Att bjuda makterna på fest : Blot i handling och tanke hos Samfundet Forn Sed Sverige

Sammanfattning: For members of the Swedish Heathen organisation Forn Sed Sverige, the term blot is defined as an act of ritual sacrifice through which one can communicate with the gods and other powers. The purpose of this thesis is to provide an overview of the various forms of blot and to explore the meanings ascribed to it by the practitioners. By looking at the structure of the ritual itself, what is sacrificed, the contexts in which the ritual is conducted and how the aforementioned aspects of it are understood, this thesis presents an image of blot as a central ritual practise within the Swedish Heathen community, as well as a way for the members of Forn Sed Sverige to construct a sense of continuity between their own blot and pre-Christian religion in Scandinavia by prioritising ritual practise over religious beliefs.