WYRD
THE BLANK STONE
ODIN or WYRD - The unknowable - the beginning and the end
(FATE)
 Fehu
( F:
Domestic cattle, wealth.) Possessions won
or earned, earned income, luck. Abundance, financial strength in the
present or near future. Sign of hope and plenty, success and
happiness. Social success. Energy, foresight, fertility,
creation/destruction (becoming). Fehu Reversed or Merkstave: Loss of
personal property, esteem, or something that you put in effort to
keep. It indicates some sort of failure. Greed, burnout, atrophy,
discord. Cowardice, stupidity, dullness, poverty, slavery,
bondage.
 Uruz:
( U:
Auroch, a wild ox.) Physical strength and
speed, untamed potential. A time of great energy and health. Freedom,
energy, action, courage, strength, tenacity, understanding, wisdom.
Sudden or unexpected changes (usually for the better). Sexual desire,
masculine potency. The shaping of power and pattern, formulation of
the self. Uruz Reversed or Merkstave: Weakness, obsession,
misdirected force, domination by others. Sickness, inconsistency,
ignorance. Lust, brutality, rashness, callousness,
violence.
 Thurisaz:
( TH:
Thorn or a Giant.) Reactive force,
directed force of destruction and defense, conflict. Instinctual
will, vital eroticism, regenerative catalyst. A tendency toward
change. Catharsis, purging, cleansing fire. Male sexuality,
fertilization. (Thorr, the Thunder god, was of Giant stock.)Thurisaz
Reversed or Merkstave: Danger, defenselessness, compulsion, betrayal,
dullness. Evil, malice, hatred, torment, spite, lies. A bad man or
woman. Rape?
 Ansuz:
( A:
The As, ancestral god, i.e. Odin.) A
revealing message or insight, communication. Signals, inspiration,
enthusiasm, speech, true vision, power of words and naming.
Blessings, the taking of advice. Good health, harmony, truth, wisdom.
Ansuz Reversed or Merkstave: Misunderstanding, delusion, manipulation
by others, boredom. Vanity and grandiloquence. (Odin is a mighty, but
duplicitous god. He always has his own agenda.)
 Raidho:
( R:
Wagon or chariot.) Travel, both in
physical terms and those of lifestyle direction. A journey, vacation,
relocation, evolution, change of place or setting. Seeing a larger
perspective. Seeing the right move for you to make and deciding upon
it. Personal rhythm, world rhythm, dance of life. Raidho Reversed or
Merkstave: Crisis, rigidity, stasis, injustice, irrationality.
Disruption, dislocation, demotion, delusion, possibly a
death.
 Kenaz:
( K:
Beacon or torch.) Vision, revelation,
knowledge, creativity, inspiration, technical ability. Vital fire of
life, harnessed power, fire of transformation and regeneration. Power
to create your own reality, the power of light. Open to new strength,
energy, and power now. Passion, sexual love. Kenaz Reversed or
Merkstave: Disease, breakup, instability, lack of creativity.
Nakedness, exposure, loss of illusion and false hope.
 Gebo:
( G:
Gift.) Gifts, both in the sense of
sacrifice and of generosity, indicating balance. All matters in
relation to exchanges, including contracts, personal relationships
and partnerships. Gebo Merkstave (Gebo cannot be reversed, but may
lie in opposition): Greed, loneliness, dependence, over-sacrifice.
Obligation, toll, privation, bribery.
 Wunjo:
( W or V: Joy.) Joy,
comfort, pleasure. Fellowship, harmony, prosperity. Ecstasy, glory,
spiritual reward, but also the possibility of going "over the top".
If restrained, the meaning is general success and recognition of
worth. Wunjo Reversed or Merkstave: Stultification, sorrow, strife,
alienation. Delirium, intoxication, possession by higher forces,
impractical enthusiasm. Raging frenzy, berzerker.
 Hagalaz:
( H:
Hail.) Wrath of nature, destructive,
uncontrolled forces, especially the weather, or within the
unconscious. Tempering, testing, trial. Controlled crisis, leading to
completion, inner harmony. Hagalaz Merkstave (Hagalaz cannot be
reversed, but may lie in opposition): Natural disaster, catastrophe.
Stagnation, loss of power. Pain, loss, suffering, hardship, sickness,
crisis.
