Runes 201 - Individual Runes - Isa

As the ice begins to melt up north, I decided to sit with Isa - the Ice Rune - and reflect on some of the things happening in my life.  It's one of the Runes whose meanings is clear and, built into that meaning is caution and treading carefully.  It tells us to pause and look around, to see the whole picture and then take the next step.  This is what makes Isa the perfect Rune to hold when you are contemplating things.

Before I create a plan, I like to sit with Isa to think about it.  Then, I usually draw three Runes to support the issue I'm thinking about, and there tends to be a common process in those Runes.  The first one will tell me what I need to consider, the second will tell me how to go about it, and the third gives me the results results I should get if I follow the plan.

It's a little like a Norn reading; Urd is the the past - what you must consider.  This one may seem like a bit of a stretch, but hear me out.  When you consider things, the past is a major part of that consideration whether you realize it or not.  What have I learned from the past?  I don't want to repeat the past.  Should I try it again?  I've done this and this, now how do I do this?  Everything builds on the past one way or another.

The second Rune - telling you how to go about addressing the issue - represents Verdandi, what you must do in the present.  This isn't always a clear action.  Sometimes it is a skill or feeling you possess.  Isa will help you process the meaning.  Skuld aligns with the third Rune.  She is not exactly the future, rather more what should be (as I noted above) if you do what you need to do in the present; the results you will get.

I had a few friends try sitting with Isa to contemplate a single issue in their lives and then draw three Runes.  I should point out here that this process differs from an interpretation, because you have been sitting with the issue, considering it from all angles, weighing pros and cons, etcetera.  It's more like a mini ritual.  Anyway, here is what happened for them:

One friend had a situation at work and she wasn't sure if she should tell Human Resources about it.  She sat with Isa an hour a day for three days and then she drew Algiz, Gebo, and Ingwaz.  It was her past experience with taking care of herself through Algiz that gave her the gift (Gebo) she has for speaking up for others that she needed to use.  Ingwaz assured her that the time was right.

Another friend is contemplating getting a second job to pay for a trip he wants to take.  He sat with Isa for two hours and drew two sets of three, first on what kind of job he should get and the second on his ability to actually make the trip happen.  The two hours and two sets signify the second job - 2, 2, 2.  Wunjo (the joy Rune) and Kenaz (the torch Rune) overlapped these two draws.  Along with Raido, the riding Rune, at the beginning of the first draw, and Ehwaz, the horse Rune, at the end of the second, he discerned that whatever job he got would have to use his artistic skills, because that is what would make him happy and able to stick with the job to raise the money for the trip. He could also make the trip work, but it might happen in a non-traditional way.

Finally, another friend recently broke up with her long-time boyfriend and she was thinking about contacting an old boyfriend, not to get together with him, but to resume the friendship she let fall by the wayside, so as not to create any problems with the boyfriend who just ended their relationship.  She sat with Isa for a total of seven hours, an hour a night for a week.  Then, she drew her three Runes - Laguz (the water Rune), Wunjo (the joy Rune) , Berkana (the birch Rune).  Her relationship with the old boyfriend had always been easy (Laguz), they navigated everything without a fuss; it just flowed.  The idea of reconnecting with him and finding out what he'd been up to for the past few years made her happy (Wunjo) and she wanted to act on that happiness.  However, she also had to realize that whether or not he responded to her, was secondary to the fact that reaching out to him was a big step in moving past her recent break-up and getting on with her life (Berkana).

Through my own process and those that my friends undertook, Isa helped us to focus and contemplate before we drew our Runes, which gave us clearer results.  I hope sitting with Isa can help you in the same way.

Runes 201 - Individual Runes - Thurisaz

Thurisaz is an incredibly powerful Rune whose meaning is cast in the light of foreboding and negative energy.  However, power is neither positive nor negative.  It is a force and how one manages it determines whether it is positive or negative.  We just need to be careful not to let this great power overwhelm us.

Although Jera is my guiding Rune, to begin 2016, I chose Thurisaz as my Rune for this year.  At first, I thought it was because I wanted to "unleash my power" and be the strong and outspoken woman I was when I was younger.  And I thought I could manage it.  After a bit of a rough start and a bit of reflection, I realized that I needed the power in this Rune to reinvigorate myself, because I had let the daily drudge drag me down.  I did not need to unleash my power, rather simply find it again and embrace it.  So my questions for the Runes around Thurisaz were: How can I use the powerful energy of this Rune to get myself back up on my feet and become more of who I used to be?  How can the power of Thurisaz help me to find my energy and passion?

