|
|
|
The Assembly of The Elder Troth would like to welcome you to our website. Please click on the links to the left to enter the relevant area of our site. The Nine Noble Virtues of Asatru Whilst the exact ideology of Asatru continues to be debated in some circles, there are some core elements which remain the same no matter what. One of these is the Nine Noble Virtues of Asatru. The AET wishes to present to you, the folk, the different forms of the Nine Noble Virtues to be found amongst Asatruar, and I have not duplicated any that I have found multiple times. Please, take a look at them all, and then form your own. I will also be providing detailed discertations on each topic in the Articles section of this website soon. Dirk Schmitt - Webmaster Origins - Source: Hegest Thorsson, Odinic Rite In 1973 the Odinist Committee was founded, or to give it its full name, The Committee for the Restoration of the Odinic Rite. This was, of course, the embryonic Odinic Rite. It was this group which codified the ethics gleaned from our lore into the 9 Noble Virtues and The Nine Charges. In 1974 a member of the Odinist Committee, John Yeowell (later known
as Stubba) wrote the booklet "This is Odinism" in which he of
course included the NNV and NNC. The booklet was later released as a Raven
Banner publication and is available from the Odinic Rite even today. It
is, however, also available online under the names "This is Odinism"
or "What is Odinism" In 1980, having gained significant interest in the restoration of our faith, the rahter long-winded "The Committee for the Restoration of the Odinic Rite" became simply "The Odinic Rite". John Yeowell was head of the OR for a time but internal differences saw him moving on and he was replaced by Heimgest as head of the Court of Gothar, a position which Heimgst hold to this day. Nine Noble Virtues - Authored by Dirk Schmitt in Introduction to Asatru Article - adapted from those to be found in many locations, as is evidenced by all the differing versions that follow it. The Six Fold Goal that follows it is the accompanying why of the NNV. Honour is the feeling of inner value and worth from which one knows that one is noble of being, and the desire to show respect for this quality when it is found in the world. Of all the Virtues, this one is often the hardest to define, as each person's interpretation of this is different. It could translate as "self-image", or "self-esteem", and is important to recognise that this will be different from person to person. Truth is the willingness to be honest and to say what one knows to be true and right. It is often better to not say anything at all if one cannot be honest. But likewise, when one does say something, it is best to be truthful and speak what one sees, not what others would like to hear. We also have a caveat on the concept of Truth, and that is that whilst we should endeavour to speak the truth at all times, do not be fooled into speaking the truth when others lie to you. The Havamal councils us to respond to lies with lies, but then of course if people always told the truth we would not have to do this, but then this is not an ideal world in which we live. Courage is the bravery to do what is right at all times. This can be likened to being brave enough to live by the Nine Noble Virtues and for the Six-fold Goal. But as always, what one person believes is right, may not be what another sees as right. Perseverance is the ability to return from defeat and/or failure. Each time we have a setback, we recognise this, and if the purpose is a Trú one we continue until success is won. Fidelity is the will to be loyal to one's Gods and Goddesses, to one's Folk, and to one's self. How one interprets the concept of loyalty is largely up to the individual as there are many different levels of loyalty, and hence Fidelity. But each person knows within themselves, just what this means to them, and it is important that others understand this, to be able to form the bonds of loyalty that exist on all levels. Discipline is the willingness to be hard on oneself first and then if needed on others, so that greater purposes may be achieved. We must always be hardest on ourselves, to set the example. It is very easy to work at the level of do as I say, not as I do. But in this we dishonour ourselves and we dishonour others. Leading by example is what this is all about. Hospitality is the willingness to share what one has with one's fellows, especially when they are far from home. This is not the same as giving out all your worldly possessions to anyone who comes by a begging. It is the concept of sharing, which is reciprocated by all Trú folk when they have you as a guest in their homes. It is important to establish and reaffirm the bonds of friendship, and kinship that Hospitality is observed. Industriousness is the willingness to work hard, always striving for efficiency, as a joyous activity in itself. It is vital that we work hard at what we seek to achieve, for without consistent and well-directed effort, our goals will not be reached. But it does not mean that we should work all the time, indeed one should be industrious in ones leisure pursuits as well, and avoid the concept of making work for the sake of having work to do. Self Reliance is the spirit of independence, which is achieved not only for the individual, but also for the family, clan, tribe and nation. It is not a concept of denying ones interconnectedness with others, but of ensuring that one can take care of oneself first, then ones family and loved ones, then the extended family (clan), the tribe (ones local grouping) and the nation (all Trú folk no matter where they reside). By being self-reliant we can then share what we have with others and fulfil the duty of Hospitality, the entire better. The Six-Fold Goal Right is the justice of law shaped by the lore of our folk and meted out with good judgement and true by those who can see the truth. This is a goal rationally sought and rationally administered - the rule of rationality and enlightenment in the world. Wisdom is the hidden lore and powers welling up from the darkest depths of our souls and hovering high over our heads, shining beyond the clouds and leading us on into the unknown. In it are the wells of memory, and its expression is found in the ability to see and understand the whole. Might is the embodiment of the two fold goal of victory and defence. These require pure power to operate, but must be ruled over by Wisdom and Right, to find their true expression, and serve the goals of Harvest and Frith. Being a natural and intrinsic part of our nature it must find expression and aids us in maintaining the truth, to defend the folkway from things outside the truth of our tradition. Harvest is the reaping of things of the natural and good cycles of nature, which ensures the continuance of the folk in the world. Harvest not only includes the cycles of nature, but all economic cycles. It is the goodness of plenty, of wealth and physical well being that is there for all the folk. Frith is our own word for "peace". This is where all the parts of the Six-fold Goal are attained and expressed in our society. It is not a state of a lack of movement, but where movement exists in a state of freedom, where we can take our challenges to higher levels of expression. Love is not as one might consider the love of relationships, between folk, but the intrinsic desire to live. It is the pure force of life that is embodied in our sense of play and pleasure. Such things are right and good and it is indeed Love and Wisdom that hold all the Six-fold Goal together. Whispering
Ravens Kindred The material below on this page is Copyright © 1999 by Rorik Gunn Gormsson. However, permission is hereby given to copy it provided that it is not altered in any way and that this Copyright Notice is included with every copy. (All quotations taken from The Elder Edda, "The Hávamál" and "The Lay of Sigrdrifa", trans. W.H. Auden and P. B. Taylor.) Courage Truth Honor Loyalty Hospitality Water,
too, that he may wash before eating, Discipline Industriousness Self-Reliance Perseverance Nine Noble Virtues Found at the Confereration of Independent Asatru Kindreds website. Courage The
Nine Noble Virtues of Asatru with Commentary Jordsvin COURAGE By facing life's struggles with courage, we constantly extend our capabilities. Without courage, nothing else can be done! TRUTH Blind faith has no place in Asatru. No pie-in-the-sky; we must act in this world as we see it and as it really is rather than calmly wait for the next. HONOR We must be true to what we are, and we insist on acting with nobility rather than baseness. Our standards must be banners held high in our hearts. FIDELITY We stand true to our faith and our values. Loyalty is the basis for all enduring human activity, and we hold it in the highest esteem. HOSPITALITY The isolation and loneliness of modern life is not necessary. The willingness to share what one has with ones' fellows, especially travelers, is a vital part of our way of life. DISCIPLINE We hold to the discipline necessary to fulfill our purpose. We stand willing to exercise the self-control and steadfastness necessary in these difficult times. INDUSTRIOUSNESS Let us dare to be all that we can be! Let us take risks and taste the richness of life. Passivity is for sheep. We refuse to be mere spectators in life. SELF-RELIANCE We depend on our own strength and character to achieve our goals. We seek only the freedom necessary to our quest, whatever it may be. PERSEVERANCE We hold to our path until its completion and are not ashamed to be strong. The cult of the anti-hero will find no support in us, and the gods we follow are not for the weak.
