Life on the Fringe

Since high school, people have tried to fit me into a given group or set of people.  While I think I am pretty easily defined, that definition falls, in parts only, into various groups.  Lately, I  found a group to which I am very drawn by its openness, acceptance, and peaceful approach to life.  Still, there are aspects to this group about which I remain ambivalent.  I decided to seek guidance form the Runes on this issue, because I think this is something that many of us face or have faced in our lives.  How do I join this group as fully as I can and embrace it, while maintaining my individuality?

I was caught off-guard by Isa, the Rune of ice or a standstill.  However, after some contemplation, I realized that this Rune is a fair representation of my current situation.  For am I not looking at something I find beautiful and tempting, but exercising caution, because of potential risks yet to be revealed?  Still, I wonder about ice as one of the primal elements, which is another aspect to this Rune.  Could it be this question is asking about some primary thing I need to create my world the way that earth, air, fire, and Isa (ice) created ours?

As interesting as Isa is to contemplate, Eihwaz, as the challenge in this instance, peaks my curiosity even more.  This Rune of stability and the yew tree presents a tough situation, a test in a sense.  I believe this means that I have made my choice; I stand with and support this new group.  The next step is to stand my ground on the issue.  If I commit to this, I cannot turn tail when questioned about my choice.  Luckily, I find this new group quite welcoming and inspiring, so demonstrating my commitment to it to others will be easy.

I must confess, the Rune for the action around this question is quite pleasing - Sowilo, the Rune of the sun and wholeness.  Drawing this Rune lifted my spirits, just as it is intended to do.  Further, it allowed another opportunity for me to contemplate my question and how I will address it personally.  Becoming part of a group doesn't require me to give 100% of myself, rather to give 100% of the part I give to the group.  This is great advice, in general.  If you are going to participate in something, do it completely or don't waste your time and the time of others who are committed to it.  If you are going to engage, engage completely, but don't not feel like you have to engage always.

That's a good way to start this week.  I hope it helps you too.  Next week, I'm cutting my Rune staves, so stay tuned!

Moving Forward

There are some people who map out their life before they enter college.  Others are in their forties and still not sure of their path.  Of course, there are those who know what they want to do, but aren't sure how they will get there.  When an opportunity presents itself, and it just feels right, how can we follow it as a positive stretch of our path?  How do we stay on that track and make the most of it?  I pulled three Runes that I don't draw very often, but which address this question very clearly.

Nauthiz, the Rune of need and necessity, explains the situation.  Despite these potentially negative connotations (need, necessity) Nauthiz also brings hope, for because we have a need, a requirement, we must practice discipline.  At the very least, through discipline comes relief, at best, comes rewards beyond what was expected.  When we have a requirement in our lives, it must be met and sometimes that need gives us the motivation required to acquire the need.  Perhaps even, it is the motivation we need to change course.  In support of this idea, contemporary interpretations of this Rune ask us to examine the obstacles we present for ourselves.  If an opportunity presents itself that offers a positive step forward, we must find a positive way to take that step, instead of building barriers to it.

The challenge in this situation comes from Sowilo, the Rune of the sun, good fortune, and wholeness.  Traditionally, this Rune represented the sun, feminine energy and light, and hope to lift the spirit.  Today, it is it a sign of wholeness or the search for it.  That challenge seems obvious.  We know what we want, we see a good and uplifting way to get it, yet we hesitate.  The hesitation creates the challenge, because it stops us from lifting our spirits, following our opportunity and getting closer to recognizing our personal wholeness, allowing ourselves to be that which we are already.

Eihwaz is the Rune of the yew tree, defense, and protection.  This is an interesting Rune for our action, because while the yew tree represents stability, it includes aspects of patience and perseverance.  The indication here is that through patience, we will persevere, which will create stability.  Just because the path has opened, do not leap onto it an run.  Consider your steps before taking them, move wisely, and, once you've made positive progress, stand your ground.  Taking a new or unexpected path can be frightening, but if you approach it with a thinking mind that doesn't over-think and an emotion (passion or excitement) that is not over-emotional, you will do well on this path.

As you think about all of the aspects of your life, I hope you can see where this fits into it.  The fit was immediately obvious for me.  For two decades, I have been an environmentalist.  For thirty years, I have been intrigued by Germanic culture, languages and landscapes.  Now, in an interesting twist, they are coming together.  In a sense, I have been on two paths for many years and now they are joining into one to carry me to the next level, the next part of my life.  I will walk wisely and enthusiastically forward on that path.

Leap, Jump, Step... Just Move

Last week, I had tea with a friend of mine.  She is struggling through some personal issues right now.  On top of that, or possibly because of it, she is very troubled over what to do with her life, what she really wants to pursue, and where her life, especially her professional life, is going.  She seems stuck, not knowing which way to go and afraid to step in any direction.  I assured her that I have been there more than once.  I shared with her three major hurdles I've come up against in my adult life and realized that, in each instance, I jumped blindly into the next phase of my life.  However, while I am prone jumping off cliffs in leaps of faith (and I should point out that my faith in this instance lies within myself, my abilities and the kindness of others; it's tangible even if unseen in the present), I know that not everyone can do that.  Some people need to strap on ropes and special climbing shoes and ease their way down the cliff.  That's okay.  We all take different paths to get where we need or want to go.  The point is that, whichever way we go, we go.

My questions for the Runes this week, then, are what advice works for everyone in this circumstance?  How can we look at this overwhelming situation and be willing to jump off a cliff or strap on as much safety equipment as we can find and lower down its side?  The answer they gave me  - Kenaz/Kano, Othala/Othila, and Eihwaz.

Kenaz (Kano) demonstrates perfectly how the situation should be perceived.  It is the Rune of Light, represented by a torch.  This Rune indicates a time of enlightenment.  The more light we shine on something, the easier it is to see.  In a sense, it offers us a moment of clarity in which we can see the right path.  Now, we just need to acknowledge it.  Once we do that, we need to be willing to set aside any fear or doubt we have and step onto that path.  Our instincts know it's the right one for us.  Of course, that doesn't mean it's going to be an easy path to follow, but it is the one that will get us where we want to be.

 No situation is without a challenge, but some seem more difficult to surmount than others.  When we are struggling and find ourselves in a really tough place, Othala (Othila), the Rune of Benefits and Inheritance, helps us in two directions.  Before moving forward, Othala reminds us to look back and be grateful for the things we do have in our lives, for the accomplishments we've made so far and for the sacrifices made by others (our ancestors and those around us).  Being grateful is not always easy, but once we start to recognize all of the good things in our lives, dealing with the hard things becomes a little easier.  The other direction this Rune helps us with is as we move forward.  We walk down the path we choose by trusting our instincts so that we can receive benefits.  However, although this Rune represents benefits, with those benefits may come personal sacrifices.  That is to say that, to get what we want or where we want to be, we may have to give up something else.

To accomplish this leap of faith (or to scale down the cliff side) and follow a new or enlightened path requires a bit of toughness and stability.  These aspects are demonstrated by Eihwaz, the Rune of Defense and the Yew tree.  We've already established that, just because we choose the correct path, it doesn't mean the path will always be easy to traverse.  Still, we have to stand our ground, demonstrate our faith in ourselves on this path, the correct path.  Eihwaz reminds us that, not only do we have the strength or toughness to do this, but that through the challenges we face on this road we will grow.

No matter how we enter the next phase of our lives, whether by leaping or taking small steps, the process is  the same.  Trust yourself to choose the right path.  The light shining on it comes from you.  Be grateful for the things in your life and the sacrifices of others.  Realize you will have to make sacrifices.  Finally, be strong.