Letter equivalent: f
DIVINATION MEANINGS:
Prosperity, wealth, physical and financial needs, goals, promotion, self-esteem, karma
MAGICKAL USES:
Making money, business, promotion, finding a job, achieving a goal
EXPLANATION:
Fehu is the day-to-day reality of our lives and the alarm clock that wakes us to what lies beyond. It is whatever we think we are looking for, but never actually find. It is also a symbol of the home, because where do you do most of your �normal� things? We still need to pay attention to our physical needs and stay inside the simple pleasures of home, family, and good work. Kind of like, Oz might be a fun place to visit, but after a while all you really want to do is go back to Kansas. fehu is supposed to remind us that we have to be secure in before starting any journey, spiritual or otherwise. fehu�s corresponding word, cattle is used to symbolize that in some ways we have become as domesticated as cows, living without being aware of anything more that�s possible. The first step in breaking away from this situation is to catch a glimpse of what is possible, without caring what security we may lose to reach it.
Uruz: aurochs (OO-rooze)
Letter equivalent: u
DIVINATION MEANINGS:
Energy, passion, vitality, instinct, wildness, sexuality, fertility, the unconscious, irrationality, rite of passage
MAGICKAL USES:
Strenghtening will, increase sexual potency and energy; for hunting
EXPLANATION:
The aurochs was a species of wild ox, a lot like a longhorn bull, that was once found all over Europe, but became extinct sometime in the 17th century. They were said to be slightly smaller than elephants, and had horns as long as six feet, which were highly prized by the Germanic people as drinking horns. Paintings of aurochs have been found in caves, and it is believed that the aurochs hunt was a rite of passage for a boy to enter manhood. The aurochs is the wild animal, as opposed to the domestic cattle represented by fehu. Uruz is the rune of the God of the sacred hunt and his priest. Following the kind of mundane, day to day survival represented by fehu, uruz is the rune for breaking out and changing things to suit our interests. It also represents an awareness of death. The energy of this rune is raw, powerful, and masculine. Sorry ladies. It will still work for women in divining, though. Basically, this boy who has killed the aurochs has become a man, and has been introduced into the first level of the mysteries - the understanding that the without death there is no life.
urisaz: giant (THUR-ee-saz)
Letter equivalent: th (as in 'there')
DIVINATION MEANINGS:
hardship, painful event, discipline, knowledge, focus
MAGICKAL USES:
Help in study and meditation, self-discipline, clearing out a bad situation
EXPLAINING:
urisaz is the first of the 'obstacle' runes. These obstacles arent always destructive blocks, but problems placed in our path to teach us. A little brother can be a urisaz. Almost anything can be if it helps you learn. You can't have a mythic hero without dragons to slay or giants to fight! The lesson of this rune is 'to learn you must suffer', meaning not only literal suffering, but also in the biblical sense of 'allowing' - allowing destiny to unfold as it should, and allowing yourself to go through all that life offers you. What may at first appear to be a negative, destructive event very may well turn out to contain an important lesson. The Giants may seem to be evil and destructive to life, but they bring about change, and eventually clear the way for a new beginning.
Ansuz: Odin (ON-suz)
Letter equivalent: a (as in 'fall')
DIVINATION MEANINGS:
An authority figure, leader, mind & body balance, justice, clairvoyant
MAGICKAL USES:
Making wise decisions, success, leadership; to help in magic
EXPLAINING:
Ansuz is the instinctive energy of uruz fused with the discipline and experience of urisaz. These elements are combined in the personage of Odin, who is the both a chieftain and shaman - a god of wisdom as well as war. Ansuz is all about balanced. As with fehu, many people choose to remain at this point in their journey. It represents power, both religious and magickal, and this power can be quite tempting. When you have learned the lessons of the first three runes, you have the wisdom to be wise, but this is really only another beginning. Were only at rune #4, here. Youve only gained a few of the tools he will need to perfect your spiritual self. There is almost no compassion in this rune. Odin sits high above his world, looking down and making decisions, but he doesn't yet have the capacity to really care about or understand his people or himself. He still needs that emotional connection to become a truly great leader.
