Why Männerbunde?
When we say "you should join the mannerbund" you may think something like "what do I get out of that?" and that's a valid question. It is the runic law of Gebo that tells us that a gift begets a gift. So I will tell you what the mannerbund offers you in the hope that you take the gift being offered and feel that it is just compensation for the effort you must put forth. First and foremost we offer brotherhood. Every man needs his brothers, because no man is strong enough to take the world on himself and all men who try are quickly defeated and cast out of history. The power of a single man should not be underestimated yet we must understand that the true power of a man lies in his ability to act as a link in the chain of many men and that the chain itself is the brotherhood. Should we have been raised in the culture and traditions of our ancestors you would not have hesitated to join the mannerbund because it would be clear to you the wealth and strength that it offers you as the foremost way our ancestors acquired those things. We are now used to a society in which wealth and power are often unearned and so the great power of the mannerbund has been forgotten. What is forgotten though may be remembered and the power still lies in this ancient tradition. You may not have been gifted wealth, you may not have been gifted position, but you still have the ancient path to obtain it, and that itself is a gift. We offer that path to those who have the strength and drive to stand up and ask for it. Within the mannerbund, you will find men with skills that may be shared, wealth that may be spread, and power that may be distributed. This is what brotherhood is and this is the gift that we offer you in return for your efforts. When you look upon the dangers and darkness that seem to be taking over the world you will feel small and weak, but when you have a brotherhood and other men to rely upon you will realize that the darkness is not insurmountable and that the path lies before you. Trade sweat for brotherhood and join us in the warband.
Protect the folk at all costs
Steven, Drottnari RFU
⚡️ ravenfolkunited.org
When we say "you should join the mannerbund" you may think something like "what do I get out of that?" and that's a valid question. It is the runic law of Gebo that tells us that a gift begets a gift. So I will tell you what the mannerbund offers you in the hope that you take the gift being offered and feel that it is just compensation for the effort you must put forth. First and foremost we offer brotherhood. Every man needs his brothers, because no man is strong enough to take the world on himself and all men who try are quickly defeated and cast out of history. The power of a single man should not be underestimated yet we must understand that the true power of a man lies in his ability to act as a link in the chain of many men and that the chain itself is the brotherhood. Should we have been raised in the culture and traditions of our ancestors you would not have hesitated to join the mannerbund because it would be clear to you the wealth and strength that it offers you as the foremost way our ancestors acquired those things. We are now used to a society in which wealth and power are often unearned and so the great power of the mannerbund has been forgotten. What is forgotten though may be remembered and the power still lies in this ancient tradition. You may not have been gifted wealth, you may not have been gifted position, but you still have the ancient path to obtain it, and that itself is a gift. We offer that path to those who have the strength and drive to stand up and ask for it. Within the mannerbund, you will find men with skills that may be shared, wealth that may be spread, and power that may be distributed. This is what brotherhood is and this is the gift that we offer you in return for your efforts. When you look upon the dangers and darkness that seem to be taking over the world you will feel small and weak, but when you have a brotherhood and other men to rely upon you will realize that the darkness is not insurmountable and that the path lies before you. Trade sweat for brotherhood and join us in the warband.
Protect the folk at all costs
Steven, Drottnari RFU
⚡️ ravenfolkunited.org
❤11⚡11🔥4
War, strife and competition, are frequently regarded as in themselves detestable and immoral, but our ancestors discovered that life means strife, and that therefore courage is the root of all virtue.
Our highest idea is not to shrink from the unavoidable , but to face it squarely and unflinchingly.
Our chief God is a God of war,
And our noblest consummation of life will be death of the battlefield.
We despise the coward
Who was afraid of wounds or death.
We are Raven Folk!
HAIL RAVEN FOLK!
HAIL OUR MIGHTY GODS!
⚡ ravenfolkunited.org
Our highest idea is not to shrink from the unavoidable , but to face it squarely and unflinchingly.
Our chief God is a God of war,
And our noblest consummation of life will be death of the battlefield.
We despise the coward
Who was afraid of wounds or death.
We are Raven Folk!
HAIL RAVEN FOLK!
HAIL OUR MIGHTY GODS!
⚡ ravenfolkunited.org
❤🔥15⚡8❤4
"Hail to thee o' Goddess of the dawn, beautiful maiden of the North.
Lady Ostara, you who brings life back to the land after its long winter slumber..... Welcome!"
