"K" 

Flame of the torch 

1st aett, 6th rune 

The controlled fire, cremation, 
and the internal fire 

The rune of knowledge, the 
internal or controlled fire, 
guiding light 

Pine 

Cowslip 

Citrine, fire opal, carnelian, 
golden topaz, amber, beryl 

Gold 

September 13 - September 28 

5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. 

The Germanic name: Chozma (Kenaz)
 The Norse name: Kaun
 The Anglo-Saxon name: Cen, Ken
 The Icelandic name: Kaun
 The Norwegian name: Kaun 

Kenaz illustrates a flaming brand, 
a fiery chip of resinous pine wood that 
people in earlier times used for light. 
In esoteric terms this means that the 
K-rune brings inner enlightenment. Its 
name stems from the Old Norse word kenna, 
meaning "to perceive." In the twelfth-century 
Icelandic poem "Alvismal," also called 
"The Lay of Alviss," the dwarf Alviss 
illuminates Kenaz. He says that humans 
have literal names for everything; the 
gods are interested in how things function; 
the giants, in how they can use them; 
while dwarfs and elves view things in 
terms of poetic "kennings." Kennings 
is a technique in which a poet uses 
eloquent descriptions as a method of 
perceiving objects and situations in 
new ways, adding a multidimensional 
texture to things. In this way, humans 
view trees as wood; the gods see them 
as objects that protect the land; the 
giants view them as fuel for burning; 
and the dwarfs and elves perceive them 
as willowy, intelligent beings that 
adorn the Earth. A poetic view of trees 
is seen in Yggdrasil, the World Tree, 
from which branch the Nine Worlds of 
existence. 
 Kenaz embodies the primitive fire and 
the spiritual being filled with light, 
making it the rune of spirit and mind. 
It is the fire rune, but unlike the raw 
and archetypal power in Fehu, Kenaz 
symbolizes a fire controlled by humans. 
Ritually, Kenaz is the fire of creation, 
sacrifice, the hearth, and the forge-fire 
that is controlled by humans for a specific 
purpose. Metaphysically, the fire represents 
transformation and regeneration. From the 
fire of Kenaz come the ability and the will 
to generate and create. Because of this, 
the K-rune is the rune of creative artists 
and craftspeople. (A related Dutch word, 
Kunst, literally means "art" or 
"craft.")

Freyja-A blue-eyed, blond-haired Norse goddess 
of fertility and physical love, she married 
Odur, the sunshine. The most beautiful of 
the goddesses, Freyja made sure the 
reproductive urge never died in marital 
relationships. Sometimes called Valfreya, 
she was also the leader of teh Valkyries, 
female riders who honored the bravest 
fallen warriors. Early Christians banished 
her to the mountains as a witch. 

Cat, salamander, lion, falcon, hawk, 
eagle, owl, tiger, chimpanzee, bobcat, 
cuckoo, peacock 

Fire 

6 

Venus 

The High Priestess 

From the Ansuz rune came the 
gods, the Aesir, and from the Raidho 
rune (the circular cycles that affect 
everything.) From Kenaz came fire, the 
fire of spirit as well as the fire that 
lights the darkness. It was fire coming 
into contact with ice that created steam 
and water, providing the perfect fertile 
environment for the creation and 
development of life. Kenaz in particular 
refers to human fire, and because of this 
it is called the "human rune," or rune of 
humankind. 

Creative inspiration
 Strengthens your abilities in all realms
 Regenerates and heals
 Helps in personal transformation
 Manifests through polarities
 Useful in love and sexual relationships
 Increases fertility
 Increases personal insight 

Kenaz, kenaz, kenaz,
 Ku ka ki ke ko
 Kun kan kin ken kon
 Ok ek ik ak uk
 K a u n n n n n n n n  

