Tuesday was named after Tyr. His rune is Tiwaz and looks like an arrow. The energy of this rune is to take aim and take action. This warrior rune is used to target the enemy. Tyr is the Norse warrior that sacrificed his right hand to bind the Fenris wolf. He was the only God with the courage to put his hand in the mouth of the Fenris Wolf so the other Gods cound bind it. While Tyr paid the price for the trickery used to bind Fenris, his rune is a rune of truth. Using this rune with untruth always exacts a price.
How do I honor Tyr on Tuesdays?
Strategize how to overcome opposition. Do something that takes courage. Be truthful in your dealings today.
In a personal approach; take aim on a habit you want to conquer or set a goal to improve a skill that will make you more competitive in your work or community. Know that Tyr usually requires sacrifice–though it can be time, the discomfort that comes with change, or occassionally injury. Choose wisely so the pain is worth the gain. Set a goal, make an oath and swear it on Tyr’s right hand. But be sure it is something you are willing to sacrifice for.
What does Tuesday mean to you? Where do you have conflict in your life and what are you going to do about it? What does victory look like?
The Moon is always changing; but in a cyclical manner. It illumines the world indirectly by reflecting the light of the sun off its face to the Earth. It symbolizes the subconscious and those things that we might prefer to keep hidden or secret. Or even those things that you don’t even realize are there. It is also where we can connect to the collective consciouseness and all the deep wisdom of the ages. In Tarot is it a place where opposites are challenges and choices are made. The wolf and the dog are the same inside; it is the trappings of civility we have added to make dog what he appears. Detail is lost in the shadow of the night; the larger essesnce is what comes to the surface.
Laguz
Laguz is the rune that I most closely associate with the Moon. It is the lake and the subconscious. There is treasure underneath the mud; but you might have to dig for it. The water is deceptive; deeper than you think and at the same time dangerously shallow. In the moonlight the shadows can cover the warning cracks in the ice. It can be dangerous to tread in this realm of shadows; but taking this road gets us to the other shore more quickly than other routes. What looks beautiful at night is shown to be flawed by the light of day. The Moon is magic and mystery; hauntingly beautiful and is always changing; endlessly changing in its cycle of waxing and waning. The shore patiently waits while the tide ebbs, knowing the flow is sure to return.
So what does that mean to me today? How can I honor the Moon when I work every Monday?
First, notice if the Moon is waxing or waning (or both) this week. You can look up the current phase of the Moon here. You might want to make it a habit to check out the Moon phase every Monday. Then match your energies and projects to her energy. If it is a waning Moon, try to focus your energies on clearing out files, wrapping any projects that need to end. Five S your work space, shred files. If the moon is waning; it is time to start that new project, ask for a raise, work on a team project. Purchase new office equipment or software; or actualy start to use something you haven’t gotten around to adding to your skill set.
Wear something that reminds you of the Moon–moonstone, pearls, something silver or white and round or crescent shaped. Take time to look at the Moon every Monday and think about all the persons looking at the moon right now, and all the persons that have looked at her in all the ages. Or of all the sentient beings on the planet that are looking at the Moon right now.
If you journal, make and entry on Mondays that allow you to explore your shadow side; looking at it helps to dispel the power it can have over us. Allow yourself to choose how to honor the animal side of your nature–and plan times to experience them. They have a way of showing up inopportunely if we don’t.
What do you do to honor the Moon on Mondays? Please comment and share your connection with the Moon.
I find it interesting that the days of the week carry mostly Norse or Germanic names…
Sunday ( Sunna’s Day or the day of the Sun)
Monday (Moon Day)
Tuesday (Tiew’s day or Tyr’s day)
Wednesday (Woden’s Day for the God Odin)
Thursday (Thor’s Day)
Friday (Freya’s Day or Frigga’s Day)
Saturday (Saturn’s Day–OK this one is Roman)
Saturday is the exception–and I read that the day between Friday and Sunday was called lordag which literally means bath day. The culture was to bath once a week. Since it was not a day to honor the Gods, it did not supercede what the Roman’s called it: Saturn’s Day. It seems that even the Vikings knew it was good to take a day for renewal and self-care. On Saturdays we’ll be looking at ways to take time out just for ourselves.
Dagaz is the rune for “day”. I see two Kennaz runes facing each other in it–which could be seen as a double dose of creation. Each dawn is a new day; the first day of the rest of your life. Each day you create your experience through the choices you make. It also looks like the Othalla rune; it has a third Kennaz –symbolizing the continuation of creation. What we do today can influence our life in a way that can make lasting changes; and even influence what we pass down through the generations.
Today is indeed a new day. Sunny and bright; full of possibility and new choices. May you embrace the opportunity to choose anew today and everyday.
Today my daughter and I are performing a song for two dear friends who are renewing their wedding vows on their 50th wedding anniversary. Mannaz came to me this morning as a perfect reminder of the joy we experience through the vehicle of music created in partnership.
Music is certainly a vehicle that carries our hopes and dreams, our pain and fear, our success and joy. And when two or more make music together something magical happens. The music lifts us to a place we could not reach alone.
We “play” music. That is how connected music is to joy. And the rune Mannaz looks like two Wunjo (joy) runes facing each other–as if they are ready to dance. And that is another way that we experience and embody music. Musicians move to the rhythm and phrasing of the music that they play. If fact, if they are having difficulty with a section of music–moving more may actually help them to flow right through that passage.
Music is supposed to fun. The key is to relax into it and just love who you are playing with and who you are playing for. Not a problem today!
I am on the train, journeying to Seattle to Angie and Tim’s wedding. It is grey and misty outside but I still wore my requested sundress. I have lived in the NW all my life and I know there could still be sun by 3pm today. But as I journey I am thinking of two runes I have been posting about already–Raido and Gebo; the journey and the gift. I am creating bindrunes and combined them together as a symbol of the wedding journey. It is an illustration of not only the journey that brought them together, but the journey ahead for the rest of their lives. Raido + Gebo = Wunjo wrapped up in a bow. (See the picture illustrating this equation and bindrune)
Bindrunes can be very powerful. When you combine 2 or more runes you often create other runes at the same time. In this bind rune Wunjo became prominent. There is also Kenaz–in reference to a wedding it speaks to a new “kenning” or intimate knowingness, and a new chapter in the kin–the family. (A nod to the joy of sexual union as well)
As I charge this bindrune I know only happiness and joy for Angie and Tim as they continue this journey of love: knowing that they are blessed by giving of themselves and receiving from each other along the way.
Blessings on their wedding day!
I am sitting at the bus stop waiting for the next bus. It is a busy day, yet I am in a moment of stillness. I look around me and note that there are hemlock and pine trees sharing my space. The trees are a manifestation of Isa with their straight trunks and rooted stillness.
Summer is all about growth, fruits, play and action. But in the center of it all is stillness and calm. I have a moment of reflection and feel the nudge of the Goddess. “All is good, all is well. Enjoy the Life you have been given; right now just as it is. Perfection.”
Under the tree I feel the coolness and remember Isa’s frosty winter bite. I appreciate the stillness she brings to the middle of a hectic day. Hail ISA!
