This is an ADF style ritual in Icelandic, using Old Norse archaic forms.
I've arranged the sentences with ritual instructions to form a complete rite, but the idea is that you can pick and choose phrases you need, and throw them into your own rituals.
If you have an established ritual framework, I'd suggest adding 2 or 3 of these into it with call and response, so people can repeat and get used to them. Or you can go whole hog and do an Asatru rite entirely in Icelandic! Up to you. I did the research for my own practice, but I spent the uncounted hours making the pages and mp3's in the hope it would be useful to someone else. If this helps you, please let me know that I didn't spend all this time for nothing! And if you want me to add mp3 guides for other phrases you use, just send me an email.
Personal Pronouns
This list is so you know whether a phrase is for group or solo ritual. The main bold text is for groups, but in parenthesis is the singular form. For instance, Vér erum hér means "We are here". If you're doing it solo, you would say Ek er hér , "I am here". Ek is the archaic form of "I", which you find in the original Eddas. In modern Icelandic, you would use Ég instead, which is pronounced like the English "Yay!". The "g" is silent.
This is only for the nominative case, mind you. Icelandic is a declinated language, and there are four possible cases. It's a pain, I know, but that's how it is. So I give the singular form on the left, and the translated singular form and case on the right. The honorific pronouns are the older forms, kinda like "thee" and "thou" in English. By the way, English used to have cases too. "Thou" is the nominative form of the second person singular (you), and "Thee" is dative/accusative. "Ye" was the plural nominative form and "You" the plural nominative/dative. Don't you feel so much smarter?
Hey! Who threw that spitball at me?!?
Case: | nominative, accusative, dative, genitive |
I / Me |
ég / ek(older form), mig , mér, mín. þú, þig, þér, þín. Þér, yður, yður, yðar (honorific), Þið, ykkur, ykkur, ykkar (informal). vér, oss, oss, vor (honorific), okkur, okkur, okkar (informal). |
Each mp3 says the sentence quickly, then each word separately,
then again with time between each word so you can repeat the word.
(I suggest getting the FoxyTunes plugin to play mp3's directly on a page, very useful !)
(ek er) Vér erum hér til að heiðra guðina! Raise hands to sky, palms upMegi vernd Þórr vera með oss (mig). Kneel and put palms down on the earthMegi Móðir Jörð blessa oss (mig). |
We are here to honor the Gods! (I am, nom.) mp3
May the protection of Thor be with us (me, acc.). mp3
May Mother Earth bless us (me, acc.). mp3 |
Heyrið og svarið oss (mér) Hear and answer us (me, dat.)
Vörður hliða, látið hliðin opnast. Keeper of Gates, let the Gates be open
Landvættir, hinar göfuglyndu! Forfeður, kær framliðnu! Goð, hinir skínandi ! |
Land Spirits, noble/generous ones!(f.pl.) Ancestors, beloved dead! Deities, shining ones!(m.pl.) |
Göfuglyndu Landvættir! Þiggið fórn vora Noble/Generous Land Spirits!
Forfeður, kær framliðnu! Þiggið fórn vora Ancestors, beloved dead!
Goð, hinir skínandi ! Þiggið fórn vora Deities, shining ones!
Þiggið fórn vora Accept our offerings/sacrifice
Megi goðin mæla til vor (mín)! May the deities speak to us! (me, gen.)
Megi forfeðurnir mæla til vor (mín)! May the ancestors speak to us! (me, gen.)
Megi landvættirnir mæla til vor(mín)! May the land spirits speak to us! (me, gen.)
Heyrið og svarið oss (mér) Hear and answer us (me, dat.)
Það er vel! It is well!
Vér biðjum yður, veitið oss blessun yðar We ask you, give us your blessing
Sjá! Vatn lífsins! Helgar veigar! Behold! The Waters of Life! The sacred drink!
Megi guðirnir, hinir látnu og andarnir blessa oss (mig). May the Gods, the Dead and the Spirits bless us. (me, acc.).
Börn jarðarinnar, blessun guðanna er yfir oss. Children of the earth, the blessing of the Gods is upon us.
Reply: Verði svo! So be it!
Landvættir, hinar göfuglyndu!! Vér þökkum. Land Spirits, noble/generous ones! We thank you.
Vér (ek) heiðra yður fyrir gæsku alla. We honor you for all your kindness.
Vertu blessaður. Vertu blessuð Goodbye (to men, to women)
Forfeður, kær framliðnu! Vér þökkum. Ancestors, beloved dead! We thank you.
Vér (ek) heiðra yður fyrir gæsku alla. We honor you for all your kindness.
Vertu blessaður. Vertu blessuð Goodbye.
Goð, hinir skínandi ! Vér þökkum. Deities, shining ones! We thank you.
Vér (ek) heiðra yður fyrir gæsku alla. We honor you for all your kindness.
Vertu blessaður. Vertu blessuð Goodbye.
Vörður hliða, látið hliðin lokast. Keeper of Gates, let the Gates be closed
Megi andlegu öflin blessa oss (mig). May the spiritual powers bless us (me, acc.).
Megi guðirnir vera með þér (mér). May the Gods be with you (me, dat.)
Reply:Og með þér sömuleiðis. And with you as well
Bless! Við sjáumst! Bye! See you! Lit. Blessed, we will see each other
Click here to go backto the main menu