May 31, 2010 - Gebo

Gebo

Gebo is the letter G

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)

Generosity brings credit and honour, which support one's dignity;
it furnishes help and subsistenceto all broken men who are devoid of aught else

Gebo’s appearance strikes a strong chord with me, as for the reading I did encompassing the year, it was the rune that embodies the whole of 2010. So when it appears on any other level, I tend to pay attention.

In contemplating Gebo, I always arrive at the keywords that I have given it. Gift, exchange, partnership, contracts: the essence of Gebo embodies this social elements, that can interplay on many other levels. One that is occurring to me right now comes about from my reading of Three Books of Occult Philosophy by Cornelius Agrippa. In the 3rd book, he discusses those things that are necessary of religion, which he sees as being integral to practice of magic. In being aware of his medieval bias towards Catholicism and Christianity (which was both culturally and politically expedient) A lot of what he says does seem to have value, especially when it comes to how to approach and interact with spiritual entities, whether Gods, intelligences, spirits, demons, demigods/heros etc… While the particulars laids out by Agrippa have relevance, what comes through to me is the essence of partnership, exchange and contract. Offerings, vows, adorations, sacrifices and everything else is really about drawing the pleasure (or appeasing the wrath) or these spiritual powers. At the highest, the physical things are not necessary, because the highest and most transcendent doesn’t need those physical things. But in doing them, you enter into relationship and partnership with them. There is give and take, credit and honor, and in doing so, you can gain help when you have little else.

Often, for myself though, I don’t identify with the religious connection. I don’t always see myself as a servant of the Gods, because that is not who I am, or what I want to be. It doesn’t mean that I can’t serve them, at least to come into a benevolent relationship with them, but for myself personally, it is never a relationship where I give up my liberty to serve them.

May 30, 2010 - Feoh reversed

Feoh reversed

Feoh is the letter F

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)

Wealth is a comfort to all men;
yet must every man bestow it freely,if he wish to gain honour in the sight of the Lord.

Well it seems like Saturday was one step forward, and Sunday is two steps back. The momentary boon of Feoh moves into Feoh reversed. Expenses, bills or maybe just too much gratuitous spending occurs. But, forewarned is forearmed, so maybe you can reign it in, just a little?

May 30 - June 5, 2010 - Wunjo reversed

Wunjo reversed

Wunjo is the letter W

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)

Bliss he enjoys who knows not suffering, sorrow nor anxiety,
and has prosperity and happiness and a good enough house

Wunjo reversed shows sorrow, anxiety and suffering. This indicates perhaps that this will be an unpleasant week, where because of there being experiences of loss, might lead to other feelings.

What is mainly lost is harmony. The regular accord you have with yourself, with spirits, with people around you is temporarily disturbed. Perhaps an assumption is made, an offering forgotten, or some part of your discipline falters. The loss of this harmony is the cause of the anxiety and suffering that you experience.

May 29, 2010 - Feoh

Feoh

Feoh is the letter F

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)

Wealth is a comfort to all men;
yet must every man bestow it freely,if he wish to gain honour in the sight of the Lord

Feoh, the rune of wealth marks the last day of Saturn in the month of May. It shows that wealth, money and movable valuables may be of influence today, and also how you and others relate to those valuables. Upright, it is generally a more benevolent sign, showing skill in handling wealth, and perhaps also increase or benefit.

Part of the poem itself expresses an interesting concept of how wealth was viewed and treated by older Scandinavian cultures. The line “Yet must every man bestow it freely, if he wish to gain honour in the sigh of the Lord” reminds me of a concept that was much discussed by wealthy people in the US in the turn of the 20th century. This concept, to use the French terminology (which is how I learned it) was called “noblesse oblige” or the obligations of the nobility. As there are no “nobles” in the US, it was the idea of the rich and wealthy, that they have obligations to better society by using their money and resources in a benevolent way. From this is why there are so many buildings named for wealthy donators, like Carnegie Hall or in Los Angeles, Disney Concert Hall and others. They exist because these people and organizations felt that they need to give money to improve their society and community around them, and in doing so, they gain in honour. While this is a concept more tied with Gebo, it also has strong relevance to Feoh, as the rune of Wealth, which is often the unit of exchange.

