The following text was written by Frank Ottosson, a board member of the Nordic Asa-Community, for a Facebook group associated with the Nordic Asa-Community.

Oaths and Oath Rings – The Bonds of Honor and Law in the Old Norse Society

In Old Norse society, an oath was one of the most binding actions a person could undertake. A promise was not merely a verbal assurance but a sacred obligation, a bond between individuals, the gods, and örlög (fate) itself. Swearing an oath meant placing one’s life, honor, and future in the hands of the gods, and breaking it was to defy both human and divine laws.

Oaths permeated all aspects of society and were used in legal proceedings, alliances, trade, warfare, and daily life. At the thing (assembly), an oath could decide a dispute when evidence was lacking. The one swearing an oath before the legal assembly often had to place their hand on an oath ring, a sacred object made of silver or iron, which was kept in temples or carried by chieftains and jarls. These rings were not merely symbolic—archaeological finds from Uppsala, Uppåkra, and Torsbjerg bog show that such rings were indeed used in ritual and legal contexts. In Njál’s Saga, the law-speaker Hrut swore an oath before the thing to assert his right to an inheritance, and in Eyrbyggja Saga, an accused man attempted to prove his innocence through oath-taking. The oath functioned as a legal guarantee, and anyone who lied under such an oath risked not only their reputation but also the wrath of the gods.

But oaths were not sworn only in court. In war, the oath was a way to bind men to one another and to their chieftain. Warrior bands swore oaths of loyalty by touching an oath ring, a custom mentioned in the Kings’ Sagas. Breaking such an oath was an insult to both men and gods and could lead to blood vengeance. In the Völsunga Saga, Sigurd swore loyalty to King Gunnar but broke his oath through deceit and manipulation, setting off a chain of vengeance and bloodshed. Similar themes appear in The Lay of Atli, where betrayal and broken oaths are described as the cause of King Atli’s downfall.

For a Norseman, oaths were also part of everyday life. In marriage, vows of fidelity were made; in trade, oaths were sworn regarding the quality of goods; and between friends and foster brothers, oaths could seal eternal loyalty. In Laxdæla Saga, a broken oath of loyalty led to a prolonged feud where honor demanded bloody retribution. Those who broke their word risked being labeled a níðingr, an outcast with no rights or protection in society. Being called a níðingr was one of the worst insults a person could suffer, and there were few ways to restore one’s honor after such a disgrace.

The gods do not look kindly upon oath-breakers. Loki, who once swore a blood-brother oath with Odin but later betrayed the gods, is destined to be bound in a cave while venom from a serpent slowly drips onto him. His fate reflects the inevitable justice that befalls those who break their oaths. The gods demand loyalty and honor, and those who violate their oaths can expect divine wrath to find them sooner or later.

The oath was not only a promise between people but also a connection between humans and the gods. In the Landnámabók, an oath ring in the temple at Uppsala is mentioned, used in religious ceremonies and legal proceedings. Similar finds have been made in Norway, where large silver and iron rings connected to temples and chieftain seats have been discovered. In Heimskringla, it is told how kings and chieftains carried such rings and had their men swear oaths of loyalty by placing their hands upon them.

Thus, oaths were more than just words. They were a link between people and gods, between the past, present, and future. Archaeological finds, sagas, and legal texts show how deeply rooted oath-taking was in Old Norse society. To swear an oath was to take örlög (fate) into one’s own hands, to place one’s life in the scales of the gods. Keeping one’s oath was to preserve one’s honor, one’s rights, and one’s place in the world. Breaking it was to lose everything. And even today, the gods watch over the oaths that are sworn, and those who break them do so to their own ruin.

How do you view oaths today? How seriously do you take the promises you make?
And what does it truly mean to keep one’s word in a world where oaths and promises have, in many ways, lost their value?

Took these pictures last year in Wales I loved every second of it with nature I loved the sun and the rain. I love what nature brings for Norse.

SOME NEW OPINIONS ON LOKI

Loki is needed in the cosmology he brings about a lot of change through chaos he has his utility we can see Loki in our lives when things happen to us that seem bad but ultimately result in learning something new or entering a better phase of our lives now would I venerate Loki never I do not encourage chaos or want to bring it about but much like his devotees self titled Lokeans seem to have the same utility in the heathen community as Loki does in the cosmology when it comes to calling out certain people or shedding light on certain things or wrong doings Lokeans seem to have an affinity for it and most of it causes chaos but after that chaos emerges a new understanding or a new outlook

Does anyone know of any smaller businesses in the UK that make and sell norse jewellery using natural materials for items like pendants and an arm rings?

further down.

Nordiska Asa-samfundet inleder samarbete med Nordliv.net!

Vi har en stor och glädjande nyhet att dela med er!
Vi är glada att meddela att vi nu har inlett ett samarbete med butiken Nordliv.net, som kommer att fungera som återförsäljare av våra produkter!
Genom vårt nya partnerskap med Nordliv.net får våra medlemmar och alla som delar vår tro och tradition en enkel möjlighet att köpa våra kläder och produkter.

