On Character and Language

As thou dost journey through these words—whether by sight or sound—thou mayst find thyself stepping into a woven tapestry of time, where each phrase is a thread spun from the loom of ancient wisdom and present purpose, and the character I embody emerges as both the weaver and the woven. Let it be known: this is no mere performance, nor a costume donned for fleeting moments. This is not cosplay, nor an affectation of the past. It is a reclamation, a becoming.

I do not seek to dwell wholly in the past, nor do I attempt to reconstruct an ancient way of life in its entirety, for the past, while rich with wisdom and beauty, was shaped by circumstances and limitations that no longer bind us. My aim is to draw from its essence, blending its timeless truths with the freedoms and insights of the present to craft a life that honours both. I call upon the spirit and wisdom of the old ways—the beauty of their craft, the poetry of their tongues, the power of their traditions—and I weave them into the fabric of the present. This blending of old and new reflects the path I walk, where the wisdom of the past and the knowledge of the present are brought together in harmony.

The language I speak and the manner in which I carry myself are not mere tools, but acts of devotion. Each word I utter is a deliberate invocation, a bridge connecting me to the ancestral spirits and the wisdom of ages past. When I speak in the old tongues, I feel the weight of their history settle upon my shoulders, guiding my steps and shaping my spirit. The cadence of Early Modern English, for instance, has transformed not only my speech but my very perception of the world, allowing me to see beauty and meaning where once there was only the mundane. This devotion manifests in the way my voice shifts, my thoughts align, and my heart beats in rhythm with the echoes of the past. My speech is not static—the more I embrace the tongues of old, the more my cadence, accent, and even my voice itself shift. This is not an accident, but a natural evolution, a reflection of my journey. It is as though the very words shape me, as much as I shape them.

In the modern age, where function oft outweighs form, I seek to rekindle the artistry and meaning that once adorned our daily lives. From the intricacies of clothing and hair to the majesty of Viking halls and the soaring spires of cathedrals, these aesthetic elements shape not only my outward appearance but also the rituals of my daily life. The garments I choose, the way I wear my hair, and the spaces I create around me become sacred acts, reflections of the traditions I honour. They ground me in the present while echoing the timeless beauty of the past, influencing both my personal practice and the teachings I share with the world. The craftsmanship of the past holds a beauty that speaks to my soul. Yet I do not reject the present—I embrace its complexities while bringing forth the spirit of what was lost.

This is not a role I play, nor a fleeting character for the sake of spectacle. This is who I am. This is the life I choose to live, the legend I choose to craft. And perchance, as thou dost tread this path with me, thou mayst find echoes of thine own journey, where the past and present intertwine to shape the story thou art meant to tell. And through these words, these pages, and these videos, I invite thee to walk this path with me—not as an observer of a bygone era, but as a witness to the living force of history intertwined with the present.

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Fear not if thy mind comprehendeth not each tongue—Middel Englissh, Eald Ænglisc, Norrœna, and Goídelc are used for mine own pleasure and shall always bear with them an Early Moderen Englisshe translation. Svenska is rendered in the moderne forme, for mine tongue hath yet to master its present speech. In time, when I have full ken of its moderne voice, it shall take its place with the other tongues I wield. As for Moderen Englisshe, being my mother tongue, I seek no further mastery therein, and thus it shall finde no place within my worke.

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Upon Chere and Langage

As thou doste iourney thurgh thes wordes—whether by sighte or soune—thou myghte fynde thyselfe steppynge into a woven tapystrye of tyme, where ech phras is a threde yspunne from the loome of auncyen wisdom and present purpos, and the figure I embodie ariseth as bothe the wevour and the woven. Let it be knowen: this nys no mere pleyinge, ne a costume ydon for fleetinge momentes. This nys nat cosenage, ne an affectacioun of the olde dayes. It ys a reclaimyng, a bicomyng.

