"You're here no matter what." ~The Universe

We all walk around loving peace and hating war.  We complain about people's aggression towards us and to others.  We complain about nations rising against other nations.  We see people mistreating animals and children, the innocent and it angers us.  Fueling the fire we want to also rise up against these injustices we see day in and day out.  But the fact of the matter is that we all fight every day of our lives, whether in our minds or with the people (places and things) around us.  We strive either to better ourselves and others or just to have it all our way.  We fight constantly with our inner guides, saying no this won't do and no that won't do!   But the universe itself doesn't care about your ego and what our ego likes or doesn't like.  In fact, the universe is built on aggressive energy as well as gentle energies.  The universe wouldn't be a universe without such seeming dissensions as war, abuse, and aggression. 

I believe some people have come into our lives to make war with us.  This takes wisdom to see the good things that have come out of abuse and broken heartedness.  But if we look deeply, we will see that some of our worst enemies really helped us and gave us what we needed to make us grow at the time.  The loud bangs and disruptions of war and aggression have mysterious creative powers of transformation that none of us will admit to really liking.  Nobody likes change, or death, or grief but we can see in hindsight that more often these things brought us where we needed to be at a time in our lives.  This is true in both the microcosm just as it is in the macrocosm.  It often seems the universe doesn't care how these things make us feel and the truth is it doesn't care.  It will do whatever it takes to fulfill its destiny which is life, growth, and death in an endless cycle.  We all have agreed to take this rollercoaster ride and take it we will!  We'll ride this thing called life until we learn to control our own energies and thus the rollercoaster itself.  And the universe doesn't care whether or not you're comfortable.

Of course, the universe would be nothing without love, nurturing, comfort, and acceptance.  Warm summer days at the beach or the mountains to make easier the many aggressions we face in our lives are universal essentials.  Home, family, tradition, a group of good friends, physical comforts or any other things that make us feel accepted, good, and easy in this world.  These things are here to stay.  Again, the universe doesn't care if you like it or not these things are part of what the universe is made of.   

We take the universe and all its wisdom and life itself on its own terms.  Growth should have taught us that we are all mini versions of the universe and often we bring into our lives the very things we abhor by using improper energies.  Like a sailboat, we all need to take the role of captain and adjust our sails often in order to change some of the things we would like to change   If we hadn't been hit by war, aggression, abuse and the like, we never would have known what we are capable of in both a good and a bad sense.   

Bast--the Cat Goddess of Egypt

"Her name was originally B'sst which became Ubaste, then Bast, then Bastet; the meaning of this name is not known or, at least, not universally agreed upon." ~ (Definition of the goddess Bastet or Bast, or B'sst at ancient.eu)

On researching the history of the Egyptian cat goddess, Bast as we all know her, I found some interesting history on her for those of you who aren't familiar.

Her cult was located in an Egyptian city called Bubastis, whose ruins lie one mile north of the modern city of Zagazig. In (c. 2890 - c. 2670 BCE), followers of the cult of Bastet, revered cats and worshiped her in this city.

Bast, as an Egyptian goddess was the protector of women and children, the home, secrets, all things feminine such as perfumes and ointments. She is the daughter of the sun god, Ra and it says she is also associated with the symbolic all-seeing eye of Ra, so popular even in today's pop culture.

She governs over the plant we all know as catnip or catmint. I've enjoyed watching mine grow so large this year and so have my cats. Lovely to watch the bumblebees and butterflies flocking around the tiny purple flowers, pollinating and drinking the nectar of this mysterious plant. Our cats love it.

The ancient Egyptians made this sound pssst or bssst to mention her name. We still use this ancient sound unknowingly when we call our cats or want to get their attention. And they indeed pay attention! As if we're calling on the spirit of this ancient deity they seem to understand genetically and they come running when we go "b'sst, b'sst, b'sst."

The Philosophy Behind the Symbol of the Pentagram

As I was reverently lighting some candles to perform an ancient Norse ritual the other night, I looked down at a Pentagram that I'd recently purchased at a local Beltane Fair.   It was upright.  It looked just like the familiar Leonardo da Vinci sketch of a man in a circle, The Vitruvian Man.

