“Asatru” – Of Wolves and Ravens – The Nine Noble Virtues

May 28, 2019May 28, 2019 / Ed Raby Sr / Leave a comment

Happy Tyr’s Day

Discussion:

I started following the Nine Noble Virtues of Asatru simply because they were a good list of virtues I wanted in my life. In large part, it was my constant meditation on the Virtue of Fidelity that eventually brought me back to my wife. These nine virtues are now a very essential part of my own spiritual practice using my understanding of what it means to be a pagan. What it means to be an honorable human being for that matter.

What I began to discover is that Asatru is a whole very new and modern form of neo-paganism. It attempts to recapture the pagan root of the Germanic and Scandinavian world before Christianity took over. The video below is a very good overview of what Asatru is as a religion by a man taking a very informative view on it. He recommends a book that is on the way to my house at the time of this writing. I want to learn more out of curiosity sake if nothing else.

My own practice has very little to do with the religious aspects of Asatru. I follow the virtues. I find the stories of Norse Mythology and the various practices of Asatru inspiring and fascinating but ritual and religion are not a central thing to me. My issue is living a good life following after virtue. I must say though if I was ever going to be ‘religious’ again – I would pick this one. More practical than most of them.

I center most of my personal paganism on following a life philosophy that leads to prosperity of life. Whether it is the prosperity is foundational, business or for myself. If there is a god, or gods or whatever, I am fairly sure they expect me to handle my own issues. There is no real wrong or right way to a pagan after all so perhaps my paganism is as much about my philosophy of life as spirituality. This actually fits well with Asatru so there is a lot of common ground between me and those who practice the more religious aspect of Asatru. Both of us find the simplicity and challenge of the Nine Noble Virtues to be central to achieving personal peace and prosperity.

To the Wolves and Ravens:

Needs (Geri):

If you have ever lost your faith in something or left behind an old religion, you will know the need for finding something that grounds you and gives you ethical and moral focus. In my case, I found the Nine Noble Virtues fairly quickly to be a value centering philosophy that didn’t require the religious element. There was a hole in my moral and ethical philosophy, a real need, and the NNV filled it quite nicely.

Wants (Freki):

I wanted something solid and simple as a philosophy to live by. I got sick of the multitude of interpretive points one could give to Christian scripture and you could pretty much make the Bible say whatever you wanted with very few limitations. I also wanted to dump the whole appeal to authority issue and while the NNV are solid virtues, they can not be looked at authority so much as a guide. The only authority I have for my moral philosophy and ethics is myself and so finding something solid to both meditate on and provide a basic framework for that was a big want. The Nine Noble Virtues have performed well in this role.

Reason (Huginn):

The Nine Noble Virtues all have the reason element I was looking for. There are very good solid rational reasons to embrace each virtue. They have good results that lead to peace and prosperity. They are rationally practical That said it still takes a lot of thinking to employ them and implement them. They are not easy always in application but they work.

Wisdom (Muninn):

I come back to the wisdom of this quote by Markus Aurelius all the time. Virtue is its own reward in this life to be sure. It creates solid memories for your loved ones and for yourself leads to prosperity and a good life. The afterlife, if there is one, simply becomes a matter of whether there is a good or evil judge on the throne. The good judge should see ones’ virtue and reward it, the evil judge needs human defiance.

Conclusion:

Over the next nine weeks, I will be returning to the Nine Noble Virtues one at a time. Every time I do this there is a spiritual awakening of a sort. I may not be a religious follower of Asatru, but I respect the virtues that all of those who follow it try to live up to. It is something I will continue for much of the foreseeable future.

I remain,

The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.

Skaal!!!

Crossing Bifrost – The Norse World: Vanaheim

May 26, 2019May 26, 2019 / Ed Raby Sr / Leave a comment

Happy Sun’s Day

Basically the Home of Vanir. I will probably do a different post of the fact that the Vanir and Aesir gods are different gods but the mythology joins them at some point so they are one and Vanaheim, the realm of the Vanir, becomes part of Asgard the realm of the Aesir. The gods associated with the Vanir tend to be fertility and nature gods and goddesses and their realm reflects that. Except for the only thing we really have to go on is that the ending of the word removes the boundary which indicated Vanaheim might be a little less civilized and wild.

