Thursday, December 3, 2009

I am the Shadow you fear
I am the silence you dread
I am the dark unknown
and mysteries untold
I am three but I am One
My voice is heard in the caws of the raven
I am Magick, I am Power. I am a Shapeshifter
Iam Justice severe, and love that does not coddle
I am the ultimate feminine clothed in the night
I am a liberator for women, the abused and downtrodden
I am a Nightmare to those with evil intent
I am Morrighan The Great Phantom Queen

The Goddess within and a dedication to the Goddess

The triple moon is a Goddess

Reclaiming the Goddess Within

by Nagarani ( from Harrison Maine USA)

All women are born goddesses. By undertaking a personal journey to reclaim her true essence, every woman may fully realize the goddess within. We must consciously strip off the layers of shame, guilt, anger, and need, to find our naturally flowing, radiant stream of love, compassion, creative power, bliss, and nurturing within. This may sound to be a daunting task but it is possible. I am a living example.In the morning, when I awake at 7am, my first thought is the enthusiastic affirmation: I am an embodiment of divine love. My second thought is: How may I express the many dimensions of my love today? For days at a time I feel divine bliss tingle through my being like the sensations first awakened by true love. I am confident in my purpose for living: To bring love to the world as the embodiment of Shakti. In each moment I enthusiastically create new dimensions of loving expression. I create the world around me and feel joy like a swelling orgasm in my body. This sounds wonderful, and it is, but you may be wondering how you may get there. Was I born special? Is this even possible for others? The answers are yes and yes. Each of us is born special, with the freshness and bliss of divinity coursing through us like rivers in the springtime. So, what happened? Our environment, family and social interactions condition us to become human, causing us to lose our divinity along the way. I have not always reveled in the stream of bliss and felt gratitude to be alive, quite the contrary. It’s taken a lot of work to discover and reclaim my inner goddess.

A dedication to the Goddess ritual
Written by Morrighan)0(

Sometimes we come to a point where we have walked with a specific Goddess for a while and feel we wish to dedicate to Her
No you do not need another you can do this yourself as it is in truth about your relationship with the Goddess
You may choose to use all or some or none of this, it is all up to you but the more you write your own the better, after all the Goddess wants to hear you not a copy cat of another.

Also a note your dedication can be very simple with just a candle and incense, or it can be more elaborate as I have out here.

Dedicating yourself to a specific Goddess

Have candles and incense of what honors the Goddess
herbs oils etc and Her offering
Also you may want sacred or consecrated water

When is the ideal time for dedicating oneself

New moon at the first crescent, during the waxing and even full moon.

You may or may not cast a circle ...It is your choice and what you feel.

Prepare yourself
Prepare your room area cleansing it
Ground and center
With your wand
Begining in the East

I cast now this magick circle of light and love
I charge now this circle with power
In perfect love in perfect trust
Circle is cast in three
Bound by love so mote it be!


Call forth - invite the elements as you do light each candle begin in the East
You may use your own quarter calls if you so choose

I have different ones depending on what I am doing

Hail Powers of the East, Element of Air, Breath of Life
Come join with me in a new begining of sacred dedication
Bless now my mind in consecrated focus
So mote it be

Hail Powers of the South Element of Fire
Come join with me in sacred dedication
Grant me courage and boldness to ever be true
As I dedicate with heart and will
So mote it be

Hail Powers of the West Element of Water, Ruler of emotion
Come with your peace and join with me in sacred dedication
Fill me now with thy love
So mote it be

Hail Powers of the North Element of Earth,
Come join with me in sacred dedication
May I be firmly rooted and faithful in my dedication
So mote it be

Evoke your Goddess and welcome Her
Know Her names and characteristice.
You should already know this when dedicating to a Goddess
You may have a poem something from your heart
Her charge
Your dedication in your own words
You may want to dip your finger in the water
make a pentacle or even)0( symbol on your forehead
Up to you

Libation offer and partake fo libation share the rest with her after ritual.

Also what you have called forth and eracted must be reversed and released

Thank the Goddess
Then release and thank the elements begin in the north
Rel;ease the circle begin in the north

This circle has served its purpose
Thrice a round I reverse it now
So mote it be


Next year Nov 16th at the witching hour when I reddicate or renew my commiment to Morrighan I will also invite the fae in the call of the elements for they love ritual and Morrighan is also associated with the fae.



