How to Live by Heathen Ethics - Courage, truth, honour, and frith explained for the modern world.
To live by Heathen Ethics is to walk an old path with modern feet.
In ancient times, before the rise of Christianity across northern Europe, people lived by customs and codes that were deeply woven into their daily lives. There were no written commandments or strict creeds. Instead, a person’s worth was judged by deeds, loyalty, and honour - not by belief or ritual alone.
These values guided warriors, farmers, craftspeople and rulers alike. They were the glue that held together families, tribes and nations. And although the old religions were driven underground for centuries, their ethics have never truly died.
In the 20th and 21st centuries, a growing number of people - whether followers of Ásatrú, Heathenry, Norse/Germanic Paganism or simply seekers of truth - have looked back to those older ways. They find wisdom in the courage of their ancestors, strength in the old codes and purpose in living by personal honour rather than external rule.
This is not only for believers in the old gods, but for anyone who wants to build a life of integrity, purpose and peace in a world that often feels hollow and directionless.
We begin with the four ancient cornerstones of the Heathen way - Courage, Truth, Honour, and Frith and then explore the Nine Noble Virtues, Raven Code, and Wolf Code, each showing a different expression of the same timeless moral foundation.
Part One: The Four Core Virtues
These four (Courage, Truth, Honour, and Frith) are the roots from which all other virtues grow. They were not codified in one place, but can be seen throughout the Poetic Edda, the Sagas, and even Anglo-Saxon writings such as Beowulf.
1. Courage - The Root of Strength
Meaning in the Old World
For the Norse and Germanic peoples, courage was the highest virtue. Life was harsh and uncertain - full of war, disease, storms, and hunger. A person without courage could not survive, let alone thrive. Yet courage was not only the bravery of warriors. It was also moral courage - the ability to face hardship, loss, or moral challenge without surrendering one’s integrity.
In the Hávamál, courage is tied to wisdom. Foolish bravery (rushing into danger without thought) is scorned. True courage is steady, grounded and aware of consequence.
Modern Meaning
In today’s world, courage is still essential - though the battles have changed. We may not face wolves and raiders, but we face fear of failure, judgement or loss.
Courage means daring to live truly, speak honestly and pursue your purpose, even when others do not understand.
It also means facing your own inner shadows (your weaknesses, pain, and doubts) with open eyes.
How to Live Courage Today
Speak up when silence allows harm.
Take responsibility for your life, even when it’s hard.
Step beyond comfort - growth begins where safety ends.
Admit fear without shame, but do not let fear lead you.
Remember: every act of courage strengthens your spirit for the next trial.
2. Truth - The Foundation of Honour
Meaning in the Old World
Truth (sōþ in Old English, sannr in Old Norse) was sacred. To speak falsehood was to weaken your word, your name and your bond with others.
In a world without written contracts, a man’s word was his oath and oaths were binding before gods and kin alike.
In the Sigrdrífumál, the Valkyrie Sigrdrífa teaches:
“Swear no false oaths, for untruthful oaths are heavy burdens.”
Truth also meant integrity - living so that your actions matched your words.
Modern Meaning
In the modern world, truth is often twisted, traded, and hidden. To live truthfully is to be a light in a time of fog.
Truth today means:
Being honest with others and yourself.
Avoiding the poison of deceit and gossip.
Living authentically, without masks or false pride.
To live by truth is to be reliable - the kind of person others can trust without question.
How to Live Truth Today
Say what you mean and mean what you say.
Keep your promises or make amends if you cannot.
Seek truth in knowledge, not just belief.
Face uncomfortable facts rather than comforting lies.
Remember that truth is not cruelty - speak with kindness and clarity.
3. Honour - The Measure of Worth
Meaning in the Old World
Honour was the invisible treasure that defined a person’s life.
In the sagas, a man without honour was as good as dead. It was earned through deeds, courage, loyalty and fairness. A person’s reputation was a living thing - fragile and precious.
Honour was not pride or arrogance. It was humility in action - the quiet strength of someone who could be trusted. Even enemies could respect an honourable foe.
