The Old Norse term rétt signified a right or a claim to something. When a wrong or harm had been done, the aggrieved party could make a claim (rétt) against the wrongdoer. The offender, in turn, was obligated to perform rétta, literally “to make right” or “to straighten out” the situation. In practical terms, this was a form of honor-price predicated on one’s station or caste, paid to address violations. Morally, it hinged on the concept of atonement: if you err against someone, you must rectify that wrong. A suit would be declared against a person, who could bring the matter before a court or opt to carry out rétta on their own, thus avoiding the courts altogether. This might involve a simple apology, a monetary payment, or other compensatory action toward the offended party. In antiquity, rétt was essentially the word for “justice,” and the process of seeking justice for wrongdoing was integral to the lives of our ancestors.
The concept of rétt grew from the principle that a free person’s body was considered holy, friðheilag, or “peace-holy,” much like a sacred site that had been ritually blessed. An individual’s bodily integrity and honor could not be violated without demanding retribution, and if anyone inflicted harm upon you, they were obliged to restore your rétt through appropriate means. Only in the case of outlawry did one forfeit these rights and safeguards, effectively losing all protection. In law, this was referred to as mannhelga: the “man-holiness” determining the rights of citizens to be shielded from harm, especially at the hands of outsiders, or útlendingir.
The first provision in our mannhelgi (man-holiness) is that every one of our countrymen shall be friðheilag (peaceholy) both in the kingdom and outside the kingdom.
If a violation against their body or honor takes place, atonement is necessary and the offender had to “make it right” (rétta). If the violation is great, involving death and/or murder, the authorities themselves would step in and issue either a sentence of death or outlawry, thereby restoring the equilibrium of rétt that had been disturbed. Out of these mechanisms, seeking restitution, acknowledging wrongdoing, administering punishments, arose the fundamental definitions of law and justice, distinguishing right from wrong and crime from retribution. We can apply this to our religious movement today, and as such we can apply the concept of rétt to strengthen our clans or communities.
When disagreements arise, it is almost always preferable to arbitrate rather than dismiss members or permit resentments to worsen. In such moments, leaders must step forward to seek resolutions, not ignore the problem or shuffle it onto someone else’s shoulders. After all, the fundamental purpose of genuine leadership is problemsolving; those unwilling or unable to do so reveal themselves as unfit to lead. By invoking the balance of honor through rétt, a leader can recognize when discord has taken root and proactively restore order within the group. Not only does each individual possess their own rétt; so too does the family, and then the clan. This alignment connects to the concept of luck or the fylgja (the “accompanier”), a spirit that walks with us through life. We can distinguish several forms:
Mannsfylgja: The personal fylgja attached to an individual.
Kynsfylgja: The familial fylgja watching over a person’s kin.
Ættarsfylgja: The clan fylgja protecting the wider kindred. Maintaining rétt upholds the honor of these overlapping circles, individual, family, and clan. For instance, the custom of manngjǫld (akin to wergild) represented the compensatory payment demanded by a victim’s family in the event of homicide or other grave offenses. Beyond mere financial restitution, the principle recognized that family honor, once besmirched by a relative’s actions, reflected on every clan member. Thus, the family bore responsibility for curbing transgressions within its ranks, ensuring that dishonorable deeds did not tarnish the group’s standing.
Excerpt from: Æfinlǫgr: The Book of Sedian Law: Puryear, Mark, Hrafnakonr, Aðakán Jamesarson: 9798307965320: Amazon.com: Books