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teiwaz : Tyr
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Phonetic equivalent: t
DIVINATORY MEANINGS:
duty, discipline, responsibility, self-sacrifice, conflict, strength,
a wound, physicality, the warrior path
MAGICAL USES:
protection, victory, strength, strengthening the will, healing a wound
ASSOCIATED MYTHS & DEITIES:
Tyr and the Fenris Wolf, Odin's ordeals
ANALYSIS:
Just as the second aett began with the cleansing destruction of hagalaz,
so too does the third aett begin with a loss. However, hail is imposed
by the Gods to force the sacrifice of those things which aren't really
vital to our development. Teiwaz, on the other hand, represents a voluntary
sacrifice, made by someone who understands exactly what they are giving
up and why.
Tyr's sacrifice of his hand to allow the binding of the Fenris Wolf
was a noble one, and notable in a pantheon of deities not known for
their sense of duty and ethical responsibility. He is believed to be
one of the oldest of the Norse Gods - a Bronze-age rock carving was
found in Scandinavia depicting a one-handed warrior - and his position
may well have originally superseded that of Odin. Tyr's rune is also
one of the oldest in the fu'ark, having survived virtually unchanged
from the earliest Bronze-age carvings. It represents all those qualities
associated with the God: strength, heroism, duty and responsibility.
But it also represents a deeper mystery - that of the wounded God. Like
Thurisaz, the pain of teiwaz focuses the attention and forces discipline.
However, in this case the effect is more conscious and the wound carries
a greater significance. Uruz has been confronted and bound, and the
lessons of teiwaz and hagalaz have been learned. This is the path of
the warrior.
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berkana : birch
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Phonetic equivalent: b
DIVINATORY MEANINGS:
fertility, health, new beginnings, growth, conception, plenty, clearance
MAGICAL USES:
healing (especially infections), achieving conception, making a fresh
start
ASSOCIATED MYTHS & DEITIES:
Frigg, Idunna
ANALYSIS:
The birch is fundamentally a symbol of fertility. There are numerous
instances in European folk tradition where birch twigs are used to bring
prosperity and encourage conception. They were fixed above a sweetheart's
door on May Day in Cheshire, England, and were placed in stables and
houses to promote fertility. On the continent, young men, women and
cattle were struck with birch twigs for this same purpose, and young
boys would be sent out to "beat the bounds of the parish" with branches
of birch to ensure prosperity in the coming year. Witches were said
to ride broomsticks made from birch, an image which probably originated
with fertility rituals where dancers would 'ride' brooms through the
fields, the height of their jumping indicating how high the grain should
grow.
If teiwaz is the fundamental male mystery, then berkana certainly
belongs to the women, for it represents the path of the mother, the
healer and the midwife, bringing new life after death just as the birch
puts out the first leaves after winter. While Tyr's wound is acquired
through his encounter with death, berkana's wound is that of menstruation,
and her ordeal is that of childbirth. The birch is abundant and all
providing, and heals through nourishment, cleansing and empathy.
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ehwaz : horse
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Phonetic equivalent: e (as in 'egg')
DIVINATORY MEANINGS:
transportation, motion, assistance, energy, power, communication,
will, recklessness
MAGICAL USES:
power, aiding in communication, transportation; to 'send' a spell
ASSOCIATED MYTHS & DEITIES:
Sleipnir, Freya's feathered cloak
ANALYSIS:
The horse has been a powerful symbol in nearly every culture and every
age. They were often believed to draw the sun about the heavens. Strong,
swift and loyal, their relationship with humankind is unique. They allow
us to perform tasks that would normally be beyond our strength, and
to travel distances that would normally be beyond our reach. The mare
symbolizes fertility and fecundity, and the stallion is the epitome
of virility and raw energy. It is an animal that never lost its power
by being domesticated.
Like the sun which is its counterpart, ehwaz represents energy and
motion. In this case, however, there is also respect for the source
of the power to be considered. This is not merely an impersonal energy
source - it is a living, breathing thing whose needs and desires must
be taken into consideration, rather than be simply used as a slave.
This is the power that was given by the God at algiz, and this rune
reminds us of our oath to only use it to help, never to harm. Like the
two-edged sword, the horse is a powerful tool, but must be carefully
controlled to avoid harming yourself or other. It is tempting to just
go barreling along recklessly, but to do so is to risk loosing that
power forever. This is the balance that must be achieved on the path
of pure magic.
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mannaz : man, humankind
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Phonetic equivalent: m
DIVINATORY MEANINGS:
significator, self, family, community, relationships, social concerns
MAGICAL USES:
to represent a specific person or group of people; to establish social
relationships
ASSOCIATED MYTHS & DEITIES:
Ask and Embla, Midgard
ANALYSIS:
In its broadest sense, mannaz represents all of humanity, and therefore
the entire realm of Midgard. In more practical terms, though, it is
those with whom we have personal connections, from our immediate circle
of family and friends to the wider community around us, reminding us
of our nature as social animals. It also represents our connection with
the Gods and with nature, through the two Norse myths of the creation
of humans; the first where they sprang from Ymir's body, and the second
in which they were created from two logs by a river. It takes the raw
energy of ehwaz and controls it through our social conscience, reminding
us of those we affect with our deeds both magical and mundane.
