January 7, 2010

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Berkana

Berkana is the letter B. It is probably one of the easier and most recognizable runes around. You might also recognize it from the logo of Bluetooth.

Anglo-Saxon Poem (from ragweedforge.com)
The birch bears no fruit; yet without seed it brings forth suckers,
for it is generated from its leaves.
Splendid are its branches and gloriously adorned
its lofty crown which reaches to the skies.

I did change this poem in one way. The name of the rune means Birch. Yet, the plant described in the anglo-saxon poem is not Birch, but a tree known as Poplar. In other rune poems, it is more aimed at the Birch. For reasons of keeping the word true, I have changed it.

Berkana (Birch) is a rune of healing, growth and comforting, nurturing power. Birch in some parts of Northern Europe, was even deified, and recognized as a goddess (Berchta) who was associated with healing, purification and childbirth. In the poem itself, as it describes the poplar tree, it points to the way plant propagates itself, by sending out suckers that will grow other trees, which will do the same. It is this generative, growing power that is most often associated with this rune.

Often times the shape of this rune is identified as being the Breasts of a Goddess, the breasts of course being the part that nourishes and sustains new born life. They are also eroticized as well. Breasts are also the place of comfort, perhaps extending from our vague memories of being fed as infants, that the common image of a mother, holding her child to her, often near her breasts, to both protect and comfort the child. Berkana can symbolize and evoke all of these things. The nourishing power bringing growth, sustaining life, and also protects and comforts life.

January 6, 2010

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Eohlx Reversed

Eohlx is the letter x or z.

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)
The Eolh-sedge is mostly to be found in a marsh;
it grows in the water and makes a ghastly wound,
covering with blood every warrior who touches it

After a momentary break, we have returned to Eohlx again. The general message of awareness, alertness and caution is called for, but today came the feeling that it is more focused on awareness. Being aware of your actions, your words, your environment, other people, their words, their actions, that car coming down the street that doesn’t seem to be slowing down, the odd smell coming from restaurant that you just entered for the first time, and the lack of customers, the millions of different clues, hints and signs that barrage our senses everyday, but are often ignored because so many people move about, lost in their thoughts, dreaming, hoping, fear, ranting, and then missing that sign that said “Watch out!” or the sheen to the newly washed floor which is slippery. The tired and upset look on the bosses face that reads “Don’t play games with me today, I am not in the mood.” Awareness of the self, awareness of others, awareness of your environment, it is this awareness that keeps things moving forward, keeps us feeling secure, and managing the mix ups and up sets of life.

January 5, 2010

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Eihwaz

Eihwaz is the vowel sound of the long I like “bite”. It actually does not get used often in runic inscriptions, and is often considered one of the more magical runes.

Anglo-saxon rune poem (from ragweedforge.com)

The yew is a tree with rough bark,
hard and fast in the earth, supported by its roots,a guardian of flame and a joy upon an estate.

Eihwaz means yew, a type of evergreen and a genus of tree that can be found in most of the northern hemisphere. It’s latin genus name is Taxus, because most of the tree is highly poisonous. It is also a very useful tree, as indicated in the poem (it burns well, lives long, has food for animals to eat (most berries by birds who are not affected by the poison). If you look up pictures online, it’s branches appear very twisty and gnarled, growing at different angles and changing direction. Yew wood also makes good material for constructing bows (for shooting arrows) and so yew trees were also favored for that reason as well. In Europe, most yew trees are found in graveyards, and so the yew is often associated with the dead, and the lands of the dead and so, the underworld.

In northern European lore about Yggdrasil, it is sometimes the Ash tree, sometimes a Yew tree. In my own personal work with it, Yggdrasil is both, and a few others. It is after all, the world tree. It can be many things. As yew tree, it is Yggdrasil as it connects to the underworld, but also Yggdrasil as the connector and ways between worlds. For that reason, it embodies the magical forces known as sympathy and contagion. Sympathy shows how plants, minerals, animal parts, symbols and other items share connections, and by working with one, you can influence the other. Contagion is the idea that things once in contact, maintain the link. It is, in a sense, the runic expression of that constant, and so it is a way to strengthen those bonds or weaken them.
It is in that same sense, a defense rune. In this case, it is the pushing apart of those connections, creating greater and greater distance. In a sense, creating that experience of being in the wrong place, a place that is incompatible with you, and ultimately a place that does not work well with who ever or whatever is being cast out from it.