May 28, 2010 - Cenaz reversed

Cenaz reversed

Cenaz is the letter C

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)

The torch is known to every living man by its pale, bright flame;
it always burns where princes sit within.

From Tuesday, when the flames of Cenaz were burning bright and high, they have now lost their strength and (metaphorically) become smouldering coals. Much as when light source begins to dim, shadows, darkness and obscurity start to come closer. Sight is dimmed as the scene becomes indistinct. The heat might still be there, but the light has faded. Perhaps the flames were partially doused, as the seeking of fulfillment has quenched the spark somewhat, cooling the passions. Or maybe by pacing yourself with the distance to go, the passions have cooled. It could also be the burst of action and energy from the day before has left you drained, and the fires within need to fed, in order to burn strong and bright again.

May 27, 2010 - Raidho

Raidho

Raidho is the letter R

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)

Riding seems easy to every warrior while he is indoors
and very courageous to him who traverses the high-roadson the back of a stout horse

Raidho is the rune of the road, journey, and travel. It is all about have a destination (literal, metaphorical or metaphysical) in mind, and taking the steps necessary to get there. In a reading it indicates travel of various kinds, and in a reading about travel, is a benevolent indication that the journey will go well and proceed with out overwhelming difficulty.

It is a definitely a rune of action, especially planned and decisive action (in the sense of being prepared for a trip). It is also well suited for any kind of spiritual journeying, whether it be shamanic, pathworking or astral projection. Combined with other runes, it can be the mean of going on the road you need to walk, a means to ensure that you are going where you want to go in the changeable lands of the otherworlds, and that you don’t wander from your road on accident.

Come learns Rune with me!

Runes 110 – A beginning class for Runes.

A 10 week class in runes covering the Elder Futhark, Anglo-Saxon and Northumbrian runes as an introduction to runic divination and rune based magic.

The class is taught by Brother Christopher, a practitioner of runic magic for 14 years.

1st class: Wednesday June 16, 2010 7:30 pm

Where: Points of Light
4358 East Stearns Street
Long Beach, CA 90815

Cost: $15 per class

Rune of the day - khalk reversed

Khalk reversed

Khalk is the letter K

There is rune poem for Khalk. It is a Northumbrian rune.

Khalk, the Cup of Dreams, Desires, Hopes, and attainment is reversed today, spilling out what you sought and leaving you unfulfilled and longing. That this rune appears in contrast to the rune of the week, suggests to me that the desires of today are either not going to happen, or leave you feeling unsatisfied. Perhaps the dreams and desires you have need to be re-checked and examined to make sure that what you desire is achievable or really what you desire.
Khalk as an image reminds me of another pair of images found in Astrological Geomancy. These images are Albus and Rubeus (latin for White and Red) and their image suggests of a cup. In Albus, the cup the upright, and indicates peace, accord and dreams. In Rubeus, the cup is reversed, and is conflict (and violence sometimes), intense passions, and dark (and often secretive) desires. I find that those to be an interesting indication as to potential meanings of Khalk as well, with khalk reversed showing that things are conflicted, and the desires involved are unfulfilled because of their dark and secret things, that you may fear to act upon, or only act upon when you can achieve them without notice. I am also reminded that Rubeus also has connotations of sexual acts, that are licentious or perhaps kept secret, which also can translate to Khalk reversed as well.

