú eldi,
ok er helgað landið,
á hann skal til þess heita.
I pray to Þórr
sitting in thought,
Þórr is the foremost of them,
he that is called Ása-Þórr,
or Ǫku-Þórr;
he is strongest
of all the gods and men.
Help now Ása-Þórr,
I call upon you now,
I have come now with fire,
and shall hallow the land,
for this he shall be invoked.
Helga– Bless
After this, walk the area with the sacred fire while saying the following nine times:
Hér skyli engi
ǫðrum granda,
til bǫls búa
né til bana orka,
né hǫggva því
hvǫssu sverði,
þó at bana bróður
bundinn finni.
Here may no one
harm another,
contrive evil,
nor cast wiles for slaying,
nor slaughter any
with sword well sharpened,
though his brother’s slayer
in bonds he find.
Friðhelga– Peace Blessing
Next comes the declaration of holy peace or Friðhelga, which establishes the space as sacred and inviolate. The fire is set down and the Hamarr taken up to perform the Hamarsigna.
Then the gathered form a circle, holding hands while the Goði makes this declaration:
Hér set ek grið
allra manna á millum
einkanligum þeim sama Gest
til nefndum er hér situr,
ok að undir skildum
ǫllum goðorðsmǫnnum
ok gildum bændum
ok allrar alþýðu vígra manna
ok vopnfærra
ok allir aðrir héraðsmenn í þingi.
Hvaðan sem hvorir,
eru að komnir,
nefndra manna
eða ónefndra,
handsǫlum grið
ok fullan frið,
komumanni hinum ókunna
er Gestur nefnisk,
til gamans,
glímu ok gleði allrar.
Skal hann hafa grið
í ǫllum stǫðum,
nefndum ok ónefndum,
svá lengi sem hann,
þarf til heillar heimkomu
að hǫldnum tryggðum.
Hérvistar ok heimferðar
hvárt er hann þarf
að fara á legi
eða landi eða flutningi.
fare on foot
on land or transport.
Set ek þessi grið
fyrir oss ok vára frændur,
vini ok venslamenn,
svá konur sem karla,
þýjar ok þræla,
sveina ok sjálfráða menn.
Sé sá griðníðingur
Er griðin rýfur
eða tryggðum spillir,
rækur ok rekinn,
frá guði ok góðum mǫnnum,
úr himinríki
ok frá ǫllum helgum mǫnnum,
ok hvergi hæfur manna í milli.
Svá frá ǫllum
út flæmdur sem,
víðast varga reka,
heiðnir menn hof blóta,
eldr brennur,
jǫrð grær,
mælt barn móður kallar,
ok móðir mǫg fǿðir.
Aldir elda kynda,
skip skríður,
skildir blika,
sól skín,
snæ leggur,
Finnar skríða.
Fura vex,
valur flýgur
vorlangan dag
ok standi honum
beinn byr undir
báða vængi,
himinn hverfur,
heimar eru byggt
ok vindur veitir
vǫtn til sjóvar,
þrælar korni sá.
Hann skal firrast
heiðna hǫlda,
hús ok hella,
heim hvern nema helvíti.
Nú skulum
vér vera sáttir
ok sammála hver við annan
í huga góðum hvárt
sem vér finnumst
á fjalli eða fjǫru,
skipi eða skíði,
jǫrðu eða jǫkli,
í hafi eða á hests baki.
Svá sem vin sinn
í vatni finni
eða bróður sinn
á braut finni,
jafnsáttir hver annan
sem sonur við fǫður
eða faðir við son
í samfǫrum ǫllum.
Nú leggjum
vér hendur saman
ok allir vér
ok hǫldum vel griðin
ok ǫll orð tǫluð
í tryggðum þessum
að vitni guðin
ok góðra manna
ok allra þeirra er orð
mín heyra eða nokkurir
eru nær staddir.
Here I set grið
amidst all men
and the same with the special Guest,
the named one sitting here,
the one under the shields
of all Goðorð-men
and goodly bondsmen,
and fighting men among all people,
and weapon-bearers,
and all other district-men at the þing.
From wherever
they are coming,
the named men
and the unnamed,
the hand-shaking grið
and full frið,
the newcomer to the stranger
is called Guest,
for enjoyment,
Glíma and gladness all around.
He shall have grið
in all places,
the named and unnamed,
as long as he needs,
a hale homecoming
to be held securely.
Hospitality and homefaring,
whether he must
fare on foot
on land or transport.
Set I the grið
for us and our kinsmen,
friends and family,
both men and women,
bondwomen and Þrælls,
youths and free men.
If he is a grið-níðingr,
a grið-breaker
or truce-spoiler,
be he chased and expelled,
from Gods and good men,
from heavenly realms
and from all holy men,
and no qualified man in between.
So, from everyone
they are driven out,
as wide as wolves stray,
heathen men blót at hof,
fire burns,
earth grows,
speaking the child calls to mother,
and a mother bears a son.
Sons kindle fire,
the ship glides,
shields glimmer,
the sun shines,
snow falls,
Finns ski.
Wide as the fur grows,
or the falcon flies
the spring-long day
and he stands
with wind blowing under
both wings,
the heavens vanish,
homes are built
and winds turn
water to the sea,
Þrælls sow corn.
He shall be cast out
of heathen holds,
house and cavern,
and every home but Hel.
Now shall
we be satisfied
and of the same mind as the other
keep in good thought
whether we meet
on mountain or shore,
ship or ski,
earth or glacier,
at sea or on horseback.
Such as his friend
finds on water
or his brother
finds on broad ways,
agreeing with each other
as a son to father,
or as father to son
in all dealings together.
Now we lay
our hands together
each and all,
and hold well this grið
and all words spoken
in settled troth,
witnessed by the Gods
and good men
and all who hear my words
or those who behold
this closer in the stead.
Loka– Close
The rite is then concluded with the Loka formula (see Blót), standing towards the gathered with arms outstretched and eyes towards the heavens, you will be speaking the words of Hár:
Nú eru Háva
mál kveðin
Háva hǫllu í,
allþǫrf ýta sonum,
óþǫrf jǫtna sonum;
heill sá, er kvað,
heill sá, er kann,
njóti sá, er nam,
heilir, þeirs hlýddu.
Now are sung the
songs of Hár,
in Hár’s hall,
all useful to the men’s sons,
but useless to Jotuns’ sons.
Hail to him who has sung!
Hail to him who knows!
Benefit, who has learned!
Hail to those who have heard!
Æfinrúnar2: A Book of Sedian Rites and Prayers Bk. 2: The Sacred Rites– https://a.co/d/8nqOU0W