Together with Freyjoy, we are pleased to introduce Folkmoot, the Saxon Pagan Day, or as we call it, the Day of Saxon Pagan Practice. This ritual has been created to be performed during the week of October 4th, to honor those who fell victim to religious intolerance, to strengthen those who still hide their faith in fear, and to show the world that we are present, resilient, and establishing a spiritual home for our own.
The ritual can be carried out by Initiates or Solitary Dedicatees, either in a group or individually. The altar requires a white candle at the center, a figure or image of Woden/Odin and Frig/Frigga, a seax (dagger or sword), incense, a bowl of water, and salt.
Step 1: Casting the Circle
Using the seax (dagger/sword) or spear, trace the circle deosil (clockwise) around the altar. Light each candle and blow a wind instrument at each direction.
Priest / Thegn:
- To the East – “Greetings, Esduerg.”
- To the South – “Greetings, Southduerg.”
- To the West – “Greetings, Westduerg.”
- To the North – “Greetings, Northduerg.”
Place the God and Goddess figures on the altar.
Priestess / Scribe:
“Let us greet the God and Goddess, our Lord and Lady. Greetings, mighty Woden. Greetings, beautiful Frig. Greetings to you, Seax-Wicans, Pagans, and those who join in this company, Bringing love, Bringing life, Bringing peace, Bringing light, Bringing sincerity, Bringing harmony. So mote it be.”
All: “So mote it be!”
Step 2: Erecting the Temple
Light the altar candle and incense, then walk the altar candle around the circle.
Priest / Thegn: “The temple is about to be erected. Let all who remain within this circle do so by their own free will, in peace and love.”
Consecrate the water and salt (using the tip of the seax in the salt).
Priestess: “Salt is life. May this salt be pure and purify our lives, as we use it in these rites dedicated to Woden and Frig.”
Take three pinches of salt and mix them into the water.
Priestess: “May this sacred salt drive out all impurities from the water, so that together they may be used in service to Woden and Frig in this rite, at any time, and in any way we may employ them.”
Sprinkle the salted water around the circle, followed by the incense. Participants can then enter the circle by moistening their fingers with the water and drawing a pentacle on their chest.
Priest: “Let us invite the Gods to witness these rites we perform in their honor.”
The Priestess raises the Seax high, and the others lift theirs towards the altar.
Priestess: “Woden and Frig, God and Goddess, Father and Mother of all life, we invite you to join us in these rites; guard and guide us within this circle and beyond, in all things. So mote it be.”
All: “So mote it be!”
The Seax is kissed and returned to its sheath. The drinking horns or cups are filled with ale, poured on the ground as libation, and then consumed by the Priest and Priestess.
Priest and Priestess: “Woden and Frig!”
Priest / Thegn: “The temple is now erected. Let no one leave without good reason.”
All: “So mote it be!”
Step 3: Central Celebration of Saxon Pagan Day
Sound the horn or wind instrument.
Priest: “Today we remember the Valor, Today we celebrate the Faith, That memory may never forget, Those who walked this path before us. For one day we shall join them In the wholeness of the Gods.”
Priestess: “Man learned as he was taught, With patience and with love. He received nothing for nothing, But was rewarded for his efforts. As you give, so shall it return; This he learned well, to give of himself, His love and his life. So he shall be rewarded beyond measure. Let us never forget what we owe to the Gods. For our lives are shaped by our Lady and her Lord. Theirs is the watch to keep, And they are the ones who lead us on our paths.”
Priest: “The horn sounds for those persecuted for their faith, in every place and every time. Those victims of religious intolerance and corruption. Today we remember the Saxon pagans who fell at Verden for their faith in our gods. So mote it be.”
All: “So mote it be!”
Priestess: “Long ago, Saxon warriors became martyrs for the faith, but should this sadden us? No, for they completed their life’s mission in the time they were given; lives come and go, and through many reincarnations, they continue to move freely through time. We should not feel sorrow for them, but joy.”
Priest: “Let us take joy in remembering their courage. Let us send forth our strength and good wishes to all those still persecuted for their faith in their Gods today, and to those who still feel fear and uncertainty in their hearts, hesitating to join us on this path.”
A figure or image of the Verden Massacre is placed in the center of the altar. All present point their Seax toward it.
Priestess: “All our love and will to never forget those who were and are persecuted. All happiness to them, and all courage to those who still hesitate, so they may feel and know they are always welcome here.”
All: “So mote it be!”
Priest: “In the autumn of the year 782, on October 4th, Charlemagne, Emperor of the Franks, ordered the execution of 4,500 prisoners, who had been converted to Christianity but were caught practicing the Saxon pagan faith. They were arrested and sentenced to death by the legal code of the Capitulatio de partibus Saxoniae. We remember that, despite oppression, we shall never forget our Gods and who we are. Let us fight for our freedom!”
Step 4: Cakes and Ale
The Scribe takes the drinking horns from the altar, fills them if empty, and hands one to the Priest and the other to the Priestess.
Priest: “As the Gods give to us, let us share with them. And let us give thanks for all the goodness they pour upon the earth. To the Gods!”
All: “To the Gods!”
The Priest and Priestess pour libations on the ground, then take a drink and pass the horns around the circle. The last person to drink replaces the horns on the altar. The Scribe offers a plate of cakes to the Priestess, who holds it aloft.
Priestess: “Our thanks to the Gods for the foods they give us. Let us always ensure that whatever we have, we share with those who have nothing.”
Cakes are distributed, and the Priest invites all to sit and enjoy the blessings of the Gods.
Priest: “Let us now sit and enjoy these gifts of the Gods. But let us never forget that without the Gods, we would have nothing.”
All: “So mote it be!”
Step 5: Clearing the Temple
At the end of the meeting, the Priestess takes the sword from the altar and holds it aloft, while the others raise their Seaxes.
Priestess: “We give thanks to the Gods for their presence. As we came in love for them and each other, So we now part to go our separate ways.”
All: “Love is the Law, Love is the Bond.”
Thegn: “So mote it be! The temple is now cleared.”
Everyone kisses the blade of their Seax, sheathes it, and circles around the altar to bid farewell with a kiss.
EXTRACT WITH PERMISSION- ©The Forest – A further guide for the Experienced Seax-Wica Practitioner: Insights After a Decade of Practice(2019) by Juan Manuel Espinoza Guzmán.
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