WUNJO
W
Aett: 1st Aett, Freyr’s Aett
Position within the Aett: 8
Position within the Futhark: 8
Meaning: Joy
Concept: Orlog
English Letter Value: W
Sound: V
Pronunciation: Voon-yoh
Other Names: Anglo-Saxon: Wynn
Armanen: None
Germanic: Wunjo
Gothic: Winja
Icelandic: Vin
Norwegian: Wynn
Younger: None
Associations:
Polarity: Both
Element: Salt
World: Helheim
Galdr: Voooooonyooooooh
Rune Poem(s)
Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem
[Joy] is had
by the one who knows few troubles
pains and sorrows,
and to him who himself has
power and blessedness,
and a good enough house.
Level One Meaning(s)
The w-rune has the meaning of joy. This includes such concepts as the joy found when feasting with good friends, comrades, or close family; the joy and ecstasy found after making love, the joy that can be found in the simplest things, especially when viewed for the first time by the innocents like children (which is quite infectious), etc. These things, and many more, are what makes human existence both bearable and worth living. It is through wunjo that the concepts of ansuz, raidho and kennaz become worth pursuing and doing because of the joy it brings to the “soul” of mankind. And it is the sharing of this joy with others that brings us the most joy. As it says in the Havamal (verse 47):
Young was I once, and wandered alone,
And nought of the road I knew;
Rich did I feel | when a comrade I found,
For man is man's delight.
[BELLOWS TRANSLATION]
I’m sure that most of us hove found that even the “lone wolf” type personality needs, at least occasionally, the company of others. (I know this to be true personally. Once I considered myself to be a “lone wolf”. My relationship with my first wife, both before the wedding and after, got me out and among people. I eventually learned to enjoy the company of others. Although there are still times that I prefer to be alone, I have found my greatest joy when I’m with others of a like mind. Especially when they enjoy the simple and the silliest things in life.)
According to one source (Jacob Grim), wunjo is also associated with perfection. It can, also, be associated with the striving for such perfection. Though perfection can never be attained, it is a very worth while goal to strive for. On the other hand, the dark side of this meaning is striving for perfection by the extreme perfectionist. To them, perfection is not just a goal to strive for, it is a goal that can be achieved. They expect it to be attained by not just themselves, but by everyone else. They are in a constant state of disappointment since on one can live up to their ideals, not even themselves. This leads these people down the path to self-destruction and away from the joys that mistakes can bring and the simple pleasures that life can bring.
Wunjo, as a giver of joy, is also associated with the granting of wishes. One of the aspects of Odin is that of Oski (which means “fulfiller of wishes”). Vestiges of this aspect of Odin is as the bearer of gifts and the fulfiller of wishes can still be found in Northern European countries in the Feast of St. Nicholas, which is still celebrated on Dec. 6. Until fairly recently this feast was one of the most popular and many of the attributes that are associated with St. Nicholas today were originally those that the peoples of the north attributed to Odin. These included the giving of gifts and fulfilling of the wishes of children during Yuletide. Odin, and Holda, were associated with children long before Odin’s reputation as a war god took dominance during the “Viking Age”. In the past an unwanted child (unusually due to potentially fatal birth defects) was left exposed at a crossroads and was considered the property of Odin, or Holda, who they knew would take them in to join their retinues.
The w-rune, like gebo, is an excellent rune for bonding a group together who share the same ideals. It helps to generate a group harmony and enhance a cooperative effort. With its association with joyousness, it is an excellent rune for genuine friendship and comradery between individuals and between groups (which enhances joy). Along with this also comes the association, like with gebo, with marriages and with the joy that such a relationship can bring in the terms of harmony, domestic bliss and a happy household (especially when children are concerned).
I should also be noted that, like all the runes, there are dark aspects to wunjo. These include such things as depression, despair, apathy and hopelessness. These dark aspects can be brought on by ones present position in life (being poor, illness, etc.), the loss of possessions, or even the loss of a loved one. Also, surprisingly enough, these associations can be brought on by excessive joy. Excessive joy, which is also a dark aspect of the w-rune, can bring on such negative aspects a debauchery, drunkenness or even a dependance on drugs to keep that feeling of extreme joy at a constant level. Such extremes of joy, both the “negative” and the “positive”, are killers of both the mind and the soul; and, eventually, the body (since the three are interconnected). The human psyche, and the body as well, is not designed to live in an absolute and constant state of “negative” or “positive” joy and will, eventually, self-destruct. In this case, wunjo can be considered a warning of the dangers that are hidden within being joyful and trying to avoid the ups and downs that are ever present in life.
Associated Deity(ies)
Odin: See above.
Villi and Ve: As the giver of one of the gifts that let us know joy.
Frigga: In her association as a good, faithful and dutiful wife. A helper to take some of the load off her husband; when in balance, such a relationship is very joyful. Frigga is also considered the patroness of all domestic arts.
Skirnir: Skirnir was the messenger for, and servant to, Freyr to the giantess Gerdr. Skirnir wooed the reluctant giantess for Freyr; first by presenting her with gifts, then by threatening her with destruction to overcome her resistence. In the end, they all were able to know joy. Skirnir because of a job well done for someone he loved and for Freyr and Gerdr as spouses.
© 2005
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