THE VITRUVIAN MAN

The Vitruvian Man was drawn by da Vinci around 1490.  The original drawing currently resides at the Gallerie dell'Accademia, an art museum in Venice, Italy. 

UPRIGHT PENTAGRAM

"Every man and woman is a star"  ~ Crowley

Here, mankind is standing firmly in the material world, or planet Earth.   His limbs and head turns around the Earth (circle).  This represents the lifetime and knowledge attained on the physical plane. Consider revolving the body of The Vitruvian man like that of the rising and setting of the sun, starting from east and ending in the west, day after day.  In witchcraft traditions, mankind is also turning with the rhythms of the elements spirit, air, earth, fire and water every day.  If you look at the head of da Vinci's work compared to the Pentagram, you will notice where the head should be.  The head of the Pentagram may very well represent the knowledge and wisdom humanity attains in a lifetime on earth.  All experiences including the relationships we have, the situations and the people we meet, our families, our loves and also our enemies.  What have we and can we glean from a lifetime of living ?  What choices are we going to make and what will be  the consequences of the choices we make ?  Mind and matter living simultaneously.


Now, when we flip the Pentagram it becomes what we call The inverted Pentagram.  The Vitruvian Man's head is turned 180 degrees upside down.   Now we get a further symbolism of the Pentagram as a whole.  As many already know, the inverted Pentagram is the symbol of darkness, arcane mysteries, the left hand path, the adversary or the opposite.  We might study more of the symbolism of the Hanged Man in the Tarot deck and see how we can best understand the meaning behind the inverted Pentagram.  I posted a link at the bottom of this article to a very good description of this Tarot card.

UPSIDE DOWN OR INVERTED PENTAGRAM

This symbolism represents our inner darkness, the demons that we carry with us throughout life,  These demons represent the things we do that we keep secret from the majority because they might not understand.  This is the symbol of the rebel, the radical, and the man or woman who lives in-between worlds.   It represents the above that affects the below in Hermetic philosophy.  It also represents hidden knowledge, even forbidden knowledge, and original sin according to the Christian/Judaeo mindset.  Metaphorically speaking, the inverted pentagram also looks like a tree.  This could also represent the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, that tempted Eve with the idea of becoming "like the gods."

It is also the opposite compared to the upright Pentagram in that The Vitruvian Man's head falls between the material elements starting at the western setting sun of the earth (night fall/darkness)  (water, fire, air, earth) as a way to gain the power over the elements on a different realm, much as we believe the gods could.  Even in The Fairy Tradition, we who have studied it know that the spirit of the Fae and Elfin, live between the worlds.  This is exactly what the Vitruvian Man's head seems to be on each turn of the astral Earth.   Inverted the Pentagram represents night time and upright, daytime.  A lot of mathematics could be used to describe the symbolism of the Pentagram, but I'll leave that to the mathematically inclined.

Yes, the Pentagram as a whole represents the life of man but also his conscious/unconscious mind, the collective mind, and both physical and arcane knowledge.   The desire to go forth and discover more about the Pentagram as a tool for initiation is left up to each individual.

We might also study the Heathen saga of Odin, hanging upside down from the World Tree in order to obtain the knowledge of the Runes. (my favorite pantheon)   Christ hung upright on the cross (tree), but Odin hung upside down.  Christ's sacrifice represents a good life for mankind while Odin's sacrifice represents obtaining arcane secrets for the sake of mankind.  Both heros ae speared in the side.

Whether upside down or right side up, the symbolism of the Pentagram is crucial to all people on a magical path.

Below is a link to Biddy Tarot, one of Google's top ranking explanation sites.  Her description of the hanged-man is perfect to describe an explanation of the inverted Pentagram.

HANGED MAN TAROT CARD MEANINGS AND DESCRIPTION

"The Hanged Man shows a man suspended, upside-down, from the living World Tree, rooted in the underworld and supporting the heavens. Given the serene expression on his face, it is believed he is hanging on the tree of his own will. His right foot is bound to the tree but his left foot remains free, bent at the knee and tucked in behind his right leg. His arms are bent, with hands held behind his back, forming an inverted triangle. The man is wearing red pants representing human passion and the physical body, a blue coat for knowledge, and yellow shoes representing his high ideals. Around the Hanged Man’s head is a bright yellow halo showing spiritual attainment, with the grey background suggesting invisibility (a good reminder to not flaunt your spirituality). This is the card of ultimate surrender, of being suspended in time and of martyrdom and sacrifice to the greater good. This is the archetype to meditate on to help break old patterns of behavior and bad habits that restrict you.

