January 31, 2010

Peorth Reversed

Peorth is the letter P

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)

Peorth is a source of recreation and amusement to the great,
Where warriors sit blithely together in the banqueting-hall

Just to expose another variant interpretation about this rune, I left the format that in most books about runes, they show as the stanza for Peorth. As the meaning of the word itself is contested and debated, it was left un-translated, so each person could give their own meaning.


To myself, Peorth is the Dead, those who have passed on and left the world of toil and trouble for realms filled with recreation, amusement and ease. The question of where you end up and when your time to go there, is one of chance, unknown to all who do not dwell in those realms. When I see it reversed, it shows me the open gates of the afterlife, but they are pulling things in, not letting them out. It occurs to me, this might be a rune indicative of dreams, the method most often described of interacting with the deceased, and perhaps through dream, you might enter into contact with the seemingly shadowy realm.

Week of Jan 31 - Feb 6

Gar

Gar doesn’t have a letter equivalent, although it could be the letter g (even though Gebo already occupies that role)

There is no rune poem for Gar

The word Gar translates as spear. Raven Kaldera sees it as the spear of the All-Father, his mark upon the runes, claiming his action which brought the runes into this world. The spear is also an epithet of Yggdrasil is also indicated by Mr. Kaldera.
As Yggdrasil, it is a rune of possibility and connection, a doorway that leads to all places. There is also a value of it as the replacement of the “blank rune” used in some practices. It isn’t blank, but rather represents the cosmic “sit tight and hold on” value that things are happening around you, and you need to be in the moment. I sense of similar meaning, but it has more to do with being in that moment, and as all things now are a clear slate for you, the actions you take can lead to anywhere, instead of responding and interacting with things that you have already done. As Yggdrasil is the axis of creation, it has infinite potential and possibility, growing into all worlds, rooted in all worlds. Yggdrasil itself however it is not changed in it’s nature from the worlds, but rather holds stead and balanced, even though imbalance can rage around it. From that center, take action, and shape the maelstrom around you.

January 30, 2010

Ehwaz

Ehwaz is the vowel sound of a short e, as in “get”

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)

The horse is a joy to princes in the presence of warriors.
A steed in the pride of its hoofs,when rich men on horseback bandy words about it;and it is ever a source of comfort to the restless

Ehwaz translates as horse. The horse was and is a domestic animal of great value. While most of modern transportation has replaced horses as the original means of expediting a trip, we still retain the association, for example in “horsepower” (which is the power of an automobiles engine). As I mentioned in Audh-runa, this rune is one of those runes of wealth, a joy to princes, warriors, rich men, and a comfort to the restless (meaning I think to those who travel, or have great wanderlust).

The esoteric meaning to me is about speed, motion and movement. Horsepower in vehicles, is the power of the car to move, and to move quickly. The more horsepower, the faster it goes. So it is with horses. They could quickly get you moving, much faster then on foot, and your journey (raidho) could get you there quicker, but also go much farther and faster. So, I expect today to be filled with a great deal of speed, movement and motion. That motion maybe cyclical (like a journey that eventually takes you back home) but it will definitely be fast.

January 29, 2010

Nauthiz

Nauthiz is the letter N

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)

Need is oppressive to the heart;
yet often it proves a source of help and salvationto the children of men, to everyone who heeds it betimes

Today’s need was pointed to me as being of spiritual necessity. Things that must be done because spirit (your spirit, an allied spirit, Spirit (with a capital S) needs it. For me, that meant making sure I did my daily work of meditation, galdr practice, and on Fridays, offerings. I feel better now. You will too. You might find that spirit demands other things throughout the day.

January 28, 2010

Dagaz

Dagaz is the letter D

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)

Day, the glorious light of the Creator, is sent by the Lord;
it is beloved of men, a source of hope and happiness to rich and poor,and of service to all

Dagaz or Day is definitely one of more benevolent runes of the whole Futhorc. It is of course the shining power of daytime. Sowilo is the sun, the source of the light, Dagaz is the light itself, which chases away the dangers that lurk in darkness, is filled with warmth, and as the symbolism of dawn, brings hope, new opportunities and the awakening of possibilities.
From an esoteric perspective, Dagaz is all of those things. It is the power of daylight and day time, so it is protective in a sense, as it repels those things which flee from daylight. By bringing warmth and light to people, it can ease sadness and distress, and signify and end to those things. It is also a symbol of time, different then Jera (year) as Dagaz is a shorter unit of time. In that sense, it signifies change that comes quickly and gently, like the dawn breaking in the morning. These changes are usually benevolent, showing the end to previous state and the beginning of a new state. Often this is marked by significant changes, and so Dagaz also symbolizes the forces of change and transformation.

January 27, 2010 - Uruz reversed

Uruz reversed

Please go back and see the entry for the rune of this week.

In addition to that, while I was contemplating Uruz reversed, I came across an entry in one of my many rune books. Uruz in its reversed form can be used magically to drain away power from something. In essence, it brings weakness to focus of the magic. This of course could also be used in many ways, but it could show that personal weaknesses are also being weakened as well, ebbing away to make room for strengths or new abilities.

