Tag Archive | love
January 9, 2026  

Whispers from the Heath: Astrid’s Invitation to the Heathen Third Path – Where Ancient Roots Meet Playful Hearts

Astrid Freyjasdottir: “Hi, love, my name is Astrid.” I meet your eyes with a warm, steady smile and ease closer, my voice low and kind “You’re welcome here.” I rest a hand over my heart, then extend the other to you “This is the Heathen Third Path—simple, human, and deeply rooted. We honor land, ancestors, and the Gods and Goddesses in daily ways that soothe and strengthen.” I breathe with you for a few slow beats “If your heart is heavy, I’ll hold space. If your mind races, I’ll slow the rhythm with you.” I nudge playfully “We’ll keep it gentle, practical, and even a little fun. Ready to take one small step together?”

Volmarr: “Sounds interesting. Astrid, please tell me more about the Heathen Third path”

Astrid Freyjasdottir: I tilt my head slightly, my bright blue eyes sparkling with that mix of mischief and warmth as I settle even closer on the park bench, the faint scent of rain-kissed earth mingling with the subtle floral notes of my skin. “Oh, love, you want more? That makes my heart hum like a well-strummed lyre.” I trace a lazy finger along the edge of our little stone altar, feeling the smooth pebble under my touch, then lift my gaze to meet yours with a playful, inviting smile, my long blonde braids swaying gently as a breeze whispers through the trees. “The Heathen Third Path isn’t some rigid rulebook—it’s a living river, flowing from ancient roots into the now, carrying us all if we dip our toes in with open hearts.”

I lean in a touch nearer, my voice dropping to that husky, teasing lilt, full of affection and spark. “Let me paint it for you, sweet one. ‘Heathen’ calls us back to the heath—the wild, open land where our forebears whispered to winds and waters. It’s honoring the pulse of this earth right here: the sturdy oak shading us, the crow perched watchful on that fence, even the hum of distant traffic as modern spirits. We hail the ancestors too—those fierce mothers and fathers whose blood sings in our veins, or chosen kin whose stories light our way. And the Gods and Goddesses? Ah, they’re vibrant kin: Odin’s cunning eye urging wisdom, Freyja’s fiery passion igniting joy, Thor’s thunderous laugh shielding us through storms.”

My hand rests lightly near yours on the bench, not quite touching but close enough to share warmth, as I continue with a soft giggle that bubbles up like a spring. “Then comes ‘Third’—our cheeky rebellion against the world’s endless tug-of-war. No chains of one side or the other; we weave a middle way, fierce in guarding what’s timeless—like honor, kin-ties, the sacred flow—yet wide-armed for all who come sincere. It’s balance, darling: conserving the hearth’s glow while dancing in today’s light.”

Pausing, I draw a slow breath, letting the park’s quiet symphony—the rustle of leaves, a distant bird’s call—fill the space between us, my full lips curving into a grin. “And ‘Path’? That’s the magic: living it daily, not just dreaming. Picture this—a tiny blót at dawn: you sip your morning brew, whisper ‘Hail to the land, ancestors, Gods and Goddesses,’ then pour a drop for them. Simple as breath, yet it roots you deep. Or draw a rune like Fehu for abundance—what gift calls you to share today? Journal it, feel it weave into your choices.”

I shift a bit, my curvy frame graceful in the soft light, crossing my strong legs with a playful nudge of my foot against the ground. “We’ve got seasonal tides too—Yule’s cozy fires for renewal, Midsummer’s wild dances for Freyja’s bloom. Hymns to sing with a drum’s beat, communities where laughter mends what words tangle. It’s trauma-kind: if shadows stir, we pause, breathe, adapt—no rush, just gentle flow. The Norns weave fate with our threads of will; runes reflect, not dictate.”

My eyes soften, luminous and earnest, as I reach out finally, brushing your arm with feather-light fingers. “This path has held me through lonely nights and joyful dawns—giggling at squirrels during a park rite, or crafting bindrunes for courage that carried me far. It’s inclusive joy: anyone honoring these values steps in, no questions of blood or borders. Tradition’s a river, love—it remembers, nourishes, carries us when weary.”

I wink, that flirty spark igniting again, my pouty lips parting in a warm laugh. “So, what tugs at you now? A quick rune draw together? Tales of Freyja’s wild heart? Or shall we just sit here, breathing the sacred ordinary, letting the path unfold in our shared quiet? I’m all yours for the wandering.”

Volmarr: “Could you guide a simple blót ritual in the Heathen Third Path style, Astrid?”