The Hanged Man’s number is 12 – a higher octave of the number 3, representing careful planning and orderly growth leading to spiritual development. 1 (beginning) + 2 (the reasoning force) = 3 (the product of rebirth). The ruling planet is Neptune, the planet of self-sacrifice and idealism.

Note: The Tarot card meaning description is based on the Rider Waite cards."

all credit for the above Tarot description is here at Biddy Tarot:  Biddy Tarot ~ The Hanged Man

Maags

Tiwaz ~ Triumph of Tyr

Tiwaz or Tyr is the rune of self-sacrifice and triumph over adversity.   Tyr is the Norse god of law and justice.   This is a rune to sing when looking for a good outcome in court, getting something you deserve, or a rune to sing to bring courage, spiritual strength, self-sacrifice but not martyrdom.

As is the theme of this blog to find Anglo-Saxon (English) words that begin with the sound of the rune, let's look at some words that begin with the T sound and find the runic energy of Tiwaz in each.

Trying, triumph, tears, tame, total, target, together, tip, truck, tiger, taunt, tally, tank, today, tax, topic, trick, type, trigger, tree, tune, tab, take, tribe, tryst, tail, talisman, tape, tea, termites, top, triple, time.

The reason I am writing on the phonics of the Elder Futhark Fehu through Othala/Dagaz is to try and find hidden meanings within the English language that correlate with the energy of the Runes themselves.  The English language has ancient Germanic roots

Sowilo ~ Satisfaction of the Sun

Sowilo is the last rune of the second aett of the Elder Futhark.  This is the rune of the light and glory of the sun.  Interpretations claim that Sowilo is the rune that illuminates what is needed, within, and without.  I find this energy to be a perfect Rune for success in life's endeavors, for making what is possible, possible.  For lighting the way, for uncovering hidden darkness in our lives.  I galdr this for people when they're feeling a lack of self-confidence and it always produces a good outcome.  What are your possibilities?  Sowilo might just help you find that out.

Here are some English nouns and other words that have the S sound in Sowilo:

success, son, sun, sacred, simple, sales, salary, salt, satisfaction, save, savings, safe, safety, sorrow, sinister, sick, sanity, struck, song, salvation, sing, salutation.

Winter Solstice Ritual ~ Bless the Woodland Creatures

Solstice is a time of giving.  What better way to thank Mother Nature for her bounty this year than to feed winter birds, deer, raccoons, squirrels, and all of mother nature's other children who are cold and whose food source is scarce.

Some suggestions of foods that the woodland creatures would like are: corn on the cob, nuts, celery stuffed with peanut butter, apples, seeds, peanuts without the salt, pine cones dipped in peanut butter and then dipped in birdseed, carrots, cheese, bread, and birdseed are some that come to mind.  Add a big bowl of water (hopefully hot water that will temper in the cold weather).

On December 21st write a Yule blessing/greeting poem and gather your goodies.  Pick a good place in your yard or local woods to lay down your gifts.  Some can be hung from tree branches.   You can create a circle, call in the quarters, and then read your poem or simplify the ritual weather permitting.  The poem doesn't have to be elaborate, just make it a nice Yule blessing/greeting.  Go your way and the animals will come when you're gone and enjoy the food.

To those of you who think, leave the wildlife alone!  Remember, you are the wildlife, one of Earth's many beings.

This is a very spiritual exercise and ritual in keeping with the season.  May you all have a blessed and peaceful Yuletide full of joy.

Algiz - Armor of the Aesir

Algiz, the Rune of protection.  All kinds of protection.  This is a Rune you want to galdr over a child before they run out to play.  We all want and need protection in life.  We may want to galdr this Rune for financial reasons to make sure we always have a home to live in and food on the table.

This is said to be the Z Rune.  For whatever reason, consensus in modern Runic lore says that this Rune makes the Z sound.

