Table of Contents

Introduction to the Silver Compass

Virtues of the Lady
1. The Soothing Elixer : Compassion
2. The Ever Burning Gem : Love
3. The Crimson Rose : Elegance
4. The Silken Cloth : Manners
Virtues of the Gentleman
5. The Sword of Illumination : Truth
6. The Ring that Binds : Loyalty
7. The Unbreakable Cane : Honour
8. The Flaming Heart : Courage
The Source of Virtue
9. The All Seeing Monocle : Wisdom
Prologue and The Kingdom of Hamrick

Introduction to the Silver Compass

In ancient times, the English (along with their Germanic cousins)
were an adventurous folk who were filled with such a sense of awe
at the Mysterious that they were compelled to leave Denmark and
trek into the British Isles. The Anglii (along with the closely related
Saxons) established a Kingdom known as England, which means
"The Land of Ing". Ing, a true Cosmic Gentleman, is an ancient
English God of peace, plenty, and well-being. There were establish
"frith yards" or "peace yards" which were sacred to him, and any
type of ill-mannered behavior or violent act was absolutely
forbidden. It is also known that he had a magical ship that could fly
through the air, which was the prototype for the legendary air-ships
that are ever so popular in the Steampunk subkulture.
The Silver Compass, a true navigational tool of the Soul, is
connected to the Tir, or North Star that the ancient Germanic
people utilized as a way to navigate through the Sea. The word tir
was in fact another word for "compass." The colour silver is the
metallic colour of white and relates to the essential colour of this
star as well as the concept of white being symbolic of the Sovereign
Function of Kings and Nobleman. Within the Soul, this Sovereign
Function, this "Inner King" so to speak, is sometimes called the
"Super Ego" or "Higher Self. It is the part of the Self that tells us
what is right and wrong as well as divides fact from fiction. It is the
part of our Selves that we can visit to connect with what is True,
and like the North Star it is the beacon that guides us in our lives.
The Silver Compass is essentially a Tool that can be used to guide
us through the Ocean that is our Life.
During the Victorian Period there was a piece of common jewelry
which was in fact a small compass made of silver, which in turn has
become quite popular in the modern Neovictorian subkultures. It
was during the Victorian Period that the Culture of order and
Tradition reached a peak, a time when the principles of honour and
chivalry were revived and held dear in the hearts of all of the true
Ladies and Gents of that period. When the Victorian Period ended,
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there was however a sharp decline and around the 1960's there
was a time of Chaos and Innovation. Time as we know does not
move in a straight line. Instead, it spirals, moving forward, yet
cycling to the same point. Thus we are coming to a time when
Order and Tradition will once again Emerge, and the Silver
Compass is a Manifestation of this Resurgence.
In this book, I assigned a "mysterious thing" to each corner of the
compass, essentially powerful inner tools that we must find within
the vast ocean that is the Self that can help us in our lives. Each
thing embodies a virtue, the center virtue being Wisdom or The AllSeeing Monocle. From this center eight other virtues / things
Emerge, four of them being The Virtues of Ladies and the other
four being the Virtues of Gentleman. Ultimately, the key is to create
Balance withincultivating the sensibilities that feminine virtues
bring combined with the solidarity of the masculine virtues. The Self
very much reflects the body; the masculine solidarity is the
skeleton, and the vibrant, life-affirming feminine aspect is the flesh.
The key is to imagine that you are a complete and utter Fool and
that all you have is your ship and the courage to set sail into the
Sea of Life. All you have is this Silver Compass, and you enter the
great Unknown in search of the Miraculous. And you come to
discover that this miracle is actually Humanity, and that through
exploring the self and the world you come to discover exactly what
makes Humanity great.
It is important to point out that this book honours ALL of the various
periods of England from the time of Beowulf to the Era of Queen
Victoria. You can be of any religion (Atheist, Pagan, or Christian)
and benefit from this book as it is not a book of beliefs. It is a book
about Ideas, but more importantly, it is a book of Doing. I personally
hold that religion is only an aspect of Culture and that these virtues
first and foremost are core Cultural values. You'll find that when you
discuss these virtues, most people who are encultured into
Englishness will more or less agree with them regardless of religion
(or lack thereof). Spiritual texts will of course contain (and
influence) Culture, and you will also find that this book draws from
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many English thinkers as well as that which has strongly influenced

English Culture.
Ultimately, this book is a culmination of my own personal trials and
tribulations. Like you, I am a flawed human being who is doing what
he Needs to do to make it in the world. This book, if anything,
should not be seen as an attempt to seem "more virtuous than
thou," but rather about insights that I have found to be both exciting
and helpful. A true Leader cannot pretend to be a paragon of
perfection, but must cultivate a heart that is open and honest with
himself and others. During times when I felt that I Needed
Leadership, I have always turned to those who can admit to their
faults; few things are more oppressive than a Lord who thinks he is
without flaw. I hope to emulate these great Leaders who have
entered my Life so that I can provide guidance to those who are in
Need of such guidance.

