Swain Wodening’s Blog

I am not a big fan of thews (virtues) lists. I think they over simplify what should come innate to a Heathen and is best learned by reading the Havamal, the Anglo-Saxon Maxims, Beowulf, and the Icelandic sagas. Each of those contain plenty of gnomic wisdom that will teach one the thews of Heathenry. Never the less, lists such as the Twelve Aetheling (noble) Thews, and the Nine Noble Virtues are useful in teaching beginners. They are a kind of a crash course in things you will learn in more detail later. That being said, the Twelve Aetheling Thews are: Boldness, Steadfastness, Troth, Givefulness, Guestliness, Sooth, Wrake, Evenhead, Friendship, Freedom, Wisdom, and Workhardiness.

Behind the archaic English these thews pack some meaning for Heathens.

Boldness or bravery is seen extensively in the lore. It is at the heart of many tales such as that of Sigurd or Beowulf.

Wyrd often spares the undoomed man if his courage holds. (Beowulf 572b-573)

We can bring boldness into our lives by facing life threatening situations without letting fear take over. Once when I was driving at night, I went to pass a car. Just as I was even with it lights came on about fifty feet in front of me. Some idiot had been running dark. I said a quick prayer to Woden and managed to put my car between the car I was passing and the oncoming vehicle (who had enough sense to take the shoulder). The point is I did not panic. If I had, I may have swerved into the car I was passing or onto the shoulder the other car took and hit it head on. Instead I remained calm. Soldiers over in Iraq show bravery daily as they face the rigors of war. So do policemen, firefighters, and many others that must face danger.

Steadfastness is another thew that is very much seen in the lore. Staying true to one’s beliefs, firm in them can be seen in the tale of Radbod, king of the Frisians, who when about to be baptized asked if he would be with his ancestors when he died. The missionary responded with, “no, they will be in Hell;” to which Radbod responded, “then I would rather be suffering there with them than go to heaven with a pack of beggars.”

Troth or fidelity means staying true to one’s oaths with others. It means being loyal to those whom one has agreed to be. Wiglaf keeps his troth with Beowulf when he chooses to fight the dragon with him while others fled.

Go on, dear Beowulf, do everything
you said you would when you were still young
and vowed you would never let your name and fame
be dimmed while you lived. Your deeds are famous,
so stay resolute, my lord, defend your life now
with the whole of your strength. I shall stand by you. (Beowulf 2663-2668)

Troth almost seems a rare commodity these days. Kindred oaths are broken almost as fast as they are made. Which makes troth an even more important thew today. We should be loyal to those we oath to as well as friends and family. If need be we should be willing to die for them

Givefulness or generosity is one of the great two virtues of ancient Germanic Heathenry (the other being hospitality). A good king was a “ring giver,” and the Havamal tells us:

The generous and bold have the best lives,
Are seldom beset by cares,
But the base man sees bogies everywhere
And the miser pines for presents. (Havamal 48)

Today, we can practice generosity by giving not only to our friends and family, but also to charities and those without. For more on generosity read http://swainblog.englatheod.org/?p=66

Guestliness or hospitality as stated was one of the big two virtues of ancient Heathenry. In ancient times, there were no inns or motels. One had to rely on the hospitality of others when on a long journey. So important was this that the first few stanzas of the Havamal dictate the behavior of host and guests. Typical is stanza 4:

Water, too, that he may wash before eating,
Handcloth’s and a hearty welcome,
Courteous words, then courteous silence
That he may tell his tale. (Havamal 4)

Sooth or truth means being truthful in all things. When we lie. we are laying a wyrd based on lies. This can only lead to disaster. It is therefore best to remain truthful in all things.

Wrake or revenge might seem to be an odd thew. But back in the day it fell to the family or warband to avenge a member’s death. There were no police then, and it was left to the family or warband to enforce the law. Today it means seeking justice for those dear to you.

Evenhead or equality was seen in laws regarding women. Women in ancient times were fully a werman’s (male’s) equal in most regards. They could divorce, own land inherit land, and in some cases even lead warbands and ruled tribes. Today this is a no brainer and taken for granted, but enough cultures have degraded women to make equality between the sexes a thew.

Friendship means holding dear those you count as friends. A friend should be almost family, and should be treated as such. The Havamal has this to say on friendship:

If you find a friend you fully trust
And wish for his good-will,
exchange thoughts,
exchange gifts,
Go often to his house. (Havamal 44)

Not all men were free in ancient times. Slavery was a fact of life. Still, freedom was valued. So freedom is counted as a thew.

Wisdom was highly prized amongst the ancient Germanic peoples. This is shown by the number of stanzas dedicated to it in the Havamal, not to mention Woden’s quest for it.

It is best for man to be middle-wise,
Not over cunning and clever:
The fairest life is led by those
Who are deft at all they do. (Havamal 55)

Workhardiness or industriousness means working hard at whatever one does. Laziness in ancient times brought death. One had to work hard to prepare for the harsh winters, aye, even to put food on the table. IN a non-mechanized world, everything had to be done by hand, and had to be a task.

These by all means are not the only thews, which is why one should read the Havamal, the Anglo-Saxon Maxims, and the sagas. There are many nuances as well to the thews. While wisdom was prized, it was thought best not to be overly wise, thus the Havamal’s exhortations not to be overly wise. Thews lists such as the Nine Noble Virtues or Twelve Aetheling Thews are handy for teaching those new to the folkway, but should never be relied upon for the whole of one’s knowledge of the thews. Read the lore and learn.