A Rune for 2019

For the past few years, I've chosen a Rune to guide me through the year.  I've approached it as an individual Rune (Thurisaz) and I have performed some rituals (Sowilo and Ansuz) to make my determinations.  This year was different.  It didn't fee like a ritual so much as a whittling down of choices.

Unlike 2018, where my Rune for the year came to me clearly at least a month early, 2019 has been incredibly indecisive.  At least six Runes presented themselves as potential candidates, and each one has a reasonable case, starting with some of the Runes that I burned into my wand at the end of December.  Sowilo and Ansuz have already been Runes for the year, so I removed them from consideration.

That left Tiwaz, Eihwaz, Ingwaz, and Kenaz from the wand.  Beyond that, Berkana has been presenting itself far more often than usual as has Algiz.  What it came down to was what each Rune represents versus what I know about and will need in the coming year.

Tiwaz, Tyr's Rune, has always been a good Rune for me, representing three important aspects of Tyr - sky god, warrior god, and sacrifice.  They are often interconnected in any given circumstance.  The sky god has a bird's eye view to create strategy for the warrior who will persevere, but sacrifices will be made along the way.

Eihwaz, the Rune of the yew tree, is a Rune I use for specific moments.  It reminds me of my inner strength and helps me to overcome challenges.

Ingwaz, Freyr's Rune, surprised me as an option and was the first one that I ruled out.  This is a fertility Rune.  While I believe some things that are in play are moving forward, I would not say that the time is ripe for much at this point, though I could see Ingwaz coming into play in the next year or two.

Algiz came in third.  The Rune of self-defense and protection offers an important reminder that I extend from the idea of having to defend yourself to the idea of taking care of yourself.  Self care is a good idea, but not always easy to accomplish.  Plus, it means different things to different people.

The last two were almost impossible to choose between.  At one point, I began doodling potential bindrunes, joining Kenaz and Berkana.  It just didn't feel quite right though.  In the end, I had to choose one.

Berkana fits very well into where things are in my life at the moment, representing beginnings and the birch tree.  I believe this year will be a year of beginnings for me on many fronts, and I have a strong affinity for birch trees; in my mind, they are inextricably linked to Heimdall, the watchman of the gods.

Kenaz, the torch Rune wins out though, because it constitutes the way in which I must approach all of the beginnings that are coming my way in 2019.  Kenaz, the torch, is human made fire, which embodies human ingenuity and creativity.  Mine has never really been a traditional path, though it's had glimmers of it.  It has required out of the box thinking, making something out of seemingly discreet parts, and getting up every time I get knocked down.  In short, I've had to get creative a lot in my life.

Choosing a Rune for the year can be a very useful tool.  Whether you go through a ritual to choose one or it simply comes to you naturally, it can serve as a great reminder that helps you accomplish a lot of things or stay focused on a single overarching issue over the next twelve months.  I draw Runes every morning and having my Rune for the year come up is especially powerful.  Plus, when it doesn't come up, it encourages the question: How does

Runes 303 - Rune Art - The Wand

That's right.  I made a wand.  Last year, ebbed and flowed...and swirled...and cascaded over cliffs.  Good moments and bad.  And, I wanted to end the year on an upswing, so...yeah, I made a wand.  It's also why my post is coming in January instead f December, but it was worth the one day delay.

(As with all my artistic endeavors, I acknowledge that I am not a visual artist, but I do like to be creative.)

The wand is made from a piece of lilac bush wood that I cut last spring, just before the bush bloomed.  Lilacs are my favorite flowers and, while I'd love a set of Runes from lilac wood, I've never been able to get a satisfactory-sized piece from which to cut them.  I'm happy with the wand, and it does have six (actually seven) Runes carved into it, which I will get to shortly.

It was pretty easy to make the wand.  I cut it to size and smoothed the ends, then shaved all but the handle.  Next, I burned my first Rune into the handle end - Jera.  Jera, as many of you know, is my guiding Rune, so I wanted it to be at the wand's foundation.  I suppose you could think of it as the wand's core.  The wand shaft was pretty smooth after I removed the bark, so I didn't sand it at all.