Wednesday, December 2, 2009


Morrighan, Queen of the Ghosts
by: Swampy
"Morrighan, Morrighan. Three times Three,
Hear the words I ask of Thee.
Grant me vision, Grant me power,Cheer me in my darkest hour.
As the night overtakes the day,
Morrighan, Morrighan. Light my way. . .
Morrighan, Morrighan. Raven Queen,
Round and round the Hawthorn green.
Queen of beauty, Queen of Art,Yours my body,
Yours my heart.All my trust I place in thee,
Morrighan, Morrighan. Be with me

)0(


Morrighan (also called Morrigan, Morgan, Morgause, Morgeian, Morgan LeFay, the Morigu, Morgaine and Morgana), is a Celtic Goddess of battle, strife, destruction, the Otherword, death, and fertility; as well as being Goddess of Glastonbury Tor. In Irissh Her name means. 'Phantom Queen,' or 'Queen of the Ghosts'. Other versions of Her name, such as Morgana and Morgaine, make reference to the sea - which in Celtic religion is associated with the Otherworld. She appears as both a single Goddess and as a trio of Goddesses (usually known in this form as The Morigu), which were the Badb ('Vulture') and Nemain ('Frenzy') and Macha ("Battle"). She is one of the Tuatha De Danann (People of the Goddess Danu) and She helped defeat the Firbolgs at the First Battle of Magh Tuireadh and the Fomorii at the Second Battle of Mag Tured. Morrighan has different consorts in different areas, including both the Dagda and Mannanan Mac Llyr - both Gods of the Otherworld.She is a librator of Women a Warrior Goddess indeed
Morrighan has other roles other than being a Goddess of the Dead. Morrighan is a Goddess of magic and sorcery and is sometimes shown as ancient and withered or conversely as preternaturally beautiful. Morrighan is also the Goddess of Sovereignty and in many myths She approaches a would-be King or Hero in Her aged form, demanding sexual favors. When the Hero makes love to the aged woman, She transforms into a beauty in his arms and prophesies his rise to Kingship. Morrighan figures in the myth of King Arthur as Arthur's magical half sister Who is sometimes a friend and sometimes an antagonist, but Who in many versions ultimately conveys Arthur to the magical realm of Avallon (the Otherworld).
Morrighan has other roles other than being a Goddess of the Dead. Morrighan is a Goddess of magick and sorcery and is sometimes shown as ancient Hag, or very beautiful. Morrighan is also the Goddess of Sovereignty and in many myths She appears to a would-be King or Hero in Her aged form, demanding sexual favors. When the Hero makes love to the aged woman, She transforms into a beauty in his arms and prophesies his rise to Kingship. Morrighan figures in the myth of King Arthur as Arthur's magical half sister Who is sometimes a friend and sometimes an antagonist, but Who in many versions ultimately conveys Arthur to the magical realm of Avallon (the Otherworld).
As a Goddess of Battle, Morrighan is said to fly across battlefields in the form of a black and sleek raven. There is certainly evidence that the concept of a raven goddess of battle wasn't limited to the Irish Celts. An inscription found in France invoking Cathubodva, 'Battle Raven', shows that a similar concept was known among the Gaulish Celts. An Old English poem, Exodus, refers to ravens as 'choosers of the slain'.
CelticMagick
Morrighan)0(

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Shadow Work// I am Morrighan

rijlogo.gif


Shadow Work

http://www.drjontry.com/workshops/shadow.htm

The goal of Shadow work is to integrate the dark side of ourselves; the side we have attempted to hide or run from; and the side we are not aware of. Shadow work cannot be accomplished with a single method or trick of mind. It is a complex ongoing process calling for great commitment, vigilance and honesty. Owning our shadow involves a deepening and widening of consciousness to include what has been rejected. Shadow work involves an ongoing process of taking another point of view to respond to life with our undeveloped traits and our instinctual sides. It involves shining the light of consciousness into our dark corners and owing what we find there as our own. To live the "tension of the opposites" - holding both good and evil, right and wrong, light and dark, in our own hearts. Robert Johnson (see book below where most of this workshop description comes from) states that doing Shadow work means peering into dark corners of our minds where secret shames lie hidden and violent voices are silent. Doing Shadow work means asking ourselves to examine closely and honestly what it is about a particular individual that irritates us or repels us; what it is about a racial or religious group that horrifies or captivates us; and what it is about a lover that charms us and leads us to idealize him or her. Doing Shadow work means making an agreement with one's self to engage in an internal conversation that can, at some time down the road, result in an authentic self-acceptance and a real compassion for others. To take the first step and acknowledge the darkness lying inside every human heart, can be sobering and humbling. It may be initiated by a betrayal by a loved one; a lie by a trusted friend; a deceit by an honored teacher; rape or mugging by a total stranger. In every case, meeting the shadow robs us of our innocence. If we are able to see in the mirror, and see these behaviors in ourselves, recognize the deeper truth that the lover and the liar, the saint and the sinner live in every one of us, we may be stunned and paralyzed at the gap between who we are, and who we thought we were. Like Beauty and the Beast, our beauty is deepened as our beastliness is honored. Shadow work also involves discovering the qualities of our own shadow by closely watching our reactions to other people and admitting that they are not the other, or the enemy, but that an impulse within ourselves makes them appear in this negative guise. This is how we re own our projections and repossess the energy and power that belongs to us. As each layer of shadow is uncovered, as each fear is faced, each revulsion repossessed, we continuously uncover yet another covered container of shadow energy. Mining the dark recess of our psyche is endless. However, at a certain point, those qualities that before seemed wicked or weak, or stupid, appear attractive; and those that were alluring and full of light, are cast into darkness. In this battle with our opposite side, the battleground is encountered everywhere. Refuge is found in the human heart. Somehow, in a compassionate embrace of the dark side of reality, we become bearers of the torch. When we shine the light of consciousness into our dark corners we become more whole. We open to the other - the strange, the weak, the sinful, the despised - and simply through including it, we transmute it. In so doing, we move ourselves closer to wholeness. An indispensable book
Richard I Jontry, Ph.D., MAC, CAC DiplomateP. O. Box 129 • Chadds Ford, PA 19317610.361.0108 [fax] 425 - 984 - 8016