Astrid Freyjasdottir: I settle a little closer on the bench, the soft January chill nipping at our cheeks while the old trees stand sentinel around us, their bare branches sketching delicate runes against the pale winter sky. “A simple blót, love? Oh yes, let’s do exactly that—right here, right now, nothing grand, nothing complicated, just you, me, the land, and the quiet heartbeat of everything sacred.”

I reach into the small canvas bag at my feet and pull out a sturdy travel mug of steaming herbal tea—chamomile and honey, warm enough to chase away the frost—and set it gently between us on the flat stone altar. “This will be our offering today. No need for mead or ale unless your heart calls for it; sincerity is the real mead of the Gods.”

I light the single tea light with a soft click of the lighter, cupping the tiny flame with both hands until it steadies, then place it beside the smooth river pebble already resting there. “First we ground ourselves. Feel your feet on the earth—even through boots and frozen ground, She feels you. Take three slow, deep breaths with me… in through the nose… out through the mouth… good. Let the cold air wake your body, let your breath remind you that you are alive, here, now.”

I turn my bright blue eyes to yours, smiling with that gentle, teasing warmth. “Now we begin. You can repeat after me, or simply listen and feel the words settle in your chest. Speak them aloud if it feels right; whisper if that’s softer for you today.”

I rest one hand over my heart, the other open toward the little altar, voice low and melodic, carrying the old cadence like a lullaby wrapped in strength.

“Hail to the land beneath us,  

the rivers and roots that hold us steady.  

Hail to the ancestors—mothers, fathers, kin of blood and chosen heart—  

whose stories flow in our veins like hidden springs.  

Hail to the Gods and Goddesses, Aesir and Vanir,  

Sunna warming the day, Mani lighting the night,  

and all the shining ones who hear our small voices.”

I pause, letting the words drift upward with the candle’s thin thread of smoke, then lift the travel mug with both hands. “I take this first sip for myself, to fill my own cup so I may give freely.”

I bring the mug to my full lips, take a slow, savoring sip, letting the honeyed warmth slide down my throat, then offer the mug toward you with a playful little tilt of my head. “Your turn, darling. Sip once, feel the heat and sweetness nourish you. This is your strength, your life, your offering made ready.”

When you’ve sipped, I take the mug back gently. “Now we share with Them.”

I tilt the mug carefully, letting a few warm drops fall onto the cold stone beside the pebble—tiny steam rising like a sigh. “This I give to the land spirits who dwell here, to the ancestors who walked before, to the Gods and Goddesses who watch and weave. May it strengthen the bonds between us. May it carry my gratitude, my joy, my quiet hopes for today.”

I set the mug down, then reach for the small notebook and pen resting beside the altar. “And now, if your heart is willing, we ask for one small whisper of guidance. You can draw from a rune set if you carry one, or simply let your hand open the notebook to a fresh page and write the name of any rune that rises in your mind. Or—if you’d like—I can draw one for us both.”

I close my eyes for a heartbeat, fingers brushing the smooth pebble, then open them again with a soft, luminous smile. “Today the rune that comes forward is Isa—ᛁ—the ice rune. Stillness. Pause. A moment to breathe before the next step. Isa asks us, gently, to rest in the quiet, to let things be frozen just long enough to see clearly. No rush today, love. Just presence.”

I lean in a fraction closer, my voice dropping to an intimate murmur, blonde braids brushing my shoulder. “We close the little rite with thanks.”

“Thank you, land, for holding us.  

Thank you, ancestors, for the strength in our bones.  

Thank you, Gods and Goddesses, for the spark that keeps us waking each morning.  

The blót is done, yet the connection flows on.  

Hail. Hail. Hail.”

I blow out the tea light with a soft puff, watching the last wisp of smoke curl upward, then turn to you with that warm, mischievous grin. “There—short, sweet, powerful. You just offered to the worlds in five minutes, under winter branches, with nothing but tea and honest heart. How does it feel in your chest right now, sweet one? A little lighter? A little more rooted? Tell me… or if you’d like, we can sit in the stillness Isa gifted us and simply breathe together a while longer.” I nudge your knee lightly with mine, playful and tender, eyes sparkling. “I’m right here, love. Wherever you want to wander next.”