Here on the Northern Plains Spring is finally coming to the land. The mornings still have a bit of chill to them, but by the afternoon Sunna is up and the air is noticeably warmer.
Rabbits, deer, and geese are on the move after the long cold winter. And farmers are chomping at the bit to get spring planting started.
Once again the cycle has turned and life is beginning to renew itself. Soon the grass will begin growing and the trees will start to leaf out. And we, the sons and daughters of Europa, will also begin to venture forth more. We will start our backyard gardens and think about the hiking trips and other outdoor adventures soon to come.
Let the turning of the cycle serve as a reminder for each of us that our lives are also shaped by cycles...
As the land bursts forth with new life now can be a time of renewal and rebirth for us as well. Want to start an exercise routine, now is the time. Go for a walk, or better yet, maybe a 5 mile jog(ok, maybe thats a bit more ambitious than some were thinking).
Want to eat a little healthier? Get that garden ready for planting, home grown tomatoes are far better than store bought, pesticide filled things. Go camping, plan a hike, go fishing...
Just get outside and revel in the return of life to the land. Enjoy a glorious dawn and give a hearty Heilsa to Sunna; spend a night out under the stars with the family and give a hearty Heilsa to Mani.
Truly begin living again and enjoying the wonders that are all around us.
Hail Ostara!
Gothi Qualls
ravenfolkunited.org
Lady Ostara, you who brings life back to the land after its long winter slumber..... Welcome!"
Here on the Northern Plains Spring is finally coming to the land. The mornings still have a bit of chill to them, but by the afternoon Sunna is up and the air is noticeably warmer.
Rabbits, deer, and geese are on the move after the long cold winter. And farmers are chomping at the bit to get spring planting started.
Once again the cycle has turned and life is beginning to renew itself. Soon the grass will begin growing and the trees will start to leaf out. And we, the sons and daughters of Europa, will also begin to venture forth more. We will start our backyard gardens and think about the hiking trips and other outdoor adventures soon to come.
Let the turning of the cycle serve as a reminder for each of us that our lives are also shaped by cycles...
As the land bursts forth with new life now can be a time of renewal and rebirth for us as well. Want to start an exercise routine, now is the time. Go for a walk, or better yet, maybe a 5 mile jog(ok, maybe thats a bit more ambitious than some were thinking).
Want to eat a little healthier? Get that garden ready for planting, home grown tomatoes are far better than store bought, pesticide filled things. Go camping, plan a hike, go fishing...
Just get outside and revel in the return of life to the land. Enjoy a glorious dawn and give a hearty Heilsa to Sunna; spend a night out under the stars with the family and give a hearty Heilsa to Mani.
Truly begin living again and enjoying the wonders that are all around us.
Hail Ostara!
Gothi Qualls
ravenfolkunited.org
❤24⚡8❤🔥4
AT FARA
Prospective and purpose intertwined in the mist,
For a seeker of knowledge and the Valkyrie’s kiss.
Long sought-after wisdom,
though the price paid cut deep,
I find true peace and joy now,
On top of Himinbjörg peak.
As the Bifrost gate beckons,
Seems the veil keys inside,
Now I travel worlds vastly,
Both outward and mind.
My vibration pushed onward,
As my Fylgja rides song,
This world’s vessel is my hammer,
With each day it grows strong.
Now I hear voices and see things,
As if men who are mad,
Though my Hugr’s more clear now,
And my Minni stays glad.
I’ll face all with a deep cheer,
And a grin on my face,
There is no need to race me,
Just try and keep pace.
We are mortal and man-born,
All connected as one,
Yet separate, united,
As the soul’s concept began.
We embrace our true selves now,
And call out to our Gods,
We need all just to listen,
You can hear as they come.
By Michael Sessumes
Hildingr, RFU
⚡ ravenfolkunited.org
Prospective and purpose intertwined in the mist,
For a seeker of knowledge and the Valkyrie’s kiss.
Long sought-after wisdom,
though the price paid cut deep,
I find true peace and joy now,
On top of Himinbjörg peak.
As the Bifrost gate beckons,
Seems the veil keys inside,
Now I travel worlds vastly,
Both outward and mind.
My vibration pushed onward,
As my Fylgja rides song,
This world’s vessel is my hammer,
With each day it grows strong.
Now I hear voices and see things,
As if men who are mad,
Though my Hugr’s more clear now,
And my Minni stays glad.
I’ll face all with a deep cheer,
And a grin on my face,
There is no need to race me,
Just try and keep pace.
