Toasting/hailing the gods?

I'm sure I asked something like this before.

I don't drink but rarely, and on those occasions I do it's either a blót (faining, if you like), or at a restaurant. At a restaurant or someone's house it's probably not practical to pour a drink for the Holy Powers. I've done a discreet hail, but at home if you're kicking back and tying one on, do you do a simple hail and toast, or pour some aside, or what? I loves me some mead, but I'd feel selfish drinking it when I know the gods like it too. I read somewhere that it's no, you don't toast/hail because offerings to the gods are supposed to be much more intricate, planned, and thought-out, and because we approach the gods as a community, not as individuals. I wanted to get the opinions of this august group (much sucking up? ).

Not everyone has the opportunity to hold community blóts or anything like that. I'm solitary and I haven't held any yet myself; I kinda don't know where to start... However, I'll definitely do something for Winternights later this month. Not sure who I'm going to toast to specifically - sources seem to conflict about who was actually worshipped on those days.

vaguelyhumanoid said:

Not everyone has the opportunity to hold community blóts or anything like that.

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Yeah, I'm solitary also. I do blóts by myself too, but I feel I'm representing my community and family (non-Heathen) when doing them.

Anyway, I found that the names and times of the autumn and winter blóts vary from group to group, site to site. Here's a site I got the templates for the blóts I do http://home.earthlink.net/~jordsvin/Blots/Index.htm I did this one on the Autumn Equinox http://home.earthlink.net/~jordsvin/Blots/Vanir Blot.htm The Ásatrú Community calls it Winter Finding. I'm going to do Winternights/Álfablót on Oct. 27, the full moon. The Hammerstead site has the Odin Rite for the end of October. On Dec. 21 I'll do Mothers' Night/Friggablót. Then in January I'll do Dísablót for the dísir. So, you see everything is variable. That makes it really confusing. But what I did find out in my reading and studying is that most of these "conflicts" or inconsistencies are because different communities and tribes did indeed do things differently. If you Google solitary blóts you'll get a number of sites that have templates and explanations.

Cool! Just checking out that Jordsvin site; it seems like a really nice resource. I definitely want to hold an Oðinn blót, as he's one of the deities I feel most drawn to. I also have an idea for a dísir/ancestor blót asking to find out more about my paternal ancestors. (My dad was adopted, so I know next to nothing.) I'd also like to do something for the Vanir; the autumn equinox kinda passed me by in that regard...

I missed this when you posted it but I do the toast/hail thing much more often than an offering. It is a daily thing. It's also as traditional as anything to toast and even doing a Heathen "giving thanks" before you dig into a meal.

A lot of times for me it is literally "to the Gods and Ancestors" or "hail Gods and Ancestors" - kept very short and simple. I do that while I hold up the glass, bottle, horn, etc. above my head level, out in front of me, and usually facing north. Not that anybody else would need to do that but just to share

I think if it is an offering then you can/should go to more intricate and planned out - as long as you are solemn in attitude and focused then it is all good. Not so much with a toast...laugh, smile, say what is on your mind that day or that hour.

Some kindreds and big orgs really do have good step by step guides how they do things to use as a template. Think there are even folks doing some videos now. If it's for you, after a number of times it evolves with a personal touch and eventually you won't even remember what parts are "theirs" vs your own.

Sees said:

I missed this when you posted it but I do the toast/hail thing much more often than an offering. It is a daily thing. It's also as traditional as anything to toast and even doing a Heathen "giving thanks" before you dig into a meal.

A lot of times for me it is literally "to the Gods and Ancestors" or "hail Gods and Ancestors" - kept very short and simple. I do that while I hold up the glass, bottle, horn, etc. above my head level, out in front of me, and usually facing north. Not that anybody else would need to do that but just to share

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My altar faces North for multiple symbolic reasons but primarily because the constellation Ersa Major is in the Northern sky, behind which resides the abode or kingdom of Set in Egyptian mythology. Also, I usually do a short 'drinking from the Graal' working during certain rites - sort of drinking the Essence. Blackberry or cranberry juice mixed with a little hard liquor.

Thanks, I thought the informal hail or toast was perfectly fine. But you know how I overthink things. We consider the gods our kin, so why not do what human families do around the table?

For me too, an offering is more solemn (for lack of a better word). I light the candles and incense and say prayers. That's when I invite the gods, ancestors, wights, pour the drink in the horn, ask that it be blessed, use the bowl and pour a portion for the gods, or put some food along with it. Then it goes outdoors. That's the real offering, a mini-blót. I don't often do those also.

My altar is on an east wall, which is how I face. I'd like to face north but the design of the house precludes that.

Adramelek said:

Also, I usually do a short 'drinking from the Graal' working during certain rites - sort of drinking the Essence. Blackberry or cranberry juice mixed with a little hard liquor.

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Only the darkest of fruit juices for the Dark Lord, eh?

Here is an excerpt from an invocation of the Graal I use. Holding the Graal, with both hands, before you towards the pentagram of Set and recite;

Heilsa ok sael; til árs ok frithr.
Health and happiness; a prosperous year and peace.

Here are Norse (Runic) Magickal symbols that I pay homage to. Both symbolize the glory and power of the "Black Sun"/"Schwarze Sonne".