Runes 201 - Individual Runes - Nauthiz

All I've been thinking about since last week, for reasons I won't go into here, is gluttony.  It is hard not to sound preachy or political when discussing the state of society, but society's gluttony strikes a nerve that saddens and concerns me.  I've been reminded first hand of mass consumption and waste, our complete detachment from the sources of the things we buy, and the stress our contemporary lifestyle creates.  Conversation after conversation ended with me questioning, "To what end?"

And, to that end, I found myself clinging tightly to Nauthiz, the Rune of need and necessity, because it seems to address this problem so well for me, by shifting away from the wants of a system long since broken.

Nauthiz presents a dual warning, of being aware of trouble and the importance of heeding its effects in time.  Interestingly, the trouble sighted in its Rune poem afflicts the heart and I believe, when it comes to gluttony, we have our second dual warning, warnings for the heart- one physical and one mental and emotional.  But, what can we do to heed the warning in time?  This is what I asked the Runes this week.

I was not surprised that Jera was the first Rune presented to me.  I appreciate the reminder that heeding the warning and addressing it will not happen over night.  It will take time, be a process.  Because I have such a strong affiliation with this harvest Rune, it did help to comfort me and, in a way, give me hope.  It also reinforces the idea that the process of change must begin.

Berkana was the second Rune, assuring me that, once we heed the warning, we do face a beginning. This beginning involves a new way of doing things and largely turning away from the current way of  consuming and wasting, detachment and stress.  This is a Rune that brings us back to nature and couples with Jera to remind us of nature's processes and the need to reattach ourselves to them; that a healing or time of healing must take place.

Of course, Thurisaz reminds us that this is a move of great power.  If we unite, our force becomes the giant that no one wants to challenge.  It is strength in numbers.  In essence, for this beginning to be successful, we have to move forward together and, if we do, we will be a force to be reckoned with.  Instead of trying to make life better for ourselves through gluttony, we have to look at the bigger picture and make life better for everyone.

This also explains why, in between each of these Runes, I drew Mannaz, the Rune of humanity, and kept returning it to the pile.  It wasn't time yet, but now it is.  The gluttony I've witnessed over the past week cannot be overcome alone, as the self, though the self must undertake the process of change.  We must unite and focus on needs not wants.  It won't happen overnight, but it affords society the opportunity for a thoughtful beginning.

As much as Nauthiz's Rune poem ends in hope, so I end this post in hope.  It is a quote from Ghandi, "Be the change you want to see in the world."  Let others know what you're doing on this front; share a comment here and let's begin to build our giant force!  Have a fantastic week!