Brotherhood of the Wolf

I was a member of a fraternal organization for over twelve years and in this organization and others like it we called each other brothers. We were brothers because of the shared ritualistic experiences, mutual dedication to the fraternity, common social interaction, and the oaths we all took. This gave me a romanticized idea about brotherhood. I firmly believed that any member of the fraternity that I came across across the world was my brother and I was his. This was because I believed that everyone took their oaths and their "work" as serious as I did mine. Over the last year of my membership I was forced to deal with various political maneuvers and my so called brothers talking behind my back or worse. Some of these people I brought into the fraternity and vouched for them in addition to we would spend time together outside fraternal events. At the end of that year due to multiple factors I decided to step away from the fraternity with a realization that there is a different between actual dedicated members and card carrying members.

During that last year I was finding that Asatru/Heathenry was starting to resound deep in my soul and I was making a transition to that from my current practice of Wicca. It the Heathen community it is a common practice to call each other brother or sister as it is very tribal. Even though the romance of my concept of brotherhood was tarnished I was hopeful as I thought that Heathens should take this responsibility, this dedication to brotherhood seriously because it is purely spiritual based. My initial time with the group seemed to reinforce my beliefs until a group of us split from the original group due to difference of opinion over important topics. Even though there was tension on both sides it seemed amicable for the most part (this later changed but its besides the point). It was not until I was having a conversation with one of the members from the original group and I called him brother and he snapped at me and said, "We are not brothers, I do not know you like that". At first I was very offended and hurt and I figured it was hostility from the split.

I have chewed and meditated on this for sometime and could not really find the understanding I was looking for over the entire idea of brotherhood. It was not until certain recent experiences that really made the fog clear and I understood that all of my romanticized ideas regarding brotherhood was just a misconception. This understanding also made me realize why people can react with such hurt and anger when one of their brothers violate their trust and love.

Brotherhood and kinship were of the utmost importance to our ancestors. These ties were considered sacred and extended the persons family to the people they considered brothers and sisters. This type of brotherhood required complete trust and unconditional love. In addition to the trust and love; these tribal ties were a source of support and security for not only a single member, but the entire tribe and settlement. Another reason why these bonds were so powerful and meaning to our ancestors is that their very spirituality was tied deeply to their bonds. This is why to our ancestors being exiled was a punishment worse then death.

So, with this in mind it is insane that I and other people assume this intimate familiarity with strangers because we share the same religion, spiritual path, or are a member of the same fraternal organization.

Another issue that Ale Glad brings up is that, "..it is the arrogance of placing yourself within the most intimate part of Innangard. Becuase the Innangard isinherently a holy thing, metaphorically being the loyal relationships and the literal sacred enclosures if the Ve, violation of this. boundary is to violate the most sacred of relationships and introduce disorder and chaos into the stable and orderly. To put it bluntly, it is to violate the right and proper order of the cosmos itself. Even it that's a bit hyperbolic, it's just plain rude."

With this in mind, I believe that it is very important for us in the Heathen community as well as others (including fraternal organizations) to stop using the word brother as a common greeting. If I do not know you please don't bro me.

So, if I call you my brother or sister you are my brother or sister and part of my Innagard and tribe.  It also means I love and trust you in the truest sense of the words and acts.