Let's look at some modern English words that begin with the Z Rune:

zeel, zoom, zonk, zany, zipper, zest, zinc, zoo, zebra, zealot ..... I'm not getting too much of a feeling of protection in these words.  What do you think ?

Maybe this Rune doesn't have the Z sound.  More study on this Rune will be required.  Possibly a thesaurus would help and I am going to look now.

Back.

If this rune has the 'A' sound, I'm finding words under "Protection":  armor, ammunition, aegis (which means a breast plate), attack, offence, apron, affront, air. (google more of these A Rune words to find the energy of Algiz.

The True Meaning of Yule

Some people think that the Yuletide Season is all about getting and giving gifts, spending money, decorating, and sending cards, blah, blah, blah.

Every year after Thanksgiving (in the USA) but in any christianized nation, we face the end of the year with both joy and trepidation. Our thoughts are, 'Can I make it through another holiday season with its shopping and chores and into the New Year with that lay ahead ?'   But this type of thinking is a metaphor for something larger.

We spend the year on projects, paying bills, raising children.  Farmers plant vegtables and raise livestock.  We toil and sweat and worry about outcomes and current conditions.  We form bonds with new people and lose some others.  We make decisions that will either make us, break us, or become neutral.  Through our experiences we grow hopefully stronger, wiser, older and often a bit bruised along the way.  

Yule is a time to be reborn, to reflect, to say to ourselves you did it -- you made it !   We acknowledge the experiences of others and the bonds we have formed throughout the year.  We look to both the past, present, and future for guidance.  We become a year older.

So love of life, love of others, love of rebirth and celebration are all in order at Yule.  It's a time of reflection and stock taking.  It's a time to acknowledge those who took this last journey around the sun with us, and a time to embrace new beginnings that lie ahead.

At Yule we come full circle.  This is why we have the symbol of the wreath on our doors this time of year.  It's a pagan symbol that represents the wheel of the year.  Now it is done and we decorate it in honor of the occasion.  The ancient Norseman would light a wreath on fire and roll it down a hill as part of the Yule celebration as a way of sending the old year away to make way for the new one.
Notice 'wreath' has the R Rune sound, which means to 'journey.'  As in a journey through a year.

Be well this Yule Season.  Toil and growth on planet earth is a hard job so may you find peace and strength during this season of rebirth.

Perthro ~ A Powerful Plan

Perthro, according to many interpretations, is the cup of destiny.  What we do with our destiny is both fixed and mutable (can be changed).  The law of the Norns as well as the power of cause and effect all come to mind.  The P Rune is the Rune of The Web of Wyrd working on us in the past, present, and future.  We are born with set genetics but our lives unfold either this way or that, depending on the decisions we make.

Some interpret this as a cup to throw the dice in a gambler's game.  But every decision we make in life is a gamble and subject to an outcome.  And the cup, being called a lot cup, could very well be our lot in life with the gamble of decisions being the dice.  Some people interpret this Rune as the cup of mystery because the unfolding of our lives (or business/job, relationships, or any endeavor) is a mystery.  A woman on Facebook wrote in a comment that this is the Rune that makes a blank Rune in divination obsolete as it is like a blank piece of paper that our decisions write on.  Each of our lives comes is our lot.  It's our personal likes/dislikes, initiatives, and decisions that create within that lot.

Here are some nouns and mostly verbs now as I go alone (energy and action words seem to fit very well) in the English language, that may help us to pick up on the energy of Perthro.

pleasure, pain, plan, play, procrastinate, pessimism, party, pursue, puberty, procreate, possible, prorate, patronise, polymer, powerful, program, paradigm, pool, pooling, plethora.  (search google for more nouns and verbs beginning with the P Rune sound).

Perthro seems to represent our lives and what we do with them is partially up to us.

Eihwaz - Earth and Eternity

Eihwaz is the Rune of the World Tree.   Some say it's an Ash tree, others say it's a Yew.  But as we know trees are both metaphors and actualities for the meaning of as above so below.   It's both a protective Rune and a rune of balance.   Feet on the earth, head in the clouds, having help from the divine, and the union of the arcane and the mundane all come to mind with this Rune.  Also the rune of astral travel and a rune to bring along for protection on lucid dreaming and astral travel.  Eihwaz/Eiwaz is used to enter the astral plane of the world tree but it is also used as a shield once in there.  Always hold onto this rune for protection while in a trance state.

