Northern European Warrior Cultures

The warrior cultures of the Celts and the Norse flourished in northern Europe during and prior to the Middle Ages. The roles and ideals of warriors in these two societies are well documented not only in their own words and records, but also in accounts by Islamic, Greek and Roman authors with whom they interacted. Documentation indicates the existence of a Celtic warrior alliance that served the king and nation of Ireland, the Fianna, in the same way that later medieval knights served kings. The definitions, perceptions, and functions of warriors in celtic and Norse culture differ, but their ideals are similar in many ways. After studying the concept of warriors in Celtic and Norse culture, one may deduce from this a code of ethics and conduct for a current era warrior archetype. This archetype can be utilized as a model for self-development and blended harmoniously with the Asphodelian Oath of Fealty.

In Celtic and Norse cultures, warriors appear to be distinguished from the soldiers by the heroic, chivalrous, and flamboyant nature of their actions and strategies in battle. Therefore, while one may be a soldier in the army of one's chieftain or jarl, distinguishing oneself by attempting daring, ostentatious, and altruistic feats in combat, or outwitting one's enemy, was the measure of a true warrior. The practice of self-distinction via one's behavior and thinking speaks directly to the high value which the Celts and the Norse placed on the concepts of individual and tribal identity. It also addresses the importance of true or right action taken in defense of one's identity, community, and beliefs. This is a concept that the Norse called "troth".

In Norse culture, one could make the analogy that as the horse bears the rider, so one's troth bears one's orlog, or fate. Therefore, one's troth was believed to be not only a manifestation of one fate, but also the machine that generated it. Wyrd, verdandi, skuld (the names of the Norns or Fates) and troth were linked such that one was one's words and deeds.

The acts of defining the individual by his/her words and actions, the appreciation for daring, flamboyance, wit, and eloquence were and are not peculiar to northern European culture. Unfortunately, in current era culture, the majority of people seem to pay little attention to the importance of judging people based on their words and deeds. It is as though we are so blinded by rhetoric and sophistry that we do not see reality. This leads to denial and ambivalence on an individual and cultural level which, according to theories of mob psychology, can breed situations where one acts as part of the group without moral and ethical consideration, or a sense of personal culpability and consequences. This same denial and ambivalence can lead to a profound sense of despondence, wherein we feel that there is no real justice or altruism in the world, and our heroes will always let us down.

So how did the Celtic and Norse cultures avoid the cultural morass that we find ourselves in? Being that they were human, too, to some extent on both an individual and cultural level, they probably didn't. However, they had a stronger and more highly developed sense of the individual as defined by his/her words and actions, personal responsibility, and karma. They were probably better able to insulate themselves against such philosophical and emotional pitfalls by maintaining humanly realistic perspective while striving for a higher and more glorious ideal. As cognitive psychologists might assert, they did not beat themselves into submission with their own ideals. (They had the Romans and later the Christians to do that for them, and nothing galvanizes a group of individuals around a common concept better than a common enemy.)

From the aforementioned, one may deduce that the warrior archetype in Celtic and Norse culture embodied the concepts of honor, loyalty, respect, integrity, courtesy, honesty, responsibility, and justice. I want to embrace this warrior archetype and swear fealty to Asphodel, because it will support, structure, and validate my effort to integrate those qualities into my personal and professional life. I believe that one learns more from the act of serving another than from being served, and I believe the validity of the statement: It is the journey that purifies the soul.