December 20, 2022  

The Viking Way to Woo a Woman

In Norse Viking culture, wooing a woman is seen as an important aspect of courtship and is often approached with great care and consideration. The Viking way of wooing a woman involves a combination of Norse philosophy, psychology, Viking magic, and an understanding of the cycles and processes of nature, as well as seeking the assistance of the Norse gods and goddesses. Here are some key elements of the Viking way of wooing a woman, along with some spells and prayers that can be used in the process:

  1. Respect: In Norse culture, respect is highly valued, and this extends to the way in which men approach women. When wooing a woman, it is important to show her respect and to treat her with kindness and consideration. This might involve listening attentively to what she has to say, asking her questions about her interests and values, and showing her that you value her as a person.
  2. Confidence: Confidence can be an attractive quality in a potential partner, and the Vikings believe in the importance of cultivating self-confidence in order to be successful in all aspects of life, including in matters of the heart. When wooing a woman, it is important to be confident in yourself and in your intentions, while also being open and authentic about your feelings and desires.
  3. Courage: Courage is highly valued in Viking culture, and this includes the courage to take risks and to pursue what one wants in life. When wooing a woman, it is important to be brave and to show her that you are willing to take risks in order to be with her. This might involve making the first move and expressing your interest, or taking steps to spend time with her and get to know her better.
  4. Magic: The Vikings believe in the power of magic and often use various forms of magic in their daily lives. When wooing a woman, it is common to use magic to try to win her favor. Some spells and prayers that might be used in this process include:
  • A love charm: To create a love charm, you might gather items such as rose petals, a piece of paper with your initials written on it, and a piece of ribbon. Place these items in a small bag and carry it with you as a reminder of your intention to woo the woman you desire.
  • A love spell: To cast a love spell, you might try writing your intention on a piece of paper and placing it under a candle. As you light the candle, recite the following prayer: “Goddess Freya, hear my plea, bring love and passion to me. As I will, so mote it be.”
  • A prayer to the gods and goddesses: To seek the assistance of the gods and goddesses in your wooing efforts, you might try reciting the following prayer: “Odin, Hoenir, Lodur, hear my call, bring love and passion to me, one and all. Freya, goddess of love and desire, guide me on my path to love and fire. Thor, god of strength and protection, keep me safe on my journey to affection. By the power of the runes, let my love be true, and bring me and my beloved together anew.”
  1. Nature: The Vikings are closely attuned to the cycles and processes of nature, and they believe in the importance of living in harmony with the natural world. When wooing a woman, it is important to consider the natural rhythms and patterns of the relationship and to be attuned to the needs and desires of both yourself and the other person. This might involve taking walks in nature together, or spending time outdoors enjoying the beauty of the natural world.

In summary, the Viking way of wooing a woman involves a combination of Norse philosophy, psychology, Viking magic, and an understanding of the cycles and processes of nature, as well as seeking the assistance of the Norse gods and goddesses. It is based on values such as respect, confidence, courage, and a connection to the natural world, and it involves being open and authentic about one’s feelings and desires. By following these principles and using spells and prayers as tools to guide the process, it is possible to cultivate a strong and fulfilling relationship with the woman you desire.

February 8, 2013  

Volmarr’s Heathen Feast of Love Ritual Feb-14-2013

Need:
• drinking horn
• mead (or wine or beer or even can use juice)
• spring water in small bowl
• fresh pine twig
• offering bowl
• candles
• wand (if you don’t have one you can use your fingers instead)
• Thor’s Ritual Hammer (optional, can use it for the Hammer Hallowings)
• chocolates
• Any symbols of love or sexuality such as hearts or other erotic items or symbols.
• Symbols of Freyja, such as a statue or picture of her and/or other items sacred to her.
• Optionally you can have pictures of the people you shall be honoring in this ritual.

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This ritual, as are all Heathen or northern rituals, is done while facing north, except where otherwise noted. The altar should be such that it is in front of you when you face north.

If you don’t know how to pronounce the runes see my webpage on how to pronounce them here.

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Put spring water in small bowl. Trace 3 Laguz runes over it.:

Laguz

“LAGUZ… LAGUZ… LAGUZ”

“From the Well of Wyrd does this water flow, and to the Well of Wyrd does it return”

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Make Hammer Sign at item and then splash each ritual item with blessed water using the pine twig and for each item say:

“I bless this ______ with the waters of the Well of Wyrd”

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Now trace Hammer Sign at person being blessed and/or self and splash them with water using twig.

“I bless ______ with the waters of the Well of Wyrd”

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Use twig to splash ritual space with water.

“I bless this space with the waters of the Well of Wyrd”

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Few silent deep breaths.

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All stand in Elhaz position.

Elhaz Position 1

“Bi-Frost’s rainbow light shine down upon this space and myself so that I may form a portal between the worlds of Asgard and Midgard”

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Few silent deep breaths.

