Heathen Fable #11 - The Foolish Mountain Hare

On a very tall snowy mountain lived a husk, or community, of mountain hares.  Hares are similar to rabbits in a number of ways, but it would be a mistake to call them a rabbit.  They can get rather disagreeable if you do.

The husk of hares loved their mountain home in both the summer and the winter.  In the summer they grew brown fur and munched on the moist green grass that grew between the rocks.  In the winter they grew thick white fur that kept them warm, and ate bark and twigs from the stunted trees that grew there.  They lived so high on the mountain that they have very little trouble from anyone.  The one exception was when the jackrabbits from the foothills below would wander occasionally up the mountain during the summer and try to eat their green grasses.  When this happened, one of the mountain hares would sound the alarm, and all the other hares would come and work together to chase the jackrabbits back down the mountain.

Among the husk of hares, there was one foolish young hare that always seemed to want attention.  He would talk in silly voices, make fun of himself, tell stupid jokes, and even pretend to trip and fall just to get all the other hares to laugh.  The foolish hare seemed willing to do almost anything to be the center of attention, and often it worked.  The other hares would laugh and point at the foolish hare's antics and silliness, and the foolish hare would feel very good about all the attention he was getting.

One day, an old hare took the foolish hare aside and said, "You do realize that people laughing at you is not the same as having real friends, don't you?"

The foolish hare scoffed at the old hare.  "Everyone loves me.  Look how they laugh when I tell a joke.  Look how much attention they pay to me."

The old hare shook his head.  "They laugh because you are acting like a clown.  They don't respect you.  And you haven't done the real work it takes to make and keep good friends."

The foolish hare became angry.  "You are just mad because you don't get the attention that I get.  You are jealous of how popular I am."

The old hare answered, "I would rather be respected than get the attention given to a fool."  And with that the old hare hopped away.

Months later, on a sunny summer day, the foolish hare was off by himself eating some delicious green grass on the side of the mountain.  While he was busy eating, a number of big jackrabbits from the foothills snuck carefully past him and headed high onto the mountain belonging to the husk of hares.  The jackrabbits ate up lots of the mountain hares' moist green grass before they were discovered and chased back down the mountain by a group of hares.  

This group of hares noticed the foolish hare munching away on grass, and approached him.  One of them said, "Why did you not raise the alarm when those jackrabbits invaded our mountain?"

The foolish hare answered, "I didn't see them.  They must have snuck around me."

One of the other hare's said, "We think you saw them, and were just too lazy to sound the alarm."

Another said, "Or perhaps you saw them, and were just too stupid to sound the alarm."

And another said, "Or you saw them, but made a deal with them to let them go by."

The group of hares brought the foolish hare back to the husk, and accused him of these things in front of all the other mountain hares.  Everyone was very angry at the foolish hare and there was talk of kicking him out of their community and making him leave the mountain.

The foolish hare pleaded with them.  "They snuck around me and I never saw them.  I'm not lazy, or stupid, and I would never betray you.  This could have happened to anyone."

All the other mountains hares just stared angrily at the foolish hare and were very quiet.  The foolish hare became nervous and asked, "Will none of my friends here speak up for me?  I don't understand why no one is defending me.  I didn't do anything wrong.  Why will none of you stand up for me?"

The old hare hopped forward from the crowd.  "As I warned you before, it is a fool that thinks everyone who laughs at him is his friend.  And now the fool has learned that he has no friends that will speak up for him.  Leave the husk, get off our mountain, and never come back."

(Hávamál Stanza 25)

Mark Ludwig Stinson

Jotun's Bane Kindred

Temple of Our Heathen Gods

http://www.heathengods.com

Heathen Fable #10 - The Oldest Oak

The ground in the forest was covered with young acorns.  Many had landed on wide stretches of black earth, but several acorns found themselves on the edge of a rocky bluff.  The acorns that were laying in easy places to grow laughed at the acorns near the bluff, because the ground beneath them was filled with rocks and growing into a tall oak tree there would be very difficult.  But, one of the unfortunate acorns ignored the laughter and made the best of his difficult spot to grow.

A few years later all the acorns had grown into young oak trees.  The ones who had grown on the wide stretches of black earth had sprouted and grown taller quickly and easily.  The nutrients in their soil was simple to find and running their roots out into the ground had been an effortless task.  But there was only one small oak remaining at the top of the bluff. He had to work for every inch of growth.  His roots had to push down through the rocks and earth, seeking out whatever nutrients he could find on the edge of the bluff.  The tall young oaks in the rich black earth sometimes teased their stunted brother on the edge of the bluff.

