In this post the most relevant texts regarding the Wralda theology will be listed. Also, fragments from other texts provide insight in how Wralda was referred to in general reasoning.
First of all, it is noteworthy that the Primal Teachings ("FORM.LÉRE", 1 and 2) about Wralda where not included in the "Book of Adela Followers", the collection of texts that were initially copied from various burgs as suggested by Adela, ca. 600 BCE. Her daughter Apollonia added them later and wondered why they had been left out as they had a prominent place on the walls of her burg Liudgarda that had also been a burg that must have been familiar to her parents, Adela and Apol, the latter being the reeve responsible for collecting texts from his district. Also note that neither Adela did not once refer to Wralda in her speech, and nor did the last 'Folkmother' Frana in her prophecy. Adela did refer to Frya in a religious way and Frana addressed a personified Earth. Frya 'Religion' is explored in the following post.
1. Wraldalogy - most relevant texts
(see: 4. Key Fragments below)
| paragraph nr./ title Ott | pages/ lines original MS; link to new translation |
pages Sandbach |
| 2b. Our Primal History | [006/12 – 006/32] | 13 |
| 2f. Frya's Tex (rede 1, 2, 4, 5, 8) | [011/13 – 014/08] | 19 - 23 |
| 4e. Minos: Aewa | [032/01 – 033/21] | 47 - 49 |
| 4f. Minos: Minerva | [033/22 – 039/05] | 49 - 57 |
| 6. Yule, Script, Numbers | [045/01 – 047/04] | 65 - 67 |
| 13e. Primal Teachings 1 | [097/29 – 099/32] | 135 - 139 |
| 13f. Primal Teachings 2 | [100/01 – 103/25] | 139 - 143 |
| 13g. The Unsociable Man | [103/26 – 106/09] | 143 - 145 |
| 16e. Gosa: Purity of Language | [157/32 – 163/09] | 215 - 219 |
| 18. Rika: Stealing of Titles | [189/01 – 192/32] | 229 - 233 |
2. Wralda (as 'God') references in other texts
B. Liko Ovira Linda, 803 CE [00b/18] WIL WR.ALDA .T THJELDA
If Wralda allows it, and if we do not strengthen ourselves, they will exterminate us all.
4d. Minos: Laws [031/08] WR.ALDA JEFTA AL.FODER
Wralda — or Allfeeder — has given me many years. Over many lands and seas have I traveled, and after all that I have seen, I am convinced that we alone are privileged by Allfeeder to have laws.
8a. Magyars and Finns [052/04/09] FON WR.ALDA.S GÁST NÉTON HJA NAWET
They believe that evil spirits are everywhere and enter into people and animals, but of Wralda's spirit they know nothing. [...] The Magyars claim that they can ban and banish the evil spirits. The Finns are always in fear because of this, and their faces never show signs of joy.
8b. Wodin and the Magus [055/16] FRYA ÀND WR.ALDAS GÁST
When Wodin returned, the magus gave him his daughter as a wife. He then was incensed with herbs. However, among them were magic herbs, and gradually Wodin became so audacious, that he dared to disavow and ridicule Frya and Wralda's spirit, while he bent his free neck before images of false gods.
8e. The Idolatrous Gols [061/24] THA BERN FON WR.ALDA
All of these girls, however, had become servants of the Gauls, and stole the children from Wralda to offer them to their false gods.
13i. Apollonia’s Journey [111/13] VMBE SÉJEN TO WINNANDE FON WR.ALDA.S GÁST
South of Forana is Alkmarum. This is a ‘mare’ or lake with an island on which the black and brown men abide, like they do at Lydasburg. The burg maiden of Forana told me that the burg masters visit them daily, to teach them what true freedom is and how people ought to live gently together in order to gain the blessing of Wralda's spirit. Should any of them be interested and able to understand, he would be able to stay until he was fully educated. That was done to elevate the foreign folks and to win allies everywhere.
14d. Alexander the King [124/15] WR.ALDA LÉT SINE SÉLE LÁS
When Alexander learned how his scheme had worked out, he became so reckless that he wanted to dig out the dry strait, to the mockery of earth. However, Wralda deserted his soul, and, in his arrogance, he drowned himself in wine before he could even start.
