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24 Days of Runic Affirmations: Day 10, Naudiz

Posted in 24 Days of Runic Affirmations, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 5, 2013| Leave a Comment »

“We acquire the strength we have overcome.”

–Ralph Waldo Emerson

NaudizThe Rune Poem: Verse X Naudiz

Hardship lies heavy on the heart
Yet oft to the children of men
It becomes nonetheless a help and a healing,
If they heed it in time.

Any journey through the runes, including this series of 24 runic affirmations, is nothing if not transformative. It’s been nearly three months since my last post, and the time between has been full of Naudiz’s energy, the second rune of the second aett (“rune family”) in the Elder Futhark.

In my case hardship took the form of an employer who, having recently experienced a great personal tragedy, proceeded to make the lives of those working for him very difficult. As I was already splitting my time between two jobs – this one, which provided for me financially and another, which doesn’t pay as well – I decided to resign from the former and focus fully on the latter. Looking back over the last few months, I realize this was the only viable choice. I certainly could have remained without financial worry by keeping the old job, but would’ve been miserable had I continued subjecting myself to a boss incapable of separating his personal life from work. What good is money if it comes at the cost of happiness, and what good is a job if it doesn’t allow me to contribute in a satisfying way? Though the choice to focus fully on the second job (which is really a career) will bring short-term financial hardship, it’s one that has already brought greater freedom and joy. Given time and hard work, it also has the potential to create more income than the job I’ve left.

And so the meaning of Naudiz becomes clear: hardship as something to be endured, with “help and healing” for those who “heed it” and persevere. Said another way, we can choose to see any unpleasant situation life presents as a chance to create something we love. Of course we can also choose to do the opposite, and many do. For some, playing the victim and assigning blame instead of taking responsibility for their happiness is the safer, more predictable bet. After the last few months of unhappiness, I’m done with “safe” and am ready to unfold into a joyful new world of unknowns.

The affirmations offered in this series’ previous post are also fitting for Naudiz:

I peacefully and lovingly release situations and relationships that are not for my higher good.

I view every situation as an opportunity to grow stronger and more joyful.

These affirmations by Orin and Sanaya Roman appear in the book Living with Joy. If they don’t ring true for you as they’re written above, feel free to change them! The words don’t do the work on their own…it’s words + repetition + intent and emotional connection that make affirmations such powerful catalysts for positive change. Create ones that feel good and reflect who you are.

Click here to see other affirmations in this series.

Additional source material: Oswald the Runemaker

I’ve been a runology student for 20 years. See the About page or click here to learn more about my work with the runes.

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24 Days of Runic Affirmations: Day 9, Hagalaz

Posted in 24 Days of Runic Affirmations, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 13, 2012| Leave a Comment »

“So let go…it’s alright, ’cause there’s beauty in the breakdown.”

–Imogen Heap, from the song Let Go

“All great changes are preceded by chaos.”

–Deepak Chopra

Do you feel like a storm is brewing? If so, get out the candles, stoke the fire, and prepare to wait it out.

The first rune of the second aett (or rune “family”) in the Elder Futhark is all about challenges that delay and disrupt your plans. In situations like these your choices are usually few, but clear. Do you face the storm with courage, then pick up the pieces and rebuild after it has passed? Or do you deny the storm is raging around you, then stare with disbelief at the damage it leaves behind? Worse, do you spend your valuable time and energy demanding the Universe “make things the way they were before,” instead of moving forward?

It’s hard watching something we’ve spent time and energy building come crashing down around us, especially when we feel powerless to stop its collapse. But nature’s cycle of birth, growth, and death is something neither we nor anything we create can escape. At best, some of the forms we create – friendships, intimate relationships, careers, beliefs about ourselves and others – eventually stop helping us grow. At worst, these can become stifling to the point of making us feel imprisoned. Whatever the case, old forms that no longer enliven and empower us have to be shed to make room for different opportunities that bring renewed freedom, inspiration, and joy. By holding on to the old instead of embracing the new, we rot ourselves from the inside out and become what compassionate spiritual warrior and well-known medium Faye The Tattooed Psychic calls “the walking dead.”

If you’re not ready to face the challenges in your life, ask yourself why. If you’re ready for the peace that comes from accepting things as they are and would like help mustering the courage to move on, try these affirmations by Orin and Sanaya Roman, from the book Living with Joy:

I peacefully and lovingly release situations and relationships that are not for my higher good.

