The Use of Hammers in Historical & Modern Heathen Ritual
Hammers in Modern Practice & Ritual Today, if you were to go to the house of a practitioner of Nordic & Germanic beliefs, you would likely see upon their altar a hammer. If you are to attend a modern blot, you are also very likely to see a hammer being used in ritual. Typically these hammers are of the size and shape of a small handheld sledge with a short handle that typically weigh between 2 to maybe 5lbs in weight. In the modern context, the purpose of this hammer is to represent Thor’s mighty hammer Mjolnir and is typically used within ritual to bless food for a feast, consecrate offering, make hallow the space that will be used for blot/ritual, bless ritual items and even to bless a person, property or to consecrate a marriage. This practice is rooted in ancient traditions of invoking Thor's blessings for protection and sanctification. An example of this can be seen in Viking Age runestones that bear the inscription "Thor Bless" or "Thor hallow...