One day you yourself must die. I know one thing that never dies: The dead man's reputation. Havamal - Sayings of the High One These are not commands. Nor are they laws. This is a collection of nine goals. This is a list of nine ideals that define what it means to be Asatru. Of course, finding these virtues in anyone, of any religion is a good and wonderful thing. "If it is not right, don't do it. If it is not true, don't say it." ~ Marcus Aurelius Hospitality Courage Truth Loyalty
Honor Self
Reliance Hardwork Perserverance Discipline The
Nine Noble Virtues For Kids By Annette Hinshaw The Nine Noble Virtues (NNV) are guidelines for how you should behave, both what kinds of choices you make and how you act. In the Ásatrú religion, the NNV are there to help people decide what to do in their everyday lives. Virtues are usually thought of as a grown-up subject, but kids want to know what's right as much as adults do. The purpose of this article is to help kids (and grownups) have a better idea of how to practice the Nine Noble Virtues in their everyday lives. Remember that word. Anything you talk about and don’t act on is just smoke and mirrors. The NNV are always about right actions and how you treat other people. SOME DEFINITIONS The Ásatrú (oz' a true) are the people who are loyal to the Aesir. The Aesir (with the Vanir) are the gods in Norse Mythology (for example, Odin, Thor, Freya). Someone who follows this path may be called an "Ásatrúr" (oz a true' er). The Ásatrú are trying to rebuild the religion that the people who lived in northern Europe practiced before Christianity became the main religion of Europe (between about 600-1100 C.E.). A good book on Norse mythology for kids is Norse Gods and Giants by Ingrid and Edgar Parin D’Aulaire. ethics Ethics is the set of values you use to decide what to do when you have a choice of actions. If you act for the good of others more than for what is good only for you, you are said to have "good ethics" or to behave in an "ethical" way. character Your character is the set of qualities that make you who you are. The qualities that people would name when they describe you are what "characterize" you (could be good or bad) and make you a person who is different from anyone else. If your ethics cause you to do good things even when you might rather do something else, you are said to have a "good character." If you almost always make the same kinds of ethical choices, and don't let other people talk you into things that you believe are wrong, you are said to have a "strong character." virtue The word virtue comes from the Latin word for man, and originally meant a good quality that humans (men) practice and which makes them different than animals. Nowadays a virtue means a good quality that causes humans to help each other and to act for the good of their families and communities rather than just for what gives them personal pleasure. noble Originally, the word "noble" meant that you were born into a high-ranking (and probably rich) family in your society. Early societies assumed that high-ranking people would take care of and defend the people whom they ruled, even at the cost of their own lives. Now the word "noble" often means behaving for the good of others, being the best possible kind of person, even when you have to give up things that you want in order to behave "nobly." Nine Noble Virtues: Courage, Truth, Honor, Fidelity, Discipline, Hospitality, Industry, Self-Reliance, and Perseverance COURAGE The word "courage" comes from the Latin word for "heart," and it basically means that you are brave. You can be brave physically, which might mean that you are willing to fight for what you believe is right. For example, you might defend someone who is being hurt by a bully who is bigger or stronger than the person he or she is hurting. Another kind of courage is called "moral courage." It means standing up for what you believe, even when it would be easier to keep quiet. Suppose someone uses words that put someone down because of their skin color, or their religion, or where their parents came from. If you speak up and say that people should be judged on what they do, not on how they look or what they believe, you are practicing the noble virtue of Courage. If you hear someone tell a lie that could hurt someone else, and you call them on it, you are acting with courage. Courage also means doing what you believe is right, or refusing to do what you believe is wrong, even when other people laugh at you and your friends won't support your choices. Almost everyone understands what being brave is about. However, an important thing to understand is that being brave doesn't mean that you aren't afraid. What makes people "courageous" is doing the right thing even when they are afraid. Another important idea is that being brave doesn't mean you should be stupid. If you see someone being beaten up by a bully who is too big for you to fight without getting hurt yourself, use your "courage" to find an adult to stop the fight. Courage is the virtue that gives you the "heart" to do the best you can to defend others and to do what's right. TRUTH The virtue of Truth sounds pretty simple. It basically means that you don’t tell lies. However, there is more to practicing Truth than that. For example, the easiest way to avoid telling lies is to never do anything that you aren't comfortable telling people about. You need to be honest with yourself, too. Don’t give yourself excuses for doing things that you believe are wrong that make them sound like they are okay. You don’t make stealing right by saying that no one will miss what you take. Telling lies so you won’t be punished for doing something you know you shouldn’t have just makes what you did worse, not better. Part of practicing truth is having the courage to always own up to what you did. Probably the most important thing to know about practicing truth is that not everyone agrees about what is true. Sometimes things that seem to contradict each other can both be true. There is a story about a group of blind men who "looked" at an elephant and then argued about whether an elephant was like a snake, a wall, a tree, or a vine. Each one had an idea that was true (the elephant’s trunk, body, leg, and tail), but none of them had the whole picture. If you really believe something is true, you don't have to make other people agree with you. You are only responsible for yourself. Maybe the people you disagree with know something you don't. Maybe they aren't ready to see what you do. Good friends can "agree to disagree" on lots of things without having to quit being friends. HONOR The basic meaning of Honor is respect. When you honor people, you express your feeling that they have earned respect for a particular action or for the way they lead their lives. Your personal sense of honor is your commitment to live by the standards you believe should earn you respect from others. All the NNV are part of practicing honor. If you act with courage, tell the truth, are loyal to others, behave with discipline, are hospitable and industrious, rely on yourself to accomplish things, and persevere until you finish what you set out to do, you will certainly command honor from others. More important, if you live that way, you can honor and respect yourself as well and never need to be ashamed of what you have done. You practice honor by respecting others' rights and beliefs and by keeping your word. You also practice honor by making others respect your rights and keep their word to you. Honor means treating other people the way you want to be treated and also getting in their faces when they don't treat you or your friends with respect. Most important of all, practicing honor means keeping your promises. Sometimes that means that you have to think before you make a promise. If you're not sure you can do something you are asked to do, it's okay to say you'll try, but aren't sure you can deliver. It's not okay to give your word and then not even try to do what you promised. FIDELITY Fidelity is just a big word for being faithful or loyal to a person, to a group of people, or to an idea. For example, if your friend is being teased by others in a way that makes him or her feel bad, fidelity is standing by your friend, defending your friend, and refusing to join in the teasing, no matter what. If you believe that it's important to tell the truth, you practice fidelity by never telling a lie. Obeying the laws of your community is one way to practice fidelity. If someone in your family is in trouble, you try to help them if you can, even if you don't agree with what got them in trouble. However, fidelity does not include doing something you believe is wrong to give them that help. The important part of practicing fidelity is to be careful about who you give your loyalty to. If you belong to a group that thinks it's "cool" to use drugs or to lie to their parents, your being faithful to the group could also mean breaking the law or behaving dishonorably. If a group you belong to does not support your doing what's right, you need to withdraw your loyalty and get out of the group. That's part of practicing fidelity also, being faithful to your own ethics. DISCIPLINE The word discipline originally comes from a word that meant teaching and learning. The idea was that when you teach, you put out a pattern of knowledge or behavior that students fit