#our troth

Got these lovelies in the mail! I'm so excited to read them.

When we use a temporary space, a hollowing serves two functions. As a form of prayer. It calls upon the gods, goddesses, and wights to draw near, to witness the rite and bless the gathered folk. It creates a wih-stead-- a place that is set apart from the world of man, where the presence of the holy powers can be felt most strongly. Psychologically, it makes clear to the folk that the holy deed is underway, and encourages them to focus their attention. Unlike the Wiccan practice of "casting a circle", hollowing, as heathens understand it, does not create a magical barrier or focus "the raising of energy", at least not at a typical blót (although the purpose is sometimes different for specialized rites such as galdor, seidr, or rune-magic). Folk may pass freely in and out of the space. However, the person performing the hollowing should envision the perimeter as ringing the whole stead where the rite or feast is being held, as all of it should be holy ground.