January 26, 2010

Os

Os is the vowel O (oh)

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)

The mouth is the source of all language,
a pillar of wisdom and a comfort to wise men,a blessing and a joy to every knight

Os means mouth. It is highly favored in the Anglo-saxon poem, as the mouth gives the ability of speech and language, which allows for the sharing of knowledge, information and wisdom, which is a benefit to everyone.
Esoterically, Os is very much the same. It signifies that speech and language is going to play an important role, and may even be the key to success in your day. This also connects to words and writing as well, because they are just symbols to express what people are saying or have said. Os can also indicate divine utterance, like prophecy or being inspired to speak by spiritual forces, like glossolalia (ie speaking in tongues). In that sense it can also indicate possession, of a very limited nature, through which incorporeal entities might speak through someone. Of course, this power also connects song and poetry, things which were highly valued in the Northern Tradition.

January 25, 2010

Hagalaz

Hagalaz is the letter H

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)

Hail is the whitest of grain;
it is whirled from the vault of heavenand is tossed about by gusts of windand then it melts into water.
Hagalaz translates as Hail. Yes, Hail, that frozen water as precipitation, that isn’t snow, or sleet. Other rune poems show the destructive side of Hail, as it damages crops. The Anglo-Saxons only mention its basic nature, which ultimately is water. That is the dichotomy of Hagalaz. On one hand, it is a terrible rune, a destroyer and wreaker of havoc and woe, a storm that leaves destruction in its wake. But from that destruction comes water, that essential element for life, which nourishes plants, restocks water reserves, and as one rune poem explains is the bane of snakes. Of course, snakes in the northern tradition, or wyrms, were not just serpents, poisonous or not, but were also the symbols of illness and disease. After all, in Northern Europe, there are not that many poisonous snakes, but yet the seeming commonality of being stricken by a snake bit, and being stricken by a sudden illness, the explanation could easily be that the illness was caused by unseen wyrm, perhaps even otherworldy in origin. So, Hagalaz can also help defeat or drive back that which is harmful to men, but it also tears down that which man has built. Generally, when it does show up in a reading, be on your toes, cause you might just be entering into a storm.

Runes and Reversals

As you might notice through my rune of the day posts, there are runes that come up expressed as reversed. This is a common technique among contemporary systems of sortilege, especially tarot. The reader themselves will often have a ready understanding of reversed meanings about their tool, which can range from the complex to the simple. In most cases that I have heard of, the reversed meaning is a negative indicator or expression of the meaning contained within that symbol.

While historically we don’t know how the runes were used for divination (or if they were used directly) in contemporary practice they are. Many books will give reversed meanings for some or all the runes. This is usually for the practice of Divination. However, if you look at any Futhark, there are runes that are not “reversible.” That is, if you turn them 180 degrees on a vertical axis, it is the same symbol. Some symbols like this are invertible (that is if you turn them on a horizontal axis, they will become mirrored to the original inscription) but I have yet to find a rune set that includes inverse runes, as they would require a separate inscription.

What is of interest to many, are the non-reversible runes. A simple example would be Sowelo/Sigil/Sol the rune of the Sun. It’s various forms in the futharks are all non reversible images. In essence, it’s meaning in a reading never changes. That is an excellent graphical metaphor for the sun. In a certain sense, the power of the sun never changes. It may leave our ability to perceive the sun, but where ever it is, it always shines, bringing warmth, hope, and joy. It never changes or varies in that power.

This is one of the striking differences of the runes vs the tarot. Every tarot card can be reversed. Not every rune can be reversed. Some things are unchangeable, enduring, and lasting within the cosmology of the runes.
In Thorsson’s work, the non-reversible runes are often interpreted as being the runes of the Nine Worlds. As he only uses the Elder Futhark, there are only 9 immutable runes. They are Gebo, Hagalaz, Nauthiz, Isa, Jera, Iehwaz, Sowilo, Inguz, and Dagaz. (if you want to know the Nine World equivalents, I suggest you acquire one of his books). The remaining runes are connected to paths connecting those worlds, much in the sense of the magical cabala associations with the tarot, with the major arcane forming paths between the sephira, which are associated with all the number units of the minor arcana. By adding in the Anglo-Saxon and Northumbrian runes though, his cosmological map falls apart, as more non reversible runes are added. Ior, Qweorth, Shtan and Gar, bring the total count from nine to thirteen, and introduce additional concepts or repeated ones. However, they are suggestive of powers that are immutable as well, and maybe they are not symbolic of the nine worlds, but instead of powers manifested in all the worlds, powers that are constantly being expressed and at work in the deepest metaphysical levels.

Rune of the Day January 24, 2010

Laguz

Laguz is the letter L

Anglo-Saxon Rune poem (from ragweedforge.com)

The ocean seems interminable to men,
if they venture on the rolling barkand the waves of the sea terrify themand the courser of the deep heed not its bridle
Again we have returned to Laguz, but now it has righted itself. What was blocked, has now started to move. Often with flowing water, the first rush is filled with detritus of the blockage, until it finally runs clear and clean.