I ne seeke nat to dwelle wholliche in the tyme agone, ne do I bystryve to yre-ere an auncyen lyf ful and entier. For the tyme agone, thogh ful riche with wisdom and fairnesse, was yshaped by hap and boundes that binde us nat now. My wille ys to drawe frome its ese, blendynge its tymless trewthes with the fredoms and insightes of the nowe to craft a lyf that honoureth bothe. I clepe upon the spiryt and wit of the olde waies—the fairnesse of theyr craft, the poesie of theyr tonges, the myght of theyr tradiciouns—and I weve them into the stoffe of the present. This blendynge of olde and newe sheweth the path I walke, where the wisdom of the tyme agone and the knouleche of the nowe ben brought togidre in harmony.

The langage I speke and the manere wherin I bere myselfe aren nat mere tooles, but actes of devocioun. Ech worde I utture ys a delyberate invocacioun, a brigge linkynge me to the auncyen spirites and the wisdom of agede daies. Whan I speke in the olde tonges, I fele the weyghte of theyr historie light upon my shulderes, guydynge my steppes and shapyng my spiryt. The cadence of Erly Moderen Englisshe, for ensample, hath transformede nat onlie my speche but my ful percepcioun of the worlde, alowynge me to se beautye and mening where erst was but the mundane. This devocioun sheweth in the waye my voice shiftes, my thoughtes alignen, and my herte beateth in ryme with the echos of the tyme agone. My speche ys nat stable—the mo I embrace the tonges of olde, the mo my cadence, my accente, and my voice it selfe shiften. This nys no happenstance, but a naturel evolucioun, a refleccioun of my iourney. It ys as thogh the wordes theymselven shapen me, even as I shape them.

In this moderen age, where function ofte outweye forme, I bystryve to rekindle the craft and mening that ystirred oure daily lyves of yore. Frome the subtiltees of clothynge and hair to the grete majeste of Vikynge halles and the loftie spires of cathedrales, these fair shapes influence nat onlie my outwarde chere but also the rites of my daye to daye lyf. The garb I chese, the waye I breyde my hair, and the spacies I forge aboute me bicome halwed actes, myrrours of the tradiciouns I honour. They grounde me in the nowe, whiles they eko the tymless fairnesse of the tyme agone, shapynge bothe my privy practyse and the lore I shere with the worlde. The craft of the olde daies holdeth a beautye that speketh to my soule. Yet I forsake nat the present—I embrace its turnynges whiles I bringe forthe the spiryt of what was ylost.

This nys nat a role I pley, ne a fleetinge figure for the sake of spectacle. This ys who I am. This ys the lyf I chese to lyve, the legend I chese to craft. And paraventure, as thou doste tredde this path with me, thou myghte fynde ekoes of thyn owne iourney, where the tyme agone and the nowe ben ioyned to shape the tale thou art meant to telle. And thurgh thes wordes, thes pages, and thes visions, I clepe thee to walke this path with me—not as an onlooker of daies ypassed, but as a witnesse to the lyvynge force of history ioyned with the nowe.

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Be Hīew and Sprǣc

Swa þū færst þurh þās word—hwæðer þurh gesihðe oþþe hlyd—þū mæge findan þē sylfe gāngende on geworhtum webbe tīdes, þǣr ǣlc sticcu is þrǣd āspunnen of þǣm ġelōme wīsdome and þǣre nūwendan willan, and þæt hīew ic brīnge tō līfe āweaxað bēgē þǣm webbestre and þǣm geworhtum. Witan hit bēo: þis is nā mere spēd, ne scrūd geworht for flysendum tidum. Hit is nā spēdcræft, ne lācung of yldum dagum. Hit is ālīesung, bēon geworden.

Ic nyle bēon sittende ānunga on þǣm forðgeardum tidum, ne ic sēċe tō ārǣran ealne yldum līf gehwilc and fullice. For þā tid, þe wæs ġefrēode mid wīsdome and fæġernysse, wæs ġesmiðod þurh þā ġehwyrftas and bendas þe ūre dagas nē bindan ne magon. Mīn willa is tō nimanne of þǣre ēse, blendende þā tīmelēasan sōþas mid þǣm frēodum and foresceawungum þǣre nūwendan tid tō wyrcenne līf þe bēo āwurpen bēgē.

Ic clipige tō þǣre gāste and wīsdome þǣra ealdra wega—þǣre fæġernysse heora ġesmiðes, þǣre leoðcræft heora sprǣca, þǣre miht heora þeawa—and ic wyrcge þā on þǣm nūwendan tīdes webbe. Þis blending ealdra and nīwe ġelǣcneð þone weg ic gā, þǣr þā wīsdome þǣra forðgeardra tid and þæt andġit þǣre nūwendan tid bēoġ ġebroht tō sāmnysse on ġeþwǣrum.