14e. Demetrius and Friso [128/24] NÉI WRALDA.S HÉI
While we were organizing ourselves, the wind turned against us, which scared the cowards and women, since, as we had no slaves, except those who had voluntarily joined us, we could not escape them by rowing. But Wralda knew what he was doing, and Friso, who understood, quickly had the fire-arrows placed on the crossbows, with the order to wait until he had shot first. He also told us to aim for the central ship. ‘If we are efficient’, he said, ‘the others will come to his aid and then we must all shoot at our best.’ [...] Friso was the one who had to guide us to Fryasland, so the Ionians joined us. This also seemed to be Wralda's intention, as within three months we passed Britannia; three days later, we were able to cheer huzzah!
15c. Yesus or Buda of Kashmir [138/25 + 141/09] ALLE KRÀFTUM THÉR WR.ALDA IN JO LÉITH HETH
Moreover, you must be vigilant against their trade and tricks, with all forces that Wralda has provided you. [...] Wralda's spirit will be honored and invoked everywhere and in every way. Only the ‘aewa’ that Wralda initially laid in our souls will be adhered to. There will be no other masters, princes or bosses than those who were elected by common will.
15d. Frana’s Will [141/27] ANTHA NÔME WR.ALDA.S
In the name of Wralda, Frya and of freedom, I greet you
15e. Gosa’s Will [142/06] WR.ALDA HETH HJA NAVT NE SKÉPEN
A bad time has passed by, but another is approaching us. Earth did not bear it and Wralda did not create it; it comes from the east, from the core of the priests. It will breed so much suffering that earth cannot drink all the blood of her slain children. It will spread darkness over the spirit of mankind, like thunderclouds over sunlight. Everywhere and in every way, deception and idolatry will challenge freedom and justice. Justice and freedom will perish, and we with them.
16a. Canals and Dykes [144/13] THÀT WR.ALDA VSA AL.FODER AL SINA SKEPSELA FOT
From this, all people may learn that Wralda, our allfeeder, provides for all his creatures, as long as they keep their spirits up and are willing to help each other.
16b. Friso: Alliances [147/02] THRVCH WR.ALDA SKÉPEN
By this arrangement, the Jutters could keep the land to where Wralda had led them. [...] Friso finally asked if they did not have a good harbor in their region. ‘Oh yes,’ they answered, ‘one of the best, created by Wralda. [...] When it would come to the point of choosing a king again, I will therefore also give my opinion. From all I can consider, Friso was chosen for it by Wralda, for he was miraculously guided by him here.
16f. Liudgerd: Punjab Report [165/18] NIT AN WRALDA NACH AN JRTHA
The land between the Punjab and the Ganges is just as flat as Fryasland by the sea, with varied landscapes of fields and woods, fertile in all parts, which, however, does not prevent thousands upon thousands sometimes starving to death there. These famines can thus not be attributed to Wralda or Earth, but only to the princes and priests.
19c. Reintia's Dream [202/27] WR.ALDA HÉDE HJA TO HROPA LÉTA
Wralda, she said, had signaled to her by thunder that all Frya's folk must become friends, united as sisters and brothers, or else Finda's folk would come and wipe them all off the face of the earth. After the thunder, Frya's seven watch maidens had appeared in her dreams, seven nights in succession.
19d. Askar Lost to Idolatry [207/06] ÀJEN WR.ALDA HIS WILLE
They brought home various foreign treasures, but the result was that the young folk lost their ambition to learn a craft or work in the fields, so in the end they had to use slaves. This was all very much against Wralda's will and against Frya's advice. Thus, punishment was inevitable.
3. Wralda (also) as 'world'
2e. Frya was White [010/23] BÉVADE JRTHA LÎK WR.ALDA.S SÉ
When she had spoken, the earth trembled like Wralda’s sea. Fleeland's surface sank beneath her feet, the sky turned black and rained ceaselessly
3b. General Laws [019/09] VP ELLA THAT WR.ALDA JEFTH
All Frya children are born in the same way. Therefore, they must also have the same rights, whether on land or on water, or any place Wralda provides.
