Honoring of Nerthus (or other Earth Deity) and the Blessing of Tools

I. Welcoming the folk and describing the purpose

1. Describe your DotO
2. Who is Nerthus/Jord/Erda
3. This is a perfect time for describing exactly what you are doing
4. Honoring Nerthus/Jord/Erda
5. Welcoming back from winter’s slumber
6. Blessing of tools
7. Blessing of tools for prosperity in the upcoming year

II.  Processional (if you can)

1. Outdwellers should be recognized during this if you include them in your ritual
2. Censing and aspersing

III. Focusing of Energies

1. Grounding and centering
2. Using the world tree is a great focal point

IV.  Earth Mother

1. You can focus specifically on Nerthus/Jord/Erda or leave this open to a generic idea of an Earth Mother if those attending are not all Norse oriented in their beliefs.

V.  Recreating the Cosmos

VI.  Gatekeeper and Gates

1. Any psychopomp will do but I tend to recognize the Norns as my gatekeepers since they are the keepers of wyrd and orlog.  This connects them to the beings of all nine realms through Yggdrasil and thus makes them perfect Gatekeepers
2. Open the gates as you are comfortable with them.

VII.  Three Kindreds

1. If your group is small consider having Praise Offerings that are separate from the Key Offerings to the DotO.  I have found that separating it out helps those not Nordic to feel included by giving them an opportunity to honor their own hearths.

VIII.  Recognizing your DotO

1. This is where you would call out to Nerthus/Jord/Erda.  For the purposed of this rite I am going to focus on Nerthus from this point forward.
   1. Story of Nerthus –
      1. Tacitus: Germania Chapter 40 – The Longobardi, by contrast, are distinguished by the fewness of their numbers.  Ringed round as they are by many mighty peoples, they find safety not in obsequiousness but in battle and its perils.  After them come the Reudingi, Aviones, Anglii, Varini, Eudoses, Suarini, and Nuitones, behind their ramparts of rivers and woods.  There is nothing noteworthy about these peoples individually, but they are distinguished by a common orship of Nerthus, or Mother Earth.  They believe that she interests herself in human affairs and rides among their peoples.  In an island of the Ocean stands a sacred grove, and in the grove a concentrated cart, draped with cloth, which none but the priest may touch.  The priest perceives the presence of the goddess in this holy of holies and attends her, in deepest reverence, as her cart is drawn by heifers.  Then follow days of rejoicing and merry-making in every place that she designs to visit and be entertained.  No one goes to war, no one takes up arms; every object of iron is locked away; then, and only then, are peace and quiet known and loved, until the priest again restores the goddess to her temple, when she has had her fill of human company.  After that the cart, the cloth and, if you care to believe it, the goddess herself are washed in clean in a secluded lake.  This service is performed by slaves who are immediately afterwards drowned in the lake.  Thus mystery begets terror and pious reluctance to ask what the sight can be that only those doomed to die may see.  (translator J.B. Rives)
   2. The cart/basket/(whatever you choose) with a representation of Nerthus is brought around to bless the folk and the tools they have brought.
      1. I generally have a scarf over the Nerthus figure and she sits in a wooden cart.  I carry her around the circle of folk for them to honor her and receive her blessings.
      2. After the circle is finished I place Nerthus in front of the tools to be blessed facing away from the folk.  I then “unveil” her (standing behind her of course) and allow her to bless the tools.
      3. While Nerthus is unveiled, offerings, prayers, and praise can be made to her.
      4. When all the offerings are made, Nerthus is then veiled and turned to face the folk once more.

IX.  Omen

1. I generally call upon the Norns to do this.  If you do not wish to double-duty then have those that honored the three kindreds come forward and pull a rune/ogham/card and interpret it for the folk. You can also call upon Nerthus herself if you should so choose.

X.  Blessing the Waters

1. This is where things change a bit.  I pass a horn for the waters.  It can have mead/beer/water in it depending on your circumstances.

XI.  Working

1. For the original rite this is where we feasted and drank with Nerthus to simulate the celebrations described by Tacitus.  You can have your potluck at this point should you wish.
2. You can also incorporate a blot during the pot luck feast with first round to Nerthus, second to heroes & ancestors, and third open.  Be certain to explain the rules of the horn to those present.  Any words spoken over it are sacred and tie the speaker to those present.

XII.  Thank the beings and close down the rite in reverse order.

If it is too disruptive to have the potluck/blot during the rite then close the rite per usual and have it afterwards.  Set aside a plate for Nerthus during the feast.