The three Runes I received in answer to these questions were: Tiwaz, Othala, and Kenaz.  This struck me as following the Norns and here's why.

Tiwaz is the warrior Rune, linked to Tyr.  In this position, Tiwaz is given to me by Urd, the Norn who tells of the past.  This is who I used to be and I say that adding a bit of clarification relative to the present.  Although this is who I was in the past and who I want to be in the future, this is a reminder that Tiwaz still resides within me.  I still show glimmers of Tiwaz everyday, but its prominence has given way to the daily drudge.  This is my reminder to get it back.  Thank you, Urd, for showing me this.

The Rune from Verdandi is Othala, a Rune strongly linked to family (heritage and the homestead).  This is a wonderful Rune, for although I know I am doing this for my family, it is important to get this prompt.  Moreover, for me, this Rune also represents the garden we have (or will have) in our yard.  In that way, Othala provides an additional layer to the idea of doing things for family.  Not only do I want to nurture my relationship with my family (mentally, emotionally, and spiritually), but I want to nurture my family's health (physically).  The garden is an important symbol of that, of overall well-being.  Thank you, Verdandi for showing me the full picture.

Skuld, in her wisdom, shows me my personal yearning.  Although what I am doing is for my family, I must also do what will make me happy as an individual.  By presenting Kenaz, she brings me full circle to the reason that I chose Thurisaz for 2016.  Kenaz, though its meaning is less clear than most Runes, is light, human-made fire.  This represents, for me, human innovation and creativity.  This is what I need to bring back into my life - my creativity.  I need to reconnect with the things that drive my passion.  This is why I need Thurisaz!  I am grateful Skuld, for your insight.

Thurisaz is the powerful force that, used with care and caution, will revive my inner warrior (Tiwaz) by reigniting my creativity and passion (Kenaz), thus helping me to do the same for my family (Othala).

Runes 202 - Bind Runes - Letting Go

Sometimes in life, we cannot resolve or rectify things that happened in our past.  In these situations, we can develop a very deep felt need to find a resolution though.  But, this need can overpower our current lives.  We are not satisfied because we cannot resolve something from our past, which makes us unhappy, and our need to obtain those answers so that we can feel satisfaction about our past makes us unhappy in the present.  What's most important is that, if we don't resolve it, we will be unhappy in our future life as well.

Given this, the question becomes how do we let go of things we cannot resolve?  This reads to me like using a Norn cast is the best approach, because our situation includes the past, present, and what should happen in the future.  So, I asked the Norns for guidance, then I took the Runes they gave me and made a bind Rune to strengthen our resolve to let go.

The Norns showed me Hagalaz, Eihwaz, and Laguz.

A bind Rune for letting go of things you cannot resolve.
The image on the left shows hows the Runes were bound together.

The Rune from Urd really sets the tone, telling us everything we need to know about the situation.  Hagalaz is the hail Rune and it contains a complete process within itself.  Drawing this Rune first, acknowledges that there was a destructive force (situation) in our past.  It is important that we acknowledge it here.  However, there is another part to the hail Rune that provides nourishment.  In this instance, I am not so sure we are talking about lessons learned, rather more about what we can choose to take from the damage of the hail storm.  In essence do we say, "Look at this mess.  You've ruined everything!"  Or do we say, "This is a mess.  What is still intact?  What can I use, maybe in a different way, to rebuild or create something better?"  The former locks us into the past, while the latter offers potential and opportunities for the future.

Whereas Urd established the situation, Verdandi points to us.  Eihwaz helps us realize who we are right now as we try to deal with Urd's situation.  What really stands out to me with this Rune is its strength, not asking the question, "Are we strong enough to let go?", rather telling us that we are.  In fact, it is a gentle way of assuring us that we can do this, that it is time to be brave and take that step. There is no 'how' in this instance; there is only do.  Just take a deep breath and make the commitment to let go and then let go.  This requires not only the bravery and strength infused in the Rune, but trust and/or faith, which may be harder to muster than bravery.

