blot

täplä, tahra

kuivata jtak

tahria A Norse pagan ritual sacrifice, now performed by the followers of Asatru.
2001, John Lindow, Handbook of Norse Mythology, ABC-CLIO, page 35

These show us the importance of verbal activity at a blót, specifically verbal activity aimed at producing a result, presumably by means of intervention by the deities.

In the past, before Christianity spread across Europe, the average blót would generally have involved some sort of animal sacrifice.

He soon comes back to land, makes a largely undescribed blót sacrifice to Óðinn, and receives confirmation of his god's approval in the flight of two cawing ravens.

Do you know how to blót? / Do you know how to slaughter?

(..) fyri norðan, þar voru áðr blót ok hörgar.

(..) to the north, where ere were idolatry and heathen temples.

En þat er siðr þeirra at hafa blot a havst oc fagna þa vetri, (..)

But it is a custom for them to have a feast at fall and celebrate the winter, (..)

Engi maðr ſkal hafa i huſi ſinu ſtaf eða ſtalla, vit eða blot, (..)

No man shall have in his house a staff or an altar, a charm or an idol, (..)

(..) snéri hann til dura ok sá fimm menn úti, heyrdi hann þá blot, (..)

(..) he turned to the doors and saw there five men, and then heard cursing, (..)