Raido: journey (RAI-doe)
Letter equivalent: r
DIVINATION MEANINGS:
A journey, pilgrimage, change, destiny, quest, progress, life lessons
MAGICAL USES:
Protection for travelers, to ease or bring about change, to reconnect
ABOUT:
Raido represents the path of a person's life and how it interacts with other paths. In Norse mythology, these paths are threads of fate, and are held in control by the Norns. The Norns are three sisters who live near the first root of Yggdrasil, which they tend with the water from the well of Wyrd. They also spin the fates of Gods and men. The network of threads of fate can be a web. Every chance encounter forms another connection in the web, and by tugging on one thread you affect everything else in the system. Most people do this completely unconsciously, but by becoming aware of the pattern of the threads surrounding you, it becomes possible to recognize the kind of events that seemed to happen to us randomly back at fehu. Raido reminds us that, although it may seem that we have accomplished our goals at ansuz, life and change continue and we must always go on. We will eventually end up where we began, but on a higher level and with a better perspective. The journey never really ends.
Kenaz: torch (KAY-noz)
Letter equivalent: c (as in 'candle')
DIVINATORY MEANINGS:
Wisdom, insight, solution to a problem, creativity, inspiration, enlightenment
MAGICAL USES:
Creative inspiration, aid in study, fertility, dispelling anxiety and fear
ABOUT:
Today, light, inspiration and knowledge are often associated, as in 'gaining enlightenment' and 'shedding light on the problem', and even in the image of a lightbulb going on over someone's head when they get an idea. To bring light is to make the invisible visible. Unlike the wisdom gained at urisaz, kenaz only allows us to take bits and pieces of this knowledge away with us as we need it, usually at the decisions of the Gods. This knowledge will generally come in the form of a sudden inspiration, and we will be able to see the answer clearly. This form of wisdom is more closely associated with the right half of the brain than the left, since it does not come through conscious effort but rather through passively opening one's self to it. Thus, a more feminine element is added to our journeyer's experience. The act of bringing light into the darkness is also a creative one. Think of the torch, masculine elements of fire and air, entering the cave and reaching the feminine elements of earth and water. This joining of masculine and feminine elements results in the creation of new ideas. In simple terms, this is the application of fire to mold and shape matter-- blacksmithing.
Gebo: gift (GAY-bow)
Phonetic equivalent: g (as in 'girl')
DIVINAION MEANINGS:
Gifts, offering, relationship, love, marriage, partnership, generosity, unexpected good fortune
MAGICAL USES:
Finding or strengthening a relationship, for fertility, to mark a gift or offering, to bring luck
ABOUT:
Gebo is a rune of connection, particularly between people. Up until now, our journey has been a solitary one. This rune represents places where our path intersects with others, and allows us to begin to form relationships. These relationships are strengthened by the exchange of gifts. The use of the gift as a symbol of an oath or a bond goes WAY back. When a lord wanted to ensure the loyalty of one of his subjects, he would give that person a gift. The gift would create a debt on the person receiving it, and this debt would ensure he served his lord. A gift from a lover, especially a ring, means the bond between them. Originally, only the man gave the ring in a marriage for the same reason as the lord, but today the arrangement is usually fairer. Gifts or offerings given to the Gods often carry the same meaning, representing the giver's love for or loyalty to their Gods. The giving of a gift makes the acceptance of a debt with the understanding that the debt will not be repaid. It is this imbalance which forms the bond.
