Never become so obsessed with the destination
that you forget to experience the journey
The Runes
This is a graphic intensive section so you may want to go get a cold drink or nice snack. sorry! But I do like my pretties!!
In the begining...there were pictures. One only has to read about the cave paintings to see that. Out of the paintings came the desire to preserve what was learned. The pictures would become more like line drawings which would be reduced to simple lines. To preserve ones heretige would become the impetus of cultures to write down important learnings and truth, but ironicly, because it was sacred, the writings themselves would become limited to those of the religious order. Hence, the Druids would use the Greek language for everyday affairs, and the runic writen language for sacred purposes such as divining or casting magick.
The Germanic peoples brought the Runes into Europe where they were used by the Norse peoples. They were used until about 300 years ago when the last of the great RuneMasters died, leaving no one who knew how to interpret or use this cryptic language. The Norse (or Vikings) believed the Runes to come from Odin Himself. Odin hung Himself, upside down, on The Tree of Life (Yggdrasil) for seven days to find these magickal letters. On the seventh day He looked down into the pool of water beneath Him and plucked out the letters. The Norse believed in active magick, and the Runes would go on to become an active magickal language. They would be carved into blades for strength, or carried to allow the wearer to tap into the glyphs natural energies. With the passing of the mighty Vikings, the Celtic peoples were the next great civilization to adopt the Runes. Blacksmiths would be trained in the usage of the Runes, and would incorporate them into the weapons and armour they created. Because of this, blacksmiths would be honored and revered as keepers of great magick and skill. Both women and men could become RuneMasters, those with the gift of casting and interpreting runes. They would travel and be welcomed with gifts, food and shelter when they reached populated areas. They would be sought to cast natal charts or for warfare, and were held in the highest regard. The Druids also used the Runes, although for mostly magickal purposes. Most of their knowledge depended upon oral passage, but enough information exists to show the great teachers did use the glyphs.
Today's Runes are pretty much a revial effort. With the Christian influences, most Pagan religions went underground, and since most teachings were oral...much was lost. Runic inscriptions do still exist and provide us with a wonderful look into this ancient magickal language. We must thank the Asatru faith (which follows the old Viking/Norse religion) for keeping the Rune useage alive and kicking, but we must also keep in mind that some of these translations are modern in effect. The runes have been listed as having as many as 36 glyphs and as few as 16, with one..the void..being considered a new modern addition. The Runes are read right to left, and are often divided into three sets..Freyr's Eight...Hagal's Eight... and Tyr's Eight. Of these...
Freyr's Eight has: Fehu, Uruz, Thurisaz, Ansuz, Raido, Kano, Gebo and Wunjo
Hagal's Eight has: Hagalaz, Nauthiz, Isa, Jera, Eihwaz, Perth, Algiz, and Sowelu
Tyr's Eight has: Teiwaz, Berkana, Ehwaz, Mannaz, Laguz, Inguz, Othila and Dagaz
Runes can be used for spreads (much like the Tarot) or to help clarify another spread. In the morning, pull one from its pouch and see if it can guide you through your day. They can be carved into candles or magickal tools and take an active part of your magikal life, or be worn as a pendant to remind you of your magickal nature. They can be made from clay, stones or paper, and can be made by you just as well as by a professional rune maker. They can also be made as cards (much like the Tarot) and shuffled. Anyway used, Runes are meant to be active in nature and not stuffed away into ones closet for that "rainy day". They are also not meant to be the catch all solution for your life, but be used as a guide for your innerself so you can solve your own problems. Give them a try, and you will not be disappointed.