We are mortal and man-born,
All connected as one,
Yet separate, united,
As the soul’s concept began.
We embrace our true selves now,
And call out to our Gods,
We need all just to listen,
You can hear as they come.
By Michael Sessumes
Hildingr, RFU
⚡ ravenfolkunited.org
❤11⚡7❤🔥4🔥2
A Handfasting Among the Folk
Jamie & Bruce Turner ~ Bound in Oath, Held in Frith
This weekend, we gathered for the handfasting of Jamie and Bruce.
From the moment we stepped into that space, there was a knowing, this was more than a ceremony. This was oath work, witnessed by the Gods, held by those who understand what it means to stand in frith and honor.
Jamie and Bruce stood before us and spoke their vows with joy and strength. You could feel it in their words, especially in the way they looked at one another, in the way they stood, and rooted.
And they were not standing alone.
There were family, friends, and Raven Folk present. Raven Folk who showed up solid, steady, and true. The kind of Folk who show up not just with their bodies, but with their presence, their awareness, and their support. The kind who understand that when one binds their life in oath, we all stand witness, and we all hold that thread.
That is something I felt deeply.
Throughout the day, there was a natural bonding happening. People coming together, sharing space, laughter, stories, and dances in between. This is how kindred is built, not in words alone, but in time spent, in presence given, and in showing up for one another when it matters.
A powerful moment came during the blót.
The Raven Folk Women stood out in the galdr, and something aligned in a way that is hard to put into words. We galdred Gebo, giving gifts to the Gods and to Bruce and Jamie. Breath, movement, and voice came together as one.
It was synchronized.
It was natural.
It was real.
You could feel the current move through us, for the couple, for the moment, for what was being sealed.
Moments like that remind me why we do this work. Why we gather. Why we continue to walk this path with intention and with each other. This is living tradition, not something we read about, but something we build and experience together.
Jamie and Bruce were bound in more than ribbons that day.
They were held in the presence of the Gods.
They were witnessed by their Folk.
They were supported by a community that stands in truth, in strength, and in frith.
This is what Raven Folk is.
And this is how we move forward, together.
Harvala Heathor Clinkenbeard
⚡ ravenfolkunited.org
Jamie & Bruce Turner ~ Bound in Oath, Held in Frith
This weekend, we gathered for the handfasting of Jamie and Bruce.
From the moment we stepped into that space, there was a knowing, this was more than a ceremony. This was oath work, witnessed by the Gods, held by those who understand what it means to stand in frith and honor.
Jamie and Bruce stood before us and spoke their vows with joy and strength. You could feel it in their words, especially in the way they looked at one another, in the way they stood, and rooted.
And they were not standing alone.
There were family, friends, and Raven Folk present. Raven Folk who showed up solid, steady, and true. The kind of Folk who show up not just with their bodies, but with their presence, their awareness, and their support. The kind who understand that when one binds their life in oath, we all stand witness, and we all hold that thread.
That is something I felt deeply.
Throughout the day, there was a natural bonding happening. People coming together, sharing space, laughter, stories, and dances in between. This is how kindred is built, not in words alone, but in time spent, in presence given, and in showing up for one another when it matters.
A powerful moment came during the blót.
The Raven Folk Women stood out in the galdr, and something aligned in a way that is hard to put into words. We galdred Gebo, giving gifts to the Gods and to Bruce and Jamie. Breath, movement, and voice came together as one.
It was synchronized.
It was natural.
It was real.
You could feel the current move through us, for the couple, for the moment, for what was being sealed.
Moments like that remind me why we do this work. Why we gather. Why we continue to walk this path with intention and with each other. This is living tradition, not something we read about, but something we build and experience together.
Jamie and Bruce were bound in more than ribbons that day.
They were held in the presence of the Gods.
They were witnessed by their Folk.
They were supported by a community that stands in truth, in strength, and in frith.
This is what Raven Folk is.
And this is how we move forward, together.
Harvala Heathor Clinkenbeard
⚡ ravenfolkunited.org
❤🔥28⚡7❤5
DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR JARL HAAKON
Today we take a few moments to honor Jarl Haakon, de facto king of Norway from 975 to 995. He is certainly a man deserving of a horn or two. He was a strong follower of the ancestral gods of his people; he even claimed descent from holy Odin Himself.