One young oak asked, "Why do you struggle so hard on the edge of that bluff?  You should give up like the rest of the acorns that landed there.  That's no place for an proud oak to grow."

The small oak on the edge of the bluff answered, "It is true that I'm the only oak remaining on the edge of the bluff. I did not choose this place to grow...this is where I fell.  But, I'll never give up.  I'll work, and I'll struggle, and I'll make the best of this rocky home."

Another young oak said, "See how tall the rest of us are.  Are you not ashamed that you are so stunted and small?"

The small oak on the edge of the bluff answered, "I feel no shame in making the best of my situation.  You seem to take great pride in growing easily in the rich soil you fell upon by complete chance.  I take great pride in making the best of my difficult situation."

Many years passed, and the oaks growing on the stretches of black soil had gotten much bigger and were crowded together.  They roots were tangled in knots beneath the soil.  They fought to reach higher than their neighbor so that their leaves could gather the sunlight they needed to survive.  Some of them had been crowded out and died.  The oak on the edge of the bluff was not as tall as the other trees, but his roots were not tangled with the roots of other trees.  He was not crowded by other trees.  So his limbs reached out in every direction gathering plenty of sunshine.  Still, the crowded oaks liked to tease their brother out on the edge of the bluff.

One of the oaks said, "Look at you all alone out there on the bluff, you must be very lonely out there.

The oak on the edge of the bluff answered, "While I am the lone oak out here among the rocks, I am not alone.  Many smaller trees grow around me and below me at the foot of the bluff.  Some of them have grown from my own acorns.  The shade from you and your tall brothers won't let the acorns that fall from your limbs grow."

Another of the crowded oaks said, "It must hurt to have all those rocks among your roots.  Why do you even bother?"

The oak on the edge of the bluff answered, "Working my roots down into this soil has been hard work...that is true.  But, now that they are there, I am firmly in place.  I welcome the stability and am greatful for the rocks among my roots."

Many years passed by, and most of the oaks that had grown in the stretches of black soil were gone.  Many of them had been sqeezed out by their taller brothers.  Their roots could not grow out far enough to gather water and the shade from taller trees caused the leaves of smaller trees to wither and drop.  Many of the taller trees had grown so tall, so fast, that strong winds blew them down.  Their roots had not been deep enough and had no rocks for them to grip.  But the oak on the edge of the bluff was still there.  He had lost some limbs to storms or disease.  His gnarled roots had tangled themselves throughout the face of the bluff.  But he had grown tall and broad and was healthy and happy, and his branches full of leaves.  But, still the few remaining oaks would try to tease him.

One of the remaining oaks said, "Look at your broken limbs and your gnarled roots.  What a strange looking oak you are."

The oak on the edge of the bluff answered, "I have lost some limbs and my roots are gnarled, but I have grown tall and prospered.  I am full and healthy.  So many of you trees in the black soil have fallen.  I would rather stand here showing the scars of my long life, than to lie in the soil, the food for bugs."

One of the remaining oaks asked, "Will you not miss us when we are all gone?  Won't you be lonely when the last of us has fallen?"

The oak on the edge of the bluff answered, "I've spent my many years making true friends.  See this maple tree that has grown beneath me and helps to hold up my weight?  See the squirrels and the birds who enjoy the shelter of my limbs and leaves?  See the snake that makes his home among my roots?  When you have all fallen, I will not be alone.  I will be the oldest and the wisest being in the forest, with many wights who look to me as a friend."

Many more years passed, and all of the oaks who had grown on the wide stretches of black soil had fallen.  Younger oaks were growing in their place, among other types of trees and all manner of plants and bushes.  The oak on the edge of the bluff was very old, but had grown tall and wide.  The evidence of his age showed on his bark and in his limbs, but he wore these signs as the reward for a long life and much wisdom.  All the plants, animals, and spirits of the forest paid respect to this old oak, and called him Forn Halr, which means the "Old Man."

One day a group of men and women who followed the ways of their People came to the forest.  They were looking to establish a holy place where they could honor their Gods and Ancestors.  As they walked through the forest, every spirit whispered to them of Forn Halr.

One spirit said, "If you need guidance, you should ask the Old Man."

Another spirit said, "You should honor Forn Halr, he is the wisest among us."