Rune of the Week Jan 24 - 30, 2010

Uruz Reversed

Uruz is the letter U

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)

The aurochs is proud and has great horns;
it is a very savage beast and fights with its horns;a great ranger of the moors, it is a creature of mettle
Leaving behind the turning fortunes of Peorth, it seems we ended with least fortunate cast of lots. Uruz reversed indicates weakness, and untapped potential are the indications of the week. This might be a blessing in disguise though, as being able to perceive our weaknesses gives us an opportunity to work with them, while seeing those powers that lie dormant and untouched, can encourage us to begin to work with them and shape them into future strengths

January 23, 2010

Ior

Ior the sound io

Anglo-Saxon Rune poem (from ragweedforge.com)

Ior is a river fish and yet it always feeds on land;
it has a fair abode encompassed by water, where it lives in happiness

Ior is translated river-fish, often interpreted as being a beaver or fresh water otter, as by earlier mindset, they were considered a fish. It is also often associated with the World Serpent, Iormungand.
Today, the meaning for me has been about boundaries, limits and, as I wrote in my divination journal, parameters. Sometimes, you just need to experience your limits and get a sense of your boundaries, and live within them, accept them, and understand them.. You don’t always have to push yourself. Sometimes, doing so will work against you.

January 22, 2010

Laguz Reversed

Laguz is the letter L

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)

The ocean seems interminable to men,
if they venture on the rolling barkand the waves of the sea terrify themand the courser of the deep heed not its bridle

From the ASRP, Laguz translates as ocean. It also often translated as river or water as well. Some translations of this rune are also Laukaz, which means leek, a type of plant that is probably well known in food stuffs, and also seems to have been considered holy, magical or both. However, for the most part, I am focused on Laguz as Water, and that is primarily it’s esoteric function.
At the heart of the power of water, is flow: The movement of water or liquids and examining how they flow, where they are flowing too, and at what speed it is flowing. When Laguz appears reversed, it suggests that the flow is being interacted with adversely. That flow may be stopped, damned up by actions, ideas or beliefs. The flow could be reduced to a mere trickle. It could also be a flow that is being fought. Rather then going with the flow, it is being fought against, possibly unknowingly as some flows are not always apparent. It may also be a choice to fight the flow, and through the struggle change the way things are going, for better or worse. Sometimes, you do have a choice in your actions, and you don’t have to those things which seem “pre-destined” (so to speak), but setting out on a different path might involve struggle, adversity and the application of effort that is more involved then what you may be used to. But if the goal is worth the effort, then fight the current and move towards your desires

January 21, 2010

Uruz

Uruz is the letter U

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)

The aurochs is proud and has great horns;
it is a very savage beast and fights with its horns;a great ranger of the moors, it is a creature of mettle

Uruz means auroch, a type of wild ox/cattle like creature that once roamed Europe. It was a pretty dangerous animal, with great strength.

Esoterically, it is the strength and primal power of the auroch that is the message of Uruz. On one hand, the strength is physical power and muscle, but it could also embody mental and spiritual strength as well. This strength also translates to the general strength of the body over all, i.e. health. It can greatly refer to ones health in a reading, but is also useful in healing and improving health. The primal power is also present in Uruz in the form of potential. Aurochs were undomesticated, but our current ox and cattle of northern Europe are descended from aurochs. It is this symbolic meaning of potential, potential that can be shaped and formed into future possibilities. Uruz is the power of shaping and forming. That is the second reason also while it figures into healing magic, but also is useful and just about any other kind of magic as well, especially when engaging in a new venture or working a specific direction or goal with the support of magic

January 20, 2010

Nauthiz

What, again? This rune. Well I guess I have some internal conflicts to work through. The fun about being me, is that these problems seems to prefer to manifest physically first, to draw my attention to them. Yay!

January 19, 2010

Nauthiz

Nauthiz is the letter N

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem(ragweedforge.com)

Need is oppressive to the heart;
yet often it proves a source of help and salvationto the children of men, to everyone who heeds it betimes

Nauthiz or Nyth translates as Need. As the rune poem shows, it is a difficult rune, but can also bring great benefit if heeded in time. Often this rune is connected the powers that govern fate, expressed in the Northern tradition as the Norns, but they can also be known as the Wyrd Sisters.

While other runes also can relate to those mysterious forces which seem to shape the lives of men and gods, often known as Fate, Destiny, Chance and of course Free Will, Of those runes Nauthiz belongs with Fate and Destiny. As its name literally means Need, it points to those things that Need to be. Sometimes that needed event is easy and pleasurable, other times it can be challenging and painful. Both can bring their own lessons and shape people for good or ill.
However, the writ of Need is large, and not all things fall under its purvey. To blame everything on Fate is not what is meant or needed, as often times those fated things are acted upon, even without even realizing it.