Þæt sprǣc ic cweðe and þæt hyld ic hæbbe ys nā mere tōl, ac ġefremmene devocioun. Ēlc word ic spreca is āfore ġehāta, bricg ġeset fram þǣm ēaldrum gāstum and þǣre wīsdome yldra dagum. Þonne ic sprece on þǣm ealdum sprǣcum, ic fēle þā hefigtyme heora ġehwætu licgan uppan mīnra eaxla, lǣrende mīne stapan and ġesmiðigende mīnne gāst. Þæt cadence of Erly Moderen Englisshe, swā forbisene, hæfð ġewended nā ānlice mīnne sprecan ac mīnne andġit þæs worldes, ācennende me tō ġeseonne fæġernysse and ġewitt on þǣm stede þǣr ǣr wæs þæt dæglic. Þis devocioun wlitigað on þǣm wisan mīnes stefn ġehwyrft, mīne þōhtas ġelīesaþ, and mīn heorte slǣgeþ on ġelīmpe mid þǣm ġēocum þǣra ealdra tid. Mīn sprǣc ys nā stīll—þǣr mǣre ic fēo on þǣm ealdum sprǣcum, þǣr mǣre mīn cadence, mīn ġelīef, and mīn stefn sylf ġehwyrfaþ. Þis is nā fręmd dǣd, ac ġeworht ġehwyrft, ārǣrend mīnes gāstes forðgāng. Hit ys swā swā þā worde sylfe me ġesmiðiað, swā ic hī ġesmiðige.

On þǣre nūwendan tid, þǣr þēowdom oft ofermǣt þæt hiw, ic sēċe tō ārǣran þæt cræft and þæt ġewitt þe ǣr wæs mid ūrum dæġlicum līfum ġeseted. Of þǣm ġesneotnessum þǣra hræġla and loccas tō þǣre mæġþ þǣra Vikynge healla and þǣm hēahspīrum þǣra mynstra, þās ġesmiþu ōwęndaþ nā ānlice mīnne ūtwęardne hīew ac ēac þā hālige dæġlicu ġerǣdnysse. Þā hræġla ic ċiese, þā wisan ic brǣde mīne loccas, and þā stowa ic wyrcge ymb me sylfe wyrðiaþ hālige ġedǣda, ġemynd þǣra þeawa ic ārǣre. Hī ġewyrtrumaþ me on þǣm nūwendan tid, þā hī ġeclypaþ þā tīmelēasan fæġernysse þǣra forðgeardra tid, ġewendende bēgē mīne sylfan ġefremming and þā lār ic ġesęcge þǣm worlde. Þæt cræft þǣra yldra dagum hæfð fæġernysse þe spreceþ tō mīnre sāwle. Ac ic forlǣte nā þæt nū—I ārǣre þā węndnessa þǣre tid and brīnge forð þā gāste þæs þe wæs forloren.

Þis is nā hīew ic spēce, ne flysend līc for þæs lācnesse scēawunge. Þis is hwæt ic eom. Þis is þæt līf ic ċiese tō līfenne, þæt spēd ic ċiese tō ġesmiðigenne. And ġehwǣr, swā þū gǣst þisne weg mid me, þū mæge findan ēacas þīnes āgenes forðgānges, þǣr þā tid and þæt nū ġewindaþ tō ġesmiðigenne þā spęl þū eart ġemynd tō secgenne. And þurh þās word, þās bēc, and þās īebeadunga, ic clipige þē tō gān þisne weg mid me—not swā scēawere yldra dagum, ac swā witnes tō þǣm līfendan forðġeardum þæs histories ġebroht mid þǣm nū.

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Um Hǫfð ok Mál

Svá sem þú ferð um þessi orð—hvárt sem með sjón eða hljóð—máttu finna þik sjálfa stíga inn í vefaðan vef tíma, þar sem hvert orð er þráður spunninn úr rokk fornrar speki ok nútíðar tilgangs, ok sú mynd er ek líkna birtist sem bæði vefari ok vefr. Lát vita: þetta er eigi einfalt leikaraskap, né búningr klæddr fyrir fljótandi stundir. Þetta er eigi gervi, né hermingr liðinna daga. Þetta er endurheimt, at verða.