A third spirit said, "If you seek a holy place, then you should gather beneath the limbs of Forn Halr."

The group of men and women found their way to Forn Halr, and paid their respect.  They built an alter beneath his limbs and marked the holiness of the shade he provided.  They spoke to him and gave him gifts.  All their most important oaths were taken with a hand on Forn Halr's trunk, and they lived by his example.  A holy runestone was carved with the likeness of Forn Halr and words that spoke of his timeless importance.  A symbol of their Gods was hung around Forn Halr's trunk and they honored their Gods and their Ancestors at the base of this holy tree.  The forest rejoiced that the wisest among them was honored in this way.  Those that honored Forn Halr, prospered as he had, through hard-work and determination.

Mark Ludwig Stinson

Jotun's Bane Kindred

Temple of Our Heathen Gods

http://www.heathengods.com

Heathen Fable #9 - The Greedy Fat Ram

The flock of sheep left the relative safety of the area around the herder's house and spent the morning walking to a wide round hill where they often grazed on the thick tender grasses that grew there.  One fat ram barely kept up with the flock, waddling as he did, with his great belly swinging to and fro.  

When they arrived at the grassy hill, the ewes, rams, and little lambs grazed in relative silence, carefully choosing the plants they knew tasted the best.  The fat ram was so greedy, that he would often push other sheep out of the way to get to an especially tender clump of green grass.  While other sheep would occasionally stop to chew their cud and properly digest their food, the fat ram gorged and gorged never stopping for anything.

As the sun began go behind the hills and dusk approached, the flock of sheep turned toward home and began their trip back to the fields surrounding the herder's house.  But the fat ram was so busy grazing, that he hardly noticed they were gone.  

Alone on the grassy hill, the fat ram continued to eat and eat.  He never even heard the wolves approaching.  While all the ewes, and rams, and little lambs rested safely near the herder's house, nine wolves gobbled up the greedy fat lamb for their evening meal.

As it is with sheep, it is also with men...the foolish man never knows how much to eat.

(Hávamál Stanza 21)

Mark Ludwig Stinson

Jotun's Bane Kindred

Temple of Our Heathen Gods

http://www.heathengods.com

Heathen Fable #8 - The Hawk that Fought the Wind

All the worlds, including our own, rest in the branches of the world-tree, Yggdrasil. A very old Jotun named Hræsvelgr, or Corpse-Gulper, sits at the top of the world-tree in the form of an eagle, and the flapping of his tremendous wings cause all the winds that blow across the land and seas of our world, Midgard. When our world was young, Corpse-Gulper was already old. There were bare-patches on his body where his feathers had worn thin with age. His body was bent and gnarled and he squinted to see where he was directing the wind from his wings.

It came to be that Corpse-Gulper's eyes were so damaged by age, that ships with sails received no wind at all. The boats of fishermen were blown onto the rocks and broken to pieces. Precious farm animals were scattered by random gusts and lost. Homes were blown down, good soil blown away, and no one could say what the winds might do next to hurt the lives of men.

Hawks depend on the wind more than most. They follow the air currents, using them when they hunt, and they depend on their knowledge of the winds for their lives. But Corpse-Gulper's bad eyes and horrible aim caused wild and unpredictable winds and the hawks suffered even more than men. Many hawks were carried far from where they wanted to be, hunting became impossible, and many hawks starved to death or were blown to the ground and to their deaths. For this reason, all the hawks became fearful and would not take to the sky.

But there was one Brave Hawk who was not afraid. He cared not if the winds were uncontrolled and wild. He scolded his cowardly kin, and told them that he would soar, and hunt, and fly despite the danger. The other hawks tried to talk him out of it and said to the brave hawk, "See...even the men hide from these wild winds. They know that death awaits any that defy the furious blasts from Corpse-Gulper's wings, and they no longer travel in their boats or fish upon the sea, for fear of what will happen to them. They've stopped building homes, planting their crops, or putting their animals in the field for fear of losing everything they have."

The Brave Hawk refused to bow to fear and told the other hawks, "Am I not a hawk? I am young, and strong, and I am meant to fly. I will not cower from these winds." He took flight and began to hunt. But the Brave Hawk was buffetted by the winds, and the air churned and whipped all around him. He fought with every bit of his strength against the deadly gusts, diving and catching new currents when the old ones failed him or threatened to drive him toward the ground. With all his skill and his might he strove courageously against the poorly aimed gusts from Corpse Gulper's wings. But after hours of struggle, a mighty wind drove the Brave Hawk downward onto the rocks and there he lay, broken and dead.