What we have is a realm were the Vanir who are mostly fertility an nature gods and goddess would feel at home. Wild and untamed in some ways where they could play, enjoy the natural beauty of their realm and as fertility gods and goddesses – make love.

As a writer, you can see elements in other literature of a wild but wonderful place. One might think of Tolkien’s Elves in the Lord of the Ring Series but I am thinking the real we will talk about next Alfheim. That said there is something mysterious about this realm because we know so little about it. It speaks very well of nature’s nature.

I have been hiking enough to feel this type of mystery where even an old familiar path can surprise you with something new. An event that took place during a thunderstorm that leaves a fallen limb where none was before. An animal on the path. There is a wild wonder to it that speaks of Vanaheim.

In my writing, I have yet to take a character of any type to Vanaheim but I can see its potential as a place of wild wonder, sensuality, nature, and mystery. And not necessarily always calm and serene. Thunder, snow, and rain are part of nature and so part of Vanaheim. I suppose in retrospect, I drew much of my inspiration for the Red Tree Grove of The Hedge Wizard of Redberg (now gone) from the imagery it has, but through other sources that were indirect. I will very likely use this idea of a wild natural place of freedom again. It also presents a contrast between the high point of civilization that is Asgard but the contrast isn’t a war, but both sides of the coin of human experience.

The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.

Skaal!!!

Odin’s Eye – Religion Problems: The Growing Unaffiliated ‘Religion’ in the USA

May 9, 2019May 9, 2019 / Ed Raby Sr / Leave a comment

Happy Thor’s Day

Discussion:

In the United States where I live, the number of religiously ‘unaffiliated’ is growing. What is shrinking is White Protestantism and Catholicism particularly with Generation X and the millennials. Below is a good statistical graph of what is happening.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/245453/religious-affiliation-in-the-united-states-by-age/

In short, older people are clinging to what they know and were taught, but younger people saying ‘fuck that shit.” It also true that as people age death and what follows it becomes more of a thing to them. But that does not account for the fact that a change is strongly evident. That Protestantism, particularly among whites but truly across the board, is shrinking in the United States and Catholicism as well. What is happening?

There are a lot of things that one could say here, but for me, I understand one thing for certain – that information is far more available and then there is no way to prevent people from getting alternative opinions. If one has an internet connection, you can find alternatives opinions and arguments against any religion and faith with ease. The two generations that have enjoyed this state of affairs the most are the Millenials and Generation X. Both of these groups have had the luxury of when any opinion is offered of being able to find a counter opinion in seconds and not just one counter opinion but many.

Of course, Christians fear what means. But in truth, this country was not founded as a Christian one but a secular one based on reason. It could be argued that we are simply returning to where we came from. I question whether this is a bad thing at all. As we look through the eye today I can only tell my personal story of becoming one of the Unaffiliated. I don’t know if it is typical, but I think it might be the pattern for most.

Time to Look Through the Eye:

Faith:

In the case of Christianity, faith rests on the story of Jesus Christ being true. Not just parts of it but all of it. Without this, faith is simply not possible. Paul’s argument in the 1 Corinthians 15 is true in that regard that without the historical resurrection, Christianity is founded on nothing. The problem is that the gospels are problematic as I pointed out in this post: Odin’s Eye – Bible Problems: The Four Gospels. Because of this, the real Jesus of Nazareth is obscured by disciples who created what amounts to a tall tale with no historical verification. In many cases, stories are told alone without even the other gospels to back them up. Once the truth of this was apparent to me, I realized my faith in Christianity was based in large part on nothing but unverified stories that were no better or worse than the stories of any other mythology.

Religion:

My religion was no help here in preserving my faith. Nor was my experience or education in Christianity a bolster to my sagging faith. In fact, my traditions repeatedly informed me it was dangerous to ask such questions. My response was: ‘if my religion cannot handle questions and the god they proclaim cannot stand the scrutiny of logic, then both are weak and not worth serving’. Religion as a general rule doesn’t like questions and would rather have people blindly follow than analyze the doctrines and theology. My problem was I have always been a rebel in that regard; and when it comes to theology, I am a guy with a degree in theology and that journey actually drove me to realize that all ideas about the divine are strictly opinion based on man’s thoughts about god.

