Doing What’s Right

I had the pleasure of traveling through the Appalachian Mountains to Sigrheim this month. The six-and-a-half-hour trip after a night shift was worth every minute. I was hosted by our Allsherjargoði and his family for the night, and we rose early the next morning to get some work done on the Sigrheim property.

That tract of land is very special to me and to my family. We had the distinct privilege of being part of the acquisition of the property and have been present for many of the work days and Holy Tides held there since.

What we did not know at the time of the purchase was that there was an existing cemetery on the land, just up a small path along a softly sloping hill. In the years since, we have cleared brush, unhealthy trees, and deadfall from around the cemetery. Several stones had already been damaged during a clear-cut long before we acquired the property. Most of the graves and stones are well over one hundred years old. The most recent addition is Janet Flavel, mother of Matthew Flavel, a burial I was also honored to take part in.

Mr. Flavel had been discussing another repair job that needed doing — this one involving the headstone of William S. Clark. I am no stone worker, but I have found a fairly effective technique for holding cracked and broken stones together: two boards, adhesive, and C-clamps. The whole process takes only a few minutes. Make sure the pieces are flush, level, and properly bonded. That is all there is to it.

What I find troubling is the lack of regard often shown toward people who were once part of the landscape — part of that small community. In that cemetery rests at least one veteran of the American Revolution. We saw that same lack of regard for Philip Bethea at Þórshof, and we in the Asatru Folk Assembly made sure that his resting place was cared for as well.

Back at Sigrheim, however, there is still more work to do. One stone has completely separated from its base, which we have not yet found, and several others are in need of repair.

Why, though, is any of this important?

For one, our lore speaks of the spirits that inhabit the land and the grave mound. If we are going to occupy that space at all, then it is only right that we care for those who are now literally part of the landscape itself.

It's... the right thing to do. We often hear talk of right action, but this is something we take seriously. Many talk, but too few act.

Words are wind. Deeds are iron.

Work continues at Sigrheim, and there are links to which you can donate, including our pavilion project later in the newsletter. [https://store.runestone.org/product/pavilion/]

Spekingr Daniel Young

dyoung@runestone.org

~ From The Runestone, May 2026 ~