With the situation and the recognition of our abilities to address it sorted, we turn to - what now?  What action do we need to take to let go of this issue from our past and move forward in a positive way?  Skuld gives us Laguz, the water Rune.  This strikes me as almost another process, though this Rune does not contain a process in the same way that Hagalaz does.  Part of letting go entails relaxing, going with the flow - an idea I associate with this Rune.  If we accomplish this aspect of the Rune, the flow will continue forward in a similar fashion - relaxed, easy, smooth.  Once that smooth flow is established, we can go deeper into it, exploring its mysteries and living life more fully, because we are no longer weighted down by the past.

Binding these Runes together demonstrates a clear process for us to follow.  It creates a clearer, connected picture for us to wrap our heads and hearts around and provides us with a reminder of the effort we must apply, and the release we will feel.

Runes for You

After a completely crazy week and the need to let go and forget it over the weekend, I realized that I could not write the post I had planned, because I did not have the time to finish the book I'm currently reading to review.

However, because the Urd, Verdandi, and Skuld always have wisdom to share, I called on them through the Runes and asked them what knowledge they would like to tell me about your past, present, and future - 'you' representing both you personally and the larger societal you.  Yes, a Norn cast for you.  Here is how they lined up:

Urd, representing your past, showed Laguz.  In this instance, the water Rune represents your past and and you must consider that past as part of your life going forward.  Just as water nourishes you, so too does your past, though in a very different sense.  Where water provides for your physical existence (by drinking it, using it water food, and for cleanliness among other things), your past provides mental nourishment.  Your past experiences have taught you lessons and prepared you for each step forward that you take.  Coupled with this are the mysteries held in a deep or stormy sea.  They can be scary, but you cannot be afraid to try new things; remembering that all of your life experiences up to this point have helped to prepare you for the next challenge you face, the next choice you make.

Verdandi gave me Fehu, the cattle Rune, which symbolizes your present and equates generally to finances.  The Rune poems for Fehu are quite interesting, for while they all clearly call it money, the Old Icelandic and Norwegian poems point out that it causes quarrels among kinsmen, and the Old English poem almost counters that with the suggestion of sharing your good fortune with others - keep things somewhat equitable (perhaps to avoid quarrels and conflict).  I think this is indicative of our current society, where the wealth is being concentrated among the few.  Now is the time to take the lessons from your past and apply them to your current situation.  There are any number of sayings I could call on here to make this point.  How about Margaret Mead, who said. "Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world.  For, indeed, that's all who ever have."  This calls the idea of personal responsibility to the fore.  Add to that, "It is better to walk alone than with a crowd going in the wrong direction" (by Diane Grant), and you have a very powerful opportunity presenting itself.

Skuld offered Raido, the riding Rune.  Having just looked at Raido a few weeks ago, it is fresh in my mind.  Following on Verdandi giving us Fehu, Skuld showing Raido signifies change - a journey.  Essentially, your future should experience a change, it should be different from your present.  However, as we know, this is not a done deal with the Norns.  This is what should be, but only you can make it so.  You will never get where you want to be if you don't consciously undertake the challenges life presents.  You must take the reins and move or you will be moved in a direction you do not wish to be carried.  I will end with a quote from my Raido post, because it flows perfectly with the wisdom we have received from Urd and Verdandi.  In support of her sisters and through Raido, Verdandi says, "Don't just sit there while life happens to you; don't allow yourself to be a victim of your circumstances.  Take charge of where your life leads you." 

Runes 402 - Rune Dialogues - Following Two Paths

Through my most recent dialogue with the Runes, the importance of posing a question just right so that you can understand the answer the Runes offer and so they can understand the true intent of the question being asked, became very clear.  In other words, you have to ask what you want to know.  Don't be vague.

After about twenty minutes of engaging with the Runes over the weekend, I realized we were dancing around the actual question that I needed to ask.  More importantly, perhaps, I was waiting for the Runes to present themselves when what I needed to do was put forth the first Rune myself. Once that was sorted, I laid down Jera as the starting point.

Jera is the year Rune, the Rune of the harvest and the implied cycle or process to achieving a bountiful one.

As I set down this Rune to restart my conversation with the Runes, I asked how I can manage my time over the next year to 18 months as I follow two paths forward - one for my current situation and one that leads to a different future.  Essentially, how can I maintain the path I am required to be on right now, while ensuring that it will lead me to the path I want for the future?

The Runes responded by showing me Laguz, the water Rune.