With an exacto blade, I carved the simple design into the shaft.  This made the carving/burning easier.  (None of this work was visible int he pictures I took, so I didn't include any.)  The lines on the shaft are to move the energy through the wand and out the tip.  I made four lines following the natural curves of the wand, so they are not perfectly straight.  Using a few different wood-burning tips, I burned the lines.

All that was left was the Runes.  I thought about each one and its placement for quite a while even though I had been mulling over which Runes to carve since I cut the wood from the bush.  I want this wand to help guide me through 2019 and likely a lot farther than that.

I chose Sowilo, the sun, a beacon leading to safe harbor.  I placed it closest to the tip.  Ansuz was next on the same side as Sowilo.  For me it represents my writing, beyond the Rune's instinctive wisdom.  Turing the Rune one quarter, I added Tiwaz, Tyr's Rune.  I have a strong affinity for Tyr and appreciate the three aspects that I feel through his Rune - sacrifice, strategy, and perseverance. Another quarter turn and I burned in Eihwaz to remind me of and call on my inner strength, and Ingwaz for Freyr.  Ingwaz doesn't simply hold fertility, it's the way it feels comfortable to know that you are ready to take the next step in any endeavor.  It tells you that you're ready.  The last Rune was the toughest, but once I chose Kenaz, it felt right.  Kenaz represents the torch, human-made fire and, by extension, human ingenuity and creativity.  Kenaz has come up for me a lot in recent readings, so I felt compelled to see where my own creativity could lead in the coming months.

Runic details on the wand shaft

Once the Runes were carved, I darkened the handle a little bit by rolling the side of a hot wood-burning tip up and down it as I turned it to make the coloring even.  To complete it, I protected the wand with a nontoxic sealant.  And, now it has a place in my sacred space with other my other special items.

I want to note, that while I wrote about the Runes on the wand and why I chose them, for now at least, I will not be using this wand for anything other than ornamentation of my sacred space and a visual reminder of what I want to have guiding me through the coming year and beyond.

Winter Solstice Runes 2

On Sunday we celebrate the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere.  Last year, I also wrote about this solstice by asking the Runes what they wanted to share with us about it.  This year, my question was more specific. I wondered how did we arrive here?  What was the path we followed over the last year and how have we realized it?

I think the response - Jera, Tiwaz, Dagaz - builds on last year's post, which presented Berkana, Laguz, and Othala.  What the Runes told us last year was that we were poised at the beginning of something and that we had to be creative and not be afraid to try new paths and realize that, while those paths may include personal gains, that we should look beyond ourselves in the process and recognize that the things that we do affect and are affected by others as well.  The three Runes this year are offering us guidance in looking back over the past year. 

Jera was the perfect first Rune, because it is the Rune of the year and represents, more so than any other, the idea of process and cycles.  It calls on us in this time of silent reflection during the winter solstice to look back over the year and realize how we arrived here.  Did we follow the wisdom the Runes shared with us last year?  Were we creative in choosing the steps we took that formed the path we look back on now?  Were we conscious of the ways in which our steps (choices) affected others?  As I look back over the year, I can say that, for me, these are some of the most important questions I can ask and I realize that not only was the Rune's guidance last year exactly what I needed, but that in a completely unconscious way, I followed that advice and had wonderful though not always easy outcomes.

The second Rune for this time of silent reflection is Tiwaz.  Now, I confess that I have an affinity to these two Runes (Jera and Tiwaz) more than I do to any others, but their positioning here still holds true.  Tiwaz is the warrior Rune, a Rune that represents strength and sacrifice.  We don't always think about both sides of that coin.  When we are exhibiting strength and making tough decisions or just standing up for ourselves, sometimes we don't acknowledge that sacrifices are being made along the way, especially if they are not our sacrifices, but sacrifices of those who support us.  This comes from Othala last year and the fact that whatever choices we made during this year were supported by others around us.  Rather than think only about the strength that you showed this year in making hard choices, think about who supported you in making those choices.  What strength did they show?  How did they support you?  Did it involve a sacrifice on their part?