Modern Meaning
Today, honour may seem old fashioned, yet it’s the foundation of personal integrity.
Honour means doing what is right when no one is watching, keeping your word even when it costs you, and treating others with fairness even when you could gain by deceit.
How to Live Honour Today
Keep your word as sacred.
Admit your mistakes and repair the harm.
Treat everyone with fairness, regardless of rank or wealth.
Let your reputation be built on truth and kindness, not appearance.
Remember that your name is your legacy - guard it with care.
4. Frith - The Bond of Peace
Meaning in the Old World
Frith (Old English friþ, Old Norse friðr) means much more than peace. It means harmony, trust and right relationship - between people, families and even the land itself.
Frith was sacred. It was what kept households and tribes united. Breaking frith (through betrayal, greed or violence) was a grave disgrace that brought ruin.
Modern Meaning
In our fractured modern world, frith is more needed than ever. It means cultivating peace in your home, community, and heart. It means standing by your kin and helping those who help you.
Frith is built by loyalty, kindness, and forgiveness - not weakness, but strength guided by wisdom.
How to Live Frith Today
Build trust with honesty and patience.
Avoid needless conflict; speak to heal, not to harm.
Keep peace in your home - both physical and emotional.
Help your friends and family, not only when convenient.
Seek reconciliation, but know when to walk away from those who break faith.
Part Two: The Nine Noble Virtues
It’s true that the Nine Noble Virtues were first written down in the 1970s by figures such as John Yeowell of the Odinic Rite and Stephen McNallen of the Ásatrú Free Assembly - organisations which, in their early years, were criticised for associations with racial exclusivity and nationalist ideas. This history must be acknowledged honestly. Their creators were not perfect people and their personal views do not reflect the full heart of Heathenry or the wisdom of the old ways.
Yet the virtues themselves - Courage, Truth, Honour, Fidelity, Discipline, Hospitality, Industriousness, Self-Reliance, and Perseverance - are not political. They are ethical concepts drawn directly from ancient sources like the Hávamál and the Sagas, which long predate any modern ideology. These values belong to no one group or founder; they arise from the shared human search for integrity, community, and strength.
The fact that flawed people helped record them does not corrupt their meaning. Just as a tarnished hand can still hold a torch that gives light, so too can wisdom survive poor company. The Nine Noble Virtues endure because they speak to timeless human truths - to live bravely, act honestly, keep one’s word, and support one’s kin.
In reclaiming and practising them today, modern Heathens and seekers give these virtues new life - free from prejudice, rooted in respect and guided by honour rather than exclusion. The values are sound; it is how we live them that defines their worth.
The Nine Noble Virtues and Their Meaning
1. Courage – The strength to do what is right despite fear.
Without courage, no virtue can act.
2. Truth – The practice of honesty, integrity, and faithfulness.
Truth is the root of trust and honour.
3. Honour – A clean name earned through right action.
Honour is your reputation, built by deeds.
4. Fidelity – Loyalty to family, friends, and chosen faith.
To be faithful is to be steadfast.
5. Discipline – Self-control and order in thought and action.
Without discipline, courage becomes recklessness.
6. Hospitality – Generosity and respect to guests and strangers. A warm heart builds friendship and frith.
7. Industriousness – Diligence and pride in honest work.
Effort brings strength; idleness brings decay.
8. Self-Reliance – The ability to stand on your own feet.
Freedom grows from responsibility.
9. Perseverance – Endurance through hardship.
A noble soul does not quit the field.
Living by the Nine Noble Virtues
In modern life, these virtues can guide everything from personal behaviour to community ethics:
In work, practise Industriousness, Discipline, and Honour.
In family, show Fidelity, Hospitality and Truth.
In challenges, act with Courage, Perseverance and Self-Reliance.
The virtues are not about pretending to be perfect. They are about striving (each day) to be better, wiser and truer than the day before.
Part Three: The Raven Code
The Raven Code is a modern expression of heathen ethics inspired by Odin’s ravens - Huginn (Thought) and Muninn (Memory).
