KENAZ
Aett: 1st Aett, Freyr’s Aett
Position within the Aett: 6
Position within the Futhark: 6
Meaning: Torch
Concept: Orlog
English Letter Value: K
Sound: K
Pronunciation: Ken-az
Other Names: Anglo-Saxon: Cen
Armanen: Ka
Germanic: Kenaz
Gothic: Kusma
Icelandic: Kaun
Norwegian: Kaun
Younger: Kaun
Associations:
Polarity: Both
Element: Iron/Wood
World: Svartalfheim
Galdr: Keeennnnaaaaazzzz
Rune Poem(s)
Norwegian Rune Rhyme
[Sore] is the curse of children;
grief makes a man pale.
Icelandic Rune Poem
[Sore] is the bale of children;
and a scourge,
and the house of rotten flesh
whip “king” = descendant of good kin
Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem
[Torch] is to every living person
known by its fire,
it is clear and bright
it usually burns
when th athlings
rest inside the halls.
Level One Meaning(s)
Kenaz is the rune of light for its name means torch. It is associated with the torches that were made by the ancients of northern Europe from the pine tree. Because of the resin that is within the pine tree a torch made from pine wood would burn longer than ordinary wood. The idea of the use of the torch is still with us even today. What we call a flashlight in America is still called a torch in England. From this association we can surmise that kenaz can be associated with all forms of artificial light sources; whether that light source is from a house hold lightbulb, a flashlight or even a search light they are a part of the power of kenaz.
Kenaz also means “to know” (as in the old Scottish word ken). It also means “to be able to”. These meanings are closely related to the learning process. It is not just associated with a student, the one trying to learn, but it is also associated with the teacher, the one that is passing on knowledge that they have gained from the ones who have taught them and the things that life has taught them as well. The K-rune is also associated with the old practice of apprenticeship; where a skilled craftsman takes on a youngster and teaches him his trade. This makes kenaz associated with the old saying of “passing on the torch from one generation to the next.
This rune, like ansuz, is a rune of inspiration. This inspiration is not in a poetical or musical sense. Rather it is the rune of inspiration for the craftsman or the artist. This type of inspiration, coupled with kenaz’s nature for learning, brings not just an artistic revelation but also enlightenment (which we also call an epiphany). That blinding flash of insight that comes, seemingly, out of nowhere.
The K-rune’s element is that of fire. Unlike fehu, kenaz’s is a controlled fire. One that is created by man for the benefit of man. This association includes the torch, the forge, the hearth fire and the campfire. All are “tools” of the creation or transformation (i.e.: transforming darkness into light [the torch, campfire and, to some extent, the forge or hearth]; transforming ore into a usable form [the forge]; creating things of beauty [again the forge]; cooking [the hearth]; etc.). Because of this, in modern terms, kenaz would be intimately associated with the blowtorch, the wielder’s torch, the kiln, the blast furnace, and even the gas range (or range top). As well as any other modern work or artistic tool that uses a flame to create or transform an item.
Kenaz is also the transformational fire of the funeral pyre. In this case, it tranforms the dead from flesh and blood into spirit and, using the smoke, to rise to upper realms of Vanaheim, Asgard, or Alfheim. Along this line of thinking is that kenaz is also the rune of the alter fire (or harrow fire). It is upon the altar that the sacrifices, in the form of burnt offerings, to the gods were made. The burning transformed the sacrifice into a form that the gods liked. And like the funeral pyre, it was the smoke of the fire that took that sacrifice upwards to the gods.
On a more esoteric level, kenaz is the rune of journeys. Not the physical journeys like those associated with raidho. These are the journeys to the other realms, the eight other lands of the Norse world view. It will light the way in the darker realms of the underworlds of Niflheim, Helheim, and, if you are brave enough to go there, Niflhel. It can also keep you warm in the lands of Niflheim, Niflhel and Jotunheim. The final use of the flames of kenaz in these types of journeys is that it can light your path both to and from these other worlds.
Associated Deity(ies)
Odin: Odin is closely related to this rune on many different levels. One of them is due to his insatiable thirst for knowledge. I believe that even if he didn’t have the goal of delaying Ragnarok for as long as possible, he would have searched the worlds for new knowledge anyway. I believe that not only did he have an insatiable thirst for knowledge, but also an insatiable curiosity (which has also been reflected in the nature of the ancient Germanic peoples). Another association with Odin is due to the fact that he was a teacher of some of the knowledge he had gained in his travels, especially the runes themselves. He was the one that taught the rest of the Aesir the secrets of the runes which were later taught to mankind (see Heimdal).
Freyja: Freyja is a Vanic goddess of magic, especially feminine magic (seidh). Odin needed to learn this magic in his quest to put off the day of Ragnarok and Freyja taught him her secrets. As a teacher she can be associated with the K-rune.
Heimdal: According to the Lay of Rig (Rigsthula) Heimdal taught the secret of the runes to one of his decedents, Kon. Kon then passed this information on to his people and thus it spread to the rest of mankind. (Again, the teaching aspect of the kenaz rune.)
Mimir: Mimir was the wisest of the Aesir and, according to some sources, the uncle to Odin. He was traded to the Vanir as one of the war hostages and was then killed by them via beheading. Odin, in order to preserve the knowledge and wisdom of Mimir, stuffed the head with special herbs and, through his magic, made it live again. Odin then placed Mimir’s head near Mimir’s well so that he could be consulted by the Aesir easily. It was at Mimir’s well that Odin sacrificed his eye Mimir to gain the knowledge and wisdom that was apart of the magic of Mimir’s well.
Kvasir: According to one tradition Kvasir was created by the saliva of both the Vanir and the Aesir. According to this tradition Kvasir was a mortal and very wise (the other tradition held that Kvasir was the wisest of the Vanir). After Kvasir’s birthing, he was one of the war hostages that the Aesir received from the Vanir. He would travel the country side and used his wisdom to help others in need. One day, while he was on the road, he was murdered. His body was returned to Asgard and his blood, mixed with honey, was made into a mead. This mead, when drank, gave the drinker both inspiration and enlightenment.
Weyland: Weyland is the blacksmith of the gods. He is, therefore, associated with the transformational powers of the forge and therefore with the transformational power of kenaz.
The Dwarves: The dwarves are known throughout the nine worlds of the ancient world of the Norse as master craftsmen. They were able to take raw materials and make the best weapons, jewelry, and magical items of all sorts. These came from deep underground where torches and forges were in constant use.
© 2005