Haakon was a mighty warrior and at one time helped his neighbor to the south, Harald Bluetooth, do battle with Otto II, the Holy Roman Emperor. For his help, Harald forcibly converted Haakon to the desert faith and wanted to send priests back to Norway with Haakon. Haakon played along until his boats were well away from the shore... then, just like a true son of Odin, Haakon ordered the priests overboard and sailed home free of the Middle Eastern taint. For nearly another 20 years, Haakon ruled his lands and the Old Ways thrived.
Maybe we can't throw priests overboard these days, but we can do our utmost to not allow monotheism or its sister creed, political correctness, to creep into our lives. We can stand strong in our beliefs even when it might not be the easiest thing to do. We can, maybe, give our children a life without the alien influences so prevalent today.....turn off the TV and the phone and get outside for the afternoon. By staying trú and standing up for our ancestral ways, maybe we can be the example that brings others home to our noble faith.
Hail Jarl Haakon!
- Goði Blaine Qualls
⚡️ ravenfolkunited.org
Today we take a few moments to honor Jarl Haakon, de facto king of Norway from 975 to 995. He is certainly a man deserving of a horn or two. He was a strong follower of the ancestral gods of his people; he even claimed descent from holy Odin Himself.
Haakon was a mighty warrior and at one time helped his neighbor to the south, Harald Bluetooth, do battle with Otto II, the Holy Roman Emperor. For his help, Harald forcibly converted Haakon to the desert faith and wanted to send priests back to Norway with Haakon. Haakon played along until his boats were well away from the shore... then, just like a true son of Odin, Haakon ordered the priests overboard and sailed home free of the Middle Eastern taint. For nearly another 20 years, Haakon ruled his lands and the Old Ways thrived.
Maybe we can't throw priests overboard these days, but we can do our utmost to not allow monotheism or its sister creed, political correctness, to creep into our lives. We can stand strong in our beliefs even when it might not be the easiest thing to do. We can, maybe, give our children a life without the alien influences so prevalent today.....turn off the TV and the phone and get outside for the afternoon. By staying trú and standing up for our ancestral ways, maybe we can be the example that brings others home to our noble faith.
Hail Jarl Haakon!
- Goði Blaine Qualls
⚡️ ravenfolkunited.org
⚡25❤7❤🔥2
RAVEN FOLK KINGDOM
In all my travels, I find that even the most honest of men still occasionally lie. Even if they lie only to themselves, few seldom see themselves as they truly are. Alas, the truth is in the gallows as men face their fates, and the unavoidable inevitability of death somehow seems to always peel away all masks and misconceptions.
In the end, as the Norns carve and bind our fates, men have an uncertain allotment of time here on Midgard. In this there is a great sense of urgency in our endeavors. To quote the sentiments of the Most High: "No one knows when the wolf is coming."
In this, I believe personally that it is not only our duty but the very purpose of our creation to rage against the chaos and sacrifice ourselves willingly on the pyres of conflict, in the pursuit of purpose over pleasure, so that generations to come might have a glimpse of truth and peace heading into the future. We must not only be the example but both metaphorically and very literally rip our very right to exist out from the jaws of this wolf before being devoured!
Victory is within us! We have only to seize it!
"A noble man should be silent, thoughtful, and bold in battle.
But every man should also be cheerful and happy, till the inevitable day of death."
(Stanza 14, Hávamál)
In the face of overwhelming odds and many who call me their enemy, I smile. I sing the songs and prayers of my dead ancestors, for I am their voice on Midgard. We sing together with our Gods, and in this I am never alone. Even when alone, I am surrounded and shielded. Their spears and might course through my veins and race toward the inevitable culmination of victory!
One people, united in purpose.
We must bend this age to our will and ways, not make exceptions or excuses. No more will this age of filth hold us, kinsmen. As we break these fetters, I look to my left and right. Men, women, and whole families swelling our ranks. Daily our kingdom grows!
The Age of Atonement and Conquest is upon us. In the next few months, we will be pushing hard and relentlessly toward the attainment of our tribal soil.
As we progress forward, I can only promise that I aim to build a community full of peace and frith within our walls. In this, if any stand in front of our vision or wish us harm, I will be the first to meet the clash, as ultimately I will always only be a servant to my folk.
In future conflicts I remember this:
War, strife, and competition are frequently regarded as in themselves detestable and immoral, but our ancestors discovered that life means strife, and that therefore courage is the root of all virtue.
Our highest ideal is not to shrink from the unavoidable, but to face it squarely and unflinchingly.