7a. Before the Bad Times [047/07/17/26] VS THRVCH WRALDA JÉVEN
Before the bad times came, our land was the most beautiful in Wralda. [...] On one side, we were enclosed by Wralda's Sea, on which no folk but us had the means nor skills to fare [...] twelve large freshwater rivers, given us by Wralda
13f. Primal Teachings 2 [100/21] THÀT THISSA DROCHTNE WRALDA ESKÉPEN HÀVE
Finda's folk are a bad folk, for although their pseudo-wise men convince themselves that they are divine, they have created false divinities for the uninitiated — everywhere proclaiming that these divinities have created the world with all that is therein — greedy divinities, full of envy and wrath, who want to be honored and served by the people, who want blood and sacrifice and demand rich offerings.
4. Key Fragments
2b. Our Primal History [006/13] WR.ALDA.S OD TRÀD TO RA BINNA
Wralda, who alone is whole and eternal, created the potential. Time began and wrought all things; the very earth herself. Earth bore all grasses, herbs and trees; all cherished and all despised creatures. All that is good and cherished, she brought forth by day, and all that is evil and despised, she brought forth by night. After the twelfth Yulefeast, she bore three girls: Lyda from glowing hot, Finda from hot, and Frya from warm substance.
As they lay naked, Wralda fed them with his breath so that mankind would be bound to him. As they matured, they became fruitful and dreamed of pleasure. They received Wralda's ‘od’ [seed?] into them, and so they each bore twelve sons and twelve daughters; twins each Yuletide. All of mankind has come from these.
2f. Frya's Tex (rede 1, 2, 4, 5, 8) [011/18] WR.ALDA SKOLDE HELPA HJAM
1. When great is the need, and good counsel and good deed have proven futile, then call upon the spirit of Wralda. But you must not call upon him before everything has been tried, for I tell you with good reason, and time will confirm it: the dispirited will always collapse under their own sorrow.
2. To Wralda's spirit alone should the knee be bent in gratitude, yes, thrice-fold: for what you have consumed from him, for what you avail yourself of, and for the hope of provision in troubled times to come.
4. Never accept obeisance from your kinsmen, for it is due to Wralda's spirit. [...]
5. Four things were given you to use, namely air, water, land and fire, but Wralda owns them all.
8. Do not attack either the folk of Lyda or of Finda. Wralda would help them, so that your violence would return upon your own heads.
4e. Minos: Aewa [032/01] THA SIN THÉR WR.ALDA.S GÁST AN VS KÉTH
The word ‘aewa’ is too sacred for common use. Therefore, we have learned to say ‘even’.
Aewa refers to the rules that are imprinted equally in the hearts of all people, in order that they may know what is right and what is wrong, and by which they are able to judge their own deeds and those of others; that is, insofar as they have been brought up well and are not corrupted.
There is also yet another meaning attached; aewa also relates to ‘ae-like’ — that is water-like: even and smooth like water that is not disturbed by windstorm or anything else. If water is disturbed, it becomes uneven, ‘unright’, but it always has a tendency to become even again. That is its nature, just as the inclination towards justice and freedom exists in Frya's children. We derive this disposition from our feeder — Wralda's spirit — which speaks strongly in Frya's children, and will eternally remain so.
Aewa is also the other symbol of Wralda's spirit, which eternally remains just and undisturbed, although in his physical body there may be rage. Aewa and being undisturbed are the signs of wisdom and righteousness, which must be sought after by all pious people, and must be possessed by all judges.
If, therefore, the people want to make resolutions and pronounce sentences, which always and everywhere remain good, they must be the same for all people. According to these aewa, the judges must pronounce their decisions.
If any evil is done for which no aewa are established, a general assembly must be called, where judgment shall be pronounced in accordance with what Wralda's spirit reveals to us, in order to judge justly about all things.
4f. Minos: Minerva [035/14] IK KÀN ÉN GODE. THÀT IS WRALDAS GÁST
Once, when plague had come to the land, they came with a crowd of people, and said: ‘We are all making offerings to the gods, so they might ward off the plague. Will you not help to calm their wrath, or did you bring the plague over the land with your arts?’
‘No,’ Minerva said, ‘since I do not know any gods that do evil, I cannot ask them to be nicer. I only know one “god” — that is Wralda’s spirit — and because “god” means good, he also does no evil.’
‘Where does evil come from then?’ the priests asked.