themselves to. The basic idea is that there are patterns that are worth learning to fit and also that the way you learn is to change your behavior to fit such patterns. For example, the best way to have a strong body is to learn the pattern of eating healthy and exercising that creates a strong body, and then to practice fidelity to that pattern. The NNV are a discipline, a pattern for thinking and acting which you practice until they are so much a part of who you are that they almost define who you are. Discipline sometimes seems to mean something unpleasant, like when a parent disciplines (punishes) a child to teach the child how to behave. Because many forms of learning (discipline) include some form of punishment when you fail to match the pattern, many people think discipline is an unpleasant thing. It depends on how you look at it. For example, dancers may work very hard and even experience pain to learn a particular dance, but the reward is the pleasure of creating the beauty of the dance, both for the performer and the audience. The trick in practicing discipline is to choose to learn and practice patterns that make you or your life better so that the end result is worth any trouble the process may create. The most important discipline you practice is self-discipline. That is, you decide you want to match a pattern and then you keep working at making the pattern a part of how you live until it is part of your character. For example, if you make eating right and exercising so much a part of your life that you are uncomfortable if you are not living that pattern, you are much more likely to live a long life and to be healthy even when you are very old. HOSPITALITY Hospitality is the virtue where you recognize that, in addition to being an individual, you are also part of a community. In the ancient Norse world, hospitality meant opening your house to travelers and treating people who came to visit you with the same kindness and respect as you give your own family. The idea was that humans survive by helping each other and that, in a way, all humans are part of the same family. You practice hospitality when you treat other people like they are your family, with kindness and respect. We no longer live in a world where you can safely invite strangers into your home. You can do other things, though, like treating strangers with courtesy. You can also help people in your community by helping with food drives for the poor and other projects like neighborhood cleanup and doing house repair for disabled people. Doing chores like shoveling snow for an elderly neighbor or helping children cross the street safely or helping a friend get settled in a new house are also forms of hospitality. Of course hospitality is also making your friends and relatives welcome when they come to your home, and perhaps offering them something to eat or drink. The other side of hospitality is behaving well when you are a guest in someone else's home. It might mean avoiding a fight with your cousin or helping the younger children get something to eat at a family gathering. In general, if you treat other people the way you would like to be treated, you will be practicing hospitality. INDUSTRY Basically, industry means working to accomplish something. It also means doing more than the least you can get by with. If you have a job, you do the best you know how, and take pride in doing it right, whether or not other people notice that you did more than you had to. If someone asks you to do a job, and you accept responsibility for it, they can count on you to complete it and to do it on time and to meet the standards they set. You practice industry by how well you work, but also by how well you play. Play is where you renew your energies and where you explore new ideas and ways to look at the world. To be an effective human being, you need a balance of work and play. In the same way that you try to get the most done for the time and effort you put into a job, so should you try to play so you have the most fun and the most joy in living. The idea behind the virtue of industry is to be wholehearted in whatever you do, to get the most you can from the time and effort you spend. How you judge that depends on what is important and enjoyable to you. What do you think is more industrious play, watching TV or playing soccer with your friends? Reading a good book or watching a ball game? Watching an ant hill or dancing to a music video? Hint: there aren’t any "right" answers. You choose what is most valuable to you. SELF-RELIANCE Another word for self-reliance is responsibility, especially for yourself. As much as you can, you need to be independent of the help of others. For example, if you’re supposed to go to soccer practice, don’t count on your Mom to remind you. Notice what time it is, and be ready when it’s time to go. Another way to be self-reliant is to find ways to get the things you want by earning money or trading things rather than always expecting your parents to get them for you. It also means things like cleaning up after yourself when you make a mess. Being self-reliant does not mean that you don’t get help from others. It just means that you do what you can for yourself, and only ask others for things you can't do--like drive a car or solve a really difficult math problem. On the math problem, though, you need to try hard before you give up and ask for help. As you grow older, there are more and more things you can do for yourself. Practicing self-reliance means that you learn to do those things so you don't have to depend on other people so much. It also means that when other people need help, you give it to them, but you also do what you can to teach them to be able to do for themselves the next time. PERSEVERANCE Perseverance is the virtue of keeping on until you finish the job. It's easy to get discouraged about projects, because all projects all have places where they stop being fun or where it looks like you're never going to get through them. In fact, sometimes, you just fall on your face and make a mess. Practicing perseverance means getting up and trying again or trying another way to do what has to be done. On the other hand, if what you're trying to do is not worth your time and effort, you don't get credit for being stupid. A lot of people have special talents, but people who "keep on keepin' on" will always do better than talented people who don't persevere. The best combination of all is to persevere in learning how to use your special talents and in learning new skills and abilities. No one can beat a combination of ability and perseverance. And if you fail sometimes, that's okay too. It's the people who fail and get past their failure that really succeed in life. SUMMARY The NNV sound pretty impressive, but all they are is the habit of doing what our ancestors found out works best, to make good men and women, and to make a safe and happy family and community. As you can see, they are ways to behave that even a kid can practice, every day, and in every part of life. By the time you grow up, the habit of practicing these virtues will help you become successful in whatever you choose to do in life. Besides, who wouldn't want to be noble? (Acknowledgement: Lew Stead’s The Value of Ásatrú was the original inspiration for this article.) 05/20/98 In my effort to learn the ways of the Asatru and what those ways mean to my life, I've decided to examine the Nine Noble Virtues. While this is a work in progress, I've started with the most appropriate dictionary definitions from Merriam-Webster Online and will work from there. I have seen several, slightly-varying lists of these virtues, so I will use the list given at The Ring of Troth website: Courage, Truth, Loyalty, Discipline, Hospitality, Industriousness, Self-Reliance, and Steadfastness. Through this work, I've found that it is much harder than I first thought to write a meaningful essay on the Nine Noble Virtues. It's not that I don't understand any of them, merely that I find it difficult to find the words to adequately explain ideas I intuitively grasp. I guess I just have to remain Steadfast. --Chartan (last updated 11-26-01) Courage - mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty. This is a great definition as it details exaxtly what we think of when the term courage is used. Perhaps more simply, though not as accurately, courage is a person's ability to face obstacles. Truth - sincerity in action, character, and utterance. Nearly everyone understands the concept of truth, but this definition insinuates more than merely speaking the truth, which falls under utterance. The law of a place usually dictates what the people are allowed to do, and what is forbidden for them to do. Adhering to these laws would means one would be acting with truth as sincerity in action. And while these laws try to conform to the population's beliefs of what is proper, it may happen that their beliefs are found to be wrong or perhaps wrong for a particular person being governed by those laws. Acting with truth as sincerity in character means doing what you know or believe to be good or right. For better or worse, since laws are human creations and human creations are so very rarely perfect, truth in action may often come into conflict with truth in character and occasionally truth in utterance. Loyalty - the quality or state or an instance of being loyal.
