3 Tea Rituals for Peace, Tranquility, and Relaxation

Between grieving, state-mandated testing, my wedding on the horizon, and the constant droning of more bad news trickling down the pipeline, I have been stressed, and that's putting it lightly. I know I am not alone in this boat, and one of the best ways I relieve stress is through purposeful rituals, especially those that involve tea! There is nothing quite like a warm, steaming mug to help me recenter and let go of the tension of the day.

In today's post, I share three such recipes and their rituals to help bring peace, tranquility, stress relief, and grounding to your life. As with everything, feel free to modify these recipes and rituals to suit your needs. I have offered some Warnings, Modifications, and Alternatives where possible. This should not be expensive or difficult, as that just adds more stress. Modify, modify, modify, and make these rituals your own so you can build a sustainable practice.

Evening Exhale: A Tea Ritual for Letting Go of the Day

Creating routines and rituals around bedtime can help put you into a state of relaxation, making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep. There are a whole host of herbs that can be used to induce relaxation and promote sleep, but I have found none as great as chamomile and valerian root. Both are naturally relaxing, helping to lower blood pressure, remove tension, and quiet the mind. Valerian root contains compounds that may interact with the brain's GABA signaling pathway, the neurotransmitter that helps calm the nervous system, by stimulating the production of GABA and blocking the enzyme that breaks it down. Valerian root may also interact with serotonin and adenosine receptors, the hormones responsible for regulating mood and sleep and making you feel tired, thus leading to a more restful sleep overall. This tea is paired with a quick candle ritual and breathing exercise that will help you feel relaxed and ready for bed in no time!

Ingredients:

• 1 part chamomile
  
• 1 part valerian root
• Candle
• Match/lighter

Instructions:

1. Light the candle and dim the lights.
2. As your tea steeps, stir it counter-clockwise and say, "The day is done. I release all burdens so I may rest in peace."
3. Sip the tea slowly, feeling its warmth travel through you, your muscles relaxing and the tension leaving your body. Visualize your stress and the burdens of the day leaving you with each exhale.
4. When finished, go promptly to bed.

Warnings/Modifications/Alternatives:

• A "sleepy time" blend is easily substituted in this recipe, or you can find chamomile and valerian root are easily found in grocery stores as tea if you do not have loose herbs already on hand.
• Do not use chamomile if you are allergic to ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, or daisies. Chamomile can be replaced with lemon balm.
• You can include breathing exercises in this ritual to further relax you.
• If you cannot use fire, a tea light works just as well.
  
  

Heart of the Forest: A Tea Ritual for Grounding & Tranquility

Nature is one of a witch's greatest teachers. Not only does she teach us to let go and that change is inevitable, she also teaches us the value of slowing down, of pausing. The Earth itself is also a great grounding force, allowing us to connect with it and let go of all that ails us. This grounding ritual is paired with a nettle and green tea, which produces a beautiful green hue to go along with the green that is our Earth. Green tea, while slightly caffeinated, helps relieve stress primarily due to the amino acid L-theanine. L-theanine helps to reduce stress-related hormones and neuron excitement in the brain, leading to a sense of calm and relaxation. Stinging nettles help lower your blood pressure and reduce general inflammation. Because stinging nettle is rich in nutrients like calcium, iron, and magnesium, it helps the body cope with stress and return to a balanced state long-term. Combined, they bring tranquility to the mind and body.

Ingredients:

• 1 part green tea
• 1/2 part stinging nettle

Instructions:

1. Go outside with your steaming mug of tea and firmly plant both feet on the ground, or sit comfortably. 
2. Holding your steeping mug in your hand, gently press it to your chest, feeling your heart beat and the gentle warmth of your tea spread across your chest.
3. Take a deep breath in through your nose for four seconds, hold your breath for four seconds, and then exhale through your nose for four seconds. This is known as box breathing, which has been found to increase your awareness and reduce stress.
4. As you continue box breathing, feel the stress leave your face, then your jaw, then your shoulders, slowly releasing the tension as you move down your body. Push that stress out through your feet (or other low-touching point) and into the Earth.
5. Visualize roots sprouting from your body and connecting you with the Earth. Feel the Earth's energy enter your body, evening your heartbeat, and uplifting your mood, and say, "Like the trees, I am steady. Like the earth, I am rooted."
6. Sip your tea, drinking in this awareness. Between sips, gaze at something green, soaking in the grounding tranquility of nature.