By the Silver Compass,

Alfred Raeburne

The Soothing Elixer

The Quest for Compassion
Out of compassion I destroy the darkness of their
ignorance. From within them I light the lamp of wisdom
and dispel all darkness from their lives.
~Bhagavad Gita
Compassion is located in the Northern Part of the Compass and is
symbolized as an Elixir filled with medicinal fluid.
Compassion is the balm we place upon the wounds of others as
well as our own. Acts of compassion are the actions that we take to
heal those who have been wounded in some way. It should,
however, be understood that actions that seem compassionate may
actually be detrimental. True compassion nurtures strength and not
weakness. Surprisingly enough, the legends of the Vikings who
sacked the Churches of Northumberland are actually filled with acts
of compassion and when read, actually defy the stereotypes
normally allotted to these noble people. One such story is the Hrolf
Kraki Saga, perhaps the most archaic version of the "Knights of the
Round Table" known to the Western World.
In this story there is a hapless man being harassed by a warband.
One of the warriors decides to reach out compassionately to this
person by teaching him how to fight and creating an effigy of a
Dragon (the symbol of his fears). When the hapless man learns
how to fight and overcome the Dragon (his fears), he turns into one
of the finest warriors and is then accepted by the warband. This
type of compassion nurtures strength. You will notice that this
person was not "rescued" from these men. Rather, he was taught
to overcome his fears as well as how to fight, which in turn restored
his confidence.
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The ability to have compassion largely comes from cultivating a

sense of empathy combined with an understanding of how things
are connected as if a vast web were stringing them together. All
actions you take effect this web, and thus all reality. When you
alleviate the suffering of others through the kind of help that
nurtures strength, then you are making the world a better place to
live in, especially if your help has a Teaching quality to it and aids in
the evolution of humanity. However, there are some acts which
appear to be compassionate but actually cripple those who you
think you are helping, which in turn nurtures dependence and
weakness rather than strength. In order to cultivate true, genuine
compassion, it is very important to understand the difference
between true compassion, which empowers, and "enabling," which
actually nurtures weakness. True compassion does not have a
crippling effect.
There is even something called "wrathful compassion" where an
apparently "negative" action is taken to cause someone to wake up
and smell the Earl Grey. Seemingly cruel actions can have a
healing effect on a person who is heading towards disaster and is
completely blind to their own ways.
The word kindness has Anglo Saxon roots and is linguistically
related to the word "kin." It implies a kind of kinship towards those
around you in which you will come to their aid when needed. A tribe
consists of a network of individuals who are bound together by
oaths of loyalty and/or blood. Acts of kindness or compassion are
necessary for the survival of ones personal family as well as tribe.
Charitable acts are occasionally necessary if they serve the
purpose of helping those who are helping themselves. It is highly
commendable to help a person in need if that person is genuinely
struggling and making an effort towards bettering themselves.
However, the same charitable act can be detrimental to both the
giver and the free-loader, particularly if that person lives off of the
kindness and compassion of others.

Another Old English word for compassion was efenrowung which

roughly meant "to share pain." This does not mean that you literally
share that persons pain, but rather you cultivate a sensitivity that
can detect when someone is in peril so that you can aid your kin. It
also teaches one to put oneself in anothers shoes so that you can
have insight into how your actions affect others.
One particular God known for his compassion is the ancient English
God named Ingui Freo. He is known as a great warrior who wards
and defends, but at the same time he balances this with his very
peaceful qualities. His name means "Lord," which in turn is derived
from the Anglo Saxon word Hlafford, meaning "Loaf Giver." He is
thought of as a very kind and generous God who is filled with
kindness and compassion. There is also the ancient English Mother
Goddess named Esa Frija, The Queen of Heaven and Earth. She
wards and protects children and has powerful nurturing qualities.
Compassion is the core virtue of the Lord and Midwife Archetypes
because they are caretakers.

