RUNE MAGIC
Oden hung from the Tree of the Yggdrasil in Northern
mythology. He hung upside down and looked into the hidden depth of
the Unconscious. The Tree of Yggdrasil is the Tree of I's existence
in and out of time.
The female Runic shaman is said to have worn a dress
with embroidered hems and a necklace of amber beads, plus bones and shells.
She wore a shell that hung in nine tails one for each level or enclosure
of reality. In addition to a drum and rattle she carried a staff
banded with runes. The staff was not only a symbol of office but
a representative of the Tree of Existence - Yggdrasil.
There are two distinct ways of working with the Runes - either for
one's own benefit and empowerment, even at the expense of others, or as
a means of personal development in harmony and balance with the forces
of Nature and the Universe.
The Runic shaman regarded Runes as a gift of the divine not simply
because of the way they were revealed to Oden but because, like any form
of writing they were a means of importing wisdom and knowledge.
As with all natural forces Runic power can be used beneficially
or adversely. Fire for instance, can be used to provide heat and
cook meals or used destructively to consume or destroy whatever it is applied
to. Manipulation of the runes for purposes of self interest or sorcery
to work harm on others was called 'woe' working. Beneficial use of
the Runes for the welfare of oneself and others was called 'weal' working.
But even weal working could have an adverse effect on the Rune caster if
it deprived others or resulted in self glorification.
Runes must be approached with respect and discernment. Runes
are not magical symbols or cryptic code but containers of processes inherent
in Nature and ourselves. Runes are expressions of what is coming
into our human experience, what is affecting our life now and what is in
the process of transition and transformation.
There are three aettir (aett is singular) of the Elder Futhork.
The aettir has several implications for the magic use of the runes.
Each aett is one degree of a three degree system reflecting the age-old
division of Aryan tribal society; nurturer, warrior and priest/king.
These divisions are reflected in the runes in different ways and there
are some overlap in the duties of the runes.
Freya's Aett - the 1st aett, the aett of the nurturer, the mother, farmer
and merchant, dealing with love, happiness, life and enjoyment.
Heimdall's Aett - Heimdall is the warrior, ever watchful he struggles
against overwhelming odds and shows unending courage in his watchfulness
dealing with matters of achievement, money, victory, power and success.
Tir's Aett - In the original form Tiwaz headed the Germanic pantheon
and the name comes from the same source as Jupiter and Zeus. He is
the sky god worshipped from at least the Bronze age. This is
aett of the priest/king concerned with justice, atonement, balance and
leadership.
Freya's aett lacks any reference to weapons. Isa in Heimdall's
aett and tyr in Tir's aett both refer to a spear. Each aett has at
least one rune of protection, at least one rune as a good luck charm
and a rune useful in healing magic.
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