Just as Jera was the perfect first Rune, Dagaz is the perfect third one, because it almost presents us with another beginning - the day - but it also reminds us to look back over the past year and find those bright spots that helped us get through the rough ones.  It shows us where we were strong, but it also calls to mind its own set of guiding questions.  What made those bright spots bright?  How did they come about?  What did you have to do to achieve those bright spots?  Think of your creativity.  Who helped you achieve those moments?  How did you on your own and with help from others build on those bright spots to make them more enduring?

Interestingly, these three Runes also set the tone for the coming year.  Jera says remember that there is a process for everything that happens during the year.  Tiwaz reminds us of the strength we carry through that process and that there will, at some point, be a sacrifice required.  Dagaz supports these ideas with a focus on the light, which I take to mean the positive.  By focusing on the positive, when we face a challenge, it will be far easier to over come.

With that practical, but important guidance from the Runes, I will wish you all well in the coming year and Happy Yule!  Gleðileg Jól!

Runes 403 - Rune Interpretations - Achieving Goals

The way we achieve goals changes depending on any number of variables, such as how long it will take.  Our mental and emotional state can impact our success and stress levels related to obtaining them.  Even our age can affect how we achieve goals.  With this understanding in mind, I used a Norn cast and asked the Runes about achieving goals.

I drew Dagaz, Mannaz, and Hagalaz.  What was most interesting about this draw was that I could see how the results affected at least two aspects of achieving goals - the way we achieve them changes with age (and experience/wisdom) and that we approach short, mid, and long terms goals differently.

Norn Cast for achieving goals

What a wonderful first Rune!  Using Urd to represent both our past/youth and short-term goals, I drew Dagaz.  The Rune of the day represents both of these "Urd attributes" perfectly.  Dagaz is a very positive and uplifting Rune, shedding hope through its light. This characteristic applies easily to youth.  When we are young, we are much more optimistic and willing to take risks.  There is less planning, more leaping and trying new things.  Essentially, it refers to clarity; anything is possible during the day when we can see things clearly. 

However, we can also apply Dagaz to short term goals just as easily.  Short term goals are within our reach; they are manageable.  We can see how to get from point A to point B and, since the path is short, it is much less likely that something is going to disrupt it.  In this way, day sheds light on our path and guides us toward accomplishing those short term goals.  Urd links to this, because just as our past is a stepping stone to our present, so too are our short term goals stepping stones to mid and long terms ones.

When dealing with Verdandi in the present, we become a little more strategic when considering our mid-term goals.  We have gained some experience along the way which we utilize, because now we are really starting to plan for the complexities of life.  Mannaz represents this time and our mid-term goals quite well.

Mannaz is the human Rune.  It incorporates the individual, society, even a higher self.   It is very fitting that, as we get older and have a little life experience under our belts, we become more aware of these different levels of ourselves.  We realize that we do not function in a vacuum, that we are affected by our society and vice versa.  We also seem to become more pragmatic.  While we still take risks, we consider their consequences more than we used to.  That is how Mannaz affects our present self when setting, determining, and achieving goals - through greater contemplation of ourselves as individuals and of that self in the larger picture.

How does Mannaz help us accomplish our mid-term goals?  The same way it helps us understand who we are at this stage.  Mannaz begins to incorporate strategy.  It reminds us of the experiences we've had that brought us to this point and how to use those going forward (having learned from them) .  We know now that everything is not a short term goal and that we can't always jump easily from point A to point B.  By understanding who we are and how we function in the world around us, we can accomplish our mid-term goals despite the twists, turns, and obstacles that will make up the path to getting there.

