Utiseta is one of the most iconic and talked about practices of Norse and Germanic spirituality. Perhaps that’s why so many people just jump right into it without any prior knowledge or proper instructions. This guide helps you master the art of sitting out—providing you with the insights and tools you need to prepare for and execute this sacred ritual with confidence, and get a transformative outcome.
Utiseta, or “sitting out,” is an ancient Norse and Germanic spiritual practice rooted in profound introspection, connection to the unseen, and communion with the spiritual world. A millennia old sacred ritual to receive wisdom, guidance, or insight from the divine realms, ancestors, or spirits of the land. The term itself evokes the imagery of sitting in a sacred space, often beneath the vast open sky or among the ancient trees, attuned to the whispers of the cosmos.
Practitioners use utiseta to commune with deities, ancestors, or nature spirits for guidance on matters of great importance. People seek answers to personal or communal dilemmas, insights into the future, or blessings for prosperity and protection. The practice is deeply integrated into the cycles of nature and the Indo-European spiritual worldview, where the boundaries between the physical and spiritual worlds are seen as fluid. It’s typically also conducted in liminal spaces, places where the veil between worlds is believed to be thinner. These include burial mounds, sacred groves, by ancient standing stones, or beneath the open sky on hills and cliffs.
Let’s first take a good look at the term utiseta – sitting out – itself. This of course means the brave act of actually sitting out for a full night outside of society, in total darkness which itself changes you and your perspectives, and makes you grow. But on a both spiritual and psychological level it also means that you leave Midgård – the Germanic concept of the fenced-in safe enclosure, the known world, and in many ways also your own comfort zone – and step out into Utgård – where chaos forces and external cosmic forces rule, the stronghold of the devouring giants. You’re leaving the ordered and known world, you’re going beyond what you’re accustomed to, beyond your comfort zone, beyond your own ego and into the unknown, the void. Dangerous and frightening, but only there can you find and create your own order, your true self, your own fenced-in Midgård. When doing utiseta you’re sitting outside yourself. At least outside your conscious mind.
How to prepare for an utiseta session
The first advice in this guide is therefore to first of all ask yourself important questions such as whether you’re really ready for this challenge, if this is the right time and why you’re really doing it. Utiseta is not for the faint of heart, nor for people who suffer from mental health issues. Neither is it for those who are irresolute, unresolved and at wit’s end.
It’s obviously perfectly fine to have existential questions, not knowing/seeing the way forward, be in need of advice and insights or to have other wonderings in life – that’s why we perform utiseta – but this guide’s second advice is definitely to set a clear intention and purpose! Do it for the right reason, and have a very concrete query that you want help with in this session.
Thirdly, it’s also best to go on your first utiseta after having been in consultation with experienced people, and having had a supportive and helpful community around you for some time.
💭 Prepare emotionally & psychologically. There’s a big possibility that deep-seated emotions or unresolved issues from your past may rise to the surface. This practice, by its nature, invites raw honesty and vulnerability, and in the stillness of the session, you may find yourself confronting memories, fears, or feelings you’ve long buried. Brace yourself and approach the session with an open heart and a willingness to face whatever arises.
🌕 If this is your first utiseta it’s a good idea to choose a night with a full moon. The total darkness may be more frightening, and the moonlight really makes a difference.
🌳 Choosing the right spot for utiseta is a critical part of the practice. The location sets the tone for your experience, influencing your ability to connect with the spiritual realms and align with the energies of nature. Traditional sources and Norse-Germanic customs emphasize the importance of liminal spaces—those that exist on the threshold between worlds, both physically and spiritually. Utiseta has often been conducted in natural, undisturbed settings. Burial mounds, sacred groves, by bodies of water, crossroads, and hilltops were favored because they were seen as spiritually potent.
While this practice encourages stepping into the unknown, it’s essential to balance it with personal safety. Your spot should be remote enough to avoid interruptions but not so isolated that it places you in physical danger. Choose a place that feels sacred to you—a space where you feel both challenged and comforted, where the natural world surrounds you and speaks to your inner spirit. An important aspect of utiseta is stepping outside your everyday experience, both physically and mentally. This means seeking out spaces that stir your sense of wonder or reverence. While it’s important to feel safe, the location should also encourage you to shed the distractions of your comfort zone and fully engage with the practice.
- Trust Your Intuition: Walk through a natural area and let your instincts guide you. Often, the right spot will “call” to you.
- Observe the Environment: Look for places with minimal human interference, as these tend to retain more of their natural spiritual energy.
- Consider the Elements: Think about the weather, temperature, and surroundings. Being too cold or distracted by discomfort can hinder your focus, but some physical challenge can enhance the sense of sacred effort.