The Goddess Freyja, beautiful Freyja, had seen the Brave Hawk's fearless battle against the wild winds. She gently lifted his broken body from the ground and held it in both her hands. "So great was your might and your main, young hawk, that you should be rewarded with a victory of sorts." It was a simple thing for Freyja to repair the Brave Hawk's body and restore him to life. She set him on Corpse-Gulper's great beak, right between his old squinted eyes.

Freyja told the Brave Hawk, "The winds are not always kind, but neither should they always cause harm. Stay here with Corpse-Gulper, and lend him your eyes. Help him to properly aim the wind from his great wings. Men will call you Veðrfölnir, or Wind-Witherer, for you will calm the wild winds. Give men enough wind to travel to far off places and let them return to fishing, and harvesting, and building their homes without the constant threat of death. As for hawks and the other birds, give them winds to take them where they wish to go and to bring them safely to their prey."

This was long ago. All these years later, the gnarled and ancient eagle named Corpse-Gulper still sits in the uppermost branches of the world-tree, flapping his great wings and sending winds across our world. Some men know that a hawk named the Wind-Whitherer sits upon Corpse-Gulper's beak, though all but a few have forgotten why...

Mark Ludwig Stinson
Jotun's Bane Kindred
Temple of Our Heathen Gods
http://www.heathengods.com/

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END NOTE  - The fable “The Hawk that Fought the Wind” is not based directly on the Lore, for the Lore does not give a reason why there is a hawk sitting on the beak of the Eagle at the top of Yggdrasil, the world-tree. Whatever story or myth that once existed among our ancestors regarding the hawk's purpose in sitting there has been lost.

While attempting to give a modern explanation to this question, the fable is also crafted to teach a lesson about bravery and perseverance and to explain the hawk's name in the Lore, which can be translated as “wind-whitherer.”

For the purpose of this story, we have brought together into one character the nameless jotun in the form of an eagle at the “top of Yggdrasil” and Hræsvelgr, the jotun in the form of an eagle at the “top of the sky” who forms all the wind with his wings. Despite some strong parallels between these two jotuns, there is no conclusive evidence in the Lore that they were one and the same.

Heathen Fable #7 - A Guest in the Red Squirrel's Home

As the sun rose and began to dry the night's rain from the plants of the field, the young Field Mouse exited his burrow and tried to warm itself in the morning light.  His burrow near the edge of the field had been cold and damp during the night's storms, and he was shivering and wet.  

The young Mouse watched in amazement as an old grey Mouse climbed down a tree on the edge of the Field and began to make his way home to his own wet burrow.  The old Mouse was dry, happy, and whistling a tune between his teeth.

The young Mouse ran over near the old Mouse and asked, "You spent the night in a tree?"

The old Mouse nodded.  "Yep, I spent the evening and night as a guest in the Red Squirrel's nest in the tree, feasting on seeds and hazelnuts.  I have to admit, his warm little home in the hollow of the tree is much nicer than our damp burrows."

The young Mouse was still shivering as he walked alongside his dry neighbor.  "But, the Red Squirrel is selfish with his food and sort of a grump.  He never invites me to his nest.  Why would he invite you?"

The old Mouse stopped and faced the wet young Mouse.  "I bring lots of seeds and nuts with me when I visit.  You'll get many more invitations to visit the warm homes of others if you don't eat up all their food, or if you bring with you twice as much food as you plan to eat yourself.  A generous guest is always welcome in other's homes."

(Hávamál Stanza 67)

Mark Ludwig Stinson

Jotun's Bane Kindred

Temple of Our Heathen Gods

http://www.heathengods.com

Heathen Fable #6 - The Beaver, the Frog, and the Ringed Snake

The Frog and the Beaver grew up together in the same pond and were the best of friends.  They had a real fondness for each other, spoke often, and visited each other's homes.  They knew each other so long, that they even shared many mutual friends in and around the pond.  Many an evening you would find the Frog and the Beaver sitting side by side on the Beaver's dam talking and laughing and watching the sun set.

One day, the Beaver was visited by a Ringed Snake, and he found the Snake to be interesting, and funny, and a pleasure to be around.  He knew that many of his friends in the pond were scared of the Snake, but the Beaver wasn't scared, because Ringed Snakes don't hunt or eat Beavers.  A friendship began between the Beaver and the Ringed Snake and they began to visit each other frequently.

