Runes 401 - Rune Rituals - Face Fears

Last month, I experienced one of the most traumatic moments of my life.  I was confronted by a fear whose depth I had not fully realized.  To some, it may sound silly to say that I had a panic attack driving over a big bridge, but that is where I found myself.  I am still not sure how I managed to get across it and it still seems as though the three to five minute drive took an hour or more.  What's worse, the experience began snowballing the week after the event and I found myself becoming fearful of driving over any bridge, big or small and, like it or not, I have to cross a big bridge on a fairly regular basis.  I knew I needed help, guidance; so, I turned to the Runes.

When dealing with situations of facing deeply felt fears, we need something that will make us feel calm, instill a bit of confidence, and maybe give us the slightest sense of empowerment or ability to succeed or overcome.  In essence, we need something that will give us the strength to face our fears and some of you may know what that is for you.  I had no idea what it was for me, but the Runes offered me the best chance of finding something.

The first step of my ritual was contemplation.  Lying in bed, I relaxed and thought about all the Runes and their meanings.  Through that process, I narrowed it down to five Runes - Jera (my guiding Rune), Uruz, Wunjo, Thurisaz, and Eihwaz.

Next, I took each of these Runes and held them in my hand one by one and focused on what they represent.  Jera is about process and getting from point A to B, which is a big part of what I needed to do driving across a big bridge.  However, I did not feel the courage I needed to have as the other part of it.  Uruz represents physical strength and freedom, but I needed mental and emotional strength.  Wunjo, though a strong emotional Rune, did not offer quite the right emotion for this situation.  I really thought Thurisaz would be the Rune, but when I held it in my hand, I felt the power behind it would turn to disaster, because the great power that comes out of this Rune has to be controlled and I did not believe I could control it in this situation.  Then, I held Eihwaz and, immediately, I was calm.  This was my Rune.

It has been a year and a half since I wrote about Eihwaz, where it served as a symbol of bravery and a reminder to be mindful.  The fact that it represents a tree, firmly rooted to the earth (as opposed to being suspended high over a large body of water) resonated well with me too.

Finally, two weeks later, I had to cross another big bridge.  I carried Eihwaz around with me for a few days before having to drive over another big bridge. As I carried it, I thought about its meaning and it helped calm me down, so that I could focus. When the time came to cross the bridge, I held Eihwaz in my left hand and chanted "Eihwaz offers me strength.  As a tree, it is rooted and as a tool its arrows shoot straight from its bows."  I needed the reminder of the tree being rooted to the ground, but I also needed the focus of the arrow being fired from the bow and following a straight path to get me over the bridge without acknowledging one side or the other.  Thank you, Eihwaz.

What Rune would you use to help you get through an anxious experience?

Runes 401 - Rune Rituals - Freyr's Fertility

Rituals are an important part of my relationship with the Runes.  I don't do them often, February being the last time I conducted one.    Last November, I performed a ritual around the importance of pacing yourself and, before that, it was the end of last summer, when I honored Idunn.

I have been waiting to do this ritual since February, when I acknowledged the return of light (the to the northern hemisphere).  A month later, I acknowledged a very important point in Earth's annual cycle - the equinox.  These were two key times leading up to the moment when I could till the soil and seed the ground.  After an unusually long winter and a short, wet spring, that meant keeping my plants inside for a while longer than usual, planting season has finally arrived along with the optimism that it will yield a bountiful harvest.

A bountiful harvest requires fertile ground and, when I need that kind of fertility, there is only one Norse god whose energy I seek - Freyr, the god of peace and plenty.  It is to his essence that I dedicate my annual planting ritual.

With the soil turned and ready for planting, I go through a three-step process to honor the fertility god.

24 rocks laid out as Ingwaz

First, I lay out 24 rocks in the shape of Ingwaz, Freyr's Rune.  Each rock represents a Rune and I say each one as I lay down a rock to build Ingwaz's shape.  I confess, it wasn't until my third year doing this that I didn't use a reference to make sure I had the Runes in proper order (mostly because I was a little nervous).

Once the rocks are laid out and I have said the name of each Rune as I laid down each rock, I stand and face northwest and say, "I turn this soil in your honor, Freyr."  (Whenever a ritual involves Freyr, I face northwest when chanting or calling to him.  That is my choice for no other reason than it just feels right; I have a friend who faces east to catch the rising sun; so it is your choice.)