January 4, 2010

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Eohlx reversed

Eohlx is the letter x or z.

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)
The Eolh-sedge is mostly to be found in a marsh;
it grows in the water and makes a ghastly wound,covering with blood every warrior who touches it

Eohlx or Algiz in the poem is a large marsh grass with sharp side that, as the poem suggests, give you nasty cuts if you try to hold it or walk through it. I don’t know about you, but it sounds like something ideal to put in a moat and surround a castle or fort or village with. It would certainly make approaching it unpleasant. The world eolh literally means elk, but I had the x on the end to remind myself of the letter it is used for.

Virtually all magical purposes of this rune point to protection. The reasons are various, as are they types of protection, but protection it is. I personally have used this rune for protection magic, in all sorts.. In the case where it shows itself upside down, it indicates a need for caution, for being alert and aware, and to avoid risk or over reaching yourself. This could partly be seen as your usual protection is gone or may not be reliable today, so you may need to rely on other things.

Mixed in there with protection has been seen the moon (probably because this rune proceeds the sun rune) the Bifrost bridge, valkyries (who would protect chosen warriors, but could also aid in sending warriors to Valhalla), elks, a holy sanctuary, and that is about all I can remember without pulling out everyone book and note on runes I have ever had. It is probably one of the most ubiquitous runes used, after Sowelo and Feoh possibly.

Rune of the Week and Day

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The rune for this week is Ýr reversed

Ýr is the letter Y. It resembles and upside down u, with a line or a tau inside connecting the sides.

The Anglo-Saxon Poem
The bow is a joy to princes and nobles
A reminder of worth looks well on a steed,
Quick in its course, fine equipment

Ýr translates as bow, or often yew bow, as bows for archery were often made from wood of the yew tree. The main quality that the poem indicates is the value of the bow, and how great and useful it is. The bow is of such value that is valued by “princes and nobles.” What I extract from this meaning is the use of tools and also of skill. An finely crafted tool is good to own, and will work well, but it is as only as good as the skill of the wielder ultimately. A finely crafted bow is made only be a very skilled artisan. To me, the esoteric meaning of this rune is in skill and ability. In the reversed form, it is the need for skill and ability, and opportunities to grow in skill and ability

The rune of the day is Laguz

Laguz is the letter L. It looks like half an arrow symbol.

The Anglo-Saxon Poem
Water to landsmen seems overly long
If they must go on the galloping ship
And the sea-waves scare them excessively
And the horse of the sea heeds not his bridle

Laguz translates as water, but also stream and sea. It is very related to water. The poem describes the dangerous journey over the ocean, as storms or rough waters could make travel by boat perilous and frightening. Having crossed the English Channel in a ship once myself, the surging sea waves, and the swaying of the vessel was very trying, and I was one of the few who managed to keep his stomach under control.

To me personally, the esoteric meaning of Laguz is about flow. Laguz shows where your life is moving or flowing. It indicates that his day will flow. Obstacles will be easily navigated, and rough spots will come and just as quickly pass through, as one continues to flow through their day. Any action you take will just move, and while the end may not be visible, ultimately you will reach it.

January 2, 2010

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The rune of the Day for January 2 is Kalk

Kalk is one of the Northumbrian Runes

It is the letter K. The version I use looks like an upside down eolhx rune, but with straight lines coming from the angled ends.

It’s name can mean several things, but the most commonly agreed to meaning is cup, chalice or grail.

There is no rune poem for Kalk.

Kalk, as the cup or grail, is the container that holds fluids that can be nourishing, intoxicating or poisonous. It can be the loving cup, a container that we pour or love and desires into, seeking their fulfillment as we then drink deep. It is bottomless, and can quench the thirst of the seeker.