Theology:

As a theologian, I thought a lot about God. Mostly the problem was how to get the god of the Protestant Bible to make sense. The best I could do was to abandon the idea that god controlled everything; because if he did, then he was an evil fuck. No matter how you shake and dance, the god of scripture seems very human. Being jealous and acting in ways that would make tyrants look benevolent. He creates man knowing he is going to suffer and do evil things and then yet punishes them for the way he created them. The god of the bible promotes a certain morality, commands it even, and then breaks it himself. Over time, this and my other Four Major Objections to Christianity formed out of my theological struggles and I simply could not reconcile them. In the end, I found myself a pastor without any faith.

Spirituality:

The hard cold truth is that our spirituality is chosen. It cannot be imposed and the reason I was a Christian all those years was not that Christianity as faith, religion or theology could prove itself true. It was because it was how I chose to engage the spiritual reality that I perceived around me. Once this truth dawned on me, I left Christianity to follow a more spiritual path without religion imposing on me the thoughts of others. I find a lot more peace about it these days.

Conclusion:

I don’t know how typical I am here but I do know one thing. All of this journey was possible because my access to information and counter-arguments was right at my fingertips. Books, articles and web pages in abundance offered up alternatives to the arguments Christians used to defend themselves and their beliefs and in the end, they prevailed to the point I could not accept Christianity anymore. I think this is basically what is happening in American as a whole. It just took longer for me to join the religion known as “Unaffiliated” than others. It is a new path for me, but one I new cheerfully embrace. I consider it an honor to be a part of a time where religion is in retreat and perhaps there is a new chance for Reason to reign instead. Or at the very least where people can be Unaffiliated and free from religion’s control.

Continuing to Walk the Path,

The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.

Skaal!!!

Crossing Bifrost – The Norse World: Helheim

May 4, 2019May 4, 2019 / Ed Raby Sr / Leave a comment

Happy Saturn’s Day

One of two realms of the underworld, depending on which way you divide up the nine worlds, Helheim is the realm of the Dead and the sphere of power for the goddess Hel. Hel is the goddess of the dead and their caretaker. This place only really shares the name I common with the Christian notion. It is a far different place than the Chrisitan Hell or Hades.

Most notably there is some debate as to whether this place is even about punishment. The Viking concept of the afterlife doesn’t seem to have much in the way of moral good going to paradise and moral bad going to punishment. Rather, it is how one dies that seems to determine eternal destiny. In the case of those who go to Helheim, it is more about the fact they did not die in battle but died of natural causes.

This is why the Realm of Helheim is so differently described. It is in much of the mythology, just an underground place where life continues much as it did before. People do much the same as they did before when they were alive – drinking. fighting, eating, fucking, sleeping, etc. It is just that is all that it is – a continuation without end.

Later on, other writers add to Helheim being a cold, misty land – like a cold marsh with stone islands or a place of drab grey. The notion of a river that encircles the place that cannot be cross once one enters the fence surrounding Helheim is there too. A dog known as Garm guards it and a giant whose name is translated “Corpse Eater” watches over it. It seems a lot of this darker version of Helheim comes later when Christianity is more prevalent and is probably due to that influence.

In my own writings, I chose a middle path between the two. My notion was the continuation of life but in a place where that continuation no longer gives much joy or comfort. A grey world that is dull and not interesting in the slightest. A life that is just being alive but not living fully. No battle, no songs, no celebrations or holidays. Just the same thing over and over all day and every day. If Boredom and/or Depression could be turned into a place, that is what I chose to portray Helheim being.

If there is historically anything to look at it is as many scholars present that the view of Helheim changes as Christianity becomes more and more prevalent. It becomes darker and more sinister. Probably to reflect the ‘moral character’ view of the afterlife. It shows how the stories of mythology change base on what surrounds them and that is a good lesson to learn. Even when the stories are written down, how they are emotionally perceived changes with time and other influences.