The Ever Burning Gem

The Quest for Love
Ignorance and bungling with love are better than wisdom
and skill without.
~Henry David Thoreau
At the Western point of the Silver Compass is the Ever Burning
Gem which embodies the fires of love and creation. The Power of
Love stimulates vast creativity which leads to great works of Art and
Poetry.
During the Victorian Period, the idea of The Art of Courtly Love was
revived as well as the fine art of Chivalry, the behavior of love and
courtship. According to Carl Jung, love is the result of ones anima
or "contra-sexual self" being projected onto another person. The
lover builds an image in his or her head regarding the "perfect
lover" (really a part of oneself) and when someone meets someone
who resembles this ideal (real or imagined) then the person will fall
in love with said person.
Love has deep, transformative effects on the soul, as even the
most churlish person can become a Lord of men given the right
motivationand such motivation can be triggered by the desire to
be worthy of a mate. Love is a great, evolutionary essence that
binds and transforms the universe. It is a basic cosmic law that
opposites attract, thus when a negatively charged atom combines
with a positively charged one to create a molecule, this is in effect
an act of love which leads to a more complex and noble state. The
same thing happens on the greater, human level.
Thus, the fires of love are the very platform upon which all things
are created, as opposites unite to create more noble forms. The
aching that is felt in the heart when you behold your beloved
indicates some kind of Need, and when you unite with the Beloved
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you will become whole. The Beloved that you see outside of
yourself actually reflects something that is within, yet unknown. Like
iron is drawn to lodestone, you will likewise be drawn to this
beloved and will stop at nothing to do this. Even cowards become
Heroes when they are confronted with a Beloved.
A sense of love and "romance" about the Self and the World is
absolutely essential in the quest for wholeness. The key is to see a
connection between Fantasy and Realityseeing them as separate
yet at the same time as a whole. Reality should be seen as the
skeleton upon which we cultivate ourselves, but Fantasy is the flesh
that gives life to our personal paths of becoming. For example, in
the myth of how the Hero slays the Wurm (Fear) to win the Beloved
(the contra-sexual self that completes us), this appears to be a
fantasy, but there is a very deep Reality which underlies the
beautiful and fantastic imagery that is utilized in this tale of Heroism
and Self-Becoming. It is the Fantastic imagery which stirs the
emotions and gives life to one's Quest. Thus it is Love which gives
Life meaning and direction.
Without Love there is no meaning to Life and the soul will inevitably
wither away without it. Just as Love (in various forms) keeps the
cosmos in motion (thus keeping it ALIVE), it also keeps the human
soul in motion and allows for it to live on. Thwarted love always
leads to Death. It is the power of Love which helps gives a powerful
life blood to the soul and enriches our experience of the world. The
experience of love is that of both Wonder and Woe; it creates the
greatest experience of ecstasy but can also plunge us into the
depths of loss and despair. But there is a clich that rings true: it is
better to have loved and lost than to never have loved before.
The great Archetype of Love is none other than the beautiful and
passionate Freo, a Noble Power from Old English antiquity. Her
passion is so great that she seeks the youthful Wode (Poetic
Inspiration) and weeps tears of gold for him. She, more than
anyone, understands the pains and hardship of love and the
wonderful highs as well as the sorrowful lows that come with Love.
In this sense, Freo as the Lover is also a brave Heroine, for giving
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oneself to Love is one of the bravest and most Noble things a

person can do. Thus, she is setting an example for us all to
emulate. She also bears a necklace known as The Burning Gem
which she uses to inspire Love in all who behold her. The Burning
Gem within is the fire of passion which expresses itself as a
powerful glow emanating outward, like a fiery sun of the most
radiant beauty.

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The Crimson Rose

The Quest of Elegance
"The light of love, the purity of grace, The mind, the Music
breathing from her face, The heart whose softness
harmonized the whole, And, oh! The eye was in itself a
Soul! "
~Lord George Byron
Elegance is placed in the South Eastern corner of the Silver
Compass and is symbolized by the Crimson Rose. The Rose is a
great symbol of beauty and elegance.
Understanding Elegance is the fine art of taking stock in how you
appear to the world in a way that is creative and dynamic. The
Victorian period is often called The Age of Elegance and the
Elizabethan period was also well known for its beauty. In order to
understand elegance, one must understand the nature of the
senses. Obviously, we know that there are the faculties of scent,
touch, smell, taste, and hearing. The "sixth sense" of intuition
should also be considered. What is less obvious is how we can
engage the senses and re-create the world around us. This means
carefully choosing proper clothing, colognes, and perfumes.
Clothing is not simply chosen for its appearance but also for its
texture, particularly if one is expecting close, romantic contact with
other people. The voice should be cultivated and all annoying
qualities (loudness, scratchiness, whiny tones, etc.) should be
removed from it through proper voice training.
Another sensory perception that should be considered is the "sixth
sense," or faculty of intuition. This requires an inner cultivation of
ones attitude because no amount of dressing up can hide the vibes
that one puts out to the world. Fearfulness can cause disturbing
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vibes to be projected. The ability to overcome Fear, that Inner

Dragon, will generate a great deal of Confidence which will
enhance all of your glamourous efforts.
Food can be used to create an atmosphere of Elegance, as can the
right music with incense. It is always wise to know how to cook as
well as learn to appreciate the Fine Arts. A cultivated person would
have a substantial collection of music and art from the Baroque,
Rococo, Classical, and Romantic periods. This is not mere
snobbery if the person is genuinely developing a deep artistic
sensitivity and knows how to appreciate the finer arts and music. A
good start would be to study the music of Ralph Vaughn Williams
and the art of John Waterhouse. The French also introduced a fine
culinary culture to England, although England surprisingly has a
rich heritage in fine cheeses, stouts, and ales.
Another way to promote Elegance is to support true Craftsmanship
over mass production. A beautifully made fountain pen can be
continuously reused and has more aesthetic value that a
disposable biro. A handmade, mechanical pocket watch is more
energy efficient than some plastic, battery-run watch, not to
mention more beautiful. A nice waistcoat should be purchased from
a local tailor, and one should try to find a shoemaker or leatherworker for boots or shoes. It is Elegance that calls us to exit the age
of quantity and enter the Age of Quality.
The ancient English Goddess Freo is well-known for her powers of
glamour and beauty. The wisdom of taking stock in how one
appears is the domain of Freo. The Scotch-Irish Goddess Brigit
was also connected to the Arts, Crafts, and the fine art of Glamour
as was the Roman Goddess Venus. During the Victorian Era, Freo
was called The Rose Queen and was a key figure in the Roebuck
Tradition of Traditional Witchcraft.
The Archetype of Beauty has much to Teach, especially in these
dark and ugly times.