The rune itself resembles gebo with its joining of masculine and feminine
elements, but is much more complete. It is the entire web of human relationships,
with the self at the centre, which mirrors the web of fate explored
through Radio. But while that web was more or less fixed, this one is
mutable and alive. Past and present, male and female, self and other
- all opposites are joined here and made whole. Mannaz is our home,
and speaks for all those whose lives we touch when we use the gifts
we have been given through the runes
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laguz : water |
Phonetic equivalent: l
DIVINATORY MEANINGS:
emotions, fears, unconscious mind, things hidden, revelation, intuition,
counselling
MAGICAL USES:
enhancing psychic abilities, confronting fears, stabilizing mental or
emotional disorders, uncovering hidden things
ASSOCIATED MYTHS & DEITIES:
Njord, Midgard Serpent
ANALYSIS:
When most people think of water, they generally think of its more pleasant
associations - peacefulness, love, compassion, intuition, and the emotions
in general. However, we must remember that, to the Norse, water most often
meant the sea, and the sea was a terrifying, unpredictable place, home
of the Midgard serpent and the grave of many sailors. Laguz, then, should
be thought of in terms of the lighter and the darker sides of the element
of water. It speaks to our primal fears of the dark, the cold, and all
those terrifying things hidden deep within our subconscious minds.
Like eihwaz, which forced the journeyer to confront his or her mortality,
laguz makes us examine the underlying roots of our personality and behavior,
and allows us to modify those aspects which are hindering our spiritual
development. The understanding and wisdom gained through eihwaz and the
runes which followed have prepared the journeyer to face this darker side
(represented by laguz) and accept it as an integral part of their selves.
Laguz also prepares the person to take on the task of helping others through
this self-examination process, allowing them to empathize more strongly
and share their own experiences, making it (among other things) the rune
of the spiritual counselor.
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inguz : Ing |
Phonetic equivalent: ng
DIVINATORY MEANINGS:
work, productivity, bounty, groundedness, balance, connection with the
land
MAGICAL USES:
fertility, farming, growth, general health, balance
ASSOCIATED MYTHS & DEITIES:
Freya / Ing, Nerthus, Thor, the Vanir
ANALYSIS:
Ing is a Danish / Anglo-Saxon name for Freya, the God of agriculture
and fertility. Agriculture represents one of the first attempts by mankind
to control the environment, and the fertility of crops, animals and people
has always been the primary concern and religious focus of most Pagan
agrarian societies. From the earliest Sumerian accounts to modern-day
British folk custom, people throughout history have sought to ensure the
success of their crops.
The vast majority of people in Western society have lost all contact
and connection with the land and the process of growing things. The spiritual
consequences of this segregation from the earth have been disastrous,
since most people find it difficult to relate to deity in a purely man-made
environment. The shape of this rune can be likened to that of a field,
but its real significance may lie in its balance, representing the harmonious
relationship between ourselves and the four elements / four directions.
Inguz reminds us of that ancient connection between the Gods and the land,
and re-links (the real meaning of the word 'religion') us with our spiritual
natures through the realm of the physical. It is quite literally a grounding
rune, and by reintroducing us to the earth, it reconnects our bodies,
our minds and our spirits.
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Dagas : day
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Phonetic equivalent: d (pronounced as 'th', as in 'this')
DIVINATORY MEANINGS:
happiness, success, activity, a fulfilling lifestyle, satisfaction
MAGICAL USES:
to bring a positive outcome
ASSOCIATED MYTHS & DEITIES:
Sunna, Baldr, Nerthus, Yggdrasil
ANALYSIS:
This rune effectively marks the end of the third aett, leaving only
othila to complete the cycle. As in the previous two aetts, Thurgaz concludes
the third with light and hope. However, while wunjo represented earthly
glories and the sun, heavenly power, the day brings these two realms together,
bringing the more abstract light and power of sowulo 'down to earth' and
applying it to our everyday lives.
The shape of the rune itself denotes this kind of interconnection. It
is reminiscent of gebo, with its balance of masculine, feminine and the
four elements, but Dagas makes further connections to the celestial and
the realm of nature. Like inguz, it symbolizes harmony with one's environment.
but again takes it a step further, implying a harmonious relationship
with the spiritual environment as well. It is a bringing together of all
six cardinal points - the four compass directions, the celestial realm
above us where the Gods are thought to dwell; and that which is below
- all the spirits of the earth and of nature. All of these things are
balanced and integrated through Dagas and brought into our daily lives.
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Othila : property
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Phonetic equivalent: o
DIVINATORY MEANINGS:
property, land, inheritance, home, permanence, legacy, synthesis, sense
of belonging
MAGICAL USES:
for acquiring land or property, to complete a project, to strengthen
family ties
ASSOCIATED MYTHS & DEITIES:
the nine worlds of Yggdrasil
ANALYSIS:
In Othila, we find ourselves back in the seemingly mundane realm of
wealth and property, just like the first rune, fehu. However, while cattle
represented a more movable, transitory form of wealth, the land (as Mr.
O'Hara said) is the only thing that lasts. It can be passed on as a legacy,
but more importantly, it defines who we are by defining where we are.
It is, ultimately, our home.
This rune brings us to the seventh cardinal point, which is the centre.
It is the meeting place between Midgard and Asgard; between ourselves
and our Gods. It is the axis around which our lives revolve. The idea
of land or property is only a symbol - we must all find our own "centre"
(or, as Joseph Campbell termed it, our "bliss") to give our lives meaning,
and this is really the ultimate goal of the runic journey. Like Dorothy
in the Wizard of Oz, we discover that after all our travels and adventures,
we all eventually end up going home. But this doesn't mean that the travels
and adventures are pointless. On the contrary, it is only through those
explorations that our 'home' or spiritual centre can have any real meaning
for us. "There's no place like home" will have no power to send us there
unless we come to truly understand what and where our home is to us. Conversely,
none of the lessons learned along the way can be of any real use to us
unless we actively integrate them into our 'mundane' lives and find that
centre point to anchor them to. Othila not only completes the smaller
cycle of the third aett, but also brings us back to the beginning of the
futhark itself, only on a higher level. We may now begin the grand cycle
of the runic journey again.
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