Wisdom of the Havamal

The Hávamál is a sacred poem in the religion of Ásatrú ("Germanic Paganism"), traditionally attributed to the God Óðin. It consists of several books, two of which consists of philosophical and erhical maxims, one of them is a list of runic incantations and the rest are retellings of the God's quest for higher knowledge and wisdom.

Óðin is a God many regards as the highest one in our religion. Known as a relentless seeker of truth, his mythology is filled with inspiring stories of overcoming obstacles and looking for the higher truth. His cult is well documented and goes back at least to ancient times, mostly practiced by intellectuals and wisdom-seekers, while also incorporating ecstatic and shamanic elements. All written and oral knowledge, as well as law and poetry originates from him.

The Hávamál teaches us to live virtous lives by demonstrating the faulty logic in many people's behaviours. It is a practical and rational guide that grounds morality on an argumentative basis. The virtues of friendship, hospitality, gift-giving and caution are both to be understood literally AND in a sense that they apply to the nature of reality as well. It is a sober, modest, cautious and open-minded ethics that is akin to philosophies like Stoicism, the Bushido or modern virtue-ethics.

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