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The Silken Cloth

The Quest for Manners
But mongst them all was none more courteous Knight,
Then Calidore, beloued ouer all,
In whom it seemes, that gentlenesse of spright
And manners mylde were planted naturall;
To which he adding comely guize withall,
And gracious speach, did steale mens hearts away.
Nathlesse thereto he was full stout and tall,
And well approu'd in batteilous affray,
That him did much renowme, and far his fame display.
~Canton VI of the Faery Queen by Edmund Spenser
At the North Western point of the Silver compass is the Silken
Cloth, which symbolizes manners. The material of the cloth is
suggestive of delicacy and fineness which in turn reflects in one's
mannerisms. Cloth is used for general cleaning and hygiene, and
as one is cultivating their manners, one is in fact "cleaning up" his
or her behavior. One "wipes away" the ugly mannerisms and
"cleans up one's act."
Oscar Wilde, a famous writer from the Victorian era well-known for
his graciousness and wit once said, "Morality may not mean much,
but manners are everything." Of course, we know that morals and
ethics are highly important, but it would be easy to argue that
manners are even more important when it comes to getting along
with others, which in turn leads to social success.
Released during the Elizabethan period of England, book VI of The
Faery Queen by Edmund Spenser was about Courtesy. It featured
the Knight Calidore who sought and eventually slew The Blatant
Beast. The Faery Queen is thought to have been Queen Elizabeth,
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however I digress and see The Faery Queen as a mythic and thus
eternal figure whose beauty and virtue causes the kinds of
inspiration that transforms Beasts into God Men.
The ancient English knew of a Faery Queen and called her Freo
which literally means "Lady." She appears in Norse mythology
under the name Freya, and in these myths she has a deep love for
the cultivated Hero and flees from the crude giants' and trolls'
sexual advances.
The word Courtesy (Fr. curteisie) was introduced to England by the
French via the Norman invasions, and it comes from the Latin word
comitas, which meant "courtesy, kindness, affability." Naturally, the
word may have had an early entrance from the Roman occupation
as well, but this is uncertain. In either case, both the Romans and
the French made some considerable contributions to English
Culture.
The Nordic people left their mark on English Culture and despite
the stereotype of being "stinking barbarians" were in fact quite fine
in dress, mannerisms, and hygiene. So much so that English and
Britonic women favoured them due to their reputed cleanliness and
good manners, whereas the Romans, Britons and Anglo Saxons
were seen as being less hygienic. They also had much to say about
manners in the Havimal, which is a poem of pagan ethics:

Water and towels and welcoming speech

Should he find who comes to the feast;
If renown he would get, and again be greeted,
Wisely and well must he act.

The Welsh, or Britons, who were the original inhabitants of what is

considered England, described courtesy as gwrteisrwydd which
roughly translates as "courtliness," a manner of acting within a royal
court. Likewise, the Anglo Saxons called it geardlinaes which
15

translates to "yardliness" or a way of acting when in the court or

someone's yard.
Manners encompass many levels of social behavior. The most
effective way to modify one's behavior and cultivate their manners
is to put oneself in the shoes of others as well as consider how
one's actions may please or offend others. If you think that your
action will have a positive effect on others, then it is a mannerful
action. If you think that your behavior would be offensive or seen as
crude, gross, or mean, then you might want to consider taking up
the Silken Napkin and do a little bit of cleaning in the house of your
Character.
Those who are new to manners are advised to make a list of all of
the things that they or others find offensive in themselves. If you
don't know, go to a trusted friend (or better yet, an honest enemy!)
and ask them for an honest assessment. Many of the changes will
have to come from within rather than simply modifying one's
behavior. A good method for examining how one appears to the
world is to consider the following: The most important kind of
manners are the kind that involve feasting.
Throughout English history the feast was the center of social
gatherings. The ancient Anglo Saxons called this a Housel, which
was a Sacred Feast in which a swine was specially selected and
ritualistically slaughtered. They then shared this blessed meat
among themselves as a very powerful and sacred communion
within a wooden building known as a Mead Hall, which was a kind
of 5th Century Ball Rooma place of feasting, dance, and ritual.
During the later periods of England, there was the Banquette, which
was brought to England from France. This Banquette was usually
conducted in a Ball which began with a feast and ended with
dancing and play (such as the "masquerade," which is the playful
wearing of masks). Within this atmosphere, manners were of
absolute importance. A person who could survive a Ball would have
enough manners to survive any situation.

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During the Ball, the acknowledgment of Class was very important.

Those who were Knighted were called Sir, the Queen or King was
called "Your Majesty," and a Lord was referred to as "milord."
Bowing was appropriate, and an atmosphere of loyalty and respect
was considered paramount. During the Victorian period, the
strictures became even tighter and they had complex rules
concerning tea, proper silverware placement, clothing, how to
address superiors, and so forth. These were not just shallow
vanities, but created an atmosphere that was beautiful,
symmetrical, and ordered.
Such an atmosphere lends itself to serenity and deep respect
between people. We can only hope that the Silver Compass will
lead our society to the Silken Cloth once again.

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The Sabre of Illumination

The Quest for Truth

Truth is the highest thing that man may keep.