It can be the cup that holds the mead of poetry and inspiration, drinking deep to bring ecstasy and enlightenment, as well as skill with words, song and persuasion.

It could be the sangreal as the Holy Grail, but also as the container of the royal blood, As the Holy Grail, it brings healing and rejuvenation. As the royal blood it raises up the power within, arousing the divine spark in humanity which makes miracles possible.

It can be all those things as the item of a quest, an goal or attainment, that as the focus of desire, helps to show how far along the path one has traveled, and also how far one has to go.

Runes of the day 365 Project

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This entry actually has 3 runes for it. There is a rune for the year, the month, and the day. The rune for the year will obviously hold for all of 2010. The rune of the month will change in February, and well, there will be two rune of the day entries today.

The Rune for 2010 is Gebo

Gebo or Gyfu is the Letter G. It looks like the latin X.

The Anglo Saxon Rune Poem (translation from Rune Games by M Osborne and S Longland) gives

Gifts, to men, is an ornament
Displaying worth – and to every outcast
Without any other is substance and honor.

Often times, a statement mentioned about this rune is the saying “A gift demands a gift”. The concept of giving in Northern Europe was a big deal. It was how lords kept the loyalty of their thanes, as all the wealth would be given to the king, and then redistributed to others. Often, metaphysically, it takes to the concept of offerings to spiritual entities, in exchange for their aid or blessings. Of course, that can also work backwards, that one makes offerings for aid and blessings already bestowed. In a practical sense it refers to contracts, oaths and agreements/commitments. In terms of a rune for a year, it shows that 2010 will be marked with many interactions with people and powers where exchanges, agreements and contracts are entered into and negotiated. Ultimately, anything can be gained, but there is a always a price. It may not be in gold or wealth, but is the cost worth the prize?

The Rune for January is Ehwaz Reversed

Ehwaz is the vowel e, as the short sound like the word get. It looks like the latin M. As it is revered, it would be upside down.

Anglo Saxon Rune Poem

The Horse before peers is princely joy
Stepping out proudly when spoken of
By wealthy riders all around him
And to one who’s unquiet he is ever a comfort

Ehwaz is the horse. Often in discussion of this rune will come up talk about the cultic value of the horse. One great example from sags literature is when a nyth-stav is stood in the earth, cursing a king and queen from the country, and the stav is topped with the skull of horse. Part of the Horse cult was also a cult of Divine Twins that are recognized in Northern Europe, often seen as Frey and Freya. While horses can be seen as fertility bringers (for the obvious reason) they are also known for their speed, strength, the bond that can be formed between a horse and his rider, and of course their value, as horses were often only the property of wealthy or nobility. Of course, the symbolism of the Horse is also all connected to this rune. For me personally, it is the idea of speed. So, in the case of this rune coming up reversed, it shows either the need or the result of being slowed down or moving slowly. Take your time. Don’t rush. Stop, be aware and let things move at their own pace, instead of trying to rush.

The Rune for January 1, 2010 is Mannaz

Mannaz is the letter M. It looks like an M but with a x connecting the two sides.

Anglo Saxon Rune Poem

A man in his gladness is dear to his kinsmen
Yet each must fail the friend he loves
For the lord in his judgement will allot
That unfortunate flesh to the earth
\Mannaz means man. It refers to men, and humanity in general, as opposed to males only. The rune poem itself suggests the bonds of humanity, friendship, partnership and connection, but also humanities frailness, that we must die eventually. While the word Lord is suggestive of the Christian god, it was also word commonly used before as reference to any divine figure, particularly the concept of a distant creator or divine figure, as the word of its from the language (dryghten) I believe is actually a gender neutral word, meaning it is neither male nor female. The power of man is his mind. So while Mannaz also refers to humanity, it also connects to the power of the mind, and mental faculties. It also draws upon the whole man, not just our material manifestation, but our complete spiritual connection, all of our spiritual anatomy, whether that be chakras, three selves, or other maps of spiritual components. Mannaz helps to bring them together in partnership, and awakening the whole person to their real identity, and from there, the human can move forward an enter into healthy partnership with other humans, whether it be romantic, familial, spiritual or economics.