‘All evil comes from yourselves and from the stupidity of the people that walk into your trap.’
‘So if your supreme being is all that good, then why does he not avert evil?’ the priests asked.
Helena answered: ‘Frya has put us on the path, and the Carrier that is time must do the rest. For all disasters, counsel and help can be found, but Wralda wants us to search ourselves, so we shall become strong and wise. If we refuse, he lets us squeeze out our own tumors, so we shall experience the results of wise and foolish deeds.’
A prince replied: ‘I would imagine it better to simply ward off disaster.’
‘Of course,’ Helena answered, ‘because then people would remain like tame sheep. You and the priests want to protect, but also to shear and slaughter them. But that is not what our supreme being wants. He wants us to help each other, but also that all be free and become wise. Because we want that too, our folk elects our leaders, reeves, counselors, and all chieftains and masters from the wisest of the good people, so all will do their best to become wise and good. This way, we will know and teach the folks at the same time, that only being wise and acting wisely leads to glory.’
6. Yule, Script, Numbers [045/09/21] THÀT FORMA SINNEBILD WR.ALDA.S
[Wralda ~ the Potential ~ the Beginning]
Depicted above are the signs of the Yule, which is the primal symbol of Wralda and of the potential or the beginning from which time came; the Carrier that must forever go around with the Yule. [...] We may dedicate eternal gratitude to Wralda for imbuing our ancestors with so much inspiration.
13e. Primal Teachings 1 [098/07] THÉRVMBE IS WRALDA ALLÉNA GOD
[* In the Frya letters, G is a mirrored D, which makes the word GOD perfectly symmetrical.]‘Wr-alda’ is the most-ancient or primordial (‘over-oldest’), for he created all things. Wralda is all in all, for he is eternal and everlasting. Wralda is omnipresent, yet invisible, therefore, the being is called spirit. All that we can see of him are the created beings that come and go again through his life, because from Wralda all things proceed and to him they return. Out of Wralda both the beginning and the end come. All things merge into him. Wralda is the only almighty being, because all other power is borrowed from him and returns to him. From Wralda all forces are derived and all forces return to him again. Therefore, he alone is the creative being, and nothing is created outside of him.
Wralda established eternal principles or ‘aewa’ in all that was created and regulations can only be good if they are founded upon these principles. Although all is part of Wralda, the malice of people is not of him. Malice comes from laziness, carelessness and stupidity. Therefore, it can harm the people, but never Wralda. Wralda is wisdom and the aewa that he established are the books from which we can learn. No wisdom can be found or gathered outside of them.
People can see many things, but Wralda sees all things.
People can learn many things, but Wralda knows all things.
People can unlock many things, but to Wralda all is opened.
People are male and female, but Wralda creates both.
People love and hate, but Wralda is only righteous.
Therefore, only Wralda is God [or: good*] and there are no gods outside of him. With the wheel turning, all creation alters and changes, but only God is unalterable. Since Wralda is God, he cannot change, and since he endures, only he is ‘being’ and everything else ‘emergence’.
13f. Primal Teachings 2 [100/02] FORSKINSLA THRVCH WR.ALDA.S LÉVA
Among Finda's folk there are witty men who, by their over-inventiveness, have become so corrupted that they convince themselves and their initiates that they are the best part of Wralda; that their mind is the best part of Wralda's spirit, and that Wralda can only think by the help of their brains. The notion that every creature is part of Wralda's infinite being, that they have taken from us; but their false reasoning and ungovernable pride have caused them to stray from the righteous path.
If their mind was like Wralda's spirit, then Wralda would be very stupid, instead of being sensible and wise; for their minds always work like slaves, creating beautiful images which they afterwards worship. Rather, Finda's folk are a bad folk, for although their pseudo-wise men convince themselves that they are divine, they have created false divinities for the uninitiated — everywhere proclaiming that these divinities have created the world with all that is therein — greedy divinities, full of envy and wrath, who want to be honored and served by the people, who want blood and sacrifice and demand rich offerings.