 Nauthiz:
( N:
Need.) Delays, restriction. Resistance
leading to strength, innovation, need-fire (self-reliance). Distress,
confusion, conflict, and the power of will to overcome them.
Endurance, survival, determination. A time to exercise patience.
Recognition of one's fate. Major self-initiated change. Face your
fears. Nauthiz Reversed or Merkstave: Constraint of freedom,
distress, toil, drudgery, laxity. Necessity, extremity, want,
deprivation, starvation, need, poverty, emotional hunger.
 Isa:
(I :
Ice.) A challenge or frustration.
Psychological blocks to thought or activity, including grievances.
Standstill, or a time to turn inward and wait for what is to come, or
to seek clarity. This rune reinforces runes around it. Isa Merkstave
(Isa cannot be reversed, but may lie in opposition): Ego-mania,
dullness, blindness, dissipation. Treachery, illusion, deceit,
betrayal, guile, stealth, ambush, plots.
 Jera:
( J or
Y: A year, a good harvest.) The results
of earlier efforts are realized. A time of peace and happiness,
fruitful season. It can break through stagnancy. Hopes and
expectations of peace and prosperity. The promise of success earned.
Life cycle, cyclical pattern of the universe. Everything changes, in
its own time. Jera Merkstave (Jera cannot be reversed, but may lie in
opposition): Sudden setback, reversals. A major change, repetition,
bad timing, poverty, conflict.
 Eihwaz:
( EI:
Yew tree.) Strength, reliability,
dependability, trustworthiness. Enlightenment, endurance. Defense,
protection. The driving force to acquire, providing motivation and a
sense of purpose. Indicates that you have set your sights on a
reasonable target and can achieve your goals. An honest man who can
be relied upon. Eihwaz Reversed or Merkstave: Confusion, destruction,
dissatisfaction, weakness.
 Perthro:
( P:
Lot cup, vagina.) Uncertain meaning, a
secret matter, a mystery, hidden things and occult abilities.
Initiation, knowledge of one's destiny, knowledge of future matters,
determining the future or your path. Pertaining to things feminine,
feminine mysteries including female fertility, and vagina. Good lot,
fellowship and joy. Evolutionary change. Perthro Reversed or
Merkstave: Addiction, stagnation, loneliness, malaise.
 Algiz:
( Z or
-R: Elk, protection.) Protection, a
shield. The protective urge to shelter oneself or others. Defense,
warding off of evil, shield, guardian. Connection with the gods,
awakening, higher life. It can be used to channel energies
appropriately. Follow your instincts. Keep hold of success or
maintain a position won or earned. Algiz Reversed: or Merkstave:
Hidden danger, consumption by divine forces, loss of divine link.
Taboo, warning, turning away, that which repels.
Sowilo:
( S:
The sun.) Success, goals achieved, honor.
The life-force, health. A time when power will be available to you
for positive changes in your life, victory, health, and success.
Contact between the higher self and the unconscious. Wholeness,
power, elemental force, sword of flame, cleansing fire. Sowilo
Merkstave (Sowilo cannot be reversed, but may lie in opposition):
False goals, bad counsel, false success, gullibility, loss of goals.
Destruction, retribution, justice, casting down of vanity. Wrath of
god.
 Tiwaz:
( T:
Tyr, the sky god.) Honor, justice,
leadership and authority. Analysis, rationality. Knowing where one's
true strengths lie. Willingness to self-sacrifice. Victory and
success in any competition or in legal matters. Tiwaz Reversed or
Merkstave: One's energy and creative flow are blocked. Mental
paralysis, over-analysis, over-sacrifice, injustice, imbalance.
Strife, war, conflict, failure in competition. Dwindling passion,
difficulties in communication, and possibly separation.
 Berkano:
( B:
Berchta, the birch-goddess.) Birth,
general fertility, both mental and physical and personal growth,
liberation. Regenerative power and light of spring, renewal, promise
of new beginnings, new growth. Arousal of desire. A love affair or
new birth. The prospering of an enterprise or venture. Berkano
Reversed or Merkstave: Family problems and or domestic troubles.
Anxiety about someone close to you. Carelessness, abandon, loss of
control. Blurring of consciousness, deceit, sterility,
stagnation.
