Combining the concept of wyrd-kraft with a Nietzschean-based nutritional perspective offers an intriguing approach to self-empowerment and shaping one’s future.
Old English WYRD “fate, chance, fortune; destiny; the Fates,” literally “that which comes,” from Proto-Germanic *wurthiz (source also of Old Saxon wurd, Old High German wurt “fate,” Old Norse urðr “fate, one of the three Norns”), from PIE *wert- “to turn, to wind,” (source also of German werden, Old English weorðan “to become”), from root *wer- (2) “to turn, bend.”
etymonline.com
Old English cræft (West Saxon, Northumbrian), -creft (Kentish), “power, physical strength, might,” from Proto-Germanic *krab-/*kraf- (source also of Old Frisian kreft, Old High German chraft, German Kraft “strength, skill;” Old Norse kraptr “strength, virtue”).
Sense expanded in Old English to include “skill, dexterity; art, science, talent” (via a notion of “mental power”), which led by late Old English to the meaning “trade, handicraft, employment requiring special skill or dexterity,” also “something built or made.” The word still was used for “might, power” in Middle English.
etymonline.com
How one would go about using wyrd-kraft to shape the future.
Combining the concept of wyrd-kraft with a Nietzschean-based nutritional perspective offers an intriguing approach to self-empowerment and shaping one’s future. Wyrd in ancient Germanic cultures refers to fate or personal destiny, but not in a predetermined sense; rather, it is something one actively shapes through actions, decisions, and inner strength. Kraft means power or strength. From a Nietzschean perspective, Wyrd-Kraft could represent the forceful, intentional crafting of one’s destiny, akin to Nietzsche’s idea of the “will to power.”
In modern authors we can find analogous prerequisites: a great physical and intellectual equilibrium; the state of perfect neutrality such balance augurs; a healthy body, without appetites or desires, being at peace with oneself and others and with the things around one; making oneself absolute master of the animal envelope in order to make of it an obedient servant to the psychodynamic authority that must purify itself of every obstacle; to liberate whatever may be necessary.
1. Embrace the Concept of Eternal Recurrence
Nietzsche’s idea of eternal recurrence suggests living as if every action might be repeated infinitely. The first step in wielding wyrd-kraft would be to consciously evaluate every decision through this lens. Are your choices in alignment with a future you’d be willing to relive? This reflection forces a deep consideration of the impact of actions, ensuring that each is in line with your ultimate goals and values.
2. Strengthen the Self through a “Nutritional” Regimen
Nietzsche emphasized the importance of “nutrition” in a metaphorical sense, advocating for the nourishment of the mind, body, and spirit in ways that foster strength, resilience, and vitality. Here’s how this could be applied:
- Intellectual Nutrition: Feed your mind with challenging, empowering ideas that push you toward self-overcoming. This could involve engaging with complex philosophy, literature, or even art that resonates with your personal mythos or aspirations.
- Physical Nutrition: Maintain a strong body, not just for health’s sake, but as a vessel of power. Exercise and diet should be chosen with the aim of building the physical resilience and vitality necessary to face challenges head-on.
- Emotional Nutrition: Cultivate emotions that reinforce your strength, such as courage, love, and ambition, while weeding out those that sap your energy, like fear, bitterness, or self-pity.
Make the integrative powers of human intellect (will) the absolute master of the animal frame, making it a prompt and obedient slave to the psychodynamic authority that is within us; rid yourself of all obstacles to the free exercise of intelligent will over the body, the necessary instrument for human life; liberate yourself from worldly needs.
3. Practice the Art of Self-Overcoming
Nietzsche’s concept of self-overcoming is essential in shaping one’s future. This involves continually striving to surpass your current limitations and weaknesses. With wyrd-kraft, this means identifying the aspects of your character, habits, or environment that hold you back from shaping the future you desire and taking proactive steps to overcome them. This could involve rigorous self-discipline, seeking out difficult experiences that forge resilience, or adopting new skills and perspectives.
4. Forge Your Own Values
In Nietzschean thought, the creation of one’s own values is paramount. Rather than adhering to conventional moralities, wyrd-kraft encourages the crafting of a personal code that aligns with your desired future. These values should serve as the guiding principles in all your decisions, acting as a compass for your wyrd—your unfolding destiny.
Once one has discovered through experiment which of one’s manifold tendencies is the central one, one sets about identifying it with one’s will, stabilizing it, and organizing all one’s secondary or divergent tendencies around it. This is what it means to give oneself a law, one’s own law.
5. Engage in Will to Power as Creative Force
Nietzsche’s will to power is the fundamental driving force in humans, a desire not just to survive, but to assert and express one’s creative energies. Wyrd-kraft involves channeling this creative force into every aspect of life, shaping your future with intention and vigor. This might involve creative projects, leadership roles, or any activity that allows you to assert your influence on the world.
The will to power is not a being, not a becoming, but a pathos –the most elemental fact from which a becoming and effecting first emerge.
6. Embrace Amor Fati
Finally, the Nietzschean concept of amor fati—the love of one’s fate—ties directly into wyrd. Whatever circumstances arise, embrace them as necessary steps in the path you are crafting. This acceptance doesn’t imply passivity, but rather an active integration of all experiences into the narrative you are writing for your life.
This trial through self-knowledge under the stimulus of various experiences and various encounters with reality may be associated in a certain sense with the maxim of amor fati
(love of fate).
By approaching life through this combined lens of wyrd-kraft and Nietzschean nutrition, you position yourself as both the sculptor and the sculpture of your own destiny, continually crafting a future that reflects your deepest values, strengths, and aspirations.
ACTION ITEMS:
The Nutritional Approach
- Whole Foods: Consume nutrient-dense foods that support overall health and vitality.
- Balance and Moderation: Avoid extremes and aim for a balanced diet that includes a variety of nutrients.
- Mindful Eating: Pay attention to how food affects your body and mind and adjust your diet to optimize well-being.
Integrate Wyrd-Kraft into Daily Life
- Set Intentions: Align your daily actions with your long-term goals and values.
- Reflect and Adapt: Regularly assess your progress and make necessary adjustments to stay on course.
- Cultivate Resilience: Develop habits that enhance your physical and mental strength, enabling you to navigate challenges effectively.
Embody Nietzschean Values!
- Self-Overcoming: Continuously strive to surpass your previous limitations and grow stronger.
- Life-Affirmation: Embrace life with all its challenges and opportunities, finding meaning and purpose in your journey.