Runes 202 - Bind Runes - Empowerment

Saturday started out pretty sucky.  I lost a document I was working on.  In fact, I got up early to finish it off.  After trying to recover it for half an hour, I brought in the big guns (aka I asked my husband to try).  He knows a bit more than I do about computers, but he couldn't recover or repair the document either.  Just for good measure, while he was working on it, I also accidentally deleted a page from this blog (which I am rewriting and posting later today).  This may not sound like much, but it happened before 7:00am and its piled on top of a bunch of other personal issues in play at right now.

As this was occurring, a bunch of Runes passed through my mind, with Thurisaz leading the way, followed by Hagalaz.  After a moment, Tiwaz and Eihwaz appeared almost simultaneously.

I paused for a moment after the first two Runes came into my mind and thought, 'Uh-oh.  Here comes trouble.  This could be a detrimental combination facing me - the Rune of giants and thorns and the hail Rune, bringing devastation initially.'

Thankfully, I contemplated Hagalaz a while longer and remembered its second aspect - nourishment and creative force.  Coupling that with the power of Thurisaz, if I took it and refocused it in my favor, I decided I wasn't going to let these setbacks ruin my mood or mindset. 

That is when Tiwaz appeared to to say, "You are a warrior and have the power to do just that - take control of the situation and spin it to your favor." I felt like I could do that or, at least, not let it over power me.  To reinforce this belief, Eihwaz confirmed that I had the strength to stand my ground, that I was in control of how I chose to deal with the situation.

Although I appreciated this conversation with the Runes, the process felt incomplete.  I wanted to do something more to acknowledge the dialogue and the way it empowered me in an otherwise unpleasant situation.  Almost as quickly as Thurisz appeared, so did the beginnings of this bind Rune.

Thurisaz and Hagalaz were in place from the start and adding Tiwaz and Eihwaz took only an instant more.  The result was a bind Rune that shows Thurisaz and Hagalaz both opposing and blending with Tiwaz and Eihwaz.  When I look at this Rune, I feel empowered and know that I have the ability to manage trying situations successfully.  What would your bind Rune of empowerment look like?

No More Procrastination

Through procrastination, we simply put off one of two things - the inevitable (ultimately having to complete the task we keep delaying) or failure.  Either way, in the end, we never feel satisfied.  Failure certainly makes us miserable, but there is little gratification in doing something we don't want to do or don't enjoy doing either.  Sometimes it's not even about that; sometimes there is just a lingering fear that we can't quite place or fully understand.  It's time to work on overcoming procrastination.  But how?  I will preface this by prompting you with Jera, the Rune of the harvest, which reminds us that everything is a process.  With that in mind, we can create a plan to get from A to B, but then focus only on one step at a time.  Now, we know some steps are harder than others, so what will it take to complete each step?

Interestingly, Jera was my second Rune in this line of questioning, so let's look at it in relation to the other two Runes I drew - Sowilo and Uruz - the Runes of the sun and aurochs, respectively.  These three Runes not only link and work together well, but they create a strong united force.

Remember, through Jera, we recognize that we are somewhere in the middle of a process.  To complete the process successfully, we create a plan.  Within that plan exists a series of steps to lead us to point B.  Rather than keeping our focus on B, we keep an eye on it, but focus instead on the individual steps in front of us.

Building on Jera as each step in the process needs to be completed, we gain support from Sowilo, the sun - a feminine energy to brighten our spirits and guide us with light and energy - and aurochs, the ox - a symbol of slow and steady strength, of courage and determination.

Another way to think about this is from the perspective of the farm field.  What do your crops need to grow?  The sun is a key ingredient.  How do you get the crops planted and harvested?  Through the strength of the ox that carries and pulls your plow, your wagon, and your other tools.  It's a simple example, I know.  But, think of how it applies to your life. 

What do you need to finish your project?  Use the strength of Uruz to find your own strength or tool to finish the job.  Find the light and energy offered by Sowilo to end the procrastination and feel good about finishing the task at hand.  As you go through this process and let these Runes of light and strength guide your progress, empower yourself and let your confidence grow.  You can do this and  do it well, then enjoy the satisfaction of overcoming procrastination.

I would wish you luck, but you don't need luck, you have the wisdom of the Runes to guide you.  Let me know how it goes; I have a few things to finish off myself this week and now I  know how to do it.

Empowering Ourselves

This week, I'd like to address an issue on which I am working, but one that I realized, through conversations and posted comments, that many people I know are facing too.  So many people feel powerless today and are living lives, doing things that do not make them happy, that do not make them feel fulfilled or satisfied in any way.  In such circumstances, we don't feel like we have a choice, which is wrong.  Within each of us resides the power to stand up and take control of our lives.  So, I asked the Runes how we can do that.  What do we need to know to do it?  How do we approach it?  After drawing the first Rune and thinking, 'Of course.  I should have realized that,' I knew what the other two Runes would be and, honestly, I was a bit freaked out when I was right.

I drew Uruz first.  Do you see why it makes perfect sense that this Rune is first?  Uruz is the Rune of the wild ox, of strength, courage, and determination.  This is exactly what we must find in ourselves to begin our empowerment.  We must find it and trust it.  We are full of potential and strength and, as soon as we realize and accept that, we are taking the first step toward empowerment.  We are strong!

But, how can we do this?  Especially when the world around us is beating us down?  One of the things I love about the Runes is that they don't offer easy, quick fixes; they are honest and present nothing more than the truth.  The truth is that our own empowerment is a process, which is why Jera, the Rune of the harvest and process, came second in this line of questioning.  Empowerment is never easy; it is always a challenge and it will test our strength.  That is why Uruz was first, to remind us straight away that we are strong.  We can make it through this process of regaining our power.  But this would be so much easier if we knew what was coming, right?  If we knew why we're working so hard to empower ourselves.  What is the point?

Funny you should ask, because the third Rune this week is Wunjo, the Rune of joy, a thankfulness for the basic essentials of life.  If we, in our strengthened position through Uruz, realize that there is a significant difference between a want and a need, assess what we allow ourselves to believe is a want versus a need, and act on that, our perspective changes.  The more we decide what we need to be happy, instead of letting outside sources dictate that for us, the more we realize that what we want or need is not the same thing that everyone else may want or need.  We must focus on ourselves, instead of trying to force our values or convince others of our beliefs (when we act as the outside force trying to dictate to others), the happier we will be.  In other words, if we want to be happy, we need to focus on us and not worry about what others are saying or try to tell others what to think.

Here is our path to empowerment - Uruz reminds us that we have the strength we need to empower ourselves; Jera tells us that the path to empowerment is a process that will take time and will be as smooth as we make it, that is part of our empowerment, that we dictate the path; and that, if we want to be happy through this empowerment, as Wunjo offers, we need to focus on ourselves, not at the expense of others, rather to make us more aware of what constitutes our own happiness.

What is the first step you will take toward your own empowerment?