Our chief God is a God of war,
and our noblest consummation of life will be death on the battlefield.
We despise the coward
who was afraid of wounds or death.
We are Raven Folk!
HAIL RAVEN FOLK!
HAIL TO OUR HOMELAND!
HAIL OUR MIGHTY GODS!!
⚡ ravenfolkunited.org
In all my travels, I find that even the most honest of men still occasionally lie. Even if they lie only to themselves, few seldom see themselves as they truly are. Alas, the truth is in the gallows as men face their fates, and the unavoidable inevitability of death somehow seems to always peel away all masks and misconceptions.
In the end, as the Norns carve and bind our fates, men have an uncertain allotment of time here on Midgard. In this there is a great sense of urgency in our endeavors. To quote the sentiments of the Most High: "No one knows when the wolf is coming."
In this, I believe personally that it is not only our duty but the very purpose of our creation to rage against the chaos and sacrifice ourselves willingly on the pyres of conflict, in the pursuit of purpose over pleasure, so that generations to come might have a glimpse of truth and peace heading into the future. We must not only be the example but both metaphorically and very literally rip our very right to exist out from the jaws of this wolf before being devoured!
Victory is within us! We have only to seize it!
"A noble man should be silent, thoughtful, and bold in battle.
But every man should also be cheerful and happy, till the inevitable day of death."
(Stanza 14, Hávamál)
In the face of overwhelming odds and many who call me their enemy, I smile. I sing the songs and prayers of my dead ancestors, for I am their voice on Midgard. We sing together with our Gods, and in this I am never alone. Even when alone, I am surrounded and shielded. Their spears and might course through my veins and race toward the inevitable culmination of victory!
One people, united in purpose.
We must bend this age to our will and ways, not make exceptions or excuses. No more will this age of filth hold us, kinsmen. As we break these fetters, I look to my left and right. Men, women, and whole families swelling our ranks. Daily our kingdom grows!
The Age of Atonement and Conquest is upon us. In the next few months, we will be pushing hard and relentlessly toward the attainment of our tribal soil.
As we progress forward, I can only promise that I aim to build a community full of peace and frith within our walls. In this, if any stand in front of our vision or wish us harm, I will be the first to meet the clash, as ultimately I will always only be a servant to my folk.
In future conflicts I remember this:
War, strife, and competition are frequently regarded as in themselves detestable and immoral, but our ancestors discovered that life means strife, and that therefore courage is the root of all virtue.
Our highest ideal is not to shrink from the unavoidable, but to face it squarely and unflinchingly.
Our chief God is a God of war,
and our noblest consummation of life will be death on the battlefield.
We despise the coward
who was afraid of wounds or death.
We are Raven Folk!
HAIL RAVEN FOLK!
HAIL TO OUR HOMELAND!
HAIL OUR MIGHTY GODS!!
⚡ ravenfolkunited.org
❤14⚡12❤🔥4
Rune-Rooted Discipline:
The runes are not decoration, they are forces. Óðinn did not inherit them, he seized them through ordeal. That act alone sets the standard. Wisdom is taken through sacrifice, not handed to the undisciplined.
Overindulgence stands in direct opposition to the Runic current.
ᚢ -- Uruz is raw strength. Not chaotic force, but directed vitality. When appetite runs unchecked, strength leaks away. Addiction and excess drain the very life-force Uruz represents. Discipline preserves it.
ᛏ -- Tiwaz is honor and rightful alignment. Most closely associated with Tyr, its presence in a working reminds the practitioner that integrity requires sacrifice. If you claim devotion yet cannot deny yourself, the Rune stands hollow in your hand.
ᚾ -- Nauthiz is necessity, constraint, friction, the fire that tempers iron. Recovery lives here. The discomfort of restraint is not punishment, it is forging. Nauthiz teaches that pressure creates strength. Avoiding that pressure creates weakness.
ᚲ -- Kenaz is the controlled flame of awareness. Overindulgence smothers that flame in smoke. Clarity requires fuel and oxygen. Self-control provides both. Without it, perception dims.
The runes demand embodiment. To carve them, speak them, or meditate upon them while living in excess is contradiction. Each symbol calls for alignment between Rune and self. If the inner life is chaotic, the outer practice becomes empty gesture.
Recovery, is not merely behavioral correction, it is runic alignment. It is choosing to live Uruz rather than squander it. To stand in Tiwaz rather than betray it. To endure Nauthiz rather than flee it. To guard Kenaz rather than extinguish it.