Kenaz brings about change 
and transformation, making it the 
emotional root of creativity. This 
change becomes accessible through 
the controlled power of the psyche 
combined with the contained energy 
of nature, resulting in the tangible 
objective. From these polarities 
comes a union that results in 
manifestation.
 Because of the working of polarities, 
including that of male and female, 
Kenaz is the rune of human passion, 
lust, and sexual love as positive 
attributes. This aspect of the rune 
is part of "seirdr," which is a form 
of love magic. Odin was the only man 
ever to have been taught this knowledge; 
he learned it from Freyja.
 Also, the rune is important in 
relationship to kin, especially with 
respects to clan tradition, a bonding 
of the energy of the living and dead 
members of the kinship group. This 
bonding creates an energetic link 
that moves beyond earthly existence. 
In addition, the concept of kin can 
be expanded to include a wider grouping, 
such as like-minded people of similar 
origins.
 Kenaz is the fire that brings life to 
your goals and aspirations. Akin to a 
pregnancy, Kenaz is the point at which 
your creations begin to take on a life 
of their own. When you pull this rune, 
it is time to nurture your magical patterns, 
all the while building up the life force, 
so that, like children, the patterns can 
thrive on their own.
 The Rune of Opening suggests fire, 
creativity, and clarification. It is a 
very powerful and energetic rune, especially 
when you are in trouble. When reversed, 
however, it can signal simply a departure 
from the familiar or, in an already 
negative reading, a worsening situation 
and narrowing of options.
 In modern interpretations Kenaz stands 
for knowledge or understanding and this 
is the sense in which the rune should be 
taken and accepted. Light associates of 
inspiration and gaining insight and knowledge, 
thus making what has been invisible clearly 
visible now.
 Differing from the wisdom denoted by 
Thurisaz, Kenaz acting as per of gods� 
permission, brings us only particles 
of insight and realization that we need. 
Such knowledge generally appears in form 
of sudden inspiration, that makes it 
possible for us to clearly see an answer 
that has been hidden prior to that moment. 
That form of finding out things and acquiring 
knowledge is closer to the right hemisphere 
of the brain than to the left one, being 
better suited for and corresponding to the 
way facts are realized by women.
 Bringing light into darkness is an act 
of creation. Image of a person carrying 
the torch represents the male element of 
Fire and Air, which, entering the cave, 
penetrates the female elements of Earth 
and Water. Coupling of male and female 
elements produces new ideas. This rune 
can also associate of use of fire in 
giving shape to the matter - this is 
the blaksmiths' art.
 When used in divination it signifies: 
wisdom keen intuition, solution of problems, 
creativity, inspiration, enlightenment.

For use in magik: for attainment of 
creative inspiration, assistance in 
learning/studying a fertility, driving 
uneasiness and fears away.

When Kenaz is drawn in an upright 
position it denotes new relations. This 
can be a successful business relation 
with the existing partner, as well as 
with some new one. Also possible is an 
exceptionally tumultuous relation with 
a person of opposite sex. This understands 
in itself giving love, and receiving love: 
in case of a man it usually means giving, 
in case of a women receiving, but in both 
cases here we have expression of full 
satisfaction. Regardless of the type of 
relation i.e. relationship, circumstances 
are very favourable for the person asking 
the question, as the rune brings creative 
energy of the vernal equinox into the question.
 Kenaz also designates all kinds of new 
insights and knowledge, which make possible 
solution of the problem the question itself 
is all about.
 In material sense this rune is especially 
lucky for female persons, announcing some 
exceptionally valuable gift, present. A male 
person is advised to deliver his present to 
the person he has in his mind, as this is 
how he will facilitate establishing the 
contact that is yet to bring him much success 
and pleasure.
 When Kenaz is drawn in a reversed position 
it designates loss of friendship or breaking 
up with business partners or a partner. In case 
of a romantic affair, its ending is foreseen. 
It can often stand for loss of something of a 
great value.
 Speaking generally, Kenaz means bluntness and 
lagging behind, retardation, failing to understand 
the problem the question is all about.

Fehu Uruz Thurisaz Ansuz Raidho Kenaz
Gebo Wunjo Hagalaz Naudhiz Isa Jera
Eihwaz Perdhro Algiz Sowilo Tiwaz Berkana
Ehwaz Mannaz Laguz Ingwaz Othala Dagaz


Rune Interpretations

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