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In trying to explain the underlying philosophy of Asatru, one Asatruar whose website I read jokingly referred to the film Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure -- "Be excellent to each other."

Yup. That's a good nutshell for just about any religion unless it has been misdirected from its original form; something I feel happens more and more as one sets up institutions and hierarchies.

The goal of the modern Asatruar is to live a free, happy and productive life by using the deeds of our ancestors and Gods as both good and bad examples. While we offer praise and worship to our Gods, we do not beseech them for intervention. Abject worship is not our way. The Gods are our friends, allies and kin. We honor them as such and perhaps ask their advice, but most Asatruar will agree that one's fate is in one's own hands. One's life is what one makes of it. Our spirituality helps us to make it through rough times, but our religion is not a crutch - nor is it a "club in the future" as Freud described Christianity. The Gods are not our judges. If anyone is, it is our kin and descendants.

I can not easily list all the ideas that guide Asatru thought. It is a diverse community, as I have said. But here are a few of the ideals most hold dear...

Many Asatruar utilize "The Nine Virtues". These watch words for good conduct and healthy living were derived from study of the ancient sources - the Sagas and the Eddas. A modern invention, they attempt to encapsulate the values held dear by the old Scandinavians. There are a few variations, but here is the basic set...

Courage
Quite simply, doing what is right in the face of fear. Standing by one's principles.

Troth
The dictionary definition of Troth is:
NOUN:1a. Betrothal. b. One's pledged fidelity. 2. Good faith; fidelity.
TRANSITIVE VERB:Inflected forms: trothed, troth·ing, troths To pledge or betroth.
ETYMOLOGY:Middle English trouthe, trothe, variant of treuthe, from Old English trowth, truth.

To Heathens, this word represents our relationship to our Gods, Ancestors and the Wights. It is more expansive than simply "faith" as the Abrahamic traditions tend to use that word. It is also not a servile relationship. That is to say, we do not believe we are nothing without our Elder Kin or are entirely beholden to them the way some religions express their own faiths.

Rather, Troth is the bond of a family - a bond of trust and affection. It is an acceptance of togetherness and shared responsibility - give and take for the common good. As we see it, all the various forms of life, both material and metaphysical, are eventually striving towards similar goals and desires. "We're all in this together."

Honor
As the Havamal, a part of the Poetic Edda, says...

"Cattle die, and kinsmen die,
And so one dies one's self;
But a noble name will never die,
If good renown one gets."

Honor means understanding how one's actions will affect and appear to the community. One builds a good reputation and thus respect. It is a goal of the honorable person to set a good example for his or her family, friends, children and anyone else who follows. We are all teachers in this respect. It is the glue that holds the other virtues together as well as society.

Loyalty
Quite simply, being loyal to those one is connected to. This includes the keeping of oaths - something the ancients held in the highest esteem since to break an oath to another often led to war and suffering.

Hospitality
The Havamal says...
"Fire he needs who with frozen knees
Has come from the cold without;
Food and clothes must the farer have,
The man from the mountains come."

"Water and towels and welcoming speech
Should he find who comes to the feast;
If renown he would get, and again be greeted,
Wisely and well must he act."

And the Loddfafnismal, another Eddic poem, concurs...

"I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,-
Profit thou hast if thou hearest,
Great thy gain if thou learnest:
Curse not thy guest, nor show him thy gate,
Deal well with a man in want."

Our ancestors lived in wild lands, often cut off by miles from their neighbors. Thus, just as the cowboys of the American west would never turn a man away from a campfire and would always share water, the old Scandinavians would offer warmth and safety. It was a tribal expression of the need to help one's fellow man and thus support the community.

Industriousness
Life is for living and it takes work. Working hard, however, has its rewards. Not only does it keep you alive, fed, housed, etc. but it also gives you a sense of accomplishment - essential to the growth of the soul. We are not talking about enjoying drudgery here. We are talking about building and creating.

Perseverance
Our ancestors were survivors. They fought bravely, explored widely, and never gave up in the face of terrible odds. A good example is the strength shown by those Norsemen who settled in Greenland. Another is that of the men who fought for freedom against Olaf the Fat, the infamous king who attempted to convert the Norse to Christianity by the sword.

Self-discipline
Focus on what is important. Prioritize. Then stick to your tasks, dreams, goals and ideals. Though it seems hard at first, Self-discipline may lead to serenity and clarity. It can help you to see what you really do not need and to let go of it.

Self-reliance
"Freedom" gets bandied about a lot as a word. But truly, the ability to do things for oneself is a great feeling. The Havamal says...

"Forth shall one go, nor stay as a guest
In a single spot forever;
Love becomes loathing if long one sits
By the hearth in another's home.
Better a house, though a hut it be,
A man is master at home;
A pair of goats and a patched-up roof
Are better far than begging."

"Better a house, though a hut it be,
A man is master at home;
His heart is bleeding who needs must beg
When food he fain would have."

If you are prepared to live and act on your own strengths and assets, you will feel free. You will have confidence-building experiences. You will also be better prepared to assist others. Many strong individuals together make for a strong and flexible society - this is how Self-reliance and Hospitality dovetail together.

As a FAQ on the Irminsul Aetir puts it, "From these, individuals can decide the appropriate course of action for a given situation and honor themselves, their families, their communities, and their Gods by striving to do what is right."