Me:  Ah, Laguz.  But, you see, part of the problem is that I cannot relax and go with the flow.  I understand that I cannot push the river (control where and how water moves), but I need to define some sort of course to help me move forward.

Runes: Mannaz reminds you of who you are.  What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Me:  I don't understand.  What is the link between Laguz and Mannaz that you are wanting me to see?

Runes:  Fehu is a bad focus for making your plan.  Laguz is more than flow.  Many mysteries lie below its surface.  If you wish to focus on exploring those mysteries, you must be aware of your weaknesses.  Right now, that weakness is focusing on money.  You showed me Jera to start this, so focus on the process.  Even if money is the ultimate goal (or one of them), your focus should be on the next step, not on the final one.

Me:  Oh, I see now.  Thank you for that clarification.  You are correct and I do tend to jump ahead; that is why I laid Jera.  How do I stay focused on taking a single step at a time?

Runes:  Thurisaz will guide you.

Me:  But Thurisaz is a very powerful Rune and, if not managed well, the power unleashed by it can turn to chaos and create even more trouble.  That would not be good.

Runes:  You are a warrior, are you not?  Tiwaz shows you the warrior you are. Remember that one of the key aspects of a warrior is her strategic ability. You can manage your own power unleashed through Thurisaz.  Channel that power.  Do not be afraid.

Me:  That is true; I am a warrior, but I am also weary of letting my power get way from me, but you are right, I should not be.  And, what will happen if I do unleash it and maintain it?  If I can stay focused on each step and not jump ahead?

Runes:  These are the Runes you want to see in the future - Raido, Dagaz, and Wunjo.  If you trust in your abilities, and unleash them with focus and direction, this is the path that will reveal itself to you in the future.  Raido is your travel on  all aspects of this path.  It will lead you to a point where you can see things clearly, though they may not be so clear right now.  Once you can see things clearly and have a sense of where things are, you will be happier.

Me:  These are good Runes.  Thank you.  That is what I need to do - see opportunities clearly.  I am nervous about how good these Runes are though.

Runes:  You know the Norns.  Raido is your past (Urd) and path, the one that has led you this moment (Verdandi), where you are beginning to see shimmers of light from Dagaz, an end to an arduous journey.  Wunjo is what should be, according to Skuld.  It is still up to you to bring it to fruition.  Realizing that happiness is within your power can be overwhelming, but if it is what you truly seek, you will find a way to guide this path to it.  What you must decide is whether or not this is the path that will get you to Wunjo.

Me:  Thank you for your wisdom.  You have shown me how to follow two paths to secure my current situation and ensure my future one by looking simply at the next step and not focusing on the ultimate goal.

Runes 101 - Runes in History - Borgund Church

Image from Wikipedia of
the Borgund Church

The Borgund Church in Norway is one of the country's nearly 30 stave churches.  In fact, Norway hosts more stave churches than any other country, including the Urnes stave church, which is a UNESCO world heritage site.

While stave churches are interesting enough simply by virtue of their architecture, there are many carvings (graffiti) covering several hundred years and including pictures, such as stick figures, etched into their wooden walls.  Among these churches, the Borgund Church caught my eye not only because it is the best preserved stave church (according to many sources), but because of some very early graffiti engraved there.

I refer, of course, to runic inscriptions.  At least three runic inscriptions are legible inside the church.  One says only, "Ava Maria."

In his book, Norwegian Runes and Runic Inscriptions, Terje Sperkland identified an inscription that asks god to help others, "May God help everyone who helps me on my journey."

It is the third inscription, however, which I find the most intriguing.  It says, "Thorir carved these runes on the eve of St. Olaf's mass, as he travelled past here. The norns presented measures of good and evil, great toil they created before me."

I found this inscription referenced on three websites, but only one included the second sentence about the Norns.   For me, that sentence is far more interesting than the first, because it indicates that, as late as the end of the 12th or beginning of the 13th century, long after worship of the ancient gods was supposed to have ceased, Thorir was writing about the Norns in a Christian church.  Moreover, he sums them up quite accurately, telling us that they filled his life with good and evil and, it seems, many struggles.

Tiwaz and
Ansuz

In addition to these inscriptions, I also came across a picture of some of the other graffiti that included what looked to me to be a bind Rune.  I recreated the image as best as I could, which appears to consist of two Runes - Tiwaz and Ansuz.  This shows another intrguing potential crossover between the Norse gods and Christianity, because Tiwaz is Tyr's Rune and Ansuz tends to be affiliated with Odin and, at the very least, an ancient Norse god in general.

