Ancient Sacred Knowledge – Daily Wisdom Practices: A place to explore Runic relevance in today's world.
Kenaz in the flowering of Spring. Not only is this at a V in the tree, it is renewal at a site of loss. Spring is a healer, a time of renewal and recovery. Kenaz is a primal force of creation–based in the deep connection of “ken”ship or knowingness. What is the core essence strives to be…finds a way to continue.
See you all at the NWTS this weekend! Deb
I have been surrounded by the spirit of Raido this week. Raido is about the journey and the paths you travel. The city is working on the road in front of my house, and in front of my work. Pretty funny to have barriers leaving home and entering work; or leaving work and entering home. OK, maybe not funny at all—but I do have to pause before I enter and leave the road twice a day. And in being forced to pause as part of the journey, I realize the value in doing just that.
I love that the runes look like whatever they symbolize. Doesn’t Raido look just like a person in mid-step—walking forward? Easy for me to begin to think about all that goes with traveling; preparing by planning the route, taking along the tools and supplies you need, determining how long it will take and when you will be able to return home, do I need a companion on this journey? In today’s language it might look like: do I have my Garmin or other directions/maps; cellphone, water, snacks, music; get a pet sitter, or put a hold on the mail; call to tell my friend I’m on the way to pick them up. Even going to work requires the same thought processes: the road construction requires I take a different route to work to save time; remember my lunch, cellphone, and files; do I need to put dinner in the crockpot because it will be a long day; or set something out to thaw to cook when I get home; am I carpooling today or on my own? Haven’t we all had those days we are in a hurry and forget something that ends up taking us longer? Raido is not just the action of moving forward; but contains the whole picture—planning, movement, and arrival.
Raido corresponds with the Chariot tarot card; number 7 of the major arcana. It often depicts a person in a chariot or other conveyance pulled by two similar animals, one light and one dark—often looking to the opposite of the the card. Themes for the card are the struggle between choices, control of your destiny, focused direction, overcoming obstacles, self-control, mastery of your desires, clarity of purpose. In the Gaian Tarot my dear friend Joanna Powell Colbert has chosen the the Canoe as the image to portray taking control of ones destiny. With the runes being a tool used by the Norse ancestors who traveled so extensively by water, the canoe image resonated with me. I even created a tarot spread designed to give me insight on what I might need to know on my journey. Try it using either tarot cards or runes, the questions and spread design follow:
1 RUNE/CARD
3 RUNE/CARD 5 RUNE/CARD 4 RUNE/CARD
2 RUNE/CARD
Card 1
Eagle’s view–What is the big picture? What inspires me? What makes the journey worth it?
Card 2
Salmon’s gift–What wisdom, deep knowledge or truth supports me on my journey?
Card 3
First Orca– What slows me down?What barriers must I overcome to reach my destination? What am I clinging to in my past that hinders me? What am I afraid of?
Card 4
Second Orca–What causes me to rush? What lesson will I miss if I hurry too fast? What opportunity am I limiting with too narrow a focus?
Card 5
Me– What must I do to glide forward effortlessly into my right and perfect future? What allows me to reach my destination with ease and joy?
Summer is certainly a time for travel. Spend some time with Raido soon, and see how you journeys become more fun, efficient, purposefulll—especially if the purpose is to enjoy the ride!!
Bright Summer Blessings,
Deb
after I started my blog this winter, I started radiation treatment for uterine cancer after finding an early-stage cancer during a hysterectomy. I had a total of 25 sessions, and after the initial treatment, I took a different rune with me into the treatment for each of the remaining sessions. I am now cancer-free, energetic, and back on track. It was quite an experience and I am working on sharing my experience of runic healing—but I’m not sure if it will be an e-book, published, or just filter into my blog.
I have a practice of pulling runes daily. I have been collecting them and making them for year. I have a beautiful pottery bowl adorned with Freya’s Boar-Hildisvini that I keep all the runes in. Today when I reached in, the runes that came to me face up were Fehu and Thurisaz—wealth and thorn. I also pull a tarot card daily. Currently I am using the Gaian Tarot created by my dear friend Joanna Powell Colbert. The card I drew was Strength—a woman shown holding a lioness in a fond embrace. So together it made me think that the message for the day was that wealth is like strength; most likely gained by courting rather than by force. All though there is a need for “pointed action” or focus as shown in the Thurisaz rune. As the Northern Mysteries do not fear/or hide the shadows we all create, there is a shadow meaning as well. Seeing only material wealth can be a thorn in your side, or make you a thorn in the side of others. Weath should improve your life and make you happy; it is doesn’t, then you are out of balance.
I am off to the Highland Games in my town of Ferndale, Washington this weekend. I will be at my huband’s booth, Michaels Books today and will have my runes with me if you want to drop by. I’ll be having a grand day listening to the bands, watching the dancing, and I just love seeing the men in kilts—I’m off!!
Look for more postings and pictures to follow–
Hail! and Blessed Be,
Deb
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