The runes were won through blood and will. To walk an Óðinnic path while surrendering to overindulgence is to forget that price. Discipline is not optional, it is the language the runes are written in.
Do you know how to to write them?
Do you know how to read them?
Do you know how to paint them?
Do you know how to test them?
Do you know how to ask them?
Do you know how to bless them?
Do you know how to send them?
Do you know how to offer them?
Have you the personal discipline that is required to walk this path?
Hail Óðinn!!!
Hail Forni!!!
Hail Raven Folk United!!!
-Desirée Alwine
Raven Folk Reborn Recovery
The runes are not decoration, they are forces. Óðinn did not inherit them, he seized them through ordeal. That act alone sets the standard. Wisdom is taken through sacrifice, not handed to the undisciplined.
Overindulgence stands in direct opposition to the Runic current.
ᚢ -- Uruz is raw strength. Not chaotic force, but directed vitality. When appetite runs unchecked, strength leaks away. Addiction and excess drain the very life-force Uruz represents. Discipline preserves it.
ᛏ -- Tiwaz is honor and rightful alignment. Most closely associated with Tyr, its presence in a working reminds the practitioner that integrity requires sacrifice. If you claim devotion yet cannot deny yourself, the Rune stands hollow in your hand.
ᚾ -- Nauthiz is necessity, constraint, friction, the fire that tempers iron. Recovery lives here. The discomfort of restraint is not punishment, it is forging. Nauthiz teaches that pressure creates strength. Avoiding that pressure creates weakness.
ᚲ -- Kenaz is the controlled flame of awareness. Overindulgence smothers that flame in smoke. Clarity requires fuel and oxygen. Self-control provides both. Without it, perception dims.
The runes demand embodiment. To carve them, speak them, or meditate upon them while living in excess is contradiction. Each symbol calls for alignment between Rune and self. If the inner life is chaotic, the outer practice becomes empty gesture.
Recovery, is not merely behavioral correction, it is runic alignment. It is choosing to live Uruz rather than squander it. To stand in Tiwaz rather than betray it. To endure Nauthiz rather than flee it. To guard Kenaz rather than extinguish it.
The runes were won through blood and will. To walk an Óðinnic path while surrendering to overindulgence is to forget that price. Discipline is not optional, it is the language the runes are written in.
Do you know how to to write them?
Do you know how to read them?
Do you know how to paint them?
Do you know how to test them?
Do you know how to ask them?
Do you know how to bless them?
Do you know how to send them?
Do you know how to offer them?
Have you the personal discipline that is required to walk this path?
Hail Óðinn!!!
Hail Forni!!!
Hail Raven Folk United!!!
-Desirée Alwine
Raven Folk Reborn Recovery
⚡19❤6🔥3
Ausa Vatni-The Rite of Water and Name
Part 2
Why water?
To the Germanic mind, water is not just a cleaning agent; it is the primary element of memory and fate. Our cosmology teaches us that the roots of Yggdrasil are watered by the Well of Urd. This well contains the Logr—the layers of all that has been. When we sprinkle a child with water during the naming ceremony, we are metaphorically drawing from the Well of Urd. We are "hallowing" the child with the collective memory of the ancestors. We are washing away the "unformed" nature of the Utangard and imprinting the child with the Orlog (fixed law) of their lineage. This isn't about washing away "sin"—a concept foreign to our folk—but about charging the child with the Megin (power) of their ancestors.
The most critical part of the ceremony is the speaking of the name itself. In Germanic spirituality, names were rarely chosen based on "trends" or "how they sounded." They were pulled from the family tree. This is a practice of soul-sharing.
We believe that a portion of the Hamingja (family luck and spirit) resides within the name. By naming a child after a grandfather, a great-aunt, or a legendary hero of the clan, we are inviting the virtues of that ancestor to manifest in the child. The Ausa Vatni acts as the "seal" on this spiritual transfer. As the water touches the child’s brow, the name is locked into their Hugr (mind/will). This creates a vertical transmission of excellence. The child is not starting from zero; they are standing on the shoulders of everyone who bore that name before them. They are given an identity that connects them to the past and prepares them for the future.
While the father performs the physical act, it is Thor who presides over the hallowing. Thor is the protector of the Innangard. He is the god who draws the line between the folk and the chaos of the giants.