In our efforts to emulate the gods and better ourselves, we our often called on to make sacrifices of our time and comforts. While there are times we are willing to give up these things, many times it's not something we are eager to do. Hospitality - hospitable treatment, reception, or disposition.
Another great definition, simply meaning that we should keep ourselves occupied. Business does not necessarily equate to productivity, and helpful productivity is the real spirit of this Virtue. This is more than simply working your nine-to-five. Most of your waking hours should be spent bettering yourself, your family, or the society in which you live. While your job benefits society, if you then go home and watch sit-coms for five hours, you are helping neither yourself or your family. I am not suggesting that everyone should be working two jobs, rather that we should stay productively occupied. Another way to stay productively active would be going to school or studying other fields of knowledge. Working out and sports would also qualify as the physical improvement as studying is mental improvement. Self-Reliance - reliance on one's own efforts and abilities. Unfortunately, many people in our world are lazy and want to do nothing for themselves. Unless there is something that physically prevents you from doing something, you should do that action yourself instead of relying on others to do your work. This is not to say that you cannot accept help from others. Gifts, in the form of physical items or services, help build bonds between people. However, we should not overly depend on others to do what we could easily do on our own. Steadfastness - firm in belief, determination, or adherence. To live as one of the Tru folk, you should lead your life in accordance with the Nine Noble Virtues. These virtues are Courage, Truth, Honor, Fidelity, Discipline, Hospitality, Industriousness, Self-Reliance, and Perseverance. Interpretations of the virtues range from person to person, and from Kindred to Kindred. The following represent some of our opinions on how the virtues should be interpreted. For differing opinions and interpretations, see the Raven Kindred Page, the Ring of Troth Page, or the Irminsul Aettir Page. Courage: Courage is more than just martial courage, especially in our modern times. For modern Asatru, courage can mean the willingness to be a whistle-blower when your company violates the law, or even just the courage to stand up and be counted among the Tru folk in what is sometimes a hostile world. Truth: Truth is pretty self-explanatory. Tell the truth, even when there could be painful consequences. The consequences for lying are often more harmful than the quick pain of telling the truth and getting the situation over with. Honor: The Eddic poem "Sayings of the High One" contains the stanza: "Cattle die, kinsmen die, one day you yourself shall die, but the reputation of the dead never dies." Think of your honor as your worth in the community. Are you known as a fine, upstanding member of the Tru folk? Do people come to you for advice, and trust your word when it is given? Or do they avoid you, and always look for confirmation of something you tell them? The answer may be a good indication of how your honor is viewed by others. Fidelity: Fidelity is often thought of in terms of marital fidelity, but there is much more to it than that. Fidelity includes your committment to Asatru, your committment to your Kindred, and your committment to making the world a better place, as well as your committment to your spouse or significant other. Discipline: This is really more self-discipline than imposing discipline on others. A member of the Tru folk should be just that - True. This implies a certain amount of discipline to keep oneself from straying from the path of Asatru into other, perhaps easier, paths. Discipline and fidelity often work very closely together, with discipline providing the willpower needed to retain one's fidelity. Hospitality: Hospitality is a virtue that Asa-folk take very seriously. When a guest comes into your home, offer him or her a drink and something to eat. Work hard to make your guests feel comfortable. The virtue of hospitality was very important in almost every ancient society, and the Gods of Asatru are known to go wandering about Midgard in human guise. You never know who that guest really is... Industriousness: The virtue of industriousness means working hard, and taking pride in one's work, but it also goes beyond that. Are you employed, disabled, or a full-time student? If not, get a job. Are you part of a Kindred? If not, join one, or find some like-minded people and start one. Think I have a bad attitude? Write me and let me know. When you have a job, or are in class, be the person that "gets things done." And this attitude should carry over to your spiritual life, as well. When you're preparing for a blot, be prepared. Make sure that things are planned out in advance, that you know where the meeting is to take place, how to get there, and where the bottle opener is. Make sure that you know who will be leading the blot, who will be assisting, and where you should be. Make sure that things run smoothly, that new people understand what's going on, and that interested people know whom to contact. Put up the webpage (shameless self-promotion) and maintain it. Do your work carefully, pridefully, and well. Self-Reliance: Self-Reliance fits in very well with Industriousness. Don't wait for someone else to do your job for you. Don't wait for the world to be handed to you on a platter. The Gods favor those who do it themselves. This certainly doesn't mean that you have to do something completely alone if you have no idea how, or if you really just can't do it. What it does mean is that you should learn things from life, learn how to solve common problems, and maybe learn a craft or two. Pick up a book on brewing, or carving, or even plumbing or something. Have a hobby, perhaps one that can make nifty things for your Kindred to use, or for yourself to use. Who knows, you might even be able to sell things and make some extra money. Perseverance: Times were hard in the old days. Only those who were strong, smart, and crafty survived. Times are still hard. We can't give up at the first sign of adversity. Work, strive, carry on, don't give up. Those words embody the essence of perseverance. Whom do we admire? Those who have worked hard, pulled themselves up by their bootstraps, and made something of themselves through their grit and gumption. *That* is perseverance. Lee Ann Rabe
What is this bullshit!? Ya mean we got's rules? Nope, I wouldn't call them rules as much as I'd call them a good way to live. What's wrong with being courageous, true, honourable, loyal, hardy, industrious, self-reliant, and steadfast? Well, nothing I guess... unless you just want to be thought of as a slime-ball. I remember this quote that ya might know... goes something like: "Cattle die, Kinsman die, and you yourself shall die. but fair fame never dies for the one who wins it.". It's a catch-22, if you die with fair fame, then you will be honored for your deeds... but if you tarnish your name, then you taint it for your children. Courage This one is pretty tough. What is courage? Is it doing what one believes right, regardless of the consequences? Maybe, I don't honestly know. Here's something to ponder; If your family is attacked and you sacrifice your life on their behalf, is that courage? Or is it simply something that you had no choice in doing? If my family was attacked and the only way they might live is if I sacrificed myself, than it would cease to be courage... it would simply become duty. Truth This is a no-brainer, being honest in your dealings with other people. I guess you could include being honest with yourself, but I believe this virtue is best used when dealing with other people. Honour The best description I've heard so far is that honour is what you get when live according to the other virtues. That's a sticky definition, for what I consider to be the most important of virtues, but I think it fits. Fidelity I've heard some folks say that fidelity isn't a virtue, personally I think that's bullshit. Fidelity is being loyal to those you call Kin and being loyal to the Aesir and Vanir. Fidelity is keeping the Oaths you make, no matter how unpleasant or difficult. An Oath should be made only after long and due thought, to be an Oathbreaker is the worst form of scorn. Hardiness Hardiness, being hardy... the temper of a man is the hardships he endures to overcome. Self-Discipline, demand only the best from your actions, then expect the best from others. If your disappointed, laugh at them. Industriousness I