It appeared among modern Heathen and Norse pagan groups in the 1990s and 2000s as a poetic, warrior-like code of conduct.
The Raven Code calls followers to live with wisdom, courage and awareness - combining intellect and experience, thought and memory.
The Raven Code (Common Version)
1. Honour the gods, ancestors, and yourself through courage and truth.
2. Speak honestly, act honourably, and keep your oaths.
3. Protect your kin, but show mercy to those who earn it.
4. Seek wisdom always; knowledge is sacred.
5. Stand firm in spirit - even in defeat.
6. Respect nature, for it gives and takes life.
7. Remember your roots; forget not who you are.
8. Let deeds speak louder than words.
9. When death comes, meet it with dignity.
Living the Raven Code Today
Seek wisdom. Read, listen, and learn constantly.
Balance thought and memory. Think deeply, remember humbly.
Keep oaths sacred. Integrity is the mark of the noble soul.
Respect the natural world. We are guests upon this earth.
Accept mortality. Life gains value because it ends - live bravely.
The Raven Code teaches the warrior scholar’s path - one who seeks truth with both mind and heart.
Part Four: The Wolf Code
The Wolf Code is another modern set of heathen inspired principles, rooted in the symbolism of the wolf - strength, loyalty, and kinship.
It draws from the natural behaviour of wolves: loyalty to the pack, courage in defence, and harmony with nature.
The Wolf Code (Common Version)
1. Respect the pack, for without it you are nothing.
2. Protect the weak and defend your kin.
3. Hunt with purpose; waste nothing.
4. Stand with courage; retreat only to fight again.
5. Follow the laws of your pack and honour your leader.
6. Share what you have earned.
7. Never betray your kin or break your word.
8. Keep your claws sharp - in body, mind and spirit.
9. Die with honour rather than live with shame.
Living the Wolf Code Today
Loyalty: Be faithful to your loved ones and principles.
Strength: Keep body and mind sharp - strength is service.
Discipline: Wolves act with purpose; so should you.
Generosity: Share your time, knowledge, and support.
Integrity: Never betray trust; your word is your bond.
Balance: Fierce in defence, peaceful in calm.
The Wolf Code teaches unity - that strength comes not from isolation, but from honourable bonds.
Part Five: Living the Codes in the Modern World
Heathen ethics are not relics - they are living values that can heal the modern world’s emptiness.
In Work and Career -
Be honest and industrious - let your work be worthy of your name.
Help others rise; don’t trample them to climb.
Take pride in craft, no matter how humble.
In Relationships -
Keep faith with your partner and friends.
Speak truth even when it hurts, but do so with care.
Protect peace - don’t poison it with deceit or neglect.
In Society -
Help your community thrive.
Act with honour in all public dealings.
Defend the weak and stand against injustice.
In Spirit -
Seek wisdom through study, nature, and reflection.
Remember your ancestors and learn from their strength.
Live so that your descendants will speak your name with pride.
Part Six: Daily Practice
1. Morning Reflection:
“Today, I will act with courage and speak truthfully.”
2. Throughout the Day:
Be mindful of speech and action.
Seek small chances to show honour and kindness.
3. Evening Reflection:
What did I do well?
Where did I fail my virtues?
How will I improve tomorrow?
4. Weekly Practice:
Give something freely - time, help or generosity.
Read something that builds wisdom.
5. Seasonal Practice:
Honour the cycles of nature.
Remember your ancestors.
Reaffirm your oaths and values.
A Path of Strength and Peace
To live by Heathen Ethics is not to dwell in the past, but to carry its wisdom forward.
The world changes, but the soul’s needs do not: courage, truth, honour, and peace are timeless.
When lived daily, they forge character stronger than any armour, and build community truer than any creed.
You do not need temples or titles to live nobly.
You need only a brave heart, a truthful tongue, a steadfast spirit and a peaceful will.
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“Better to fight and fall than to live without hope.”
- Volsunga Saga
“A man’s word and honour are his true inheritance.”
- Old Heathen Proverb