I view every situation as an opportunity to grow stronger and more joyful.

About these affirmations: if the words presented above don’t ring true for you, change them! The words don’t do the work on their own…it’s words + repetition + intent and emotional connection that make affirmations such powerful catalysts for positive change. Feel free to create ones that feel good and reflect who you are.

Click here to see other affirmations in this series.

Additional source material: Oswald the Runemaker

I’ve been a runology student for 20 years. See the About page or click here to learn more about my work with the runes.

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24 Days of Runic Affirmations: Day 8, Wunjo

Posted in 24 Days of Runic Affirmations, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 28, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Happiness and conclusion are strong themes today. Happiness/joy is the meaning of Wunjo, the source of today’s affirmation and the eighth and final rune in the first aett (or rune “family”) of the Elder Futhark. It’s also nearly a full moon, and I started this series just after the new moon. (It’s fascinating how present cycles are in our lives, and how it takes only a little silence and stillness to see them.)

The Anglo-Saxon rune poem, Verse VIII, as translated by B. Dickins in Runic and Heroic Poems of the Old Teutonic Peoples:

(bliss) he enjoys who knows not suffering, sorrow nor
anxiety, and has prosperity and happiness and a good
enough house.

The poem says bliss comes from “not knowing suffering, sorrow, or anxiety.” How is it possible to live daily life without experiencing these emotions? Maybe the answer isn’t avoiding these emotions or pretending they don’t exist, but rather choosing how you will allow them to affect you. Abraham Lincoln said it best: “People are just as happy as they make up their minds to be.”

Does the “prosperity and happiness” in the second line come from material things and other people, or is it found within us? The answer is found in the wise words of another icon, the 14th Dalai Lama: “Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.”

Being happy isn’t about what or who you have in your life, it’s about deciding to have joy now, and settling for nothing less. Many of us spend immense time and energy chasing things and people we think will eventually make us happy, meanwhile robbing ourselves of joy in the present. The typical list titled, “what I need to be happy” is usually long: the “perfect” partner, family, career, house, car, and on and on. What’s even more unpleasant than the burden of these unrealistic expectations is the inevitable realization that, regardless of what we do or accumulate, perfection does not exist.

You know that feeling of satisfaction that comes from successfully completing a project you’ve invested a lot of time and energy in? And how that feeling is colored with joy when you stand back and look at what you’ve created? These feelings are the essence of Wunjo, and describe one road to honest and sustainable happiness – a road that begins inside you.

Wunjo affirmations:

I am living my higher purpose as I do what brings me joy.

I am joyful right now.

(Look for Day 9’s affirmation the first week of October.)

About these affirmations: if the words presented above don’t ring true for you, change them! The words don’t do the work on their own…it’s words + repetition + personal intent and emotional connection that make affirmations such powerful catalysts for positive change. Feel free to create ones that feel good and reflect who you are.

Click here to see other affirmations in this series.

Source material: Oswald the Runemaker and Living with Joy

Affirmations by Orin and Sanaya Roman

I’ve been a runology student for 20 years. See the About page or click here to learn more about my work with the runes.

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24 Days of Runic Affirmations: Day 7, Gebo

Posted in 24 Days of Runic Affirmations, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 27, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Freely you have received; freely give.

–Matthew 10:8

Today’s affirmation comes from the seventh rune of the Elder Futhark, Gebo. Its traditional meaning comes from the Rune Poems, the oldest of which translates as follows:

Generosity brings credit and honour,
Which support one’s dignity;
It furnishes help and subsistence to all broken men
Who are devoid of aught else.

–The Anglo-Saxon rune poem, Verse VII, as translated by B. Dickins in Runic and Heroic Poems of the Old Teutonic Peoples

The profound is often cloaked in simplicity, and so it is with one aspect of Gebo: spiritual generosity. Gebo’s poem calls us to share the gifts we’ve been given. The first step is recognizing and claiming our unique talents and abilities; the second is sharing them in ways that support everyone’s highest good (including our own).

While it’s true that everyone you meet may not want your gifts, a kind smile or a compassionate word, you are not responsible for anyone’s choices but your own. You have come here to contribute in a special way, and allowing anyone to dowse your light with negativity prevents you from experiencing the peace, joy, and freedom you deserve. Consider as well that it does not support your highest good to continually give to anyone who does not value your time and energy. Share your light because it feels good to do so, and learn to walk away from those who can’t or won’t see it.