Warnings/Modifications/Alternatives:

• Altering your breathing can cause a reduction in blood pressure, which can cause you to pass out. It can also trigger seizures in some people and PTSD in others. If you are worried about passing out, begin this exercise by lying down. I also suggest practicing with a friend to ensure your safety.
• Green tea contains about 30mg of caffeine. If you are sensitive to caffeine, you can remove it completely. White tea contains slightly less caffeine and can be used as a replacement.
• Those with chronic anxiety may experience increased anxiety with caffeine use.
• If you cannot perform this ritual outside, working near a window will work just as well, or you can use a grounding crystal such as hematite, black tourmaline, obsidian, shungite, or smoky quartz.
• Herbal alternatives include pine needles, peppermint, or lemon balm.

Release and Receive: A Tea Ritual for Rest and Renewal

This quick tea ritual combines the renewing properties of rooibos tea, the self-love properties of roses, and the calming properties of oatstraw to produce a potent mixture that removes blockages and leaves you open to renewal. This tea is paired with a fire ritual in which you write down what is weighing you down and burn it to release it. Fire is a great way to get rid of blockages and burdens, but if you cannot use fire, there are some alternative suggestions in the Warnings/Modifications/Alternatives section.

Ingredients:

• 1 part rooibos tea
• 1/2 part rose petals
• 1/2 part oatstraw
• Candle
• Lighter/match
• Paper
• Writing utensil
• Fire-safe dish

Instructions:

1. While your tea is brewing, light the candle. On the piece of paper, write down one or more things you are ready to release or let go of.
2. Fold the paper in half away from you and place it under your mug.
3. Stir your tea counterclockwise while saying, "I release what weighs me down. I make space for rest and ease."
4. As you begin sipping your tea, imagine the weight being released from your body as your muscles relax. Visualize yourself lighter and open to receiving peace.
5. When you are finished, burn the paper in a fire-safe dish.

Warnings/Modifications/Alternatives:

• Be mindful when working with fire. He is sometimes fickle and can easily get away from you if you aren't paying attention. Use a fire-safe dish and always have water, a fire extinguisher, or sand nearby in case of emergency.
• If you cannot use fire, you can drown your burdens in water and flush them down the toilet.
• Herbal alternatives include lavender, chamomile, or passionflower.

***

Self-care is an act of self-love and is the first step in mutual aid. We cannot take care of others before we have filled our own cup. Take the time you need to rest, relax, and rejuvenate in these unprecedented times (yeah, I want to live in "precedented" times too...I am so exhausted.). You are worth the time it takes, and you are not lazy for resting. Don't let capitalism fool you.

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Magical Properties of Howlite

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Book Review: The Night House by Danielle Dulsky

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I recently finished reading Danielle Dulsky's latest book, The Night House: Folklore, Fairy Tales, Rites, and Magick for the Wise and Wild. I was excited to pick up this book because it analyzes the magic of fairy tales, with each chapter tackling a new fairy tale and its magic within. However, it wasn't exactly what I expected, but it was still worth the read.

The Night House is broken down into sections based on the rooms of a house. You can read straight through or choose the stories at "random" to divine your needs and future. I like books that you can approach in a non-linear way, but there are two stories in the final section that do intersect, so if you are attempting a non-linear read, skim through the three rites at the end to ensure they don't build on earlier rites. The first room, "Hidden Rooms and Wild Skins," addresses the cloaks we wear- the red hood, a mossy cloak, the tattered hood, or the swan skin. These rites and rituals build on our connection to the earth, the magic of these skins and cloaks we wear, and how we can access our higher self. The second room, "The Bone Cellar," addresses the liminal space between life and death, connecting us to the lessons we can learn by passing to the Otherworld and listening to its stories. The final room, "The Spirit Tower," addresses the interconnection of our waking and dreaming selves and the deals we make with the "devil" to secure our future.