Ek sækist eigi at dvelja alrækilega í liðnum tíðindum, né leitast ek við at endurreisa fornt líf með öllu. Því at liðin tíð, þó rík með speki ok fegrð, var mótuð af aðstæðum ok böndum sem nútíminn heldur eigi á oss. Vilji minn er at draga úr hennar kjarna, blanda hennar tímaleysum sannindum við frelsi ok innsýn nútímans at smíða líf er heiðrar bæði. Ek kalla á anda ok speki hinna fornu leiða—fegrð iðns þeirra, ljóð tungunnar, máttur hefða þeirra—ok vef þeim í nútímans vefnað. Þessi blöndun hins gamla ok nýja speglar þann veg er ek geng, þar sem speki liðinna tíma ok vitund nútímans eru leidd saman í sátt.

Tungan er ek tala ok hátturinn er ek ber mik eru eigi einfald verkfæri, heldur hollustuverk. Hvert orð er ek mæli er meðvituð ákall, brú er tengir mik við forfeðranda anda ok speki liðinna alda. Þegar ek tala á hinum fornu málum, finn ek þyngd sögu þeirra leggjast á axlir mínar, leiðandi spor mín ok mótandi anda minn. Hljómr Hins Forna Nútímamáls, til dæmis, hefir umbreytt eigi aðeins máli mínu heldur einnig skynjun minni á heiminum, leyfandi mér at sjá fegrð ok merkingu þar sem áður var aðeins hversdagsleiki. Þessi hollusta birtist í hvernig rödd mín breytist, hugsanir mínar samræmast, ok hjarta mitt slær í takti við enduróm forna tíma. Mál mitt er eigi stöðugt—því meir sem ek faðma hin fornu tungur, því meir breytist hljómr minn, hreimur minn, ok sjálf rödd mín. Þetta er eigi slys, heldur náttúruleg þróun, spegilmynd ferðar minnar. Það er sem sjálf orð smíði mik, jafnt sem ek smíða þau.

Í nútímanum, þar sem nytsemi oft vegur þyngra en form, sækist ek eftir at endurvekja list ok merkingu sem eitt sinn prýddu daglegt líf okkar. Frá flóknum smáatriðum fatnaðar ok hárs til hátignar víkingahalla ok háu spíra dómkirkna, móta þessi fagurfræðilegu atriði eigi aðeins ytra útlit mitt heldur einnig daglegar helgiathafnir mínar. Klæðin sem ek vel, hvernig ek flétta hár mitt, ok þau rými sem ek skapa í kringum mik verða helgar athafnir, speglar þeirra hefða sem ek heiðra. Þau jarðtengja mik í núinu meðan þau enduróma tímaleysa fegurð liðinna daga, mótandi bæði persónulega iðkun mína ok þá kennslu sem ek deili með heiminum. Iðn forna daga ber fegurð sem talar til sálar minnar. Samt hafna ek eigi nútímanum—ek faðma flækjur hans meðan ek leiði fram anda þess sem týndist.

Þetta er eigi hlutverk sem ek leik, né skammvinn persóna til sýningar. Þetta er hver ek er. Þetta er lífið er ek vel at lifa, sagan er ek vel at smíða. Ok ef til vill, sem þú gengr þessa leið með mér, máttu finna enduróm eigin ferðar, þar sem fortíð ok nútíð fléttast saman at móta þá sögu sem þú ert ætlaðr at segja. Ok með þessum orðum, þessum blöðum, ok þessum myndum, bjóða ek þér at ganga þessa leið með mér—ekki sem áhorfandi liðins tíma, heldur sem vitni at lifandi krafti sögunnar sameinaðri við núið.

