This is part of a Midsummer Blot I created some years ago. We gathered at a campsite on the outskirts of London for a weekend, a sizeable garth. We had planned a day of celebration and workshops, with a handfasting later in the day. This part is for the sunrise, waking early to welcome Sunna at her highest.
We chanted the Old English runes. The verses are from the Old English Rune poem, the translations are my own as are the original verses.
For this blot you will need:
Three Godfolk (ideally): First, Second and Third
A drinking horn.
Mead.
Midsummer. Sunrise, or soon after.
Summoning: by horn, or drum, or call.
Hallowing: by Hammer.
First:
At Delling’s door, the Drihten calls
His kith and kinder to gather,
In Holy ways, on Holy days,
To hail the High Ones with fire.
(The rune Ken is chanted by all those gathered)
Second:
Ken byth cwicera gehwam cuth on fyre;
Blac and beorhtlic, byrneth oftust
Thær hi athelingas inne restath.
Third:
Ken to the quick is clear by its fire:
Bleak and brightlike, burning oftest
Where Athelings inwardly rest.
First:
The ship of the sun shines at her highest;
Soon She sails into doom. Hugr must be harder, heart the keener, Mood be more as we fall.
(Sigel is chanted by the gathered)
Second:
Sigel semannum symble byth on hihte,
Thonne he hine feriath ofer fisces beth,
Oth hi brimhengest bringeth to lande.
Third:
The sun for seafarers stays on high,
As they ferry themselves o’er the fishes’ bath,
Till the brimhorse brings them to land
First:
The son of the soil sails through the blue:
The fields are filled with dancing.
A hero most holy hungers for Gerd:
At Barri, the blessed betrothal.
(Ing is chanted by the gathered)
Second:
Ing wæs ærest mid East Denum
Gesewen secgum; oth he syththan est
Ofer wæg gewat, wæn æfter ran:
Thus Heardings thone hælle nemdun.
Third:
Ing was erest amid the East-Danes
Seen by men; since then he fared on,
Went over the waves, his wain ran after:
Thus the Heardings the haleman named.
First:
At Delling’s door, Day and Night
Are cheered by their children’s greeting.
Lifted and loved at Litha’s feast.
Be merry while we may.
(Dæg is chanted by the gathered)
Second:
Dæg byth drihtnes sond, deore mannum:
Mære metodes leoht, myrgth and tohiht.
Eadgum and earmum, eallum brice.
Third:
Day is the Drihten’s sending, dear to man:
Mighty Measurer’s light, mirth and hope,
To wretched and rich, He brings riches to all.
First:
Welcome all, Wights of Litha Summer’s height.
Sip thee now Of this offered brew, ale of the bee.
Hail to the High Ones, heart of the North !
First takes the horn of mead, hallows it with the Sun-wheel, the Fylfot and Sigel; pours it into the earth in circle as the ‘Hail to Day’ (from Sigdrifrmal) is sung:
Hail to Day, hail to Day’s sons.
Hail to Night and the daughters of Night.
Look on us with loving eyes
And Sig grant to those gathered here
Hail to the gods, to the goddesses hail;
Hail to the Earth all-giving.
Grant to us goodly speech,
Wisdom and leech-craft while we live.
(The Folk head off for Breakfast.)
Of course, this can be amended to suit other occasions, and folk are free to use these verses elsewhere. Be well, Math