By performing Ausa Vatni, the family calls upon Thor to "hallow" the new addition. We are asking the God of the Hammer to place his protection around the child's cradle. This ritual turns the home into a sacred fortress. It tells the wandering spirits and the "Loki-influences" of the world that this child is spoken for. They are under the protection of the Thunderer, and they are bound by the laws of the folk.
The importance of this ceremony extends beyond the infant. It is a profound moral lesson for the parents and the gathered kindred. To sprinkle a child with water is to accept counsel and responsibility. It is a vow to provide the child with the "walls" of character and tradition. You cannot sprinkle a child with the water of the ancestors and then raise them in a vacuum of values.
For the Kindred, it is a reminder that the child belongs to the whole community. The witnesses to the Ausa Vatni are pledging to be the aunts, uncles, and mentors who will help the child carry the weight of their name.
In a world that feels increasingly unmoored, the Germanic naming ceremony is an anchor. It is the first "rite of passage" in a life that should be defined by many. By maintaining the practice of Ausa Vatni, we are ensuring that our children are not lost to the "gray masses" of modern consumerism. We are giving them a name that means something. We are giving them water that carries the chill of the northern wells. We are giving them a place within the sacred circle of the folk. When we pour that water, we aren't just naming a baby; we are forging a link in a chain that will never be broken so long as the folk remember to stand by the well.
Hail the new life. Hail the name. Hail the folk.
~Rognvald The Wise
RFU Gothi
⚡ ravenfolkunited.org
Part 2
Why water?
To the Germanic mind, water is not just a cleaning agent; it is the primary element of memory and fate. Our cosmology teaches us that the roots of Yggdrasil are watered by the Well of Urd. This well contains the Logr—the layers of all that has been. When we sprinkle a child with water during the naming ceremony, we are metaphorically drawing from the Well of Urd. We are "hallowing" the child with the collective memory of the ancestors. We are washing away the "unformed" nature of the Utangard and imprinting the child with the Orlog (fixed law) of their lineage. This isn't about washing away "sin"—a concept foreign to our folk—but about charging the child with the Megin (power) of their ancestors.
The most critical part of the ceremony is the speaking of the name itself. In Germanic spirituality, names were rarely chosen based on "trends" or "how they sounded." They were pulled from the family tree. This is a practice of soul-sharing.
We believe that a portion of the Hamingja (family luck and spirit) resides within the name. By naming a child after a grandfather, a great-aunt, or a legendary hero of the clan, we are inviting the virtues of that ancestor to manifest in the child. The Ausa Vatni acts as the "seal" on this spiritual transfer. As the water touches the child’s brow, the name is locked into their Hugr (mind/will). This creates a vertical transmission of excellence. The child is not starting from zero; they are standing on the shoulders of everyone who bore that name before them. They are given an identity that connects them to the past and prepares them for the future.
While the father performs the physical act, it is Thor who presides over the hallowing. Thor is the protector of the Innangard. He is the god who draws the line between the folk and the chaos of the giants.
By performing Ausa Vatni, the family calls upon Thor to "hallow" the new addition. We are asking the God of the Hammer to place his protection around the child's cradle. This ritual turns the home into a sacred fortress. It tells the wandering spirits and the "Loki-influences" of the world that this child is spoken for. They are under the protection of the Thunderer, and they are bound by the laws of the folk.
The importance of this ceremony extends beyond the infant. It is a profound moral lesson for the parents and the gathered kindred. To sprinkle a child with water is to accept counsel and responsibility. It is a vow to provide the child with the "walls" of character and tradition. You cannot sprinkle a child with the water of the ancestors and then raise them in a vacuum of values.
For the Kindred, it is a reminder that the child belongs to the whole community. The witnesses to the Ausa Vatni are pledging to be the aunts, uncles, and mentors who will help the child carry the weight of their name.
In a world that feels increasingly unmoored, the Germanic naming ceremony is an anchor. It is the first "rite of passage" in a life that should be defined by many. By maintaining the practice of Ausa Vatni, we are ensuring that our children are not lost to the "gray masses" of modern consumerism. We are giving them a name that means something. We are giving them water that carries the chill of the northern wells. We are giving them a place within the sacred circle of the folk. When we pour that water, we aren't just naming a baby; we are forging a link in a chain that will never be broken so long as the folk remember to stand by the well.
Hail the new life. Hail the name. Hail the folk.
~Rognvald The Wise
RFU Gothi
⚡ ravenfolkunited.org
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