Frith and Family

[@MrEnaric]

Good topic. An old example of fríþ/frið/frith comes from the 7th century, when the (Pagan) Frisian king Aldgisl had the Anglo Saxon bishop Wilfrid of York as his guest. Wilfrid travelled through Frisia to escape the clutches of the Frankish grand-vizir Ebroin on his way to Rome. Ebroin wanted him dead because of a mutual conflict. During the evening meal, a messenger from Ebroin handed over a letter with a request for Wilfrids head in exchange for gold. Aldgisl had the letter read aloud before burning it in the longfire. He cursed Ebroin (a christian) for trying to breach the 'frith' of his royal household and the very idea that he as a host would be able to be complicit in red murder for gain, thereby corrupting his role as protector and his word as a king. Aldgisl then extended his frith to his christian protégé by protecting him with retainers on his further travel and giving Ebroin's messenger a very contempting answer for all to hear, saving honor, guest, frith and stating sovereignty against a mighty foe. I think this is a strong example of keeping frith in the olden days.

[@Triateyal]

I really like this idea. It has been hard to keep the peace at times with my own family since there are definitely some emotionally charged problems. Even though I know I should be taking some of these steps, it's good to have the reminder.

[@AmoniPanala]

I know this an old video, but I wanted to comment how important it was to hear this take on frith. Many years ago I was interested in heathenry but got discouraged because the podcast hosts I was listening to insisted you had to keep frith with your family even if they weren't great people to do so with and... It just seemed impossible given what my family put me through. Knowing that I am not obligated to keep frith, after years of conversation and trying mend fences, I feel an immense burden lifted.

[@megcreelman1050]

I have to admit, when I saw the title, my first thought was 'Watership Down and paganism? Okay!'

[@nathandollins9853]

I knew I wasn’t the only one that thought of the rabbit solar deity when seeing this video.

[@konradpanduram4576]

For me as a shaiva in rural Austria I can assure you there are similar concepts like Frith are mentioned in my scriptures too.

[@kedamafoe2240]

the one problem i find with social contracts (Frith as them nords say) its often unspoken. this opens up for bounders to be violated. it took being in a polyamories relationship that helped me understand these things need to be spoken.

[@OceanKeltoi]

Right. That's why I honestly promote communication on the matter. Clearly set your boundaries, and even talk about frithbonds with friends/family.

[@MissusSnarky]

Love this concept! I've been applying it without knowing there was a term for years now.

[@OceanKeltoi]

It's definitely very intuitive concept. I'm glad you found it helpful!

[@Vi-zf5zq]

You've got a soothing voice. Thanks for the insightful videos!

[@OceanKeltoi]

thanks so much

[@the_last_raposa3810]

This is essentially the same concept as that of the non agression pact within anarchist philosophy

[@capitalistraven]

Hi Ocean! Came here and subbed after talking to you at Faithless Forum. Your videos are exactly the kind of concise quality content I expected from our conversation and I hope our communities have a great Firth from the foundations you've laid. I would love a video on the levels of personal gnosis and how they inform polytheistic belief structures. From a Godless heathen to a heathen with many Gods, thanks for your work!

[@My_Druid_journey.]

Never be the first to fire off in a disagreement. Wise words.

[@viatheheathen9087]

Amazing video. And definitely heavily appreciated in this part of my life.

[@hannahryan8071]

I’m so happy for this video! Thank you!

[@NerdyRodent]

Thanks for the video. Interesting stuff!

[@anna_in_aotearoa3166]

Very interesting video! Hope it provides some useful tools to the pagan members of your audience, who largely seem to come from families where they are alone in their faith? The concept of "Frith" sounds a lot like what my parents' religious community (pentecostal christians) used to call "good fellowship"; they were similarly intentional about it. Trying to achieve that connection over religious & ideological divides seem like a rare but helpful thing for these times we live in!

[@snorribjorn5074]

Yet another informative and well done video. Thank you!

[@PurpleRhymesWithOrange]

Sage advice to help make situations less awkward.

[@41Duck]

You made passing mention of this in a prior video... or maybe a debate? I’ve slept since then-I don’t remember. But glad to hear you expand upon it.

[@forkliftwizard]

Doesn't this begin basically with the ancient law of hospitality?

[@OceanKeltoi]

More or less. But Frith is a specific concept from Heathenry that is more robust.

[@bengreen171]

yeah- but what if it's just the name of a town - because we all know that town names don't mean anything whatsoever. "All the world will be your enemy, Prince of a Thousand enemies. And when they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you..."

[@veronicaclephas7570]

As an atheist I ally a type of frith in my own life with family, as well as applying it in the workplace with folks I but heads with in general. It's cool to know there's a name for it

[@brettmeldahl4456]

Words to live by

[@joepetrocelli8005]

Thanks for the very informative video, Ocean.

[@Grevnor]

Right, time for some linguistic geekery. In my native Swedish, frith has evolved into two separate concepts, one of literal peace (fred) and one closer to its original meaning (frid). The latter can mean peace in a household, peace between friends, peace of mind, etc. It's also the basis of some of our oldest existing laws (home frid and woman's frid, respectively), both dating back to the 13th Century. The fellowship aspects seems to have disappeared over time, sadly. So the concept is far from dead, it just isn't as widely spread as it should be. Thank you for illuminating the people. Edit: In case anyone wants a translation guide, both the e and i are long vowels.

[@joejoelesh1197]

On a possible up side. You may figure out that you have already established frith with some people, and that you just didn't know the word for it.

[@JDBriceProductions]

I love the idea of frith. I shall be adoption frith into my ways.

[@UsseWill]

Frith is also the god of Watership down :)

[@veggieowlgirl]

That's what I was thinking as well. I wonder if Richard Adams used this word as an inside reference or something like that.

[@maxmatthews2463]

How do I venerate the ancestors?

[@azraelsvoice]

I know I'm late to the party, but, as a Satanist in the south, I felt this.

[@darrenfrith4241]

I am the greatest Frith ever born

[@kitchenscreen5083]

I tried getting my racist republicany father to watch your videos and he complained that your cartoon avatar was "too childish" and hell only watch videos with real people and he said you were not racist enough and he just assumed folkism even after explained folkism to be bull

[@InhabitantOfOddworld]

Folkism is the opposite of bull

[@JustAnElderscroll]

I know what you mean. I live in deep South Georgia and feel like the only pagan around haha

[@noruas]

Not directly relates to this video but can you not find a better term for western non abrahamics? Heathen or pagan has such negative/inferior connotations its basically been a christian slur word, quite off putting. If you follow ancient norse or celtic religions perhaps its better to refer to it as such.

[@OceanKeltoi]

I definitely use Heathen, and I and other Heathens do not see it as a slur. Just as we do not see the word Pagan that way.

[@noruas]

@@OceanKeltoi that is definitely, as you say, latent Christianity. It is true that in India, we did not call ourselves anything in particular but the term hindu has stuck simply as a persian term to denote Indians. The term we prefer to use is sanatana dharma or the eternal righteous path. In your case as you seem.to be reviving a system of beliefs dislocated in both time and space it is perhaps not a bad idea to find a specific name as pagan/heathen serves more as a descriptive and generic epithet. Anyways, all the best :-)

[@JohnLovell-q9p]

I love all this god shit and I do not respect Christians for their magic . I practiced frith all my life until I saw how much harm that magic thoughts in respect to global warming does to us all . I cannot do a lot of frith any more .

[@bengreen171]

yeah- but what if it's just the name of a town - because we all know that town names don't mean anything whatsoever. "All the world will be your enemy, Prince of a Thousand enemies. And when they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you..."