If you are fortunate enough to visit one of these old churches, enjoy the architecture and history, but make sure to look around for subtle runic inscriptions, which offer their own twist on the experience.

Runes 403 - Rune Interpretations - Momentum

After about a three year struggle, things are starting to align for someone I know well.  She has had some long awaited and unexpected successes recently.  She feels relief and gratitude and wants to make sure she keeps this positive energy flowing.  Now, her challenge is how to manage that momentum, without getting ahead of herself and without losing the balance she's worked so hard to regain in her life.  Anyone who has been in this sort of position before recognizes that keeping that momentum going is not easy to do.  Using the Norn Cast, I asked the Runes how she can accomplish this; how can she keep the positive momentum going?

Remember, the Norn Cast looks at Urd (the past), Verdandi (the present), and Skuld (what should be - not exactly the future, because the future is open for you to decide based on your choices and the path you follow).  With that in mind, these are the three Runes that addressed this question.

Hagalaz represents Urd, Mannaz represents Verdandi, and Skuld is (or should be) Ansuz.

Two weeks ago, we looked at Hagalaz in detail and it showed us that this Rune is a cycle within itself, representing negative experiences from which we have an opportunity to learn.  Essentially, we can take what we learn from our experience and empower ourselves, which means the cycle ends positively.  This was, more or less, this woman's experience, signifying Urd incredibly well.  In other words, the past few years have included many negative experiences for her.  However, rather than give in to those experiences and let them rule her energy, she empowered herself to manage these situations, take what she could from them, and apply that knowledge to her circumstances going forward.

Mannaz represents her present circumstance and, I believe, signifies more empowerment.  This is the Rune of the self and, remember, within that idea exists all aspects of self and what shapes it.  Mannaz is not only the physical, mental, and emotional self.  It is also the higher or spiritual self.  Beyond that, it is the way that culture and society influences who we are.  In this second position, Mannaz signifies perfectly where she is right now (Verdandi).  She has used those things that have influenced her life over the past few years to empower herself and make her self stronger, to better define who her self is and what that self wants.  Essentially, through the past struggles of Hagalaz, she has reached her current, more confident situation and is more knowledgeable about her self.

Ansuz addresses our main question most directly.  She has gone through and learned from her experiences and empowered her self (Mannaz).  As a result, she is beginning to realize the benefits of that Hagalaz cycle.  Now, how does she keep this momentum going?  Ansuz is a surprisingly good fit for her.  While this Rune represents a god (specifically Odin, according to the Old Icelandic Rune poem) and communication, it can also represent origins, wisdom, and (from the Old Norwegian Rune poem) even estuaries.  Together, these three interpretations form a strong and powerful response to our question.  In a way, she is at a beginning or origin as she takes her new found knowledge and moves forward with it.  She has the opportunity to turn that knowledge into true wisdom if she can continue to build on it and apply it effectively to her life and, perhaps even guide others in applying it to theirs.  However, I find the estuary to be the best reminder of the situation, because an estuary is a place of transition between rivers and the ocean.  In many ways, although she is at a beginning of sorts, her beginning takes place in a position of transition, where she is just starting to regularly apply her knowledge to her situation.  If she stops, she could fall back into her old position, but if she keeps going and turns that knowledge into true wisdom, she will navigate through the estuary and into the open sea.

What's important to remember - choice.  What you take away from any experience you have and how you proceed with it from there is your choice.  That's why, Skuld is "what should be".

The Norn Cast

Many authors of Rune books and websites mention the Norns, linking them to the Runes.  Some of those authors and websites, as well as Rune practitioners, even use a Norn cast.  In The Runes in 9 Minutes, Odinsson explains what a Norn cast is.  Although he represents the Norns using past present and future, which, to me, is an oversimplification, Odinsson does make a point of saying that "our ancestors did not believe the future was predetermined."

What he is alluding to is the idea that I mentioned last week, when I summarized the Norns. While the past and present are certain, we cannot know the future.  We can know only what the future should be based on our past and current actions, experiences, and choices.