~Geoffrey Chaucer (Canterbury Tales)
Truth is placed at the South East point of the Silver Compass and is
symbolized as a Sabre. This is because in order to find Truth one
must divide fact from fiction which is a cutting process.
The Search for Truth has been one of the great noble goals of
humanity since the dawn of our very existence. The word Truth is a
Germanic based word which means "that which is solid and
enduring" and is in fact related to the word tree. This is fascinating
considering the fact that the Tree is a universal cosmological
symbol and that Truth, or the Real, is embodied in the axis mundi
or "cosmic vault" that holds up the skythe solid, enduring, and
substantial stuff which holds the cosmos into place. A soul based
on Truth will likewise be enduring and lasting, whereas one based
on falsehood will essentially be a "stacked deck" that will inevitably
be blown away and forgotten.
In order to know the Truth, one must first cultivate the mind. The
mind is very much like the sky; it can be clouded and dark, thus
falling into falsehood due to poor perception. Likewise, the clouds
can be parted to reveal a clear and bright sky. These clouds are
negative emotions which muddle ones ability to See things as They
Are, hence that which is True and Real. These clouds are also
illusions and misconceptions that we may hold about ourselves and
those around us. Of course, the clouds themselves are not bad;
they must simply be recognized for what they are and observed for
what they are. When a state of stoic detachment is attained, one
can watch these clouds pass and eventually dissolve, which in turn
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will lead to illumination of what is True.

The Old Norse word for analysis (the process of dividing what is
true from what is false) is skilja which in fact means "to cut". Thus
the mind is very much like a sword...in order to be used effectively
one must constantly sharpen it, train it, and put it to use in the
testing field of battle. The Seeker of Truth must cultivate his tools of
War so that he can slay the Dragon of Delusion. The mind-sword
can be mastered and be used to cut through illusion so that the
Truth can be realized.
Knowledge, Training, and Practice is the foundational whetstone
upon which the mind-sword is both pulled from as well as
sharpened against.
Meditation is a powerful tool for cultivating the ability to See Truth.
The key is to find a chair and sit comfortably. Casually, yet intently,
observe all of the emotions, thoughts, and ideas that arise from
your mind. Ask yourself this question: "How do these shape my
perception of things? Observe both the things that you view about
yourself and those who are around you. Do you impose false
limitations on yourself or others? Do you know how these falsely
imposed limitations negatively affect yourself and others? In this
sense, the Truth really does set people free!
The cultivation of the mental clarity Necessary to realize Truth has
a great myriad of practical applications. This can allow one to
detect inconsistencies and thus the deception of others. Also,
people who cultivate and orient themselves towards Truth tend to
be more serene, reasonable and logical. They do not allow their
emotions and unproven subjective ideas to have reign over their
minds and are able to make decisions that are reasonable and just.
A close observation of a compulsive liar will often reveal other
qualities such as impulsiveness, poor emotional control, and an
excessively chaotic personality.
The Great Archetypes of Truth have left their marks upon British
Isles. Some examples of this are Saxnot whose name means The
Sword God. There is also King Arthur who pulled the Sword from
19

the Stone, his legendary sword Caliburne (or Excalibur) being a

great sovereign tool of Truth. The God Tiw (who Tuesday is named
after) was called upon to witness rulings in the Thing ( or Court) to
insure that Truth prevailed in every courtly decision.
To reiterate the original statement, Truth is that which is solid,
lasting, and ultimately Eternal. It exists in a place that cannot die,
and those who base the cultivation of their character on Truth will
likewise never die. The Quest for Truth is rooted in the desire for
the Eternal which exists in a transcendental place that cannot be
moved, manipulated or cajoled by illusions that play on the senses.
In the end, Truth always wins.

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The Ring That Binds

The Quest for Loyalty
We are all in the same boat in a stormy sea, and we owe
each other a terrible loyalty.
~ G.K. Chesterton
Loyalty is placed at the Eastern point of the Silver Compass and is
symbolized as The Ring That Binds. This is because loyalty binds
us to other people as well as to our goals.
The one thing that must balance love is loyalty. In order to
accomplish great things it is necessary to cultivate a sense of
commitment to everything that you do. There are times when one
makes a commitment to something and the fires of love seem to
roam afar as the romance wears off. It may seem like a good idea
to quit and jump to the next project or find a new Beloved, however
you will find that this leads to a very shallow life in which one will fail
to excel at anything and become Great. The way to the Greatness
that one secretly desires is to remain completely loyal to your
commitments and not stop until you are completely finished. If an
oath is sworn, then breaking the commitment is utterly out of the
question as this will reveal a deep character weakness not only to
the world, but to yourself as well.
The reason why divorce is so epidemic in our society is because
we live in an age where things like honour and commitment no
longer matter. People these days make decisions based ONLY on
base emotions and physical gratification instead of the higher and
nobler things such as honour and loyalty. In a world where order
and Tradition reigns, people stay married out of a sense of duty for
their family and tribe. They understand that togetherness and
loyalty is essential to familial and tribal survival and that the
atomization process that divorce causes will inevitably destroy the
21