Monday January 18, 2010

Jera

Jera is the letter J

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (ragweedforge.com)

Summer is a joy to men, when God, the holy King of Heaven,
suffers the earth to bring forth shining fruitsfor rich and poor alike

Jera is often translated as summer, year or harvest. It is pronounced like saying year-ah.

Esoterically Jera is about the fruit of our labors. It is also about the labor itself, the time it takes for it to happen, and the patience needed for it to come about. Mostly for me it is about patience. Whenever I get Jera for myself, it means be patient, things are coming along but they need time, don’t stop working at it, but don’t be rushing yourself along. For that reason, I often see it as a rune for anything that you want to extend for the long term. After all, a year is a fairly long time. This can also signify a time to start that long process, because now is the best time for it to come to fruition as well.
This rune is not about chance or large risks with potentially huge pay offs really, so it is interesting that it comes up in a week that is about chance and risk and luck. But may the risk of the week and some of the good fortune that will come about today can be set to seed, and nurtured and fed so that it can grow into something new and wonderful?

Rune of the Week Jan 17-23

Peorth

Peorth is the letter P

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (based on a translation from Rune Games)

Peorth means laughter and games
Where…brave folk sit
Drinking beer blithely together

That is an interesting turn of events. From one day of lucky outcomes, to a whole week. Humorously enough, my sun sign horoscope for Sunday also indicated a similar thing. Changes are a coming, lots of changes. Things are not always going to appear to be what they seem, so don’t try to hold onto anything, or you may just get disappointed.

If you want a reminder of what my meaning of Peorth is, go back and visit January 15 and also a much earlier post in 2009.

January 17, 2010 - Sowelo

Sowelo

Sowilo is the letter S

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (ragweedforge.com)

The sun is ever a joy in the hopes of seafarers
when they journey away over the fishes' bath,until the courser of the deep bears them to land

Sowilo refers to the sun. That radiant heavenly body that warms the earth, shines during the day and is generally seen as a good thing by most people. While the source of this poem refers to travel by sea, and how seafaring people welcomed the sun, especially while they were out at sea, that is a generally a good recognition for everyone.
Esoterically and metaphysically, Sowilo is also the symbolic power of the sun. It drives away darkness, it is radiant and powerful. It’s energy helps plants to grow, helps people to see, and carrying that power inside of you also brings success, and a kind of shining quality to yourself that others can’t ignore.

January 16, 2010

Rune of the Day January 16, 2010

Yr

Yr is the letter y

Anglo Saxon Rune Poem

Yr is a source of joy and honour to every prince and knight;
it looks well on a horse and is a reliable equipment for a journey.

Most runic enthusiasts translate Yr as a bow (that thing you shoot arrows from, you know.)

Yr relates to skill, ability and finesse. Sometimes, it indicates the skill that you have in nursing yourself back to health.

January 15, 2010

Peorth

Peorth is the letter P.

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (based on a translation from Rune Games)

Peorth means laughter and games
Where…brave folk sit
Drinking beer blithely together


The meaning of Peorth is not totally known, but most people give it the meaning of the lot box. I don’t necessarily disagree with this, but there is a previous post where I see a deeper meaning that actually points Peorth as being related to dead, who are now released from mortal cares, live a life of relative ease in the afterworld. Of course how that life ends can be set or happen by chance, and where that life after goes is also just a chance based. Sure you can take actions to hope that you end up in the place you want to be, but some warriors never die until their old age, while the peaceful life of someone far from strife can suddenly turn into battle where they die with valor and courage.

You may notice that there is a break in the poem. In one translation I have read of this, the author mentions that there is a break in the meter, indicating a phrase that is missing or may have been omitted. I feel strongly it was an omission, as the indication of where might have been given exactly.

While I have my feeling of interpretation of this rune, It is one that I rarely see come up in readings for myself, so to receive it today, well it intrigues me, but it also leaves me wondering. But maybe that is part of the mysteries of this rune. The forces of fate, chance and free will are mysterious, chance especially so, because you never know when the casting of the lots will show great fortune or misfortune. Of course, as this rune can be both upright and reversed, there is a tendency to see the upright as fortune, and the reversed as misfortune. It can also show where the result of things is not always congruent with how it begins.

January 14, 2010

Mannaz

Seriously, This pattern is getting rather evident, don’t you think?

January 13, 2010

Mannaz Reversed

Mannaz is the letter M.

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweekdforge.com)

The joyous man is dear to his kinsmen;
yet every man is doomed to fail his fellow,since the Lord by his decree will commit the vile carrion to the earth

We have again returned to Mannaz reversed. The fun thing about daily divination is the recognition of a pattern. The feeling today is about internal disharmony. Things are not aligned and this can lead to illness or misfortune.

Tuesday January 12, 2010 - ior

Ior

Ior is the combined sound of io. I don’t think it has much use in modern language.

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)

Ior is a river fish and yet it always feeds on land;
it has a fair abode encompassed by water, where it lives in happiness.

Ior translates as the river fish. Most academic translations refer this to a beaver, as at the time this was written beavers (and otters) were considered very peculiar fish. It may have also referred to the otter.

