Runes 402 - Rune Dialogues - Motivation

I don't know about you, but last week has a few high points in crappiness for me, so I decided it's time for some changes, time to take some initiative and get the ball rolling in the direction I want and need it to go.  So, I turned to the Runes and on one quiet morning late last week, and asked them for some guidance, which, of course, turned into an important dialogue about motivation.

Here's the question that was lingering in my head - why is it that, too often, we have to become fed up with the crap before we do anything to make effective, positive, and long-lasting change?  Once I realized that this was my problem at the moment, I was able to begin to change my perspective and ask about the positive motivation I need to move forward on the things I want to do.  It was this shift that led me to talk with the Runes in an effective way.

Me:  Some crappy things happened this week that are weighing on me and I need some positive motivation.  Where should I focus?

Runes:  It sounds as if you have experienced that first half of Hagalaz - the hail storm.  But, remember the other half, the nourishment that hail storm leaves in its wake.  The negative experiences you've had are leading you to the creative solutions you hold within you.  It is a shame that the negative experiences must occur, but you are correct in your recognition that becoming "fed up with the crap" motivates us to make changes.  The trick is going to be ensuring that you bring these changes to fruition, so that the crap or, at least, this crap doesn't happen again.

Me:  That is an excellent point.  Thank you for helping me see this perspective.  Although it would be nice to not have to deal with the crap, through Hagalaz, it can be a great motivator for change.  So, now that I feel ready and motivated to make serious change, how do I know it is time.

Runes:  Ingwaz assures you of that.  This Rune represents Ing, the hero, but it also refers to Ingvi Freyr, the fertility god, a god of peace and plenty.  This is where you should focus your attention, on these attributes - fertility, peace, and plenty.  Like Hagalaz, the characteristics of this Rune indicate a process.  Where Hagalaz's hail storm provided the motivation you needed to shift your focus to your true goals, Ingwaz reminds you that you stand on fertile ground and that fertile ground will bring you peace; through accepting that peace, you have the potential to achieve positive gains.

Me:  You are right, of course.  Thank you for reminding me that I am standing on fertile ground and that it is my choice in how I proceed.  I must decide the challenges I face.  I know the general direction I want and need to go, but how can I ensure that I follow that path as I need to?

Runes:  Begin with careful contemplation.  Create a plan before simply jumping in.  Isa can help with that.  The ice Rune requires not caution, but care.  Tread with care. Be still.  Listen.  Think.  Those are the first steps your motivation should take.

Me:  But what if I lose my motivation?  I am prone to leaping and figuring things out, in large part, as I go.  How do I curb my enthusiasm without losing my motivation?

Runes:  Jera.

Me: (giant grin appears on my face as I kiss this Rune).  That was sneaky; giving me my Rune.

Runes:  Yes, but you know what it means.  It will even motivate you more, I think.

Me:  You are right about that.

Runes:  Jera is your Rune because you need this prompt to keep you moving in your process.  No Rune, more than Jera does that for you.  This Rune, the Rune of the year and the harvest screams out time to you.  You must take the required time to bring your forward motion to fruition so that you end up where you want to be.  Encompassed within it is the process that Ingwaz showed you.  You are starting on fertile ground and you will find peace through Isa's wisdom and unleashing the creativity of Hagalaz's second half.  Do you see the interlinked processes?

Me:  I do.  Thank you.  One last question.  What tool do I need to assist me along the way?

Runes:  You must use the greatest tool you possess on this front - Ansuz.

Me:  Of course.  Ansuz incorporates not only communication, which will be indispensable, but the gods and the idea of the mouth of a river.  I am standing at the mouth of the river after a rough journey over open seas.  Now, the path narrows and leads to my goals.  The gods will be with me on this journey as they always are and I will use one of my greatest assets - communication.  Thank 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 401 - Rune Rituals - Pace Yourself

We've all heard and probably used one or more of these idioms in our lives:

"Don't put the cart in front of the horse."    "Don't jump to conclusions."

"Don't get ahead of yourself."                      "Slow and steady wins the race."

But, why is pacing ourselves important?  This is a question I've pondered... a lot!  In fact, it is why I named my company the Jera Institute.

