This train of thought began with a post online that ‘Nation > Self’ and to this I agreed and amplified that ‘Interdependence > Independence.’ This sent me down a path that required I completely change my topic for this month’s article because of the foundational nature of this idea to our Folk and our faith.
We have been taught from childhood the importance of independence. Nowhere more so than in America. Most self-improvement ideologies put independence at the pinnacle; relegating communication, teamwork, and cooperation to second class status. Much of today’s focus on independence seems to be a reaction to being dependent. Having others control us, “define” us, or even manipulate us. Because of this, we see people often for selfish reasons leave their marriages, abandoning their children, forgoing their church, and forsaking all kinds of social responsibility all for the prize of independence. Now fewer people than ever are even dating, let alone getting married and starting a family. And while being dependent is not a good thing - we, as a people, instinctually know independence is only a stepping-stone.
Everyone knows the story of the bundle of sticks as a visual symbol of unity. The Hellene interacts with the world as an individual. He’s a separate person within a community or state. The Germanic individual only exists within the context of the tribe or Folk. He is the very embodiment of the tribe because he knows fundamentally, they are the doers of one another’s deeds. This doesn’t mean that strong wills and even more stubborn heads do not exist among individuals in Ásatrú; what it speaks to is the ever-present sense that kin will find their way to unity.
But how do we get there from here?
We begin our lives completely dependent on other people for our very survival. We must be fed, clothed, and sheltered. But over the years we learn to walk, to drive, to get the things we need; physically, emotionally, and financially. Until one day we are able to take care of ourselves. Something is missing though. We seek a spouse, start a family, join a community. But we are still acting as individuals in these roles by and large, because it has been so ingrained over course of our lives. But there is something older, a natural order that we can tap into and become more than we can ever be through independence.
In the recent past, we would mature and come to appreciate that nature (the Xartus in PIE) was in fact interdependent. Stephen Covey in his book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, calls out this natural order that we know as Ørlög, or primal law. He describes this process of moving from dependence to independence and ultimately our natural state of interdependence as the Maturity Continuum.
If we are physically dependent from a car accident or some other physical limitation – we would need help to get around, or even with basic tasks like cleaning ourselves. If we are emotionally dependent, our sense of worth and security would come from the opinions of others. If you don’t like me, it could be devastating. Lastly if we are intellectually dependent, we would need someone to do our thinking for us. Dependence is the paradigm of – you. You take care of me – it’s your fault if I don’t get what I need.
Being independent physically, we can make our own way in the world. Mentally we can think our own thoughts, and emotionally, our sense of worth would not be dependent on being liked or how we are treated. Independence is the paradigm of – I. I can do it – I am self-reliant. It is clear independence is greater than dependence. But it’s not the goal. It is not how Wyrd is woven. Maybe it is the obviousness between being dependent and independent that keeps people from moving to the next stage of this Maturity Continuum; maybe it’s that most people experience this transition at least in the physical sense.
That brings us to interdependence. Interdependence is the paradigm of - Frith. We can do it – we can cooperate – we can combine our luck and create something greater…TOGETHER. Our times focus on the pecuniary aspects of Fehu ( f ), but to our ancestors it was known to bind men together in great tasks which required steady purpose and unwavering loyalty. When we in the AFA speak of ‘connections’ in our motto, this is how it manifests; through interdependence.
Interdependence is a mature concept, a concept as old as our Folk. If we are physically interdependent, we are self-reliant, but we also realize that together we can accomplish far more than we could alone. If we are emotionally interdependent, we get our self-worth from within ourselves, but also understand the need for love, for giving, and for receiving love from others. And if we are intellectually interdependent, we realize that we need the best thinking of our Folk to join in solving the problems before us.
Interdependence is an expression of our Folk-soul. After experiencing Blót with your Folk, practice in solitude is magnified from the bond born of sharing ritual and bread; knowing those people are performing these same household rites. This expands to every aspect of our lives, of our families, and of our community… it’s about connections.
Goði Lane Ashby
~ From The Runestone, November 2024 ~