Examining the Aesirian Code: Protect
By Mike Taylor
Drótinn of the Mannerbund
This is the second article in a series in which I will examine the Aesirian Code of Nine, focusing on a single code per article and with the following disclaimer:
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 protection includes the circular description “the act of protecting” or “the state of being protected.” It further includes the giving or offer of “protection against.” The military does a better job capturing the essence of protection and what it means to protect, as it claims protection as part of its culture and value system. Its focus is on protection of the country, nation, or state; that is, the military expands individual protection to include group, institution, or organization. Significantly, it considers protection as a duty or an obligation of each military servicemember.
Once again, we find somewhat vague notions related to the definition and little clarity in its various layers and deeper meaning. For followers of The Way, “to protect” means so much more:
Protect with savagery your blood and kin. Let no one or nothing violate your love of “the way.” Let there always be inequity in defense. Always protect thrice as fiercely as one is attacked. Protection is the mark of the warrior spirit. Short and simple, it captures the various layers of a complex concept, connecting not only the protectors and the protected, but also including guidance on how. But what does it all mean? Let us break it down into its component parts.
Protect with savagery your blood and kin. This seems self-explanatory. Protect your blood, kith, and kin – your folk – without reservation. In matters of life-and-death, there can be no rules, no limitations. Life and the survival of our folk and “the way” is a “no holds barred” match, to borrow a term from professional “wrasslin’,” winner take all. To fail means more than losing your life; you risk losing everything. For this reason, protection is the mission and savagery is the method. Let no one or nothing violate your love of “the way.” What is “the way?” “The Way” is more than faith; it is a way of life that encapsulates our ancestral culture, customs, faith, heritage, law, society, traditions, and way of life. In short, it is everything we were, everything we strive to be, and everything we shall become again. With that in mind, we must let no threat go unmet, no violation unchallenged. If we do not protect “the way” and our love for everything it represents, then we are not worth much as a folk. We must protect it because we ARE worthy and our folk depend on us.
Let there always be inequity in defense. This section calls for intelligence, self-control, and wit, for to dole out inequitably requires creativity, craftiness, and ruthlessness. After all, some situations do not require a hammer but a scalpel. Be prepared to meet the threat head-on, sending force against force. But, also, plan to go over it, under it, around it, as well as through it. Methodology matters little when protection of all held most dear is on the line, but protectors must be smart and wily about how they go about it. One cannot protect one’s family or folk if one is locked up or dead.
Always protect thrice as fiercely as one is attacked. This does not mean that one goes out and beats people to death for no good reason. Rather, it means, at its base, to visit threefold the destruction on any would-be foe. This, for two reasons. First, it utterly destroys the threat so that it cannot rise again. Second, it sends a clear message to others who would do harm, now or in the future. Third, it demonstrates to the folk and our Gods and Goddesses that we are worthy and capable, and that we will do what must be done to protect them.
Protection is the mark of the warrior spirit. There are many ways to protect one’s own, and working to bring prosperity and safety to one’s home is the only way of accomplishing this. Toward that end, protection plays a vital role. To leave the folk and “the way” unprotected or undefended is to invite harm or death. One must channel one’s inner warrior spirit to protect oneself, one’s family, one’s kith and kin, one’s folk, and “the way.” Protection 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 protect themselves and their kin, as well as “the way.” Not only is this expected, it is right one part of one’s duty. To fail in this is to erode the fabric of the folkish nation.
Protection across and throughout the folkish nation strengthens it in the face of threats, internal or external. Even when dealing with outsiders, we must remain guarded and poised to protect, for it demonstrates our folkish essence and strength, and provides a safeguard against erosion of our heritage and traditions.
Protect yourselves and your folk in all things. This is the Aesirian way.
