Forging our Mettle: Some Thoughts on the Season, and the Struggles of Life

AFA Declaration of Purpose IX:

The affirmation of the struggle of life, welcoming the challenge of that struggle, living life wholly and with joy, and facing eternity with courage.

Life’s struggle is the whetstone that sharpens the sword of spirit. We should not regret the obstacles that confront us, but use them to grow ever stronger and wiser. Nor should we let them drain away our enjoyment of life. Let us live our lives with vigor – and when it is time to die, let us do that with dignity, honor, and grace.”

The son of a king shall be silent and wise,

And bold in battle as well;

Bravely and gladly a man shall go,

Till the day of his death is come.

— Hávamál, stanza 15

As the leaves begin to turn and the air grows crisp, we feel the great wheel of the year shifting once more. Vetrnætr, our holy tide of Winter Nights, approaches. The bounty of the harvest is gathered, and our minds turn inward, toward the hearth, community, and the longer nights to come. In these moments of transition, it is natural to take stock; to look at the challenges we have faced and the mountains we have yet to climb. The world outside our holy spaces can often feel chaotic and heavy. It is easy to feel the weight of it all, to feel like a small ship on a vast, storm-tossed sea. But we must remember: we are the children of the storm, not its victims. The blood of explorers, survivors, and Gods flows in our veins. We do not pray simply for lighter burdens; we ask our Æsir for stronger backs to carry them.

Our faith is not one of passive waiting. Ásatrú is a religion of action, of deed, and of courage. Keep in mind that courage, one of our noble virtues, is not the absence of fear; it is moving forward with right action despite the presence of fear. We are called to be the smiths of our own souls. Think of the blacksmith at the forge; the raw iron is not a finished tool. It must be subjected to the searing heat of the fire, the repeated, forceful blows of the hammer, and the shocking cool of the quenching trough. The struggles we face are the fire and the hammer. They are not meant to break us, but to shape and strengthen us. Each challenge met, each fear faced, each duty fulfilled, is another blow of the hammer, beating away the slag and impurities, revealing the bright, strong mettle within. Do not resent the fire or curse the hammer, they are the tools that reveal your true form. It is this very trial by fire and force that transforms it, giving it purpose, strength, and a tempered edge. So too it is with our own inner strength, our might and main, our Megin in Old Norse; this comes from Proto-Germanic *maginą (“ability, might, power”), derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *megʰ- (“to be able”…this is also where “magic” comes from!).

This is the essence of understanding our Urð. We may not control every event that befalls us; that is the realm of Urð, woven by the Norns. But we always control our response. Our deeds and actions in the moment we respond are the threads used to weave the tapestry of our future. What will you help to weave today? Will it be a thread of courage or a thread of despair? A thread of community or a thread of isolation?

Now, as the world prepares for its Winter slumber, is not the time for our own spirits to sleep. It is the time to reinforce our shield-wall. Look to your Folk: Who in our faith community needs a kind word? Who needs a helping hand? The strength of the wolf is the pack, and the strength of the pack is the wolf. Our Innangarðr is our greatest fortress. Look to yourself: What skills can you hone? What knowledge can you gain? Strengthen yourself, for a stronger you makes a stronger community. Look to our Gods and Ancestors: talk to them, perform our holy rites of Blót and Sumbl in their honour, and praise their mighty deeds. Remember our sacred tales of Þórr’s might, Freyja’s passion, Týr’s sacrifice, and Óðinn’s relentless quest for wisdom. Remember the resilience of our Foremothers and Forefathers, who endured hardships we can scarcely imagine. Their strength is your inheritance. Draw upon it.

We are a people of resilience, courage, and honour. Let us face the coming darkness not with fear, but with the steady confidence of a people who know that even in the deepest Winter, the spark of life is kept safe, ready to blaze forth when the sun returns. Let our Folk be the keepers of that flame; in our hearts, in our homes, and in our deeds. As you stand before the forge of life, may your hands be steady, your heart be true, and your courage never fail. We have so much to be grateful for, may this never cease to fill us with joy. May our holy Æsir continue to bless you and your loved ones, and always guide your path.

Hail the Æsir! Hail the Folk! Hail the AFA!

Gyðja Lauren Anderson

landerson@runestone.org