Wunjo: glory (WOON-yo) (also my personal favorite)
Letter equivalent: w
DIVINATORY MEANINGS:
Success, recognition of achievements, reward, joy, bliss, achievement of goals, contentment
MAGICAL USES:
Success in any task, to motivate, to complete a job
ABOUT:
Wunjo is the last rune of the first aett, and represents both the end of one cycle and preparation for the next. It is a very positive, stable rune, and is another place where people tend to get stalled along their journey. Christian poets related it to heaven, but in fact it more closely resembles the Pagan Valhalla, since this particular paradise is not a permanent one. Like the wealth of fehu, the glory of wunjo is only an illusion. We have achieved success on one level only, and there are many more lessons to be learned. It is, however, a break which allows us to rest, re-charge our batteries and prepare ourselves for the rest of the journey. It also gives us some perspective, allowing us to look back and reflect on the road this far. Wunjo gives us a look at what is possible, but if we try too soon to reach out and grab it, it will disappear between our fingers. Mystical!
Hagalaz: hail (HA-guh-LAZ)
Letter equivalent: h
DIVINATION MEANINGS:
A sudden loss, ordeal, destruction, disaster, clearance, testing, karmic lesson, drastic change
MAGICKAL USES:
For removing unwanted influences, breaking destructive patterns
ABOUT:
The idea of the destruction of the old being necessary to the growth of the new, is important to understanding this rune. Notice, hagalaz lies between kenaz (fire) and isa (ice), like the Norse creation myth and the creative potential thats between these two, even though their meeting may seem destructive. Like the Tower in Tarot, hagalaz is only a negative rune if we choose to view it in that way, and refuse to learn its lessons. Being at the beginning of the second aett, it is a beginning and an end, and brings us out of the safety of wunjo. It says that whenever things appear to be going too well, you can expect a good, healthy whack in the head from the Fates, just to make sure you're paying attention. Wll call that The Flying Ladle syndrome. These 'wake-up calls' from the Gods will happen frequently throughout a person's life, but are often misinterpreted as divine punishment for some imagined wrong when in fact they are merely a way of drawing your attention to a recurrent pattern in your life.
nauthiz : need, necessity (NOW-these)
Letter equivalent: n
DIVINATION MEANINGS:
Poverty, hardship, responsibility, discontent, obstacle, frustration
MAGICKAL USES:
Representing a need to be filled
ABOUT:
If hagalaz is a flying ladle, then nauthiz is an empty pot. It is a gentle reminder that all is not as it should be. Everything is out of synch, and nothing seems to be going right. No matter how much you have, it is never enough, and there is a desire for something more or better. On the positive side, this can draw one away from the relative safety of wunjo and motivate towards change. Nauthiz represents an imbalance between one's desires and one's assets. Resolving this situation will influence the rest of the journey, but the awareness of the imbalance itself can also be helpful. It causes you to closely examine your priorities, and forces you back onto the path of your own happiness. We will know that we are on the right track when we are doing those things which make us the most happy. Nauthiz helps us to take the first step on that path by letting us know when we have strayed from it.
isa : ice (EE-suh)
Letter equivalent: i (ee as in 'eel')
DIVINATION MEANINGS:
Inactivity, blockage, stagnation, potential, patience, reflection, withdrawl, rest
MAGICKAL USES:
Stopping a process; to represent primal form
ABOUT:
In modern symbology, fire is generally masculine and ice (or earth) is feminine, but we dont know whether the Norse thought the same. Ice was a constant factor in their day to day lives. It threatened their crops and ships almost throughout the year, but it also served as a symbol of creation, from which all life will eventually grow. It says something about the Norse, that they could understand the need to have such a destructive joining of elements in order to have life. Fire may be warm and nice, but it has to be countered by the freezing of winter just as birth must be balanced by death. Even the little death of sleep has been proven to be vital for our mental and physical well-being. Isa encompasses all of these ideas, but generally represents a period of rest before activity, and forms the material from which life can be created. It is matter, not moving by itself, but transformed into the pieces of stars when combined with energy. In many ways, the Norse beat Einstein with their version of the universe, recognizing that everything in their world contained both fire and ice (energy and matter), and that the relationship between the two was the processes of life itself.