I am Morrighan
I am Magick
I am Power
I am a Witch
I am a Priestess
Daughter of the great Phantom Queen
The Morrighan

Great Mother Hear your daughter
You have filled my soul and spirit
Your energy is all consuming
For some I am become to much
I feel me changing
Is it for good?
I fear I may loose soem who are dear


Now My child
enough of tears
You have asked for my Name
Which I have blessed you wiht
You need to be Me, You need to control
What is within you is within your power to control
Listen to Wisdom you will never go wrong
The lessons are hard
But you need them to learn
With them you will be strong
Do not be offended my dear
Listen and all will be made clearn

Morrighan)0(
Her way is The Shadows
She is the face many dread
She is a Warrior and Queen
Her friend are the Sidhe , Banshee, and Tuatha De Dannon
Her magick is powerful
Her Justice undeniable
Her prophecies come to pass
She is the Crow that ever Caws
The Raven that ever warns
For those who draw near to Her
Come inreveranant silence
Without Fear
She is the Morrighan
Nemain, Badb, Macha
She is three yet One
She is the dark moon......

Morrighan)0(


My Totems



My Totems
Magick, creation, intuiton, messanger from the void and spirit realm.
communication Omens Death transition

Crows are extremely intelligent birds. They are adept at being aware of things around them and have been known to help birds and other wildlife when danger is near with their presence and loud CAW. When the crow visits as a totem it can be a warning of some kind. It is a sign that you need to be on alert for changes or differences in your surroundings or life circumstances. Crows are considered to possess magickal energies and in folklore have been feared as predictors of woe such as imminent bad weather, death, or illness. Crows are also opportunists with the ability to make the most out of any situation, outwitting all the other birds and animals. As a totem the crow will help open you up to your fullest potential.


Some thinsg associated with crow


Shadow self


Shapeshifter


Messenger


Intelligent


Playful


Magickal


Crow is the keeper of sacred law and knows the mystery. She teaches us that there are not one two or three worlds but many. The laws of Sacredness To balance our need for partnership with other areas of our life To be at peace with our own company as well as within a group Psychic protection To value ourselves giving ourselves the best The joy in exploration

resources
Animals speak and

http://www.extrasensory-perceptions-guide.com/animal-totem-crow.html


Crows anbd Ravens
(Written While Lynx still lived in Portland)