 Ehwaz:
( E:
Horse, two horses.) Transportation. May
represent a horse, car, plane, boat or other vehicle. Movement and
change for the better. Gradual development and steady progress are
indicated. Harmony, teamwork, trust, loyalty. An ideal marriage or
partnership. Confirmation beyond doubt the meanings of the runes
around it. Ehwaz Reversed or Merkstave: This is not really a negative
rune. A change is perhaps craved. Feeling restless or confined in a
situation. Reckless haste, disharmony, mistrust, betrayal.
 Mannaz:
( M:
Man, mankind.) The Self; the individual
or the human race. Your attitude toward others and their attitudes
towards you. Friends and enemies, social order. Intelligence,
forethought, create, skill, ability. Divine structure, intelligence,
awareness. Expect to receive some sort of aid or cooperation now.
Mannaz Reversed or Merkstave: Depression, mortality, blindness,
self-delusion. Cunning, slyness, manipulation, craftiness,
calculation. Expect no help now.
 Laguz:
( L:
Water, or a leek.) Flow, water, sea, a
fertility source, the healing power of renewal. Life energy and
organic growth. Imagination and psychic matters. Dreams, fantasies,
mysteries, the unknown, the hidden, the deep, the underworld. Success
in travel or acquisition, but with the possibility of loss. Laguz
Reversed or Merkstave: An indication of a period of confusion in your
life. You may be making wrong decisions and poor judgements. Lack of
creativity and feelings of being in a rut. Fear, circular motion,
avoidance, withering. Madness, obsession, despair, perversity,
sickness, suicide.
 Ingwaz:
( NG:
Ing, the earth god.) Male fertility,
gestation, internal growth. Common virtues, common sense, simple
strengths, family love, caring, human warmth, the home. Rest stage, a
time of relief, of no anxiety. A time when all loose strings are tied
and you are free to move in a new direction. Listen to yourself.
Ingwaz Merkstave (Ingwaz cannot be reversed, but may lie in
opposition): Impotence, movement without change. Production, toil,
labor, work.
 Dagaz:
( D:
Day or dawn.) Breakthrough, awakening,
awareness. Daylight clarity as opposed to nighttime uncertainty. A
time to plan or embark upon an enterprise. The power of change
directed by your own will, transformation. Hope/happiness, the ideal.
Security and certainty. Growth and release. Balance point, the place
where opposites meet. Dagaz Merkstave (Dagaz cannot be reversed, but
may lie in opposition): A completion, ending, limit, coming full
circle. Blindness, hopelessness.
 Othala:
( O:
Ancestral property.) Inherited property
or possessions, a house, a home. What is truly important to one.
Group order, group prosperity. Land of birth, spiritual heritage,
experience and fundamental values. Aid in spiritual and physical
journeys. Source of safety, increase and abundance. Othala Reversed
or Merkstave: Lack of customary order, totalitarianism, slavery,
poverty, homelessness. Bad karma, prejudice, clannishness,
provincialism. What a man is bound to.
Blank
Rune: There is no historical support
for a "Blank Rune" in runic divination. It was invented in the
1980's. It should not be used in a rune casting. If you bought a rune
set with a blank piece, save it in case you lose another rune piece,
but don't use it in rune casting.
Some Methods of Runic Divination
(Below from http://www.tarahill.com/runes/runediv.html)
As there are no reliable historical descriptions of runic divination,
virtually any method one chooses can be considered valid. However,
certain characteristics of the runes make them better suited to some
methods than others. For example, most runes are carved onto small bits
of wood, clay or stone. These are better designed to be picked up and
scattered, rather than being laid out in a specific pattern like the
Tarot. This is verified by descriptions of runic divination in Norse
literature, all of which refer to them being 'thrown', 'cast' or
'scattered'. Now, I used to recommend using Tarot-type patterns as a
transitional method for those who are most comfortable with the Tarot,
but I have come to the conclusion that it really isn't necessary. The
best way to learn how to swim is to just jump right in!
Some books give upright and reversed meanings for the runes (like
Tarot cards). This is obviously impractical if one is casting the
runes, since many will land sideways or at odd angles. Also, one would
think that if this had been the intention of the original creators of
the fuþark, they wouldn't have designed so many runes to look the same
upright as inverted. In addition to these practical considerations,
there is also the fact that the Norse don't appear to have seen their
world in such black and white terms. Polarizing the meanings of the
runes in this way, even if those opposites aren't phrased in terms of
'positive' and 'negative', tends to limit the range of possible
interpretations and ignores the complex and subtle relationships between
the different runes in a cast.