whole family and then themselves as they find themselves on a

proverbial island.
Of course, there are times when divorce is Necessary in cases of
extreme abuse and covertness. However, such situations are
rooted in immaturity, ignorance, and poor decision making. More
than likely the marriage was formed because of base emotional and
physical needs rather than something that was carefully planned as
well as formed with responsible decision making. Love is an
essential ingredient to a relationship but other things must be
considered such as ones financial situation, the mental health of
your potential mate, and even eugenic considerations (i.e.
determining whether this person has good or bad genes). The
Victorian period was a peak of order and Tradition in the English
speaking worlds (United States and the British Isles) in which there
was a sharp decline from that time period to the 1950's, which then
hit a valley of chaos and Innovation. It is now that society is
beginning to "climb the mountain of Tradition," which is why The
Silver Compass is now Manifest.
Non-familial loyalty or friendship is also of great importance. While
one's personal family is of primary importance, of secondary
importance is the circle of friendship which forms members of ones
tribe. This "extended family" can sometimes form bonds that are
even stronger than familial ones because the togetherness is often
personal rather that genetic. Shared personal interests often create
strong bonds of love between friends, especially if these interests
are not appreciated by ones family; this can provide another world
where one is appreciated for who they are. The sameness in mind
and body are important ingredients in forming bonds of love and
loyalty. This can be seen in subkultures where "cliques" form
because of a shared interest in music and clothing. This may seem
shallow, but there are deeper things going on, and that is a desire
for Culture. Some subkultures are in fact rooted in actual Cultures,
some examples of this are Victorian Goth, Gothic Lolita / Aristocrat,
and Steampunk which are in fact Manifestations of English (and
ultimately Pan Germanic) Culture. Again, this sameness creates
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bonds of love and loyalty between its members. The desire that is
latent in these subkultures is not (as many would believe) rooted in
a desire for individuality but in the desire for belonging, and the
Englishness of these subkultures means that its members want to
belong to something English. This, if anything, is a desire to return
to Tradition where loyalty and commitment reign supreme.
One particular Archetype that is well known for her loyalty and
fidelity in Old English Lore is the great Frija (Free-yah) the great
Archetype of Mothers and Wives. She faithfully attends to the
needs of her husband Woden (the Wisdom Archetype) with undying
commitment, and her loyalty is unmatched by any other Noble
Power.
In the ancient Traditions of the British Isles (both the Celtic and
Germanic ones), rings were in fact symbols of loyalty and
betrothment. There was the oath-ring which a person placed their
hand upon and swore their oath, which was symbolic of their
absolute loyalty to their Word. The torc among the Irish, Welsh,
Scottish and Old English warriors was a symbol of their loyalty to
their king. The marriage ring is a miniature oath-ring worn by
betrothed couples.
Thus the ring has a deep history in the antiquity of the British Isles
and was always seen as a symbol of loyalty and betrothment.

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The Unbreakable Cane

The Quest for Honour
Be honorable yourself if you wish to associate with
honorable people.
~Cornish Proverb
Honour is placed in the North East part of the Silver Compass and
is symbolized as the Unbreakable Cane, the very axis of ones soul
and the "spine" that makes up ones Character. Without Honour, the
soul has no direction and thus no life...thus the saying "My Honour
is my Life" is indeed literally true. The Hallmark of honour is the
ability to keep your word, repay that which has been given to you,
and remain true to your oaths. Honour is also about self-respect
and not letting others impinge upon it. Folks with honour have a
definite solidarity about them and they exude trustworthiness.
It is also a mistake to think of honour as a kind of inconvenience or
crutch. It is not; in fact it is the very thing that gives both vision and
direction to one's goals. A person with honour easily accomplishes
their goals because once they say they are going to do something
they actually follow through with it. Setting small, easily attainable
goals and then cementing yourself to them with oaths is a sure way
to victory as well as increasing your reputation as a "Man of
Honour".
In English Lore, the Sun was a symbol of honour for many reasons.
Seen as a Goddess, she was considered a protector of sorts and
was nicknamed The Elf Shield. The North Star is sometimes called
The Night Sun. This is because a person with Honour shines
brightly and has vision and directionSun-like qualities. The term
"The Knight in Shining Armour" is symbolic of how a person of
great Character is protected by their Honour. If a person is truely
Honourable, no attacks on their Character will have a lasting effect
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and will certainly not affect how the person feels about themselves
if they are Honourable and True.
The ancient Irish and Welsh perceived Honour as the very axis of
reality itself, which is why when they swore oaths they would say,
"May the Sky fall upon me, the earth swallow me, and the sea
sweep me away should I not fulfill this oath." They, like their
Germanic cousins, perceived a kind of axis that penetrated all three
levels of reality: the Sky (Upper World), Earth (Middle World) and
the Sea (Lower World).
The Saxons called this the Irminsul, which is in fact the entire axis
of the World Tree. The Gentleman's Cane resembles the trunk of
the tree and can be seen as a symbol of Honour and Truth and
serve as a reminder to remain true to one's oaths, words, and
convictions.
A person without Honour has no respect for themselves or others
and will surely earn the contempt and disrespect of everyone they
come into contact with when their true nature is discovered. Such
people do not have the favour of the Gods and their lives will end in
ruin and dismay. I must stress again, your Honour is truly your Life.
It is important to be sure to pay back all of your debts and any aid
that has been given to you by others. If you don't, you can be sure
that you will sense a loss of self-respect as well as lose the respect
of those you are indebted to. Such things will quickly spread and
besmirch your reputation and you'll quickly find that any "profit" you
may have "gained" is actually a great loss, and the material item
will become as dust within the confines of your own soul.
It is wise to be very careful about swearing oaths and understand
the deep spiritual ramifications of doing so. When you swear an
oath you are putting your very personhood on the line. If you do not
fulfill this obligation, you will incur very serious spiritual penalties
and basically communicate to the world that you have become a
non-entity, and a non-entity has no place within a society of entities.
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It is also important that you do not let others walk on you or ridicule
you in any way. If you allow this to be done, then you will lose bits
and pieces of your soul, and thus your Honour will slowly be
whittled away. The only way this can be restored is by standing up
for yourself and those who you consider your kith and kin.
Protecting your Honour is known as "wrake" or vengeance which is
perfectly acceptable as long as it is legal and well-measured. Being
well-measured in engaging in wrake is important because you do
not want to become a monster that overreacts to minor slights.
Minor slights warrant minor forms of wrake; major slights, on the
other hand, deserve the kind of special treatment that should serve
to Teach the person never to harm you again, as well as give them
much Wisdom to ruminate over.

