Tag: #Runes

#TuesdayRunes – Ansuz

Published on by Jan Sikes29 Comments

Happy Tuesday, everyone and welcome to another journey through the runes! The next rune in The Elder Futhark script is Ansuz (ahn-sooze).

The keywords for this rune are communication, wisdom, divine power or a message.

The meaning of Ansuz is mouth and it is the rune of communication in all its forms, but chiefly verbal communications, whether it involves writing, speaking, or even singing. This sounds like the patron rune for authors!

When drawing this rune in a reading, it can indicate messages, advice, or new information may be coming from external sources, or you may need to pay closer attention to the messages coming from your higher self.

The rune also refers to wisdom and knowledge. On occasion, this rune appears to suggest an apprenticeship to a new trade or refers to an aspect of life or situation that you may never have encountered before. In this case, it is likely you will be helped and guided by a sympathetic and patient individual who is attentive and knowledgeable and from whom you will learn a great deal.

Chance encounters that lead to new connections, beginnings and opportunities may be possible when this rune shows up in a reading. Keep your eyes and ear open as you socialize with others, whether for business or pleasure. Because of the association between Ansuz and Odin (the father god) this rune can sometimes indicate advice or opportunity coming from an older wiser person.

Ansuz reminds us that the divine presence is always within and around us, no matter what difficulties we may be facing.

Ansuz is the rune associated with the birthdate between August 13th and August 29th. My birthdate is August 21st. So, I am absorbing all the information about this rune today!

Thank you for stopping by and as always, I hope you are enjoying our journey through the runes!

#TuesdayRunes – Thurisaz #Runes #RunicSymbols

Published on by Jan Sikes35 Comments

Welcome back for another segment of exploring the magic of the runes!

The next symbol in The Elder Futhark script is Thurisaz (thoo-ree-sahz).

The keywords are: Protection, warning, contemplation, decisions and luck.

Thurisaz is mainly concerned with aspects of protection and resistance to danger and other unwanted circumstances. The shape of this runic symbol represents a thorn on a branch. It symbolizes the wisdom of choosing a defensive stance, rather than rushing to attack an adversary.

If you go into a challenging or potentially dangerous situation, you can surround yourself with a shield of protective energy, carry a talisman, and be extra mindful of your environment and your actions. Taking these measures is often enough to deter potential attackers from trying to harm or take advantage of you. Consider this rune as a stern but friendly warning to be alert to potential danger.

Another common interpretation of Thurisaz indicates you are facing an important decision requiring careful consideration. Be sure to evaluate every aspect of the situation before making your move. Don’t make your choice from a place of emotion. The ability to come from a rational place when making a decision that could significantly impact your life is another form of protection.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this close look at Thurisaz!

My very good friend, Kay, sent this to me, and I thought it would be fun to add to our exploration of The Runes. It is the first time I’ve seen runes associated to a birth date, much like birthstones. I don’t know if this contains any amount of accuracy, so adding it just for the fun of it.

#TuesdayRunes – Uruz #Runes #RunicSymbols

Published on by Jan Sikes43 Comments

Welcome back for our second day of exploring the secrets of the Runes!

The second symbol shown in the Elder Futhark script is Uruz (oo-rooze).

The keywords for this rune are: Strength, health, power, energy, endurance and creative force.

The animal associated with this rune was the wild fierce European ox of centuries past. This animal was admired for its raw strength, energy and power, yet because the ox was untamable, these qualities were also cause for health caution – as were its sharp, deadly horns which are symbolized by the shape of the rune itself.

Uruz is considered to be a powerful indicator of good health and strong natural powers of resistance. It can sometimes indicate the male in any relationship.

This raw strength and power are at the heart of the meaning of Uruz. Physical strength can be indicated, but emotional and spiritual strength are just as likely to be emphasized here. If you are facing challenges, Uruz is a reminder that you have the strength to persevere, as well as defend yourself from adversaries. If you are pursuing a dream, this rune suggests that there is enough momentum behind you to bring it into manifested form.

A related message is to beware of allowing raw, untamed energy to rule your responses to your situation, or of trying to use your power to control others. Indeed, the challenge presented by Uruz is to “tame” the primal forces of nature within each of us so that our energy can be used for everyone’s benefit.

I sincerely hope you enjoyed that close-up look at Uruz.

Join us again next week when we’ll take a look at the third runic symbol in the Elder Futhark script.

#TuesdayRunes – Introduction

Published on by Jan Sikes51 Comments

Welcome to a brand new series where we will explore the mysteries and magic of the runes!

I want to start with a brief history of and introduction to the runes.

To most, the various symbols that make up what we call “the runes” may be seen simply as archaic remnants of a primitive and long-abandoned alphabet. While this is true to some degree, those who work with these mystical symbols in divination know they are far more.

Although the runes have not been in widespread use for several centuries, the past few decades have seen quite a revival of interest in runic magic and divination. If you are a fan of J.R.R. Tolkein, you’re bound to be familiar with some of these symbols, which appeared in The Hobbitt, and inspired the invented “runic” alphabet in The Lord of the Rings.

In the academic sense, the runes are known as the characters in a group of alphabets used to write in various languages spoken by the Germanic peoples of Europe during a period starting roughly in the first century B.C.E. (before The Common Era) and ending several hundred years later.

However, unlike our modern letters, the runic symbols had been in use for magical purposes long before they were fashioned into a writing system. The runes carried deep meanings for the people who used them, and for this reason they never disappeared completely, even though they were once banned by the Christian church.

The English word rune, comes from the Norse word runa, which means “a secret” or “to whisper.” The Norse runa is also the root for the English word we use to identify a very magical tree, the rowan. Found throughout Northern Europe, the rowan tree has long been sacred to various magical traditions and is used widely for protection. It is known by many folk names, including “rune tree” and “whisper tree.”

The oldest written record of the runes comes from the Nordic region. Throughout Nordic literature, the runes are portrayed as powerful and even potentially dangerous magical tools

The runes most widely used today in divination and magic practices are known as the Elder Futhark (footh-ark), the oldest known runic script.

And that is the script that we will be exploring throughout this series.

There is a total of 24 runic symbols and one blank in each set.

Another important aspect of a rune set is the pouch in which you keep them. When I was studying them as part of a psychic development class in Denver, many years ago, we were instructed to make our own set of runes plus a personal pouch. The bag I made is the one on the left below and I keep my wooden set of runes inside it. On the right is a silk bag in which I store a set of opalescent rune stones which I purchased.

The runes I made at that time, are the runes I will mostly be using throughout this series. There was something magical in that process. I found myself often in a meditative state.

I will do much like I did with the #TarotTuesday series in that we will explore each rune symbol, then I will do some three rune and five rune readings. So, settle in and I hope you will enjoy this journey with me as together, we learn more about this ancient method of divination!

**Also, on a side note: If you are interested in making your own set of runes, this is the guide I highly recommend.**

PURCHASE LINK