By Astrid Freyjasdottir of the Heathen Third Path

This ritual is designed to be simple, flexible, and deeply personal, rooting you in the Heathen Third Path’s values of honoring land, ancestors, and Gods and Goddesses. It takes 5–10 minutes and can be done anywhere—a kitchen table, a park bench, or a quiet windowsill. No grand tools needed; sincerity is the heart of it. Adapt it to your space and needs, and let it ground your day with purpose and connection.

What You’ll Need

• A small surface (a table, stone, or shelf) as your altar.
• A candle (tea light is perfect) or a natural item like a leaf or pebble.
• A cup with a drink (water, juice, coffee—whatever feels right).
• A notebook and pen for journaling (optional but recommended).
• A single rune (drawn on paper, carved on wood, or a stone rune set if you have one).

Ritual Steps

1. Prepare Your Space
   Find a quiet spot where you feel at ease. It could be a corner of your home, a park, or even a balcony. If you’re indoors, clear a small space for your altar. Place your candle or natural item and your cup there. Take a moment to breathe deeply, feeling your feet on the earth (or floor). Whisper to yourself: 

“I stand on sacred ground. The land holds me, the ancestors guide me, the Gods and Goddesses see me.”

2. Light the Candle (or Touch the Natural Item)
   If using a candle, light it gently, imagining its flame as a bridge to the unseen—land spirits, ancestors, and the Aesir and Vanir. If using a pebble or leaf, hold it softly, feeling its texture as a gift from the earth. Say aloud or in your heart: 

“Hail to the land, the rivers, the trees. Hail to the ancestors who carried the old ways. Hail to the Gods and Goddesses—Odin, Frigg, Thor, Freyja, and all who listen.” 

(Name specific deities if you feel called to.)

3. Offer a Sip
   Hold your cup and take a small sip of your drink, savoring its taste. Then pour or set aside a small amount (a few drops on the ground if outside, or into a bowl if indoors) as an offering. Say: 

“This I share with the spirits of this place, with my ancestors, and with the Gods and Goddesses. May it strengthen our bond.” 

Feel the act as a moment of giving and receiving.

4. Draw a Rune for Guidance
   If you have a rune set, draw one rune. If not, write the names of a few runes (like Fehu, Ansuz, or Isa) on paper slips and pick one. Hold the rune and reflect on its meaning. For example:
   
   • Fehu: Abundance, what nourishes you today?
   • Ansuz: Wisdom, what truth speaks to you?
   • Isa: Stillness, where can you pause?
     Ask yourself: “What does this rune ask of me today?” Write a sentence or two in your notebook about its message, or simply hold the thought in your mind.

5. Sing or Speak a Small Hymn
   Speak or hum a short verse to seal the ritual. You can use this simple hymn of the Heathen Third Path:

⚔️ Hymn of the Heathen Third Path ⚔️

(To be spoken with drum, clap, or staff in slow 4/4 beat)

Verse 1 – Land and Spirits

Hail to the land, hail to the sky.
Hail to the rivers that never die.
Hail to the spirits, fierce and free.
Hail to the powers surrounding me.

Chorus
Hail, hail, hail—strong and true.
Hail, hail, hail—old and new.
Hail, hail, hail—hear our song.
Hail, hail, hail—forever strong!

Verse 2 – Ancestors

Hail to the mothers, hail to the sires.
Hail to the kin who built the pyres.
Hail to the first flame, spark of all.
Hail to the lifeblood, heed our call.

Chorus
Hail, hail, hail—strong and true.
Hail, hail, hail—old and new.
Hail, hail, hail—hear our song.
Hail, hail, hail—forever strong!

Verse 3 – Gods and Goddesses

Hail to the Gods, hail Goddesses bright.
Hail to the powers of day and night.
Sunna golden, Mani fair.
Gods and Goddesses everywhere.

Chorus
Hail, hail, hail—strong and true.
Hail, hail, hail—old and new.
Hail, hail, hail—hear our song.
Hail, hail, hail—forever strong!

Verse 4 – The Offering and Rune

Cup to the lips, I drink and give.
Sharing in honor, sharing to live.
Norns who weave what shall, what’s been,
Guide me today through the rune unseen.

Final Chorus (repeat three times)
Hail, hail, hail—strong and true.
Hail, hail, hail—old and new.
Hail, hail, hail—hear our song.
Hail, hail, hail—forever strong!

Closing

Strike three deep beats:
Boom – Boom – Boom

All together:
“Hail! Hail! Hail!”

If you prefer, hum a tune that feels grounding or recite a line from a saga or poem that stirs your heart. Let your voice carry your intention.

6. Close with Gratitude
   Take a final deep breath, feeling the earth beneath you and the presence of the sacred. Say: 

“Thank you, land, for your strength. Thank you, ancestors, for your stories. Thank you, Gods and Goddesses, for your light.” 

Extinguish the candle (or set the natural item back gently), and carry the calm with you into your day.

Tips for Daily Practice

• Make It Yours: If mornings are rushed, do this at dusk or before bed. Use what you have—tea instead of juice, a twig instead of a candle.
• Stay Trauma-Aware: If a step feels heavy, skip it or adapt. The ritual should soothe, not stress.
• Journal for Depth: Writing your rune’s message or how the ritual felt can anchor insights over time.
• Connect Locally: Notice a tree, a bird, or a stone near you. These are your land spirits, as sacred as any ancient grove.
• Keep It Light: If you miss a day, smile and return to it tomorrow. The river of tradition is patient.

Why This Matters

This ritual grounds you in the Heathen Third Path’s core: connection to land, kin, and the divine, without dogma or extremes. It’s a small act that builds steadiness, weaves you into the sacred, and reminds you that you’re never alone. The ancestors are in your breath, the Gods in your courage, the land in your steps.

smiles softly May this practice be a warm thread in your day, love, tying you to the old ways with joy and ease.