ANSUZ
a
Aett: 1st Aett, Freyr’s Aett
Position within the Aett: 4
Position within the Futhark: 4
Meaning: Mouth or breath, god
Concept: Orlog
English Letter Value: A
Sound: AA
Pronunciation: Ahn-sooz
Other Names: Anglo-Saxon: Aesc
Armanen: Os
Germanic: Ansuz
Gothic: Ansus
Icelandic: Ass
Norwegian: As
Younger: Ass
Associations:
Polarity: Masculine
Element: Air
World: Asaheim
Galdr: Aaaaahnnnnnsoooooozzz
Rune Poem(s)
Norwegian Rune Rhyme
[Estuary] is the way of most journeys;
but the sheath is [that for] swords.
Icelandic Rune Poem
[Ase = Ódhinn] is the olden-father,
and Asgardhr’s chieftain,
and the leader of Valhöll.
Jupiter “point-leader”
Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem
[God/Mouth] is the chieftain
of all speech,
the mainstay of wisdom
and a comfort to the wise one,
for every noble warrior
hope and happiness.
Level One Meaning(s)
Ansuz represents the ability to communicate. Since the ability to communicate requires some intelligence and consciousness, ansuz is also associated with these concepts. The A-rune is also closely related to the ability to reason things out. It is not to be confused with the idea of gaining of knowledge, that is represented by the rune kenaz. One can have all the knowledge that there is and still not have the ability to reason out the concepts behind that knowledge.
Though ansuz is generally associated with oral communication, I believe that ansuz actually deals with all forms of communication. Though we believe that we only communicate through the spoken word, however, even when we are speaking with one another we also communicate with subtle body and facial movements. (My best friend and I often joke that we can speak volumes to each other with the simple raising of an eyebrow [funny thing is there is more truth than fiction in the statement].) Then there are the hand signals we so often use and the International and American Sign Languages for the deaf that would come under the auspices of ansuz.
Ansuz, along with raidho, is associated with the spread of ideas and therefore with the spread of lore, poetry and news; as well as, much later, the written word. Much of the ancient lore was spread by people known as skalds (which can be equated with the English bard). They would tell their tales through the medium of prose and poetry. Travelers, which included the skalds, would, as part of their keep for staying overnight at a farmhouse or someone’s home shared the tales they had learned and/or the news they had gathered on the road. Under this concept ansuz can be considered one of the runes governing the internet (along with raidho and kenaz).
This rune is also associated with the ability to foretell the future. Its link with Odin, the god of prophecy, gives it this ability. It can be used to help a runester see into the future, and into a persons psyche, when using the runes for divination. (From personal experience I can attest to the fact if you ask for the gift of reading the runes (or cards) it will be given. The side effect is that more and more information will be given, even when you want it to slow down.) Because of this tie to prophecy/divination ansuz would also be associated with Frigga, who could be considered a goddess of prophecy.
Ansuz represents the ability to boast and boast well. Boasting was apart of the Northern way of life, but not the way we think of boasting today. In their mind it was a way of announcing their achievements on the battlefield or the achievements of their ancestors; besides, its not really boasting if it is true. Thus ansuz can be considered the rune of sumble since boasting (as well as honoring) is a large part of this rite.
Associated Deity
Odin: See above
Braggi: Braggi is the god of boasts and poetry
Frigg: Frigg, the wife of Odin, was also known for being able to see the future. She was also known for her silence on what was to happen, keeping her knowledge to herself.
© 2005