Trees and Runes

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In the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc there are a few trees mentioned, mainly in the names of various runes. The most clearly mentioned are as follows.

Thorn
Yew
Birch
Oak
Ash

In the poem itself, Birch is often understood to be a form of poplar tree found in British Isles, but for the sake of simplicity, lets just say Birch.

In a sense, all of these trees could be seen as a different aspect of Yggdrasil or the world tree, especially in the context of the runes and their qualities described. The quality that I perceive in these trees is as follow.

Thorn – I identity Thorn/Thurisaz with the challenging and destructive side of the World Tree. The main identification comes from the Rune Poem where it is described as “harmful” and “exceedingly cruel”. In some light studying of Thorn trees (of which the whole family has been named Hawthorn) one of their qualities is to grow a fruit. Most of the trees, the fruit is either bitter or very sour, and needs to be conditioned in someway to become more palatable to people. One entry even indicated that in most cases, it was the fruit eaten only during the winter, when most other food stores were low or gone. The rune Thurisaz is identified with the Thurse or Giants and particularly the oldest Giants i.e. the Frost Giants (winter). It also works nicely in understanding the nature of the Giants. You cannot just reach out and grab them. They need to be approached carefully; otherwise they can wound you, and are exceedingly dangerous.

Yew – Yew can be seen in two runes. The main one is Ihwaz/Eoh, The 2nd one is the wood of yew trees, worked into a tool, the bow. This rune is found at ýr. As that rune is more related to humanity, I will overlook it now. In the Rune Poem, the many virtues of yew is extolled, but in the last line, the author describes the “deep roots” of the yew tree. My own impression of Eoh is that it connects to the Underworld, but also connects all worlds. Most Trees have a root system that mirrors its branches. If you look at a picture of the yew, its branches are very twisting and bent, with a lot of complexities. The root system mirrors this. In my own revelations about this, it shows the twisting roads that exist and connect all of existence. They can also lead you down into the underworld, but sometimes the paths themselves are dark, deep and forgotten. They are secret paths that can lead you between worlds, and even between locations. Yet, at the same time, it is a mighty tree, a good fuel for fire, and a joy to the home. Those qualities suggest something about its protective nature, which is often mentioned by authors about the Runes

Birch – Birch (and Poplar) are often one of the first trees to come back to life after the cold of winter. In most information about the end of the Ice Age, the first trees to grow as the glaciers receded were Birch trees. It is known for its ability to quickly repopulate open areas of land, even after fires and other destruction of local flora. It was also used as a tool to write on in many countries, where the thinly peeled birch bark could be removed and written upon, and it would last for a long time, because of the high resinous oil content of birch bark. In Birch, I see the nurturing and regenerative aspect of the World Tree.

Oak – Oaks are some of the most recognized and celebrated trees in Western Culture. Often times they are noted for their Strength and Endurance, and this is a theme which is found in the rune poem, as well as a source of food, although not for people directly. Their endurance is also tested, as the oak is made into boats that men would use to travel across the sea and oceans. I see the Oak and the rune Ac (which is pronounced similarly) as relating to the Trunk of the World tree, and its connection to the Middle World or Midgard.

Ash – The most commonly held tree in Northern European native spirituality, Ash is most common held to be the World Tree itself. I also value that idea, but find that Ash itself has a particular connection to the top most branches of the World Tree. Up in the shining skies is what Ash and its rune Aesc relate to. The first man was said to be made from an Ash tree, and the ash itself has many folkloric uses, from repelling snakes, to curing warts and other diseases. While Oak and Birch also have uses as woods in musical instruments, Ash is generally considered to produce a brighter tone and a more sustaining quality to sound produced using Ash wood.
It is also these woods that figure best in creation runic talismans, to carve and redden the runes into them, and are often described in the Galdrabok as wood to be used, with Oak and Ash being mentioned the most.