Many groups, religious or otherwise, do not carry with them an obvious set of inherent tenets. Often their teachings get buried beneath endless scripture open to interpretation, a multitude of prophets and languages, and even the ideals of the modern world itself.
A religious or sacred order is often formed out of a highly held dedication to a specific set of ethics or beliefs; a code of conduct sits at the core. One beautiful thing that sets a religious order apart is this: an entire faith can be corrupted and fall to ruin, but the order can (and indeed must) still survive. It is the intent of a sacred order to adhere to its principles and not be corrupted. A member of said order should be willing to wholeheartedly follow their given tenets with more dedication and sacrifice than an average participant of the same (or similar) religious group might.
The VéRúnian Order has its roots within the Heathen community, that of the Odinic path or Asatru. This is a wide swath of groups. They may hail from various regions and call themselves a variety of names. Those not of mainstream Abrahamic religious subsets are often referred to as heathens or pagans. Although a large minority would not prefer to be labeled as either term, I use it for the sake of simplicity. As stated, however, one charge of an order member is to maintain and remain steadfast even if their larger group shall fall. In this way, the order serves to remain aloft and separate but not set in opposition to another religion or practice in which a member may be a participant.
A member of the order knows the depth of their dedication. If you belong to a group that claims to follow the same code of honor, ethics, and principles which then gets led astray… every effort should be made to guide your people back to the correct path. It is, however, unwise to stay in the path of destruction with those who no longer share your values or hold them to be true.
As a member of a sacred order, you must honor your oaths; The oath of the order and those kinfolk who still hold honor in your eyes will always demand priority. In the case of utmost dissolution, even if the majority of those who claim your religion have been led astray, the order’s tenets and practices remain.
Religions are often made for the masses to create control and obedience (although this holds less true for modern heathens). One may have been compelled and felt drawn to their specific sect or religious group but an order goes even further than this. An order’s symbols and ideals will call out to you on a deeper level. Those who feel this and can understand what that means will often feel as if they were born to follow the path laid before them. This is not a call to abandon your faith or archetypes (if you are on a similar path) but to strengthen your resolve and dedication.
Indeed, an order is not always a religion in and of itself, unless you lack one to begin with. In the absence of a tribal community or religious congregation, the “heavier” philosophy set forth by an order may fit perfectly in one’s life. Ideally, one would already be part of their own community and tribe with similar ideals. Your kindred and folk need not subscribe to the order’s higher level of commitment, just as all Christians are not Masons and all Catholics are not Knights of Columbus and so on (whether these are “religious orders” is up to your determination/interpretation).
An example of this contrast would be the VéRúnian concept of observing regular fasts. Although there exists a mountain of research regarding the benefits of fasting on health and longevity, many Westerners still view the practice as extreme. It does require dedication and increased concentration of your willpower the first handful of times but becomes a healthy and amazing experience that increases your lifespan and health.
If an Order member currently follows Asatrú or Odinism or a similar variation of heathenism/paganism, the fast is not a specific tenant or commandment that I am aware of. A member of the Order follows a different level of dedication that enriches their life. This is not necessarily a position of elitism, only the individual’s belief in their own path.
Read on to Community and Tribalism.