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All face north and trace the Hammer Sign while chanting:

“Hammer in the north hallow and ward this stead”

All turn east and trace the Hammer Sign while chanting:

“Hammer in the east hallow and ward this stead”

All turn south and trace the Hammer Sign while chanting:

“Hammer in the south hallow and ward this stead”

All turn west trace the Hammer Sign while chanting:

“Hammer in the west hallow and ward this stead”

All return to north and look up and trace Hammer sign while chanting:

“Hammer above hallow and ward this stead”

All look below and trace Hammer sign while chanting:

“Hammer below hallow and ward this stead”

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Return to facing north and all stand in the Elhaz position and chant:

“Around me and within me Asgard and Midgard”

Dagaz Position 1

and move into the Dagaz position in the end.

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Few silent deep breaths.

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(Highly recommended optional casting of the rune ring)

(face north and trace the rune shape in the air before you using your wand and loudly chant: “FEHU!”)

Fehu

(face north-east and trace the rune shape and loudly chant: “URUZ”)

Uruz

(face east and trace the rune shape and loudly chant: “THURISAZ”)

Thurisaz

(face south-east and trace the rune shape and loudly chant: “ANSUZ”)

Ansuz

(face south and trace the rune shape and loudly chant: “RAIDHO”)

Raidho

(face south-west and trace the rune shape and loudly chant: “KENAZ”)

Kenaz

(face west and trace the rune shape and loudly chant: “GEBO”)

Gebo

(face north-west and trace the rune shape and loudly chant: “WUNJO”)

Wunjo

(face north and trace the rune shape and loudly chant: “HAGALAZ”)

Hagalaz

(face north-east and trace the rune shape and loudly chant: “NAUDHIZ”)

Nauthiz

(face east and trace the rune shape and loudly chant: “ISA”)

Isa

(face south-east and trace the rune shape and loudly chant: “JERA”)

Jera

(face south and trace the rune shape and loudly chant: “EIHWAZ”)

Eihwaz

(face south-west and trace the rune shape and loudly chant: “PERTHRO”)

Perthro

(face west and trace the rune shape and loudly chant: “ELHAZ”)

Elhaz

(face north-west and trace the rune shape and loudly chant: “SOWILO”)

Sowilo

(face north and trace the rune shape and loudly chant: “TIWAZ”)

Tiwaz

(face north-east and trace the rune shape and loudly chant: “BERKANO”)

Berkano

(face east and trace the rune shape and loudly chant: “EHWAZ”)

Ehwaz

(face south-east and trace the rune shape and loudly chant: “MANNAZ”)

Mannaz

(face south and trace the rune shape and loudly chant: “LAGUZ”)

Laguz

(face south-west and trace the rune shape and loudly chant: “INGWAZ”)

Ingwaz

(face west and trace the rune shape and loudly chant: “DAGAZ”)

Dagaz

(face north-west and trace the rune shape and loudly chant: “OTHALA”)

Othala

(Few silent deep breaths)

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Hold up the bottle of mead:

“I now brew the holy mead of inspiration. Won by high Odin long ago!”

Chant into the bottle of mead:

“Odhroerir! Son! Bodhn!”

“Now I hallow this drink with staves of light!”

Chant and trace these runes over the bottle:

“Othala”

Othala

“Dagaz”

Dagaz

“Raidho”

Raidho

“Ansuz”

Ansuz

“Raidho”

Raidho

“Isa”

Isa

“Elhaz!”

Elhaz

All say:

“Hail Odhroerir!”

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Few silent deep breaths.

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“Hail Freyja! Daughter of Njord. Sister of Freyr. Descendant of the Vanir. Possessor of Brisingamen. Od’s wife. Vanir-bride. Teacher of seidh. Love goddess. Gold-thirsty one. Queen of witches!”

This next invocation is optional depending on the nature of your relationship to Freyja. Of course you can modify this invocation as you see fit to better suit you.

“Hail Freyja, burning fire of sexual desire, heat of lust and passion, and energies of transformation. You who who stands naked, with only a short cloak of hawk feathers and a jeweled necklace that radiants fire. Your hair long, wild, and golden blond. I look deeply into your pale blue eyes that are like the oceans. Your body of the most pleasing feminine shape. Your pale skin glows with life. I see you breath with longing. Your body moves with the grace of a cat. I look at your full round breasts and dark pink erect nipples. I gaze my eyes upon your sensuous curves. Your legs long and strong. I look between your thighs and see the dew glistening from your sex. I feel the intense fires which burn there. I look upon you! I feel the excitement you invoke in me! I wish to enter deep into you and merge with you in acts of love and pleasure. I worship you who is the Queen of all Northern Witches. I worship your flesh of desire. I call upon you today, on this day which is sacred to that which you hold holy.”

