Faith, Folk, Fraternity
Reconstructing the ways of our ancestors in Western Pennsylvania.
About Us
The Free Folk is a heathen fellowship based in Western Pennsylvania. We observe the basic tenets of Anglo-Germanic heathenry: a belief in sacral kingship, tribal assembly, freedom of conscience, and the sacredness of oaths. We subscribe also to a belief in wyrd (fate), trēowð (faith and fidelity), þéaw (custom and conduct), frið (peace within the tribe), grið (peace between tribes), weorðan (worthing), giefu (gifting), geistriht (guest right) and use of wergild (compensation).
Our Ethic & Thew
The basis of our ethic can be summarized by The Three Laws: Speak truthfully, Act reciprocally, and Impose no costs, which govern all exchanges of word and deed within the Folk.
The basis of our thew can be summarized in The Three Wynns that take their names from the wynn rune, which means “joy”: Wisdom, Worthmind (personal honor) and Wealthdeal (generosity). It is from these three we believe all other virtues flow.
Free Right & Right Good Will
Free Right (fréoriht) is the affirmation that no Free Folk member may be compelled to do or take part in anything that he believes to be wrongful or unseemly.
Right Good Will is the pure intention that Free Folk members have toward one another. For the Folk to prosper we hold that the thoughts and actions of members toward one another be genuine, ethical, moral, and free of selfish motive.
Our Mission
The Anglo-Saxon word fréo means “free”, “noble”, “glad”, “joyful”, “having liberty or immunity”, and the Anglo-Saxon word folc means “people”, “nation”, “tribe”, “family”, “laity”, “troop”, “army”, “men”. Our mission is to bring about a fréofolc (free folk) through the worthing of ourselves and the education and transformation of others who share our Anglo-Germanic culture and ancestry. We call this work “folk-building”.
Organization
The Free Folk is led by the Lady, who serves as the social and spiritual head of the Folk and is the keeper of its luck. The fellowship is organized into three árunga (honorable estates). These are Fostermen, Freemen and Warders.
Fostermen are learners who have pledged to observe, learn, and grow within the Folk.
Freemen are those who have successfully progressed tests of merit and maturity, qualifying them to take on responsibility within the Folk.
Warders are those witan (wise ones) appointed by the Lady as her advisors and peers and are charged with protecting the luck of the Folk.
Our Lady
Heiðrūn is a thinker, researcher, strategist, consultant, and ordained minister of Teutonic Religion. She founded the Free Folk in 2006 and has since appeared on a number of podcasts and spoken widely about folk-building, heathenry, ethics, philosophy, psychology, and the many challenges confronting the modern West.
Assembly
The Free Folk assembles twice annually at Summer Fest in May and Winter Fest in November.