Frigga Bear Blot

Announcement of and ritual for a Day of remembrance and Blot in honor of Valgard Murray Founder of the Asatru Alliance Co-written by- Alsherjargothi Kollr Logmather and Gothi- Torna Braggison

The Asatru Alliance inc. would like to announce from this day forward that February fourth (the day of Valgard’s passing) will be our official day of remembrance for our founder- Valgard Murray (Michael J. Murray). This day of remembrance will also be a day of blot in honor of his patron Frigga. This will be our- “Founders Day”. Hail Valgard! Your story will be forever told but your presence is forever ever missed.

Torna Braggison- Vice president of the board of directors for the Asatru Alliance

Frigga Bear Blot

Co-written By Alsherjargothi -

Kollr Logmather,

Gothi-Torna Braggison

This Blot is designed to honor our founder and first Alsherjargothi, Michael “Valgard” Murray, on our newly created “Founder’s Day” or “Frigga Bear Blot” observance on February 4th. The very essence of Valgard’s persona is stated in the title. It seems fitting that we should honor Valgard not just with a day of remembrance but with an actual full-scale blot. This will be the first new holiday added to our calendar in many, many years. All-Mother Frigga was Valgard’s patron deity. Valgard loved his family, having raised five daughters on his own. The Murray bloodline has been very prolific, producing many grandchildren and great-grandchildren for Valgard. Therefore, the patron for this February 4th Blot will be Frigga.

Valgard was also the founder and leader of the Bear Clan among the Asatru brethren. The bear claws on his ritual necklace were a telltale sign of his affiliation with the clan until his death in 2025. I have personally initiated individuals into the bear clan as the overseer of their relics and artifacts. In a sort of berserker fashion, during the ritual to bring someone into the bear clan, one must be scored by a blade three times on the arm or body to signify that the bear has chosen them and has welcomed them into the tribe. This ritual is a deeply personal choice and can be performed at the Althing or on any other major day of celebration within the Asatru community.

Because of the extreme nature of the bear clan initiation, we thought a simple display of solidarity could be added to the ritual Blot to pay homage to Valgard’s clan. Bear hides, skulls, claws, teeth, and imagery can all be woven into the ritual’s setup and staging. Fire, drumming, and chanting can all be accompaniments of the celebration, and it is up to the practitioner to decide what, where, and how these will be performed.

Traditionally, the Bear Clan people are known as Medicine People. There are stories passed down about how the Bear Clan was given the gift of medicine from an elder woman of the folk who knew all the medicine plants here on Midgard. It makes sense that Valgard would have had this passed down from his mother, Marion Murray, and, furthermore, that his connection to Nerthus, the earth mother, and his gardening provided many healing qualities that he shared throughout the many years of his leadership.

Combining a Frigga blot with the spirit of the bear (to honor Valgard) is a new concept that arose following the passing of our founder. It is a personal feeling that we, as the Asatru Alliance, strive to promote new thinking in the art of folk ritual and ceremony. Now that the foundational era has ended, it is up to us to usher in a new era of development and fortitude that would make our ancestors proud. With that in mind, it is important to keep our focus on the future and on what we can achieve as a people to ensure the healthy spiritual education of Asatruar for generations to come.

Valgard’s influence on Asatru in Vinland was staggering. He lived for his family, the folk, and the Gods. From our morals and values to our rituals and customs, we find a little of Valgard in all we do. For fifty years, “The Old Bear” forged a path forward, Footsteps in which we all now follow. Our veneration of his action is well-deserved. For he reawakened our connections to the land, the folk, and our ancient Gods and Goddesses. Now is the time for the Old Bear to rest. Now is the time for those whom Valgard taught to step forward and continue the work. We should count ourselves lucky to carry his torch. The Old Bear now feasts with the ancestors, but he will be forever in our hearts and minds. His stories will be sung, and his deeds will be emulated and admired for as long as men hold troth with the Gods.

Valgard Murray -Hero of the folk, Founder of the Asatru Alliance, spiritual leader, and Beloved friend.

Hail The Old Bear!

Hail Frigga!

Hail the Holy Alliance!