have a good work ethic, I want to see the job done in good time and good quality. If I'm asked to help a kinsman, I want him to rest assured that I'll do my very best. Then he won't be disappointed and laugh at me. Self-Reliance Standing by yourself, while I don't see anything wrong with asking Kin for help-- that's why they're their--- but asking for a handout is pretty disgusting. I'm probably a little harsher than most on this... I remember living with my mother in a dinky little apartment in a dinky little town, needing food stamps to make it through a year. I worked to help pay bills and buy food for the two of us... after high school, I struck out completely alone for the Corps. When I got back, I was married.. had a full time night job, and still managed to attend no less than 12 hours per semester. With no less than a 3.5 GPA. There are people less fortunate out there-- but if ya belly up, then you can always make it. Steadfastness Perseverance. This one ties in with hardiness, industriousness and self-reliance...add a little bit of steadfastness and your unstoppable. Unless someone is more determined than you are, then they laugh at ya. One of the basic functions of a religion is to offer a set of values on which mankind is to base it's actions. This, sadly, is one area where Paganism has often failed. The cult of anti-values has held sway, taking moral relativism to extremes perhaps even farther from common sense than fundamentalist moral legalism, even to the point where I have heard rape, murder, and genocide defended on the basis of "cultural differences." However, values remain important. All one needs to do is look at the morning paper to see the results of a society that has in many ways embraced the cult of anti-values. We should be experiencing an evolution from a legalistic moral/religious culture to one of flexible honor based values and self-responsibility. All too often, what we have instead is a morass of chaos and immorality. The lesson we should all learn is that while there is no definitive list of sins; right and wrong still exist. As usual Asatru offers a sensible solution. Our faith deals not in legalisms and rules nor in unchecked chaos and relativism. We instead acknowledge the existence of right and wrong, good and evil, but we deal with actions according to basic philosophical concepts that are applied by the keen intellect of Odin, the simple common sense of Thor, and the solid honor of Tyr--the gifts of the Gods to us. Asatru posits that the basic place of moral judgment is within the human heart and mind. We as human beings with the gift of intelligence are sensible and responsible enough to determine right from wrong and act accordingly. The Gods teach us through the examples of their lives, as chronicled in the Eddas, and through various pieces such as the Havamal which directly offer us advice. In the modern history of our faith, various Asatru organizations have outlined simple sets of values which they hold up as simple guidelines on how to live ones life. Of all of the sets of values we saw when first starting out, those of the Odinic Rite struck us as the most cohesive and sensible. This set has been adopted by the Raven Kindred as an "official" statement of our beliefs. We do this not only as a moral guide for our members, but also to say to the world what it is that we stand for--our good name in the community being important to us. Finally, this list is used when someone formally joins the Raven Kindred and we hold a sumble and toast the 9 virtues to the new member in the hope that they will apply them to their life. The Nine Noble Virtues are Courage Courage In virtually every statement of values applied to Asatru, Courage is listed first. Few of us face such turmoil as a literal battle for ones life. In fact, I believe it might be easier to manifest courage in such a situation than to do so in the many smaller day to day occurrences in which courage is called for. The most common of these occurrences for modern Pagans, is the courage to acknowledge and live ones beliefs. It is also, sadly, the one that we most often fail at. While we may often be full of the type of courage that would lead us to face a shield wall, many of us quake at the thought of the topic of religion coming up at the office or a friend asking what church we attend. We won't offer easy answers, but we ask this: if you toast the courage of your ancestors to fight and die for what they believed in, can you trade away your religious identity for a higher salary or social acceptance? In an essay on values there is also the question of moral courage. The way of Tyr is difficult--to lose ones hand for ones beliefs--but, Tyr thought the price worth paying. In a million ways modern society challenges our values, not just as Asatruar who are estranged from mainstream religious practice, but for religious people in an increasingly not just secular, but anti-religious culture. Values are also not in favor in modern society. Breaking or getting around the rules is encouraged to get ahead. Living honorably is simply too inconvenient. I think most people, Asatru or otherwise, find this repugnant, but the only way to change it is to have the courage to refuse to take part in it. Truth The second virtue, that of Truth, is the one that most led our kindred to embrace this statement of values as our own. Early in our discussions, we decided that no matter what values we chose to hold out as our own, truth must be among them. It is a word that holds so much in its definition, and includes such a wide variety of moral and philosophical beliefs that we were all drawn to it as a simple statement of what we stood for. At least one of the reasons we wanted to adopt it was the simple issue of honesty. As was said at one sumbel while toasting truth and honesty: "if you don't want people to know about something, don't do it." Truth, in the sense of honesty, is essential to personal honor and also to any system or morality that is not based on rigid legalism. If one is to uphold an honor code, one must be brutally honest with oneself and with others. Truth is also the Truth that comes with a capital T--the kind of Truth that one talks about in terms of religion or morality. It's common to talk of different peoples having different "truths," but it's equally important to remember that while we acknowledge that each person or people has their own belief as to what Truth is or where to find it, there finally is a single Truth. This is not the Truth as we believe it, but ultimate Truth. While we may respect other people's "truths" and seek our own, we must never forget our search for The Truth. Like the Holy Grail of Christian legend, it may never be ours to reach, but when we cease to search we perish. Honor Honor is the basis for the entire Asatru moral rationale. If anything comes out in the Eddas and Sagas it is that without honor we are nothing. We remember two types of peoples from ancient times: those whose honor was so clean that they shine as examples to us and those who were so without honor that their names are cursed a thousand years after they lived. Good Asatruar should always strive to be among the former. However, honor is not mere reputation. Honor is an internal force whose outward manifestation is reputation. Internal honor is the sacred moral compass that each Asatruar and God should hold dear. It is the inner dwelling at peace which comes from living in accordance with ones beliefs and with ones knowledge of the Truth of what one is doing. It is something deeply personal and heartfelt, almost akin to an emotion. It's a "knowing" that what one is doing is right and decent and correct. In many ways while the most important of all the virtues it is also the most ephemeral in terms of description. It is all the other virtues rolled together and then still more. The best way I have found to describe honor is that if you are truly living with honor, you will have no regrets about what you have done with your life. Or, to put it another way, as one Celtic Pagan friend said, "Reputation is what others say about you, honor is what you know to be true about yourself." Fidelity Fidelity is a word that is far too often defined by it's narrow use in terms of marital fidelity. By the dictionary it simply means being faithful to someone or something. In marriage this means being true to ones vows and partner, and this has been narrowly defined as limiting ones sexual experience to one's spouse. While I have found this to be great practical advice, many treat fidelity as if there were no other ways in which one could be faithful or unfaithful. For we Asatruar fidelity is most important in terms of our faith and troth to the