Slow Havamal: 44

The 44th verse says that if you have a great friend and want the best of your relationship, you must speak your mind, exchange gifts, and visit.

Continuing with the theme of friendship, Havamal gives us three keys to a rich relationship: 1) to speak your mind with your friend, 2) to exchange gifts (where have we heard that before?), and 3) to visit with regularity. Since the last several verses focused on the second aspect, I’ll mostly cover the other two. The verse mentions that if you “really trust him...” This is important. We’re not talking of any casual acquaintance here. The latter two criteria can foster any degree of friendship, but the first is something we should only brave with the best of them. Maybe a friend amounts to “whoever sticks around after complete honesty.” That is, speaking your mind can ruin a good many relationships, many of which have distinct value despite being somewhat guarded. ( Read more... )