The important thing, however, is that you feel comfortable with
the method you choose. If you feel the need for a more structured
reading than a simple cast provides, devise a pattern for your casting
cloth that has some meaning for you to give the reading a more tangible
context. If you find nine or twelve runes to be a bit overwhelming, use
three or four. If you want to just grab a handful and cast them, go
right ahead. The runes themselves should tell you how they want to be
read. Different sizes, shapes and materials lend themselves to
different methods, and through meditation and experimentation you should
be able to choose a technique that best suits both the runes'
'personality' and your own. Just make sure your method is consistant.
Most people eventually end up devising their own method of reading, but here are a few to get you started in the meantime:
- 1. The One-Rune Quicky.
- As you might imagine, this method is designed to provide a
quick, concise answer to a specific question. It can also be used daily
as a subject for meditation, or as a general overview of the day before
you go to bed. Think of a specific question.
Pull a rune out of
the pouch and look at it. The answer may be an obvious yes or no, or
the rune might provide a more conditional response. If the rune you
picked seems to make no sense at all as a response to your question, ask
another question or try again later.
- 2. The Norns (or, The Three-Rune Quicky).
- This method is helpful in getting an overall fix on a given
situation, and providing some idea about a future outcome. How much
information you get out of it will depend on how much time you spend
analyzing the reading and how well you understand the runes.
Pull
one rune and lay it down face up. This rune represents the first Norn -
those events in the past which affect the current situation. Pull
another rune and lay it next to the first. This is the second Norn -
the present situation, which frequently refers to a choice that needs to
be made. Pull a third and lay it down. This is the third Norn, and
the most difficult rune to interpret. In some cases it might represent
the person's inevitable fate. In others, it might simply be the end
result if the current situation remains unchanged, or even just one of
several results. You must rely on your instincts to decide which is the
case.
- 3. The Roman Method.
- This is the method described by Tacitus in 'Germania'. The
method itself is really another variation of the Three-Rune Quickie,
with a few ritual details to lend it authenticity. If you really want
to do it right, go out and find a fruit-bearing tree and use the wood to
carve your runes fresh each time.
Lay out a white cloth on the
floor. Take all of the runes in your hands and scatter them. Invoking
the aid of Odin, and without looking at the runes, pick three at random.
You may look at them as a group, without considering them in any
particular order, or you can pick them one at a time, using the 'Norns'
method described above to interpret them.
- 4. The Nine-Rune Cast.
- This method will give a detailed overview of a person's
situation, providing insight into where they are in terms of their
spiritual path, and clarifying the options and possible outcomes
available to them. Nine is a somewhat arbitrary number - you may use
any number that feels comfortable to you. I have chosen nine because a)
three and its multiples were magically significant numbers to the
Norse, and b) it is a large enough number to provide a detailed reading,
but not so large that it over-complicates things. It is also easy for
most people to hold nine runes in their hands.
Pick nine runes from the pouch. Hold them between your hands for a
moment, and focus on your question (if you have one). Then scatter the
runes on the table, floor, or cloth if you have one. Read the runes
which land face up first. These will relate to the current situation
and the circumstances which led to it. How the runes are read is
largely subjective, but in general, runes lying in the centre are the
most immediately relevant, while those lying around the edges are less
important, or represent more general influences. Runes that are close
together or even touching often compliment each other, or may even
represent a single thing, while runes which fall on opposite sides of
the pattern frequently represent opposing influences. Occasionally, a
rune will land completely off the cloth or fall off the table. Some
people consider such runes to be particularly significant, while others
ignore them completely.
Once you have looked at the runes which landed face up (and
remembered which ones they are), turn over the rest of the runes without
moving them from their positions. These represent outside or future
influences, and will point to possible outcomes. It is up to you to
decide what the various positions and patterns in a reading mean, but
once you have come up with a few general rules, try to stick with them.
As I have said before, consistency is very important. However, rune
readings by their nature are very fluid, subjective things. Try not to
impose too much order on your readings by inventing set meanings for
every triangle, square and tetrahedron. Runes are like people - you
never know how they will get along together until you introduce them.
Just look at the patterns and relationships that appear in each reading
and see what interpretations make sense to you.
Once the reading is done, I usually like to pull one more rune out
of the pouch. This helps to confirm (or sometimes dispute) the
conclusions drawn from the reading, and may provide a focus or centre to
an otherwise scattered and complicated cast.
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