Jera represents the year, the harvest, a cycle or process.  Everything has a process through which it must go to fruition and that process must be honored.  When we skip steps, race through them or jump ahead, we can run into trouble and create problems for ourselves or others.  That is a key reason why pacing ourselves is important, though not always easy, because it requires patience.  Jera represents the importance of process and, in turn, setting and following a pace.  This is particularly important when we have a strong tie (usually emotional) to the outcome.


Given its importance, I decided to conduct a ritual to remind myself that pacing yourself is important and to acknowledge the subtle difference between the routineness of following a schedule and creating an overarching  pace.

For the past week, I've had this image in my head.  Tiwaz painted on a light-colored angular, yet oval-ish rock.  This was the foundation for the ritual, but it took me a few days of contemplating it to figure out why.  It's Tyr's story; it's how he lost his hand.  Tyr placed his hand in Fenrir's mouth, knowing the wolf was going to bite it off once he realized he could not break free from Gleipnir, the tether the gods used to bind him.  But, it was Tyr's ability to remain calm to show a stable, confident pace as he walked up, placed and kept his hand in the wolf's mouth, while the wolf twisted, turned and writhed trying to escape.  It's that calm that's required when you know the outcome or you're trying to force a particular outcome that is the pace.  You're not rushing to the outcome, not trying to make it happen before its time.  That is why Tyr's Rune is this ritual's cornerstone.

In addition to Tiwaz, I asked the Runes what else they would like me to know about pace.  Interestingly, I drew Jera first, reinforcing what I said above about honoring the process.  Nauthiz came second and made me feel that everything to this point is right on track; we are using the things we need to complete this ritual honoring the importance of pace.  Doubly though, it strengthens the idea of needing to establish and or maintain a pace, especially in situations where we are so tied to the outcome.  Finally, I pulled Ehwaz, the horse.  With regard to pace, I think the final line of Ehwaz's Rune poem offers the perfect summary - it is, to the wanderer, ever a benefit.  If pace is the 'it' in this line is pace, it benefits the wanderer, by giving direction and consistency.

My turtle's name

The last piece for this ritual is a turtle, oddly enough named Pace.  It was a gift from my husband when I was struggling through the data processing of my Master's thesis.  It reminded me that, like Tyr, I just needed to do what had to be done in a calm and consistent way, and the outcome would be my degree.  Although Tyr lost his hand, he knew and was linked to the outcome - everyone was safe from the wolf.

With these pieces in place, I began the ritual by setting up its three aspects.  Tiwaz, painted on the rock representing Tyr's calm and confident pace, gives the energy of this great god to the ritual.  The three Runes I drew explain the importance of setting a pace.  At last, I set down Pace, my ceramic turtle, as a personal example of how pace, in a situation when I was so eager to reach the outcome, was important to reaching that outcome successfully, without skipping a step to get there.

As I laid down each item for the ritual, I chanted, "I am grateful for Tyr's brave example of setting and maintaining a pace.  When I am strongly tied to the outcome of a process, I must remember the importance of pacing myself.  Pacing myself has been successful in the past and will be again."

Once all three pieces were in place, I took a breath, held my hands over each piece and repeated my chant over each one, taking a deep breath and exhaling before moving to the next one.

I know it's not poetry, but the repetition solidified the essence of the ritual's components and the importance pacing myself.  The next time I start to get ahead of myself, I will recall this ritual and remember Tyr and find the right pace.

Runes 202 - Bind Runes 1

Bind Runes are something I've been interested in for a while now and, over the past two weeks, I've had a number of people ask me about them.  To that end, I decided to make my first conscious effort in creating one.  I say conscious, because in February 2012, I was writing about Making Alterations and I drew two Runes together that reminded me of a symbol I drew almost manically on my pee-chees (notebooks) in high school.  That was my first bind Rune, but it was completely unconscious and I didn't recognize the symbol as being Runes until fairly recently.

For my first bind Rune, I wanted to accomplish two things.  I wanted it to be very meaningful to me and I wanted it to follow up on my first Rune ritual, which I did earlier this year.  To that end, there were three components I wanted to include in my bind Rune - financial success, my writing and speaking endeavors, and Jera, which is my guiding Rune, so much so that I named my company after it.