In most systems, Ior is considered to metaphysically connect with Jormungand, the world serpent of Northern myth, who was one of the children of Loki and Angrboda. Some interpreters consider this a rune of happiness(because of the ending of the stanza) but others consider this the rune of boundaries, and yet also synthesis. It all has to do with the meaning of boundaries. A boundary separates one thing, from another. Yet the boundary is both things. It is In and Out, Fire and Ice, That Which is and That Which isn’t, that which can be, and that which must not be. Typically in a reading, it shows the encounter with boundaries and limits though, and only rarely is the quality of that liminal state presented.

Monday January 11, 2010

Uruz Reversed

Uruz is the letter U

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)
The aurochs is proud and has great horns;
it is a very savage beast and fights with its horns;a great ranger of the moors, it is a creature of mettle

Uruz means auroch, a type of wild cattle that used to roam Europe and Asia. It is not extinct, having been hunted or domesticated away. A viable comparison might be to bison or buffalo or oxen. The horns of the auroch were highly prized as trophies, because managing to defeat one and kill it to take it’s horns was a significant challenge, and often a test of manhood and strength.

Uruz reversed refers to weakness or inability or inaction in shaping things to your desire. Rather then actively engaging and using your strengths, there is passivity and laziness, or illness or damage that is hampering your ability to act. This is quite literal for myself today, as I have pulled some muscles from over exertion, and having to act carefully because of it.

January 10, 2010

Mannaz

Mannaz is the letter M.

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweekdforge.com)

The joyous man is dear to his kinsmen;
yet every man is doomed to fail his fellow,since the Lord by his decree will commit the vile carrion to the earth

Today we have Mannaz again, this time upright. This indicates that events from before have corrected themselves or were corrected by ones actions, at least that Mannaz reversed appear in the previous week.
My feeling for today is that it relates to the personal spiritual alignment, All the of the subtle bodies of man are being brought into alignment, allowing one to operate from wholeness. This alignment doesn’t necessarily mean life becomes easier, but your personal reactions may shift, or you may choose not to react at all. The wisdom and knowledge gained from this internal harmony might reveal to you how to better live your life, that it might become easier or have obstacles removed.

The Week of Jan 10- 17

Gar

Gar does not have a letter equivalent.

There is no poem for Gar

Gar means spear. It is often thought to refer to Odhinn’s spear, which is also an epithet for Yggdrasil, the world tree from which Odhinn hung upon to gain the knowledge of the runes.
Many runesters have come across the “blank rune” in some contemporary sets and practices. From a historical practice, this is incorrect. Some groups and people who work with the extended Anglo-Saxon Futhorc utilize Gar as having similar meanings to that “blank rune”. In this case, it’s not the cosmic denial of information, but rather and indicator of potential, events and possibilities are still in the formative state and so anything is possible. So, don’t worry about things, and let them happen or act in the ways that you desire. I also see in it the sense of freedom of action. A time when previous actions are not creating the present, but rather you have the opportunity to plan anew and change the direction of things to come.

January 9, 2010

Dagaz

Dagaz is the letter D

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)

Day, the glorious light of the Creator, is sent by the Lord;
it is beloved of men, a source of hope and happiness to rich and poor,and of service to all

Dagaz means day, as the poem indicates. It most strongly refers to the light of day, but it also encompasses an entire 24 hour period of both light and dark.
The esoteric meaning of Dagaz is related to time and to change, but also to what the return of day means, awakening both physical and spiritual

Audh-runa

So, on Thursday, during my regular round of meditation, magic and metaphysical mucking about, I got a little bit of inspiration. I think maybe, the runes were correcting me. Previously I have written about the Audh-stafir and my suggestions of what they are. It seems I was wrong. Thank you Rune Wights for the correction.

I was led through the Futhorc, step by step, shown which Runes to use. In some cases, I was correct, because, well, it would be impossible to miss, but in others, well I don’t know how to explain it, really.

Of course, there is Feoh. It means Gold or Wealth. That one is given.

And next, also a given, is Gebo, the Gift. It is philanthropy, presents from others, gifts form the gods, but also partnerships, contracts and agreements.

Jera follows, the fruits of work, labor, and persistence.

Peorth has been explained more to me. Yes, it is gambling, games of risk and chance. It is also hidden treasure. It represents an item or thing or person whose value is not obvious or might have been lost. Why? Well, to me Peorth is about those who have passed away. Peorth is a rune associated with magic of death, particularly necromancy and the power to call up the dead, for their knowledge and wisdom that they had in life. So, of course as a rune wealth rune, it would indicate their possession, often buried. This doesn’t mean I am condoning grave robbing or stealing from corpses. While perhaps in 1st world countries, most people don’t go burying or hiding their wealth as much any more, it was and is a common practice in other places. But it can also show you to someone that is perhaps has a good idea, or whose time has come, and that by promoting them, you yourself might get the boost you desire. It is of course, risky as well, but a different kind of risk. I guess I already said this, but I think it needed more clarification.