Hagalaz here, in Skuld's position, is my favorite of this draw.  It explains perfectly what the future should be.  We know it won't be easy (or not as easy as we'd like it to be), but we know that we can continue to build on Mannaz to get through the rough spots.  However, the cool thing about Hagalaz is the second half.  Remember, hail is initially problematic, but once it melts, it provides nourishment.  In a way, Hagalaz takes us back to Dagaz, back to the risks and optimism of youth of the past; it fuels our creativity, creativity that now also benefits from life's experience synchronized with Dagaz by Mannaz.

This sets us up perfectly for achieving long term goals, the ultimate goals we want to accomplish, but whose paths get fuzzier as we look forward.  Despite the fuzziness, we know from our experience with Urd/Dagaz and Verdandi/Mannaz, that those fuzzy spots will become clear; we have the ability  and skills we need (if we believe in ourselves) to achieve these long term goals. If we add the creative juices that Hagalaz unleashes to Dagaz and Mannaz, we allow ourselves to accomplish those goals in intentional and fun ways.

Runes 401 - Rune Rituals - Othala

This was an entirely unplanned event - a ritual around Othala.  In fact, I was going to try something new in the bind Rune series, but as I drew the Runes, I realized that they were showing me something that is, in fact very old... Othala.  This Rune represents the homestead, inheritance, even family.  As I drew three more Runes - Sowilo, Mannaz, and Laguz, I realized the Runes were painting a picture for me, so I decided to paint a picture using these Runes, while telling the story.

I preface this by assuring you that I am not a painter, nor do I have aspirations to be that type of artist, but I will share this image with you and hope that you will appreciate the story and go easy on the art.  In fact, the point of this ritual is the story.

Here is the picture I painted during the ritual:

And here is the story it tells:

Othala is our foundation; it represents our family.  In this story, it goes even a step further, a step deeper to signify the human species.  It shelters us, which is why Mannaz is placed directly underneath of it, so that we may appreciate our place of shelter and all that it protects.  Our shelter is built of earth and gives our family a place to gather without threat.

While our world is built of earth (and is Earth), two other elements support our life force - sun and water in the forms of Sowilo and Laguz, which is why they are on either side of Mannaz and almost appear to physically support Othala.  Sowilo is the sun that empowers us through the energy it provides not just for us, but for our food and all other life forms on the planet.  We also need water, another basic necessity for life, which Laguz gives us.  Laguz nourishes us, cleanses us and serves as primary means of transport.

To complete our story, I was compelled to paint a white circle around this image.  On the simplest of levels, the circle can represent the protection of our family and our home.  On another simple level that has become complex, it can symbolize our atmosphere, which locks in everything we need to live our lives on Earth, including the air we breathe.  It is white, because it is subtle, barely visible, but without it, we would not be here.  Within that lies the complexity of how we care for Earth as our home and not just our dwelling as our home.

As I painted the circle, I simply breathed deeply and realized that what I had done through this painting and story telling ritual was to create an image that, for me, is humans' existence on Earth and that Othala affords us the daily comfort we need to survive, but that there is so much energy around it from Laguz and Sowilo, that we live among many luxuries, like creativity and love, which we don't always embrace or share widely enough.  Therein lies my original goal - trying something new - by embracing and sharing the love and creativity that surrounds us.

Runes 202 - Bind Runes - Creative Energy

Last week, a friend and fellow writer asked me about a Rune to help her with the Children's books she writes, specifically a Rune for focus and energy.  However, I did a Rune interpretation related to focused energy two weeks ago.  And, I realized that, what my friend wanted was to be able to focus on her creative endeavor - writing.  So, I wanted to create a "situation" to support that effort.  To that end, instead of a single Rune, I envisioned a bind Rune of sorts.

Ingwaz, Eihwaz, and Kenaz came to me immediately.  Individually, these Runes represent fertility, stability, and light.  Bound together, they could look as simple as a diamond with a line down the middle.

The image that came to me, though, brought the Runes together, but kept them distinguishable from each other.  This bind Rune looked like this:

If we examine them together in more detail, we can see how they support and complement each other.

Ingwaz was first.  It is Freyr's Rune, symbolizing fertility, but also peace.  It creates a setting that that is ripe for the picking.  Moreover, it establishes the shape structure in the bind Rune.

