Shea McCurdy

Feast of the Einherjar An Evening of Remembrance, Honor, and Folk Last night, Tru Folk Kindred gathered along the shores to celebrate our Feast of the Einherjar, and what an incredible evening it was. We were blessed with a wonderful turnout, good company, and an abundance of food shared among our folk. The beach was ours for the evening, and as the sun went down, the warmth of our bonfire carried us well into the night. There was something truly special about the gathering. The laughter and sounds of children playing, the conversations, the fellowship, and the feeling of being surrounded by our folk. As the evening continued, we came together to honor the Einherjar, the fallen warriors who dwell in Odin's hall, and to remember those who have gone before us. The women, having blessed the mead, returned to the circle singing songs to Freya. Their voices carried across the beach as we gathered around the fire. The men gathered with torches, preparing to set our ship aflame in honor of Odin and the Einherjar taking with it our messages and respects. Together, we honored our fallen, our gods and goddesses, our ancestors, and our folk. Watching the flames take the ship was a powerful moment, a reminder of the traditions we carry, the sacrifices of those who came before us, and the bonds that continue to bring us together. Most of all the idea that one day it will be our names called aloud, and we reflected on the stories that could be told about us. And as though the evening hadn't already given us enough, the night ended with a spectacular display of fireworks directly overhead. The thunderous booms echoed across the beach, and the sky lit up with brilliant colors. We stood beneath it all, surrounded by our folk, taking in one last incredible moment together. It was one of those evenings that reminds me why we gather, why we keep our traditions alive, and why the bonds of kindred mean so much. Our ancestors gathered around fires, shared food and drink, told stories, honored their dead, and strengthened the bonds between their people. In our own way, we continue those traditions today. My heart is full of gratitude for everyone who came, everyone who contributed, and everyone who helped make this gathering so memorable. Hail the Einherjar! Hail Odin! Hail Freya! Hail Raven Folk United!! Hail our ancestors, and hail our Tru Folk! May the bonds of our kindred continue to grow stronger with every gathering. Tru Folk Kindred Harvala Heathor Clinkenbeard Feast of the Einherjar ~ November 7, 2026

Contemplations on Germanic Law Series X - From Custom to Crown This series began with some examples of how two complementary poles can generate a productive exchange of energy. In our analysis so far, much of our attention has been directed to the collectivizing principle of tribalism, yet there is an important counterbalance to this which is the drive to pursue autonomy and self-determination. Each of these tendencies must temper the other to remain stable. How this dynamic applies to the tribe is manifested in the example of confederation. Just as a man possesses his own will, so too does the family, the kindred, and the tribe. Where interests differ, each unit may pursue its own destiny insofar as it does not violate the sanctity of the greater body, ere it weakens the social fabric which protects a folk from outside competitors or calamities. Yet the freedom for each tribe to adapt to its own circumstances, rather than obey rigid top-down commands, is what made Germanic societies so responsive to nature’s feedback. The affordance for specialization across tribes is one of the greatest strengths of the confederation model, which has always been the natural state of our Germanic ancestors. Everyone capable of governing himself was able to do so until circumstances demanded sacrificing independence for the sake of interdependence. In some cases, when distinct tribes were able to unite for a common purpose, they could defeat enormous empires on the field of battle. "They choose kings for their nobility, and commanders for their valor." (Tacitus, Germania Ch. 7) As mentioned previously in this series, the Germanic king was not an all-powerful despot who micromanaged the people of his territory. For one thing, we must consider the scale; petty kingdoms of old could be as small as tens of thousands of inhabitants, and hundreds of square miles—the size of some modern counties. Second of all, the king’s primary role was in his executive leadership for the sake of all who lived under his stewardship. Often times, this was to marshal the fighting men of the various tribes in collective defense of the common good. This is noteworthy because our ancestors were aware of the problems with bureaucracy even in ancient times. Rule by committee is fertile soil for filibustering. While a council of advisors can still prove to be