Frith
Frith is a hard quality to pin down. It has been translated as "joyful productivity" or "joy in duty". Frith essentially is that joyful and carefree sense of well-being one has when all of one's needs are met. Hence, it applies to the individual as well as to the community and the happiness that comes from successful endeavor. Frith is a feeling of spontaneity and good cheer. One might feel "full of frith" at a feast where one is surrounded by good friends and kin and is suddenly inspired to say great words. Frith is also the ability to have good cheer and a "devil may care" attitude in the face of adversity - even one's own impending death. Some might call it "happiness from within".

An online associate of mine, Rachel Watkins, describes it as, "protection, sanctuary, asylum, security, safety and reconciliation."

One Asatruar scholar, Yngona Wisniewski, goes further in one of her essays/lectures...

"Frith is about maintaining security and refuge of the community; which may include conflict & war; both are forms of imposed Frith; when there is a threat to the Inningart, for example. Likewise, amongst ourselves, in conversation - in person or via the internet - what may be perceived as an arguement may merely be a means of obtaining Frith. Afterall, reasoned discourse is necessary in human relation. Frith then, is the special protection offered by the Tribe
(bonds of Kinship). Being part of a Hearth, Sippe or Tribe, is to enjoy the Frith of that unit.

Which includes places of safe-haven - asylum, Ve'bonds, Thing sites - equally is it means an opportunity to reconcile differences - a Law court, for example. This then makes Frith a matter of Law. Remember this: Law is the Tribe & Frith is the ideal state of a Tribe.

Likewise as it is a matter of Honor. Honor is "worth, worthyness" of self, Hearth, Sippe & Tribe. It is self-esteem & self- responsibility. To fall out of Honor - to be dishonorable - is to loose not just respect, but to break Frith & damage Luck.

Frith is about our DEEDS, not just our words. It is our commitment to kith & kin. Which is why Frith belongs to the Inningart - the place of Kinsmen against the Ausengart.

So what happens if a kinsmen acts un-Lawfully? Must we stand by them? Certainly not. Frith begins within, it then extends to the safety & well-being of the Hearth, Sippe & Tribe. If an individual were to break Frith, that would bring dis-Honor to their folk. The ill-Luck attracted by their deeds becomes the ill-Luck of their kin. This is the core of logic behind out-Lawry.

Frith is not peace, but peace is the result of Frith. Frith is not a virtue, but an expectation of every Heathen. Frith is not a mere word, but spiritual & social obligation. If our deeds do not bring Honor or benefit to our Kin, then such actions are not worthy of engagement (let alone contemplation)."

Generosity
Part and parcel of Hospitality, Generosity was always highly regarded by the old Norse. A leader was expected to be generous towards his followers. He was expected not to hoard his wealth and resources, but to share fairly with his kin and comrades. Gift-giving is a concrete outward sign on friendship and respect. It is the concept at the heart of Asatru sacrifice ceremonies (blots).

Moderation
The old Norse knew that too much of anything was a bad thing. Greed and avarice were despised as was discourtesy and irresponsible excess (particularly drunkenness). One should live within one's means and in a natural, balanced way. This is sometimes substituted for Self Discipline in the Nine Virtues.

Closeness to Nature
We are all a part of Nature. Most Asatruar would agree with Frank Lloyd Wright who said, "I put a capital N on nature and call it my church."

It is ideal to be able to live close to Nature and to work in harmony with it. Experiencing, understanding and appreciating Nature is the best way to feel close to the Gods which are aspects of Nature itself. There is no differentiation between "natural" and "supernatural". As one Asatruar once put it, "We may be Gods-in-the-making, but we are members of the animal kingdom nonetheless!"

This is the principal reason Asatru may be considered an Earth Religion among other Pagan systems. Many of our holidays are celebrated outdoors and reflect the seasons, solstices and equinoxes, and the rhythms of Nature. All of this our forefathers were keenly aware of, being hunters and farmers. Many Asatruar venture into the "wilderness" on a regular basis using hikes or camping trips to create worshipful, transformative experiences.

Kith and Kin
Asatruar respect and adore their families. We tend to have a strong sense of our familial roots and regularly honor our ancestors who include the Gods themselves. Most consider the family to be the cornerstone of a good, meaningful life as well as a frithful community. We recognize that all of life is an intersecting web of families.

"Be kindly to friend and kin, and reward not their trespasses against thee; bear and forbear, and win for thee thereby long enduring praise of men." (Volsung Saga, c.21)

Cleanliness, Dignity and Courtesy
Yes, cleanliness! Throw away that stereotype you have about "dirty barbarians". Norsemen bathed, using the sauna, at least once a week and were careful to dress neatly and as well as their income would allow. This was considered essential for both gaining respect from others and showing one's respect for them. Similarly, in a culture founded upon public speaking and the open sharing of one's feelings, dignity and poise were highly valued. Courtesy was always expected of one, especially when a guest.

From the Havamal...

"A paltry man and poor of mind
At all things ever mocks;
For never he knows, what he ought to know,
That he is not free from faults."

"A man shall not boast of his keeness of mind,
But keep it close in his breast;
To the silent and wise does ill come seldom
When he goes as guest to a house;
(For a faster friend one never finds
Than wisdom tried and true.) "

And from Sögumál...

"Be not a braggart for if any work done be praise worthy, others will sing your praises for you."

Wisdom
Finally, the Scandinavians valued learning and wisdom. As Asatruar today, we hope to exemplify this and consider ourselves always to be on a path of growth and learning.

As my favorite quote from the Havamal says...

"A better burden may no man bear
For wanderings wide than wisdom;
It is better than wealth on unknown ways,
And in grief a refuge it gives."

"He alone is aware who has wandered wide,
And far abroad has fared,
How great a mind is guided by him
That wealth of wisdom has."