Runes laid out as Ingwaz with
dedication plant in the center

Second, I remove the rocks and make a smaller Ingwaz shape with my Runes.  Again, I say each Rune as I lay it down.  I keep this step separate to help show (visualize) how the soil goes from gray/black dirt to the beginning of plant life with a touch of green.  Once the shape is complete, I take one of my plants and place it in Ingwaz's center.  This year I chose 'the runt of the litter', a small melon plant, because I wasn't sure it was going to survive.  With a little TLC, it sprouted a couple of new leaves, signifying to me Freyr's powerful fertility. With the plant in the center, I go around Ingwaz one more time, touching each Rune as I say its name.

To finish this step, I stand and face northwest again and say, "Freyr, I believe in your power to provide fertility to the planet, to nourish the Earth and all things that live here. This plant represents the garden I dedicate to you."

The third step happens after the garden is planted and the green life becomes more obvious.  I have a jar of holy water, received from Freyr through rain, that I sprinkle around the garden.  Expressing my gratitude to the fertility god, I say, "I believe in the power of Freyr to provide fertility to the planet. My gods walk with me and I know that Freyr will nourish my efforts."

My plants waiting to go into the garden

 
I have completed the first two steps and will complete step three later this week, once my plants are in the ground.

Do you perform any rituals that you're willing to share?  If so, leave a comment on this post or email me.

Runes 401 - Rune Rituals - Fehu

Today, inspired by the activities of a friend, I begin a new series - Rune Rituals.  This is something I never imagined myself doing, but this is also why the saying "never say never" exists.    Most importantly, I am entering into this ritual, because I believe it will help me with my goal and not out of any act of desperation.  I think that is the key to being successful.

Now, while my friend was showing gratitude for having received some unexpected money, I want to bring money to me this year through my writing.  So, my reason for using Fehu is different.

Although I've never done anything like this myself, I have seen rituals and read about them, so I had a sense of them.  My goal in undertaking this ritual is simple; I want to use Fehu to bring money to me for my writing.

Briefly, here's my reasoning for choosing this as my first ritual.  For those of you who don't know, I have written a novel, called The Son of Nine Sisters, and am working on the sequel.  Through my company, The Jera Institute, I offer professional writing and editing services and lead a variety of writing and communication workshops.  It is through these endeavors that I want to make enough money going forward, so that all I have to do is write.  Now, on with the ritual.

To begin, I made a circle out of money and added some other money inside the circle.  The bowl is full of coins from around the world, because I hope to sell my writing talents internationally.  The small pile of bills includes Canadian and American dollars, because I believe this is where I will derive the majority of my income this year.  My novel is in the circle to represent my writing.  As this is, in my mind, my greatest writing feat to date, it was the most appropriate item to include.  The final items in the circle are three Runes, all Fehu and all made of different material.  The ceramic Fehu is from my original set of Runes, the paper Fehu is from the set of temporary Runes I made last summer, and finally, the guiding Rune, is drawn in water (see image below) next to the small pile of money.

I have been drawn to water my entire life, learning and accepting that it is my primal element when I lived at the beach in southern California.  Dipping my finger into my holy water (in the jar just outside the circle, given by Freyr when I began making my own set of Runes), I drew Fehu inside the circle, while repeating, "Water is my element, Fehu is my goal."  I should note that the jar was inside the circle when I was tracing Fehu with it.  After repeating it nine times and tracing Fehu with fresh water each time, I held my open hands, palms down, over the circle.  With Frigg in my heart, (because she is the one who came when I decided to attempt this ritual), I chanted, "I am open to receiving money; money will come to me for my writing."  Again, I did this nine times.  Nine is an important number in Norse mythology, so I felt it important to use it for the chants in my ritual.

Once I completed the chant, I pulled the energy toward me, nine times from the circle and then nine times from above and beside me.  I ended by reaching my arms out in the shape of Algiz, hands open too, then pulling them into my chest, crossing them in front of me, bowing my head and saying, "I embrace this gift."

Keep in mind that, although I have been using the Runes for readings for several years, this is my first ritual.  Please let me know how and if you use the Runes in your rituals.  I will let you know how this one works for me.  Have a fruitful week!