These are all simple traits to represent with Runes - Fehu for financial success, Ansuz for communication, and Jera, the Harvest Rune, for Jera.  The challenging part was going to be Jera, because of its unique shape.  I decided to begin with the first two Runes, since I saw very easily how they could fit together.

As I drew Fehu, I repeated the chant from my Rune ritual, "Water is my element; Fehu is my goal."  When I added Ansuz, I said, "May Odin and Heimdall give my words, both written and spoken, an engaging tone.  I ask Freyja to help me write easily and well."

Once those two Runes were drawn together, I could see how perfectly Jera would fit in.  In the image to the left, you can see Jera in purple and where its one missing part needed to be drawn into the bind.  This was a pleasant surprise.

I traced over the sections that were already there, then added the final part.  As I drew, I repeated, "Jera is my Rune, my guiding Rune, and I believe in the process to a bountiful harvest."

I have the drawing I made, but I couldn't get a clear picture of it, so I drew it on my computer to make it easier to see and share.  While the drawn bind Rune will hang on my wall, I will share the computerized rendition with you.  What do you think?

I love my bind Rune and what it represents for me, the idea of being successful in my writing and speaking career, because I remain true to and respect the process this experience requires.

Have you ever made a bind Rune?  I'd love to hear your experience.

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.

Set Goals; Don't Make Resolutions

It's the second full week of 2013; how are your resolutions coming?  I decided long ago that I wasn't going to make any new years resolutions, because I rarely followed through on them.  However, I found that if I changed the idea from a resolution to a goal, I fared much better.  It is to that end that I asked the Runes how we can be successful in accomplishing our goals for 2013.

For the draw, and in practice for my soon-to-be new set of Runes, I tried a different approach.  Instead of reaching into the bag and pulling out the Runes, I held them all in my hands above (but not directly over) my head and began dropping them not one at a time, but let them fall as my hands moved back and forth.  Going forward, this is the likely method I will use, because I did this once, then tried a different approach that didn't work, then tried dropping them again and got the same three Runes as I did the first time.  I took the first three that fell face up.  They were Fehu, Jera, and Raido.

 

Fehu was an interesting first Rune, because its core meaning is cattle or money.  However, given the line of questioning, I take this to represent something that will make you wealthier, not necessarily in the financial sense.  For example, I have writing goals this year and one of the main reasons I write is because it makes me happy and, happiness is a form of wealth in our lives.  I believe that this is what Fehu in the first position is telling us.  If we expect to be successful in accomplishing our goals, we must set goals around things that will bring some form of wealth into our lives.

 

My favorite Rune, Jera, was next.  The Rune of the harvest and process is the best reminder that the goals are not going to happen over night.  Success comes from applying ourselves every day and committing to bringing the goals to fruition.  It means dealing with set backs and staying focused so that we can move forward.  Create a plan with some manageable steps will help too.  For example, don't just say you're going to get a new job, set metrics like how many resumes you're going to send out a week, how many cold calls you're going to make, and how many sources you have for finding work.  Whatever your goal is, realize that there is a process related to it, have patience, and work with the process.

Finally, Raido, the Rune of travel and journey.  This journey can occur in any state - physical, mental, emotional or spiritual.  What is represents primarily is the idea that you must keep things moving forward and, in this way, it supports Jera's focus on process.  You cannot make progress toward your goal if you don't move forward.  Simply put, Raido takes you from where you are to where you want to be.

What are some goals you've set for 2013?  How will you accomplish them?

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?

Compliment or Criticism: Choose Your Focus

For some reason, it seems humans are more inclined to focus on the negative, rather than the positive.  While we appreciate compliments, a single criticism, no matter how small, not only tends to erase the good feeling brought on by the compliment, but makes us angry, frustrated or sad.  I had this experience this morning.  I ran into a friend of mine, who told me that she started reading my novel last night and couldn't put it down.  "Really engaging," she said.  Of course, that made me feel great!  Less than thirty minutes later, I ran into someone else, who criticized something I did yesterday, behavior that he clearly misunderstood, but his comments were enough to piss me off.  At home, I came into my office and sat, staring at my computer screen for 10-15 minutes, so angry that every time I started typing something, I deleted it.  Nothing seemed right.  Then, I realized what had happened.  I decided to ask the Runes how to allow the positive into my life, while letting the negative roll away.

