Storyteller

Even cows know

when they should go home

and leave the fields,

but an unwise man

does not know

the measure of his own appetite.

A wise man

is not showy about his wisdom;

he guards is carefully.

He is silent when he comes

to a stranger's home.

The wise man seldom wanders into harm,

for you can never have

a more faithful friend

than a good supply of wisdom.

Havamal - 6

Who will sing me Into the death-sleep sling me When I walk the road to Hel And the tracks I tread Are cold, so cold

I sought the songs I sent the songs When the deepest well Offered drops so mighty Of Valfather’s pledge

I know it all, Odin Where you hid your eye

Early or in fading day Still the raven knows if I fall

When you stand by the gate of Hel And when you must tear loose Follow you I shall Across the bridge of Gjöll With my song

You will be free from the bonds that bind you You are free from the bonds that bound you

“It is better not to pray at all

than to pray for too much;

nothing will be given that you won’t repay.

It is better to sacrifice nothing

than offer too much.

Odin carved this

before the birth of humankind,

when he rose up

and returned again.”

- Haavamal, 145

"A man is happy

if he finds praise and friendship

within himself.

You can never be sure

of where you stand

in someone else's heart.

A man is happy

if he finds good advice

within himself.

Many men have received

bad advice

by trusting someone else."

- Havamal - 8-9

Master's Voice

"Hear my Voice in your Inner Heart...

Be a Dragon Slayer my young Hero!

Do Right (though the heart will bleed)

That you may stand welcome in our Presence!

The Threshold takes its belongings back,

Therefore remember:

To be free, you must leave go,

To be free, give all to the Fire...

Save the True Gold!

With which to strive against the Night.

Or remain entangled

In the Web of Nature's Mystery.

It is your choice!

To march along the Royal Highway...

Controlling the senses firmly and wisely,

Not with the lash but with patient Love;

Or to sit ineptly by the Way...

The slave of every passion!"

-Matthew Sutherland- "Keys For Escaping Prisoners"

Teach Me

Oh Lord, teach me to walk

Where the ignorant but dream,

Teach me to keep my Mirror clean.

Teach me to leave go

And how to be Still,

Teach me the way of gentleness,

The way of self-help free from duress,

Teach me to slay the ignorance of sin

And how the Crown of Wisdom to win!

-Matthew Sutherland-

LOVE

"Love is not where knives are drawn,

Nor where the tongue of spite is heard,

The Tongue of Love is sweet and mild,

Its Heart being torn...speaks not a word!

Love is gentle, Love is kind,

Never breaks a bond, nor promise,

Love still stands when all else falls,

Oh listen, you doubting Thomas!

Love's not for those who dressed in thorns

Travel a selfish lover's path,

Who drink the life from those who give,

Then brand them with a fiery wrath!

Love is never Understood

By those especially who praise it most,

For Love in Silence performs sweet Acts,

As Secret as the Holy Ghost!

The swine are always at the table,

The wolves are always at the door,

And Love (crucified in between them)

Performes good works Forever more!"

- Matthew Sutherland -

Beyond fantastic!!

The voice from the past draws you in and makes you long for places you have never been.

"The lovers of Brahman ask: "What is the source of the universe? What is Brahman? From where do we come? By what power do we live? Where do we find rest? Who rules our joys and sorrows, O seers of Brahman?"

...to be continued

"You will hurt yourself

with all your talking

if you never close your mouth.

A hasty tongue,

unless it's disciplined

often earns its owner punishment."

- Havamal, 29

“Sometimes I hope that all thy beauty,

Engraved upon my heart,

May yet reflect upon that surface, smooth.

And on my brest I carry

That silver-covered glass;

That once again with tears I’ll see Thee in thy counterpart

Within the Mirror. And perchance thou’lt tarry

Just a little while and stay to sooth

My lonely heart. Alas —

MY LOVE— I MISS THEE SO!”

The Teaching of Li Wang Ho - J. Michaud

#ancientwisdom #love #beauty #memory

And a Heaven in a wild flower,

Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand,

And Eternity in an hour."

- William Blake

A noble man should

be silent, thoughtful,

and bold in battle.

But every man should also

be cheerful and happy,

till the inevitable day of death.

- Havamal, 15

#norsemythology #norsewisdom #viking #odin #havamal #wisdom

"Of all the words yet spoken,

non comes quite as far as wisdom,

which is the action of the mind

beyond all things that may be said."

- Heraclitus -