Days and weeks had gone by, and the Beaver realized that his friend the Frog had stopped visiting him.  The more the Beaver thought about it, all of his friends in the pond except the Snake had stopped visiting him.  The Beaver missed the Frog, so he looked around the pond for him and found him swimming with their friend the Water Rat.  The Beaver waddled over and asked, "Where have you been my friend?"

In an angry voice, Frog croaked out, "You've become friends with my enemy the Ringed Snake.  The Snake hunts and eats Frogs like me, and you know it.  I've seen many tadpoles and frogs become the Snake's dinner, and yet he is now your friend."

The Beaver shrugged, "Frog, I don't see how my friendship with the Snake has anything to do with the friendship you and I share.  It is two different things."

The Water Rat sneered at the Beaver, and said, "You should never be friends with the enemy of a friend.  We've all seen your lack of loyalty to Frog, and none of us trust you anymore.  Go away."

The Beaver swam home and thought, "Well I've lost all my old friends, but at least the Ringed Snake is still my friend."  When the Beaver arrived home, the Ringed Snake was waiting for him.  The Beaver smiled, "Hello, my Friend."

The Ring Snake laughed.  "I'm not your friend.  I've been visiting you these past few weeks because I saw you had friends that I could eat.  I've eaten a belly-full of your little friends, but the one's that remain have stopped visiting you...and so shall I."

(Hávamál Stanza 43)

Mark Ludwig Stinson

Jotun's Bane Kindred

Temple of Our Heathen Gods

http://www.heathengods.com/

Heathen Fable #5 - The Wise Toad and the Fretting Dormouse

A Toad and a Dormouse lived very near to one another in two homes among the roots of a tree by a babbling stream.  In the Spring it rained heavily, and both the Toad and the Dormouse barely escaped to higher ground as the stream rose and flooded both their homes.  When the water fell, the Toad and the Dormouse returned together to survey the damage.  They were shocked to see all their belongings in both their homes jumbled every which way by the flood waters.  Everythng they owned was wet and covered in mud.

The Toad said to the Dormouse, "It is getting dark and we should rest.  We have a lot of work to do tomorrow cleaning up both our homes.  Let's find a comfortable place to sleep nearby."  The Dormouse nodded and followed the Toad, but the whole time he kept looking back at his home and wringing his hands.  "What will I do, what will I do?  Such a mess, such a mess.  I'll never get it cleaned up!"

The Toad led the Dormouse to a comfortable grassy spot, pulled some soft leaves over himself as a blanket, and fell promptly to sleep with a peaceful look upon his face.  He had a deep and restful sleep throughout the night.  But the Dormouse could not sit still.  He paced back and forth, muttering and tittering complaints under his breath about the horrible mess in his house and all the work he must do the next day.  He worried and fretted half the night before he collapsed into a fitfull sleep.

The Dormouse awoke late in the morning, and noticed that the Toad was gone from his makeshift bed.  He climbed to his feet, rubbed his tired eyes, and went looking for his friend.  He found the Toad quickly enough, sitting calming outside his home.  He was smiling and enjoying the warmth of the sun.  When the Toad saw the Dormouse approaching he said,  "Ah, there you are my furry friend.  While you were sleeping in late, I finished cleaning and straightening my home."  

The Dormouse was surprised.  "You're done cleaning up your home already?  I was so worried and upset about my own home, that I couldn't sleep at all!"

The Toad smiled a big grin and clapped his Dormouse friend on the back.  "Well no matter how much sleep you lose through fret and worry, your problems remain the same in the morning as they were the night before."

(Hávamál Stanza 23)

Mark Ludwig Stinson

Jotun's Bane Kindred

Temple of Our Heathen Gods

http://www.heathengods.com/

Heathen Fable #4 - The Young Rabbit Receives Unexpected Help

The young Rabbit burst through the wall of brambles into a hollow spot in a large patch of thorn bushes near a pond.   He was huffing and puffing and his heart was racing at an incredible speed.  It was there he met an old Hedgehog, a tiny Mole, a ringed Snake, and a three-legged Rat.  The Rat lifted his one front paw and asked, "What's your hurry, friend?"

In between gasps for air, the Rabbit answered, "I'm being tracked by a Wolf that wants to eat me.  The Wolf cut me off from my burrow, and while I'm very fast, he's still after me and I'm getting too tired to run."