May 25, 2010 - Cenaz

Cenaz reversed

Cenaz is the letter C

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)

The torch is known to every living man by its pale, bright flame;
it always burns where princes sit within

Cenaz reversed expresses a lack of creativity and inspiration, and perhaps that something is obscured or unknown to you, that you might be “in the dark.” You might want to seek out further information, or go back and re-examine everything. You could also spend time seeking inspiration or trying to find a different method of resolution, as your current or chosen method will not completely resolve anything or it may even resolve it at all. The passions within you are cool and perhaps you might wish to feed the flame, or possibly seek a new source of fuel.

May 24, 2010 - Ear

Ear

Ear is the dipthong “ea”

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)

The grave is horrible to every knight,
when the corpse quickly begins to cooland is laid in the bosom of the dark earth.Prosperity declines, happiness passes awayand covenants are broken.
Ear is the rune of decay, erosion and death. It is often very slow acting force, but inexorable and persistent, and once directed, will continue to its work, however slow, until it is completed. If often signifies death, but can also indicate that need to release and let go, as something has reached it’s end, and clinging to it will not keep it around any longer. Of course, even a seemingly “malefic” rune can be beneficial. When harmful things are applied to harmful things, they stop or resist each other, holding harmful forces in check. It can also be the lessening of misfortune and trouble, allowing for more freedom and openness. By eroding away that which is doing harm, beneficial and helpful forces can enter in.

May 23, 2010 - Berkana

Berkana

Berkana is the letter B

Anglo-Saxon Rune 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 adornedits lofty crown which reaches to the skies
Berkana is the rune of nurturing, growth, feminine power and healing. Generally it indicates that there is slow and steady effort to gently build and uplift, nurturing yourself, others, or events, so that things turn in your favor. It is a powerful feminine, but not in a passive way, because it can be strong and seemingly fierce at times, like a mother protecting her children. For that reason, I often see this rune as a queer rune, the rune of Women who Love Women. It is also a rune that aids in birthing, both literal and metaphorical. As a rune of healing, it helps to build what ever is broken or depleted, and often times it will come back stronger then what it was, sometimes even from the most barren and wasted or broken parts. By turning it on oneself, you can access those parts that need the most nurturing and care, feeding them so they grow and thrive.

May 23 - May 29, 2010 - Khalk

Khalk

Khalk is the letter K

There is no rune poem for Khalk. It is a Northumbrian Rune.

Khalk is the cup, chalice or grail. The drinking utensil that holds liquids, but it is also the Loving Cup, the chalice of dreams and desires, and the Holy Grail whose draught can ease pain, bring healing, and gaining it fulfils desires and is the attainment of the quest. Khalk is the rune that gives us that taste of fulfillment that we seek, but at the same time it also goads us onward, showing us how much farther we need to go, until we gain that which is desired.

May 21, 2010 - Ior

Ior

Ior is the dipthong “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
As I was journaling and contemplating the rune this morning, and thinking about some of the meanings of this rune, I kept coming back to the last line of the rune poem, “Where it lives in happiness” and this had me thinking. This is one of the few runes that mentions happiness in the whole of the rune poem. While part of the nature of Ior is that it embodies both a boundary, but also the union of those things which are kept opposite. As the poem describes, “Ior is a river-fish, and yet it always feeds on land” there is the implication that things of the river, stay there, but yet this creature lives in the both the river, and can move onto land. A clear demarcation, but yet Ior is able to cross both. Yet, in the ability to able to encompass seemingly contradictory states of being, It has it’s home “where it lives in Happiness”. It came to me that Ior is one of the gamarunar (Joy Runes) and thus can be used to bring about joy into a place where it is used. For that, it can also indicate joy and happiness where it appears in a reading, but in a different way then the other gamarunar. In this case, I think the happiness comes from a sense of identity, the establishing of personal boundaries that help us to maneuver through life, and when we say “yes” to a request or when we say “no.”

May 19, 2010 - Cweorth

Cweorth

Cweorth/Qweorth is the letter (or sound) Q

There is no rune poem for Cweorth. It is a Northumbrian rune.