The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.

Skaal!!!

Crossing Bifrost – The Norse World: Midgard

April 27, 2019April 26, 2019 / Ed Raby Sr / Leave a comment

Happy Saturn’s Day

The ‘Middle Garden” or “MIddle World” is the realm of men. It is the place where men dwell and live. It like Asgard has protections built around it to protect it from the Giants. It is on the same level as some of the other realms we will talk about like Svartalfheim and Nidavellir. The land of the dark elves and dwarves respectively.

As the name implies, it is the middle realm of all the realms and thus has a way to access each of the other realms. It was formed out of the giant Ymir’s body and thus became the middle world connecting all others. At the same the defense keep partially protected the theory being that Midgard, the realm of men, is striving to be more like Asgard with its civilization and culture, while at the same time affected and protect from giants by both the fence created by Ymir’s eyebrows and the wilderness that is as hostile to giants as it is to men.

In Norse culture, building a fence around one’s farm or another property was symbolic of creating order within and protecting that from without by the fence. Midgard in miniature if you will. The notion of taking from the wilds what is needed and then fashioning it into order and protection is very present here as Midgard strives to me more like the high realm of Asgard.

One important part of Midgard is the notion of the Midgard Serpent Jorganmund (one of Loki’s children) that encircles it threatening to squeeze it into oblivion. Thor battles the serpent on several occasions to keep this from happening.

Every mythology has a creation story where the realm of men is made. It is always lower than the realm of the gods in some way but still very important. In Norse Mythology, it is the realm of men and struggle between the chaos of the cosmic forces of the giants and the order and structure that is found with the gods.

Every story has a place where most of the action of the story takes place. In the case of Midgard this mostly true as the Mythology takes place a lot in Midgard but also the other realms get their share. Midgard seems however to be the place of travel and struggle. The place where men take the wild world around them and shape it into something they can use and grow with as a race.

During Ragnarok, it will sink into the sea and be the bones for the new world that hopefully rise from its depths.

The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.

Skaal!!!

Odin’s Eye – Pagan Holidays – Easter, Walpurgis, and Beltane

April 25, 2019April 25, 2019 / Ed Raby Sr / 1 Comment

Happy Thor’s Day

Discussion:

From a Viking point of view, May Eve or April 30 represents the final day that Odin hung upside down on the World Tree and gained the knowledge of the runes. It is a festival time that commemorates his sacrifice for humanity. If you think this is suspiciously familiar with the Christian holiday of Easter, you would be right.

All mythology has within it some story of a god who sacrifices for humanity, this is hardly a unique concept and a very popular one with humans in every myth it is employed. The End of April is a special time of year for pagans of Northern European heritage known as Walpurgis with its celebration of April 30 Beltane and May Day with its maypole celebrations. First, though, we should look at Easter and the elements of paganism in it.

Easter. The very name is stolen from Eostre the fertility goddess. The pagan holiday revolves around fertility with rabbits being fertility symbols for obvious reasons and the egg as well-being the symbol of the beginning of life. It is funny to watch Christians with candy rabbits in their homes and coloring eggs and spring-like Easter traditions. Probably harmless, but it shows how much the traditions of paganism can survive and adapt. The whole end of April though is pretty much about fertility to pagans and the actions that bring it about – namely sex and lots of it.

Walpurgis. This a time of year at the end of April that stretches from April 22 to April 30 representing the nine nights that Odin hung from the World Tree. It is the official end of the Wild Hunt on April 30th. Six months previously it had started and now it ends. On May 1st – May Day – young couples dance around the maypole and oaths of marriage are taken which lasts one year and a day. Walpurgis is a time of other oaths as well.

Beltane. There are other traditions around this festival time. Most notably Beltane which is the night of April 30th itself. The end of winter is official and Summer begins. The most notable tradition is spending the night in the woods ‘a-maying’. Basically having sex and you could pretty much have sex with whoever you wanted. Even married couples could for that single evening lay their wedding bands aside and have sex with whoever they wished. You could also stay at home if you didn’t want to participate.