Yew tree with berries, an important wood to the ancient Norse peoples.

Eihwaz has the E sound as in 'eh'.  Let's look at some English nouns and other similar words, to see if we can find the Eihwaz energy.

eternity, everlasting, entwine, entertain, enrich, enlarge, engulf, ever, esoteric, erotic, Erulian, economy, ecstasy, ego, effort, ecstasy. (google more words beginning with the E sound to find the energy of Eihwaz).

Read more on phonics and the Elder Futhark.

Jera - Rune of the Yielding Year

Jera is traditionally thought of as the rune of the year and a good harvest.  This encompasses every part of the year from seeding, to growing, to harvesting.  Rune authorities also state that this is the Rune of cause and effect.  You reap what you sow.

Norse wheel of the year.

As before, let's examine some English nouns.  The J Rune has the J sound in English but the Y sound in other Northern European languages.  So we'll examine both sounds, the J sound as in the word jump and then the Y sound as in the word yellow.

First with the Y sound:

yacht, yachtel, yachtsman, yachtsmen, yank, yard, yardage, yardstick, yarn, yawl, yawn, yeah, year, yearbook, yearning, yeast, yell, yelling, yellow, yelp, yen, yesteryear, yield, yearling, yielding, yodel, yoke, yokel, yolk, yore, young, youngster, youth, Yule, yam. (Google for more Y words that carry the energy of Jera, the J Rune)

Now with the J sound:

jab, jacket, jade, jag, jail, jalopy, jam, janitor, jar, jargon, java, jaw, jawbone, jay, jazz, jazzmen, jealousy, jedec, jeep, jejunum, jelly, jeopardy, jerk, jersey, jest, jet, jewel, jeweler, jewelry, jiffy, jig, jinx, jitterbug, jog, job, jelly, jester, jug

Conclusion:

I think, from looking at the above, that the Y sound of the J rune fits the closet energy to the traditional interpretation of Jera.  Do you agree ?   The set of the J sound also has an energy but not the traditional one.

The energy I do see from the Y sound, consist of very natural things, the earth, wildlife, the land, with a bit of increase added as in growth.  How things can, overtime, grow they increase.  Getting back to the traditional interpretation, this Rune represents raising young ones, crops, and livestock in a year.  The energy of increase and growth.

Isa - Rune of the Immobile Infant

Isa is traditionally the rune of ice.  When we think of ice we think of something that is made by an outside influence, like cold weather or a kitchen freezer.  Unlike water, ice stays in place until an outside influence like warm weather or room temperature makes it mobile again.   When the police tell the criminal to 'freeze' !  They mean for him to stop his movement.  

Now again, we are going to find deeper meaning of the I Rune by finding English nouns (and other worlds) that begin with the sound of a long or even short 'i'.  What do those words mean to us ?  

An infant is a helpless little person that can do nothing without outside help.  But over time the infant learns mobility as in how to roll over, lift up the head, and eventually walk.

Where is the I Rune energy, the energy of being immobilized in these words?

industrialization, industry, inefficiency, inequality, inertia, inevitability, inexperience, infamy, infancy, infant, infantry, infantryman, infantrymen, infarct, infarction, infatuation, infection, image, imagery, imagination, imaging, imagination, imbalance, imbecile, imbroglio, imitation, immaturity, immediacy, immensity, immersion, immigrant, immigration, imminence, immobility, innocence, innovation, innuendo, inoculation, inposition, input, inquest, inquiry, inquisitor, insanity, inscription, inscrutability, insect, insecticide, insecurity, insemination, insert, insertion, inset, inside, insight, insignificance, insinuation.  (google more nouns that begin with I if these are not enough).

Immobility.  I see this rune in many ways as the opposite of Fehu.  Where Fehu moves, Isa is immovable (at least for the time being).

Nauthiz - Rune of Needful Knowledge

Nauthiz, or the N Rune is traditionally all about needing something and how to fulfil that need.   In life we must work to fulfil our needs and those of our loved ones.  We might need a job, need to put food on the table, need to pay the bills, and so on.  We all have our share of needs.  

