Three Little Words

Erik Lugnet
12 hours ago
3 min read

Frith. Abundance. Stewardship.

Three little words. For the ladies of the Asatru Folk Assembly, these three words represent three of the traits that we strive to embody as Aryan women. For the ladies of Freyshof, however, these three words carry more weight. They are the three words chosen to describe the ladies of our district.

As with the four Hofs before us, the Gyðjur were tasked with choosing three feminine words to represent the women of the district. For Óðinshof, Gyðja McNallen chose generosity, joy, and resilience. For Þórshof, Gyðja Young chose integrity, hospitality, and strength. For Baldrshof, Witan Fassett chose devotion, purity, and fidelity. And for Njörðshof, Gyðja Plourde chose prosperity, perseverance, and pride.

It is easy to see why the Gyðjur each chose their words, for they are the natural embodiment of their district’s traits. Who among us could look at Gyðja McNallen and not recognize her generosity? Or Gyðja Young and her hospitality? Gyðja Plourde is the very definition of perseverance. But these words mean more than that for their districts. In some ways, these words represent the struggles faced before the Hof existed, things that were lacking. More than that, however, these three words represent the feminine ideal of each Hof. These are three qualities that we hope our women will strive to represent at the Hof, in their homes, and in every aspect of their lives.

For Freyshof, our feminine ideals are Frith, Abundance, and Stewardship.

All women are inherently Frithful. It is in our blood, but like all things, Frith is not automatic. It requires work. It requires awareness and intention. In the same way that feeding your body poison wrecks your body, so too does feeding your mind and spirit negativity erode your ability to be Frithful. May the ladies of Freyshof strive, always, to actively choose positivity and Frith.

All women have the ability to encourage abundance. Yes, we hope to have abundant wombs and abundant gardens where possible, but as the mothers that raise our children, the wives that care for our husbands, and the women who build the homes, we are so much more. Where men build the infrastructure of the world, women create the communities that operate inside of them. The men build the house, but the women make it a home. When we aren’t literally creating life, we have the ability to facilitate, encourage, and grow abundant comfort, abundant joy, abundant courage. May the ladies of Freyshof strive, always, to create abundance in all things for their families and for our community.

All women are naturally stewards. While being a steward is not strictly a female role, it does present itself differently than it does for men. To be a steward, one chooses to take on the care of a thing that is not their own. As a feminine ideal, stewardship most commonly presents as care for the community. It means choosing that community and doing everything you can to help keep that community healthy, happy, and connected. It can mean reaching out to a woman who is having a hard time post-partem just to listen or perhaps making a meal for a grieving family. It can also mean taking pride in a place and choosing to take care of it even when tired. May the ladies of Freyshof strive, always, to stand as faithful and ardent Stewards of Freyshof district and the Asatru Folk Assembly.

Frith. Abundance. Stewardship.

With so much joy and enthusiasm, I have spent all the weekends watching the future Hof take shape. I have watched as our women are already stepping up and taking part in creating the physical space, but also the feminine space that is future Freyshof. And it is with absolute pride in these women that I share these three words with you.

Frith. Abundance. Stewardship.

I look forward to building the feminine future of Freyshof with all the ladies of our district and of the Asatru Folk Assembly!

And for anyone who might be curious, a slight sneak peek at things to come: Our Hof flower is the Red Clover, and our Hof bird is the American Robin!