useful for collecting intel and debating the outcomes of certain choices, sometimes a figurehead is needed to take decisive action when the stakes are high. The authority of the king to do this rested in the continuous results of his sound judgment. "It is my duty to the king to take the field with him if he have to defend his own land, and there be harrying against the Firthfolk; but this I deem clean beyond my duty, to go north to Mæra and defend their land." (Egil’s Saga, Ch. 3) Because there was not an overbearing central authority, the distribution of power through Germanic society was much more proportional to the individual’s contributions and active responsibilities. Nothing compelled a man or his tribe to fight for a king other than fulfilling the mutual obligation of shared defense and loyalty to such ends. If a king began placing his own interests above those of the confederation’s constituents, the tribesmen were within their rights to refuse to participate. When a king’s power rests in his ability to lead a coalition of independent factions, those factions likewise have the power to deprive him of that privilege. Kings carried a heavy burden for the responsibility they owed to their kin. They could be deposed or even sacrificed if the kingdom was struggling under their rule. The results of these relationships demonstrate the value of sovereignty and the distinction between earlier Germanic kingship and the feudal rule which gradually entered Northern Europe during the Conversion Era. We left off with the Saxons in the last article. Unlike the other tribal confederations of Germania, such as the Alamanni, Bavarians, Thuringians, Franks, and Frisians, the Saxons did not have a king. During times of war, their chieftains would choose a leader for their united tribes by drawing lots, then resume their normal course of government afterwards. Though the Saxons were described as a people rife with internal conflict, their kindred ties were quite strong, and they were especially defensive about their tribal sovereignty. Old Saxony was also the largest of the continental Germanic territories. In the Early Middle Ages, the combination of the universalist metaphysics of Christianity, the lasting legacy of late Roman conquest, and the Germanic warrior ethos made for the perfect conditions to centralize power and obliterate the distinct cultures, customs, and legal traditions of the tribal confederations of Northern Europe. In the 5th Century, the Frankish King Clovis I waged a campaign of conquest and conversion upon his neighboring Germanic tribes, all of which were brought under his rule except for the Saxons, who continuously fought the Franks and their missionaries for centuries after. Even after the submission of Widukind to Charlemagne in 785, and the eventual end of the wars in 804, the Saxons still partook in the Stellinga Revolt an entire generation after their incorporation into the Carolingian Empire. Despite their tenacity, the upheaval of their folkways was not reversed. Whereas in Heathendom, the legitimacy of a man’s authority was constrained by inherited custom, merited distribution of responsibilities, and the assent of the tribe, under Christendom, authority was increasingly brought under the supervision of royal offices and ecclesiastical institutions, derived from the understanding of the king as Yahweh’s appointed ruler, responsible for maintaining Christian order and justice. As the supreme authority, Charlemagne did away with the previous institutions which favored regional autonomy and nullified the prior expectations of mutual obligation between the king and his country by demanding obedience absent of his own accountability. As a result, Saxon society became increasingly stratified between landholders and serfs—the church being the largest landholder of all. Charlemagne’s brutal tactics, such as the destruction of the Irminsul and the Massacre of Verden, may have been a contributing factor in provoking the raids of the Viking Age as a last resort to preserve Heathen sovereignty. But Scandinavia also gradually fell to the Christian conquest over the ensuing centuries, and while the new order took on some of the distinct characteristics of Heathen Europe as it made its way north, the native religious and sociopolitical institutions were never the same. Shade McCurdy Lawspeaker, RFU

DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR QUEEN SIGRID A widow comes before a powerful king who has sought her hand in marriage..... the king asks her if she will take his foreign desert religion as her own. Her reply, "I will not turn my back on the ways of my forefathers and ancestors." And for that honest reply the widow was slapped across the face and thus began a feud that ultimately would see a powerful king brought down and killed. Queen Sigrid stood her ground against Olaf Tryggvasson. She held true to her ancestral ways and, when disrespected and assaulted, she sought, and eventually had, her revenge. Queen Sigrid was a proud woman living in a time when cultural values were on the decline. Sigrid chose to stay a widow rather than allow lesser men to have her hand in marriage. For her refusal to marry lesser men she earned the title, Sigrid the Haughty..... and yet still she held to her own way until she found a man she thought was worthy of her and what she had to offer. And when that suitor showed his less than honorable character Sigrid did not hesitate to walk away. She would not throw away her dignity for anyone. Sigrid is a woman we should all raise a horn to. Standing your ground and holding true to your values no matter the cost is definitely something worthy of praise. For our ladies she could be a role model of sorts..... all too often we see our women today sidelined and treated badly by beta types because these proud women have spurned the advances of those lesser men. They have chosen to stand alone rather than settle for some arm chair wannabe viking. Women who would rather wait for a tru man than demean themselves with some man-bun-wearing hippie or get abused by some steroid-popping egomaniac. For those proud (dare I say "haughty") women of today may Sigrid and her steadfastness be a guide for how to live their lives. Hail Queen Sigrid! - Goði Blaine Qualls

Protecting the folk at all costs is the motto I often use around the Männerbünde. What that means changes day to day; sometimes it's simple stuff like removing trolls from our chats or running background checks on our members. Sometimes it's more complicated, like removing people with ill intent from our events or building a new roof to keep our members safe and sound at night. Today what that means is helping out the members of the community who need it. This week the Männerbund is planning to deploy to the flood-stricken area of Georgia to help those communities recover from the disaster and to use the strength the Gods have given us to improve the lives of those around us. I myself will be en route to this deployment to meet with our members and lead our men from the front. We will do what is needed to help these good folks recover and to show the strength and coordination of our fine warriors. If you are interested in helping with this effort in any way please send an email to [email protected]. If you need assistance with a disaster recovery effort or you need the services of our Männerbund, you can also reach out to me or that email. Protect the folk at all costs Steven, Drottnari RFU

Why should you have a spear? Why do you need a shield, or a seax? Hávamál 38 commands us to carry them; is that reason enough? We have a tradition of carrying them and the ancestors did it; is that why? They are sacred objects with deep meaning in our lore, so that must be why, right? Wrong. “He used to say that the young men were the walls of Sparta, and the points of their spears its boundaries.” - Antalcidas, as recorded by Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, 217e. And of our Germanic peoples Tacitus writes: “The most glaring disgrace that can befall them, is to have quitted their shield; nor to one branded with such ignominy is it lawful to join in their sacrifices, or to enter into their assemblies; and many who had escaped in the day of battle, have hanged themselves to put an end to this their infamy.” - Germania Ch. 6 You need a spear and a shield because without them you have no say. You have no enforcement of your existence and anyone else who deems you unnecessary can simply remove you. Without the spear, you are nothing but words, air that can be ignored. Without the shield, you are nothing but a single arrow shot by an enemy. An easily overcome obstacle that will be passed without a second thought by those who have a strong conviction and a will to power. Our enemies are many. They take a thousand forms; they bring with them chaos and destruction and they feel no remorse for their actions. They come openly and they come quietly in the night. They make schemes and plots and probe us all for weakness and any chink in the armour they can exploit. When they come to us, they don't find one; they find our spear aimed right at their throat. For Raven Folk United, the Männerbund is our spear and our shield. We are what stands in the way when an enemy comes to our border, when the wolves come beyond the treeline. We are what fights against the darkness and its soldiers and defends our folk's right to exist. "Against the horrors of Grendel" We hold our ground and "not a foot breadth flee" to defend those behind us with all that we are, because without us, the folk can be turned into nothing at all. Our men swear to defend the folk; our men swear to train to overcome any obstacle; our men swear their uncompromising loyalty to our order, and they mean it. "Let those who can, win glory before death". The honor of each man is tied to the honor of the folk nation and that honor will be defended, viciously. If you come as an enemy, you'll find us, or we'll find you. We have the spear and shield and we keep them ready. Steven, Dróttnari RFU