That said, we can still engage with the Runes and ask about our past, present, and potential future.  That is the Norn cast.  Draw three Runes.  The first represents Urd (the past); the second represents Verdandi (the present); and the third Skuld (what should be).  I like the idea of this kind of draw, because essentially what the Runes tell us in this case is, "Here's where you've been, which has brought you to where you are.  If you stay on this path, this is where you should end up."  Then, the choice is up to us to decide if that potential future, that 'should be', is where we really want to go and, if not, we can take steps to change direction.

With that understanding, I decided to attempt a Norn cast.  I chose to ask about the young readers series that my daughter and I are writing.  We've completed the first draft of the first book and have plenty of ideas for more, but things have stalled a bit.  So, I want to know where it is going.  What is its potential?

As I drew the first Rune, I asked Urd what she would like me to know about the past life of this series.  Likewise, I asked Verdandi and Skuld what they would like to tell me about its current situation and potential future, respectively.  I have to say the first two Runes I drew were very fitting and the third made me feel optimistic.

Drawing Ingwaz, a great fertility Rune, to represent the past assures me that the time was right to begin writing the book.  The idea was well-formed and the story was ready to be shared.  It also reminds me of the writing process.  I spent about 90 minutes every Saturday for several months working on it and, each time I sat down to write, the words just flowed.  They were ready to be picked from my mind.

Thurisaz is an interesting Rune from Verdandi.  It's the Rune of giants and thorns and it signifies potential trouble, but also great potential power.  I believe this almost mixed bag is true of the current situation.  Things have slowed on the writing front for the moment, but about half a dozen of my daughter's friends are reading the completed first draft and their feedback has been great!  So, thorny writing, but powerful or empowering feedback. (If you'd like to read a couple of sample chapters, they are up on my website.)

I think I will choose to stay on the path I began with these books, given that Skuld gave me Sowilo, the sun Rune.  As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, Sowilo is a hopeful sign, representing good fortune.  It also carries feminine energy, which I take to represent the partnership with my daughter and our targeted readers - girls aged 7-13.  Of course, if I do plan to stay on this path, to make this potential future my eventual present reality, there is work to be done - more writing, contacting agents/publishers, editing and so on.  I need to bring it off the back burner and get it moving again.  You see, that's the thing about the Runes; even when they give you good news, it doesn't mean you get to sit back and rest on your laurels.  You always have to step up and put in the effort.

This was a great introduction to the Norn cast.  I think I will use it again, knowing that I can always ask for additional guidance or extend my dialogue with the Runes or the Norns if Skuld gives me a "should be" that I don't want to have be.

Runes 101 - Runes in Mythology - The Norns

Wyrd Sisters
Image courtesy of Bifrost and Beyond

We know the Norns' basic story as signifying past, present, and future and that Urd, Verdandi, and Skuld are responsible for our wyrd or fate.

While their names are readily applied linguistically to define them (Urd=past, Verdandi=present, Skuld=future), their story in the Norse Mythology makes them much more interesting and complex.

Urd represents the past, but that past is not just our life.  It means everything that happened leading up to the present state of our life.  In other words, our life is shaped by our choices and the influence others have had on it through time.  It also includes our ancestry and the ways in which our heritage or cultural background place us in the world.  A huge infrastructure, of good and bad, worked to make us who we are.

Of course, Urd, representing all of that past experience, brings us to Verdandi, the present or, more specifically, what is happening now.  Just as everything we've done to this moment has made us who we are now, in the current moment, we make choices that affect who we are and which direction we will go as the future arrives.

A very interesting thing occurs at this point in Völuspà , verse 20, where the Norns are introduced. The line immediately following "the second Verdandi" does not introduce Skuld, rather refers to "they" carve on  sticks or cut Runes - Skáru á skiði.  To me, this implies that Urd and Verdanadi cut Runes, which result in Skuld.

The message that I take from this is that our past (all of the parts of the past mentioned above) made us who we are today and that, in turn, will guide us into the future.  Still, Skuld isn't exactly or simply future, rather relates to should or shall be.  Of course, the only things we can know for certain are those things that have happened already and which are happening now.  The future is a mystery.  So, mysterious Skuld may represent what "should be", but as we move into the future, we still have the option to change that path or direction through our choices.  Although the Norns hold our ultimate destiny in their hands, how we arrive there is up to us through our choices and the experiences we make for ourselves.

Going back to "skáru á skiði", think of it like this.  We know our Urd; it has been carved.  We live in our Verdandi; it is being carved.  Although our Skuld is a mystery, our past and present will carve it.