The three-legged Rat immediatly offered his help along with the help of his three friends, the Hedgehog, the Mole, and the Snake.  The old Hedgehog, who was apparently deaf, said in a loud voice, "What's that you said?  You'll have to speak up you know!"  

The Rabbit was in complete disbelief as to the Rat's offer and answered, "What could an deaf old Hedgehog, a blind little Mole, a legless Snake, and an crippled Rat do to protect me from a hungry Wolf?"

The Rat smiled a toothy grin, and began squeaking out a plan to his three friends.  Following the Rat's instructions, the blind little Mole warned them when when the wolf was close, because he could feel the earth shake.  The deaf old Hedgehog was hidden on the trail and tripped the Wolf as he made his way into the bramble patch.  And finally, as the Wolf lay sprawled on the ground, the ringed Snake bit the Wolf on his nose as hard as he could.  The Wolf leapt into the air, fell into the brambles, struggled through the thorns, and ran off into the woods yelping loudly. 

On that day the young Rabbit learned what all wise men know.  That despite a man's hardships or flaws, whether he be lame, handless, blind, or deaf, he can still have skills, a purpose, and great worth to his family and community.

(Hávamál Stanza 71)

Mark Ludwig Stinson

Jotun's Bane Kindred

Temple of Our Heathen Gods

http://www.heathengods.com

Heathen Fable #3 - Four Mice Attend the Feast

Late one night, four Mice approached a house where humans had held a big feast earlier in the night.  From three fields away the Mice had smelled the left-over food and drink still out on the feasting tables, and they knew the humans were in bed at this time of night.  Reaching the house, the four little Mice climbed up some vines and reached an open window.

Hungry for the left-over food, three of the Mice rushed through the window and ran for the tables.  But one careful Mouse remained on the window sill looking back and forth, and all around the room.  The careful Mouse felt a bit silly being left behind on the window sill while his friends rushed ahead, but he worried what else might be in the house besides left-over food and the sleeping humans.

In the dim light of the room, the careful Mouse watched as three clever Cats pounced on his friends and gobbleed them up.  He had no time to warn them, and they were all gone with hardly a squeak.  The careful Mouse crept quietly away, sad for his friends but glad for his caution.

(Hávamál Stanza 1)

Mark Ludwig Stinson

Jotun's Bane Kindred

Temple of Our Heathen Gods

http://www.heathengods.com

Heathen Fable #2 - The Hungry Wolf that Slept

A hungry Wolf was hunting at night, when he found a spot by a stream where a herd of sheep had been crossing and drinking during the light of day.  The ground there was muddy, and worn, and rough with the hoof-prints of many sheep.  The hungry Wolf began to drool at the thought of the big fat sheep he could catch and eat in the morning.

The Wolf crept into the high grass by the muddy path, and curled up to hide and wait for the sun to rise and the sheep to come for their morning drink.  The sun began to rise in the east, but the Wolf was tired from hunting all night and soon he had fallen sound asleep in the grass.

The herd of sheep came down the muddy path that morning, drank quietly from the stream, and moved on to greener fields.  And still the Wolf slept.

Thus the hungry Wolf learned that the idle, the lazy, and the sleeping don't get what they want and rarely succeed. 

(Hávamál Stanza 58)

Mark Ludwig Stinson

Jotun's Bane Kindred

Temple of Our Heathen Gods

http://www.heathengods.com

Heathen Fable #1 - The Old Owl and the Young Fox

All the animals of the forest and fields thought the old Owl to be most wise.  The Owl with his eyes and ears was believed to  see all and hear all, and though the Owl said very little, all the other beasts spoke of how clever and deep-minded the old Owl was.  The old Owl was quite proud of what others thought of him, and did much to promote this belief in his wisdom.

A young Fox in dire need of advice, stayed up after dark and sought out the old Owl in the forest.  Spotting the large bright eyes of the Owl among the trees, the young Fox approached in awe and asked the owl many questions.  The old Owl's answers were all nonsense, meaningless riddles, and random questions having nothing to do with what the young Fox needed to know.

Thus the young Fox learned that those that are foolish think they are wise, but are shown to be fools when questioned by others...

(Hávamál Stanza 26)

Mark Ludwig Stinson

Jotun's Bane Kindred

Temple of Our Heathen Gods

http://www.heathengods.com