jera : year, harvest (YEE-ruh)
Letter equivalent: y (but may be used in place of 'j')
DIVINATION MEANINGS:
A change, cycle turning, reward, motion, productivity, inevitable development
MAGICKAL USES:
To bring change; for fertility and growth
ABOUT:
In our modern age of central heating and oranges available in February, it is quite difficult to imagine the close ties that people once had with the cycles of the year, particularly in the more Northern climates. The seasons affected not only the weather, but also the day to day activities and the diets of ancient people. Constant change was expected, and the idea was to become familiar with those changes, not to fight them. An ancient farmer (and even some modern ones) wouldn't need to look at a calendar to tell him when to plant. He wouldnt read a weather forecast to know when the snows were coming. The changing seasons were a part of his blood and bones, and his existence depended on adapting to change. Jera follows isa as spring follows winter. The frozen stillness of ice is broken by the turning of the wheel, and things are once again moving along as they should. In fact, we have now broken out of the entire set 'negative' runes with which begin the second aett. Weve done this not by fighting to escape the ice or struggling against the unfairness of fate, but by learning from our past experiences and waiting for the inevitable thaw. Jera is the the product of joining of opposites bringing life. Storms may come and go, but the sun is always there and life is generally pretty good. Enjoy it while you can.
Eihwaz: yew (EE-was) [my kind of rune, Ive gone through 3 trans-Atlantic moves...]
Letter equivalent: ei
DIVINATION MEANINGS:
A change, initiation, confrontation of fears, turning point, death, transformation
MAGICKAL USES:
To bring about profound change, to ease a life transition
ABOUT:
The yew tree has always been associated with runes, magic and death in northern and western Europe. Its generally assumed that its so meaningful because yews are evergreens which keep their color even through the death of winter, and because their red berries are symbolic for the blood of life. The yew life-span is extremely long, even 'immortal'. Yew worship dates back to before the times of the Celts, and still continues today in Christian tradition. Eihwaz is the thirteenth rune in the futhark, and marks the middle of the alphabet. (If youre into Tarot, death is also the 13th card.) This is the turning point in the runic journey, and represents the transformation phase of the process. All rites of passage, mostly transitions into adulthood, contain the symbolism of death, the idea of that one's former self has died and given birth to a new person. Eihwaz is the passage in order to gain the knowledge of our own mortality, as well as mysteries which can only be learned from the Lady of the dead. The process is a frightening one, but it is something we all must go through if we are to face our fears and emerge with the kind of wisdom of experience. Eihwaz is the gate to wisdom, and lies between life (jera) and rebirth (perthro).
Perthro: dice-cup? vulva? (perth)
Letter equivalent: p
DIVINATION MEANINGS:
Rebirth, mystery, magic, divination, fertility, sexuality, new beginning, prophecy
MAGICKAL USES:
Fertility, easing childbirth, to aid in divination and magic, enhancing psychic abilities
ABOUT:
No one actually knows the actual interpretation of perthro. The P sound doesn't occur anywhere else in the old Germanic language, so it is possible that the word was taken from another language. The shape seems to indicate that it had to do with some sort of game, so it could be 'chess pawn' or 'dice-cup'. The dice-cup meaning is particularly interesting as it hints as it could be a container for the runes themselves. Another interpretation of perthro is 'vulva'. This meaning (although obscure and pretty unlikely) fits in the progression of runes up until this point, symbolizing the rebirth that follows death. As a symbol of the womb of the Goddess, it represents the the mysterious and hidden things in a 'dice-cup', but literally as 'vulva', it adds a feminine, sexual opposite to uruz that would be missing without it. However you want to interpret the meaning of perthro (and again, nobody really knows what that is), its basically a vessel, nurturing and giving 'birth', keeping hidden and secret all those mysteries which can be uncovered only after the initiation of death. The rune is closely tied fate, the road we travel is pre determined from the moment of our birth. Perthro is the beginning of this process, as well as the tool for accomplishing it.
