Moral and situational ethical guidelines in certain groupings of Odinism and Ásatrú
TheNine Noble Virtues,NNV, or9NV are two sets of moral and situational ethical guidelines within certain groupings ofHeathens, typically those with folkish views such asOdinists and members of theÁsatrú Folk Assembly (AFA). One set was codified by John Yeowell[1] (a.k.a. Stubba) and John Gibbs-Bailey (a.k.a. Hoskuld) of theOdinic Rite in 1974,[2][3] and the other set codified byStephen A. McNallen of theAsatru Folk Assembly in 1983.[4][5] However, others believe that the earlier set, the one the Odinic Rite claim they codified, were originally put together and labelled as the Nine Noble Virtues (the “9NV”) byEdred Thorsson during his time with the original AFA.[6] They are supposedly based onvirtues found in historicalNorse paganism, gleaned from various sources including thePoetic Edda (particularly theHávamál and theSigrdrífumál),[3] and as evident in theIcelandic Sagas).
TheNine Charges are a different list of more explicitly phrased moral or ethical guidelines codified at about the same time.[7]TheSix-Fold Goal is yet another list of virtues, given as "Right, Wisdom, Might, Harvest, Frith and Love" byStephen Flowers (a.k.a. Edred Thorsson) in 1989.[8]
TheAesirian Code of Nine is also used by some practitioners ofHeathenism, consisting of "honor, knowledge, protect, flourish, change, fairness, conflict, balance and control."
The list of "Nine Noble Virtues" is due to either John Yeowell (a.k.a. Stubba)[1] and John Gibbs-Bailey (a.k.a. Hoskuld), members ofOdinic Rite, or alternatively due toEdred Thorsson, at the time member of theAsatru Free Assembly.[7]Stephen A. McNallen compiled a similar list under the title "Some Odinist Values" in theAsatru Folk Assembly journalThe Runestone.[5]
The Nine Charges were codified by the Odinic Rite in the 1970s.[3]
To maintain candour and fidelity in love and devotion to the tried friend: though he strike me I will do him no scathe.
Never to make wrongsome oath: for great and grim is the reward for the breaking of plighted troth.
To deal not hardly with the humble and the lowly.
To remember the respect that is due to great age.
To suffer no evil to go unremedied and to fight against the enemies of Faith, Folk and Family: my foes I will fight in the field, nor will I stay to be burnt in my house.
To succour the friendless but to put no faith in the pledged word of a stranger people.
If I hear the fool's word of a drunken man I will strive not: for many a grief and the very death groweth from out such things.
To give kind heed to dead people: straw dead, sea dead or sword dead.
To abide by the enactments of lawful authority and to bear with courage the decrees of the Norns.
Snook, Jennifer (2015).American Heathens: The Politics of Identity in a Pagan Religious Movement. Temple University Press. pp. 70–72.ISBN9781439910979.
Snook, Jennifer (2015).American Heathens: The Politics of Identity in a Pagan Religious Movement. Temple University Press. p. 71.one of the original lists, published by the Odinist Committee [old Odinic Rite], founded in 1972, was referred to as the 'Nine Charges'