I've read many Rune authors discussing an ancient tradition called a need fire or a force fire.   This was the practice of creating a sacrificial forest fire (or other type of fire), to meet the desperate needs of the community.  They believed there would be help for an outbreak of illness, starvation, or impending war if the burned down the woods.  (google it:  Need fire).

The N Rune has the 'nnnn' sound as in the word 'need'.  Lets look at other words in the English language that begin with N to find the inherent energy in this Rune.

namesake, news, newcomer, napkin, nadir, name, network, neurotic, nipple, nickname, niece, night, nightmare, nickle, not, nobleman, nympho, nut, nose, nostril, nomad, nursery, nutrition, nephew, number, nurture, nudity, know, knead, knowledge.  (google more English nouns that begin with the N Runic sound).

Some needs are great and some are small and need always comes with a the challenge of finding a solution.   What are we going to do ?  Where are we going to find what we need ?  Who is going to help us ?

Look around you.  How can you find the energy of Nauthiz in all objects that start with the N Rune sound ?  

Hagalaz - Rune of Hurricane Healing

Hagalaz is hot !  Or is it cold, as it is said to be associated with hail ?   Hail destroys crops, but it also provides ionized water that when melted feeds thirsty roots and seed.   There is always sunshine after the rain.  So the traditional meaning of Hagal, is to teardown in order to build up better and stronger than before.  In life, death brings forth new life.  Although it might not feel that way while going through an ordeal, many of us believe that everything happens for a reason.  Hagalaz is an interruption to the status quo for the greater good.

The H Rune begins with the hhhhh sound as in 'hot'.  Remember, very hot water always turns cold again but any bacteria that was in it before is now dead.  People out camping know that after boiling river water for 5 or 10 minutes can be safely drunk as all the organisms will be destroyed in the process.   This is the traditional energy of the H Rune.

Let's examine some English nouns and other words beginning with the H Rune sound and see if we can expound on our understanding of the energy.

hat, hand, head, healer, helm, head, heyday, hit, high school, hill, hero, hail, heroin, hex, highball, history, hold, home, hoax, hobo, holy, help, hormones, holiday, hair,  (search a dictionary or google for other words that begin with the H Rune sound to get a greater glimpse of its energy.)

Recovering forested area of West Mesa after Cedar Fire (May, 2004), Photo by Linnea Spears

The duality of the H Rune is one of what goes up must come down and what goes down must come up.  There is balance in the energy of this Rune and I believe if we study many, many English words including adjectives, nouns, and verbs, we will get a better understanding of what this energy means and how it can be used in our lives.

Read more of my posts on the etymology, phonics, and singing to find the energies inherent in the Elder Futhark.  Say The Magic Word

Gebo - Rune of Giving and Getting

Gebo is said to be the Rune of the gift, the giver, the recipient and the contract.  Years ago, people actually used this Rune as a signature when signing many kinds of contracts.  At Yule we exchange 'gifts'.   This kind of exchange carries with it energy.   You give me goods, I give you money.  I give you services, you give me employment.  I give you a load, you agree to pay me back with interest.  I give you 10 chickens you give me a piglet ... and so on.

Gebo has the gggg sound, conveniently, as in the word 'gift'.   My Norse rituals consist mainly of galdr, using sound, song and dance.  Read my post on Galdr (gaul-der) Singing Runic Energies 

Short Galdr and poetry on Gebo by Sigha Manning, my favorite Dutch seidth woman.

Again, we are going to search for English nouns that begin with the G Rune sound, to hopefully get a better idea of what the Gebo energy really consists of.

grab, grabbing, grace, grad, grade, grader, gradient, gradualist, graduate, graduating, graduation, graffiti, graft, graham, grain, graining, gram, grammar, granary, grandchildren, granddaughter, grandeur, grandfather, grandma, grandmother, grandson, grandstand, granite, grant, granting, gulp, gun, gum, garbage, granite, gift, giver, goat, gore, gather, get-together, game, 
 (search a dictionary or google for more English words that begin with G)

Taking the word goat for instance.  The farmer takes care of the goat and the goat gives the farmer milk.  Looking at the word gore, the matador taunts the bull and in return the bull gores the matador.  A gun for instance, 'your money or your life' ?  The energy inherent in Gebo would be a good one to call forth in order to find a job -- your services for steady employment.

