Reading the Runes: Part III There is a system to reading the Runes, as there is to every other divination tool. For our purposes here, they will be divided into three "families" or groups of eight. These three groups, called aettirs, are named after the Norse Gods Freyr (Freyr's Eight), Hagal (Hagal's Eight) and Tyr (Tyr's Eight). (*Note: The 25th Rune, the Blank Rune, is not included here. The use of this Rune came about only in modern times, and is not accepted by most Rune authorities. If you choose to accept the use of this Rune, as I myself do, it may be placed as centered above the three Rune families.) Freyr's Eight consists of: Fehu, Uruz, Thurisa, Ansuz, Raido, Kano, Gebo and Wunjo Hagal's Eight consists of: Hagalz, Nauthiz, Isa, Jera, Eihwaz, Perth, Algiz and Sowelu Tyr's Eight consists of: Teiwaz, Berkana, Ehwaz, Mannaz, Laguz, Inguz, Othila and Dagaz Teiwaz: Teiwaz is the warrior Rune. This is the battle of Spirit with the self - an internal battle. Patience is called for here ... as you are asked to look into the deepest levels of your soul. Active, masculine energy (embodied by the Sun) is connected with Teiwaz. Reversed, Teiwaz speaks of action taken without thought. Here you must look to the "why" of your actions. Berkana: Berkana is growth and rebirth - symbolized by the Birch tree. Here we see both symbolic growth and actual growth. This is seen as a flowing of one thign into the next, an opening up, rather than a shattering of old patterns so that new can take form. In a reversed position, Berkana says thatmyou are blocking your own growth by being unwilling to evolve certain parts of your own personality. Ehwaz: Ehwaz is movement and progress, as personified by the Horse. This is a Rune of slow but steady progress. Ehwaz reversed indicated that movement is blocked ... and that the blockage is proper. It is not the right time for movement in your life. Mannaz: Mannaz is the Self, the very beginning of the journey of life. To relate well to others, one must first have a good relationship with one's self. This is a time of major growth. Reversed, Mannaz refers to growth being blocked. We must be willing to look into the dark corners of self for growth to occur. Laguz: Laguz refers to flow and water, and synbolizes the conduction of energy in your life. That which "cannot be seen" is in force here. The spiritual side of life is in operation. This is a time for releasing that which no longer serves, for cleansing and listening to the intuitive side of self. Reversed, Laguz asks us not to "try so hard". Inguz: Inguz is fertility and new beginnings. It relates to Grandmother Moon, and the intuitive part of self. You are coming out of a winter of hibernation to place your ideas into action. Know that in this "moving on" it may be necessaryto release people/things from your life, if they no longer serve you well. There is no reversal for Inguz. Othila: Othila references seperation, retreat and inheritence. This is a Rune of radical severence (similar to the Tarot card The Tower). One must take out (seperate) what no longer works so that one's pathmay be correctly followed. Reversed, Othila asks us to look at the world with new eyes, to not be bound by old traditions, by old ways of doing things. Dagaz: Dagaz is breakthrough and transformation, symbolized by Day. If you have drawn Dagaz, there is about to be a major shift in your life. You will no longer be able to follow the same goals, or live by the same rules. One must trust in the process. There is no reversal for Dagaz. Thank you for visiting the Runes. May your day be Blessed. (c) May 2002 Bonnie Cehovet References: "The Book of Runes", Blum, Ralph H. St Martin's Press, New York, 1993. ISBN #0-312-09758-1. "The Women's Spirituality Book", Stein, Diane, Llewellyn Publications, 1989. ISBN# 0-87542-761-8. Personal Lifestyle Reading - I offer a Personal Lifestyle Reading using Tarot that looks at past, present and future influences in your life, at the energies that are currently available to help you along your path, and at those energies that are appearing as challanges. My goal is to offer you insight into your decision making process, as well as tools that you can use to both better understand your path and make conscious, choice centered decisions. Home Rune links View My Guestbook Sign My Guestbook Graphics by Art for the web