Crows and Ravens are from the same family and the only real physical difference between the two is their size. Ravens tend to be much larger and are found mainly in wilderness areas although I have seen several near my home. Ravens also carry medicine that is slightly different than that of Crows, which I will cover in another article. The following though will relate to both.Both Ravens and Crows associate with Wolves as well so those who have these birds as Totems are also likely to have Wolf as a Totem as well.Crows and Ravens are extremely intelligent. They can learn to use tools, develop complex communication with humans and other species. They are wonderful for psychic protection and will literally mob together to drive off negative energy from those they care for. They are also called thieves in that they will nick jewelry, coins, watches, anything shiny that catches their attention. One friend of mine living in a flat in LA said that for several months people had been complaining that someone was nicking their valuables. All kinds of jewelry, pens, coins, anything left outside on a table or near an open window was disappearing right and left. A maintenance worker was clearing off some old growth from one of the palm trees when he discovered a nest filled with everything people had been missing! Months later on someone saw a Crow making off with a gold chain, back up to the top of the palm tree.Those who carry Crow/Raven medicine once they become attuned to it, can begin drawing what they need and value into their own lives. They also have the ability to teach others how to learn to value themselves and others, to go for the gold, the best in one's life and to be open to receive from the Universe.Crows/Ravens are also well known for their curiosity and intense exploration of anything that catches their attention. So when Crows/Ravens or people who carry their medicine show up in your life it can indicate that now is the time to explore those things that have recently caught your eye or that something new is about to enter your life that is beneficial for you so pay attention! Crows/Ravens are always on the lookout as part of their survival mechanisms and it behooves us to also pay attention when they appear as the Universe is trying to tell us something.Crows are very social and band together for the good of the group so this is an indication that we need to work with and cooperate with others of like mind in order to bring about blessings for all beings. Crows and Ravens look out for one another and they also warn other animals when danger is near. Frequently they drive hunters mad because they are always warning Deer and Elk that the hunters are near! When a Crow or Raven is shrieking loudly near you, check around to see if someone or something that could be "harmful" is in the area. Of course when they call like that it can mean many things yet over time once you work with them frequently you will begin to understand what their messages mean to you specifically.Many times when I am outside I will be thinking about something to do with my work or a friend and if the Crows start calling to me, I know it's a heads up that something needs to be attended to in that area of my life. They even make comments when I am situating new plants in the garden. If I place it one area and they are quiet, I know it's not the right place so I keep moving the plant until they start shrieking at me. The plants always do well when I follow their advice!This is some of the behavior I have noticed with my own Crows. Some of it has taken me a while to decipher and I am sure I have only scratched the surface as it is! I know that when they are speaking among themselves the conversation probably starts off something like "That silly woman! The Grandfathers keep insisting she's a shaman, yet look at all the messes we have to pull her out of! Almost got myself run over on the street today trying to get her attention!"Many has been the time I have been walking along only to have a Crow fly down into the middle of a street, in the path of oncoming traffic, banging it's beak on the ground, with me dancing around on the pavement, waving my arms and yelling at it to get out of the street! At first I really did think that perhaps they found great amusement in making me look a fool, yet then I realized that every time it happened, there was an important message that the Universe was trying to get through to me. One instance that really sticks in my mind was when they were trying to warn me of serious physical danger. The poor Crow was almost hit by a car, barely managing to get out of the way in time. I was very shaken, especially as he then followed me down the street cawing rather frantically at me. Had I heeded the warning I could have saved myself not only a great deal of heartache but avoided a very threatening situation coming from someone I thought I could trust. I had just left a the flat of a friend I was visiting when this happened and I even heard the Crow saying "Go Back! Go Back!" Well, silly me I thought the Crow meant to go back to the flat. In a way he did, go back, grab your stuff and get the hell outta there! The Grandfathers had tried to warn me, even in dreams I had, yet I ignored the messages. Finally as a last resort a Crow literally almost gave up his life to get my attention. This speaks of the amazingly strong bond and love our Totems have for us and why we should honor them in any way that is appropriate for them and us.What else was interesting about this was normally when they do what I call their "dance" there is another Crow perched overhead on a wire or tree branch. This time there was only the one. When there are two or more I have found for me it is a good time to take some kind of risk or action as there is support and a focus being held for me to follow through and to insure a good outcome. The more Crows in the area the more support that is being offered.I have also found that when a Crow is cawing and then turns say to the south, then I know there is an important message coming to me from someone south of me. If they tap on the phone wires then I know it is coming via email or phone. Usually if it's by phone, they tap only once or twice. Email, it's usually a head bangers ball going on up there, LOL!Many people have mentioned to me that they know something is wrong with me if the Crows in their area are very quiet or especially noisy! Those are the times when I start getting numerous emails or phone calls asking me "what's wrong, the Crows are acting oddly so I know something is wrong with you!" And they are right! I have some very dear friends, Ted and Annie. If the Crows get too noisy over at Ted and Annie's, Ted will ask Annie to ring me so I can tell them to be quiet!If you hear a Crow calling at night, that is a MAJOR heads up as night time is Owl time and Owls are enemies of the Crow. Owls prey on Crows at night when they are in their nests and so Crows are especially careful to be quiet when night time falls. This is a good message for those who carry Crow/Raven medicine: if you sense a predator might be near, be silent and still and wait for the situation to pass. Taking no action at those times is the best course of action. Some people who carry Crow/Raven medicine also carry Owl medicine as well. In fact, if you have one bird as a totem in actuality you may have a whole flock of birds as totems!Another way I work with my Crows is to ask them questions about anything and everything. I phrase it so it can be answered yes or no. If it 's yes, I get a frantic cawing even before I complete the question. If it's no, dead silence even if they had been very noisy moments before. They even help me situate new plants in the garden, if I set one down somewhere and they start cawing I know that's the right place. Silence means to try a different area. They are always right as every plant I have situated following their advice has thrived where the ones that were placed according to my judgement either died or had to be moved. Usually to where the crows thought best in the first place, very sheepish grin!My Crows also love the rain here. It can be pouring buckets outside and they are all out there splashing in the puddles, chasing each other down the pavement and spreading their wings and feathers to catch more of the rain then shaking it off again. People who carry Crow/Raven medicine often greatly benefit from washing their hands and faces frequently as water is a wonderful cleanser of negative energy. Since often Crow/Raven people are also navigators of the darkness or the underworld, it is important that these people clear their energy fields frequently so as not to take on any energy that is not their own. It also helps if you are trying to clear issues or problems in your life to add a few drops of a Crow or Raven essence to a salt water bath or even setting some Crow feathers near the tub will also do the trick. For nightmares a Crow fetish, feathers or essence even pictures of Crows or Ravens can help drive the nightmares away. It is important though to examine why you may be having nightmares and ask for guidance as how to resolve the issue.I also place Crow feathers around the yard and garden as we live in a rather "colorful" area of Portland. As a result Ken's car and our home has not been broken into or vandalized the way our neighbors have. I have mentioned this to neighbors I thought would be receptive to the idea of asking the Crows for help and things have settled down somewhat so perhaps they have followed through. Annie and I started what we are calling the Wayward Crow Society in honour of the Crows who look in my windows and when I catch them at it, they act very nonchalant, walking away like " oh no, we would NEVER be looking in on you!" Right mates, VBG! This is an indication that sometimes it is best to keep what you are doing under wraps until the time is right to let others see what you are up to. All of the metaphysical traditions I am aware of say that it is important to allow energy and power to build inside of you when you are in the process of manifesting something important to you. Talking about it can dissipate the energy which is why it helps to talk about one's problems! Of course talking about problems too much can actually help to recreate them over and over in your life as you are putting emphasis and awareness on them. What I have found for myself and many of the people I work with is when an issue first comes up it is helpful to allow it to "churn" in your mind over a period of time, not resisting it, but journaling or talking to someone you can trust about it until you begin to sense completion around it. Sometimes what may also happen is that the conscious mind becomes so exhausted by it that it is turned over to the subconscious mind for resolution and release. Since the subconscious is where our intuition lives, we may find answers or healing in dreams or a sudden breakthrough by following a "hunch" or inner prompting. Over time you can learn what the right balance is for you to help clear the issue without recreating it so trust what you feel is right and best for you!Crows are also associated with magic and mysticism as Ted Andrews covers very well in his book "Animal -Speak" and the "Animal Wise Tarot".