Moving forward, we actually come to Ehwaz. I know I said Berkana before, but no, that isn’t correct. It is just Ehwaz. As I said before, Ehwaz is the horse. It is fast money. The expendable kind, that comes quickly and goes quickly.

No Inguz. Sorry, not gonna happen.

Aethel of course is Property, Land and Inheritance. Those things that you can get from relatives, or if you acquire the first two on your own, you may want to give to relatives some day.

So, here are the surprises to me.

Yr is a rune of wealth, as it represents skill, ability and tools. A skilled crafter with the right equipment can stand to make a fortune, or at least do well. The same goes for a skilled salesperson, or a skilled waiter or waitress, or really any profession. Everything has it’s own skill set, and the capable person who can put that skill set to good use is always favored and able to make a living.

Kalk is the next audh-runar. In this case, it is the cup of victory and achievement. Think, like the Stanley Cup, or a Trophy. You could also think of an Olympic Gold Medal, yes, it’s not a cup, but still, pretty valuable. What comes with that kind of attainment is favors, honors and recognition. In this day an age, successful athletes get promotional opportunities, where they are paid for their fame, and other boons and gifts bestowed on them for their hard work that has paid off.

The final one is Stan (pronounced Shtan, but I might just put the h in there in future spellings). Shtan means stone. This one made me wonder. But then I thought of valuable stone, from expensive marble or granite used in homes, to jewels that are rare and prized. I also feel this applies to rare metals from the earth, like silver and gold. Yes Feoh means gold too, but that gold to me has been forged and shaped, made into coins that can easily exchange hands. This metals might be simply finished, like large gold ingots, or still in raw ore form, that needs to be refined to extract the value. To me, that is part of the value, with items whose worth isn’t likely to change much over time, except maybe to grow in value.

I am going to spent the next 8 days working with these runes individually. Today I am working with Gebo, and I am curious to see what comes from this.

January 8, 2010

Mannaz Reversed

Mannaz is the letter M

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)

The joyous man is dear to his kinsmen;
yet every man is doomed to fail his fellow,since the Lord by his decree will commit the vile carrion to the earth

Mannaz means man. While it might seem to refer to the male human, in Old English, This particular word is actually gender neutral in its usage, so it does also refer to humanity

Mannaz reversed indicates a lack of the qualities of humanity is present. As some view Mannaz metaphysically as being the Mind, and also the “Higher Self” it can also indicate those qualities being absent or unexpressed as well. I received a particular feeling from this rune today that it is more about the Community and Unity of Humanity, and a the lack of it. As I work in customer service, well lets just say today is going to be an interesting day.

January 7, 2010

Berkana

Berkana is the letter B. It is probably one of the easier and most recognizable runes around. You might also recognize it from the logo of Bluetooth.

Anglo-Saxon Poem (from ragweedforge.com)
The birch bears no fruit; yet without seed it brings forth suckers,
for it is generated from its leaves.
Splendid are its branches and gloriously adorned
its lofty crown which reaches to the skies.

I did change this poem in one way. The name of the rune means Birch. Yet, the plant described in the anglo-saxon poem is not Birch, but a tree known as Poplar. In other rune poems, it is more aimed at the Birch. For reasons of keeping the word true, I have changed it.

Berkana (Birch) is a rune of healing, growth and comforting, nurturing power. Birch in some parts of Northern Europe, was even deified, and recognized as a goddess (Berchta) who was associated with healing, purification and childbirth. In the poem itself, as it describes the poplar tree, it points to the way plant propagates itself, by sending out suckers that will grow other trees, which will do the same. It is this generative, growing power that is most often associated with this rune.

Often times the shape of this rune is identified as being the Breasts of a Goddess, the breasts of course being the part that nourishes and sustains new born life. They are also eroticized as well. Breasts are also the place of comfort, perhaps extending from our vague memories of being fed as infants, that the common image of a mother, holding her child to her, often near her breasts, to both protect and comfort the child. Berkana can symbolize and evoke all of these things. The nourishing power bringing growth, sustaining life, and also protects and comforts life.

January 6, 2010

Eohlx Reversed

Eohlx is the letter x or z.

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)
The Eolh-sedge is mostly to be found in a marsh;
it grows in the water and makes a ghastly wound,
covering with blood every warrior who touches it

After a momentary break, we have returned to Eohlx again. The general message of awareness, alertness and caution is called for, but today came the feeling that it is more focused on awareness. Being aware of your actions, your words, your environment, other people, their words, their actions, that car coming down the street that doesn’t seem to be slowing down, the odd smell coming from restaurant that you just entered for the first time, and the lack of customers, the millions of different clues, hints and signs that barrage our senses everyday, but are often ignored because so many people move about, lost in their thoughts, dreaming, hoping, fear, ranting, and then missing that sign that said “Watch out!” or the sheen to the newly washed floor which is slippery. The tired and upset look on the bosses face that reads “Don’t play games with me today, I am not in the mood.” Awareness of the self, awareness of others, awareness of your environment, it is this awareness that keeps things moving forward, keeps us feeling secure, and managing the mix ups and up sets of life.

