Folcways & Unways

Frumcræft is very much a “daily living” worldview. The seasonal observances are important dates in the Frumcræft year but are not the only way in which the Fruman engages with the world. Every culture develops various þeāwas* which members of that culture adopt as part of their worldview.

In Frumcræft we call these þeāwas “folcways” and “unways”. In this context, a folcway is a þeāw that wards or grows wel*, and an unway is a þeāw that, if ignored, will harm wel. By sharing these þeāwas, members of a strȳnd* can more readily see who is welful and who is unwelful, according to the Fruman worldview. This, in turn allows people to avoid those who would harm the collective wel of the strȳnd – something that no one should want.

In following the folcways and unways, we acknowledge that the Fruman worldview is accepting of the “magical”. That is to say that an integral part of Frumcræft is the belief that magic is a real part of the world and certain practices can have noticeable effects. Most magic is not so grand as is imagined in fantasy fiction but, rather, based on an everyday observation of what works.

“What works” can, to an outsider, seem bemusing but they are based on the observations of the individual, the hearth, and the strȳnd. When doing something consistently leads to good situations, those deeds will likely be repeated. Conversely, when doing something consistently leads to bad situations, those deeds should be avoided.

When someone persists in undertaking unways, or shirking folcways, their strȳnd is likely to become wary of them. Inclusion is based on participation, after all, and if someone is doing things that makes their life unwelig, others are likely to start excluding them, lest the unwel spreads. If such a person is fully excluded from the strȳnd, they may become known as a wrecca – an outcast or unwelful person.

If, on the other hand, someone shows that they are diligent in their folcways, and avoidance of unways, that person may well be reckoned to be particularly welful. Being welful could increase their gefrain* as others become keen to share their wel.

By “sharing” wel, the strȳnd seeks to raise the group wel to a point where it will be a positive factor in the shared ritual interactions with the ēse, the wæne, and the wihta.

In conclusion, a wholesome strȳnd is one made up of those who follow the folcways and avoid the unways to grow their wel.

*See the wordhoard for definitions.