When Shadows fall/ Runes

When Shadows Fall


When shadows fall
What do you do?
When Shadows fall
I know She is there
Watching in the silence
My secrets I cannot hide
For She already knows
What truth is inside
When Shadows fall
What do you hide?
Do you fear?
When Shadows fall
Can you hear Her silent call?
Face those demons and conquer them all
When Shadows fall
She turns the wheel once again
Brinning Winters cold and long nights
For those who do not know Her
Her ways are as cold as ice
She has no favorites
When it is time She will come
Cutting the veil with Her Sickle
Where life and death kiss
She will come
When Shadows fall

Her magick powerful like a whirlwind
Her cauldron brews with fates
Her Ravens bring Her prophecy
Her colors are black and red

She is Goddess of death and life
For you cannot have day with out the Night

Her sword will pierce the heart
till it lays open and bare
Within Her Shadows Her Wisdom found
As Crow speaks Her knowldge abounds
To those who are Hers
Her secrets She shares
Of Magick and mystery
When Shadows fall
Know She is there
For She is the Phantom Queen.....

)0( Morrighan )0(

Runes are very interesting although I have had a class in runes, I am not at the point to be reading runes. Also I have found when I have been read they are very good.
I have copied and pasted the infor from Crystal links.
I have actually one good set and one I made but not great lol
This is some info background and also what each Rune means when using the for divination.
There are severals wyas of doing divination
1) a One Rune reading- mix in the bag and draw one out as your thinking of your question
2) Three Rune Draw
Past Present and Future what you can expect if you continue on the path your on.
I am going to have to get more into this again myself.


