Running the Tree: a short into to the Aettir

[Talkingfox]

I recently realized that Ratatosk and I were throwing around a whole bunch of terms and references in other threads that probably don't mean a lot to those who haven't studied runic in depth. OOPS..sorry. So that being said I'm going to try and rectify that.



The currently used Elder Futhark system of runic is based on a series of 24 runes divided into 3 Aettir (pl. of Aett) Each of the Aett (8) correspond with 3 realms of 3 spheres each as illustrated on graphic representations of the Nordic Tree of Life, Yggsdrasil. The addition of the so called “wyrd” or blank rune of popular use today has NO basis in historical use and totally messes up the original mathematical and vibrational pattern of the 24 rune system. There are some school of thought that say the LAST 2 runes in the order can be interchanged…as for me…well I dunno. The internal jury is still out, but I'm leaning towards the NO vote on that one.


I’ll be using the Germanic Names rather than the Saxon or Old Norse, I have an unfortunate tendency to vacillate, sometimes in the same conversation, between the Germanic and Saxon names. I’ll stick with one here….
The meanings I have included in NO WAY encompass all of what each rune means…just a short look into a general vibe…

The graphics of the runes I'll be speaking of can be found here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runic_alphabet (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runic_alphabet)

Because there is so much information I’ll be posting a single Aett at a time.

[Talkingfox]

The first aett represent the planes of creation and the deepest of the unconscious/subconscious/genetic memory. The 3 spheres of Yggsdrasil that correspond are as follows: Muspelheim (home of spark) Nieflheim (home of ice) and Jotunheim (home of giants)
What happens mythologically speaking here is that the fire of Muspel combines with the primodial ice of Neifl in the Ginnugagap (void) and from the subsequent rime ice that forms the first of the Jotun are licked out by a cosmic cow (Audumbhla) and form the raw stuff of creation. In the Mythos ALL of the Asa and Vana lines spring from the bodies of the first giants

Link to: Yggsdrasil graphics (http://forums.abrahadabra.com/showthread.php?t=1059)

In traditional graphic layouts of Yggsdrasil there is a distinct “place” where Jotunheim sits….but in the sagas the placement seems to be a mutable one, usually just outside of the realm where one is working. My hypthosis is this: That being as the Jotun are representative of the beginnings of timespace/ physical manifestation that the energy is all pervasive and resistant to the controls of the average joe schmuck. I think this hypothosis is borne out in the mythos in that humans may approach Jotunheim ONLY in the company of the gods and heavily armed.
Worth arming up for IMO being as the Jotun are the keepers of universal memory, destructors of worlds and originators of Pantheons. Titans, anyone?

:D




Ok…the 1st of the Aettir:
Fehu Meaning: Cattle, Wealth
Phonetic value: F

Uruz Meaning:: Wild Ox, Elemental strength
Phonetic value: U

Thurisaz Meaning :Thorn or Giant, vexation
Phonetic Value:th

Ansuz Meaning: God, divine communication
Phonetic Value: A

Raido Meaning: Riding, or Journey, council
Phonetic value:R

Kenaz Meaning: Torch, understanding
Phonetic value: K or hard C

Gebo Meaning: Gift, reciprocity
Phonetic value: hard G

Wunjo Meaning: Joy, perfection,pasture
Phonetic value: W or V


Ok so hot cow +cold cow= giants/weapons against giants
Which manifests as Godforms set into motion
Which leads to an understanding of the give and take of existence and skills to understand and manipulate it
Which manifests in physicality and ecstatic states


edit: A need to clarify...Jotun are resistant of, but not impossible to, control.

[Ratatosk]

Another tree model I missed is posted here:
http://forums.abrahadabra.com/showpost.php?p=13224&postcount=34

[Ratatosk]

... the subsequent rime ice that forms the first of the Jotun are licked out by a cosmic cow (Audumbhla)

Hmm, notice any Edda/Veda similarities anyone? Class? :yes:

[Dragon]

http://www.post-gazette.com/images4/20060624MF_vetter_450.jpg <--- Eddie Vetter



Nope...no similarity at all....


hehehe


~D~

[Talkingfox]

Although the possibilty of cheese is there with both....

[Talkingfox]

The Second Aett:
Just as the 1st Aett addresses the forces of creation, the 2nd address the energies of destruction and renewal.

Because the spheres of Yggsdrasil are so fluid in their nature of relationship I cannot in good conscience say..well the next 3 spheres are aligned with the next 8 runes. There are grey areas where the Aettir go from realm to realm.


In the 1st Aet the creative aspects of the Jotun are highlighted. In the 2nd the destructive are focused upon. This destruction is a manifestation of the inclusion of applied TIME to the previous Aett.



Many runic Scholars have aligned the first rune of this aett to the Norn Urd (the past) who is the guardian of the well of Wyrd. The Aesir themselves are NOT immune to the passage of time without magickal intervention, so none escape the destructive nature of time entirely in the Nordic worldview.


Unfortunately time also gives rise to the concept of NEED/greed (times a wastin…gimme it NOW)



The spheres of Hel (the Nordic underworld) and Swartzalfheim (dark –elf home) are addressed in a big way in this Aett.


While Hel is within the reaches of the effect of time it does not pass there, being in effect frozen. Hel is, by nature, utterly neutral and combines the slow moving energies of the Niefl-Jotun and the more moderate vibrations of the world of Midgard. The goddess Hel herself manages to illustrate this handily in her aspecting as being half frozen corpse half warm and living being. The doors of Hel only swing one direction however….at least until they’re burnt past a cinder at Ragnarok that is. ;)


The Swartzalf have direct interaction with both the realm of the gods and that of humans and the earth. The realm itself is mythologically speaking supposed to reside JUST beneath the skin of Midgard and through alchemical means brings forth the riches of Midgard. The Swartalf also are the makers of all the regalia and magickal weaponry of the Gods. Ah skill…but at a price, and usually a steep one tangled around a bunch of very convoluted negotiations.



