Vetrnætr and Ancestor Worship

Vetrnætr and this season of year has always been a favorite time for me. You can feel the change in the air. It's a time of drawing in of hearth and family. For our Ancestors, this was a quiet time of remembrance and honour of our female lineage, our Dísir. Remembering that without their strength and determination we would not be here. It is a good time of year to do self-reflection. Take a good look at where you are at in life and what you are actively striving for. Improve. Remember we are future ancestors and should view our life accordingly.

If you have talked to me for any amount of time, you will have heard me talk about how truly important it is to build a relationship with our Ancestors. That is our connection all the way back to the Æsir. How amazing is that! We are a part of something so much bigger than ourselves and some day we will take our place beside them.

Our Gods are concerned about the bigger picture—things like the AFA and the white race. That is not to say that we shouldn't reach out to them in time of need, but it's our ancestors who care about our day-to-day lives. Your Grandma cares if you ate today, if you get that job, or if your children are safe. Talk to her and start building that relationship. Engage your Ancestors in the gifting cycle, ask for their guidance, and seek their wisdom.

How to start this relationship? The simplest way is to quiet your mind and put your hand on your heart. Feel your heartbeat, concentrate on that. It is the same heartbeat that has been beating through the generations of your family all the way back to the beginning. Realize what that connection means to you and your life. Start the gifting cycle. I often have what I call "Coffee with the Grannies" in the mornings. This is where I very simply pour coffee for me and one for a gift to my Grandmothers. I offer the coffee, think of a memory I have with them, and pause to remember. You could also have photos on an altar dedicated to your Ancestors, light a candle and acknowledge them. Share your stories of them, speak their names out loud, and remember them.

Think of the earliest point in your life that you remember, the stories your Grandpa told you about his Granddaddy, that recipe your Mom taught you that her Mom taught her, or those traditions that have always been a part of your family going back generations. This is your connection. This will be the connection future generations have with you.

Always remember that you are a future Ancestor.

Hail the Ancestors!

Hail the Folk!

Hail the AFA!

Gyðja Sara Ault

sault@runestone.org

~ From The Runestone, October 2025 ~