Othala, the last Rune in the Futhark, offers a very interesting overview, focused on the positive.  While Othala is the Rune of inheritance and the homestead, we must look beyond this face value to find its underlying meaning.  It is about the foundation for the way we live our lives.  It is not an entitlement, rather reminds us to appreciate the gifts we receive that allow us to create the life we want.  Although the meaning tends to be geared toward the gifts we've received from ancestors in the form of traditions, property, and inherited characteristics, when we are building our homestead (the life we want), we also receive gifts in the present from friends and family.  This is where our focus should be, but how do we do it?

Well, Raido reminds us that life is a journey.  The Rune of riding or a carriage, travels on the path we take to establish our homestead on a foundation of the gifts we receive.  We must move forward; that is how we progress.  However, what we must be aware of is that the path our journey takes us on is not going to be straight and smooth.  It will contain bumps, curves, dips, hills, bridges, a whole variety of things that make our journey interesting.  Unfortunately, we will hit potholes and other disruptive features in our road, but our challenge is that we must manage and get past those annoyances, so that we can enjoy the rest of the ride and the amazing scenery that surrounds us.  Again, we ask how to do it?

 Can you guess the answer?  It is, of course, Jera, the Rune of the harvest.  As we have seen many times before, a bountiful harvest represents the fruits of a long process.  This means that there is no easy answer to our question, that removing and not allowing negative energy to chip away at our homestead's foundation will take time.  What we can do is make a commitment to the process.  Realize that the power is within us to dwell on the things we choose.  Therefore, as I starting point, I choose to dwell on my friend's positive words about my novel and build on that.

Before I end this post though, I'd like to offer something positive to you.  Simply by reading my blog, you have done two positive things.  First, you made me feel good by reading my writing.  Second, and more importantly, you have given yourself a tool to help you shed negative energy.  So, when someone says something negative to you, stop and think about all the positive things people have said to you and feed on that instead.

Have a positively beautiful week.

A Mix of Routine and Spontaneity

Lately, I've been feeling like my days are getting away from me and I'm not accomplishing the things that I want or need to do.  So, although I am still getting things done, it doesn't seem like it and it doesn't feel very rewarding.  I need to get back to schedules and "to do" lists, but I don't want to get tied down to a predictable and humdrum existence.  So, how can I find a balance, where I have enough routine to be productive, but not so much that my life loses all signs of spontaneity?

As I am in the process of making my own set of Runes on wooden staves, I decided that, this week, I would try a different approach to my draw.  In fact, I did a toss or a roll, instead of pulling them out of the bag.  With the staves, I can't draw them out of a bag, if for no other reason than they will be different sizes, so I might be inclined to avoid the skinny Isa, for example, and choose fat Dagaz.  Instead, I will give them all a toss and choose the three that are closest to the center of the pile and face up.  Using my current Runes for this week's question and following that course, I got Othala, Thurisaz, and Jera.

I must admit, Othala as the overview gave me pause.  I thought for a while about how this Rune represents the current situation and I realized that the Rune of inheritance and home represents something more basal than inheritance and home.  It signifies the foundation of tradition.  While our goal is to enjoy our home life, which is another attribute of this Rune, to do that, we must look to the past to see how enjoying the home was achieved before.  For me, this is very telling, because I find I am most effective when I have a somewhat set schedule and, more recently, a "to do" list.  The latter is especially handy these days, when my life isn't my own, rather I am coordinating my family of four.  What Othala says to me is, "Look back to when your life and home were in order.  Why was it so?"

Thurisaz, the Rune of giants and thorns, as the challenge is perfect.  I like this Rune, because it is about focusing power.  If we are honest with ourselves, that is the challenge we face through this question.  We all have the power to be productive; after all, everything is pure potential when it begins.  Therefore, we have the potential within us to focus our power or efforts on creating a more productive and satisfying daily life.  We can choose to create obstacles, tear them down or go around them.