By courageously using your uniqueness to make the world better, regardless of doubt or rejection, you help reassure others it’s alright to do the same.

Gebo affirmations:

For the highest good of all, I claim my uniqueness and share my gifts with everyone I meet.

Awareness of my higher purpose and the courage to act on it expands every day.

A quote that relates, from a wonderful man who let his light shine in the face of staunch opposition:

For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.

–Nelson Mandela

About this affirmation: if the words presented above don’t ring true for you, change them! The words don’t do the work on their own…it’s words + repetition + personal intent and emotional connection that make affirmations such powerful catalysts for positive change. Feel free to create ones that feel good and reflect who you are.

Click here to see other affirmations in this series.

Additional rune source material: Oswald the Runemaker

Affirmations inspired by Orin and Sanaya Roman

I’ve been a runology student for 20 years. See the About page or click here to learn more about my work with the runes.

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24 Days of Runic Affirmations: Day 6, Kenaz

Posted in 24 Days of Runic Affirmations, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 26, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Understanding has no value unless accompanied by action.

Today’s affirmation comes from the sixth rune of the first aett (or “family”) of the Elder Futhark, Kenaz (also known as Kano or Kauno). Its traditional meaning comes from the Rune Poems, the oldest of which translates as follows:


A Torch alight is known to all alive
Brilliant and bright,
It burns most oft
Where Aethlings rest themselves within.

–The Anglo-Saxon rune poem, Verse VI

(“Aethling” means “noble person.”)

Kenaz means “torch.” What does a torch do, and how? It lights the way, with fire. If you’ve camped outdoors, you know the value of a flashlight; if you’ve sat in front of a fire on a cold winter night, you know how comforting it can be. These are the essence of this rune.

Many cultures have stories to explain the origin of fire. Greek mythology holds that Prometheus stole it from the gods for humankind. North America’s Original People often credit coyote or raven with doing the same. How ever we explain its beginnings, both literal fire (which provides warmth and comfort) as well as figurative fire (enlightenment and knowledge) are central to our existence. Like any tool however, neither has value unless used.

Once the path is clear before you, do you move forward? Or do you stand motionless, fretting and regretting until your torch burns out?

Kenaz affirmation:

I listen to my wise and loving inner self, and consistently take actions that support my highest good.

About this affirmation: if the words presented above don’t ring true for you, change them! For example, some may want to replace “my wise and loving inner self” with the name they use for their Higher Power (God, Jesus, Goddess, Buddha, etc.). The words don’t do the work on their own…it’s words + repetition + personal intent and emotional connection that make affirmations such powerful catalysts for positive change. Feel free to create one that feels good and reflects who you are.

Click here to see other affirmations in this series.

Rune source material: Oswald the Runemaker

Affirmation inspired by Orin and Sanaya Roman

I’ve been a runology student for 20 years. See the About page or click here to learn more about my work with the runes.

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24 Days of Runic Affirmations: Day 5, Raido

Posted in 24 Days of Runic Affirmations, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 25, 2012| 2 Comments »

“The Road goes ever on and on…”

— J R R Tolkien

Today’s affirmation comes from the fifth rune of the first aett (or “family”) of the Elder Futhark, Raido. Its traditional meaning comes from the Rune Poems, the oldest of which translates as follows:

For every hero in the hall is Harness soft
And very hard for him who sits astride
A stout steed
Over miles of road.

–The Anglo-Saxon rune poem, Verse V

Symbolically this rune equates to anything that moves an individual from one point to another. When the verse above was written this meant “A stout steed,” but today it means any type of vehicle. Looking at the stanza again, we can see how it also speaks to the journey’s process – covering “miles of road” and eventually arriving at “the hall.”

Raido’s deeper meaning is deceptively simple: life is a continual series of cycles. When you find yourself journeying down a difficult road, uncertain what the next turn will bring, take a deep breath and keep moving forward. All will eventually become clear. Around some corner ahead is a place of comfort – a place where you can sit and reflect on the challenge you’re facing now and draw wisdom from it. Eventually you’ll set out again to face another challenge, learn another lesson, and continue your growth.

Raido affirmation:

I am aware of my personal cycles, and give myself permission to honor them. I move forward when inspired to, and rest and reflect when I need to.

A note about this affirmation: if the words presented don’t ring true for you, change them! Make it something that feels good and reflects who you are. The words don’t do the work on their own…it’s words + repetition + personal intent and emotional connection that make affirmations such powerful catalysts for positive growth.

