Hof Services Fogmoon 2259 RE (June 2010CE)

“Disunity or Diversity ”

by Dr. Casper Odinson Cröwell, 1519-CCG
Allsherjargothi, HOLY NATION OF ODIN, INC.
and SONS OF ODIN, 1519 - VINLAND / USA

It occurs among the best of us, no matter where one resides. Separations within the Folk! For many, this seems to be a form of dissension or disunity. But take a closer look through the lenses of reason and reality. What many color dissension and disunity are sometimes mere expressions of diversity and naught more.

I am, of course, referring to the realistic necessity for several different Kindreds, Skeppslags and Groups, for a myriad of reasons. There are Folk whom refuse to assemble with other Folk who participate in substance abuse. There are those whom feel some do not take Vor Trú (Our Faith) serious enough. There are a plethora of personality conflicts and there are always the many differences in how our holy thews (virtues) are interpreted. For these reasons and scores of others which would fill any number of volumes, it is necessary to have several groups in order to accommodate all Tru Folk.

That such different groups and attitudes exist, neither implies nor affords any of us the right to blatantly disregard the Noble Virtue of Hospitality or Frith among Trú Folk. For example, there is no valid reason for me to ignore or be inhospitable to one of another Kindred, Skeppslag or Group because we do not see things the same way (very few truly do!), or because we belong to separate groups. So long as this other Trú Man/Woman was in fact Trú to the Nine Noble Virtues, etc., that is what we should bear in mind wherefore hospitality
and Frith among Tru Folk is in regard.

That we all are defenders of our Gods and Folk is what is germane here. I am in no way at all suggesting that we give a pass to someone who has truly done another wrong, or is in willful violation of our sacred thews. I’m not saying look the other way. Not even close! What I am saying is this, barring any legitimate violation of Norse Law by one among us, there is no reason to be hostile or rude toward others simply because we don’t concur with their views or expressions, or because they belong to another group. Such an attitude is contra to the Fourteen Words in addition to Fraternal Solidarity. They are weaknesses in our defenses, chinks in our Folk’s armor!

Let us look to the examples which our very ancestors have left to us regarding this matter...I’ll employ a model of the Viking Age to illustrate my point. During this era there existed many different Clans, Kindreds, Tribes, etc. among the people of the Aryan Tribes. To be certain, many did not get along well at all and even fewer shared the same perspective. Be that as it may, since they shared borders and boundaries, efforts of hospitality were extended in order to keep the Frith twixt themselves. Indeed, when all arrived at the local Thing (Assembly), no such rudeness was tolerated. More so, at the annual Althing (the Great Assembly) any rudeness would have been met with a swift and almost always unanimous call for justice for anyone who would violate the rule of Hospitality and threaten the Frith.

Granted, the afore stated paradigm is simplex in nature, it never the less affords one a clear, concise and honest picture of what Hospitality meant to our ancestors and what it supposed to mean to us today, as well. Everyone is not always going to get along with each other. That is just the plain reality. Especially wherefore incarcerated Folk are in regards. Would it be ideal if we could? You bet! It just wouldn’t be realistic. Be that as it may, it doesn’t mean that we can’t honor the Noble Virtues which we profess that we do. On the contrary...If we fail to, then it is we who are not living Trú. There are enough agents of chaos amassed against us and our survival as it is. Let us not enable them with our own lack of loyalty to the mission of the Fourteen Words. For selfless service to something higher than our own desires and emotions, is the teaching of Tyr.
Let us all remember this when next we meet another Odinist on the route, that we greet each other with a hearty “Heilsa!” No matter our personal differences. And may the Gods smile upon us as others take note of the fraternal solidarity and unity we share, even though diverse we may be. For there is always something much bigger than you and I, at stake... The future of Faith and Folk!

To be sure, the subject of the content herein, is not unique to the incarcerated Folk. This burden affects our Free Folk as well. For anyone who thought that this was only happening in their locale, I can assure that such is not the case at all. I hear from Folk from all over Midgard and it would seem that this occurs in all corners of the globe, both in and out of prison. It too shall continue until we cease to exist, or until we can learn to quit shooting ourselves in the foot, as it were.

Let us all take the time to reflect upon the lessons of Tyr and perhaps conduct a Tyr Blót. Let us too, deeply consider the value of the following Runes...Tiwaz (t), Nauthiz (n) and Othala (o) .

I bid you all the blessings of Allfather Odin and the Gods. Heil Odin!
I remain yours in Frith and Fraternal Solidarity.

“Who then shall defend Asgard and Midgard and the Holy Kin? Who shall keep the wolf at bay and Loki bound, if not us? We, who with the words on our lips, the blood of Odin in our veins, did vow to defend such a noble way, all the way to Ragnarok and beyond!” - Casper Odinson Cröwell, Ph.D., DD