Eihwaz, offers stability to the situation through the strength of the yew tree.  Because taking the time and creating the space we need for our creative endeavors requires a commitment on our part to stand up and make it okay to take the time in that space, Eihwaz also gives us courage to do that.  Interestingly, it runs through the middle of the bind Rune, providing the physical framework. 

Finally, Kenaz is more than simply light as the torch; it is also a creative force.  In fact, Kenaz is often associated with artists and craftspeople, making it he perfect room to represent writing (or any other artistic undertaking).

In this bind Rune, the creative force is settles into a fertile space created by Ingwaz and supported by the strength imbibed through Eihwaz.  This is why the image came to me as three distinct but connected Runes.

Ingwaz, by its shape and meaning, establish a fertile and peaceful space for Kenaz to engage in its creative endeavor.  At the same time, Eihwaz offers stability and strength to Kenaz to help it focus on making the most of its creativity; in the bind Rune, it appears to hold open the fertile space, like a tent pole.  Between Ingwaz and Eihwaz, Kenaz has an ideal opportunity to excel.

Feeling Energized

Happy Monday!  Today, for no specific reason, I am feeling very energized and positive and wished to share that feeling with you.  I asked for a Rune to express that emotion, then for one to support it and finished with one to ensure it continues throughout the week.

The Rune to best express the feeling I have, the energetic optimism, is Dagaz, the Rune of day and clarity.  And, that is exactly how this sensation feels - like a clarity, but not an epiphany.  The difference between the two is subtle, yet key.  Clarity inspires without necessarily having a predetermined destination or goal.  I have been working hard lately to focus on the positive and, when negative things happen, to not let them take over.  Dagaz offers clarity to support to that idea.  In daylight, we see more clearly and feel safer than in darkness, when something unseen could be lurking in the shadows.  In many ways, we feel more empowered in daylight and, through empowerment, adopt a sense of feeling energized.  This Rune alone would be enough to represent today, but we want support this feeling.

Berkana is a wonderful Rune for support.  This Rune of birch suggests beginnings and creativity.  With our energized spirit leading the way, today, we can begin an endeavor; unleash our creativity; move forward in a positive way and share that energy with those around us.  Let the energy carry you on a positive path.

Ehwaz, the Rune of horse, loyalty, and a spiritual journey helps us keep this feeling going.  There is a special relationship between a horse and rider, one of cooperation and understanding.  I'm imagining myself climbing into the saddle of an Icelandic horse (in Iceland) and that invigorating, yet comfortable feeling of the adventure that is about to ensue flows right to my face and puts an unstoppable smile on my lips.  Of course, yours need not be an actual horse; what matters is the feeling, the sensation, the inspiration!

Think about what inspires you and consciously carry that hopefulness, that optimism with you this week.  Let me know how it goes.

A Rune for Time

I know I am not alone when I say that I don't have enough time in my week to accomplish everything that needs to get done.  Something unexpected always seems to arise at some point and throws me off - the kids get sick, the car breaks down, I get sick.  The list, I'm sure, goes on.  Even when I try to set fewer weekly goals to compensate for these "unexpecteds", time still slips away.

When I realized all of the things I need to get done this week and looked at the "unusuals" (not unexpected, but something that doesn't happen very often) happening this week too, I started to make that age old remark - if only I had more time... But, I caught myself and decided, instead, to ask the Runes to give me a Rune for time.  When they gave me Raido, I asked how to use it effectively.

Raido is the Rune of riding or a carriage and signifies a journey, positive progress from where we are now to where we want to be.  That sounds about right to me.  Now for the second part - how to use it wisely.  What shall we do on this journey to be more effective with our time and accomplish the tasks we set for ourselves?  To answer this, we get Algiz, Tiwaz, and Kenaz.  (As an interesting side note, Raido, Algiz, and Tiwaz showed up together earlier this year, when I asked about A Healing Rune.)