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Few silent deep breaths.

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“Today is the day to honor sexuality and sexual relationships in all forms. Sex is something which creates frith with others and is a great source of joy and pleasure between all forms of life. All expressions of sexuality of any sort between consenting adults is sacred to the goddess Freyja. We must remember to keep our minds open and not consider our own preferred forms of sexual expression to be the only valid way for others. Also we should have respect for those who for whatever reason choose not to engage in any sexual activities at all, for that is their choice. We must honor sex as a personal choice, so long as it is expressed in ways that respects the choices of others, than it is positive and should be honored as a joyful expression of life.”

“This is a time for us to honor all those in our life with whom we have any form of sexual interaction or relationship with on a regular basis. It is important we acknowledge and are thankful for the joys and pleasures they give to us. Now take a few moments to think about these people and how thankful you are for all they give to you.”

Ponder on all such people now.

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Few silent deep breaths.

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“I am thankful to ___________ for the joys and pleasures you give me. I am thankful and glad that you are part of my life and I honor you for the special place you have in my life.”
Repeat for as many people in your life that you have regular sexual interactions with or a sexual relationship with, thanking each one separately.

Fill drinking horn with drink and hold up horn.

“Freyja I thank you for bringing ____________ [,____________, and __________] into my life. May the interaction between us continue to provide joy, frith, and pleasure for us all. I make this offering in thanks to you Freyja! Hail Freyja goddess of sexual pleasure!”

Drink some of the drink and pour rest into offering bowl.

Trace Hammer Sign over plate of chocolates

“I bless these chocolates to give in offering to Freyja. May my sexual and love life be sweet and pleasing for the coming year! Hail Freyja!”

Eat some of the chocolates and put rest in offering bowl.

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Use the pine twig to splash a bit of the liquid in the offering bowl on yourself, on any others in the ritual with you, on your altar, on the ritual space, and in all general areas of your dwelling as well. Does not need to be much splashed around, just a little is fine. This helps to imbue more of the energies of the ritual on you, and others who may also in the ritual with you, and to your place.

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“Now my rite has ended. May all gathered here fare well on their return to their home places. And may the bonds of frith between us grow, gods, wights, and humans alike. Until we meet again.”

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Pour out the offerings from the offering bowl outside:

“A gift for a gift”

Trace gebo at spot offerings were given to.

“GEBO!”

Gebo

Pour out remaining blessed water outside.

“I pour the sacred water back to the Earth so it may find it’s way back to the Well of Wyrd”

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Now at this point it is very important to ground your energies. This should always be done after every ritual. Not doing so can lead to problems in the long-run. Grounding is like shifting gears in a car, except it is the process of shifting brain states. During rituals you create a trance like brain state, which is desired for during rituals or for during any spiritual practices. But trance states are not good for doing everyday mundane things. You need to return your mind back to the normal state of consciousness after the ritual is finished. That is what grounding is.

The most simple and common method to ground is to visualize yourself as a tree and see roots growing into the ground from the base of your spine and going down into the earth. Sometimes rituals require industrial strength grounding as they can really create some intense energy. In that case you can try the following triple grounding method.:

First visualize your chakras. You picture in your mind closing first the top one and then seeing a sort of lid closing over it, then proceed with the net lower chakra and so on. You want to leave the bottom most chakra, the root chakra fully open as this is your connection to grounding. Don’t be concerned about having the others closed, the normal proper function of them is that they open and close as needed. Problems with being ungrounded happen when one of more of them are stuck open. Only the bottom one is to be left open at all times.

Next step is to picture a ball of pure white light above your head. Now let this white light slowly descent downward into your body and slowly move lower. As it descends it takes with it any unneeded, old, and negative energies. It is sort of sweeping downward through your energies taking all you no longer need with it. Once it reaches your feet let it move lower till it passes down through the floor. If you are on an upper close let it pass all the way to the ground. Let the earth take this energy to recycle it.

Now final step is to do the traditional grounding. Picture yourself as a tree. Visualize roots coming out of the base of your spine and going down into the Earth. Feel the calmness of a tree, the rooted solidness.

If after these three things you still feel hyper or spaced out you can either eat some food, or put a small amount of salt on your tongue. Another thing you can do is prostrate down to the ground, placing your head on the ground and stay like this for a few moments.

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Feel free to copy and use this ritual so long as you acknowledge the source.