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Asatru food (part 2)

 Consecrated foods:

Because there are no specifically Asatru foods as such ( unless one considers all Germanic cuisine to be Asatru) the ritual consecration of foods used in blots becomes quite important. The food is transformed from profane and mundane into something special and holy through magical blessings and religious consecration by the Gydthja or Gothi of the kindred.

This consecration may be accomplished in a number of different ways. Common methods of blessing and consecration are as follows: The Gydthja or Gothi will have the food displayed before them, often by a lower ranking member of the kindred. The Gydthja or Gothi will then trace certain runic shapes in the air above the food, with their forefinger, a seax or wand. They may or may not audibly say the name of the rune or runes they're evoking, or may galdor the rune or runes. Galdor is singing or repeatedly chanting the name of the rune or runes in a monotone voice.

The Gydthja or Gothi may or may not choose to call upon a specific deity or deities related to the ritual, depending upon the purpose and date of the ritual. Consecration may involve sprinkling the food with water, mead or blood. Obviously vegetarians would not be happy with the food being sprinkled with animal blood, so some other sacred fluid would be used for such a blessing if vegetarians are present at the ritual.

Of note: vegetarian Asatruar are generally okay with the use of human blood, if a small amount is given voluntarily, and will even eat food sprinkled with a small amount of human blood.

Once the food has been blessed and consecrated the best portion of the food is separated from the rest and offered to the gods. What remains is shared freely between kindred members. Not all food at the blot is consecrated, if the kindred is large, and many members are present. Most of the food will be there simply to be shared and eaten by the kindred. Only specific food items are designated as suitable for special blessings and consecration.

These practices I've mentioned are shared between all traditional and folkish kindreds. Universalist / liberal kindreds have no specific rules in regards to blessings or consecration. My own experience is with folkish kindreds, including Asatru Folk Assembly. But as someone who has been Asatru for over 30 years I'm familiar with the practices of all well established Asatru kindreds. There are unique consecration rituals involving apples and sacrificial animals, which will be examined in their own sections.

Bjorn Stewart

Asatru food (part 1)

 

  While there are no foods or dishes exclusively associated with the Asatru faith, there are particular eating habits which have become a sort of custom among Asatruar. In general "Asatru food" is quite simply any cuisine that is consumed during an Asatru gathering, be it formal blot or informal social event. Different Asatru kindreds maintain different dietary norms and standards depending upon how traditional or modern they are. There are no universally accepted rules in regards to cuisine in the Asatru faith. For instance, more modern and or liberal Asatru kindreds have no standards or rules for cuisine at gatherings (formal or otherwise) whatsoever. Chinese food, Mexican food, Italian food…it's all welcome at these gatherings.

 Northwoods Kindred - YouTube

Also of note are the ethnic and national differences between Germanic peoples which are reflected in the particular cuisine of these unique groups. Scandinavian cuisine is quite different from Austrian cuisine for example. There are the culinary traditions associated with the Days of Remembrance, which vary depending upon the ethnic and national origin of the person being remembered, which we shall examine in detail in the last portion of this article concerning seasonal and holiday cuisine.

Also of note is the presence of vegetarian and vegans in Asatru kindreds. A vegan or vegetarian diet should not be necessarily associated with liberal ("universalists") kindreds, as it's a fact that there are vegans and vegetarians present in the traditionalist and folkish kindreds as well  The traditionalist and folkish kindreds insist upon cuisine of European origin being served at gatherings. How strict these culinary rules are depends upon the specific kindred. For instance, some traditionalist or folkish kindreds insist upon exclusively Germanic/ Nordic cuisine at all gatherings, formal or otherwise. Other traditionalist or folkish kindreds allow all European cuisine.

The food at Asatru gatherings is shared freely and equally by all attendees. There is no special food exclusively reserved for the Gothi or Gydthja. All food is shared. The standard is the " pot luck" tradition, where each family, couple or individual prepares one or more dishes at home, and then brings it to the gathering to be shared freely amongst the kindred members. The dishes are presented in a buffet table style, where members form a line and serve themselves one by one, though at some gatherings meat or other foods may be fire roasted or grilled right there at the location. To a large extent the specific food served depends upon the region where the gathering is held. For instance, each region has different culinary customs and norms. Each country and U.S. state has its own unique cuisine, and these are served at Asatru gatherings that take place in these regions.

Bjorn Stewart

Runic mudras - uses

Uses: wealth (money, property), sexual health, life-energy

Uses: immunity, strength, primal instincts

Uses: defense, elemental power, penetration

Uses: communication, eloquence, understanding

Uses: safe travel, rituals, harmonizing with the cycles of nature

Uses: sex magic, uncovering that which is hidden, female sexual health

Uses: connection with the Gods, energy exchange, achieving the balance

Uses: against depression, achieving perfection, finishing something

Uses: defense, creating illusion, astral travel

Uses: blocking, protection, attracting what is needed

Uses: stopping, slowing, focusing

Uses: changing, setting in motion, initiate the process

 

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Y

Yule – holiday of the winter solstice. It was celebrated by Scandinavians and all the old European people alike. Even today the Scandinavians call Christmas Yule (jul); in the English language Christmas is often called Yuletide.