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Utgard Online Magazine of the Northern Tradition is ©1998-2009 Skergard |
Issue #2 June 1998-5101 Runic Cycles By IG Hráfnbjörn In our existence here upon Midgardhr, we live with in that which is. Before there was anything, there was just the Ginnugagap. The magically-filled void, where nothing exists except for its potential. Within this void, the potentials began to polarize. When this happened, they had to become kinetic in order to divide. This motion created the first ørlög, and the runes were born. The ørlög does not write in stone something’s every action, it simply states its cycle of evolution ( j) and its path of evolution (y). The first dynamic energy within the gap is manifest as the rune fehu ( f). Do not misunderstand this as fehu being the first manifested thing, for at the same instant that ørlög became, so did the runes in their entirety. The dynamic energy embodied in fehu, after it became, began to divide into its polarities. These two opposites now have their own ørlög shaped by the power of uruz ( u). In the center these polarities come together, react with, and reflect eachother ( x) to create a single balanced energy that pushes all things along their path of ørlög. This is shown in the stave shape of thurisaz ( x). The diagram below shows how the energy from below travels upward, reacting with the energy from above to create the forward forcing power.
This is how the runes ordered themselves in a linear way (y). The runes also manifested in a cyclical pattern (J) into a pattern resembling a sphere divided into eight sections, representing the cosmic ætts. As the runes found their way around the sphere, they gathered in groups of three. So the first rune is grouped with the first runes, the second rune is grouped with the other second runes, etc… The first division are all runes representing a god or goddess. Fehu ( f) may be seen as having the attributes of Freyr, Freyja, and Frigga. Next is hagallaz ( h), which is associated with Heimdallr, warder of bifröst . Third it Tiwaz (t), which is the sky god Tyr, bringer of order. The second group, which are the second rune of each ættir, are the forming powers. Uruz (u) is the primal force responsible for creation. Nauðiz (n) is the laws that creation, and all things created must abide by, and berkano ( b) represents the cycle of existence all thing abide by. This cycle is the cycle of birth, growth, decline, death, rebirth into the same cycle. The third grouping are those runes which show the three aspects of the self. The rune þurisaz ( x) is the combination of opposite forces to create a balanced force, or self. Isa (I) is the singular aspect of the self, the self awareness, and the ego. Ehwaz (e) is the harmonious working of like forces with a single goal, the duality ( x) and the singularity (i). Fourth are ansuz ,the rune of the divine sovereign ancestral force. Jera ( j) is the rune showing the cycle of that force, and mannaz (m) is the embodiment of that force into man. The fifth are raiðo, eihwaz, and laguz. They are the path of that which is right, raiðo ( r), the vertical path of evolution, and the passage between the three realms of being (y), and that which is passed over on these paths ( l). The sixth grouping are kenaz (c), the fire of creation controlled by ørlög and will. Perðro ( p), evolution itself, and ingwaz (q), the container and fertilizing essence of evolution. The seventh group are gyfu (g), or the cooperation, and exchange between two forces, elhaz (z) or the communication between them, and dagaz (d), the manifestation of the results. Dagaz also shows the paradox between these two things. An example is shown by the name dagaz, which means day. Dagaz is the paradox between night and day, which are the two in between periods of dusk and dawn. The final and eighth division are wunjo ( w), which is the harmony and balance found in the overall cycle, sowilo (s) which is the cyclical path of evolution represented by the path of the rising and setting sun. Oþala (o), which is the end result of evolution. The above groupings show the runic relationships according to their placement within the ættir. Now we will examine the significance of each ætt as a whole. The first ætt are the runes fehu ( f), uruz (u), thurisaz (x), ansuz (a), raidho (r), kenaz (c), gyfu (g), and wunjo ( w). These are the runes which represent the basic primal ingredients of creation. They show the beginnings of all that "is". The second ætt are the runes that show the shaping of the cosmos as we know it. After the ingredients of creation became, the shaping process began. The runes of this ætt are hagallaz (h), naudhiz (n), isa ( I ), jera ( j), eihwaz (y), perdhro (p), elhaz (z), and sowilo (s). The third ætt are the runes of the final product of the creation and shaping process. They are tiwaz (t), berkano ( b), ehwaz (e), mannaz (m), laguz ( l), ingwaz (q), dagaz (d), and othala (o). Within this system of ættir, endless symbolisms may be seen. One of which is the creation of the nine worlds. In the beginning the gap contained all of the ingredients for creation, but these were still in their potential state. This is the first ætt. Once it began to polarize, and manifest, the influences of the second ætt comes into play. This shaping process continues to create everything’s ørlög until they r4ach their evolved state, the third ætt. In living beings lives, the first ætt may be seen as that beings conception and period of infancy. Once this being begins to learn and act of its own accord, its ørlög begins to shape its personality and path of evolution. This, for humans, is equivalent to say ages 1-25. This is the time of trial and error. The shaping of the persons evolved state. Once this beings ørlög has shaped and evolved it, they continue to evolve, but they begin to shape the things around them. Finally their evolved state (represented by the third aett) completes the process by manifesting the first aett once again by means of conception, willed transformation, and reproduction. The full beauty and brilliance of the symbolisms contained in the runes are far too all-encompassing to be explained, for that reason they must be understood, not explained.
1. Ørlög is roughly translated as "primal layers", or primal laws. Similar to the concept of fate. It is the actions of the past that have led it to the present. 2. Murk runes. 3. Shining runes. 4. Ætt: pl. ættir Old Norse, meaning family, or gnus. It may also mean a group with eight divisions. 5. Bifröst is the bridge between the
worlds.
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