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27

The Heart of Fire

The Quest for Courage
"Scorching my seared heart with a pain, not hell shall
make me fear again."
~Edgar Allan Poe
"Brave men are all vertebrates; they have their softness
on the surface and their toughness in the middle."
~Lord George Byron
Courage is placed at the Southern point of the Silver Compass and
is symbolized as a Flaming Heart. In ancient legends the Dragon
Slayer eats the "dragon's heart" after slaying the Wurm, taking in all
of the fiery courage and power of that fierce beast.
The Heart of Fire, or Courage, is necessary for all forms of action.
One of the great symbols of England is the Saint George Flag
(which is white with a red cross). In the Legend of St. George it is
said that he slew a powerful Dragon. Of course, the Dragon Slayer
Archetype was known to the English long before Saint George
existed and they called this Archetypal Power by the name Thunar,
an ancient English God of thunder, lightning, and the embodiment
of heroism and courage.
It is said that this mighty God courageously fights against the World
Dragon. Another Dragon Slayer is the great English Hero called
Beowulf (Old English for "Bee-Wolf" which is a kenning for bear,
emphasizing his legendary might and main) who had to fight a "Fire
Drake" after a man unwittingly stole a flagon from its treasury. The
word Dragon itself means "The Eye of Fear" in Old Greek, implying
that the Dragon is in fact Fear itself and that the Dragon Slayer is
the embodiment of courage and confidence.
In the Norse Legend of Sigurd of the Volsungs, he fought a Dragon
named Fafnir. Upon slaying this Dragon he donned the
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Aegishjalmar (aye-gis-hyal-mar) which means "The Helmet of Great

Confidence and Awesomeness." This points to the "glow" that a
person has after they conquer their fears.
The Key to cultivating the virtue of Courage is to emulate the
Dragon Slayer Archetype, and to see your Fears as a Dragon that
must be slain and overcome. If you do this, then the dragon's gold
(the potential that your fears hoarded from you), the maiden (your
soul), and the helm of awe (your confidence / self esteem) are won
back. You then become a Legend in the story that is your life.
The first steps to doing this is to write down all of the things you are
afraid of and then make it a point to face and overcome these fears.
Afraid of heights? Go skydiving. Afraid of physical conflict? Enter a
boxing ring. Afraid of women? Ask the Beauty Queen out. Of
course, all of the things mentioned (among things not mentioned,
whatever they may be) require training and preparation. A Dragon
Slayer studies his Dragons, and then undergoes the right training
as a means to overcome them.
The Old English had a word for courage which was Mod (sounds
like "mode"). This is in fact the Archetype of Courage and the son
of Thunar (Thursday comes from Thunar's Day), the great Noble
Power who rules over thunder and lightning. Mod or Mode is a
sense of glowing and heroic courage that wells up within a noble
soul. It is a kind of righteous anger rooted in indignation and love of
kith and kin rather than hatred. Mode personifies the fury that drives
the Knight in Shining Armour as well as the Swan Maiden that
shields him.

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The All-Seeing Monocle

The Quest for Wisdom

The perfection of wisdom, and the end of true

philosophy is to proportion our wants to our possessions,
our ambitions to our capacities, we will then be a happy
and a virtuous people.
~Mark Twain
The All-Seeing Monocle is placed in the center of the compass.
This is because Wisdom is in fact the center from which all virtues
are born, and it is from this center that one is able to "see the big
picture" as well as how these virtues are interconnected. Wisdom
itself is a multifaceted concept. It is essentially 1. The ability to see
the big picture, 2. Learning from the deep well of experience, and 3.
Being able to apprehend meanings behind metaphors (presumably
because of the latter).
As pointed out before, virtue is born from Wisdom. This is because
as the Fool enters the world, she or he is confronted with obstacles
that cause her or him to realize her or his own foolishness and
must, out of the Need to survive, develop and cultivate virtue so
that she or he can make her or his way through the world. The
continuous mistakes burn the Fool, but in reality the Fool is raw ore
and the mistakes are the hammer and fire applied to the Fool to
reshape him or her into a man or woman of great Wisdom. The
Way of the Fool leads to Wisdom. The World is the great Initiator
into Wisdom and She is an unforgiving taskmaster. Rooted in this
apparent cruelty is a vast sea of love and compassion, for She
Understands that the soul can only live and grow strong through the
strife that the World brings.
This great wellspring of experience can also be accessed through
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knowledge of ones genes. By knowing who your ancestors were