May Day. May First becomes the maypole festival portion where young couples, who probably had sex the night before, dance around and give their oaths of marriage. These oaths lasted a year and a day. The idea here that is unspoken is that married couples might split at this point, or retake their vows that would last another year and a day. Must have made every year an interesting thing for married couples joined this way. No one and done but a renewing of vows each year.

Time to Look Through the Eye:

Faith:

If there is one thing we can all have faith in it is humans like to ~~fuck~~ have sex. This time of year actually celebrates that rather than calling down condemnation. Spring is about the death of winter and the birth of summer. Fertility has a large part to do with that and is also celebrated along with children. The one thing I can draw some faith from is looking at nudity, sex, and sexuality as a positive spiritual expression rather than taboo. It is a welcome change.

Religion:

It takes religion to destroy the joy of life. One of those joys is making love and religion always tries to set standards, but in truth, there is no rational reason to forgo sex other than not wanting an STD or a child. Outside this, religion is basically a way to control sexual behavior and in my mind, this is the great distinction between religion and paganism. Paganism isn’t interested in controlling the sexuality of others. Far more practical, free, and less cult-like.

Theology:

As a deist, I no longer have the appeal to authority that once was so necessary to dictate terms to people’s sexual relationships. I don’t want it and it is a waste of energy in my mind to be judgmental of people’s sexual habits or living arrangements. With this absent, a theology of sex and sexuality is not difficult; it is simply non-judgmental. If you look at the nature of the world of sexual guidance, you will see it all. From faithful monogamy to harems to interchange of partners whenever the mood strikes – animals literally do it all.

In the end, I leave it to each person’s own moral sovereignty to determine their living arrangement and sexual partners. Control of sexual expression is just no longer part of my theology. My issue is wisdom in such arrangements and whether or not people are going to try to steal from me to pay for the consequences and results of such unions. My only other moral concern is that each person is engaged with their full free will consent.

Spirituality:

Personally, I have always found sex to be as spiritual as it is physical. Oneness is the best way I can describe it. The fact that it is also physically enjoyable is pretty cool too, but its the intimacy often after sex that I enjoy the most. That moment where you are naked in each other’s arms having spent all to make love. That moment is the best part to me spiritually speaking.

Conclusion:

I continue to find pagan holidays and customs to be more practical and more realistic than religious ones. There are more freedoms here and as such less unnecessary guilt and no shame. If a relationship goes forward, it does so by constant yearly assessment rather than one and done. Sex is and it is not evil or dirty. Rather it is a natural thing to make love and the only concerns are children (which in paganism are celebrated), STDs and consent. Our modern world has actually made the STD and Children questions a matter much more manageable. Rape, of course, is universally condemned or at least it should be.

I find this holiday the most liberating from my past. Even though I will be at home with my wife on Beltane because of my vows are ’til death do us part’, I find the notion of releasing religious judgment makes things less stressful and opens the door to a lot more friendships. Enjoy Beltane with your lover. Peace.

Continuing to Walk the Path,

The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.

Skaal!!!

The Rabyd Skald – Weekend Musings and Writing Plans

April 20, 2019April 20, 2019 / Ed Raby Sr / Leave a comment

Happy Saturn’s Day

By way of announcements:

There will be no Crossing Bifrost today as I am very much near the end of the semester and I am trying to complete some extra work for school plus get my Routines back on track. Possible finish off another class’ work today. For the same reason and as a gesture of respect to the Christians out there doing their Easter celebrations, there will be no Pagan Pulpit this Sun’s Day either. I have said my piece on Thor’s Day about the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth in my post on the subject.
What will happen is this post on some writing plans today as well as some other wandering thoughts. Tomorrow on Sun’s Day I will post the next installment of Rogue Wizard. I also plan on canonizing a poem I wrote last week sometime this weekend as well.

Well, time for a few musings and wandering thoughts.

This is the first Easter season where I honestly can say I haven’t been stressed out. I am no longer a minister so I am not preparing a message or getting a service ready. I have to work at my job, probably because all the Christians asked for the day off, but I am good with that. I actually have more peace about it than anything else. I just wonder if I will be working alone.