- Prepare and Respect the Space: Once you’ve found your spot, take a moment to introduce yourself to the space. Leave an offering, such as a bit of food or a small token of gratitude, to honor the spirits of the land.
🚽 Speaking of locations – a really good tip is actually to already in advance find a spot close by where you can pee. It might sound silly, but having done that before hand you don’t have to interrupt the session too much.
🎒 What do I bring to an utiseta session? Preparation is key to successful utiseta, and bringing the right items can make all the difference. While the practice is rooted in simplicity and spiritual focus, having the proper equipment ensures you remain grounded, comfortable, and fully attuned to the experience. 👇🏻
Here’s our utiseta equipment list:
🦟 Insect repellent (depending on season)
🧥 Warm clothes. It’ll always be colder than you think. Even in the summer.
⚫️ Hood/cloak (if that’s not already on your clothes)
🧘 Pillow/wool blanket to sit on (optional but definitely helps. Utiseta should be outside one’s comfort zone, but let’s not have to interrupt for the wrong reason)
🎁 Offerings for the Divine kindreds
🥁 A little instrument, like a drum (optional)
🍞 Light breakfast and plenty of water (for the morning)
🧙🏻 A staff if you have one
How to practice utiseta
Ok, so you’ve prepared emotionally for what you’re about to do, you’ve set a clear intention and packed all your stuff. Now what? It’s time to dive into the sacred practice of utiseta. The below will take you step by step through the process, from arriving at your chosen location to reaching the meditative state and closing the session with respect.
🧎🏼♂️➡️ Fast during the day (optional but effective for altered states of consciousness)
🧎🏼♂️➡️ You mustn’t greet anyone on the way to the location
🧎🏼♂️➡️ Purification (of yourself)
🧎🏼♂️➡️ Apply insect repellent (if needed)
🧎🏼♂️➡️ Bless/purify the spot (e.g. by sprinkling barley, marking it out with your staff and/or saying prayers in each corner)
🧎🏼♂️➡️ Utiseta starts at sundown with a little ritual – prayer, song, drumming, chant
🧎🏼♂️➡️ Sit on the ground, or on a small pillow or folded wool blanket – you want to be grounded
🧎🏼♂️➡️Ground yourself (you’ll find grounding techniques on this platform)
🧎🏼♂️➡️ Thank the place for having you, and make offerings to the Divine kindreds
🧎🏼♂️➡️ Imagine that where you sit is the throne of Odin, from which you can see everything
🧎🏼♂️➡️ Invoke ancestors, spirits & other Advisors to come guide you
🧎🏼♂️➡️ Also say prayers like: “Odin open my eyes!” or “Freya free my sight!” (or whatever pantheon you prefer)
🧎🏼♂️➡️ Quiet your mind
🧎🏼♂️➡️ Start by taking in & experiencing yourself, & that which is around you. Place your attention on the trees and the rocks, the root you’re sitting on, the wind in the trees, the smells etc
🧎🏼♂️➡️Heighten awareness of the surroundings by focusing on sensory details—e.g., noticing smells, sounds, and physical sensations
🧎🏼♂️➡️ Now cloak/hood yourself and withdraw your focus inward. Quiet your mind even more.
🧎🏼♂️➡️ Hold the purpose of your quest, the question being asked or the nature of the vision being sought gently in your mind
🧎🏼♂️➡️ Spend the night talking to the spirits and your ancestors, thinking deep thoughts
🧎🏼♂️➡️ The night is spent sitting in long periods of silence, meditation & fascination of the situation, alternated with soft singing, chanting, praying, invocation, drumming etc. Do the latter whenever you feel like it, then go back to silence. This mix lets you receive the spirits’ wisdom and feel the connections being woven with the unseen and the natural worlds.
🧎🏼♂️➡️ Stay in your place until sunrise. Experiencing the first light is an amazing feeling. (In northern countries it can be hard to do utiseta from dusk til dawn due to the long nights. So you’ll have to decide your schedule beforehand.
🧎🏼♂️➡️ Make offerings & give thanks to Dawn – for hope – and then to the land spirits/Advisors
🧎🏼♂️➡️ Eat lightly & drink plenty of water to rehydrate yourself
🧎🏼♂️➡️ Don’t look back when you leave the spot
🧎🏼♂️➡️ Purification when you come home
🧎🏼♂️➡️ Journal about your experiences, thoughts, emotions & lessons learned as soon as you’ve come home, or even before that. The earlier the better.
🧎🏼♂️➡️ P.s. Anxiety, fear & the feeling of ’why the Hel am I here?!’ will come from time to time. That’s normal. When it does, ease & relieve it with chants, songs & affirmations. Mantras have a proven effect on relieving fear, anxiety etc.