Gods. We must remain true to the Aesir and Vanir and to our kinsmen. Like marriage, Profession (the rite in which one enters the Asatru faith, similar to Christian confirmation or Wiccan initiation) is a sacred bond between two parties; in this case an Asatruar and the Gods. In order for such a relationship to work, both must be honest and faithful to each other. Asatru, although currently being reborn, is a reconstructionist religion and we also uphold the value of fidelity to the ways of the ancients. This is why historical research is so important to the Asatru-folk: it is the rediscovering of our ancient ways and our readoption of them. Discipline In any discussion of the values of Asatru, discipline is best described as self-discipline. It is the exercise of personal will that upholds honor and the other virtues and translates impulse into action. If one is to be able to reject moral legalism for a system of internal honor, one must be willing to exercise the self-discipline necessary to make it work. Going back to my earlier criticism of society, if one rejects legalism, one must be willing to control ones own actions. Without self-discipline, we have the mess we all too often see in our culture. Looking at discipline in terms of fidelity, we see a close connection. Many Pagans go from faith to faith, system to system, path to path. Asatruar are much less likely to do this. The discipline of keeping faith with our Gods and the ways of our ancestors is part of our modern practice. In this way, we limit ourselves in some ways, but we gain much more in others. Hospitality Hospitality is simply one of the strongest core values at the heart of virtually every ancient human civilization. In a community/folk religion such as our own, it is the virtue that upholds our social fabric. In ancient times it was essential that when a traveler went into the world he could find some sort of shelter and welcome for the night. In modern times it is just as essential that a traveler find friendship and safety. In our modern Asatru community, we need to treat each other with respect and act together for the good of our community as a whole. This functions most solidly on the level of the kindred or hearth where non-familial members become extremely close and look out for each other. It can mean hospitality in the old sense of taking in people, which we've done, but in modern times it's more likely to mean loaning someone a car or a bit of money when they need it (that's need, not want). Part of hospitality is treating other people with respect and dignity. Some overenthusiastic practioners of Asatru express their pride in their faith by behaving rudely to members of other faiths. Hospitality isn't something to be extended just to other Heathens. Many of our Gods are known to wander the world and stop in at people's houses, testing their hospitality and generosity. The virtue of hospitality means seeing people as if they were all individuals with self-respect and importance. Or perhaps from time to time, they are literally the Gods in human form. This has profound implications for social action in our religion. Our response to societal problems such as poverty (that's poverty folks, not laziness) is in many ways our modern reaction to this ancient virtue. In terms of our modern community as a whole, I see hospitality in terms of frontier "barn raisings" where a whole community would come together and pool their resources. This doesn't mean we have to forget differences, but we must be willing to put them aside, and work for our common good. Industriousness Modern Asatruar must be industrious in their actions. We need to work hard if we are going to achieve our goals. There is so much for us to do. We've set ourselves the task of restoring Asatru to it's former place as a mainstream faith and by doing so reinvigorating our society and culture. We can't do this by sitting on our virtues, we need to make them an active part of our behavior. Industry also refers to simple hard work in our daily vocations, done with care and pride. Here's a few concrete examples. If you are reading this and don't have a kindred, why not? Stop reading now. Go and place ads in the appropriate local stores, get your name on networking lists, and with other Pagan groups. Put on a workshop. Ok, now you're back to reading and you don't agree with what I'm saying here? Well, be industrious! Write your own articles and arguments. Write a letter to the editor and suggest this material be banned--better that than passivity. Get the blood moving and go out and do it. That's how it gets done. The Gods do not favor the lazy. The same holds true for our non-religious lives. As Asatruar we should offer a good example as people who add to whatever we're involved in, rather than take from it. We should be the ones the business we work in can't do without and the ones who always seem to be able to get things done. When people think of Asatru, they should think of people who are competent and who offer something to the world. This doesn't just apply to vocational work, but to the entire way we live our lives. It is just as much a mentality. The Vikings were vital people. They lived each day to its fullest and didn't wring their hands in doubt or hesitation. We should put the same attitude forward in all that we do whether it is our usual vocation, devotion to the Gods, or leisure time. Self Reliance Industry brings us directly to the virtue of Self-Reliance, which is important both in practical and traditional terms. Going back to the general notion of this article, we are dealing with a form of morality that is largely self-imposed and thus requires self-reliance. We rely on ourselves to administer our own morality. Traditionally, our folkways have always honored the ability of a man or woman to make their own way in the world and not to lean on others for their physical needs. This is one of the ways in which several virtues reinforce and support each other. Hospitality cannot function if people are not responsible enough to exercise discipline and take care of themselves. It's for those that strive and fail or need assistance that hospitality is intended, not for the idle who simply won't take care of themselves. In terms of our relationships with the Gods, self-reliance is also very important. If we wish the Gods to offer us their blessings and gifts, we must make ourselves worthy of them--and the Gods are most pleased with someone who stands on their own two feet. This is one of the reasons for the Asatru "rule" that we do not kneel to the Gods during our ceremonies. By standing we acknowledge our relationship as striving and fulfilled people looking for comradeship and a relationship, rather than acting as scraelings looking for a handout from on high. It takes very little for a God to attract a follower, if worship simply means getting on the gravy train. We, as Asatruar, are people who can make our own way in the world, but who choose to seek a relationship with the Gods. In mundane terms being self-reliant is a simple way to allow ourselves the ability to live as we wish to. In simple economic terms, if one has enough money in the bank one doesn't need to worry as much about being fired due to religious discrimination. We can look a bigot in the face and tell him just where he can put it. It's also nice to have something in the bank to lay down as a retainer on a good lawyer so we can take appropriate action. On the other side of this is self-reliance in the sense of Henry David Thoreau, who advocated a simple lifestyle that freed one from the temptations of materialism. Again, here we are able to live as we wish with those things that are truly important. Religious people from all faiths have found that adjusting ones material desires to match one's ability to meet them leaves one open for a closer relationship with deity and a more fulfilling life. While our ancestors were great collectors of gold goodies, they didn't lust for possessions in and of themselves, but for what they stood for and could do for them. In fact, the greatest thing that could be said of a Lord was that he was a good "Ring Giver." Being self-reliant also means taking responsibility for ones life. It's not just about refusing a welfare check or not lobbying for a tax exemption, but also refusing to blame ones failures on religious intolerance, the patriarchy, or an unfair system. The system may, in fact, be unfair, but it's our own responsibility to deal with it. In societal terms, we have become much too dependent on other people for our own good. As individuals we look to the government or to others to solve our problems, and as a society we borrow billions from our descendants to pay