Click here to see other affirmations in this series.

Rune source material: Oswald the Runemaker

Affirmations inspired by Orin and Sanaya Roman

I’ve been a runology student for 20 years. See the About page or click here to learn more about my work with the runes.

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24 Days of Runic Affirmations: Day 4, Ansuz

Posted in 24 Days of Runic Affirmations, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 19, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Just for now…stop, breathe, and listen.

Today’s affirmation comes from the fourth rune of the first aett (or “family”) of the Elder Futhark, Ansuz. Its traditional meaning comes from the Rune Poems, the oldest of which translates as follows:

The Mouth is the source of every speech,
The mainstay of wisdom,
And solace of sages,
And the happiness and hope of every eorl.

–The Anglo-Saxon rune poem, Verse IV

“The Mouth” in the first stanza as often interpreted as the Divine. In the Northern Tradition this is either the god Odin or Loki, depending on how the rune falls (upright or reversed, respectively). However the Divine has many faces and names, and means different things to different people. For example I see “The Mouth” as my own inner knowing – that part in each of us that answers with a soft but clear whisper when asked, “What now?”

Think for a moment about how much of your day you spend in constant motion, chasing tasks and giving your valuable time to anyone who asks for it. “Most of the day” is probably your answer, and almost everyone else would say the same. Now honestly consider how many of these tasks and meetings leave you with a greater feeling of peace, freedom, and joy once completed. “Not many” is probably your answer, and again many would echo this.

What if, even once today, you stopped what you were doing and asked yourself, “Does what I’m doing now contribute to my highest good?” Then take a deep breath, go within, and listen for the answer. If you don’t receive the answer right away, don’t worry…just keep pausing, breathing, asking, and listening. With practice you will receive the guidance you need.

Ansuz affirmation:

I am aware of my innermost self. It guides and directs me.

A note about this affirmation: if the words presented don’t ring true for you, change them! Make it something that feels good and reflects who you are. For example, some may want to replace “innermost self” above with the name by which they address their Higher Power (God, Goddess, Buddha, etc.). The words don’t do the work on their own…it’s words + repetition + personal intent and emotional connection that make affirmations such powerful catalysts for positive growth.

Click here to see other affirmations in this series.

Rune source material: Oswald the Runemaker

Affirmation by Orin and Sanaya Roman

I’ve been a runology student for 20 years. See the About page or click here to learn more about my work with the runes.

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Message from a Raven

Posted in Spirituality, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 19, 2011| 6 Comments »

Photograph by Michael S. Quinton

Earlier this week I came home to find a large raven perched on a low branch in my back yard, very close to the house. Happy for such a rare opportunity, I stood and watched it for several minutes. I marveled at its size and the sense of peace it seemed to exude. I decided I wanted a photo, so I pulled out my phone and gently opened the sliding glass door. I snapped a couple unimpressive shots before its large wings caught the air with a “swoosh, swoosh!” Having had a special connection to ravens for many years, I felt happy and humbled.

The next afternoon I came home to find a large raven laying motionless on my backyard deck. I stood wide-eyed for several minutes, trying to process what I was seeing. I still tear up a little when I think about it. I walked out to have a closer look, and was relieved to see no signs of a struggle – no scattered feathers, no blood. I sighed and went to the garage to get a shovel. As I walked from the deck to the forest behind the house, I wondered whether I should bury the bird or not. Realizing that the spirit of the creature was already flying high above, I said a short prayer and left it on the forest floor for nature to reclaim.

Whether this was the same raven I saw the previous day or another, I’m not completely sure…but intuition told me it was the same bird. Later I asked my guidance how old this particular raven was, and heard “12 years.” I followed this up with some research on the lifespan of the Northern Raven, and found it averages 13 years.

My first spiritual mentor taught me the importance of recognizing messages from brothers and sisters in the animal kingdom. My initial impulse was to call her and ask if this was a message, and if so what it meant. But I quickly recognized that if there was a message, I needed to figure it out on my own. Had I actually called her I’m guessing she would’ve laughed, said “Yep, it’s a message,” and hung up the phone! The best teachers always know when to speak and when to let their students fly.