I am hopefully going to get my first walk in of the season today. I have been waiting for a sunny day that is above 50 degrees and so today may be the first hike of the wandering skald. Hiking is a real spiritual thing for me and I am looking forward to the walk. After that as long as it is above 45 degrees walking will take place.

The Grey has been thankfully very light right now. It is more of a dull boring sensation than depression. More of an annoyance than anything else. I guess part of that is I have come to look at my memories of this time last year as more of a challenge o picking out the good and discarding the bad. That will be far more difficult this summer, but right now it isn’t that hard.

Writing plans:

Part of getting back on track with all my routines is setting my writing goals. Most notably my goals for my novel and my non-fiction book. I think I have narrowed things down a bit.

For my non-fiction book I am going to do something involving the Bible and Skepticism. My former Christian friends might not like it but I am thinking of doing a harmony of the gospels from a skeptics point of view. I guess announcing this at Easter is fitting in some ways as it marks a turn of thought for me. The book will be more designed for the popular press written in something that anyone with a basic education can understand but I may do another version that is scholarly first then rewrite it for publication.

For my novel, I am going to go pure fantasy. I had an idea a long time ago of five friends who after growing up together in a small medieval fantasy city decide to take up adventuring together in an old blog that is now deleted. I am thinking though it might make a good novel. It is the kind of story I would like to read so it should be fun to write.

Here on this blog I am moving slowly forward with Rogue Wizard. I must say that The Grey Wayfarer series is not so much halted as it is me taking some time to continue my research into Norse mythology before I continue with it. That series is more about quality than quantity. I am therefore taking a lot more time with it. Rogue Wizard on the other hand is placing myself into situations as the main character is basically me on a divergent timeline. This makes it easier to write. I have noted since I decided to engage my memories instead of avoid them, I have found it easier to write in general. Sill need a new muse, but I will find her somewhere I am sure.

Enjoy your weekend, there should be a Poem and A Story somewhere for you. This week coming up I will be talking about the Pagan Holiday Walpurgis on Odin’s Eye. This is the May Eve celebrations. So for you pagan’s out there do not fear, we will get past this to our own stuff.

As a final announcement, on Thursday I passed 200 days straight blogging. With this post today it will be 202. So I have 163 days to go for a whole year.

I remain,

The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.

Skaal!!!

Crossing Bifrost – The Norse World: Asgard

April 13, 2019April 13, 2019 / Ed Raby Sr / Leave a comment

Happy Saturn’s Day

Over the next nine weeks or so I am going to talk about the nine worlds of Norse Mythology. The main point being to learn about the stage on which the players of Norse Mythology act. I will start with Asgard.

Asgard is the realm of the gods known as the Aesir and is the realm of the sky connected to Midgard by the Bifrost Bridge. It is the walled realm in which the gods dwell and are protected. Outside this wall is Midgard the realm of mortals. Asgard is the highest realm of the world and is divided into 12 other smaller realms each with its own hall and principal god. The most important of these was Valhalla, the residence of Odin, king of the gods.

The Walls of Asgard are part of he mythology as a they were built by Blast. Blast using his great steed built the walls in almost six months. Loki the trickster god, tricked his horse away from the work so Blast had to finish it on his own and thus failed to finish on time and thus forfeited payment (the sun and the moon).

In the Middle of Asgard lies the plains of Ida where the gods meet to discuss and decided important matters each day. There are two halls here – one of the gods and one for the goddesses. The Well of Urd is also in Asgard underneath the one root of Yggdrasil where the gods meet each day as well.

Asgard represents all that is highest and most civilized in the world. Carved out by the gods against the chaos forces of the giants and represent all that can be accomplished through bringing those forces to order.

Every mythology has in their system of belief a place to go after death that is the highest one can achieve. In the case of the Nordic people, that place was Asgard and the hall of Odin – Valhalla. I will deal with the Halls of Norse mythology at a later time.

From a story point of view. There needs to be a place that people are always trying to get to that is the best both in life and in death. It is an old theme and very common. As we look further at the other realms they will always be contrasted with this one – Asgard.

The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.

Skaal!!!