It is no surprise then that Jera is our required action.  You all know this is my favorite Rune, the Rune of the harvest.  However, what we must recognize is that in order for the harvest to occur and be bountiful, we must follow a process.  If we think of the things we have to do in our lives as being different crops, we begin to see that each plant has its own requirements.  Some plants need more sun, while others need more water.  Some grow in soil that stunts other plants.  It is this detail of the process that we must address.  How much time does each aspect of our lives require?  Which things are necessary for survival and which are merely wants?  Don't get me wrong,  I'm not saying we should ignore wants or give no time to them.  What I am suggesting is that we make this distinction to help us prioritize.  Where our needs create our routine, our wants give way to spontaneity.

Runes of Gratitude

A year ago yesterday, I launched this blog with no idea what would happen and no idea where it would be in a year.  However, since the launch, I've learned so much about the Runes and their meanings, their role in mythology and history (Runes 101 series) and grown so attached to them and their purpose that I am making my own set in my Runes 301 series.  More than 3,250 visits from readers from all over the world have visited this blog.  I am very grateful to everyone who has taken a look at it, who follows it and who has told others about it.  To express my appreciation to all of you and those who will visit in the coming year, I asked the Runes to show me Runes of gratitude so that I could share them with you.

The first Rune was no surprise; it was Jera, my Rune, the Rune of the harvest and process.  No Rune could summarize better the experience we've had together over the past year.  Writing this blog has been a learning process.  As time progressed, I made changes, added new things, fine tuned my presentations, and created a more regular process.  Through all of these alterations, you have continued to support and read my work and, for that, I am grateful.

 When I began this blog, I seemed to be surrounded by naysayers and people who asked what I expected to gain from doing it; people who thought I was wasting my time.  To manage this criticism., I needed help.  The Runes gave me Algiz, the Rune of self-defense and protection.  In the book, "The Rune Primer", by Sweyn Plowright, the final line in his description of this Rune is "Let an opponent's eagerness to grasp be their downfall."  In my case, I believe my antagonists have met their downfall, because my blog is going very well, thanks to you, and I am incorporating the things I've learned and experiences I've had into other parts of my life too.  This is a wonderful aspect to this endeavor.  When I began, I expected nothing (truly, because I had not idea what to expect), but I have reaped many rewards through this process, from things that I have incorporated into my fiction writing to reconnecting more fully with my environmental background.  Because Algiz protected me or helped me to defend my belief in this blog and because you have taken the time to read it, I am grateful.

 Now that a year has passed, the question becomes, what next?  What will the coming year bring?  For that, I have Laguz, the Rune of the sea and flow.  Drawing this Rune makes me smile, because it confirms that I am on the right path with this endeavor.  It reminds me that the depths of the sea are a mystery as is the path forward with this blog.  However, it also assures me that, whatever happens, it will flow and happen freely, as it should.  I hope that you will continue to enjoy my work and visit this blog.  For your consideration and support, I am grateful.

Next time, I'll share a bit of my practice attempts at carving my Runes. Until then, have a wonderful week and, thank you again, for tuning in.

Making Alterations

I have started the search for a literary agent for my first novel.  I got some good advice from one of the agents who read the first fifty pages.  Yesterday, I initiated my plans to address her suggestions.  While the changes are not major, they do require some reworking throughout the book.  So, I asked the Runes what they thought of the idea of making these changes to it.  The response I got had less to do with the interpretation than it did to do with the images of the Runes themselves.  I drew Mannaz for the overview, Dagaz for the challenge and Isa for the action.

I like that the overview was Mannaz, the Rune of the Self, humanity, even culture.  This describes the situation perfectly; after all, I am talking about my own book and my own considerations of altering the work I've spent the last two years doing.  In many ways, this Rune is simply telling me that I already know the answer to the question I asked - it resides within me, within my mind, within my heart.  I can make these changes and it will improve the quality of the story if I make them correctly and wisely.  The requirement here is that I know myself.