Cweorth is the sacred flame, burning brightly in holy places, the fire of the Holy Ones. It is also the primal flame, the fire responsible for creation, the spark of Muspell, which balances the frozen ice of Nifelheim.

It shows the powers of fire in it’s totality, as both a creative and destructive force. In a reading, it can be either, depending upon the question and runes surrounding it. When it is creative, it is warm and quickening, bringing action, passionate intensity, and some inspiration with it. When it is destructive, Cweorth is burning and consuming, removing obstacles, useless constructions (either physical or metaphysical) and terrible purification, that is terrible because of how swiftly and sometimes painfully it comes, but purifying because once it is over, what is left is clean and open to come into fullness once again.

I have noticed the Cweorth seems to be coming up a lot lately, and it makes me wonder what the source of all this fire is, and what is trying to do. I can’t say that I notice any significant actions occurring, or a burning and consuming, but then it maybe because I take actions and purification in advance. It often seems to be a greatly overlooked practice to me, that spiritual and magical practitioners don’t regularly purify themselves or their spaces, either metaphysically and/or physically. Weekly, Monthly, daily purification can be a great help when things are feeling difficult or there is confusion, lack of clarity or just a string of misfortune. Sometimes, it can all be easily cleared away, and that allows for desired things to enter into you life.
The simplest purification I do is sitting in a bathtub with a cup of table salt mixed in. Bless the water and the salt, and mix them together, and bless them again. You might take a book you are reading or a spiritual text, or you might just sit in silence and relax. The water can be hot or cold (I generally go for hot myself) and I give that space as time to release, reflect and prepare. You could create a more complex bath with your own bath salts, with essential oils and a pinch of ground herbs, or a strong tea made from a combination of herbs. One of my favorites is Hyssop or Eucalyptus

May 18, 2010 - Raidho

Raidho

Raidho is the letter R

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)

Riding seems easy to every warrior while he is indoors
and very courageous to him who traverses the high-roadson the back of a stout horse.

Raidho is the rune of riding, roads, and journeys. While it can be metaphorical, it is often more direct and literal. You can expect travel of some kind involved. While there is a sense of action, it is more direct, focused and purposeful. There is often a goal, destination or end point in the journey, even if it is only a large circle of heading out, only to return. Generally in a question of travel, Raidho indicates a safe journey, although not always an easy or fast one.
Part of what I notice with Raidho is that it also connects with rhythm. It is rhythm which drives music, and a rhythm can also drive people as well, helping them to keep acting, and keep moving forward until they have reached their goal. A slow, steady rhythm can organize people, much like in iconic images of people rowing in a long ship, or a quick rolling tempo can help to bring on states of spiritual ecstasy, allowing one to walk the roads between worlds to seek out spiritual beings for weal or woe. Raidho is the expression of those rhythmic energies, and also work to harmonize with rhythms around you, no matter what kind.

May 17, 2010 - Gar

Gar

There is no letter equivalent for Gar

There is no rune poem for Gar. It is a Northumbrian Rune.

Gar, the tabula rasa, is the rune for Monday. After a very long but pleasant weekend, where I was all but unable to do except for the most basic of my daily spiritual disciplines, I am back. I haven’t fully stepped back into disciplines, and I think the message of Gar today is that it is okay. Let yourself be free, and clear, and sometimes after a period of rest and relaxation is when the work already done gets the chance to take effect. It can also be that moment of inspiration that comes, after hard work has been done, a part of the creative process. By opening up, allow oneself to relax, clear the mind and just be, the glimmer of light, the still small voice, that which you have been searching for, suddenly gains the opportunity to be heard and seen

