Rétta
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 […]
Nine Níðar
Every religion in the world has certain restrictions that generally serve in curbing wanton desires or malevolent tendencies. These taboos represent time-tested principles based upon human experience expressed through the folk-will. As stated, our eschatology— our beliefs in the afterlife— is retributive, with the powers of ǫrlǫg reaching beyond the borders of life and death. […]
Corporal Punishment
The notion of taking someone’s life for the commission of a crime is one of the oldest legal concepts in the world. Indeed, law-codes have existed in the past that placed this form of justice as the primary means of maintaining order, which we see today as more a mark of tyrants than a proper […]
Historic Law: the Oath Ring
A ring weighing two ounces or more should lie on the stalli in every chief Hof, and this ring should every Goði have upon his arm at every law-Þing at which he should be at the head of affairs, having first reddened it in the blood of a neat (cow) which he had sacrificed himself […]
Atonement
With any form of legal structure, transgression must have some form of redemption. When one makes mistakes there must be some way to make up for what you have done. In our religion this involves direct action, and thus we must make amends to those we have harmed, including the Gods. This comes […]
The Power of Clan
Any government can turn on its people, and we can’t promise a utopian vision or dictate how the world should be run. What we offer instead is a foundation you can rely upon, if built correctly. That foundation is tradition. For thousands of years, tradition has been the cornerstone of cooperation and the glue […]
OUTLAWRY
The idea behind becoming outlawed was a serious undertaking, one that typically threatened the life of the one convicted, while at the same time underpinning a fatalist aspect of the society. The state was rarely seen to be active in execution (although this did occur), but rather the results of the judgment were left up […]
Æfinlǫgr,the Book of Sedian Law: Reconstructing Our Law
Reconstructing Our Law In order to fully reconstruct the law of our religion, we must first determine how that law has worked throughout the millennia, and then explain how we can utilize it today. The primary function of law is to limit human behavior in a way that develops social and spiritual cohesion and […]
Goðorð
The priesthood of our faith Within every religion there exists a group of people dedicated to its practice and furtherance. These are men and women who devote their lives to the study and worship of their notions of divinity. From performing holy rites to advising the laity, it is a mission that some are called […]
The Nine Square Grid
Now that we have examined the gates themselves, it is important for us to look at why a Nine Square Grid was used and what purpose it serves. We know that the number nine is the holiest of numbers in Teutonic Polytheism, and many believe that this is due to it being the number of months in a pregnancy. If we consider the connection this may have to the Nornir and to the Underworld, this may very well be the case. But before we look into the nature of birth