Examining the Aesirian Code: Honor
By Mike Taylor
This article is part of a series in which I will examine the Aesirian Code of Nine, focusing on a single code per article. In contrast to deeper and purely esoteric examinations by members of the gothar class, my series of articles will be from the lay practitioner. Each will contain aspects from the exoteric and esoteric, but will not focus on one or the other. My goal is to provide a ground-eye view of the Aesirian Code of Nine based solely on my own personal experiences, research, and study. As with all articles I write, my examinations are mine and mine alone. I neither seek to impose my perspectives on any of the folk nor dictate any single means of belief, interpretation, or view. I simply mean to share my experiences in the hope they foster conversation, discussion, and further inquiry.
According to the dictionary, the idea of honor refers to “a keen sense of ethical conduct.” The military also claims honor as an important value. For the Army, it means “carrying out, acting, and living the values of respect, duty, loyalty, selfless service, integrity, and personal courage in everything.” The Marines consider honor one of three core values in that it serves as a guide for “ethical and moral behavior” and compels one to act responsibly, to fulfill one’s obligations, and to hold oneself and others accountable for every action.
One thing all these definitions have in common is that they suffer from containing vague notions and do not convey the weight honor carries with it to those who fully grasp the concept. For followers of The Way, honor means so much more:
Honor yourself with truth and fairness. Your word is your bond. Give yourself word power by adhering to it. Honor your family and friends with reverence and respect. Honor your love and The Way above all else. Honor is the mark of strength and nobility.
A fine capture of a complex concept, yes? But what does it all mean? Let us break it down into its component parts.
Honor yourself with truth and fairness. You must be honest, true, and fair to yourself before you can be honest, true, and fair with others. To do otherwise is to rest your honor on a foundation built on sand. Furthermore, you cannot expect honesty, truth, and fairness from others if you are not honest, truthful, and fair with yourself. All is interrelated and connected. The phrase “be true to yourself” reflects this concept.
Your word is your bond. Before the Modern Era, one’s word was one’s bond. Agreements were made with a word, a handshake, or some other form of personal and meaningful gesture. If one’s word was broke, there were consequences. These notions are mocked today, as ethics and morality have given way to greed and
litigiousness. Many old concepts have lost their meaning, including the bond made by word between people.
Give yourself word power by adhering to it. Words used to mean things at one time. You can bring that back by adhering to your word. How? Say what you mean and mean what you say. It really is as simple as that. You can add gravity to this concept by adhering to your word; that is, by backing up your words with deeds. No more empty boasts, claims, or statements. Avoid “coulda, woulda, shoulda” and focus on “will.” Start small – use your words to make small statements, then back them up with small deeds. Strengthen this foundation so you avoid outrunning your headlights.
Honor your family and friends with reverence and respect. This should go without saying, but – unfortunately – it must be said. Be respectful and reverent to your inner circle, to include family and friends, kith and kin. They are the ones on whom you rely the most, and who rely on you the most. Maintain respect, even reverence, to strengthen those bonds that mean so much. The family is the basic component of the folkish nation.
Honor your love and The Way above all else. Treat all you love with dignity, respect, and reverence. This is an extension of the previous statement. Love is the glue that binds the folk, not only to everyone within it, but also to The Way. Our bond with The Way is crucial. Without The Way, the folk are empty shells of humanity; without the folk, The Way withers and disappears. By honoring both love and The Way, we keep both alive and well, able to flourish and grow, becoming stronger over time.
Honor is the mark of strength and nobility. Each of these three – strength, nobility, and honor – are interrelated. Strength without nobility and honor is mere brutishness. Nobility without strength and honor is a farce. Honor without strength and nobility is a hollow. We need each in enough measure to complement the other, thus making us worthy of honor from others. We must seek self-improvement to live up to expectations – ours and those others have in us. Seek honor by becoming strong and noble.
Honor is a crucial component of living by the Aesirian Code of Nine. Discipline and self-control are key attributes of this. All members of the folk need to demonstrate honor in their dealings with each other. Not only is this expected, it is right. This includes themselves as individuals, with friends and family, kith and kin, and within the band, clan, tribe, and the nation as a whole. To fail in this is to erode the fabric of the folkish nation.
Honor across and throughout the folkish nation strengthens it in the face of threats, internal or external. Even when dealing with outsiders, we must remain honorable, for it demonstrates our folkish essence and strength.
Retain your honor in all things. This is the Aesirian way.