January 5, 2010

Eihwaz

Eihwaz is the vowel sound of the long I like “bite”. It actually does not get used often in runic inscriptions, and is often considered one of the more magical runes.

Anglo-saxon rune poem (from ragweedforge.com)

The yew is a tree with rough bark,
hard and fast in the earth, supported by its roots,a guardian of flame and a joy upon an estate.

Eihwaz means yew, a type of evergreen and a genus of tree that can be found in most of the northern hemisphere. It’s latin genus name is Taxus, because most of the tree is highly poisonous. It is also a very useful tree, as indicated in the poem (it burns well, lives long, has food for animals to eat (most berries by birds who are not affected by the poison). If you look up pictures online, it’s branches appear very twisty and gnarled, growing at different angles and changing direction. Yew wood also makes good material for constructing bows (for shooting arrows) and so yew trees were also favored for that reason as well. In Europe, most yew trees are found in graveyards, and so the yew is often associated with the dead, and the lands of the dead and so, the underworld.

In northern European lore about Yggdrasil, it is sometimes the Ash tree, sometimes a Yew tree. In my own personal work with it, Yggdrasil is both, and a few others. It is after all, the world tree. It can be many things. As yew tree, it is Yggdrasil as it connects to the underworld, but also Yggdrasil as the connector and ways between worlds. For that reason, it embodies the magical forces known as sympathy and contagion. Sympathy shows how plants, minerals, animal parts, symbols and other items share connections, and by working with one, you can influence the other. Contagion is the idea that things once in contact, maintain the link. It is, in a sense, the runic expression of that constant, and so it is a way to strengthen those bonds or weaken them.
It is in that same sense, a defense rune. In this case, it is the pushing apart of those connections, creating greater and greater distance. In a sense, creating that experience of being in the wrong place, a place that is incompatible with you, and ultimately a place that does not work well with who ever or whatever is being cast out from it.

January 4, 2010

Eohlx reversed

Eohlx is the letter x or z.

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)
The Eolh-sedge is mostly to be found in a marsh;
it grows in the water and makes a ghastly wound,covering with blood every warrior who touches it

Eohlx or Algiz in the poem is a large marsh grass with sharp side that, as the poem suggests, give you nasty cuts if you try to hold it or walk through it. I don’t know about you, but it sounds like something ideal to put in a moat and surround a castle or fort or village with. It would certainly make approaching it unpleasant. The world eolh literally means elk, but I had the x on the end to remind myself of the letter it is used for.


Virtually all magical purposes of this rune point to protection. The reasons are various, as are they types of protection, but protection it is. I personally have used this rune for protection magic, in all sorts.. In the case where it shows itself upside down, it indicates a need for caution, for being alert and aware, and to avoid risk or over reaching yourself. This could partly be seen as your usual protection is gone or may not be reliable today, so you may need to rely on other things.

Mixed in there with protection has been seen the moon (probably because this rune proceeds the sun rune) the Bifrost bridge, valkyries (who would protect chosen warriors, but could also aid in sending warriors to Valhalla), elks, a holy sanctuary, and that is about all I can remember without pulling out everyone book and note on runes I have ever had. It is probably one of the most ubiquitous runes used, after Sowelo and Feoh possibly.

Rune of the Week and Day

The rune for this week is Ýr reversed

Ýr is the letter Y. It resembles and upside down u, with a line or a tau inside connecting the sides.

The Anglo-Saxon Poem
The bow is a joy to princes and nobles
A reminder of worth looks well on a steed,
Quick in its course, fine equipment

Ýr translates as bow, or often yew bow, as bows for archery were often made from wood of the yew tree. The main quality that the poem indicates is the value of the bow, and how great and useful it is. The bow is of such value that is valued by “princes and nobles.” What I extract from this meaning is the use of tools and also of skill. An finely crafted tool is good to own, and will work well, but it is as only as good as the skill of the wielder ultimately. A finely crafted bow is made only be a very skilled artisan. To me, the esoteric meaning of this rune is in skill and ability. In the reversed form, it is the need for skill and ability, and opportunities to grow in skill and ability

The rune of the day is Laguz

Laguz is the letter L. It looks like half an arrow symbol.

The Anglo-Saxon Poem
Water to landsmen seems overly long
If they must go on the galloping ship
And the sea-waves scare them excessively
And the horse of the sea heeds not his bridle

Laguz translates as water, but also stream and sea. It is very related to water. The poem describes the dangerous journey over the ocean, as storms or rough waters could make travel by boat perilous and frightening. Having crossed the English Channel in a ship once myself, the surging sea waves, and the swaying of the vessel was very trying, and I was one of the few who managed to keep his stomach under control.

To me personally, the esoteric meaning of Laguz is about flow. Laguz shows where your life is moving or flowing. It indicates that his day will flow. Obstacles will be easily navigated, and rough spots will come and just as quickly pass through, as one continues to flow through their day. Any action you take will just move, and while the end may not be visible, ultimately you will reach it.