http://www.crystalinks.com/runes.html
The Runic alphabets are a set of related alphabets using letters known as runes, formerly used to write Germanic languages, mainly in Scandinavia and the British Isles. In all their varieties they may be considered an ancient writing system of Northern Europe. The Scandinavian version is known as Futhark (derived from its first six letters: 'F', 'U' 'Th', 'A', 'R', and 'K'), and the Anglo-Saxon version as Futhorc (also so named after its first letters). The earliest runic inscriptions date from ca. 150, and the alphabet was generally replaced by the Latin alphabet with Christianisation, by ca. 700 in central Europe and by ca. 1400 in Scandinavia. However, the use of runes persisted for specialized purposes, mainly in Scandinavia and in rural Sweden until the early 20th century (used mainly for decoration as Dalecarlian runes and on Runic calendars).
The three best known runic alphabets are:
the Older Futhark
the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc (
the Younger Futhark
The runes were introduced to, or invented by, the Germanic peoples in the 1st or 2nd century (The oldest known runic inscription dates to ca. the 160s and is found on a comb discovered in the bog of Vimose, Funen. The inscription reads harja). While at this time the Germanic language was certainly not at the Proto-Germanic stage any longer, it may still have been a continuum of dialects not yet clearly separated into the three branches of later centuries, viz. North Germanic, West Germanic and East Germanic. Most of the early runes from the Scandinavian countries are assumed to be in the Proto-Norse, the common ancestor language of the modern North Germanic languages. No distinction is made in surviving runic inscriptions between long and short vowels, although such a distinction was certainly present phonologically in the spoken languages of the time. Similarly, there are no signs for labiovelars in the Elder Futhark (such signs were introduced in both the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc and the Gothic alphabet as variants.
The sounds represented by the runes themselves began to diverge somewhat, and each culture would either create new runes, rename or rearrange its rune names slightly, or even stop using obsolete runes completely, to accommodate these changes. Thus, the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc has several runes peculiar unto itself to represent diphthongs unique to (or at least prevalent in) the Anglo-Saxon dialect.
However, the fact that the younger Futhark has sixteen runes, while the Elder Futhark has twenty four, is not fully explained by the some six hundred years of sound changes that had occurred in the North Germanic language group. The development here might seem rather astonishing, since the younger form of the alphabet came to use the same few runes to express an unusually great number of different phonemes that the older version had distinguished clearly. For example, voiced and unvoiced consonants merged in script, and so did many vowels. Later, this disadvantage was partly eliminated in the dotted runes of Dalecarlia.
The name given to the signs, contrasting them with Latin or Greek letters, is attested on a 6th century alamannic runestaff as runa, and possibly as runo on the Einang stone (ca. 4th century). The name is from a root run- (Gothic runa) meaning "secret" (c.f. also the chapters of the Kalevala, called runo, plural runot, a loan from North Germanic).
Norse
In Norse mythology, the invention of runes is attributed to Odin: The Hávamál (stanzas 138, 139) describes how Odin receives the rune through his self-sacrifice.
The Icelandic sources do not relate how the runes were transmitted to mortal men, but in 1555, the exiled Swedish archbishop Olaus Magnus recorded a tradition that a man named Kettil Runske had stolen three rune staffs from Odin and learnt the runes and their magic.
The runes developed comparatively late, centuries after the Central European alphabets from which they are probably descended. There are some similarities to alphabets of Phoenician origin (Latin, Greek, Italic) that cannot possibly all be due to chance.
However, other letters seem to be independent. The Old Italic alphabet is usually quoted as a candidate for the origin of the runes. Their angular shapes are generally interpreted as an adaptation to the practice of carving in wood (rather than writing with a reed or a brush). This hypothesis is supported by the inscription on the Negau helmet dating to the 2nd century BC. This is in a northern Etruscan alphabet, but features a Germanic name, Harigast.
Runes are a popular field for scholars, and many imaginative ideas have been advanced, such as a claim by Olaus Rudbeck Sr in Atlantica that all writing systems originate from proto-runic scripts.Another theory is that the runes originated directly from the Middle East, and are related to the Nabataean alphabet, a variant of the Phoenician alphabet.
The introduction of runes is in this scenario ascribed to the Roman legions, which left Syria Palaestina during the 2nd century. This theory is based on discovery of early runes on weapons, such as longbows, and arrow heads, characteristically belonging to these soldiers. (The historical Nabataean kingdom, spanning Jordan, Sinai, and South Israel, corresponds to early Arabia.)
