The importance of oaths in today’s Heathenry is often played down in Heathenry today. Largely, this is because they were once relegated to only those of the Theodish persuasion. Now though, many Asatru and Germanic Heathen groups use oaths. It really does not matter whether it is to a group or an individual, an oath must have give and take in order to truly bind people. That is, the oath must have stipulations attached to it, that each party must fulfill. For example, an oath to a group might include loyalty to the group on the part of the individual, while the group’s side of the oath might include a part on always trusting the individual’s word. One must be careful what they stipulate in an oath, and not ask too much of either party. For example, asking that someone attend each and every rite might be unrealistic, especially if the person has children and family obligations. On the other hand one should not ask too little either. The purpose of an oath is to bind people together, and an oath that asks too little cannot truly accomplish that purpose.

Oaths can and do take many forms. In Theodism the most common oath is the hold oath. A hold oath is an oath from a thane to a lord, and is intended to bind the two together, and through the lord bind the thane to the other thanes. Hold oaths follow the structure of boasts in symbel. In symbel in ancient times when someone would vow to do something, they would first make a gielp (OE). A gielp was a statement of one’s ancestry. Here is part of Beowulf’s gielp:

Wæroðhal! Ic eom Hí
mæg ond magoðegn; hæbbe ic mærða
ongunnen on geogoþ

Wassail Horthgar! I am Hygelac’s
kinsman and thegn I have many great deeds,
done in youth.

Gielps were not reserved for symbel. They could also be made as part of a vow in battle. Below is one found in the poem The Battle of Maldon:

Ic wylle mine &aelig:þelo eallum gecyþan,
þ&aelig:t ic wæs on Myrcon miccles cynnes;
w&aelig:s min ealda fæder Ealhelm haten,
wis ealdorman, woruldges&aelig:lig.

I am willing that my nobility be known to all,
that I am Mercian of a great family,
my grandfather was called Ealhelm,
a wise ealdorman and very prosperous

A gielp could then contain a boast of some deed one has done in the past. For example Beowulf boasted of his swimming contest with Breca. Following the gielp is the béot. A béot in symbel is a vow to do something. Since no intact Heathen hold oaths remain, we can only assume that they included these elements. That is, a gielp would constitute part of the ancient hold oath. The béot would be the oath proper. Below is the hold oath Wednesbury Shire uses:

Thegn: I am _______________ son of _______________, grandson of
______________. (Here the oathing thegn boasts of their deeds).
Greater deeds than these shall I gain, if the ring giver gives me my
wish to hear my oath!

Hlaford: These are mighty works of maegen indeed. Will you be my
thegn so my folk can give thanks for your work and words?

Thegn: Yea.

Hlaford: Bring me a sword. (Another thegn brings the hlaford his/her
sword. The hlaford then points the sword towards the thegn). Plight
your troth then with words of truth.

Thegn: (The thegn kneels before the hlaford) I _____________, am thy
thegn. I will always hold troth with thee in matters of life and limb
and of earthly honour against all mortal men. Never will I bear arms
for anyone against thee or thy heirs, nor by word nor by work, do
ought of what is loathful to thee. And in the fray [I shall ever ward
your life, even at the cost of mine. And] if to enemies you should
fall, I swear- I shall not leave that field alive unless I have
avenged you. By (God or Goddess) and Waer I plight my Troth so that
may this sword smite me should I break these words.

Hlaford: Well, have I heard thy words and wed. I shall work with thee
in frith and troth, stand by thee in need, deal with thee in truth
and honor, and believe and trust in the truth of thy word and thy
word alone, unless there be most strong and clear cause why I should
not. Great gifts shall I give thee when seated in symbel together.
Never shall thee I swike, and I shall speed you in your life as if it
were my own from this day forth. May Woden and Ingui Frea bear
witness to these words, and may Waer hallow this my holy oath.

Of course oaths for a Heathen fellowship need not be as elaborate as this. But it does demonstrate the seriousness that an oath should be approached with. One should not enter into any oath without seriously considering what its consequences should be. The friend of today could easily be your foe tomorrow.