Recovery Through Sacrifice I'd like to talk about Týr. Týr is a God of courage, sacrifice, and unwavering resolve. His strength is demonstrated through battle, but also through his willingness to accept personal loss when the safety of others is at stake. His story reminds us that doing what's necessary isn't always comfortable, painless, or without consequence. In Gylfaginning we are told how the Gods sought to bind Fenrir, whose growing strength threatened them. The wolf, suspicious of their intentions, demanded that one of the Gods place a hand within his jaws as a pledge. None were willing except Týr. Knowing the danger, he placed his right hand into Fenrir's mouth. When the wolf discovered that he couldn't escape his bonds, he bit off Týr's hand. The Gods succeeded in binding Fenrir, but Týr paid a permanent price. Addiction is much like a wolf we've allowed to grow within our own lives. What may begin as pleasure, comfort, or temporary escape can soon become something that threatens everything we've worked to build. Our relationships suffer, our judgment becomes clouded, our responsibilities are neglected, and the people who depend on us are left dealing with the consequences. Eventually, we must decide what we're willing to sacrifice to bring that destruction to an end. Recovery demands that we surrender things we may have spent years convincing ourselves we can't live without. Sometimes it's alcohol or drugs, but it can also be destructive habits, unhealthy relationships, familiar environments, even the temporary comfort of escaping our responsibilities. These sacrifices can be uncomfortable, even painful, but continuing down the same destructive path carries a price of its own. Týr teaches us that courage is the willingness to act, despite fear or reluctance. He didn't wait for someone else to accept the danger, he stepped forward when action was required. Recovery demands that same willingness. No one else can make our decisions for us. Others may offer guidance, encouragement, and support, but ultimately we must take responsibility for our own conduct. We must be willing to face uncomfortable truths, make difficult changes, and accept that rebuilding our lives may require sacrifices we once thought impossible. There is another lesson in Týr's sacrifice. Doing what's necessary doesn't mean we escape the consequences of what came before. Even after Fenrir was bound, Týr didn't regain his hand. His sacrifice was permanent. Recovery works much the same way. Sobriety doesn't always restore broken relationships, erase painful memories, recover lost opportunities, or undo the damage we've caused. Some consequences will remain with us. We must learn to live with them, while refusing to allow our past to determine every choice we make in the future. In Lokasenna Loki mocks Týr for losing his right hand. Týr acknowledges his loss and reminds Loki that Fenrir, too, has suffered the consequences of his binding. His response gives us another perspective on sacrifice: the loss is real, regardless of the purpose for which it was endured. We won't always be able to reclaim what we've lost, but we can determine what we do with what remains. There is also a responsibility that extends beyond ourselves. Týr's sacrifice served a purpose greater than his personal interests, and our recovery strengthens more than our own lives. Every destructive habit we overcome, every responsibility we reclaim, every promise we honor helps restore stability to our families and communities. Our sacrifices today can prevent others from suffering tomorrow. Sacrifice, however, should never be confused with needless suffering. The purpose of recovery is not to punish ourselves for our past, but to build something worthy of our future. It requires knowing what must be surrendered, what deserves to be protected, and what we're willing to work for. To honor Týr is to understand that courage requires action and sacrifice carries consequences. Responsibility doesn't end when the difficult decision's been made, it must be demonstrated through the way we live afterward. Recovery isn't just about WHAT we're willing to give up, it's about who and what we're willing to sacrifice FOR. May we possess the courage of Týr when difficult choices stand before us. May we have the strength to surrender what threatens our lives and the discipline to protect what matters most. May our sacrifices today build a stronger future for ourselves, our families, and our folk. Hail Týr! Hail Raven Folk United!!! -Desirée Alwine Raven Folk Reborn Recovery