The remaining concepts of the 2nd Aett address how time/wyrd/skill begin to manifest in Midgard via Measured time cycles, Skilled application , the willingness to face ones personal wyrd, the awareness of risk/chance, finally giving rise to the edges of the light worlds.





Hagalaz Meaning: Hail, Ice Storm
Phonetic Value: H

Nauthiz Meaning: Need, Need-fire
Phonetic Value: N

Isa Meaning: Ice
Phonetic Value: I

Jera Meaning: Year, cycle, harvest
Phonetic Value: y or j

Eihwaz Meaning: Yew, Bow
Phonetic Value: E

Peorth Meaning: Wyrd, dice cup
Phonetic Value: P

Algiz Meaning: Protection
Phonetic Value: Z

Suwelo Meaning: Sun
Phonetic Value: S


Ok then so:
Destruction/time gives rise to need/greed and the awareness of, but utter impartiality of time itself.

This awareness leads to measuring of cycles and the proper timing for maximum physical effect and the unflinching awareness of mortality. This facilitates armed risk taking., which in turn opens the psyche to the ‘Light’ realms.

[Talkingfox]

The 3rd and final aett brings the creative and destructive forces into experience.

Although Gods are directly named here the function is more of how the actions of such DIRECTLY affect the function and evolution of humans.
Tyr I find interesting here..being as Tyr was the Original “all-father” before the Odinic cult. Tyr represents yang in full manifestation, the action of fertilization and the central pillar of the world tree. Paired with the yin of Berkana, representative of agriculture, birth and nurturance, the basics needed for human survival come to fruit.



Tyr also is indicative of the development of the societal concepts of justice and rulership. Unfortunately this often leads to another societal concept: Warfare. The larger concept of Tyr transcends the popular notion of warfare with the application judicious use of force and the willingness to put oneself at risk for the greater good.

The 3rd aett also speaks to the need for cooperation for mutual benefit, both with animals and with other people. The notions of law, logic and recognition of the spirit of the individual also fall within this aett, as do personal introspection and “feeling” ones way, archetypal awareness and the development of magickal thinking.


The aett closes with the cycle of growth/entropy/ destruction/growth as part of the natural cycle of things.


Teiwaz (Tyr) Meaning: Spear, victory, the god Tyr
Phonetic value: T

Berkana Meaning: Birch, Mother
Phonetic Value: B

Ehwaz Meaning: Horse
Phonetic value: Truncated E

Mannaz Meaning: Humankind
Phonetic Value: M

Laguz Meaning: Lake
Phonetic Value: L

Inguz Meaning: the god Ing (Frey), clan
Phonetic value: ng

Dagaz Meaning: Day
Phonetic Value: D

Othila Meaning: birthright, nobility
Phonetic value: O




So:

The manifestation of culture and agriculture
Leads to mutually beneficial cooperation on both practical and intellectual levels
Which feeds Magickal awareness and intuition by allowing extra time for non-survival actions
This opens awareness to kinship with deity
And a realization that it is the birthright of the thinking animal
All that is not needed within this is burned away to be rebuilt cyclically

[Talkingfox]

I must add here that in working the Aettir for divination purposes that the runes are not well suited to the "What's going on" kind of explorations. They are far better suited to a "What's the appropriate Line of Action" approach

[Ratatosk]

The thing that makes it hard to pin down which worlds "go with" which Aett is the fact that the runes are aimed directly at how the influences of affects mankind, and in specific the rune practitioner reading/using the runes.

[Talkingfox]

I think it's all about the convergence in the middle....thus the overlaps

[Ratatosk]

Dagaz Meaning: Day
Phonetic Value: D


So:

The manifestation of culture and agriculture
Leads to mutually beneficial cooperation on both practical and intellectual levels
Which feeds Magickal awareness and intuition by allowing extra time for non-survival actions
This opens awareness to kinship with deity
And a realization that it is the birthright of the thinking animal
All that is not needed within this is burned away to be rebuilt cyclically

(emphasis mine)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/Runic_letter_dagaz.png/24px-Runic_letter_dagaz.png

Beyond the meaning of Day, (yes, BIG D Day, not little d day), dagaz is also the rune for Ragnarok itself.

[Ratatosk]

I think it's all about the convergence in the middle....thus the overlaps

For a taste of that see the image in this post (http://forums.abrahadabra.com/showpost.php?p=13198&postcount=27)

[MythMath]

Elder Futhark
{a study guide}

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q48/MythMath/Runes1copy.jpg

[Talkingfox]

That's cool as hell MM

[MythMath]

Did you mean, ...cool as Hel... ? :laugh:

[Radiant Star]

Blimey, thats amazing MM

Maybe you could do something like that for clusters of the I Ching or something.

You are great at inventing graphical thingies.

[MythMath]

Remember this one?

http://s133.photobucket.com/albums/q48/MythMath/th_change4B.jpg

the game of change (http://forums.abrahadabra.com/showpost.php?p=28155&postcount=7)

[MythMath]

Or how about this one...?
http://s133.photobucket.com/albums/q48/MythMath/th_ICLSDnorings.jpg
IC LSD (http://forums.abrahadabra.com/showthread.php?t=2724)