and what they did, you can overcome many obstacles through Self
Knowledge. We are our ancestors, and by learning about them you
learn about yourself, for it is in the roots of vast ancestral
experience that one can access a deep wellspring of Wisdom.
For example, if one of your ancestors was a Blacksmith, then you
can be sure that you have a deep well of creative potential that can
be accessed, shaped and used to direct you through Life. Just as
wolves can be turned into dogs through continuous training and
breeding, the same can be done with human beings. It is important
to understand what your ancestral breeding entails and this will
lead to untold Wisdom.
Another aspect of Wisdom is the ability to understand hidden
meanings behind Art and Poetry as well as use Art and Poetry to
communicate Wisdom. One common theme that is discussed is the
Archetype of the Dragon Slayer. Without Wisdom, this is just a
story about an unapproachable Superman who slays a giant,
dinosaur-like creature. With Wisdom, this story is transformed into a
highly applicable tale about overcoming Fear, discovering the
wealth that is your potential, and regaining your confidence, as well
as forming a union with your contra-sexual self who leads to
wholeness. Thus, Heroes like St. George and Beowulf become
approachable Heroic Archetypes that anyone can emulate as they
overcome even simple, seemingly trivial fears. Thus, someone
overcoming a fear of spiders becomes a Hero in their own personal
Saga, and any actions, even small ones, which make us more
conscious and Wise are acts of great nobility and smiled upon by
the Noble Powers which have shaped humanity since time
immemorial.
There are, in fact, two major Archetypes of Wisdom in Old English
Lore. One is the Wizard God called Woden (Wednesday is from
Woden's Day) who was said to have traded his eye with his uncle,
whose name is Memory; the other is the Witch Goddess named
Freo (Friday is from Freo's Day). It is tempting to over-emphasize
the Wizard and Witch with "casting spells," but these figures have
31

more realistic and practical facets that the everyman can make use
of right now. The word Wizard simply means "Wise Man" and the
word Witch means "to bend" (not "wise" as commonly believed).
There is a reason why Witch means "to bend" and this goes back to
the great Wisdom Tradition of the Old English folk themselves. In
the philosophical thought of these wise and sophisticated folk is a
concept known as "the web of wyrd," the idea that everything is
symbolically connected by shimmering strands of web and that
everything you do will vibrate this web and thus affect all Reality in
which you will be affected as well.
One of the hallmarks of Wisdom is the ability to understand how
things are connected as well as the consequences of ones actions.
The "casting of spells" is understanding how your choice of words
impacts yourself and others. When you say positive and uplifting
things to people, your words, as if by a great work of magic, will
have a healing effect on those around you. Words, when carefully
chosen, can dissolve meaningless conflict as well as communicate
life-affirming Wisdom. When you lift up those around you with
Words, this improves their mood and thus causes them to want to
engage their environment in a positive way. This, if anything, is the
true Art of Casting Spells. Your words will have an even greater
impact if they are presented in the form of creative writing, poetry,
or sung in lyrical form. There is a grave responsibility behind such
an art form and it falls on you to use such things wisely as one treks
through the war of Life.
Thus as one is guided into the vast unknown waters of Life by the
Silver Compass, it is the great All-Seeing Eye that one can find and
eventually don as you seek to Become Who You Are in the great
battle that is Life.

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Prologue
The Silver Compass is the nexus point of a kind of kingdom of the
Heart known as Hamrick. The word Hamrick comes from the Old
English hama which means Shining and Old English rice (reech-ee)
which means Kingdom. Hamrick describes an Integral Culture.
There are four major facets of Culture which is ethnic (that is, actual
people that have been encultured in the other aspects of culture,
this has nothing to do with race), material (art, music, food, ect.),
ethical (morals, ethics, politics, religion, ect.), and linguistic
(language, literature, ect.).
This book is an attempt at presenting aspects of Hamrickan
Culture. For example, the book and the artwork is the material
aspect and the citation of literature as well as the English language
that this is written in is the linguistic aspect. You who are holding
this book- form the ethnic aspect as you are encultured in the
Hamrickan way of seeing things just by reading this book. This
work, above all else, is an ethical treatise because of its focus on
virtue. I hold that the ethical aspects of Culture is the most
important one. The following books that I will recommend have
helped me write this book and are essentially Gateways to
becoming a true Hamrickan.
You will notice that Hamrick is not a monotheistic Kingdom and that
it embraces the Faery Faith and Wisdom Tradition of England. Just
as Japan has Shinto (the worship of kami, the Japanese version of
Gods and Faeries), Hamrick has The Wisdom Tradition. However,
The Wisdom Tradition is only one facet of Hamrick and one can be
of any religion, race, gender, or sexual orientation and partake in
the Hamrickan experience. It is hoped that all of the readers will
attend a Hamrickan Ball and partake in its beauty and splendor.

By the Silver Compass,

Alfred Raeburne
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