Algiz is the Rune of protection and self-defense.  This Rune is appropriate here, because we are attempting to get ourselves into a better place.  When we don't accomplish the things we set out to do, we get frustrated and frustration can turn to anger.  Worse still, if we don't finish the goals we set in the time we've allotted for them, our tendency is not to say, "Okay, I need to slow down and get this done before I move on to other things."  Instead, we pile more stuff on top of our already uncompleted list until we overwhelm ourselves with a list of incomplete tasks and we start to fee like we are failing.  While on some level that may be true, what we fail to realize is why we are failing.  That is why Algiz is our first. Rune.  It reminds us that we need to take care of ourselves, if we are going to be successful in our endeavors.  So, maybe the Runes are asking us what we are going to do to protect ourselves from situations like this.  In other words, as we embark on this journey to be more effective, the first thing we must do is take care of ourselves.

The warrior Rune, Tiwaz, supports the requirements of Algiz.  To take care of ourselves, we must remember that we are warriors and part of being a good warrior requires some sacrifice.  I know what you're thinking - aren't these opposing Runes?  How can taking care of ourselves require self-sacrifice?  Excellent question!  What is the answer?  Self-sacrifice does not necessarily mean sacrificing our well-being; it means sacrificing some part of our life that we have grown accustomed to, but doesn't really provide us with benefit or well-being.  In essence, Tiwaz is saying look at your life, prioritize it, find balance.  I can use myself as an example here.  I am a writer.  I haven't always viewed myself this way, but it wasn't until I stopped spending time on so many things unrelated to writing that I became a writer.  Now, I have specific time set aside each week for my own writing and much of the work I do for others is writing and editing.  I would like to spend Mondays mornings doing pilates and socializing with my friends, but that is the sacrifice I have made for my writing.  Not only was it the right choice, but once I made it, I felt empowered.  By making it okay for myself to spend Mondays writing instead of hanging out with a few friends, I made it okay for myself to make other choices in the same vein and it feels really good.  Challenge yourself to make a sacrifice to get the time you need for your goals, tasks, and ambitions.

Our final Rune for dealing with our Raido-inspired journey, is Kenaz.  Kenaz is an interesting Rune, because it has two potential meanings, which I believe are both useful in this instance.  First is the idea of a child's illness.  In this case, I would say that childhood is full of challenges.  We are growing and learning and there are plenty of illnesses that can afflict children and make life even more difficult.  As adults, we are better equipped to deal with life's "unexpecteds", due in fact, to the things we've learned and the experiences we had as children.  Perhaps, as we try to find more time for the things we need to do as adults, we can think back to our childhood and remember the things we learned as well as the happiness we felt.  Because childhood (these days) is about having fun and being happy, which we did in spite of everything else happening around and to us.  The other aspect of Kenaz is that of a torch or light, which signifies creativity.  Can we take what we've learned and experienced in our lives and apply it to this?  This would demonstrate the crossover from childhood to adult, applying what we've learned in an effective and creative way.  You may even want to call it wisdom.

For those of us looking for more time, the solution is as easy as we make it.  Our goal is to be happy, to protect ourselves from stress and anger and frustration.  How can we, as warriors, do that?  We must make sacrifices and focus on our priorities, placing everything else on a shelf for another time.  We make those determinations through a combination of life's lessons to this point and our own creativity.  Once this journey is complete, we will find we have the time we need.

Fair, Just, and Honest

This week, I wasn't sure what I would write about.  I know I need to finish making my own set of Runes, so the 301 series is nagging at me, but I haven't found the right moment to complete them.  I didn't want to do anything political, because that is not what this blog is for.  This morning, I got a clear signal about what today's subject needs to be and it deals with leadership.

Sadly, these days, true leaders are a declining breed.  To me, a true leader possesses characteristics of fairness and honesty and they should be just.  This is what the world needs today.  So, this week, I ask the Runes how can we all work to make this world a more accepting and peaceful place by working everyday to be fair, just, and honest.