These vain, false men, however, who have themselves referred to as God's servants or priests, receive, collect and seize everything on behalf of the divinities that do not exist, to keep it for themselves. They do all this with an easy conscience, as they imagine that they are themselves divine and answer to no one. If there are any who see through their vile tricks and try to expose them, these are caught by their henchmen and burnt for their defamation — always with solemn ceremonies, in honor of their false divinities — but in truth, it is only to protect the priesthood. In order that our children may be armed against their idolatrous doctrine, the duty of the maidens is to make them learn by heart the following:
Wralda existed before all things and will endure after all things. Thus, Wralda is eternal and infinite, and therefore, nothing exists outside of him. From Wralda's life sprang time and all living creatures and his life takes away time and all things.
These facts must be made clear and manifest to all who are wise, so that they can define and demonstrate it to others. If that is understood, we can continue:
Regarding our physical dimension, we are part of Wralda's infinite being, as is the physical dimension of all that was created. However, regarding our appearance, our characteristics, our mind and all our thoughts, these do not belong to the being. All these are volatile phenomena that appear through Wralda's life, and that appear as such through his wisdom and not otherwise.
Whereas his life is continually progressing, however, nothing can remain stationary. Therefore, all creatures change their position and their shape, as well as their minds. Therefore, can neither earth itself, nor any creature ever say ‘I am’, but rather ‘I was’. Likewise, no man can ever say ‘I think’, but merely ‘I thought’. The boy is larger and different from when he was a child. He has other desires, passions and ways of thinking. The man and father is and thinks differently from when he was a boy. The same applies to the elderly. Everyone knows this.
Since everyone thus knows and must acknowledge that one is continuously changing, one must also acknowledge that one changes every instant, also whilst one says ‘I am’, and that one's thoughts change, whilst one says ‘I think’. Instead, then, of inappropriately imitating the bad Findas and saying ‘I am’, or even ‘I am the best part of Wralda, yes, through us alone can he think’, we proclaim the following always and everywhere when it is necessary:
We, Frya's children, are emergences through Wralda's life, in the beginning mean and bare, but always becoming and advancing towards perfection, without ever becoming as good as Wralda himself. Our mind is not Wralda's spirit, it is merely a semblance of it. When Wralda created us, he provided us, through his wisdom, with brain, senses, memory, and many good qualities. By means of these we can contemplate his creations and his laws. From that we can learn and about that we can speak, all and only for our own benefit. If Wralda had not given us any senses, we would know nothing, and we would be yet more helpless than a jellyfish that is driven forth by the ebb and flow.
13g. The Unsociable Man [103/28] WR.ALDA THÉR MILD IS
An unsociable, stingy man came to complain to Traest, who was maiden at Stavia. He said a storm had destroyed his house. He had prayed to Wralda, but Wralda had not provided any help.
‘Are you a true Frya?’ Traest asked. ‘All my ancestors were’, the man answered. ‘Then’, she said, ‘I will sow something in your conscience, in confidence that it will germinate, grow, and bear fruit.’ She continued and spoke:
‘When Frya was a child, our mother stood naked and bare, unprotected from the rays of the sun. She could ask help of no one, and nor was there anyone who could have given her any help. Then Wralda wrought in her conscience intuition and love, anxiety and fright. She looked round her, her intuition chose the best and she sought a hiding place under the sheltering linden tree, but rain came and with it the discomfort of becoming wet.
However, she had seen how the water ran down the pendent leaves, so she made a roof with sloping sides. She made it with sticks. Then a windstorm came and blew the rain under it. She had seen that the stem provided lee. She subsequently made a wall of sods and turf, first on one side and then all round. The windstorm returned, raging even more than before and blew away the roof, but she did not complain or ask Wralda why. She made a roof of reeds and put stones upon it.
Having experienced how hard it is to toil alone, she explained to her children how and why she had done all this. They wrought and thought together. This is the way we developed houses with porches, a street and linden trees that protect us from the rays of the sun. Eventually they built a burg and after that, all others.
If your house was not strong enough, you must try to make the next better.’ ‘My house was strong enough,’ he said, ‘but the raising water lifted it up and the storm wind did the rest.’ ‘Where did your house stand then?’ Traest asked. ‘Along the Rhine’, the man answered. ‘Did it not stand on a knoll or mound?’ Traest asked. ‘No,’ he said, ‘my house stood lonely on the bank. I built it alone and by myself I could not make a mound there.’
