Author: Hālau ʻĀha Hūi Lanakila

Phonetic value: R

Esoteric interpretation of name: the solar wagon, and the chariot of Thorr.

Ideographic interpretations: a wheel under the chariot in the view; as a half of the solar wheel (see the S-rune).

Today’s message: You have access to “inner advice” which strengthens your ritual abilities and experience.

Phonetic values: J (pronounced y as in “yard”). In the later ON period, after about 600 C.E., the initial J was lost in the West Norse dialects and thereafter the rune stood for A.

Esoteric interpretation of name: life cycle, cycle of the sun.

Ideographic interpretation: the holy marriage of heaven A and earth v, or the dynamic rotation of the summer-winter cycle.

Today’s message: Realize that you are part of the cyclical nature of the Universe, and you can work with this nature to manifest your material desires.

Phonetic value: a final grammatical Z, which eventually developed into the final R of Old Norse.

Esoteric interpretation of name: protective force, valkyrjur.

Ideographic interpretation: the horns of the elk, the branches (and roots) of the tree, a swan in flight, or a splayed hand. COMMENTARY: This rune is historically perhaps the most complex of all from a symbological perspective. A unified ideological complex does rise to the surface once its secrets are penetrated.

Today’s Message: You are in a protected grove or enclosure dedicated to the gods. Feel the connection between the gods and all of humanity that allows you to trip the Light fantastic.

Lore of the Elder Futhark 49 The Proto-Germanic form algiz means “protection,” and its stave form is perhaps derived from the basic sign of defense and protection: the splayed hand. The concept of the valkyrjur also has been connected to this stave through the interpretation of the name as “swan.” The valkyrjur are protective, life-giving beings who often fly by means of magical cloaks made of swan feathers. These beings are protectors, power givers, and a mode by which 6dhinn communicates with his chosen heroes. the sign: t : is often found carved into spears for protection and victory. Elhaz, meaning “elk,” refers to the four cosmic harts that constantly bite at the needles of the world-tree. The yew again comes into the symbol complex of this rune with the Old Norse word i(h)war, which occurs only in runic inscriptions. This term means either “yew tree” or “yew bow” and is later rendered by the word yr and the stave form: -+-:. This form is an alternate of the usual: t : and in fact they are probably derived from a primal form: :t : found in the Futhark of Charnay. This oldest form displays the tree symbolism quite graphically. The Gothic word alhs (sanctuary) has been related to this rune as well. This is a protected grove or enclosure dedicated to the gods. The Z-rune contains an aspect of the protective power of the divine twins. Alcis, the name of the twins reported by Tacitus in the Germania, may indeed be related to the rune name. Ideographically, the divine twins were sometimes represented as being joined at the head, rather like the primal form of the rune (see Figure 2.3). In their aggressive, warlike aspect, the twins are visualized as harts, while in other aspects they are represented as horses (see E-rune). Elhaz is the power of human life and “spirit” striving toward the world of. the AEsir. Figure 2.3. Divine twins, from the rock carving of Rylandl Tanum. 123%65 / 174