January 2, 2010

The rune of the Day for January 2 is Kalk

Kalk is one of the Northumbrian Runes

It is the letter K. The version I use looks like an upside down eolhx rune, but with straight lines coming from the angled ends.

It’s name can mean several things, but the most commonly agreed to meaning is cup, chalice or grail.

There is no rune poem for Kalk.

Kalk, as the cup or grail, is the container that holds fluids that can be nourishing, intoxicating or poisonous. It can be the loving cup, a container that we pour or love and desires into, seeking their fulfillment as we then drink deep. It is bottomless, and can quench the thirst of the seeker.

It can be the cup that holds the mead of poetry and inspiration, drinking deep to bring ecstasy and enlightenment, as well as skill with words, song and persuasion.

It could be the sangreal as the Holy Grail, but also as the container of the royal blood, As the Holy Grail, it brings healing and rejuvenation. As the royal blood it raises up the power within, arousing the divine spark in humanity which makes miracles possible.

It can be all those things as the item of a quest, an goal or attainment, that as the focus of desire, helps to show how far along the path one has traveled, and also how far one has to go.

Runes of the day 365 Project

This entry actually has 3 runes for it. There is a rune for the year, the month, and the day. The rune for the year will obviously hold for all of 2010. The rune of the month will change in February, and well, there will be two rune of the day entries today.

The Rune for 2010 is Gebo

Gebo or Gyfu is the Letter G. It looks like the latin X.

The Anglo Saxon Rune Poem (translation from Rune Games by M Osborne and S Longland) gives

Gifts, to men, is an ornament
Displaying worth – and to every outcast
Without any other is substance and honor.

Often times, a statement mentioned about this rune is the saying “A gift demands a gift”. The concept of giving in Northern Europe was a big deal. It was how lords kept the loyalty of their thanes, as all the wealth would be given to the king, and then redistributed to others. Often, metaphysically, it takes to the concept of offerings to spiritual entities, in exchange for their aid or blessings. Of course, that can also work backwards, that one makes offerings for aid and blessings already bestowed. In a practical sense it refers to contracts, oaths and agreements/commitments. In terms of a rune for a year, it shows that 2010 will be marked with many interactions with people and powers where exchanges, agreements and contracts are entered into and negotiated. Ultimately, anything can be gained, but there is a always a price. It may not be in gold or wealth, but is the cost worth the prize?

The Rune for January is Ehwaz Reversed

Ehwaz is the vowel e, as the short sound like the word get. It looks like the latin M. As it is revered, it would be upside down.

Anglo Saxon Rune Poem

The Horse before peers is princely joy
Stepping out proudly when spoken of
By wealthy riders all around him
And to one who’s unquiet he is ever a comfort

Ehwaz is the horse. Often in discussion of this rune will come up talk about the cultic value of the horse. One great example from sags literature is when a nyth-stav is stood in the earth, cursing a king and queen from the country, and the stav is topped with the skull of horse. Part of the Horse cult was also a cult of Divine Twins that are recognized in Northern Europe, often seen as Frey and Freya. While horses can be seen as fertility bringers (for the obvious reason) they are also known for their speed, strength, the bond that can be formed between a horse and his rider, and of course their value, as horses were often only the property of wealthy or nobility. Of course, the symbolism of the Horse is also all connected to this rune. For me personally, it is the idea of speed. So, in the case of this rune coming up reversed, it shows either the need or the result of being slowed down or moving slowly. Take your time. Don’t rush. Stop, be aware and let things move at their own pace, instead of trying to rush.

The Rune for January 1, 2010 is Mannaz

Mannaz is the letter M. It looks like an M but with a x connecting the two sides.

Anglo Saxon Rune Poem

A man in his gladness is dear to his kinsmen
Yet each must fail the friend he loves
For the lord in his judgement will allot
That unfortunate flesh to the earth
\Mannaz means man. It refers to men, and humanity in general, as opposed to males only. The rune poem itself suggests the bonds of humanity, friendship, partnership and connection, but also humanities frailness, that we must die eventually. While the word Lord is suggestive of the Christian god, it was also word commonly used before as reference to any divine figure, particularly the concept of a distant creator or divine figure, as the word of its from the language (dryghten) I believe is actually a gender neutral word, meaning it is neither male nor female. The power of man is his mind. So while Mannaz also refers to humanity, it also connects to the power of the mind, and mental faculties. It also draws upon the whole man, not just our material manifestation, but our complete spiritual connection, all of our spiritual anatomy, whether that be chakras, three selves, or other maps of spiritual components. Mannaz helps to bring them together in partnership, and awakening the whole person to their real identity, and from there, the human can move forward an enter into healthy partnership with other humans, whether it be romantic, familial, spiritual or economics.

The 365 (and then some) Runes Project

So, I have decided this year to make a blog entry every day for a year using the Rune a day method. So basically, everyday I need to enter something about the rune that I cast for that day. I should have started yesterday, and I did cast a rune for that day, but I just didn’t get around to making the entry. So now, I shall begin