HAGALAZ
H
Aett: 2nd Aett, Hagall’s Aett
Position within the Aett: 1
Position within the Futhark: 9
Meaning: Hail, “The Past”
Concept: Wyrd
English Letter Value: H
Sound: H
Pronunciation: Hah-gah-laz
Other Names: Anglo-Saxon: Haegl
Armanen: Hagal
Germanic: Hagalaz
Gothic: Hagl
Icelandic: Hagall
Norwegian: Hagl
Younger: Hagall
Associations:
Polarity: Neutral
Element: Ice
World: Niflheim
Galdr: Haaahgaaahlaaaahzzzz
Rune Poem(s)
Norwegian Rune Rhyme
[Hail] is the coldest of grains;
Christ1 shaped the world in ancient times
Icelandic Rune Poem
[Hail] is a cold grain;
and a shower of sleet,
and the sickness [destroyer] of snakes.
hail “battle-leader”
Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem
[Hail] is the whitest of grains,
it comes from high in heaven
showers of wind hurl it
then it turns to water.
1 Originally Hroptr (the Hidden One [= Ódhinn]). The combination hr was pronounced “kr” in ON, thus, the alliteration is preserved.
Level One Meaning
The traditional meaning of this rune is hail; but, as we will see, it is also associated with the concept of the past. It is also the first rune dealing with the Northern concept of wyrd (the purpose given to the bings of all the worlds [more on that later]).
With in the rune’s meaning of “hail” comes the association with destruction. Unlike our normal views of destruction (which is normally negative), hagalaz represent both the positive and the negative aspects of destruction. To the farmers, hail is normally considered a bad thing because it has a tendency to destroy their crops; especially when the young, tender shoots are just rising up out of the soil; the negative aspect of destruction. However, if the hail storm comes before the crop has broken through the ground, it can kill off the young blades of grass, harmful insects and bring life giving water to the crops; the positive aspect of destruction. It is within the concept of hail that we find the idea of the “two-edged sword”; the concept of a item or force that not only harms an opponent but also harms the wielder as well. As we will see, throughout this aett each rune deals with this concept, as well as the struggle between life and death (which is a function of and an association with wyrd; which is the overall meaning of this aett).
The h-rune is also associated with unavoidable unpleasantness. The energies of this rune cannot be controlled by humans. Hail is a force of nature, untamed and untamable. These energies can be channeled for our use, but these energies are beyond the human ability to contain and control. In other words, hail is very much like the waters of a raging river. You can channel them away from doing any damage to humans or human habitation, but you can’t stop, start or bring them under human control. If there is no channel for the force of this rune, then the results are unavoidable and can be quite nasty.
Hagalaz is also associated with the concept of life and death (as are most of the runes of this aett). The idea of life and death that the h-rune represents also gives us its association with disruption. The destruction that this rune can bring, whether it is a crop failure or the late growth of a field of grass for herds to graze on, would also bring on a major disruption in the normal flow of life for the Northern peoples; especially considering the dependance that they had on their crops or herds, coupled with the short growing season of the north.
Hagalaz is also associated with the different bridges that lead to the lands of the dead. It is associated with the Rainbow Bridge, Bifrost, which leads from the realm of Midgard to the realms of the Gods (Vanaheim, Asaheim, and Alfheim) where the chosen are taken when they have died with great honor (usually on the battlefield). This makes hagalaz associated with the Valkyries.
The Valkyries are the handmaidens of Freyja who bring the chosen slain to Asgard (to be divided between Freyja and Odin, with Freyja having first choice). They are also the protectors of the living and in this aspect they are very much like the Christian concept of the Guardian Angel (only with a warrior’s attitude instead). Today, because we have fewer chances to die in battle, those who bring great honor to themselves, their family, or their country through their special talents (orlog) have the chance to be taken to Asgard by the Valkyrie.
On the other hand, those who did not die in battle (or with great honor) were sent to Helheim across the other bridge associated with the land of the dead; the Bridge of Sighs. Helheim (Hell) is not the land of the damned or land of eternal punishment as it is thought of by the Christians. Instead, compared to Asaheim, it was a rather boring place in the after life. Unlike Asgard, Helheim didn’t have the riotous parties or the endless, bloody battles. But, it really wasn’t all that bad a place to “live”. Ruled by Hella, Helheim was also the place from which you could be reincarnated to try again for the glory that would gain you entrance to Asgard or to help your family with their needs, wyrd and hamingja.
Associated Diety(ies)
Urd: See above. She is also known as Origin in one translation of the Voluspa.
Frigga: See above.
Hella: Also see above. Also known as Hel, after the realm she was given by Odin and over which she rules.
© 2005