Monthly Archives: March 2010

March 31, 2010 – Aethel

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Aethel

Aethel is the a dipthong but generally has an “e” sound

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)

An estate is very dear to every man,
if he can enjoy there in his housewhatever is right and proper in constant prosperity

Aethel (which in this spelling is the Anglo-Saxon word noble, other spellings are ethel [estate] and othal[heritage]) is a rune that is about land, family and ancestry, home and inheritance. Generally when it appears in a reading, it indicates a need to look to ones home and to work within it. All things might be going well, and so now is the time to enjoy it and appreciate it.

In searching for the vowel sound of this rune, I had to google a few times, as the different spellings have different meanings. I did find some interesting things. Aethel was the popular first name for several early kings of England, with each son having a name that started with Aethel. As ethel/othal it general indicates the rune, as that is the name most commonly accepted with it. It has a few associations, some not so pleasant (Neo Nazi movements, White Power movements and other lamentable ideologies). It’s sound is apparently a dipthong from the Greek language that has survived in English, French and German, although used differently within each language. In English, it is often written out as “oe” while American English has just removed the “o” completely (an example from Wikipedia was foederal, which is now federal).

The image of the rune, in a stylized version is called the trollcross (swedishtrollkors) which was used as a pendant and an image to protect valuable objects. This of course makes a great deal of sense in the meaning of the word as heritage, estate and noble, things of great and enduring value.
In rune inscriptions, placing this rune before a name on an object, indicates that the object belongs to that person. While the usage seems ordinary, to me it seems somewhat magical, as it would quickly indicate a thief if they were caught carrying an item with another person’s name on it.

March 30, 2010 – Laguz

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Laguz

Laguz is the letter L

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)

The ocean seems interminable to men,
if they venture on the rolling barkand the waves of the sea terrify themand the courser of the deep heed not its bridle
Laguz is the ocean or in other intepretations, water, rivers and lakes. As the meanings indicate, it has a strong watery influence from this rune, an influence of flowing and responding to what is flowing around you. Sometimes that flow is dangerous, such as when a ship is caught in a storm or current, and the lives of those aboard maybe lost. Other times the flow is beneficial, like the river current aiding boats speed down the river. Not all flows are obvious, and in learning how to work with them, you can choose which flows to follow and move with, and what flows to leave behind or that need to be struggled with until you reach the right place to change, move or relax. Go with the flow, but which flow will you go with?

March 29, 2010 – Thurisaz reversed

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Thurisaz reversed

Thurisaz is the sound “th”

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)

The thorn is exceedingly sharp,
an evil thing for any knight to touch,uncommonly severe on all who sit among them.
The thorn reversed sits with us today, showing the trials and tribulations of others, while we sit protected in the briar patch. For now, we have found a secure place amidst the thorns, where they aren’t pricking and poking us, so we can have a moment of rest, before you struggle across the path of thorns, which is of course, life itself. In one of the small books by Draja Micharaic (I think it’s spiritual cleansing) he describes what harmful magic by a powerful worker would be like. It would be like nothing. A life where everything happens without difficulty or challenge, because the target has become the pawn, puppet and servant of the worker utterly, and so everything goes forward as the worker plans for the person without difficulty. That is what a true curse is like. Why? Because a life of liberty and responsibility will always have difficulties and challenges, every rose has its thorn. Some days are just less thorn ladened then others.

March 28, 2010 – Qweorth

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Qweorth

Qweorth is the letter Q

Qweorth is one of the Northumbrian runes. There is no rune poem from qweorth.

It’s name’s exact meaning is a mystery, but often qweorth is translated as “fire-twirl” the sacred two ended torch that is used to re-light the sacred fire when the year turns. Because of that association, it is symbolic of a sacred fire, or holy fire, and also the pure aspects of fire itself, both as an act of creation and destruction. Destruction as expressed as the sacred fire used to light funeral pyres, or as a place that offerings are given, consumed and released to the Gods.

When qweorth appears in a reading, expect rapid change and transformation, physical spiritual and otherwise. It is one of the fire runes that shows great heat and intensity. While Sowelo can be a sunny day, Qweorth is the heatwave, that scorches and burns. In some practices, heat and fire is the force that puts things into action, gets things moving towards your desired goal, and often does it quickly. It might be that a fire is being lit underneath you to get you moving forward, either for something you want, or because someone wants you out of their way.