While I was hoping for significantly more analysis of the fairy tales than what was given (If you have been following me for a while, you know I love a dense academic approach to witchcraft and folklore), I loved how Dulsky wove these tales into reflections of our modern lives, specifically through the witch wound. The witch wound, for those who do not know, is a trauma we suffered collectively during the witch hunts and trials, which turned women against women and outracized those that could be considered "different." This resulted in small magics being passed down in innocuous stories, which Dulsky argues are fairy tales. There isn't a ton of evidence cited in Dulsky's work supporting this theory, but I am sure there is research out there that does.

While Dulsky doesn't offer much critical analysis of each tale, she does provide three rites for each story, some of which feel slightly disconnected without the analysis supporting its inclusion. My favorite story and rites was The Mage's Bird, which is about protecting innocence while still fighting against the atrocities of the world so it can be a better place for innocence. The first rite includes hiding an egg from the world (representing innocence); in the second, you reclaim what is yours and your strengths; the final rite concludes with a banishment of all you want gone from the world so our future children can be born into a better life. This chapter also ignites a fury over the missing ones: indigenous women, children, and others who have been lost. It's a profoundly impactful story, and if you take nothing else from the book, I hope it's the lesson of The Mage's Bird.

Like all of Dulsky's works, the prose is flowery and indirect, making it a uniquely enjoyable experience. If you are looking for something new to get you out of a magical slump, I always suggest Dulsky's works, which now happily includes The Night House: Folklore, Fairy Tales, Rites, and Magick for the Wise and Wild.

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How to Celebrate Sígrblót for Modern Heathens

Sígrblót begins on the fourth full moon after the Winter Solstice. This places Sígrblót on April 12, 2025. Using the Eddas, archeological research, and historical records, Sígrblót included a blot, or sacrifice, to celebrate the beginning of summer and the triumph of light over darkness. This was also a time to celebrate one's own victories and future victories as it was the beginning of the "raiding" season. Sacrifices were made to celebrate kings and their triumphs and to ensure future successes in the kingdom.

Modern Heathens can celebrate Sígrblót in various ways that honor both traditional Norse customs and contemporary pagan practices. As with any celebration, your rituals, feasts, and sacrifices should be personal. If you are unable to have a bonfire, light a candle or turn on a video of a fireplace burning. Don't eat meat (like myself) or drink alcohol, and therefore don't feel comfortable buying it as a sacrifice? Offer a hearty mushroom and root vegetable stew or grape juice instead. Your celebration methods are valid, even if they aren't "historically" accurate. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

With that said, how can you celebrate Sígrblót?

Sígrblót

Celebrating Victories & the Triumph of Light Over Darkness

1. Perform a Sun Blessing Ritual

Since Sigrblót welcomes summer, honor Sól (the sun goddess) with a sunrise or midday ritual. Light a candle or bonfire, give thanks for the returning warmth, and meditate on the sun’s power.

Blessing Idea: Hail to Sól, golden rider of the sky, Flame of life, eye of the heavens. With your light, drive shadows from my path. With your fire, awaken strength within me. May your radiant wheel turn fortune to me, May I walk with purpose, bold and clear. Shine upon me, guide me, bless me with victory. Hail Sól!

2. Light a Sacred Fire or Candle 

Light a fire or candles to represent the transition from darkness to light as the days grow longer. Sit around the fire for storytelling, sharing tales of victories or myths from Norse sagas. 

Alternative Ideas: If you cannot light a fire or candle, use an oil warmer or pull up a video of a fireplace.

