Ráð

Ráð is Old Norse for advice and counsel, (Old English rede, or ræd). We find it used in the opening stanzas of the section of the Hávamál referred to as the Lay of Loddfáfnir. Ráð was chosen as the name for a weekly series of short, topical articles. They are drawn from the Eddas, sagas, and lore of the Old Norse and Germanic people and offered for consideration, and contemplation. Besides being featured and archived here, the articles will be distributed weekly through an e-mail distribution list to individuals, lists the Irminsul Ættir sponsors such as Asatru-L and newsgroups such as alt.religion.asatru. Contact info@irminsul.org to be added to the distribution list.

Volume 1

• Number 1 , Ráð: When Runes Thou Ask
• Number 2 , Ráð: When Friend Thou Hast
• Number 3 , Ráð: Help Will Come from On High
• Number 4 , Ráð: Need
• Number 5 , Ráð: Hail, Bountiful Earth!
• Number 6 , Ráð: Sit Now at Sumbel
• Number 7 , Ráð: To Ask Well, To Answer Rightly
• Number 8 , Ráð: The Bold Have the Best Lives

The Lay of Loddfáfnir

111
Mál er at þylja		It is time to recite
þular stóli á		from the sage's throne
Urðar brunni		at Urðr's well;
sá ek ok þagðak		I saw and reflected,
sá ek ok hugðak		I listened to the speech of men,
hlýdda ek á manna mál		I heard and learned about runes,
of rúnar heyrða ek düma		I heard and learned about runes,
né um ráðum þögþu		nor were they silent in counsels
Háva höllu at		at Har's hall
Háva höllu í		in Har's hall
heyrða ek segja svá		thus I heard it said

112
Ráðumk þér Loddfáfnir		I advise you, Loddfafnir
en þú ráð nemir		to take advice;
njóta mundu ef þú nemr		you would benefit, if you took it
þér munu góð ef þú getr		good will come to you, if you accept it
Hávamál