The key to to understanding of heathen ethics is an understanding of Wyrd. In Norse heathenry, we see frequent reference to a trio of “weird sisters”, the Norns. These enigmatic figures are called Urth, Verdandi, and Skuld. In Anglo-Saxon heathenry, their names are Wyrd, Werthende, and Sculd. We view these beings as being hypostases (different aspects) of one entity, the goddess of the Underworld, who is intimately connected to the web of causuality linking all things in the cosmos. This wight is often seen as being one and the same as Holda, the goddess of the dead, and of the lower reaches of the spirit world, the region called Hel. Her appearance in heathen literature in the guise of three sisters is a mythological representation of her three states, or functions: that which has become (cause), that which is becoming (action), that which should become (effect). The wierd sisters have been likened to the Greek fates, however this is a flawed comparison. The weird sisters are not bound by time, they do not equal past, present, and future. Rather, they are three ‘modes’ in the unfolding of events in the universe, regardless of the chronology of those events. The key in understanding Wyrd is not time, but cause-and-effect. Let us invision a ‘web’, like that of a spider. Let us now say that this web is the universe, and every thread in the web a distinct action, or phenomenon. Our deeds, both great and small, weave new threads, which link other threads together in an ever-expanding network. These new connections bring new circumstances which prompt further actions, and form still more connections. Wyrd is often seen in the lore gazing into her well, in which she can see a “record” of the deeds of all beings. From this we can infer that the ancients saw the wyrd (deeds already wrought) of every being as being indelibly written on the face of reality, never to be removed or undone. Werthende, the norn ruling that which is becoming, represents the Moment, what we might call the present, if we were to use the term loosely. Werthende is the process of weaving wyrd. She is in a sense, the very act of doing. Sculd, the third “sister” is for want of a clearer description, the consequence of wyrd. The word sculd is the ancestor of our word “should”, and likewsie refers to what “should” happen, based on the turnings of wyrd. The word also has strong connections to “debt”, and is used to refer to the logical consequence of any given deed. In terms of ethics, sculd is used to describe both guilt, as in responsibilty for the outcome of one’s actions, and debt incurred thereby. To summarize, our actions are werthende, the wending or weaving of the threads. When those actions invoke a consequence, a relationship of cause and effect is created, and Wyrd is “fulfilled”. Today, many people will still pause and reflect upon witnessing an occurance that seems to be one of divine provenance, or on seeing someone suffer a just and ironic turn of fortune, and say “that was weird”. This is truer than most people realize. Two concepts very closely related to those of Wyrd and Sculd, are Orlagu and Ordæl. Orlagu, meaning ‘primal law’, or ‘that which has been layed down before’, refers to the layers of Wyrd that pertain to an individual person or entity. In a sense, one’s orlagu comprises one’s ‘personal’ wyrd. This is very similar to the Hindu concept of Dharma. Likewise, Ordæl is ‘the hand dealt to us’ as a result of our Orlagu– or put another way, the consequence incurred by past-actions. This concept is roughly analogous to the Hindu concept of Karma. From this word we have the modern “ordeal”.
Recent Comments