The "West Germanic hypothesis" speculates on an introduction by West Germanic tribes. This hypothesis is based on claiming that the earliest inscriptions of ca. 200, found in bogs and graves around Jutland, exhibit West Germanic name forms, e.g. wagnija, ni¦ijo, and harija, and that these names refer to hitherto unknown tribes located in the Rhineland.
However, Scandinavian scholars interprete these inscriptions as Proto-Norse, but it should be noted that the differences between Proto-Norse and other Germanic dialects were still minute and that the classification is mostly based on location rather than forms. Any claim that the forms refer to unknown tribes must be considered highly speculative.In the later Middle Ages, runes were mostly used in the Clog almanacs (sometimes called Runic staff, Prim or Scandinavian calendar) that became standard equipment within Northern Europe with the introduction of Christianity. The authenticity of some monuments bearing Runic inscriptions found in Northern America is disputed, but most of them date from modern times.
Magic and Divination
The Björketorp Runestone. It is 4.2 m tall.The earliest runic inscriptions were certainly not coherent texts of any length, but simple markings on artifacts (e.g. bracteates, combs, etc.), giving the name of either the craftsman or the proprietor, or, sometimes, remaining a linguistic mystery. Because of this, it is possible that the early runes were not so much used as a simple writing system, but rather as magical signs to be used for charms, or for divination. The name rune itself, taken to mean "secret, something hidden", seems to indicate that knowledge of the runes was originally considered esoteric, or restricted to an elite. The eerie 6th century Björketorp Runestone warns in Proto-Norse using the word rune in both senses.
The same curse and use of the word rune is also found on the Stentoften Runestone. There are also some inscriptions suggesting a medieval belief in the magical significance of runes, such as the Franks Casket (AD 700) panel.However, it has proven difficult to find unambiguous traces of runic "oracles": Although Norse literature is full of references to runes, it nowhere contains specific instructions on divination or magic. There are at least three sources on divination with rather vague descriptions that may or may not refer to runes, Tacitus' Germania, Snorri Sturluson's Ynglinga saga and Rimbert's Vita Ansgari.
The first source, Tacitus' Germania, describes "signs" chosen in groups of three. A second source is the Ynglinga saga, where Granmar, the king of S­dermanland, goes to Uppsala for the blÛt. There, the chips fell in a way that said that he would not live long. The third source is Rimbert's Vita Ansgari, where there are three accounts of what seems to be the use of runes for divination, but Rimbert calls it "drawing lots". One of these accounts is the description of how a renegade Swedish king Anund Uppsale first brings a Danish fleet to Birka, but then changes his mind and asks the Danes to "draw lots".
According to the story, this "drawing of lots" was quite informative, telling them that attacking Birka would bring bad luck and that they should attack a Slavic town instead.The lack of knowledge on historical usage of the runes has not stopped modern authors from extrapolating entire systems of divination from what few specifics exist, usually loosely based on the runes' reconstructed names. Perhaps the most popular of these is the system created by Ralph Blum, whose Book of Runes comes with a set of runes on ceramic tiles, that are loosely based on the runes of the Elder Futhark. In his book, Blum writes the meanings of the runes "came to him" (that is, he either made them up, or else received them as a revelation, but did not derive these from scholarly research). Another author is Edred Thorsson, whose best known books are Futhark, Runelore and Runecaster's Handbook (originally published as At The Well of Wyrd).
Common use
Later runic finds are mainly monuments (rune stones) and often contain solemn inscriptions about people who died or performed great deeds. For a long time it was assumed that this kind of grand inscription was the primary use of runes, and that their use was associated with a certain societal class of rune-carvers.However, in the middle of the 1950s, about 600 inscriptions known as the Bryggen inscriptions were found in Bergen. These inscriptions were made on wood and bone, often in the shape of sticks of various sizes, and contained inscriptions of an everyday nature - ranging from name tags, prayers (often in Latin), personal messages, business letters, expressions of affection, to bawdy phrases of a profane and sometimes even vulgar nature. Following this find, it is nowadays commonly assumed that at least in late use, Runic was a widespread and common writing system.
Gothic Runes
Theories of the existence of Gothic runes have been advanced, even identifying them as the original alphabet from which the Futhark were derived, but these have little support in actual findings. If there ever were genuinely Gothic runes, they were soon replaced by the Gothic alphabet. The letters of the Gothic alphabet, however, as given by the Alcuin manuscript (9th century), are obviously related to the names of the Futhark. The names are clearly Gothic, but it is impossible to say whether they are as old as, or even older than, the letters themselves.