As I mentioned, it is the images of the Runes that struck me before the meanings.  However, before I get to the images, let me explain the meaning of the other two Runes.  Dagaz is the Rune of Day, clarity.  This Rune allows for breakthroughs to occur, because everything becomes clearer in the light of day.  This is my challenge, to find the clarity as I pursue the alterations.

Countering Dagaz is Isa, the Rune of Ice and caution, even standstill.  While my challenge is to see things clearly and move forward, my action says that maybe I should sit and not do anything for a while.  How does that help me to have the breakthrough I need?  In two ways.  First, it tells me that sometimes the best action is to consider action.  What is the best way to move forward?  Weigh options, be content with slow or small advances.  Through this explanation, it reminds me of Jera, the Rune of the Harvest, which tells us that everything has a process through which it must travel.  As many of you know, Jera is my Rune; I draw it more than any other and even named my company after it, because I think process is so vital to success.  The second thing Isa tells me relates to its image and that of Dagaz, for while they seem to stand in contrast to each other, one claiming clarity and breakthroughs are required and the other saying be still, together, perhaps they balance out each other.  Why do I think that?  Because during the three years I spent in high school, this image covered my pee-chees (folders for those of you to young to remember a pee-chee) and notebooks.  I doodled it everywhere.  Isa on Dagaz.

It was my image; the image of my Self.  It was me - balanced, my symbol.  So, the overview of this draw suggests that I must know myself and the challenge and action Runes partner to give me the sense of myself that I had back in high school, when I became committed fully to being writer.  In this image, I found balance and focus.  This is why I started the alterations on my novel.

Two weeks ago, I presented all the Runes (Runes 101 - Runes in History 5) and asked what your Rune was.  Today, I wonder what Runes show up in your doodles.  Have a look at the Runes again and let me know if you can identify Runes that balance you.

The Random Draw

Today, I find myself at a crossroads of sorts.  There are a number of things about which I want to ask the Runes for guidance and clarity.  Since I can't decide, I turned the tables on the Runes.  I asked them to show me what they wanted me to know and promised I would figure it out.  The catch is that I can figure out only what the draw means for me.  So, you will have to see if and how it fits your situation.  The three Runes I was given are Laguz, Ingwaz/Inguz, and my favorite - Jera.

Laguz is the Rune of the Sea, of Flow and Intuition.  I found it quite amusing that the new age interpretation for this Rune includes living without understanding or evaluating things and that it is a Rune of intuition.  A challenge, perhaps, for my request to have the Runes show me what they want me to see and the promise that I will figure out to what they refer.  Maybe they don't want me to see anything at the moment.  To be sure, traditional meanings related to Laguz refer to the mysterious depths of the sea and liken it to the subconscious mind.  Okay, so maybe the Runes are telling me that they don't need to tell me, because I already know it on some level.  A cleansing, reevaluation is called for.  I should look at what I have and, if I move things around a bit, I will see more clearly what I need to know.

The challenge around this mystery is Ingwaz/Inguz and relates to the Norse god Freyr, the god of fertility and plenty.  That Freyr was brave and passionate cannot be doubted.  He is the god who fought and was killed by Surtr, the fire giant, in the final battle.  Looking at why he was killed reveals his passion.  He fell so deeply in love with the giantess Gerðr that he gave his sword to his servant Skínir to get him to go and bring Gerðr to him to be his wife.  Thus, Freyr did not have his sword, then, when he came up against Surtr at Ragnarök.  While passion drives me most of the time the message I get from this is that passion must be guided by practicality and planning.  Whatever your "sword" is, don't be too quick to give it away.


The action comes from Jera, the Rune of the Harvest.  This reminds me that everything has a process through which it must travel to fruition.  Hard work, good planning and judgement are required here to complete the cycle successfully.  The best part of this Rune lies within the traditional interpretation, which claims that if the investor (aka me or you) benefits, the community will benefit.  This is a worthwhile venture.


Have you figured out how this applies to your life?  Because now I know that an idea that popped up for me a few days ago is one worth pursuing and that I must continue my lifelong quest to be a writer.  I hope you can see how this applies to you and that we all have success with turning our dreams and ideas into reality.