Heathen Nation

The Nine Noble Virtues

Most heathens who have taken the time to do a minimal amount of homework know that the concept and original list of “Nine Noble Virtues of Asatru” were first developed in the 1970s. This was an inspired effort and it had a good result; it brought some cohesion to modern heathens, and offered some common elements of heathenry to be embraced and celebrated. Even those heathens today who have been less than diligent in becoming acquainted with our lore are aware and vaguely proud of the existence of the Nine Noble Virtues.

But the idea of “heathen virtues” has continued to evolve over the years, as one well-intended person after another took a shot at “improving” or “clarifying” the original list. Today, that original list of nine has grown and transformed in a dozen different directions, some holding only the thinnest of resemblance to the original list. We no longer possess one list of virtues that we heathens hold in common. How can we get anything accomplished when we all aren’t even using the same playbook? It is certainly not my intent to claim that the original list of virtues was the “best” list, and should have remained un-altered. But I have great concern that the lack of a consistent, unified foundation is a serious weakness of modern heathenism (Asatru) and a stumbling block to our growth.

I decided to conduct my own study into heathen virtues, and used as my starting point a collection of all the lists of virtues/codes/thews I was able to locate throughout heathen literature in print and on line. My first step was to eliminate the redundancies, as I felt many lists of the virtues only contained 7 or 8 separate virtues, with one or two virtues repeated under a marginally different name. For example, work/perseverance/industry are listed separately in some lists, but they are really three words that represent the same core value. To Work is to apply determined effort to complete a task, and to persevere means to keep working. (I suppose if someone worked diligently toward a goal for five minutes then quit, we could split hairs and say they did work, but didn’t persevere. However, in the sprit of our people, to work is to work until the job gets done, which makes perseverance and industry and work all expressions of the same virtue.) Similarly, I combined Truth, Knowledge, and Wisdom. The wisdom to seek the truth, and knowledge to see the truth –for one to be wise enough to recognize the truth—are inseparable. I also combined hospitality and generosity, both meaning simply to share what we have with others.

After elimination of duplications I found I had a list left of about 20 potential virtues. Next, I wrote each virtue on a sheet of paper, took out a box of markers, and assigned a color to each. I made several photocopies of the Havamal, and went at the copies with scissors and markers, highlighting each line with the color appropriate to the virtue it expressed, then cutting the verses apart and organizing them in a vast spread across my living room floor. Surprisingly, once the copying and coloring and cutting and sorting were done, it turned out that the field had been narrowed to a total of nine virtues. I did not necessarily try to keep the list to nine, and would have used twelve, or any number that happened to be supported by the Havamal, but as it turned out, the lore spoke for itself. The virtues supported by the Havamal are as follows:

1. Wisdom
2. Courage
3. Loyalty
4. Generosity
5. Discipline
6. Work
7. Self-Reliance
8. Frith & Grith
9. Honor


I have noted in detail below the verses of the Havamal that I found to specifically support the virtues listed above. I hope it proves to be as valuable to other folks as it was to me, and serves to clear up some of the divisiveness and confusion surrounding the Nine Noble Virtues.

Wisdom

(Includes truth, reality, knowledge, good judgment, common sense)
The Folkway encourages us to seek wisdom and knowledge of both the practical and the esoteric nature. A heathen must be wise to recognize and find the truth, despite the likelihood that it may be buried beneath conflicting information or hidden under lies. A heathen must have the wisdom to see things the way they are, not the way he wishes they were. This is a crucial point of contrast between Christianity and Asatru. Heathens glorify the quest for knowledge. The search for enlightenment and truth is a desirable thing.

Heathens could not imagine respecting a god who demanded that his people remain ignorant, and so forbade his folk to eat fruit from a Tree of Knowledge. We stand in staunch opposition to historical christian precedence, which repeatedly forbade entire areas of scientific study because the church feared and resented new knowledge, even going so far as to condemn men to death for suggesting the earth revolved around the sun. Unlike christianity, Heathenry does not glorify ignorance or blind acceptance, nor do we consider stupidity a virtue. We are told in the Gylfaginning (Prose Edda) how Odin sacrificed one of his eyes to gain knowledge. The lay of Grimnir (Poetic Edda) notes that Odin’s ravens Hugin and Munin (Thought and Remembrance) tirelessly travel the world over for new information. This stands in direct opposition to the Christian myth which has as its orginal sin the downfall of the human species being the eating of the fruit from the tree of knowledge. Clearly our ancestors believed the quest for knowledge should be rewarded.