for today's excesses. Please note, this statement is not intended to denigrate either our government or relying on good friends. However, both can be overdone. Most problems in this world could be solved if people just paid their own way as they went. Perserverence The final virtue is Perseverance which I think most appropriate because it is the one that we most need to keep in mind in our living of the other values. Our religion teaches us that the world is an imperfect place, and nothing comes easy. We need to continue to seek after that which we desire. In this imperfect world there are no free lunches or easy accomplishments--especially in the subjects we have set before ourselves. If we truly wish to build an Asatru community that people will hold up as an example of what committed people can do, then we must persevere through the hardships that building our religion is going to entail. We must be willing to continue on when we are pushed back. If one loses a job for ones religion, the answer is not to go back and hide, but to continue until one finds a vocation where one can more forward and live as an Asatruar should. Finally we must persevere when we simply fail. If one's kindred falls apart because of internal strife, one should go back and start over. Pick up the pieces and continue on. If nobody had done this after the disintegration of the Asatru Free Assembly, this would probably never have been written. We must be willing to continue in the hard work of making our religion strong--not just when it is convenient and easy to do so, but when it gets hard, inconvenient, or just plain boring. To accomplish without striving is to do little, but to persevere and finally accomplish a hard fought goal brings great honor. The
Thews of Asatru and Heathengyld Introduction Over the years, there have
been several attempts to consolidate in onelist, the thews or virtues
the ancient Heathens followed. This probablyis not possible. The old religion
never relied on such things as listsof thews. Instead these thews were
implicit in their laws, maxims,and gnomic verses. Many of them can be
seen in the Hávamálofthe Elder Edda, others in the sagas
and tales such as the Sigurdlays. Still others can be seen in the law
codes of the time. Yetfor the modern Heathen, such lists do come in handy. The Various Lists of Thews The most popular of the various lists of thews or thew related materialis the Nine Noble Virtues. The Nine Noble Virtues havebeen around for at least 15 years, and few are certain as to who came upwith the list. It is as follows: Courage - Bravery or boldness,
the ability to stand and fight in the faceof any threat. Many of the Nine Noble Virtues involve one's self. Few of the thews listed in the Nine Noble Virtues deal with community. Asatru at the time of the list's formulation was the only widespread Heathen religion, and at the time very much into the self reliant, independent Viking Warrior image. With the rise of more tribal forms of Heathenry, and a less romantic view of the ancient past, a need became apparent for a more community oriented list. The Nine Noble Virtues were and are a fine guide for how a Heathen should conduct themselves in everyday life, but seems to fall short when a true Heathen community is involved. Therefore other lists evolved. One such list is The Twelve Æþeling Þews. These twelve thews were formulated about five years ago and first appeared in the work Beyond Good and Evil: Wyrd and Germanic Heathen Ethics. They are: Boldness- Bravery, courage
in the face of adversity. The Twelve Æþeling Þews came about at a time whenHeathenry was becoming more family and community oriented. It can be notedthat the additional thews all relate to family or community, or the individual'sobligations to both. A slightly older list of thews is one created by GarmanCyning of Theodish Belief. It is known as The Three Wynns. They are: Wisdom - Adherence to the
ancient wisdoms of our religion. Like the The Twelve Æþeling Þews, The Three Wynns shows there is a clear obligation to something other thanone's self, and perhaps one of the most balanced (altho the shortest) ofthe thew lists.. The most recent list of thews appears in Eric Wodening's book We Are Our Deeds: The Elder Heathenry Its Ethic and Thew. This list is even more community oriented than The Twelve Æþeling Þews, and thus reflects the ever changing face of Heathenry. The thews listed are: Bisignes - Industriousness
There are points of overlap between all of the lists. This does not mean the thews the lists hold in common are the most important, merely the most often thought of. There are less obvious thews that appear not at all that are just as important. Frith rarely appears on any such list due to its complex nature, and is usually handled alone in articles, yet no one would doubt its importance. A Brief Look at the Thews
Mentioned Frith While now a very important part of Heathenry, frith was barely ever mentioned prior to 1994. Then two articles, one by Eric Wodening and the other by Winifred Hodge detailed the ideas behind frith. Since then it has become a very important part of Heathen life. Frith, roughly defined is "the maintenanceof the peace, security, and refuge of the community. The peace and security enjoyed by that community." Frith is a far cry from meaning simply "peace,"the word most would use to define it. One can live under a despot with no freedom and have peace, yet one could not have frith. Similarly,one's tribe could be at war (not at peace), yet the local village be enjoying frith. Frith unlike peace is not the "lack of strife." War and feuds maybe used to enforce the frith or restore it when a threat comes from outsidethe frithstead, i.e. village, tribe, or family. When within a frithstead,other more peaceful means would be used, such as mediation and reconciliation.If those methods failed, then Thing could be resorted to. The word frith derives from Indo-European *priyas, "one's own." Many other words derive from this root word such as Old English freogan"to love," freodom "freedom," and the name of the god Frea. Accordingto most Old English dictionaries, the word frith meant "peace, tranquility,security, or refuge." It also referred to the special protection offered by the tribe and the penalty for breaching that protection. A verbform, frithian meant "to make peace with, cherish, guard, defend,or keep." Eric Wodening in his article "The Meaning of Frith"(Asatru Today, Dec., 1994) put forth that frith's original meaningwas most likely "the peace enjoyed while among one's own (that is one's family or tribe)." Compound words made with frith reveal a wide array of meanings. Frithsumian "to reconcile," frithhus "sanctuary," fritha "protector," frithlic "mild, lenient," frithscon "asylum, sanctuary, " frithowaru "protection." Frith clearly did not translate literally into our modern word peace, but a concept far deeper. Its secondary meanings taken from compounds would seem to indicate elements meaning "to protect, defend, give asylum to, to reconcile." A brief look at the definitions of the compounds as well as that of the word frith its self reveals words such as peace,refuge, mild, lenient, cherish, protect, defend, asylum, sanctuary, reconcile. All of these words have in common the idea of maintaining the peace, security,and refuge of the community. This maintenance would include ways to seek asylum, as well as chances for reconciliation. This definition would also include maintenance of the law. The ancient Heathens saw the law as being the tribe itself, frith was the idealstate of the tribe, its welfare so to speak. When the law was brokenso was frith. Indeed, one could not enjoy the frith of the tribe unlessone was a part of it. And one could not be kept out of the tribe once madea part of it unless they had broken the law. While peace is a very sedate idea, frith is an active one. Ár/Honour Ár is the native Anglo-Saxon word for honour as is weorthmynd "worthmind." Both involve a sense of dignity, reverence, self and family worth...in essence, good self esteem and respect for others. Honour in short is respect for one's self, one's family, and one's tribe. To be dishonourable is to fail to respect others, be it one's family or other members of the tribe. Dishonour can even result from failure to respect one's self. Heathen honour goes beyond adhering to some later day code of chivalry. For the individual it means respecting the wishes of others, not insulting their person or position. It involves a certain amount of compassion for the under privileged, and respect for those that have earned their status through good deeds. Other words from the old tongues that mean honour refer to respect, glory, and achievement. One