Algiz : protection (ALL-geeze)
Letter equivalent: x, z
DIVINATION MEANINGS:
Protection, assistance, defense, warning, support, a mentor, an ethical dilemma
MAGICKAL USES:
Protection, hunting
ABOUT:
Heimdall is figure in Norse mythology, usually associated with the rune algiz because of his role as protector and guardian. He watches the gate between the worlds. He is best known for his famous horn, but his sword is also important in the consideration of this rune. Heimdall's sword and his horn can be seen as two different sides of the same image. Both the sword and the ram's horns (or the elk's antlers) are symbols of power which may be used for either offence or defense, depending on the situation. In terms of the journey, we have passed through death and rebirth, and must now face the Guardian before returning to our own world. It is Heimdall who warns us to use our new-found power wisely. This person can no longer be concerned with only personal development, but must now also consider the effect their actions can have on others. This is a crucial turning point, and the person will either choose to use a system of ethics or ignore the effects on others and only work to fulfill their own needs Again, the sword and horn are in their hands, but they must decide whether to use them for defense or offence.
Sowulo: sun (so-WOO-low)
Letter equivalent: s
DIVINATION MEANINGS:
Success, positive energy, increase, power, activity, fertility, health
MAGICKAL USES:
Energy, strength, success, healing, fertility
ABOUT:
The sun is held sacred by almost every religion in the world. Its light and warmth symbolize life and growth and all that is good. Norse cosmology describes the sun being driven around the heavens in a chariot and chased by a great wolf, which will devour it at Ragnarok.(The end of the world) This is symbolic of life and fertility, and is usually considered 'masculine', although in Norse myth the chariot is driven by a woman. The swastika or sun wheel is a constant motif in rock carvings and occurs throughout Europe and Asia. The sun rune itself is a variation on this symbol, and represents motion and energy. Sowulo marks the end of the second aett, and like wunjo, it represents success and glory. However, unlike the rest and relaxation of Valhalla in wunjo, the sun is an active symbol. We have reached the end of the aett positively, but now we are fully aware of the changing nature of the universe. We can see the wolf at our heels, and we know that we must move on. Here, the traveler may rest in the warmth and light of the sun, absorbing its energy to the work ahead. This time we won't need to be blasted out of our safe position, but will choose to leave it in order to continue on.
teiwaz : Tyr (TAY-was)
Letter equivalent: t
DIVINATION MEANINGS:
Duty, discipline, responsibility, self-sacrifice, conflict, strength, a wound, physicality, the warrior path
MAGICKAL USES:
Potection, victory, strength, strengthening the will, healing a wound
ABOUT:
Just as the second aett began with the cleansing destruction of hagalaz, the third aett begins with a loss. However, hail is used by the Gods to force the sacrifice of those things which aren't really vital to us. Teiwaz, on the other hand, represents a voluntary sacrifice, made by someone who understands exactly what they are giving up and why. Tyr is a Norse got who gave up his hand to bind the Fenris Wolf. He is believed to be one of the oldest of the Norse Gods - a Bronze-age rock carving was found in Scandinavia depicting a one-handed warrior - and his position may well have originally come before that of Odin. Tyr's rune is also one of the oldest in the futhark, having survived virtually unchanged from the earliest Bronze-age carvings. It represents all those qualities associated with the God: strength, heroism, duty and responsibility. But it also represents a deeper mystery - that of the wounded God. Like urisaz, the pain of teiwaz focuses the attention and forces discipline. However, in this case the effect is more conscious and the wound carries a greater significance. Uruz has been confronted and bound, and the lessons of teiwaz and hagalaz have been learned. This is the path of the warrior.
