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Hammer Hallowing (of a sacred space). One makes the Hammer-Sign facing North, East, South,
West, and then with the fist aimed at sky/ceiling and finally at ground/floor in order to clear
sacred space. The Elhaz Rune is often used in the same way and for the same purpose.
Hammer Hallowing = using the Hammer-Sign to consecrate sacred space for a Heathen ritual.
See Hammer-Sign and Hammarsettung.
Hammer-Sign = religious gesture symbolizing Thor's Hammer. Invokes the hallowing and
protecting presence of Thor. To Hammer-Sign yourself: with clenched fist, touch forehead, just
below breastbone, just below left breast, then just below right breast. You have essentially made
an upside-down capital T. You can also make the same gesture in the air over anything you wish
to hallow. Ben Middleton once made it in the air in front of him while calling on Thor to
successfully stop a pursuing pack of feral dogs! Don't go out of your way to test that out
yourself; Thor helps those who help themselves! Seems to have been a pre-Christian sign,
although this is open to debate.
God(h)i (various spellings) = a Heathen priest. No special power to consecrate like a Catholic
priest, any Heathen may do a ritual to any of our Gods and Goddesses.
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From:
"A Glossary of Heathen-Related Words, Mostly Old
Norse/Icelandic"
Compiled by Jordsvin
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Hammer Rite
The hammer rite is on shaky historical ground. We do know that Thor was considered the "hallower", that his hammer was used as a symbol of faith
in response to the Christian cross, and that Thor's hammer is brought in "to hallow the bride" in Thrymskvidha.
The modern form of the hammer rite as usually practiced, though, is apparently an adaptation from Ceremonial Magick, possibly by way of Wicca. It's very popular in modern Asatru, and most rituals begin with it. The hammer represents different things to different people:
- Contract between man and gods
- Thor's power
- Fertility & prosperity
- Protection
- Consecration & hallowing
There are several good symbolic reasons to include it in a larger ritual, such as for warding or hallowing (depending on your preferences). There are also some good practical reasons, such as announcing, "We are now in business, please stop chatterin g and pay attention!" And doing a grand hammer rite is good theater, which should not be underestimated. It can help establish the right mood or frame of mind for the ritual.
In practice, there are as many variations on the hammer rite as there are groups that use it. And there is no reason to not to use a different version each time, according to the needs of the occasion.
Basic, Minimal Hammer Rite
"<Hammer or Mjollnir> <defend and/or hallow> this place and all within it!"
(Using "Hammer" or "Mjollnir" as metonyms for "Thor" or "Power of Thor".)
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http://web.archive.org/web/20011125185708/www.thetroth.org/ourtroth/index.htm
Another good article on Sacred Space;
http://www.vikinganswerlady.com/sacspace.shtml
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And let us not forget a very old friend.
http://druidinmidgard.blogspot.com/2014/09/lullaby-of-gods.html
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