Laguz is the rune of the lake and its shore, the water that surrounds us and that we are made of, the subconscious that shapes our conscious lives. It can indicate not just these places, but the liminal space where the two meet. It is in this mutable place, this time out of time that mystery lives and magic happens.
Think of the mists that surround Avalon; the Lady of Lake and the gift of Excalibur.
Have you ever been to the shore, and played in the tide pools and the estuaries? They are teeming with life and possibility. Many creatures that live there have the ability to live in both salt and fresh water as their environment is constantly changing. While powerful, these places of mystery and magic are fragile and must be respected and cared for.
Impermanance is another hallmark of the liminal space. Nothing stays the same. Taking the action, making the decision is the gift of the moment. It may lead to a result; but the result is not obtained in this border of in-between. Laguz is about the internal actions and feelings; about you changing as a result of being in the space. There is often a spiritual aspect to address or respect when this rune show up.
When Laguz shows up in a reading, pay attention. It is calling you to look under the surface; seek the deeper meanings. What part of your magical nature is it calling to? What will you choose?
On Tuesday, I facilitated a ritual at The Center for Spiritual Living in Bellingham. It was timed to coincide with the Venus Transit–which occurs once every 140-150 years. Venus is the feminine planet and when it comes to the forefront, so will the feminine attributes of healing, communication, community, and compassion. The 13 Grandmothers, leaders of Indigenous tribes all over the globe heard the planet call for help. They called for people all over the Earth to gather by the Fire in sacred space to bless the waters of the Earth that She might be able to cleanse, heal, and renew Herself.
96 of us gathered by the sacred fire and honored the 7 sacred directions. We heard Cloud’s Story and honored the waters within us and surrounding us. People brought water from all over the NW and places as far as Chalice Well in England; snow from the mountain passes, flood waters and freshly fallen rain. All went into a great singing bowl that mixed the waters and created our own Ocean. We blessed this Living Water–these drops that are connected to all the waters of the earth. We sang and danced our blessings into the water and deep into the Earth. And we each took some of that Ocean home with us to remember our connection and committment to Her healing.
Certainly we were experiencing the Laguz rune. The intent was to heal the waters of the Earth while we were in community with the entire planet. The collective unconscious lives just underneath the surface of the waters–accessible by all. Great power for healing and renewal lives in the water, in the bloodstreams of all of us.
I have a vial of this Ocean on my altar, a reminder that I am connected to every being on the planet, that I have a responsibility to pray for and act in consort with Her healing, and that I have been blessed by those that came together for the same purpose…knee deep in planetary healing.
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.