‘I actually knew,’ Traest said, ‘the maidens have informed me. All your life you have detested the people, fearing that you might have to give or do something for them, but one does not get far with such an attitude, because Wralda, who is generous, turns away from the stingy. Vesta gave us this advice, and above the gates of all burgs, it is carved in stone:
“If you like benefits, Vesta said, then protect your neighbors: inform and help them, for they will do so in return.”
16e. Gosa: Purity of Language [158/11] WRALDA IS WIS ÀND GOD ÀND AL FÁRSJANDE
When Wralda gave children to the mothers of mankind, he laid one language in all tongues and on all lips. This gift Wralda bestowed upon men to be used for letting each other know what must be avoided and what must be pursued to find happiness and hold it for eternity. Wralda is wise, good and all-foreseeing. As he knew that luck and happiness must flee from earth when malice can deceive virtue, he attached an equitable property to this language.
This property consists of the impossibility to tell lies or speak deceptive words without stammering or blushing, by which means the evilhearted can instantly be identified. Because our language thus leads to luck and happiness, and helps beware of evil inclinations, its name ‘God's language’ is fully justified, and all those who hold it in honor, benefit from it.
18. Rika: Stealing of Titles [189/09 + 190/09 + 191/21 + 192/07] HO WR.ALDA THUSAND GLOR.NÔMA HETH
You may or may not know how Wralda has a thousand glorious names. This, however, you all know: that he is called ‘all-feeder’, because everything becomes from and grows out of him, so that his creatures may be fed. It is true that earth sometimes is likewise called ‘all-feederess’, because she brings forth all the fruits and grains that humans and animals feed themselves with. She would, however, not bear any fruits or grains if Wralda did not give her powers. Women who let their children drink from their breasts are also called ‘feederesses’, but if Wralda would not allow the milk to flow, the children would not benefit from it, which means that, ultimately, only Wralda remains ‘feeder’.
[...] The foreign kings, who only live to suit themselves, try to steal Wralda's crown. They were jealous of Wralda being called Allfeeder/ Allfather and wanted to be called ‘feeders’ [or: fathers] of the peoples. Everyone knows, though, that a king has no control over the growth of crops, and that his own food is brought to him by the people. Still, they wanted to persist in their temerity. In order to reach their goal, they started by no longer being satisfied with the voluntary gifts, and imposed a tax upon the people. With the treasure they thus gathered, they hired foreign mercenaries, whom they stationed around their courts. They furthermore took as many wives as they pleased, and the lesser princes and lords all followed their example.
[...] Similar to some of your men wanting to be associated with Wralda, there are some of your women who want the same with Frya.
[...] You all fancy that you improve from this name-stealing, but you forget that there is envy attached to it, and that every wrong sows its scourging birch. If you do not reverse it, time will give it growth, so strongly that one cannot see where it will end. Your descendants will be scourged with it. They will not understand from whence the lashes come. Although you build no burgs for the maidens and leave them to their own devices, there will still remain some. They will come out of woods and caves. They will explain to your descendants that you have willingly been guilty of it. Then you will be damned. Aghast, your spirits will rise from the graves. They will call upon Wralda, and upon Frya and her maidens, but no one will be able to help in any way before the Yule enters a new cycle. That, however, will only happen when three thousand years have passed, after this century.
Short reference list:
- Wralda is also referred to as: Wralda's spirit (GÁST), Allfeeder/-father (FÉDER), God (GOD), (supreme) being (DROCHTEN)
- Symbols or concepts representing Wralda: Yule, 'Aewa'
- Wralda's spirit: 2f, 4e, 4f, 8a, 8b, 13f, 13i, 15c
- Wralda providing forces/ inspiration/ sense of justice: 2b, 2f, 4d, 6, 13f, 13g, 15c, 16a, 16e, 18
- (Related, overlapping:) Wralda believed to have will/ intention/ influence over events: B, 2b, 2f, 4f, 13g, 14d, 14e, 16b, 18, 19c, 19d
- Wralda not responsible for misery: 15e, 16f
- Wralda (also) as world: 3b, 7a, 13f, 16b
- Wralda's sea: 2e, 7a
superb work
ReplyDeleteThey will put you in that box regardless if you talk about the OLB.
ReplyDelete'White' is short for "white, like snow in the red of dawn".
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