Rune of the Week - A Gift
Our rune of the week is Gebo, drawn as two lines, or sticks, crossing in the middle. It literally means ‘gift,’ and can mean you may see an unexpected arrival of a physical gift, but it goes further than that. Gebo represents presence, more than ‘presents’ and the offerings we make, the sacrifices that are done in the spirit of altruism.
You make offerings everyday. For some, you have an altar in your home, you burn incense, light candles, prepare an arrangement of fresh flowers to honor the ancestors, guides, goddesses of your heart. In formal church rituals, gifts are made and prepared and made holy and sacred. In a more ordinary way, we make the calls to family members, friends, to check in, say hi, maybe make a plan to get together soon. These are all the kinds of gifts of self we mean when we see this rune, those that create, build and cement loyalties, friendship, love.
This week is guided by energies of exchange. Another key phrase of Gebo is ‘my word is my bond.’ I can see two arms clasped in a tight fist, clad in gold. Consider this week your own circle of friends and community, your story of partnership. Further, in mythology, there is always a price to be paid, a sacrifice for knowledge gained. Odin hung upside down from the world tree for 9 days, 9 nights, famously giving of himself to himself to acquire the runes.
Remember that “X” marks the spot where treasure is buried, and “X” was an acceptable form of signing one’s name to binding documents. Finally, the words from Hávámál, the ancient rune poem, “Unasked is better than offered too much; always a gift seeks gain. Unsent is better than sacrificed too much.”
Giving and receiving maintains the balance of things, equilibrium…as all sides of the crossed sticks are equal. Many blessings on your week.