The Sixth Conversation

Younger: I get that a gothi needs to learn about the religion and help teach others the religion, but is there anything else? Is it just leading ceremonies? That doesn't seem like much.

Elder: Everyone has their own path they must walk, so the path of a gothi is difficult to pin down to specific tasks. You are correct that you must study the religion, commune with the Gods and other entities, and help your community with the religion, whether teaching or leading ceremonies. There is far more that you can do.

Younger: So that description doesn't cover everything?

Elder: Not really, you must also apply the religion to help the community grow wholesome in all ways. Helping them learn the religion will give them some tools to help themselves, but a good gothi will assist in many other ways.

Younger: What else should I do?

Elder: Some members of the community may come to you with their problems of various types. They seek advice from one who has learned much, or sometimes just need to talk to a trusted person. That means you should be trustworthy. You will be acting as a first contact counsellor for the people you know.

Younger: You mean like a psychologist?

Elder: Yes, but only at the start. It's more like the first aid level of psychology. But a good gothi will try to learn about this so they can be helpful to others. Of course, when it is beyond one's ability, the gothi should know when to refer the person to a more qualified professional. Do not let your own pride prevent you from helping someone else.

Younger: That sounds like a lot of responsibility.

Elder: It can be. The key is to be aware of your limitations and be willing to tell people when to seek elsewhere. You can help them best by knowing the local resources where you can direct them.

Younger: So now I need to be a teacher and a mental health coach. Is there anything else?

Elder: There is everything else. People will seek your wisdom to help settle conflicts. Again, you must be trustworthy and impartial. Try to get all the facts and get at the truth. This can be difficult. Worse, in many cases your decision may generate an enemy. You must be willing to gain an enemy due to your resilience and hope you can convert them to your side over time. In some cases, all the sides may be partially right and partially wrong. In those instances, you must be a negotiator and guide them to a settlement. In other cases, no matter what you say the parties involved will clutch tightly to their disagreement and you can do nothing.

Younger: That almost sounds like a judge in a court.

Elder: Yes, there is much you can learn from Law Speakers. You don't need to become an expert in that profession. However, many regions have their laws written somewhere accessible and it would be worth your while to know how to look things up when needed. It may pay off some day.

Younger: So now I'm a teacher, a psychologist, a judge, lawyer, and negotiator. How much more is there?

Elder: Plenty. You want to help your community prosper, correct? Then you must sometimes help people understand money, commerce, employment, and similar things. In many cases, people grew up without learning the relevant skills related to their personal finances. If you can help them learn these things, they will have a better chance at financial success. Simple things like budgeting and tracking expenses are beyond the experience of some. Others may want to start a business but don't know how to create a business plan. Obviously you cannot know all of these things unless it is your profession, but you can understand that it is important. With your guidance, you can help people find the resources to learn these things as needed. You can encourage them to seek out this knowledge and include it in their lives. Of course, to do this, you will have to be making those strides yourself.

Younger: So money and business and stuff?

Elder: Sure. Many of the old tales glorify the warriors and their great battles. The tales do not cover that the ancestors were also skilled craftspersons, or manufacturers at the time, and traders. That is how you build prosperity in the community. That is what leads to home ownership and financial freedom.

Younger: So I need to help everybody in the community get rich?

Elder: Not quite. You need to be ready to help everybody maximize their potential. Like with everything else, you can only nudge things in the most wholesome direction for growth. Each person will then need to grow according to their own nature. Trees will grow tall and wheat will not grow as tall, but you can help all of them grow.

Younger: Is there anything else on the list?

Elder: Of course. In many cases, a gothi may be relied upon by leaders. These may be leaders in the Kindred or the community or anywhere else. Even if the person is not an Asatru person, you can give guidance toward the wholesome and growth. But, they must trust and respect you, even if they don't know that you are Asatru.

Younger: If I'm not giving advice about the Gods and Runes and stuff, how do I advise people who aren't part of the religion.

Elder: Odin often travelled in disguise and had no problem being a God. You should be able to advise without the label of gothi. You may need to learn more about civic management in your locale. There is political science as a subject, public speaking, intelligence gathering and analysis. Again, knowing the laws for your area will help, but so will an understanding of the social forces present. The interconnection of all those forces may be complex, but you will be used to working with the Wyrd, which contains them all.

Younger: Okay, this is getting a little overwhelming. I don't know when I'll have time to learn all of this, let alone do it.

Elder: That's the good news; you have all your life to learn it and do it and nobody expects you to accomplish it all. You just start small and live your life as a gothi. The rest is the accumulation of experience from your path. It is called growing and living. Think of it this way; if you live a long life and people gather around to remember you at your passing, what do you want them to say about you? Who are those people and why are they the ones gathered? The answers to those questions will provide much guidance.

Younger: Okay, so just start, persevere, and see where the path takes me. Any suggestions for where I start?

Elder: Start with your interactions. Get to know your Asatru community, no matter how scattered they may be in your area. Get to know your next-door neighbors, even if they aren't part of your religion. Start attending municipal government meetings that are open to the public just so you can learn what is going on. Consider joining a political party, if you are inclined to. Read all you can and take classes as available. Most importantly, practice what you learn; it is not enough to just know things.

Younger: That's not so bad. I do a lot of that already, but I could probably be a little more friendly with people.

Elder: A friendly smile and wave can do wonders.

Younger: I suppose you have a lot of book recommendations for all of this.

Elder: Some.

• Personal Finance for Dummies by Eric Tyson
• The Complete Idiot's Guide to Leadership by Susan Caba
• Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki
• Talk Like TED: The 9 Public Speaking Secrets of the World's Top Minds by Carmine Gallo
• Zig Ziglar's Secrets of Closing the Sale by Zig Ziglar
• Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
• How to Win a Local Election by Judge Lawrence Grey
• Spy the Lie by Philip Houston, Michael Floyd, and Susan Carnicero
• Get the Truth by Philip Houston, Michael Floyd, and Susan Carnicero

Important Points from the Conversation