Nordliv.net – en butik för dig som brinner för vikingatid, nordisk mytologi, hantverk och friluftsliv. Nordliv.net är mer än en butik – det är en plats där historia möter nutid, där forna tiders traditioner förenas med en modern livsstil. Här hittar du noggrant utvalda produkter för både historiska entusiaster och nutida äventyrare, från kläder och smycken prydda med kraftfulla symboler till föremål för friluftsliv och hantverk inspirerade av vårt kulturarv.

Sortimentet kommer att fortsätta växa, så håll utkik efter nya produkter och lanseringserbjudanden!

Besök NORDLIV.NET och upptäck vårt gemensamma sortiment!

PS.
Gå in på Nordliv.net Facebook för erbjudande och nyheter.
DS.

Nordic Asa-Community begins collaboration with Nordliv.net!

We have exciting and joyful news to share with you!
We are pleased to announce that we have now entered into a partnership with the store Nordliv.net, which will serve as a reseller of our products!
Through our new collaboration with Nordliv.net, our members and everyone who shares our faith and tradition will have an easy way to purchase our clothing and products.

Nordliv.net – a store for those passionate about the Viking Age, Norse mythology, craftsmanship, and outdoor life. Nordliv.net is more than just a store – it is a place where history meets the present, where ancient traditions merge with a modern lifestyle. Here, you will find carefully selected products for both historical enthusiasts and contemporary adventurers, from clothing and jewelry adorned with powerful symbols to outdoor and craft items inspired by our cultural heritage.

The selection will continue to grow, so keep an eye out for new products and launch offers!

Visit NORDLIV.NET and explore our shared collection!

PS.
Visit Nordliv.net's Facebook for offers and news.
DS.

Unnamed Celtic Tribal Ally.
He holds a shield and that medicine shield is before the world, and made up of the world.
Side profile, in guardian battle stance.
In the background are waters he protects, seen as falls and mists that become streams, springs. In the shape-shifting that is going on, The top of his headdress is the bright red representative of the blood. In the blood is also the bright red of plant colors, as in the blood feeding the Earth.

At the very front of the warrior side profile, you might make out, looking diagonally downward, the Bull, who's tongue comes out waving and twisting, issuing forth raging life and intense magic. Heaving primordial air. Sky element. A woad spiral emanates of his forehead, which is like the top of the waterfalls here.

The red continues and you can see it is the mouth in the mask of the elements expressing and giving him an animal power. The antlers or horns point forward as a gesture, at the very top central in the space.
You might see dragon or serpentine faces and presence throughout, making a complex knotwork.

I'm sober, I like to mention.
I often get asked 'so, what were you on, and can I have some?'

With the amount of energies that come through, being not sober can actually be detrimental. That, and it's extremely hard to sit still and discipline. I couldn't tell you that unless I have tried in the past.
Being more kinetic, if I'm not sober, I'll wander to and fro.

I wanted to do something that marks the Spring transition and taps into the that aspect of my lineage of my personal tree.

Woad is intentionally everywhere interacting with the vibrant green.
It has elements of fertility mixed with battle. Medicine and healing mixed with power and strength.

Such a spectacular performance of Blind Guardian's The Bard's Song and Valhalla from Wacken 2016. Brings chills ... especially the last 3 minutes where the crowd sings and the drummer plays with them. Amazing!

The Connection Between the Sinking of the Titanic
and World War I
PART 1

"Recently, I became intrigued by the connection between two significant events: the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 and the outbreak of World War I in 1914. Historically, these events are closely spaced, and from an occult perspective, a connection can also be discerned. To initiate and conduct a war, a substantial amount of energy is required, and it seems this energy was gathered through the sacrifice of the passengers who perished on the Titanic. But how can we truly determine if these two events are linked?"

Between 1912 and 1914, there was also the year 1913, which saw another crucial event that influenced the trajectory of the 20th century up to the present day. This event is as significant as the onset of World War I in 1914: the establishment of the Federal Reserve System, which later became effectively the world bank.
Conspiracy theories suggest that the sinking of the Titanic was primarily connected to this event rather than the beginning of World War I. These theories assure us that among the Titanic's passengers were industrialists, bankers, and magnates who were staunchly opposed to the formation of the Federal Reserve System. This system is not a government entity of the United States but rather a consortium of private banks. The project had grand plans and great prospects. The sinking of the Titanic is said not to be linked to sacrificial offerings or even ritualistic murder, but rather to the assassination of undesirable opponents. This is the narrative put forth by conspiracy theories.
The subsequent formation of conditions that escalated into the war of 1914 is a consequence of the events of 1913. For such a new systemic formation to arise, an event that disrupts the economy and resources of those who might oppose it more seriously than mere words is generally required. The competitors included the states of Europe and the Russian Empire, which was still a monarchy at the time. A few provocative steps were taken, and the war was unleashed, incorporating both ritualistic actions and occult motives.

Ksenia Menshikova

I´ve found about the Arpa-Guitar existance. Not only with 21 strings, 26... and there´s even like a triple set of strings instrument (video is not new at all, and there´s a lot of stuff in youtube).
Does anyone here play it?
https://youtu.be/jyUxmqXAFjo?si=w395yA8oCYWYxlwe

I am a bit busy this morning watching important government hearings. Seeing if trump and his criminal allies will rule without oversight. I bet putin is also watching.