Sound is key to finding the energy of the runes.  Sound is all around us in what we say, what we hear, and the names of the things we use.   Read more of my posts on Runic energy and the meaning of words that begin with their sounds.  Say the Magic Word

Kenaz - Rune of the Crucible of Creation

Kenaz.  Many have interpreted this rune as meaning a torch, and have gone on to say that it is the light of the craftsperson, the light of knowledge.  But the Icelandic Rune poem with the English interpretation has always baffled me:  Kaun (ulcer) is fatal to children: death makes a corpse pale

Ancient Civilizations of the North of Europe thought crows to be an omen of death.  Crow begins with the K rune sound.

Let's examine some English nouns (and other parts of speech) beginning with the K rune sound, to possibly find out what this energy really is:

combination, combo, cat, calico, comb, kite, coral, collusion, colonel, captain, call, command, christ, comfort, crack, cake, call, crime, kick, king, kill, cancer, karma, combustion, corrosion, criminality, crimson, cripple, crisp, criteria, criterion, critic, criticism, critique, critter, croak, croaking, crocodile, crone, crook, crop, crossing, crossover, crosswalk, crouch, croupier, crow, crowbait, crowd, crowing, crown, crucifix, crucifixion, crudity, cruelty, cruise, cruiser, cruising, crunch, crupper, crusade, crusader, crush, crusher, crushing, crust, crutch, crux, cry, cryostat, crypt, crystal, crystallite, crystallization, croup, cancer, crystallography, crypt, can, coffin, cauldron, creator.  (again, search google for more words beginning with the sound of the K rune).

I see many things associated with authority, knowledge (meaning a lightbulb going off in someone's head), craft, and fire in looking over some of the words.  I also see many words associated with death and destruction.  I see the energy of calculating, cunning, craft,   I see a crowd, carrying touches and pitch forks looking for a criminal in a forest.  The crowd criticising a criminal.  Catching a criminal.  I see many words associated with death.  Possibly the torch many intuit in the Kenaz Rune is a metaphor for knowledge.

Could Kenaz harness the energy of how to authoritatively cause sickness and death ?  Could it be like the call of the commander during an execution ?   Let me know what you think in the comments.

Etymology and Runic Energies

Raido - Rune of Riding Rhapsody

Raido is known as the Rune of the ride or journey.  We like to galdr or offer a rune of Algiz and/or Raido to our loved ones who are on a long physical trip.    Paxson says that this Rune brings order to chaos in a journey.  Each of our lives is a journey both physical and spiritual.  Raido is what we learn along the way as we grow older and wiser.  Raido can be both an itinerary and a journey, a plan and the enactment of that plan  Every endeavor we take in life has a beginning and an end.

The energy of Raido is like the beating of feet on a pavement and how our shoes wear out.  It's how we get old.  It's a walk to the local store or a drive.   It represents time, seasons, and how long it takes to get from point A to B.  The wheel.  Looking at my R words, I came up with the word 'rag".  There is definitely measuring energy to it a measuring of time and stamina.   It's been worked out by its many uses day in and day out.  I came up with the word radio how it changes over the years how the transmission journeys through the air to the car so, we can enjoy the music while we drive.

Of course this Raido, like all other Runes, has a sound, rrrrrr, and this sound calls forth the energy of the rune.  Read my post on Galdr (gaul-der):  Galdr - Singing The Runes

According to wikipedia, "a rhapsody in music is one-movement work that is episodic yet integrated, free-flowing in structure, featuring a range of highly contrasted moods, colour and tonality. An air of spontaneous inspiration and a sense of improvisation make it freer in form than a set of variations."  *Remember, rhapsody is a noun beginning with the R rune sound and depicts what I consider the Raido energy.