In my late teens I first read The Medicine Wheel Earth Astrology, which told me I was born under the sign of the Raven. Since then I’ve felt a bond with these beautiful, intelligent, and often misunderstood birds. I’ve never feared them, though many seem to. Intuitively I’ve always known that those who are unsettled by ravens are likely afraid of their own darker side. According to Sams and Carson in the Medicine Cards,

Those who fear Raven may do so because they have been dabbling in areas in which they had no knowledge. Realize that you will fear raven only if you need to learn about your inner fears or self-created demons. (101)

So having ruled out a warning as raven’s possible message, I looked closer at what’s going on in my life. Though the last few years have been particularly challenging on all fronts – relationship, health, career, etc. – the storm has cleared over the last several weeks, and I’m emerging with a renewed sense of peace and clarity about where I’ve been and where I’m going. My relationship is getting better everyday as we learn more about communicating honestly and honoring our feelings in the moment. My health is improving as I continue to release beliefs and relationships that sap my energy. I’m almost finished with an 18 month career retraining program, and will soon be earning a great living while making a positive difference in people’s lives as a massage therapist. I’ve even decided to return to return to school and finish my degree…but instead of continuing as a business major I’ll be transferring to Bastyr, a local university with an international reputation for its natural health curriculum. There I’ll pursue a degree in herbal sciences. Herbal sciences! I’m giddy just thinking about it.

The common thread running through all these positive changes is my willingness to do something I’ve rarely done before. Something that, as an avid daydreamer and explorer, I’ve always struggled with – making a commitment and following through. Some wise person once said, “The struggle is not in the doing, but in the deciding.”

In distilling these thoughts, I’m honored that the raven passed peacefully into the next world on the threshold of my home. Symbolically I also see its death a sign that I’m entering a new phase of life, one in which all that I’ve previously allowed to hinder me is being released. I felt strong emotion and had full-body goose bumps as I read the following, also from the Medicine Cards:

If Raven appears…you are about to experience a change in consciousness.

…A signal brought by the Raven that says, “You have earned the right to see and experience a little more of life’s magic.” (101)

Here’s to life’s magic!

"Thought and Memory" by Marina Terauds, © 2010. Used with permission.

Special thanks to Marina and Uldis Terauds for allowing use of this beautiful artwork. Please visit Marina’s website to view more of her stunning work.

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Pagan prayers for the deceased

Posted in Death and Dying, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 21, 2011| 3 Comments »

Today I learned that an acquaintance of several years recently took her own life. Intuitively I always knew she wasn’t happy, and watched as she looked externally and unsuccessfully for fulfillment and purpose. My heart aches for both the sadness that led to her choice as well as for the grieving family she leaves behind. Sensing that she has not yet moved beyond the veil, I lit a candle and placed it in the window when I got home this evening.

Dear sister,

May the eternal and unwavering light of your soul ascend to the highest levels of peace and love.

Go now, and leave this sadness and turmoil behind. You are free.

In accordance with your free will, So Mote It Be.

–From my Book of Shadows


Beloved one, you are dead, but you are not alone.

We are here with you, the beloved dead await you.

You go from love into love. Carry with you only love.

May our love carry you and open the way.

–From Ulla Mentzel

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Today’s Rune: Wunjo

Posted in Rune Meanings, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 13, 2011| 2 Comments »

WunjoToday’s rune is Wunjo. It’s commonly known as “joy,” but its meaning runs deeper than simple happiness on a personality level.

In his book Futhark: A Handbook of Rune Magic, Edred Thorsson offers the simplest, most concise, and yet most profound explanation of this rune’s meaning I’ve ever seen:

When all members of the clan are harmoniously working together, while integrated into their environment in a syncretic manner, a true state of holiness exists. (34)

In this context syncretic means growing together by setting aside differences and working toward a common goal. It seems the Germanic tribes, with whom the Runes originated, knew the value of syncretism and what would happen without it. In the words of American writer, historian, and philosopher Will Durant,

A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within.

What was true for the tribes of the Migration Period is still true today, though in a broader context. If petty differences are set aside and all find and use their gifts for the greater good, the global tribe will continue to evolve. One way to experience the essence of Wunjo, the “true state of holiness” Thorsson spoke of, is to do anything that shifts our focus from our own wants and needs to those of others.

I look at this rune today and ask myself, “What is my role in the tribe?” As I commit to finding and living that role, I experience the joy of Wunjo.

Edit on 3/15/11: I came across this quote and thought it was appropriate:

When you cease to make a contribution, you begin to die.

–Eleanor Roosevelt

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