Blót is the practice of slaughtering a living animal as blood sacrifice in ritual worship. I see several heathen groups/channels promoting it as an essential pagan practice.

I am not here to denounce the practice of blood sacrifice, or to say that it is not traditional. But I will say this: It is not essential. I have been a practicing heathen for almost 20 years and have never, and will never, engage in the practice of blood sacrifice.

On a purely instinctual level, it makes no sense to me personally. I do not believe that the gods expect it of me. If you believe in it, do it, but if you don't, don't. It doesn't make you 'less heathen'.

Some archaeological evidence and later mythology evidences blood sacrifice. The Eddic poems are more vague, commanding merely that the practitioner "know how to sacrifice." Out of respect for those who do choose to practice blót, I will not go into a detailed argument against it. My only intention here is to declare that it is not an essential practice.