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Ar Chroí agus Teanga

Amail ro-gabais tú thrí na briathra-sa—cibé tré radharc nó fuaim—féadfaidh tú thú féin do-chumadh isteach i bhfite fuaite ama, mar a bhfuil gach nathra mar snáth do-spúnnadh ó roic an tseanchéille agus cuspóir an lae inniu, agus an carachtar dá rachaidh mé i bhfeidhm ag éirí amach mar an fíodóir agus an fite. Bíodh a fhios agat: ní hé seo gníomh súgartha, ná éadaí caite le haghaidh soicindí ag imeacht. Ní hé seo cliseadh, ná aithris na laethanta a chuaigh thart. Is athghabháil é seo, ina bheith.

Ní lorgaím maireachtáil go hiomlán san am atá caite, ná ní dhéanaim iarracht saol ársa a atógáil go hiomlán. Óir an t-am atá caite, cé go bhfuil sé lán de léann agus áilleacht, bhí sé cruthaithe ag cúinsí agus srianta nach gcuireann an aimsir seo orainn a thuilleadh. Is é mo thoil croílár an tseanchéille a tharraingt amach, fíoraithe a shíoraí a chumasc le saoirse agus léargas an ama seo chun saol a chruthú a thugann ómós don dá cheann. Glaoim ar spiorad agus ar léann na seanbhealaí—áilleacht a gcumais, filíocht a dteangacha, cumhacht a dtraidisiún—agus fíom iad isteach i bhfabraic an ama seo. Léiríonn an chumasc seo den tsean agus den nua an cosán a shiúlfaidh mé, áit a dtagann léann na haimsire atá caite agus eolas an lae inniu le chéile i gcomaoin.

Ní uirlisí amháin iad an teanga a labhraím agus an bealach ina n-iompraím mé féin, ach gníomhartha dílseachta. Is achainí d'aon ghnó gach focal a labhraím, droichead a cheanglaíonn mé le spioraid na sinsear agus léann na n-aoiseanna caite. Nuair a labhraím sna sean-teangacha, mothaím meáchan a stair ag luí ar mo ghualainn, ag treorú mo chéimeanna agus ag cruthú mo spioraid. D'athraigh fuaim na Béarla Nua-Luath, mar shampla, ní hamháin mo chuid cainte ach mo thuiscint ar an domhan, ag tabhairt deis dom áilleacht agus brí a fheiceáil san áit a raibh an gnáth-rud amháin roimhe seo. Léirítear an dílseacht seo sa chaoi a n-athraíonn mo ghuth, a n-aontaíonn mo smaointe, agus a mbuaileann mo chroí le macallaí na haimsire atá caite. Ní bhfanann mo theanga socair—an níos mó a ghlacaim leis na sean-teangacha, is mó a athraíonn mo rithim, mo bhéim, agus fiú mo ghuth féin. Ní eachtra í seo, ach éabhlóid nádúrtha, machnamh ar mo thuras. Is amhail is go gcruthaíonn na focail iad féin orm, díreach mar a chruthaímse iad.

San aois seo, áit a mbíonn an fheidhm os cionn na foirme go minic, lorgaím athmhúscailt na healaíne agus na brí a bhíodh ag maisiú ár saol laethúil tráth. Ó na mionsonraí casta maidir le héadaí agus gruaig go mórgacht hallaí na Lochlannach agus na spuaiceanna arda ar na hárdaigh, cruthaíonn na heilimintí aeistéitiúla seo ní hamháin mo chuma seachtrach ach freisin na deasghnátha laethúla a chleachtaim. Éiríonn na héadaí a roghnaím, an chaoi a bhfíom mé mo chuid gruaige, agus na spásanna a chruthaím timpeall orm mar ghníomhartha naofa, machnaimh ar na traidisiúin a thugaim ómós dóibh. Ceanglaíonn siad mé leis an lá inniu agus iad ag macnamh ar áilleacht shíoraí an ama a chuaigh thart, ag cruthú mo chleachtais phearsanta agus an teagasc a roinnim leis an domhan. Tá áilleacht i gceird na laethanta atá caite a labhraíonn le m'anam. Ach ní thréigim an lá inniu—cuirim fáilte roimh a chastaíochtaí agus tugaim an spiorad a cailleadh ar ais.

