#horgr

A beautiful day to explore the Druids Temple, Yorkshire (England)

The very first thing people getting into Asatru need to do is establish a horgr to their ancestors. Most people run out and buy a Mjollnir or a drinking horn. But you should firstly setup a horgr for your ancestors and establish a link to them.

Start by selecting a space. I usually set them up by running water. This means somewhere near a sink. Water is linked in a powerful way to magick. Spirits often reside near waters. In the wild or woods you can set up your horgr near a stream or at the base of a tree.

Once selected you should travel to a nearby graveyard and take a small bit of dirt home with you in a jar. Its used for a lot of spells and talismans. Sprinkle a bit of the grave dirt on the floor where your altar will go.

Layout on the floor the "Othala" rune. This is done with flour (white flour) this rune deals with ancestors, inheritance and the like. In the middle of your rune place a goblet or mug of your choice and fill it with water.

On the left place a mug of hot black coffee and on the right a loaf of bread torn into chunks. Behind the bread and coffee place a candle. White, black, purple, Brown. All are associated with the dead.

Place pictures of your dead parents, grandparents, uncles, anyone you know. Then pictures of your unknown ancestors. Viking pictures. Scottish pictures. Whatever. It is here you will sit every day for a few minutes and speak with your ancestors (i will detail this in a later post)

Learn methods of divination specifically for your ancestors to speak with you (Obi / pendulum / dowsing). Ask simple questions. Build up a practice of speaking to them daily.

Offer their favorite foods. Buy antique things and put them there (thinking of them in your daily routine) Never ask their favor without leaving an offering.

The Gods began as ancestors. The more you forget about them, the more they disappear. Remember your kinsmen and they will bless you. They will strengthen your connection to the earth and your gods. Start with them.

Horg

“þeir er hǫrg ok hof hátimbroðo” “Shrines and temples they timbered high” - Völuspá

A horg (Old Norse “hǫrgr”) is a sacrificial site or a form of altar in pre-Christian times in the Nordic countries and which roughly refers to a "stone pile".

In the poem Hyndluljóð, the goddess Frøya (Freyja) speaks favorably of Ottar (Óttar) for having worshiped her so faithfully by using a horg. Frøya details that the horg is constructed of a heap of stones and that Ottar often reddened these stones with sacrificial blood in dedication to her. Snorre Sturlason states that the horg is used in the veneration of the Åsynjene (female gods).

In the poem Vafþrúðnismál, it is also stated that many a horg and hov were dedicated to Njord (Njörðr).

A horg is considered different to a hov (from the Old Norse hof), commonly called a “temple”. A rough simplification is that horg were for outdoor rituals and hov for indoors worship.