Here is a list of English nouns beginning with the R-Rune sound:

rhapsody, rest, raisin, ranking, ransom, rap, rattle, rhythm, rowing, raspberry, rip, wrong, roll, relax, roar, wreath. (google more r nouns and other words to discover the inherent, energetic beat of Raido)

Ansuz - Rune of Arcane Authority

Ansuz has always been associated with "a god" or a spirit.   It could be a god of woe or a god of weil...but nonetheless a god.  It has been said of the aborigines in many cultures throughout the world, that the knowledge they gleaned in healing, bead-work, tool-making, and weaving were given to them by nature spirits whom they worshiped.  The medicine man of the tribe would go into the wild and learn which plant cured which ailment ... in fact anytime there was any kind of problem, the medicine man would find his answers in nature.  Which is probably where the legends of elves, fairies, ghosts, angels and other spiritual hosts were partially derived.  It is said in some traditions that it was the elves who first helped man create clothing.  Also, to get the attention of an elf, wear clothing on inside out or backwards ! 

Peruvian woman weaving a traditional rug, a skill said to have been given to humans by elves.

The A rune has a specific harmonic sound.  So again, as in my past blogs, we are going to examine words and specifically nouns that begin with the letter A in English.

apple, alligator, automobile, accent, arcane, argument, autumn, authority, author, army, area, appear, ant, aunt, activity, acetone, ache, achievement, acid, acidity, acknowledgement, acknowledgment, acolyte, aconite, acquaintance, acquiescence, acquiescence, acquisition, acquittal, acre, acreage, acrobat, acrylic, act, acting,  action, activation, active, activism, activity, actor, actuality.
(google more A words, especially nouns)

I find a recurring energy in A words has to do with learning, networking, receiving, partaking and creation.  I also see a lot of protection words, words of honor, help, hurt, connection and words of promotion or worship.

The runes are hiding in plain sight.  I would love for people of other Norse languages, Icelandic, Swedish, German also examine their dictionaries for words that carry the energy of the runes in their meanings.

Thurisaz - Rune of Thoughtful Thrashing

Say The Magic Word

Thurisaz the Rune most people equate with a good pounding !   Thor's hammer, giants with clubs, and smacking an enemy in the head is what comes to mind.  But by studying words in the Norse languages, mine being English, we can see that the energy of Thurisaz is one of a directed, purposeful strike, a strike that has a goal in mind.  Thurisaz is a rune of work, action, striking the iron each day, planning, exacting, figuring things out, writing things down.

Even a thorn is protecting something precious by pounding it's sharp point into predators.  It's strike has purpose.


Each day we go to work to pay our bills and feed our families.  At the end of the day we may sit and think of everything that happened during to the day, maybe making sure we make changes for tomorrow.   Each day we pound our hammer, put our nos to the grindstone all with purpose, thoughts, and goals in mind.

Giants in many of the sagas, were the keepers of treasures of wisdom, magical wells, and magical powers and potions that humans did not possess.  The giants were far more knowing than man.

Here are some nouns and words to examine using the Th Rune phonic in English:

thread, thorn, thumb, thimble, thought, thinking, thrashing, thrall, thump, throat.  (google more nouns and verbs that begin with the th sound)

Words are magic.  And if we believe the story of the Norse people, about Odin bringing the Runes to mankind, we might all begin to see that these energies and mysteries he brought are hiding in plain sight in the written word.


Read my other blog entries here:  Say the Magic Word

Uruz - Rune of Urgent Undertakings

We all agree that Uruz is the Rune of strength.   But to take it a few steps further, in studying nouns in English that begin with the U Rune sound, we'll see that Uruz is a strength that comes with push.  It's a protective rune, that provides strength when it is needed most.   This could be during illness, in an emergency situation, during times of deep strife.

I could almost simplify this rune, looking at the many English nouns that have the "u" sound and call this rune "Emergency."   A powerful energy.

An umbrella is a powerful tool to have when you're walking on the street and it starts to downpour.


let's look a just a few nouns beginning with the sound of Uruz in English:

upbringing, upgrading, upheaval, upholstery, upkeep, uplift, usage, umbrella, under, udder, uranium, ukulele, ugly,  undertaker, undertaking, undertow, underwear, underworld, underwriter, underwriting, undoing, unease, unemployment, unfoldment, unfortunate, unfrocking, unification, uniform, uniformity, uninitiate, union, unison, unit, unity, universality, universe .

(google more nouns that begin with the letter U and see if you can find the Uruz energy inherent in it's meaning in your reality) .

So the U Rune, Uruz is a sudden necessary power in times of trouble, emergency, necessity.

Read my other blog entries here:  Say The Magic Word