References:
Odin hung on a tree in sacrifice to gain knowledge. (vs. 138-139)
Who travels widely needs his wits about him; the stupid should stay at home. (v. 5)
Better gear than good sense a traveler cannot carry. (v.10)
The fool thinks that those who laugh at him are all his friends, unaware when he sits with wiser men how ill they speak of him. (v.24)
He who has seen and suffered much and knows the ways of the world, Who has traveled, can tell what spirit governs the men he meets. (v.18)
The ignorant had best be silent. (v.27)
A man should know how many logs and strips of bark from birch to stock in autumn that he may have enough wood for his winter fires. (v.60)
To speak well and answer rightly are marks of a wise man. (v.28)
Waste no words on a witless oaf nor sit with a senseless ape. (v.120)
The wise one has spoken words in the hall, needful for men to know, unneedful for trolls to know. (v. 165)

Courage

(Includes Bravery, Boldness, Assertiveness, Standing up for what is right)
The courage to face the truth is as important as the wisdom to find it. Heathens do not glorify turning the other cheek, or being victims, or running away from conflict. Courage gives us the ability to do what is right even under threat or pressure; we will not be enslaved nor controlled, nor bow our knee under threat. Note that this is another crucial difference between Heathenry and christianity; the constant threat of damnation and punishment by hellfire does nothing more than annoy us. The sons and daughters of Midgard will not be controlled by fear.

References:
The coward believes he will love forever but in old age he will have no peace. (v.16)
Men must speak of men’s deeds what happened must not be hidden. (v.28)
The base man sees bogies everywhere. (v.48)
If aware that another is evil say so, make no truce or treaty with foes. (v. 127)
It befits a man to be merry and glad, to be silent but brave in battle until the day of his death. (v.15)
The generous and the bold have the best lives (v.48)
But I know one thing that never dies, the glory of the great dead (v.77)

Loyalty

(Includes fidelity, troth, friendship, clan, kinship, steadfastness, trustworthiness)
Loyalty and family are foundational concepts for Heathens; we are a folk connected by history and ancestral habit to supporting and defending the lives of our kinsmen as vigorously as we defend our own. The christian story of Abraham, in which he was willing to kill his own son to please a jealous god, is an utterly unconscionable notion in Heathenry. Psychiatrist’s prescriptions, counselor’s offices, support groups and advice columnists are poor modern substitutes for the security and confidence born of clan loyalty.

References:
Young and alone on a long road, once I lost my way; Rich I felt when I found another; man rejoices in man. (v. 47)
A man should be loyal through life to friends and return gift for gift. (v.42)
The young fir that falls and rots having neither needles nor bark; so is the fate of the friendless man. Why should he live long? (v.50)
If you find a friend you fully trust and wish for his good will, exchange thoughts, exchange gifts (v.44)
If you find a friend you fully trust, go often to his house. Grass and brambles grow quickly upon the untrodden track. (v.119)
A good man, if you make him your friend, will praise you in every place. (v.123)
Cherish those near you; never be first to break with a friend. (v.121)
To a false friend the footpath winds though his house be on the highway (v. 34)
Bandy no speech with a bad man often the better is beaten in a word fight by the worse. (v.125)

Generosity

(Includes hospitality, guestliness, sharing, treating guests well, putting the needs of your clan and family above your own.)
To put it simply, Heathenry does not respect nor regard any self-centered, selfish, jealous god or man who demands to be idolized above and before anything or anyone else. Heathens provide our gifts and support to our gods, our ancestors, our wights, and each other with confidence, knowing that we will be supported and gifted in turn.

References:
Fire is needed by the newcomer whose knees are frozen numb; Meat and clean linen a man needs Who has fared across the fells (v.3)
Water, too, that he may wash before eating, handcloths and a hearty welcome, Courteous words, then courteous silence That he may tell his tale. (v.4)
Once he has wealth enough a man should not crave for more; the generous have the best lives, the miser pines for presents. (v.48)
The half-wit does not know that gold makes apes of many men. (v.75)
A kind word need not cost much; with half a loaf and an empty cup, I found myself a friend. (v.52)

Discipline

(Includes self-control, temperance, moderation, disdain for gluttony, taking responsibility for your own actions, self-assessment.)
Heathenry places great value upon self-control; we have contempt for the idea that one may act foolishly and wrongfully, then attempt to whisk it all away by begging forgiveness. We expect each man to act with forethought, and rule himself first and foremost. Heathens waste no time hoping for some promised safety net of a “second chance”; rather, we devote our efforts to not acting in such a manner that requires forgiveness in the first place. This is the foundation of personal responsibility that is so desperately lacking in modern society, and it is our belief that christianity has exacerbated the problem with its doctrine of unconditional acceptance and forgiveness, as well as its encouragement of child-like, helpless behavior.

References:
Less good than belief would have it is mead for the sons of man; a man knows less the more he drinks becomes a befuddled fool. (v.12)
A more tedious burden than too much drink a traveler can not carry. (v.11)
Best is the banquet one looks back on and remembers all that happened. (v.14)
Drink your mead but in moderation; talk sense or be silent. (v.19)
No man is called discourteous who goes to bed at an early hour. (v.19)
A gluttonous man who guzzles away brings sorrow on himself at the table of the wise; he is often taunted and mocked for his bloated belly. (v.20)
The herd knows its homing time and leaves the grazing ground, but the glutton never knows how much his belly can hold. (v.21)
These things are best, good health and the gifts to keep it and a life that avoids vice. (v.68)

Work

(Includes perseverance, industriousness, gameness, endurance, steadfastness, striving, not being lazy, overcoming adversity.)
Heathens know the universe owes us nothing, no matter great our need, or how much we beg. No pre-arrangements have been made for our carefree presence on Midgard; our prosperity can not be bought by another’s blood or sacrifice, only our own. Further, we do not ask our gods to carry us along. If we want something to be done we must apply our own efforts to get it done.

