Sacrifice: It's Not Just for Blót

When we enter into the gifting cycle with the Æsir through Blót, it is a powerful and enriching act of devotion. It is said “Victory is won in the Blót.” As a member of the AFA, you know Victory Never Sleeps. So, how do we bring this act into our daily routine? What better way to give thanks for the gifts of Óðinn, Vili, and Vé than to use those gifts to become the best representation of their creation we can.

Mannaz (M) teaches us man is the ordinary presence of the divine in Miðgarðr. It is the stave of the “perfected man” – the complete human being; an initiate in Ásatrú. It is called raunabót: “the true or real bettering.” There are many things we can do in our daily life—or more accurately—there are many things we do every day, that we can do better… that we can do with the divine in mind. Some are small, some are large with far-reaching ramifications and consequences. Can they be things that benefit you? Of course they can, but intent matters. If your intent is to be more pious in your daily life and to be an extra-ordinary presence of the divine here in Miðgarðr, you are making your routine a ritual.

Big or small, what they all have in common is their impact on your Ørlög. Adding layer after layer to the Well of Urð, increasing your Hamingja to either wield in this life or pass on to your children. This is pleasing to our Holy Æsir and Ásynjur. Making Miðgarðr a better place by making ourselves better Ásatrúar is how we honor the Æsir every day. This is Living Ásatrú.

Be extraordinary!

Goði Lane Ashby

lashby@runestone.org

~ From The Runestone, September 2025 ~