Rune Alphabet
As with most oracles of divination - Runes mean different things if held 'straight up' and mean the opposite if held in the 'reverse'.
FEHU - F: Cattle
Abundance through effort, inheritance of self and self value, material gain, earned income. Success, happiness and wealth.
Reversed: Abandonment of plans, loss, disappointment, frustration.
URUZ - U: Brute Strength
Strength, home love on all sides, health, changes, a forceful masculine archetype.
Reversed: Missed abilities, weak will power, lack of motivation
THURISAZ - TH: The seeing of the future
Opening the door or gate to see the future, luck reflection for action, protection. You will see the truth.
Reversed: Not willing to heed information given, having a stubborn mind-set
ANSUZ - A: references the ancestral god, Odin.
Message from within (listen to your 'little voice'), advice from others, chance encounter, careful thought so you will know what to do from this point in time
Reversed: Watch out for trickery, the dark side of yourself when others interfering with your plans, or there is failed communication
RAIDHO - R: Journey
You're about to embark on a journey - either in the physical world or a journey of your soul to heal something that needs healing.
Reversed: Unexpected, unpleasant journey, transit problems, upsetting plans, lost tickets, communication
KENAZ - K: Beacon or torch.
When you feel in the dark - this rune will bring an opening, to help you open to who you are and your highest possibilities. From the darkness - light will come.
Reversed: withdrawal, anxiety, closing, loss
GEBO - G: Gift of Harmonic Relationships
Unity with self and all others - especially with our higher selves, nature and all things around us. Cannot be reversed.
WUNJO - W or V: Bliss and Glory
You do not Need anybody. Peace, pleasure, self-worth, joy and serenity, happy results, harmony, prosperity
Reversed: Sorrow, dissatisfaction, disappointment, friction, delay, possession by higher forces
HAGALAZ - H: Destructive forces
This refers to the destructive forces of nature, and things that are out of our control. Cannot be reversed.
NAUTHIZ - N: The Negatives of Human Needs
Caution, hold, coming in touch with a side of you that you may not like, resistance, distress, delay, constraint or restraint. Reflect on how bad things can and appreciate what you have.
Reversed: Improper course of action, think twice before acting, don't make hasty judgments!!
ISA - I: Ice
Frozen in time, calm, non-action, everything on hold, letting go of ego and seeking your inner truths, you are blocked by your emotions. Cannot be reversed.
JERA - J or Y: The Cycle of One Year
Reaping of a reward when your world seems stagnant, harvest the seeds you have planted, gain, fruition, things happening in their own time and space when they are supposed to! Cannot be reversed.
EIHWAZ - EI: Yew Tree
Stability, doing the right things, patience, perseverance, endurance. Decided what is the right way to get the things accomplished in your life. Cannot be reversed.
PERTHRO - P: Initiation, Things Unexplained, Something Hidden
A hieratic or mystery rune pointing to that which is beyond our frail manipulative powers.
Perth is associated with the Phoenix, the mystical bird which consumes itself in the fire then rises from its own ashes. Its ways aresecret and hidden. Powerful forces of change are at work here. Yet what is achieved is not easily or readily shared. After all becoming whole - the means of it - is a profound secret. On the side of the Earthly or mundane, there may well be surprises, gains or rewards that you did not anticipate. On the side of human nature this Rune is symbolized by the flight of the eagle. Soaring flight, free from entanglement, lifting yourself above the endless ebb and flow of ordinary life to acquire broader vision - all this is indicated here.
Perth stands for the heart of Initiation - Nothing external matters here, except as it shows you in its inner reflection. ThisRune is concerned with the deepest stratum of our being, the bedrock on which our destiny is founded. For some Perth means experiencing some form of death - or transition. It is a letting go of everything, no exceptions, no exclusions. Nothing less than renewal of the Spirit is at stake.
Hidden information and truths, mysteries, esoteric, that which is unknown on a conscious level, it could come into the light and you would understand the 'higher meaning' of things.
Reversed: Events stalled, you need to clear out something - unpleasant surprise - the old way has to come to an end, do not focus on outcomes, nor bind yourself with memories of past achievements or you will orb yourself of the true present. When your inner being is shifting and reforming, on a deep level, patience, constancy, and perseverance are called for.
Do no repeat the old - let it go!
The initiation - the veils of the illusion are being lifted - let the old ways go!
Stay centered, see the humor and keep your faith firm.
ALGIZ: Z
Spirit guides - (How interesting as my guide is Zoroaster and I call him Z!) - protection, fortunate new influence, making the connection with spirit and working through your issues.
SOWILO - S: The Sun
The circle is completion - wholeness, the sun, the path to awareness and self knowledge. See you 'dark side' - that which makes you destructive to yourself and others. Seek change to heal and be complete with yourself. Cannot be reversed
TEIWAZ - T: Tyr, the sky god.
To be successful in competition, very motivated, finding the spiritual or transcendental self.
Reversed: Low energy and lack of enthusiasm
BERKANA - B: Birch-goddess
To be prepared, cautious in what you do. Also references your family and home.
Reversed: An unfortunate domestic situation - so use caution.
EHWAZ - E: The Sacred Horse
The balance of things in the universe, stability, move forward carefully focusing on the tools that will help you get there
Reversed: Sudden unexpected change that is not wanted
MANNAZ - M: The nature of Humanity
The self and its place in the collective conscience of humanity. We are all part of the collective unconscious - we are all One. Your attitude towards and their attitudes towards you. Take this time for personal reflection. Cannot be reversed.
LAGUZ - L: Water - Emotions
The moon, the flow of emotions and all things into the collective unconscious - all bodies of water - Aquarius - feminine energies - higher mind, spirituality, health and healing - a time of cleansing.
Reversed: Not listening to your inner voice, tackling something you know you should not do - or are not capable of doing.
INGWAZ - NG: Fertility
Fertility of the joining of human beings, usually for a new life - a pregnancy. Finish what you are doing, tie up lose ends and start something new. Cannot be reversed.
DAGAZ - D: Daylight or Dawn.
A new day begins and go to work. You become more insightful, breaking through your new ideas. Light is around you. Cannot be reversed.
OTHALA - O: Ancestral property - Inheritance
Freedom and independence through releasing ideas and things that keep you 'stuck'. You will feel 'free'. You will inherit from someone.
Reversed: Not letting go of outmoded ideas and concepts. You will feel 'stuck'.
BLANK RUNE: Sometimes called "Odin's Rune":
Anything is possible and can happen. The sum total of who you are, what you have done, and what you have become. Choose a direction and go for it. The blank Rune was added to the others in the 1980's. It shows that as humanity has grown - the possibilities are beyond what was conceived by the original Runes. Some people include the blank Rune in a reading - while others leave it out! I prefer to leave it in as the Universe has limitless possibilities!! If you get this Rune - and you believe in yourself - you can manifest anything!


Morrighan )0(