A Skald’s Life – Business Virtues – Epic Struggle (Part 2)

April 10, 2019April 10, 2019 / Ed Raby Sr / Leave a comment

Happy Wooden’s (Odin’s) Day

Journal Entry:

The second of Loki’s Children I want to address as a metaphor is Hel, the goddess ruler of Helheim. This is land of the dead that people go to who do not die with courage or in battle. Those who die of ordinary causes or die in bed. When I wrote of her realm in my Grey Wayfarer fiction series, I said this:

Not that life in Helheim was a terrible one. It was just life continued only in a world of grey with little pleasure. She was sure some of its citizens still had sex, but it was the dull motions of a temporary relief from boredom. Mostly people continued to work and exist, but there was no feasting, no mead and very little laughter in Helheim.

I think this couples well with my Epic struggle with The Grey. If there is any challenge to my Business Virtues it is the dull monotony of living. The struggle of working and existing. To get up in the morning only to go back to bed at night wondering what you accomplished, if anything. Then you get up again to do it again. I hate that feeling and it is the epic struggle against the boredom of life that I address with the virtues of Self-Reliance, Industriousness and Hospitality.

Self-Reliance:

“Self Reliance is the spirit of independence, which is achieved not only for the individual, but also for the family, clan, tribe and nation.”

Principle: To achieve and maintain personal independence and advocate for independence in my family, state and nation.

Goal: Find a new, better paying job by the end of June 2019 or before.

Bucket List: To own and run my own successful business or company.

Achieving the prosperity that is needed for self-reliance is a wonderful struggle when you look at it in those terms. Independence is the goal. You are fighting for your personal freedom and that gives it a revolutionary quality. That takes work but it is work with a vision of the future that is strong and not just going through the motions.

The job search continues and the next three days I am not working so I have a lot to do regarding it. I am hoping something comes up soon. It is not that I hate my current job. I like parts of it very much and I like who I work with. I like working. I just know I can do better. Beside, all this education goes to waste, if I don’t find something better.

Industriousness:

“Industriousness is the willingness to work hard, always striving for efficiency, as a joyous activity in itself”

Principle: Work with enjoyment of work itself.

Goal: Finalize last requirements for my degree – Internship by May 2019

Bucket List: Write A Novel and Get it Published.

I enjoy working. My ideas about it have changed greatly as I have meditated on Industriousness these last months. There is something about work that gives a person purpose. The constant challenge of being more efficient and effective in work definitely appeals to my sense of economics.

My internship seems to have stalled a bit as I have heard nothing from the other people involved for a week now. I don’t care what happens really as long as that box gets checked. Like my non-fiction book I have floated a few ideas about my novel. Something will rise to the top.

Hospitality:

“Hospitality is the willingness to share what one has with one’s fellows, especially when they are far from home.”

Principle: To share out of my abundance to help people where I can with their life’s journey.

Goal: By March 31st of 2020, to be the leader of a support group of some kind.

Bucket List: To own a home by March 2024.

The great thing about prosperity is to share it. My minimalist mindset leaves a lot of abundance even though I don’t have much. I don’t want much either in many senses. Some of that abundance should be used to show compassion.

I still am unsure what to do with the support group idea. It will come to me but I need to spend some more time on it.

Higher Virtue – Justice:

Helheim has no real opportunity to be just or find justice. It just is and that is also something I wish to avoid in my life. I want to find justice for a few things but also want to act justly in all things. That is the goal of these virtues.

Daily Routine:

Wife: Communication / Cuddle Time
Blogging – Organize, revise, write new post for next day, 15 min. work on fiction.
Reading – half hour. Priority order: work, school, pleasure
Study / Homework / Research: half hour per day minimum or until all necessary work is completed.
Personal Business: record financial transactions, savings plan actions, budgeting, appointments, other.
Check Communications and Email after 2 pm but before 4 pm.
Weekly Routine Items
Nutrition: Daily Carb Count – 2

I removed the Latin and it will become a weekly routine item three times a week. It really just kind of hung there are days I was busy. I also change the carb count for the day to two. That makes more sense and it is more reasonable.

The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.

Skaal!!!