The Runes ring true - Sowilo, Algiz, and Kenaz.

Sowilo is the Rune of the sun, of victory or good fortune.  This is a symbol to lift spirits, which can be seen in a couple of ways.  First, it can be sign of encouragement, something that makes us feel better.  Think about this.  After a day or two of rain and clouds, how do you feel when the sun rises on the third morning and the sky is clear?  It's that feeling, that sense of hopefulness, that we stand to gain by working to be as fair and honest as we can be.  Second, once we begin to feel that way, we empower ourselves to experience it more often.  Imagine what could happen if we share that feeling with others.  It feels good to do something for someone else, no matter how small.  It feels even better to do it just to do it, without expectation of reward.  In fact, I challenge you to do one nice thing for someone, someone you don't know, every day this week.  Open a door, let a car merge in front of you, buy food for the local food bank... just do something.  It doesn't even have to be directly for another person.  Do something for an animal or for the planet.  Doing things that are good for the planet is good for everyone.  It doesn't have to be altruistic; it's okay if it makes you feel good.  That's kind of the point.

How does this play into being fair, just or honest?  In at least one very important way.  If you begin doing nice things for people or the planet, you will feel better.  When others reciprocate, the positive feedback loop will be in place.  That is also why Algiz, the Rune of self-defense and protection challenges us this week.  When we feel threatened, it is our natural instinct to protect ourselves and become defensive.  What if we never find ourselves in a position where we have to defend what we believe, who we love, how we dress... in essence, who we are?  That is our greatest challenge; we have been led to believe that one way of thinking or doing is better than another, simply because it's our belief.  What if we challenge each other to change that perspective of better and worse or right and wrong (in the sense of incorrect) and just acknowledge the differences.  What if we stand up for other people's right to believe what they choose to believe instead of trying to force our beliefs or way of doing things onto others?  By beliefs, I mean all beliefs, not just those related to religion.  What if we respect the differences and work together on the similarities?

At last, we reach Kenaz, the Rune of the torch.  This Rune has been likened to enlightenment and creativity.  This is our call to action, to build an enlightened world, to realize our positive creative potential.  This is the light at the end of our collective tunnel.  We can do it.  Once we begin to be kinder to others and reciprocate when others are kind to us, we create a more fair and just world.  If we are honest with ourselves, isn't that the place we all want to be?

Some may think my comments around today's reading are naive or too simplistic.  We've been trying this for millennia, right?  My response to you nay-sayers is that you are part of the problem perpetuating negative views.  Look, simply by virtue of our numbers, we have made the world a smaller place.  Because of this, we cannot help but come into contact with people who disagree with our perspectives on life.  It is at this level where we must begin to seek change, where we can actually affect change.  If we want to live in a fair, just, and honest world, the solution starts with us.  This is how we serve the public, how we lead; by being kind and fair; by example.

Mental and Emotional Healing

A month ago, I asked the Runes for a Healing Rune.  They showed me Fehu.  That was for a physical healing.  After reading that post, a friend of mine asked what the Runes would suggest for a mental or emotional healing.  I know a lot of people that could use a healing like that, so I asked the Runes what guidance they have to offer to help us heal mentally and emotionally.

I should mention that I made a point to ask that they not give us Jera in this instance.  We know that healing is a process.  What I want to share with you is how to approach that healing process.  The answer is simple, but, I find that, hearing it from a completely non-biased, neutral source carries a lot of weight.  Granted, the Runes that are revealed are subject to my interpretation, but, if you disagree with my assessments, please feel free to leave a comment with your perspective.

I found this group of Runes to be quite appropriate for this question - Algiz, Berkana, Perthro.

Aligz, as the Rune of self-defense and protection, is a good Rune to begin this journey.  After all, if we are going to endeavor to heal from mental or emotional pain, we want to know that we are doing it in a safe and protected way.  When we are in what we perceive to be a weakened mental or emotional state, what we attempt to regain is our inner strength, that which we have lost sight of.  However, there is also a warning that comes with this situation - Make sure that you are not protecting or defending your perceived weakened state.  It is easy to use our mental or emotional state to justify lack of action or committing an unfavorable action.  We need to make sure we are protecting and defending our true self, our empowered self, not our weakened self, for it is the empowered self we seek to revive.

