Courage

2004-07-14T19:54:00.000-07:00

We have something in Heathen circles known as the Nine Noble Virtues, a list of nine values that are core to Heathen living. Not all Heathens subscribe to them as a list, but the vast majority set high store by these values whether they call them the Nine Noble Virtues or not. The first of these virtues is courage.

The first thing that springs to mind is usually confronting extreme physical danger head on, be it fighting fires, combat, chasing criminals or what have you, but there are many other forms of courage as well.

There are other things that require other kinds of courage. Getting up each day to face a monotonous routine and still perform to the best of your ability, or the courage it takes to face the shattered look of a child who has to be told he can't have something he really wants because sometimes a parent has to do that.

There's the courage it takes to make changes in ourselves, to live up to our beliefs and values despite social pressure to do otherwise. To me this is one of the most needed forms of courage today. How many of us stand by silently instead of speaking up when we see wrongs being comitted? How many of us participate in things we believe to be wrong because we fear being ostracized if we don't? I know I've been guilty of both over the years.

Overcoming these fears is a matter of awareness, of learning to stop as soon I realize what I am doing. It comes down to consciously choosing my motives rather than relying on my impulses and going with everyone else. It means deliberately choosing in each moment to be the person I want to be.

Frith.

Introduction

2004-07-09T20:42:00.000-07:00

This is my first post, so I'll use it primarily to introduce myself and my reasons for starting a blog.

I'll start with pronouncing my name. The character "ð" is called "eth" and represents a voiced "th" as in "the" and "this". The "ó" is similar to an extended "oo" sound, as in "boot" and "á" is a long "ah" sound like in "father". So it sounds like "Froodhi Hahrson."

First and foremost in my life I am a husband and father. Nearly equal to this, I am a Heathen. This colours everything in my life and forms the basis of my worldview.

By Heathen I mean I follow the faith and ways of my Nordic ancestors from pre-Christian times. My Gods are Oðinn and Frigga, Thorr and Sif, Freyr and Freyja, and all the other Aesir and Vanir. I am especially close to Oðinn, which is indicated by my chosen surname. Hár is one of the names of Oðinn, meaning "High One", so Hárson = "Son of Oðinn."

My main purpose in starting this blog is to record my reflections on life and the world and share them with any who may be interested. My takes on some things may vary considerably from mainstream views, and on others there will be little or no difference.

My religious practices include making offerings to my Gods in rites called blótar (blót is pronounced "bloat"), as well as to the local spirits and my ancestors; offering bedes or prayers; participating in sumbel, a ritualized form of toasting the Gods and sometimes swearing oaths. I also engage in the practice of magic with the runes, though this is not actually religious in nature.

Frith.

Heathen Thinking

Courage

Introduction