The Nine Principles express the shared religious commitments of Hákonarætt. Rooted in the wisdom preserved in the Eddas, the Icelandic sagas, historical sources, and the living practice of our tradition, they provide a foundation for religious life within the Hall.
While practitioners may differ on matters that the historical sources leave open to interpretation, we are united by a shared commitment to revere the Gods, honor the ancestors, respect the landvættir, cultivate honorable lives, seek frith with others, and carry the tradition faithfully forward.
Our religious life is expressed through the following Nine Principles.
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.
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.
We recognize the sacredness of the natural world and honor the landvættir through gratitude, stewardship, and responsible care for the places entrusted to us.
Frith is a foundation of religious community. 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.
Hospitality is a sacred obligation. We meet others with generosity, kindness, dignity, and respect, recognizing that every act of hospitality reflects the character of our spiritual household.
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.
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.
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.
Our faith is lived in community. Through religious life, fellowship, service, correspondence, mutual care, and shared responsibility, we seek to strengthen the bonds of kinship and build a faithful and enduring religious community, leaving a worthy legacy for those who come after us.
The Old Norse religious tradition is more than a heritage to be remembered; it is a faith to be lived. Within the Hall, religious life is expressed through devotion, study, responsibility, fellowship, service, and the continual formation of character. Inspired by the example of King Hákon the Good, we seek to carry the tradition forward with honor, wisdom, hospitality, and frith.
Our beliefs are not measured only by what we profess, but by how we live: how we keep our word, accept responsibility, treat others, pursue wisdom, practice our religion, and build a good name through the choices we make.