berkana : birch (bur-KAH-nuh)
Letter equivalent: b
DIVINATION MEANINGS:
fertility, health, new beginnings, growth, conception, plenty, clearance
MAGICKAL USES:
healing (especially infections), conception, making a fresh start
ABOUT:
The birch is fundamentally a symbol of fertility. There are numerous instances in European folk tradition where birch twigs are used to bring prosperity and encourage conception. They were fixed above a sweetheart's door on May Day (Beltane) and were placed in stables and houses to promote fertility. Witches were said to ride broomsticks made from birch, an image which probably originated with fertility rituals where dancers would 'ride' brooms through the fields, the height of their jumping indicating how high the grain should grow. If teiwaz is the male mystery, then berkana belongs to the women, it represents the path of the mother, the healer and the midwife, bringing new life after death just as the birch puts out the first leaves after winter. Tyr's wound is through his encounter with death, berkana's wound is that of menstruation, and her ordeal is that of childbirth. The birch is abundant and all providing, and heals through nourishment, cleansing and empathy.
ehwaz : horse (AEI-was) [Aei as in Aeinor]
Letter equivalent: e (as in 'egg')
DIVINATION MEANINGS:
transportation, motion, assistance, energy, power, communication, will, recklessness
MAGICKAL USES:
power, aiding in communication, transportation; to 'send' a spell
ABOUT:
The horse has been a powerful symbol in nearly every culture and every age. They were often believed to draw the sun about the heavens. Strong, swift and loyal, their relationship with humankind is unique. They allow us to perform tasks that would normally be beyond our strength, and to travel distances that would normally be beyond our reach. The mare symbolizes fertility and, and the stallion is of virility and raw energy. It is an animal that never lost its power by being domesticated. Like the sun, its counterpart, ehwaz represents energy and motion. In this case, however, there is also respect for the source of the power. This is a living, breathing thing whose needs and desires must be taken into consideration, rather than be simply used as a slave. This is the power that was given by the God at algiz, and this rune reminds us of our oath to only use it to help, never to harm. Like the two-edged sword, the horse is a powerful tool, but must be carefully controlled to avoid harming yourself or other. It is tempting to just go barreling along recklessly, but to do so is to risk loosing that power forever. This is the balance that must be achieved on the path of pure magick.
mannaz : man, humankind (MAAH-noz)
Letter equivalent: m
DIVINATION MEANINGS:
significator, self, family, community, relationships, social concerns
MAGICKAL USES:
to represent a specific person or group of people; to establish social relationships
ABOUT:
Mannaz represents all of humanity. It is also those with whom we have personal connections, from our immediate circle of family and friends to the wider community around us, in our nature as social animals. It also represents our connection with the Gods and with nature, through the two Norse myths of the creation of humans; the first where they sprang from Ymir's body, and the second in which they were created from two logs by a river. It takes the raw energy of ehwaz and controls it through our social conscience, reminding us of those we affect with our deeds. The rune resembles gebo, joining masculine and feminine elements, but is much more complete. It is the entire web of human relationships, with the self at the centre, which mirrors the web of fate in raido. But while that web was more or less fixed, this one is movable and alive. Past and present, male and female, self and other - all opposites are joined here and made whole. Mannaz is our home, and speaks for all those whose lives we touch when we use the gifts we have been given through the runes.
laguz : water (LAW-gooze)
Letter equivalent: l
DIVINATIONMEANINGS:
Emotions, fears, unconscious mind, things hidden, revelation, intuition, counselling
MAGICKAL USES:
Enhancing psychic abilities, confronting fears, stabilizing mental or emotional disorders, uncovering hidden things
ABOUT:
When most people think of water, its generally of pleasant associations - peacefulness, love, compassion, intuition, and the emotions in general. However, we must remember that, to the Norse, water most often meant the sea, and the sea was a terrifying, unpredictable place, home of the Midgard serpent and the grave of many sailors. Laguz, then, should be thought of in terms of the lighter and the darker sides of the element of water. It speaks to our fears of the dark, cold, and all those terrifying things hidden deep in our minds. Like eihwaz, which forced the journeyer to confront his or her mortality, laguz makes us look at the roots of our personality and behavior, and allows us to modify those aspects which are preventing further spiritual development. The understanding and wisdom gained through eihwaz and the runes which followed have prepared the journeyer to face this darker side (represented by laguz) and accept it as part of their selves. Laguz also prepares the person to take on the task of helping others through this self-examination process, allowing them to empathize more strongly and share their own experiences, making it (among other things) the rune of the spiritual counselor.