Well, we know that's easier said than done, so we should be aware of the challenge we face as we attempt this healing.  That is where Berkana comes in.  The Rune of birth, fertility, and creativity offers us a different perspective, our first chance to empower ourselves.  What if we decide that today is the first day of our consistent healing?  I say consistent, because we are going to make every effort to move forward a little each day.  There will be fall backs, but we commit to the trend toward growing empowerment.  This Rune tells us that we are ready; the ground is fertile; the time is right.  Think of this as a beginning, if that helps.

But, what is the best action we can take down this path, while ensuring a safe, protected process?  For that answer, we look to Perthro, the Rune of friendly competition, social outlets.  In other words, the best place to begin this part of the healing, now that we have decided we are ready, is with friends and family, loved ones.  Surrounding ourselves with the people who love us, getting out and being social, those are the things that will help us begin to feel better.  Before I go on, let me stress that, this in no way should replace professional counseling or therapy.  If you are struggling, you should seek professional guidance.  What I offer here is just one small part of  the healing process that we can do on our own.  Sometimes, making the decision to see someone is easier when  friends and family support us in that pursuit.  Our mental and emotional healing should be us empowering ourselves to be strong and having loved ones behind us as we do it serves only to help us on that path.

Have a safe and happy week.

Isolation and Focus

In the past week, I have had no less than four conversations with people who, like me, work from home.  While they appreciate the freedom of setting their own hours and following their own work patterns, there is a downside to "being your own boss", when you are also the only person with whom you're working.  You can begin to feel isolated, especially if you are, by nature, a more social human.  Once isolation sets in, the wonderful sense of focus you have with being able to do things in a way that suits your working style becomes a struggle.  So the question I asked my Runes this week is how can we, as people who work at home alone, maintain our focus when we are feeling so isolated by the very position we have chosen?

Uruz.  This is the Rune I have been waiting for for a while.  This is the Rune of strength, of the wild ox, and it is the most appropriate Rune, I think, I could have drawn for this question.  You see, the wild ox is strong, courageous and these attributes come with a conviction to survive the challenges we face.  Better still, as humans, we have the ability to learn and grow from our challenges.  This is a pretty accurate summary of our situation.  Staying strong and focused when we are feeling so separated from the rest of the world is what we are trying to do.  There are those who thrive in this environment, who don't require as much socialization as we do.  In that regard, they are fortunate, because they tend not to experience the same levels of isolation.  But, for those of us who tend toward needing social interactions more frequently, how do we maintain our focus on the work we are doing and remain determined to succeed in this situation?

 The challenge here is, in my view, keeping an eye on the long term benefits of this situation.  This is supported by Dagaz, the Rune of day, light, and clarity.  This approach or way of looking at things addresses two aspects in this case.  First, when we shine the light on the prize (look at the long term or other benefits of working from home), it becomes easier to deal with the struggles and obstacles presented by it.  Second, when we shine the light on our situation and look at all aspects of it, it becomes easier to organize and plan and even interpret.  We know that working from home is isolating, but what can we do to reduce that sensation?  Arrange breaks with friends or family members.  Go for walks or meet for tea or lunch.  Schedule some face-to-face-meetings if you can.  Simply get out of the house and go work in the coffee shop for a few hours.  When you're looking at the whole situation, finding time for these important social interactions becomes easier.

I've named a few actions we can take, in fact that I have taken, but what other things can you do?  Berkana, the action Rune for this question, represents beginnings and creativity.  As we begin to address this issue, we can be as creative as we like or need to be to reduce the isolation.  We have the power to and strength to overcome this challenge of working form home.  From this point forward, what are you going to do to reduce your feeling of isolation so that you can continue to focus effectively?  Let me know.  Post a comment or send me an email.  Have a great week!