who does not do good deeds does not have much honour, and only those that attempt truly great deeds can be called truly honourable. These deeds will always be exceptional in commitment to the other thews. Freedom The recognition and defense of one's own rights is a part of keeping one's honour. Those that allow themselves to be ridiculed by others were not likely to survive long in the Migration Era. Therefore,every Heathen had certain rights. No one could take the horse or sword of a free man, and one could always count on being able to take a dispute to Thing and see due process obeyed. These rights evolved into the "human rights" Americans and the English now enjoy. Beyond defending one's own rights though, to be honourable meant also to defend the honour of others as well. Sooth Dedication to sooth or the truth is a good part of honourable behaviour. Lies, rumours, hearsay can quickly destroy a tribe. Often simply remaining silent is only a way to allow lies and hearsay to perpetuate themselves. Therefore, part of being honourable is to speak the truth when it is known, especially in the face of lies and hearsay, even if that means one is alone in trying to reveal what is sooth. Troth Another part of honour is troth, or loyalty to one's friends and family. To be in troth with one's family, friends, or lord/lady is not to betray them in even the slightest way. It goes beyond the normal aspects of honour, for troth makes their honour your own as well. Troth breached can always be restored, and it is never a one way street, but one must always remain true to one's own folk. Wrake Justice or vengeance for the wrong done one's family was also thought a part of honour. Ancient Heathenry relied on the family for law enforcement. It was the family that defended its own, and often chastised its own. Boldness Ellen, courage, bravery... all of these words are something all of us know,but yet find hard to define. Bravery is the ability to face potentially life threatening situations without regard for one's own personal safety,while accomplishing something for the good of another individual or individuals. Bravery is not the lack of fear. Any veteran praised for his bravery in the face of insurmountable odds in battle will tell you, fear was always present. Bravery is the ability not to allow that fear to take control, and to accomplish what needs to be done regardless. Busyship Industriousness or the ability to work hard when there is need was not a thew or virtue to the ancients. It was a necessity of survival. In the harsh north with no modern technology one had to work when the weatherwas good to make sure the community survived the winter. Fields had to be tended, herds protected and maintained, wood cut for fuel, spinning and weaving had to be done for clothing. The lazy were likely to find themselves freezing or starving come winter. Today, it is no less importantthat we work hard to maintain our families and ourselves. Evenhead Equality of the sexes, equality in the eyes of Heathen thew or law is something that our spiritual forbears passed down to modern America. Regardless of whether one was a lord or a churl, the same laws applied. Punishments may have been different based on the status of the victim, and laws differed on who need oath helpers in trial, but were a lord to kill another lord,his punishment was the same as if a churl were the murderer. Women were highly respected in the ancient era, and one would often find them takingcare of farmsteads or advising kings and jarls. They were not treated aschattel or near slaves as in the Southern cultures. Friendship The ability to treat one's friends as family. This thew is actually a combination of a couple of others. Troth or loyalty plays a role, as does hospitality and guestliness. The Hávamál has perhaps more verses on friendship than any other subject. Givefullness Looking at the ancient sagas we can tell kings and warband leaders were known for how generous they were. Ring giver was a common kenning for "king." The Hávamál contains several verses onthe importance of generosity, but particularly on the importance of sharing with friends. Guestliness Hospitality was almost a necessity of survival for the ancient traveler. Weather could turn bad, there were no inns in that day, and a warm place to sleep was a welcome sight. Hospitality ensured that the tribe's individuals would survive. One knew that by putting up for the night,that someday the favour would be returned. Today with Heathens often far apart, and travel distances far, hospitality is just as important. Moderation Heathens do not believe in sins of the flesh, yet the ancient Heathens clearly understood even too much of a good thing could be bad. The Hávamál warns against talking too much, drinking too much, eating too much, and even thinking you know more than you do. The point of all these verses is that one should try to do everything in moderation. Included in moderation is self control, the ability to, for example, stop drinking before one is made a fool, or worse yet becomes ill. Overindulgence in anything is not a good thing. Neighbourliness Community mindedness or the desire to be a part of a community was important to the early Heathens. The anti-social did not contribute to the survival of the tribe and therefore account for little in the greater scheme of things. This goes for groups as well as individuals. Groups and individuals that try to isolate themselves and do little for the rest of Heathenry are likely to find themselves snubbed when they try to take advantage of the things the greater community provides such as teaching materials and gatherings. After all, if they have not contributed to the survival of the greater community, why should they enjoy its benefits? Any community takes the mutual cooperation of all involved. For the ancients this mutual cooperation meant mutual survival, the tribe could not afford to defend a village that refused to help others in a time of need. It is not different today. We are a small religion, few in number, and prone to attacks from anything from Fundamentalists to Wiccans. National organizations may mean little to the local kindred, but it is the national organizations that provide teaching materials, ordained priests, and organize the major gatherings...benefits most local kindreds enjoy. According to Neighbourliness,it is the duty of the local kindreds to return in some form, some of the help they have been given, even if indirectly. Steadfastness Modern life can be as difficult
as life was for the ancient Heathens. We have traded the daily hardships
of physical survival for other hardshipsthat cause stress, heart disease
and other problems. At the sametime, we have lost many of the simple pleasures
such as living near friendsand family that could make modern life more
pleasurable. While theancient Heathen had to worry about keeping enough
food and wood on handto keep the family fed and warm during the winter,
we have a differentset of problems relating to the same concerns. Commuting
to work, problems with co-workers, illnesses, financial problems, all
cause the same amountof stress for us as it did for the ancient Heathen.
None the less,we as they must persevere, refuse to give up, and be steadfast
in our work. Wisdom Knowledge of every kind was valued in the ancient era. To know the meaning of words, or a way to do something was highly prized. Wisdom is comprised of many things: folk wisdom and common sense, reasoning, and the willingness to learn. The lore shows over and over the quest for wisdom. Woden's selfsacrifice on the Irminsul was to gain knowledge, not power (but then, wisdom and knowledge lead to power). The drink from Mimer's Well was to gain wisdom,the ability to use knowledge, foresight and common sense. Modern Heathens have many ways to seek wisdom. One can read scholarly works on thereligion, discuss it form others, and seek out knowledgeable teachers. Conclusion There are as we are always told, even more thews than those covered here. However ancient Heathengyld was an organic tribal religion. Such wisdom as the thews was not passed on in lists such as these but in tales like Beowulf , imparted in gnomic verses such as those of the Hávamál and The Anglo-Saxon Maxims. It is only through the study of these early sources of the lore, one can truly learn what it means to be a thewful Heathen. Yet for one new to Heathenry, these lists let them know what is expected of them and when.
Images and Contents Copyright © Assembly of The Elder Troth 2002 - 2007 or as specified. For communications regarding this website please e-mail webmaster@aetaustralia.org Page maintained by Schmitt Services Last Update: Thursday, December 30, 2004
|