3. Hold an Oath-Making Ceremony

Oath-making ceremonies were common during Sígrblót as a way of proving one's loyalty to the gods and community. Making an oath during Sigrblót would have felt extra potent because you’re invoking divine attention while aligning with the energy of the season. This was the beginning of the campaigning and raiding season—a time when warriors and ships would prepare for action, so making oaths would have been customary. As with all oath, be careful of the words you choose, as any oath made during this time will turn the wheels of fate. You don't want to promise something you cannot uphold. This is a surefire way to ensure your own future upheaval. In modern Norse paganism and heathenry, many practitioners revive the practice of oath-taking during Sigrblót to set personal goals, swear to change habits or complete projects, dedicate the season to a deity or cause, or seek spiritual alignment with the path of victory and strength. It becomes a powerful ritual of self-binding and commitment, much like a sacred contract with the divine and oneself.

Ritual Idea: You will need a symbolic weapon showing strength and an offering. Raise your hands or weapon toward the sky and speak: "Hail to Odin, wise and victorious, Hail to Thor, mighty and unwavering, Hail to Freyja, fierce in battle and love, Hail to the spirits who watch over me! As the sun rises higher and victory calls, I stand before you, ready to swear my oath!" Hold your weapon up and declare your oath aloud. "I, [your name], stand before the gods and spirits, With fire in my heart and steel in my soul. I swear upon my honor and my blood that I will [state your oath: e.g., conquer a challenge, defend a cause, grow in strength, uphold your values, etc.]. May Odin guide my mind, May Thor lend me strength, May Freyja grant me courage, And may my ancestors stand behind me! Should I keep this oath, may fortune favor me! Should I break it, may the gods judge me! So I swear it!" Raise your weapon again and touch it to your chest, sealing your promise. Place or pour your offering on the ground or into a bowl as a gift. Finish by saying "The gods have heard me, the land has witnessed me. I go forth with victory in my step and honor in my hands. Hail and farewell!" This is just a guide, and I highly encourage you to write your own oath and speak from the heart.

4. Host a Mock Battle between Summer and Winter

Relying on sources from Germanic regions, which shared a lot of similar customs to Nordic countries, some have suggested Sígrblót may have included ritual mock combats between Summer and Winter to showcase Summer's victory over Winter. Celebrate the turning of the seasons with a spirited mock battle between the forces of Winter and Summer. This playful ritual honors the ancient struggle between frost and fire, reminding us that with every thaw, new life and strength return.

5. Create a Sun Wheel

The sun wheel is a sacred symbol of Sól, who rides her chariot across the sky, chased by the wolf Sköll. As Sigrblót celebrates the return of summer and victory, crafting a sun wheel is a way to honor her light, warmth, and life-giving power. A sun wheel ritualistically represents the triumph of the sun over winter’s grip, aligning perfectly with the theme of seasonal victory. I created one back in 2018 and shared my tutorial, which can be found in my post DIY Summer Solstice Sun Wheel.

6. Perform a Sacred Bathing or Cleansing Ritual

Because Sígrblót marks the beginning of summer on the Norse calendar, this is the perfect time to cleanse the past in preparation for the future. Wash away the stale chill of winter and bask in the beautiful rays of sunlight. If you can, cleanse yourself in a natural body of water, like a river or the ocean, to symbolize purification and preparation for the coming season, but performing a rituals in your bathtub, shower, or even in a foot or hand bath is valid as well.

Ritual Idea: You will need mugwort, rosemary, chamomile, birch leaves (if possible), salt, a white candle, and a ritual offering. Cleanse your space and remove any distractions. Light the candle and say: "With this flame, I call the light of Sól to guide me through the waters of change and victory." Place your herbs and salt into the water. Stir clockwise and say: "Spirits of water and earth, cleanse me. Freyja, Frigg, and the sacred river goddesses, Wash away the weight of winter and awaken my will." As you step in or begin to bathe your hands/feet, visualize the water glowing with golden light. Say: "I am reborn in the waters of the old ways, The past flows from me, and strength rises within me." Take time to breathe deeply. Let your thoughts drift away. Focus on what you want to leave behind—and what you want to call in. Before ending, raise your offering and say: "To the gods and spirits who walk with me, I give thanks." "May this offering carry my gratitude and my will." Pour it outside or into the earth when finished. If performing outside in fresh water, forgo the herbs and salt.