May 14, 2010 - Shtan

Shtan

Shtan is a “sh” or “ch” sound

There is no rune poem for Shtan. It is a Northumbrian Rune.
Shtan means stone or rock. It is a rune of permanence and eternity, expressing the power that is not easily or quickly changed or altered. It can suggest a definitive slowness, like molasses in January about how things are moving, but it can also show that which is permanent and unbreakable when it is present as well. Even if the situation around Shtan can be changed, it will be a slow process, and will require a lot of skill, persistence and determination, even though only to be changed by increment, like a sculptor carving rock, or erosion wearing away a boulder. Days marked by Shtan can often be hard to get through, as the energy is often slow to answer when it is needed, but once it gets going, it’s equally hard to stop it

May 13, 2010 - Isa

Isa

Isa is the vowel I (pronounced ee)

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)

Ice is very cold and immeasurably slippery;
it glistens as clear as glass and most like to gems;it is a floor wrought by the frost, fair to look upon.

Isa, the rune of Ice, is a rune of freezing, stillness, cold and silence. In the early 20th century Runic renaissance in Germany, most esotericists saw it as the main rune to use in the beginning, as a way of bringing stillness to the energies within, a kind of runic zen meditation to bring stillness and emptiness to your being. It still works well for that purpose, as the stillness that it can bring can often bring clarity and a greater sense of self to the user. In a reading it can indicate when forces become stopped or frozen. You might be stuck in a situation or a mindset, and until you can be released, you are frozen, often repeating the same behavior. It can also show an opportunity to be still, and have a moment of rest and solitude, before venturing out again to deal with the world around you again.

Isa is one of the rune of the key cosmological forces of the Northern Tradition. It’s opposite is Cweorth, the Fire-twirl, as it embodies the force of Fire. From the meeting of Fire and Ice, the void was filled, and the first beings came into being, first a cow named Audhumla, and then a massive Frost Giant, Ymir. At it’s strongest, Ice is complete stasis, o degree Kelvin as it were, where nothing moves, changes or can be altered. It is only when Fire, the force of action, change and transformation is brought in the Ice melts away, revealing what was locked inside and setting it free. But, also in reverse, Ice can bring stillness to overwhelming activity, slowing down the change, allowing it time to set in, before it changes again. Too much Fire can be as damaging or difficult as too much Ice. It is in the balance of these forces that Life and Creation is found.

May 12, 2010 - Os

Os

Os is the vowel “o”

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 signifies communication in all of it’s myriad forms. Today, one of the forms that struck me was as the communication of Gods to humanity. One of the associations that Raven Kaldera gives Os is the God’s Mouth. I tend to think of it as the language of the Gods, which isn’t words or even sounds so much as impressions, flashes of intuition and as strong sense of what actions to take or not take. This language becomes even more intense when you seek the audience of the Gods, and commune with them intentionally. It is the same for the tongue of spirits, or angels, or any other kind of incorporeal intelligence.

It is also a reflection of Mercury having turned direct yesterday, and so now communication has become easier again, without the tribulations of the past three weeks.

Os can also be a call to use your voice, but also to remember your voice. Speak up, Stand up, and don’t allow yourself to be ignored or overlooked if you have something to say, whether it be with your mouth or your actions.

Os is also the rune that embodies the notion of Words (or Songs) of Power. To a certain degree, all words have power, just in the sense that they are used to communicate. But some words are more powerful then others. Sometimes they are special words used in magic, but there are contemporary Words of Power as well. Racial slurs, curse words, Company names, jingles heard through media, are all contemporary Words of Power. An excellent editorial about a rather notorious word is at Kenaz Filan’s blog

http://kenazfilan.blogspot.com/

Titled “The Notorious N Word” it was a piece originally published in PanGaia, and a really great and interesting piece.