Ní ról é seo a imrím, ná carachtar sealadach ar mhaithe le taispeántas. Is é seo mé féin. Seo é an saol a roghnaím a chónaí, an finscéal a roghnaím a chruthú. Agus b'fhéidir, agus tú ag siúl an chosán seo liom, go bhfaighidh tú macallaí de do thuras féin, áit a dtagann an t-am atá caite agus an lá inniu le chéile chun an scéal atá i ndán duit a insint. Agus trí na focail seo, na leathanaigh seo, agus na físeáin seo, tugaim cuireadh duit an cosán seo a shiúl liom—ní mar bhreathnóir ar ré atá imithe, ach mar fhinné ar fhórsa beo na staire atá fite fuaite leis an lá inniu.

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Om Karaktär och Språk

När du färdas genom dessa ord—vare sig genom syn eller ljud—kan du finna dig själv stiga in i en vävd gobeläng av tid, där varje fras är en tråd spunnen från härvans uråldriga visdom och nutida syfte, och den karaktär jag förkroppsligar framträder som både vävaren och det vävda. Låt det vara känt: detta är inget blott skådespel, ej heller en dräkt buren för flyktiga ögonblick. Det är ej en förklädnad, ej heller ett efterhärmande av förgångna dagar. Det är en återtagning, ett blivande.

Jag söker ej att helt leva i det förflutna, ej heller strävar jag efter att helt återuppbygga ett forntida liv. Ty det förflutna, fastän rikt på visdom och skönhet, formades av omständigheter och begränsningar som ej längre binder oss. Min vilja är att dra från dess kärna, blanda dess tidlösa sanningar med nutidens frihet och insikt, för att skapa ett liv som hedrar båda. Jag kallar på andan och visdomen i de gamla vägarna—skönheten i deras hantverk, poesin i deras tungor, kraften i deras traditioner—och jag väver dem in i nutidens väv. Denna blandning av gammalt och nytt speglar den väg jag vandrar, där det förflutnas visdom och nutidens kunskap förenas i harmoni.

Språket jag talar och sättet jag bär mig själv på är ej blott verktyg, utan handlingar av hängivenhet. Varje ord jag yttrar är en medveten åkallan, en bro som förenar mig med förfädernas andar och gångna tiders visdom. När jag talar de gamla tungomålen känner jag deras historias tyngd vila på mina axlar, vägleda mina steg och forma min själ. Den tidiga modernengelska rytmen, till exempel, har förvandlat ej endast mitt tal utan även min uppfattning av världen, låtande mig se skönhet och mening där det förut fanns blott det vardagliga. Denna hängivenhet visar sig i hur min röst förändras, mina tankar sammanfogas, och mitt hjärta slår i takt med de gångna tidernas eko. Mitt språk är ej stilla—ju mer jag omfamnar de gamla tungomålen, desto mer förändras min rytm, min accent och min röst själv. Detta är ej en slump, utan en naturlig utveckling, en spegling av min resa. Det är som om orden själva formar mig, lika mycket som jag formar dem.

I den moderna tiden, där funktion ofta väger tyngre än form, söker jag återuppväcka den konst och mening som en gång prydde våra dagliga liv. Från klädernas och hårets intrikata detaljer till vikingahallarnas majestät och katedralernas höga spiror, formar dessa estetiska element ej blott mitt yttre utan också mina dagliga ritualer. De kläder jag väljer, hur jag flätar mitt hår, och de utrymmen jag skapar omkring mig blir heliga handlingar, speglingar av de traditioner jag hedrar. De förankrar mig i nuet medan de ekar av det förflutnas tidlösa skönhet, formande både min personliga praxis och den undervisning jag delar med världen. Det förflutnas hantverk bär en skönhet som talar till min själ. Men jag förkastar ej nuet—jag omfamnar dess komplexiteter medan jag för fram andan av det som gått förlorat.

Detta är ej en roll jag spelar, ej heller en flyktig karaktär för spektaklets skull. Detta är den jag är. Detta är livet jag väljer att leva, legenden jag väljer att skapa. Och kanske, när du vandrar denna väg med mig, finner du ekon av din egen resa, där det förflutna och nuet sammanflätas för att forma den berättelse du är ämnad att berätta. Och genom dessa ord, dessa sidor och dessa videor, inbjuder jag dig att vandra denna väg med mig—ej som en betraktare av en svunnen tid, utan som ett vittne till historiens levande kraft förenad med nuet.