7. Seasonal Feast with Family & Friends

Prepare a feast with seasonal foods, particularly lighter dishes like fish, salads, and grains. Traditionally, this time marked the end of winter and the beginning of summer, so incorporating spring themes into the meal is symbolic. Invite family, friends, or members of your kindred to share in the meal, fostering community, strength, and gratitude. This would also be the perfect time to celebrate family victories and share upcoming plans for the future. Plan a trip together or discuss ways to better serve your community.

8. Set New Goals

Because this was historically the beginning of the raiding season, it was a time to prepare for the battles ahead. Today, those battles are metaphorical but prominent just the same. Winter is never the time to begin setting new goals for the upcoming year, as it's a time of rest, relaxation, and reflection. Spring, and the "beginning" of summer, however, is the perfect time to plant new seeds for the future. Sit down and come up with a few SMART goals to get you through the next couple of months, and see where it takes you!

9. Hold Competitive Games with Friends and Family

Since Sigrblót is linked to victory, engage in friendly competitions like wrestling, archery, axe throwing, strength challenges (such as lifting stones, running, or weapon drills), or board games. If you're into historical combat, this could be a great time for sparring or battle reenactments. Remember to have fun. This isn't necessarily about harming others but instead is meant to build community. Have fun with it. You could also hold a giving competition by holding a canned food drive or seeing who can collect the most used clothing items to donate to your nearest shelter. While Sígrblót was the beginning of the raiding season, today you can view it as a time to support your community and strengthen it.

10. Write a Victory Prayer or Poem

Compose a prayer or poem that calls on the gods, ancestors, or land spirits for strength, courage, and success or that celebrates your triumphs and victories. It could be a fierce invocation to Odin, a blessing from Freyja, or a personal affirmation of triumph. Speak or sing it during your blót as a personal offering.

Prayer Idea: “Steel in my hand, fire in my chest, The winds of summer stir in my breath. The frost cracks and flees, As the golden wheel climbs the sky— Summer takes the field. Odin, wise wanderer, stir my will, Freyja, fierce queen, lend me flame, Thor, storm-bearer, break my fear. I will not fall while fire runs in me, Nor yield while breath still finds my tongue."

11. Set up a Seasonal Altar 

Design an altar for Sígrblót that incorporates symbols of summer, the sun, triumph, and victory. Use candles, sun wheels, seasonal herbs like dandelions, buttercups, and marigolds, and animal totems associated with the season (like bees, deer, rabbits, wolves, and bears). Add offerings to the gods or even your ancestors. You may also wish to include evidence of your successes over the past year as well as your goals for the future.

12. Tell Stories of Your Victories or Share the Sagas

According to historical documents, Sígrblót was a time to celebrate the past and present victories of individuals and kings. Gather around a fire and share stories from the Poetic Edda or sagas about victory, strength, and perseverance. Stories of Sigurd, Thor’s battles, or Odin’s quest for wisdom are particularly fitting. If you celebrate alone, why not read a book or watch a movie showing such triumphs?

14. Hold a Sumbel or Symbel

A sumbel is a drinking ritual in which a horn or goblet of mead or other alcoholic drink is passed around. A series of toasts are made, usually to the gods, ancestors, or heroes, followed by boasts of great deeds performed throughout the year and oath-making for the future. As with all things, be careful of the words you choose, as any oath made during this time will turn the wheels of fate. While a sumbel is generally a ritual that celebrates and strengthens the community, it can also include a blot or sacrifice to the gods. Considering Sígrblót is a time to celebrate victories and make sacrifices to the future, this is the perfect time to hold a sumbel! (I plan to post a complete guide to symbels/sumbels in the future, so keep an eye out for it!)