May 11, 2010 - Laguz

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
Laguz, the rune of water, rivers, oceans, is mainly about Flow. Water is always flowing. Even seemingly still water is moving, a simple convection current, that moves it slowly as the molecules heat and cool. Laguz flows through things, riding various currents both physical and metaphysical, flowing past obstacles and moving gracefully to it’s destination. It can be the flow of blood in the arteries and veins, the flow of a river to the ocean, the flowing ocean current as it moves from north to south, or the flow of a day, moving effortlessly along from morning to midday to evening, as people flow through their lives. It can also be the flow of emotions, as one responds to situations as they are encountered. It can be seen in the channels of metaphysical energy that cross the human body, or the flowing energies of the Earth, which can be heeded when built to ensure health, happiness and abundance,

May 10, 2010 - Inguz

Inguz

Inguz is the suffix –ing

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)

Ing was first seen by men among the East-Danes,
till, followed by his chariot,he departed eastwards over the waves.So the Heardingas named the hero.

Inguz indicates today that there are forces that are in a holding pattern, gestating and waiting until the right time to spring forth in fullness. While there is the possibility that it could be something beneficial, it could equally be harmful or even just unwanted. Either way, it takes something to trigger the release of these forces so they can take effect in your life. A way to look at what is going on inside, is to do a casting of three runes. The first rune signifies what is building and developing, waiting until it is triggered to come forth. The second rune signifies the event or trigger which will release the first rune into action and expression. The third rune signifies what the affect of the first rune will have, as sometimes a seemingly harmless rune might come forth and do damage, while a seemingly malefic rune might be a beneficial influence. With the information gained from that, you can be prepared and forewarned. It might help you speed the release of the contained forces, or thwart them completely, or just be prepared for them whenever they do come forth.

May 9 , 2010 - Mannaz reversed

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 reversed indicates a failure of man, and the lack of his using his gifts and talents: mental, perceptual, and imaginative, during the day. This often leads to conflict, disharmony or disagreements, and discord. Instead of standing, being grounded, centered and aligned, you might be dealing with ungrounded-ness, uncentered-ness and misalignment, which can make interaction and relating to others difficult. Not the best of signs for Mother’s Day

May 9 - May 15, 2010 - Gar

Gar

There is no letter equivalent for Gar

There is no rune poem for Gar. It is a Northumbrian Rune.
The Spear rune, a symbol of Yggdrasil, and the Pole Star, the cosmic center and axis, is the rune for this week. There is nothing but potential and possibility that can be had, and actions and events are free from Wyrd and Orlog, in the sense that they will either be ending a chain of events, or creating new ones. How they turn out are yet to be seen, and perhaps are not being shown as that information is not available or needed.

May 8, 2010 - Cweorth

Cweorth

Cweorth/ Qweorth is the letter Q

There is no rune poem for Cweorth. It is a Northumbrian Rune.

I am too tired to post about runes right now. It has been a long day for me, and tomorrow will also be long as well. Have a Happy Mother’s Day! (and go tell your Divine Mother, that you love her!)

May 7, 2010 - Eohlx reversed

Eohlx reversed

Eohlx can be the letter x or z

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)

Eolhx 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 is a rune of protection, and when it appears reversed, it may symbolize that you are not protected or secure as you think you are. It advises caution in all things, looking before you leap, because what appears to be, may not be what really is present. You just might be jumping into a trap, or you are overwhelmed with your own expectations and do not see what is really before you. Think things through, take stock of what lies before, take any advice with a grain of salt and don’t rush ahead, oblivious to what may be around the corner.

May 6, 2010 - Eihwaz

Eihwaz

Eihwaz doesn’t have an exactly letter or vowel correspondence. It's sound is similar to the long "i" sound.

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, the yew tree, is the rune of connection. Not partnership or exchange, but the connection that lies in the center of all things, and connects all things together. In that sense, it is also a rune of defense, the defense being actively engaged in your environment, alert and aware to what is going on around you and able to respond to it, in essence, you are connected to your space. It is also a rune of magic, as it describes the connection between all things, and that is lies at the heart of most magic, often known as sympathy and contagion. That which is below is like that which is above, and that which is above, is like that which is below.In that Eihwaz is the connecting rune, it shows connections happening. What type of connections and with whom (or what) should be explored, but in a general sense, it indicates that doors are open, and access has been granted.

