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Words and Deeds II

By: Hjuka Harugari

Heidengruozen!


>Point well presented and well received. I have often seen a ridiculous oath taken in a sacred setting at one Althing, only to hear of that persons disappearance from the Folk community at the next. I have also seen oath's taken with good intent which then becomes a catalyst to bring out that persons inner self, most often for the worse. I see an oath as the bringing together of many sacred ideals, that are melded together to resound throughout the Nine Worlds. It is indeed a fool who takes an oath lightly, and unfortunately there seems no shortage of such in the greater Heathen community we find ourselves in today.
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...being a living, holy thing...a deeply mystical manifestation unto itself, an oath has an uncanny way of bringing True Being to light...that we constantly see men making this or that vow and so easily casting that aside, failing to see the binding nature of the thing itself, is of no real surprise for sure, given the lack of understanding that seems to plague so many in the general Heathen community (and like you said, it's a fool who takes such things in a trivial light)....part of the problem often tends to be a lack of legitimate structure where such things are taking place, particularly the absence of a qualified and acting Thauling/Thule who can measure such a thing and make a necessary challenge if need be (in warding the luck of everyone involved)...giving the benefit-of-doubt, we can safely assume that a number of folk who might otherwise know somewhat better are often muddled in their thoughts when, say, at samal...being filled with not only the intoxicating brew on a more mundane level, but becoming increasingly more intoxicated with the inspiration/Being of the Divine Essence of the Gods themselves...and so, you may indeed see words spoken strictly of the heart/emotions which may be true enough in one regard, but not full of the steel necessary to keep what is spoken bound in Being...having someone who isn't so wholly full of his drink who can weigh matters and so keep the luck of the overall rite at a due height is a key component many miss...and sure, that's not some guarantee that a man will or won't stray from his plighted words or shild, we are responsible for our own actions...but, as I've seen in my own experience, it can help to bring a guy back down to earth a bit and consider what he's saying before jumping into the deep end of things without considering the consequences....being 'full of the Wode' , divinely inspired, etc is great in poetic composition or when singing the praises/praise of deeds of Gods and Heroes...but can be quite a dangerous thing when it comes to plighted troth ;)

>For myself I speak sparingly, give oath seldom and after great reflection on its consequence, and with all good will at my disposal attempt always to keep true to my words. I have found that the simpler the oath, the more difficult in the keeping. I also think that oft times it is the wiser man that refuses to take an impromptu oath. Anyway, my two cents.
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...wise words, brother!
Hjuka