The Nine Principles

Hákonar Highland Rim Kindred (HHRK) is devoted to the faithful practice of the Old Norse religious tradition. Our faith is rooted in the wisdom preserved in the Eddas, the Icelandic sagas, historical sources, and the living practice of our community.

While members may differ on matters that the historical sources leave open to interpretation, we are united by a shared commitment to revere the Gods, cultivate honorable lives, and build frith within our kindred, our families, and our communities.

Our beliefs are expressed through the following Nine Principles.

1. Revere the Gods

We revere the Gods of the Old Norse tradition through prayer, offering, blót, and the observance of the seasonal holy tides. These practices are expressions of gratitude, devotion, and a sacred relationship with the divine.

2. Remember the Ancestors

We honor those who came before us by preserving their memory, learning from their lives, and striving to leave a worthy legacy for future generations. Our ancestors include both those of our families and those who have faithfully carried forward the Old Norse tradition.

3. Respect the Landvættir

We recognize the sacredness of the natural world and honor the landvættir through gratitude, stewardship, and responsible care for the places where we live and gather.

4. Seek Frith

Frith is the foundation of our kindred. We seek peace rooted in justice, mutual trust, reconciliation, and shared responsibility. Frith calls us to strengthen our relationships with the Gods, one another, our families, our neighbors, and the wider community.

5. Practice Hospitality

Hospitality is a sacred obligation. We welcome guests with generosity, kindness, and respect, recognizing that every act of hospitality reflects the character of our spiritual household.

6. Keep Your Word

Honor begins with integrity. We strive to speak truthfully, fulfill our commitments, accept responsibility for our actions, and conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of trust.

7. Learn Without Ceasing

The pursuit of wisdom is an act of devotion. We encourage the lifelong study of the Eddas, the sagas, history, scholarship, language, and thoughtful discussion, recognizing that understanding deepens both faith and character.

8. Live with Courage and Restraint

True strength is guided by wisdom. We seek to cultivate courage without arrogance, conviction without hostility, confidence without pride, and perseverance without losing compassion or humility.

9. Build the Kindred

Our faith is lived in community. Through ritual, fellowship, service, and mutual care, we seek to strengthen our kindred as a faithful spiritual household while contributing to the life and mission of Hákonarætt Fellowship, leaving a lasting legacy for those who come after us.

A Living Faith

HHRK is more than a local community; it is a spiritual household united by devotion, fellowship, and shared purpose. Inspired by the example of King Hákon the Good, we seek to carry forward the Old Norse religious tradition while building a stable, welcoming, and enduring community marked by honor, frith, hospitality, and lifelong learning.

Our beliefs are not measured only by what we profess, but by how we serve, how we sacrifice, how we welcome others, and how faithfully we live together within Hákonarætt—the House of Hákon.