Hild's Hall Rune a Day Project - November 2021
11/1: ᚷ Gebo
11/2: ᚱ Raidho
11/3: ᛞ Dagaz
11/4: ᛁ Isa
11/5: ᚢ Uruz
11/6: ᛃ Jera
11/7: ᚦ Thurisaz
11/8: ᚠ Fehu
11/9: ᛇ Eihwaz
11/10: ᛜ or ᛝ Ingwaz
11/11: ᛒ Berkano/Berkana
11/12: ᛊ or ᛋ Sowlio
11/13: ᚹ Wunjo
11/14: ᚲ Kenaz/Kauna
11/15: ᛚ Laguz
11/16: ᛏ Tiwaz
11/17: ᚺ or ᚻ Hagalaz
11/18: ᛈ Pertho
11/19: ᛖ Ehwaz
11/20: ᛗ Mannaz
11/21: ᚨ Ansuz
11/22: ᛟ Othala/Othila
11/23: ᚾ Nauthiz
11/24: ᛉ Algiz/Elgaz/Elhaz
Summary:
I randomly drew one Elder Futhark rune each day from November 1 through November 24, 2021. Each day, I researched the meaning of runes from a variety of sources, some really wildly out there, some pretty grounded in the actual study of runes as an alphabet vs. uses in magic or associations with esoteric things.
I took this opportunity to learn more for myself, to decide for myself what feels and seems right, so that I can incorporate runes, rune reading, and the symbolism of runes in our home hearth cultus in a deeper and more meaningful way.
I learned a lot about a variety of subjects I wouldn't have considered before the project.
I have a lot MORE to learn, as half my reference works haven't arrived yet via intra-library loan. So I'll be doing more, even if I don't blog about it on the regular.
Initially, the project drew me closer to the deity Freyr/Ing/Ingvi, which surprised me. But a lot of the associations seemed to be related to him in the early part of the project.
Half way through - literally, on day 12 - I woke up in the middle of the night thinking of Odin, and how the Allfather is constantly getting himself into situations in the myths so that he might know more. His apparent hunger for knowledge, which is a never-ending quest... I get that, I really do, and now I feel more connected to Odin than ever I was (which admittedly, wasn't much before now).
As I worked through the project, I came to the opinion that while we absolutely need to keep ourselves grounded in historical definitions and understanding, there's nothing actually wrong with modern innovation and reinterpretation of the runes. Look, the popular Web of Wyrd symbol is modern (there's several versions of that), as is the Vegvisir, and I, for one, use both as meaningful to me. We can't have a living religion defined strictly by what Arch Heathens may or may not have done or thought or believed (and a lot of that is guesswork, anyway). So it is with the runes.
Hence, I call myself "Northern Path Eclectic" versus "Heathen" or "Norse Pagan", although I identify with both terms, to separate myself from those who are trying a faithful reconstruction. It's pretty clear they do NOT want to be associated with someone like me, going by what they say online.
I absolutely recommend, if you have an interest in this subject, a project like this. Even if you aren't interested in runecasting or divination or those subjects at all.
Anyway, I'd love to hear from all y'all out there interested in this topic. Are there interpretations you've experienced that I should know? How do you do runecasting? Do you think this is a valid tool for divination... or is it just an alphabet?
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Hávamál 138-144 (Larrington):
138. I know that I hung on a windswept tree
nine long nights,
wounded with a spear, dedicated to Odin,
myself to myself,
on that tree of which no man knows
from where its roots run
139. With no bread did they refresh me nor a drink from a horn,
downwards I peered;
I took up the runes, screaming I took them,
then I fell back from there.
140. Nine mighty spells I learnt from the famous son
of Bolthor, Bestla's father,
and I got a drink of the precious mead,
I, soaked from Odrerir.
141. Then I began to quicken and be wise,
and to grow and to prosper;
one word from another word found a word for me,
one deed from another deed found a deed for me.
142. The runes you must find and meaningful letters,
very great letters,
very stiff letters,
which the mighty sage colored
and the huge powers made
and the runemaster of the gods carved out.
143. Odin among the Æsir, and Dain among the elves,
Dvalin among the dwarfs,
Asvid among the giants,
I myself carved out some.
144. Do you know how to carve, do you know how to interpret,
do you know how to color, do you know how to question,
do you know how to ask, do you know how to sacrifice,
do you know how to dispatch, do you know how to slaughter?