May 5, 2010 - Cweorth / Qweorth

Cweorth (or Qweorth)

Cweorth is the letter and sound Q

There is no rune poem for Cweorth. It is a Northumbrian Rune.

Cweorth is the embodiment of Fire, the Primal and Cosmic Fire that in the Northern Tradition is based in Muspel, the land of fire Giants. This land was one of the primordial worlds, the others being Nifelheim and Ginnugagap. This is the fire that burns endlessly, consuming everything, but it is the same fire that brought about the beginning of creation, as the heat of Muspel melted the ice of Nifelheim. The resulting flow of water (and the purification of the poison from it) began the process of creation, filling the void of Ginnugagap.
It is these forces which Cweorth brings when it appears in a reading, it initiates things, melting away what is frozen or static and bringing action. It purifies things, as the heat distills out the poison and toxins that have been frozen within. Through these methods, it clears the way so new things can come forth, filling the void that exists in their absence. From the alternate view, all these things are destructive though, as they destroy things that maybe we have built up to protect ourselves or to insulate ourselves from things that we are afraid of. By removing the toxins, it can put us into shock, as we have become use to filling ourselves with the poisons, and now our systems purge themselves, and in that purification the healing can be difficult and sometimes even painful as we have to adapt to our new existence, which isn’t comfortable and familiar like the old one that is gone.

May 4, 2010 - Ior

Ior

Ior is a dipthong ‘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 the rune of boundaries, as the dual expression of what it is to be the boundary itself, and also in establishing that boundary. It is often associated with Jormungard, the World Serpent, which defines the boundaries the of Midgard, protecting it from what lies outside, but also keeping what is inside, in. The nature of a boundary however, is that it encompasses both things, the in and out, and partakes of the natures of both, but it is also neither. In that sense, Ior is the liminal rune, and is associated with people who live on the boundaries, transgendered peoples of all types.

In a reading Ior signifies boundaries and limits. Sometimes those boundaries need to be established and clarified, other times, it is embracing them so they can be understood and surpassed.

May 1, 2010 - Ehwaz

Ehwaz

Ehwaz is the short e sound

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, the rune of the horse, is a rune of speed, action and movement. When I see it in reading it says that quick, decisive action is course, and you need to stop dawdling or thinking so much and just act! It also encompasses images of wealth, in the sense that a quality horse who was quick is worth something, much like today, a sports car has a great value attached to it, and seen as an image of having “the good life.” It also indicates that now is the time to set out, especially as May is the month of journeys, so don’t hold back or you will miss the opportunity. Just go forth and seize the day, and start taking actions to see the fruition of your plans and desires, cause now is the time.

Rune of the Month - Raidho

Raidho

Raidho is the letter R

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)

Riding seems easy to every warrior while he is indoors
and very courageous to him who traverses the high-roadson the back of a stout horse

Raidho, the rune of riding, the road and journeys is the rune for May. Expect issues to arise dealing with travel, both physical and metaphysical. You may find barriers or obstacles being removed or created, as well as new insights, new roads opening up, and many other themes relating to journeys. The beginning of May has the possibility to focus more on the inner journey, one that my be psychological or magical in nature, with the closing of Mercury Retrograde. The inner journey may help you to realize what outer journey’s you should take when the time comes.

Part of my understanding of Raidho is that there is an element of rhythm. In many journeys, establishing a rhythm to the way you are moving helps make the journey easier, whether that be music you listen to, or a “right-left-right” going through your own head as you proceed down the road. You might even align with the greater rhythms of creation, and use that as your guide to when and where to go, how to get there, and what time to arrive. Even when it seems absent, rhythm is something that may subtly be present, from the long subtle rhythms that mark the cycles of sun and moon, to the rhythm that pounds away within your chest, created by the beating of your heart.