Other drink suggestions: Beer, ale, wine, cider, juice, sweetened milk, or tea

15. Hail the Gods and Goddesses with a Ritual Sacrifice

During Sígrblót, you can honor specific gods or goddesses who are associated with the season, such as Odin, Freyr, Thor, Sól, or Týr. Include offerings and prayers in their honor during your ritual. This sacrifice can be an offering of blood (fresh meat, prick your finger, etc) or a sacrifice of something of value to you, such as food, money, or your time.

***

Again, how you celebrate Sígrblót is entirely up to you. Remember, plan early and thoroughly so you don't feel rushed and out of sorts when it comes to celebrating. This does not have to be an elaborate or over-the-top sort of celebration. Quiet and thoughtful is just as powerful as loud and raucous.

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What is Sígrblót?

The Norse, like all peoples, celebrated seasonal and astrological changes. What these celebrations were and how they were celebrated has been largely up for interpretation, relying on the Sagas, archeology, and surviving traditions to inform scholars and modern Norse pagans. In Chapter 8 of the Ynglinga Saga by Snorri Sturluson, three great sacrifices are mentioned.

Þá skyldi blóta í móti vetri til árs, 

en at miðjum vetri blóta til gróðrar, hit þriðja at 

sumri, þat var sigrblót.

There should be a sacrifice at the beginning of winter for a good year, 

and in the middle of winter for a good crop, the 

third in summer day, that was the sacrifice for victory.

Of these mentioned festivals, Sígrblót is mentioned by name as a "sacrifice for victory" on "the third in summer day." Unlike Vetrnætr and Yule, Sígrblót is the only mentioned celebration to occur during the summer months, so what exactly happened during this festival, and when exactly would it have been celebrated?

Winter passing would have been a significant turning point for the Nordic people as it meant food and plenty were on their way. For a few months, the people would have to struggle less, as their pantries and storehouses overflowed with abundance. We know from Chapter 8 of the Ynglinga Saga that Sígrblót was celebrated during summer or Náttleysi ("nightless days"), but the exact day is not mentioned. 

In the Heimskringla in the Saga of St. Olaf, there is mention of a feast taking place in Uppsala in the month of Góa.

Í Svíþjóðu var þat forn landssiðr, meðan heiðni var þar, at höfuðblót skyldi vera at Uppsölum at gói. Skyldi þá blóta til friðar ok sigrs konungi sínum, ok skyldu menn þangat soekja um alt Svíaveldi. Skyldi þar þá ok vera þing allra Svía. Þar var ok þá markaðr ok kaupstefna ok stóð viku. En er kristni var í Svíþjóð, þá hélzt þar þó lögþing ok markaðr. En nú síðan er kristni var alsiða í Svíþjóð, en konungar afroektust at sitja at Uppsölum, þá var foerðr markaðrinn ok hafðr kyndilmessu. Hefir þat haldizk alla stund síðan, ok er nú hafðr eigi meiri en stendr þrjá daga. Er þar þing Svía, ok soekja þeir þar til um allt land.

In Sweden it was the old custom, while Heathenry was there, that the most important sacrifice haed to be held at Uppsala in the month of Gói. Sacrifices had to be offered for frith and for the victory of their king, and people had to come there from the entire Swedish realm. There also had to be an assembly of all Swedes, and there was also a market and fair there, and it lasted a week. When Christianity was in Sweden, the legal assembly and market were still held. Now, ever since Christianity became the custom in Sweden, and the kings refused to stay at Uppsala, the market was moved and held at Candlemas. It has been held ever since then, and now it lasts no more than three days. The assembly of the Swedes is there, and they come there from all over the country.

While not mentioned by name, most historians believe this feast would have been Sígrblót as it specifically mentions "victory" despite it occurring during the month of Gói. This is further supported in the Ynglinga saga, Egils saga, and Vatnsdæla saga, which all mention a blót held at the beginning of summer. In the Ynglinga saga, it says,

Eftir um vorið fór Granmar konungur til Uppsala að blóta sem siðvenja var til móti sumri að friður væri. Féll honum þá svo spánn sem hann mundi eigi lengi lifa. Fór hann þá heim í ríki sitt.