A Skald’s Life – Foundational Virtues – Epic Struggle (Part 1)

April 8, 2019April 8, 2019 / Ed Raby Sr / Leave a comment

Happy Moon’s Day.

Journal Entry:

In Norse Mythology Loki has three children with a giantess who, as one would expect are not exactly nice children. They are Fenrir, Jormungand and Hel. Fenrir is the wolf that will swallow Odin. Jormungand is the serpent who will be both defeated by Thor and be Thor’s demise. Hel is the Ruler of Helheim and the end ruler of all people who die of natural causes. This week I am going to talk about the epic struggle I am having and use all of these as metaphors.

Fenrir is the wolf that will end it all at Ragnarok. He will swallow both Odin and the Sun according to the mythology and end what was to change it into something new. He is the wild foundation of nature kept now in invisible chains until he gets loose and destroys that which gives all life (the sun) and destroys all knowledge, reason and strength. (Odin).

My Fenrir is that which would cause me to compromise my inner sense of value, to act in fear or lie to protect myself. Fenrir represents the forces of my life that would cause me to compromise my foundation. Something I cannot afford to do. To keep him in his chains and prevent him, from a long a possible, doing so is my goal with my Foundational Virtues.

Honor:

“Honor is the feeling of inner value and worth from which one knows that one is noble of being, and the desire to show respect for this quality when it is found in the world”

Principle – To possess a feeling of inner value about myself and my future with a desire to find the same in others.

Goal: Maintain a daily blog streak of one post per day for an entire year (365 days).

Bucket List: Hike the Northern Lakeshore Trail along the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

I have struggled with Honor the past few days. I am starting to get frustrated as to how little is happening in my life right now. The fact is this blog and doing the necessary things in life are difficult for me. I don’t like my mental state right now about myself or my future. Fenrir threatens to engulf me. I cannot let that happen.

The blog continues to be my way of keeping to the path more than anything else. I have found that there is an honor in creation and the discipline if sitting down to write every day keeps things remotely focused at least. I want to get back walking and training for that long hike too. I need more tools in my box to fight The Grey.

Courage:

“Courage is the bravery to do what is right always.”

Principle – Act with Courage at the right time.

Goal: Cross one thing off bucket list every year. Deadline March 31st

Bucket List: Go Back to Budapest, Hungary for a vacation.

Courage is not as great a problem as Honor. I feel like though Perseverance and Courage are overlapping right now. I keep getting up, doing what I need to do each day, hoping it will get better. I am not sure sometimes if my getting up every morning is and act of courage, perseverance or both some days. The thing I am determined to do is outlast my own personal Fenrir. The Valkyries can have me but not him. I will work very hard to never be afraid of him.

Truth:

“Truth is the willingness to be honest and to say what one knows to be true and right. It is often better to not say anything at all if one cannot be honest.”

Principle – To Be Honest and Speak Truth to Myself and Others. To Be Silent in the presence of Fools.

Goal: To Write a Non-Fiction Book by March 31st, 2020

Bucket List: Learn Latin by March 31st 2020 to the point I can take a test and show my self proficient.

I find myself silent a lot. Nuff’ Said.

I have written down many ideas for my non-fiction book. The problem is the one theme that comes up over and over again is to write a book about religion and what a fraud it is. I also find the Nine Noble Virtues as a theme. I don’t know if either one of these is valid. I am trying to be respectful of people who are religious, but at the same time I the fraud and bullshit of it all should be confronted and boy could I do that job. Particularly with Christianity.

Latin is probably going to have to be reserved for a three times a week thing on the weekly routine. It takes up a lot of time than I expected but I have enjoyed the opening thoughts behind why I should learn Latin.

Higher Virtue: Love:

I am writing on Love tomorrow for Of Wolves and Ravens. I will save most of my thoughts until then. Love though is keeping me going right now at times.

Morning Routine:

Review Nine Noble Virtues (NNV), Principles, Goals and Bucket List
Meditation – 3 min.
Check Communications and Email.
Paper Journal: Create Daily Log and To Do List.
Breakfast, Medications and Supplements.
Shower and Personal Hygiene
Get Dressed for the Day

This is working well, I had no problems with it this week.

The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.

Skaal!!!

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