March 28 ~ April 3 – Inguz

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Inguz

Inguz is the suffix –ing

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)

Ing was first seen by men among the East-Danes,
till, followed by his chariot,he departed eastwards over the waves.So the Heardingas named the hero

A second week of Inguz? Oh my! I am not sure I can survive it. But seriously the feeling about Inguz this week is one of the alternate meanings. It is more about being a receptable and container that allows the forces within to gestate, brew and develop. When they have finally reached their point of readiness, it will be released and spring forth. Like a sprouting seed, like a child reaching puberty, like the act of orgasmic ejaculation, the forces contained within are explode forth, bringing change and transformation. But first the forces must hold, be still and develop until the right time.

March 27, 2010 – Aesc

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Aesc

Aesc is a unique vowel to the original anglo-saxon language. It has the sound “ae”

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)

The ash is exceedingly high and precious to men.
With its sturdy trunk it offers a stubborn resistance,though attacked by many a man
Aesc, the Ash tree, is the rune of the upper world, as some people might call Asgard. Personally, I just think of it as the top most branches of Yggdrasil. Like being at the top of any tree, there is more light present, and the height gives one perspective, a greater view of the land and world around them. It is an inspired perspective, which can lead to new thoughts and ideas, and also transform old information, because it helps to connect the pieces together. It can be a little intense, and sometimes the information that comes seems unrelated or obscure, but it usually falls into place after some time. So take a deep breath, look around and open see the bigger picture.

March 26, 2010 – Ear reversed

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Ear reversed

Ear is the sound “ea”

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)

The grave is horrible to every knight,
when the corpse quickly begins to cooland is laid in the bosom of the dark earth.Prosperity declines, happiness passes awayand covenants are broken.
Ear reversed is the rune of slowing or stopping the processes of decay, erosion and entropy. While in some cases this might be beneficial, if something is fall apart faster then it needs to, but in other cases, it is more indicative of a resistance or holding back from making necessary changes. It might also just be the necessity to release something whose time has come, to let the structure that supported it, but also contained it to fall away, so what was within can go, and thrive and express life.

March 25, 2010 – Ehwaz

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Ehwaz

Ehwaz is the short e sound like “get”

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)

The horse is a joy to princes in the presence of warriors.
A steed in the pride of its hoofs,when rich men on horseback bandy words about it;and it is ever a source of comfort to the restless.

Ehwaz (Horse) is the rune of speed, movement and action. Today is not about sitting still, but getting up and doing things. It doesn’t necessarily matter what, just do it!!!

March 24, 2010 – Peorth

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Peorth

Peorth is the letter P

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)

Peorth is a source of recreation and amusement to the great,
(the meter of the poem indicates a missing section here), where warriors sit
drinking blithely together in the banqueting-hall

Peorth is one of those runes whose translation is unclear. Only from the poem itself can there be a guess as to it’s meaning.

For me, my hypothesis is that it describes the afterlife. Peorth is to me a rune of the Dead. It is also a rune of Luck and Chance, for no one really knows their destination after death, and we could just as well end up a place we don’t want to be, as well as the place we hope for.

Today especially feels more connected to luck and fortune then anything else to me. Wednesday is generally the day I engage in magic for general good luck. But Peorth is one of those runes that rarely appears for me, so when it does, it tells me that things are loose and light, and it’s up to me to make the best of them. Maybe the bones will fall in my favor, either as benevolent reading, or as lucky 7 or 11.

March 23, 2010 – Inguz

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Inguz

Inguz is the suffix –ing

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)

Ing was first seen by men among the East-Danes,
till, followed by his chariot,he departed eastwards over the waves.So the Heardingas named the hero.

Again, Inguz makes it’s appearance this week, now as the rune of the day. So far my intuition about the erotic and sexual nature of Inguz has been strongly confirmed. I think something that should be explained is that the erotic nature of Inguz applied to male homosexuality. Thus, one should now understand that I am male homosexual, or homophile or queer, which is the terminology I prefer. A facet of pre-christian culture which is often overlooked by many, especially within runic information, although there is a very direct connection made within the poem Lokasenna, in which Loki visits the gods while Odhinn is throwing a party, a party which Loki did not receive an invite to. He crashes the party though, and proceeds to insult every god that challenges him, giving away their secrets and revealing their foibles and flaws. When Odhinn and Loki get into this argument, they both point out that they have taken on female forms and acted as women, Loki when he seduced a Jotun’s horse away, Odhinn to learn more in the knowledge and arts of women, particularly their magical arts, which is often perceived as being Seid.
Freyr, as the Vanic god of virility and grain, as well as the counterpart to his sister Freya, a goddess of Love, fertility and sexuality, of course complement each other quite well. As Freyr also embodies forbidden or difficult love because of his union with a Jotun woman, is also no stranger to the “love that dare not speak it’s name.” Inguz also shares in this essence, and so it’s power is well suited to male homophiles, and also speaking to the mysteries of the male homophile.