In the spring, King Granmar went to Uppsala to make a vow, as was the custom, to the summer for peace. Then he was so struck with the fear that he would not live long. He then returned home to his kingdom.

As mentioned earlier, the Egils saga also mentions a "great summer sacrifice" at Gaular, while Vatnsdæla saga speaks of the witch Ljót and her half son preparing to hold a "blót í mót sumri," “at the beginning of summer.” Combined, these sagas strongly suggest Sígrblót occurred during April or Góa and was a sacrifice for victory, most likely a celebration of the victory of summer's warmth and light over winter's cold and darkness. How Sígrblót was celebrated, however, is largely left up to the interpretation of rather incomplete records.

Unlike other blóts, there are not many references to the celebratory practices of Sígrblót in the sagas, making it difficult to pinpoint exactly what happened during these feasts. Heimskringla contains the only definitive reference from the sagas detailing what would have happened during Sígrblót. The aforementioned passage suggests that a sacrifice was made for peace and victory to their king and that people traveled from all over to be present. We know from other passages in the sagas how these blóts or sacrifices were carried out, which you can read more about in my post What is Vetrnætr or Winter Nights?

Modern scholars, however, question whether or not Chapter 8 of the Ynglinga Saga reflects actual religious practices. In Rudolf Simek's Dictionary of Northern Mythology, Simek asserts that Sígrblót's sacrifice "probably does not correspond to reality as the Spring sacrifice was undoubtedly a sacrifice of fertility." These reservations are echoed in Norse Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs by John Lindow, who writes, "the summer ceremony, if it was for victory, would coincide with the departure of ships on raiding (and, more mundanely, trading) voyages." While some modern practitioners have suggested the "victory" mentioned during this sacrifice is related to war and battle, many more believe the victory being celebrated is the victory of life over death, summer over winter, or new beginnings over stagnation.

Relying on sources from Germanic regions, which shared a lot of similar customs to Nordic countries, some have suggested Sígrblót may have included ritual mock combats between Summer and Winter to showcase Summer's victory over Winter. This practice is most clearly outlined in Historia de Gentibus Septentrionalibus by Olaus Magnus from 1555, where Magnus details this staged combat between personifications of Summer and Winter that took place during "Summer Finding":

"On the first of May, when the sun is passing through Taurus, the magistrates of the cities commission two squadrons, or cohorts, of riders, consisting of tough young men who make a show as if they are about to advance to some hard battle. Of these the one is commanded by a leader appointed by lot; he bears the name and costume of Winter and, clad in various pelts and armed with pokers, scattering snowballs and chunks of ice to prolong the cold, he rides about as if he has won a victory...

The leader of the troop of riders on the other side, representing summer, is called Count Floral. He is garbed in the green boughs of trees, together with leaves and flowers, which have been found with difficulty, and wears summery clothes that afford little protection. Like Duke Winter, he comes into the city from the countryside, though each from a different place and with different arrangements. Contesting with their lances, they give a public entertainment to demonstrate that summer overcomes winter.

...the favourable opinion of the bystanders, who refuse to tolerate any longer the harsh reign of Winter, confirms the result by a just and proper decision, and to everyone’s joy the victory is awarded."

These battles are further recorded in Grimm's Teutonic Mythology. A traditional song from the Middle Rhine region says:

Der Winter hast verloren;

der Winter liegt gefangen;

und wer nicht dazu kommt,

den schlangen wir mit stangen.

Winter has lost,

Winter lies a prisoner,

and whomever doesn’t agree

we’ll beat with staves.

This, too, shows that these ritual mock battles were commonplace, but unfortunately, we cannot be sure these mock battles would have been performed during Sígrblót. Despite this, many modern practitioners include such mock battles in their celebrations, along with a number of other fun customs such as maypole dancing, sumbles, and the sharing of victories.

This year (2025), Sígrblót falls on April 12th, the fourth full moon after the winter solstice. Keep an eye out for my upcoming post on ways to celebrate Sígrblót, my sacrifice suggestions, feast recipes, and altar inspiration! Until then!

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