Algiz
Element: Fire
Also named: Elhaz, Eohl
Represents: protection, purifing, hunting, life, active defense
Ansuz
Element: Air
Also named: Os
Represents: signals, divine power, blessings, good fortune, a God, wisdom and magick
Berkana
Element: (not found)
Also named: Beorc
Represents: growth, a Goddess, growth, renewal, sustenance, wife/woman,liberator
Calc
Element: Water
Also named: (no other names found)
Represents: transformation, personal wisdom, to share wisdom
Cweord
Element: Fire
Also named: (no others found)
Represents: the sword, to preserve, to defend, enforcement, "might make right"
Dagaz
Element: Spirit
Also named: Daeg
Represents: exposure, daylight, safety, clarity, balance, breakthrough in self awareness
Ehwaz
Element: Air
Also named: Ehwo
Represents: progres, movement, harmony, loyalty, trust, dignity, partnership
Eihwaz
Element: Air
Also named: Eoh
Represents: defense, new perspectives, rebound/flexability, other relms, life or death, ghosts
Fehu
Element: Earth
Also named: (no other names found)
Represents: possessions, money, assets, wealth, energy, fertility
Gar
Element: Air
Also named: (none found)
Represents: cast forth ideas, philosophies, magick thought, perception, power of communication
Gebo
Element: Earth
Also named: Gyfu
Represents: partnership, giving, gifts, exchange, sex, blending, magickal force, sacred gifts of the divine force
Hagalaz
Element: Fire
Also named: Haegl, Haegel
Represents: disruption, accident, sudden change, bad weather, framework, evolution
Inguz
Element: Water and Spirit
Also named: Ingwaz
Represents: fertility, good luck, protection, man/husband, gestation, determination, difficulties resolved
Isa
Element: Water
Also named: (no other names found)
Represents: standstill, freezing, blockage, concentration, ego, calm, inaction, coldness, winter
Jera
Element: Earth
Also named: (no other names found)
Represents: harvest, reward, year cycles, payment, abundance, rewards or penalties for actions
Kano
Element: Air
Also named: Keno, Kaunaz,Kenaz
Represents: openings, knowledge, inner guidance, new beginnings, new self images, beacon, controlled energy, regeneration
Laguz
Element: Water
Also named: Lagu
Represents: flow, healing, intuitive messages, mystery, sea, water, reorganization, depths, passage, growth
Mannaz
Element: Fire
Also named: Mann
Represents: the self, personal responsibility, mankind, intelligence, strengths, weaknesses, humanity
Nauthiz
Element: (none found)
Also named: Naudhiz
Represents: need, restraint, constraint, distress, constriction, poverty, pressure, resistance, deliverance
Othila
Element: Water
Also named: Ethel, Othalaz, Othala
Represents: home, land, house, separation, wisdom of personal retreats, family groups, customs, heritage, power, freedom
Perth
Element: Water
Also named: Peord, Perthro
Represents: initiation, gateways to wisdom, cycles of transformation, chance, inner changes, surprise, fate, destiny, The Norns, pregnancy
Raido
Element: Earth
Also named: Rad
Represents: travel, communication, journey, progress, explorations, message, rhythm
Sowolu
Element: (none found)
Also named: Sowulu, Sowelu, Sigel, Sowilu
Represents: wholeness, sacred power at its fullest, the sun, victory, warmth, success, will
Stan
Element: Earth
Also named: (none found)
Represents: stone, structure, sacred wisdom, pracicality, prosperous, harvest the heritage of Nature
Teiwaz
Element: Fire
Also named: Tyr, Tiwaz
Represents: warrior, justice, conquest, victory, honor, self-sacrifice
Thurisaz
Element: Spirit
Also named: Thurisa, Thorn, Thuraz
Represents: gateway, personal choice, work to be done, pain, harm, hostility, fire, chaos
Uruz
Element: Fire
Also named: Ur
Represents: strength, independance, essential element of a warrior, stability, health, new beginnings
Void
Element: (none found. This rune is regarded as a new modern rune. It is blank, and not always recognized as belonging)
Also named: Odin
Represents: the unknowable, up to you to decide, change
Wunjo
Element: Air
Also named: Wynn
Represents: happiness, joy, harmony, satisfaction, good news, ecstasy, unity, well being, perfection, battle fought and won, peacefullness
To flip through the pages of my BOS faster...
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Brightest of Blessings