Ordination
Answer the call of the gods!
Have you heard the call of the gods? Feel compelled to do more for the ancestral faith and memory of our ancestors? Desire to serve others as a spiritual coach, counselor, or member of the heathen clergy? Or, perhaps, you simply wish to officiate a wedding as a heathen.
Ravens’ Hof extends the opportunity of ordination simply because we need more heathen clergy to service our people. Note: Our ordinations are not “online” ordinations but rather distance ordinations. We have a screening process in place and, as well, send out via USPS Priority Mail, a beautiful, formal, signed by real humans, and sealed certificate of ordination once ordained.
With a legal ordination you may:
Legally officiate a marriage in all 50 states and many countries world wide
Accept donations for your services
Start your own hof, kindred, ritual center, spiritual counseling practice (e.g., divination and readings), spiritual healing center, or even a heathen wedding chapel
Provide spiritual counseling as a cleric with the same confidentiality of lawyer-client privilege
Obtain tax exempt status
We provide a beautiful and legal credential printed on a vintage, heavy-stock paper via our incorporated nonprofit hof and educational center (“seminary”). Become equipped to do more for the gods and your kindred!
Ordination Titles Offered
Ritual Officiant (may perform weddings, funerals, and other rites) *Recommended for those seeking to perform weddings and other, less rites and open to “pagans” of all stripe, e.g, Wiccans, Druids, and so forth.
Interfaith Minister (for those who might desire a more open-ended designation). Typically recommended for interfaith and general “pagan’ clergy or, quite frankly, for those less inclined to identify as “heathen” due to the unfortunate stigmas.
Goði or Gyðja (Most appropriate for hof and kindred leaders.)
Vitki (Inquire for more information on our Vitki and Shamanic Studies program.)
*We are willing to entertain other titles if relevant to the practice of heathenry.
*Each ordination comes with special access to our ritual officiant and goðar training guides as well as including special discounts on all future programs, training materials, and Apothecary & Shoppe items.
The Ordination Process
Submit a completed application (here).
Submit donation $150 (tax deductible). This is a one-time fee. We do not require annual renewal as do other orgs. This is a lifetime ordination. Donation includes priority shipping. Click here to submit donation/payment. *If for any reason an application is rejected, we will issue a refund minus a $25 processing fee.
Write and submit a one to two page history of your religious/spiritual journey from your earliest recollections to present day. Submit to ravenshof@runbox.com.
On a separate document (no more than one page, just a few paragraphs is sufficient) describing your current personal practice (rituals, gods worked with, experience with the runes, abilities with Germanic languages ancient and modern, etc.) and any work that you may be doing now, as a non-ordained heathen. Describe how you believe that Ravens’ Hof will help you advance in your personal spirituality as well as in service to the heathen community (e.g., as a ceremonial officiant, elder, faith leader, spiritual counselor, rune reader, herbal healer, etc. Submit with and at the same time as your spiritual history in 1 above.
Upon completion and review of the above (turn time is typically around 7-10 days from receipt of all of the above to mailing of the certificate).
If any questions or concerns, contact us.
We also provide a reference service for all of those ordained by Ravens’ Hof and list (for those who request it) all ordained through us on our heathen clergy page, whereby one may provide a brief bio and contact information, advertising their services, etc.
We are a legally incorporated nonprofit religious organization — not here to make money — thus we keep our fees as low as possible to simply cover administration, printing, and shipping costs.
Ravens’ Hof does not perform “online ordination,” but distance ordination. This is a clear distinction, technically and legally. There are other organizations offering free to nominal fee ordinations online. These are not always legal and valid, at least not in all 50 states. They also require no review process and the recipient simply prints a piece of paper off of their home printer. We provide a legal ordination (guaranteed in all 50 states) and beautiful certificate signed by a real human in ink with a wax seal of our organization and faith. With our ordination, you will have no issue being recognized by government entities when officiating weddings, accepting donations for services, applying for tax exempt status, etc.
Upon ordination, you become one of our clerical alumni and have the backing of Ravens’ Hof as long as you remain in good standing in the heathen community.
Example certificate shown. Will vary slightly and includes wax seal. Printed on vintage-style heavy stock “parchment.”