inguz : Ing (EEN-gooze)
Letter equivalent: ng
DIVINATION MEANINGS:
work, productivity, bounty, groundedness, balance, connection with the land
MAGICKAL USES:
fertility, farming, growth, general health, balance
ABOUT:
Ing is a Danish / Anglo-Saxon name for Freyr, the God of agriculture and fertility. Agriculture represents one of the first attempts by mankind to control the environment, and the fertility of crops, animals and people has always been the religious focus of most Pagan societies. From the earliest Sumerian accounts to modern-day British folk custom, people throughout history have sought to ensure the success of their crops. The majority of people in Western society have lost all contact and connection with the process of growing things. The spiritual consequences of this have been disastrous, since most people find it difficult to relate to a God in a man-made environment. The shape of this rune can be linked to of a field, but its real significance is in its balance, representing the relationship between ourselves and the four elements/directions. Inguz reminds us of that ancient connection between the Gods and the land, and re-links (the real meaning of the word 'religion') us with our spiritual natures. It is quite literally a grounding rune, and by connecting us to the earth, it reconnects our bodies, our minds and our spirits.
dagaz : day (THAW-gawz)
Letter equivalent: d (pronounced as 'th', as in 'this')
DIVINATION MEANINGS:
happiness, success, activity, a fulfilling lifestyle, satisfaction
MAGICKAL USES:
to bring a positive outcome
ABOUT:
This rune marks the end of the third aett, leaving only othila to complete the cycle. As in the previous two aetts, dagaz ends the third with light and hope. However, while wunjo represented earthly glories and the sun, heavenly power, the day brings these two realms together, bringing the more abstract light and power of sowulo 'down to earth' and applying it to our everyday lives. The shape of the rune itself hints at this kind of connection. It is like gebo, with its balance of masculine, feminine and the four elements. Like inguz, it symbolizes harmony with the environment, but again takes it a step further, implying a relationship with the spiritual environment as well. It is a bringing together of all six cardinal points - the four compass directions, Heaven, and Hell. All of these things are balanced and integrated through dagaz and brought into our daily lives.
othila : property (oh-THEE-luh)
Letter equivalent: o
DIVINATION MEANINGS:
Property, land, inheritance, home, permenance, legacy, synthesis, sense of belonging
MAGICKAL USES:
For acquiring land or property, to complete a project, to strengthen family ties
ABOUT:
In othila, we find ourselves back in the seemingly mundane realm of wealth and property, just like the first rune, fehu. However, while cattle represented a more movable form of wealth, the land is the only thing that lasts. It can be passed on, but more importantly, it defines who we are by defining where we are. It is our home. This rune brings us to the seventh cardinal point, which is the centre. It is the meeting place between Midgard and Asgard (a sort of Heaven and Hell) between us and the Gods. It is the axis around which our lives revolve. The idea of land or property is only a symbol - we must all find our own "centre" to give our lives meaning, the ultimate goal of the runic journey. Like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, we discover that after all our travels and adventures, we all eventually end up going home. But this doesn't mean that the travels and adventures are pointless. It is only through explorations that our 'home' or spiritual centre can have any real meaning for us. "There's no place like home" will have no power to send us there unless we truly understand what and where our home is to us. Also, none of the lessons learned along the way can be of any use to us unless we put them into our lives and find that centre point to anchor them to. O�ila not only completes the smaller cycle of the third aett, but also brings us back to the beginning of the futhark itself, on a higher level. We may now begin the grand cycle of the runic journey again.