References:
His prey escapes the prone wolf; The sleeper is seldom victorious. (v.58)
Early shall he rise who has few servants and set to work at once much is lost by the late sleeper wealth is won by the swift. (v.59)
A small hut of ones own is better; man is his master at home. A couple of goats and a corded roof are still better than begging. (v.36)
The halt can manage a horse, the handless a flock, The deaf be a doughty fighter (v.71)

Self-reliance Strength

(Including toughness, self-reliance, self-defense and defense of kin, freedom, self-sufficiency, personal responsibility, independence, sovernity)
Strength is required in nearly every aspect of heathen life. Only slaves and sheep settle for weakness, helplessness, meekness, submission, vulnerability, and reliance on external authority figures. We are sovereign, we accept no masters. We stand respectfully before our gods and goddesses as men; we do not bend our knees as slaves. Note once again that this is in stark contrast to the subservience of christianity. One might envision the strength of the heathen heart to be as that of a wild mountain goat, climbing high, caring for himself, and roaming free. We have no desire to live as weak, helpless, stupid, cowardly, lazy, dependent lambs.

References:
Rash is he who at unknown doors relies on his good luck. (v.2)
A wayfarer should not walk unarmed but have his weapons at hand; he knows not when he may need a spear or what menace meet on the road. (v.38)
Never open your heart to an evil man (v.117)
Among the bold the bully will find others as bold as he. (v.64)

Frith and Grith

(Includes peace and well-being, security, accord, joy, appreciation, love, happiness, a positive attitude, enjoying the bounty of life)
Happiness and pride are Heathen birthrights. We strive raise our children in a secure environment, instilling the joy and contentment of our folk along with the fundamentals of the virtues themselves. It is a virtue to be joyful and relish life; and proud, productive folk are a pleasure to live with. The Folkway does not glorify denial or punishment as christians do, and we consider guilt to be a little more than a limited tool for keeping slaves under control.

References:
Fortunate is he who is favored in his lifetime with praise, Blessed is he who in his own lifetime is awarded praise and wit (vs.8-9)
It befits a man to be merry and glad until the day of his death. (v.15)
An ill-tempered unhappy man ridicules all he hears, makes fun of others, refusing always to see the faults in himself (v.22)
The generous and bold have the best lives, and are seldom bested by cares (v.48)
Foolish is he who frets at night and lies awake to worry (v.23)
A good man, if you make him your friend, will praise you in every place. (v.123)

Honor

(Includes respect, integrity, dignity, humility, courtesy, correct action, proper conduct, politeness, fairness)
To live honorably is quite simply to make a personal commitment to do the right thing, to actually live all of the virtues and put them into action everyday. It is not enough to be aware of the virtues or admire them, or to aspire to them “someday”. Our virtues are not a list of goals we hope to attain some day; they are a clear cut standard for our daily lives, right here, right now. In the Folkway, we act with honor in all things so that we create for ourselves and our kin the best possible lives as free men and women. We have no fear of a punishment like the christian hell, nor do we seek some reward like the bribe of a christian heaven.

References:
A guest should be courteous when he comes to the table (v.7)
Courteous words then courteous silence that [the newcomer] may tell his tale (v.4)
Of his knowledge a man should never boast. (v.6)
A man among friends should not mock one another. (v.30)
It is and shall be a shameful thing when guest quarrels with guest. (v.32)
A wise guest has his way of dealing with those who taunt him at table; he smiles not seeming to hear twaddle talked by fools. (v.31)
A tactful guest will take his leave early, not linger long (v.35)
No man is so generous he will jib at accepting a gift in return for a gift; No man so rich that it really gives him pain to be repaid. (v.39)
Never reproach another for his love; it happens often enough that beauty ensnares with desire the wise, while the fool is left unmoved. (v.93)
Never seduce another’s wife nor make her your mistress. (v.115)
Bandy no speech with a bad man often the better is beaten in a word fight by the worse. (v.125)
If aware that another is evil say so make no truce or treaty with foes (v.127)
Never share in the shamefully gotten but allow yourself what is lawful. (v.128)
Mock not the traveler nor maliciously laugh at the guest (v.132)
Scoff not but relieve the lonely and wretched (v.135)
Never laugh at the old when they offer counsel often their words are wise. (v.134)
The best man is marred by faults; the worst is not without worth. (v.133)
Every man is mortal, but the good name never dies of one who has done well (v.76)
I know one thing that never dies: a good man’s reputation (v.77)