More Daily Bloggery 209-03-09

1. Runes pulled today (top) and Saturday (bottom) while pondering relationship matters. With the top cast, Isa (the vertical line) is the rune indicating stasis, as if frozen in ice. Well, that aptly describes the last three years on the relationship front! Othala (the middle or Present rune) mans property, legacy or the ancestors. Could my Norse ancestors be working on my behalf here? The Future rune, Thiriaz, is the rune of monsters, struggle and oppositionism. In other words, be prepared for struggle that changes me. "She changes everything she touches . . . "
The bottom set was pulled Saturday. The past is the aurochs, a rune indicating strength, animal passion. The present, Berkano, is the birch tree, renewal and rebirth. Dagaz is the dawn, new beginnings, that transcdental moment when the light bulb comes on and one's enlightenment value changes to "Gets It."
This has given me much to think about, and to hope for.

2. Medical: Wounds are still making progress. While at the doc's office, I heard a good one: "Step Away From The Nurses Or Nobody Will Get Healed."I have yet to meet a nurse at Kaiser who was anything short of phenomenal. I've had my share of doctors who were not quite right -- one badmouthed the pentacle I was wearing -- but never nurses.

3. Still seeking a new style sheet / template for the site.

Solstice Rune Reading 2008-12-19

Interesting Solstice rune reading here. Imagery and indented test are from www.facade.com (the "free online rune readings" link on the link roll), italics are mine.

The left rune represents an important element of the past. Algiz plainly shows the antlers of the elk that it represents. The elk is the object of the hunt, and hence Algiz speaks to the pursuit of goals and the thrill of that pursuit. The rune is currently shown reversed, so this could suggest a failed endeavor or a lack of effort. Algiz is also representative of a protective hand (fingers open wide), so the reversed form may indicate a failed defense.

I think it is fair to characterize my last 20 years of incautious living as "lack of effort" or "a failed defense" of my health.

The middle rune represents a deciding element of the present. Ken is the rune of light and knowledge. The rune is shown reversed representing a state of darkness or ignorance. Either you are unable to obtain information that you need, or the information is being withheld from you. In darkness there is fear, but remember that darkness does not mean isolation. Friendship and comfort can still be available, although they are not immediately visible.

The funny thing about this rune is that I have been increasing my knowledge about my medical challenges. Due to my rabid use of the Internet, information has nowhere to hide from me. I do not think this is so much as isolation from information but isolation from social situations and challenges. I think the stones are trying to tell me that this strategy needs to change . . . .

The right rune represents the critical element of the future. Eoh refers to the Yew tree. The Yew does not go dormant and therefore represents endurance. Even the wood of the tree is strong, resilient, and pliable - the Yew bends, but does not break. The evergreen nature of the Yew is present even in the rune itself, as it cannot be changed even by reversal. This rune is historically symbolic of death, but, as in the Tarot and as suggested by the nature of the Yew tree itself, death is seen only as a transmutation of something eternal and unchanging - the spirit.

In other words: change my unhealthful ways and socialize / continue to educate myself and I'll endure to elderhood. Or become a weapon for an English yeoman . . . .

Runecast 2008-08-28: career:

I haven't cast any runes for awhile. Here's what I got when I asked:

"Is a promotion at work likely in the next 30-90 dys?"

Here's what my cyber runes had to say to me:
Past: Berkano reversed: Delayed rebirth -- fits a stalled career; I drew Isa (ice, stasis) a year ago, so this fits
Present: Ehwaz, reversed: teamwork (as in horse and rider), difficulties in improvement -- oh yes, this fits
Future: Thuawaz, also reversed. Hammer, as in that of Thor. Thorns, as those on roses. Barriers, Sometimes means senseless violence(!). Thorns reversed -- maybe the barrier is surmountable with less difficulty than surmised before.



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Listening to: Heather Alexander - Flesh Against the Thorn
via FoxyTunes

Bizarre...

The rune pull was very applicable, but more so to its traditional meaning. My car broke down friday night, the starter was making sounds that are not normally associated with a starter. A AAA tow and a good mechanic's look later, the issue was a physical misalignment caused (probably) by the collision my beastie had with the center divider on southbound I-5 back in December. One very through, well placed beating (the starter, not me!) and sixty bucks later, I was rolling again.

Kudos as always to AAA and their contract tow guys. AAA customer service is, as a writer friend of mine might put it, a hardcore shot of Pure Awesome. The tow truck driver was a young guy and a total professional. He also tried beating on the starter, but to no avail.

While I did not feel so good after the walk home and felt bad all weekend (backaches and my friend Mister Upset Stomach), I'm now most assuredly OK.
The best news of all is that I was able to make the walks I needed to make from Kaiser (where the car died) t0 home and back. This bodes well for weight control because as recently as a month ago, I would not have been physically able to make a walk of such distance because of back pain or being out of breath. I know that this a long way from a triathalon, sure, but I felt like such a fatass slug two months ago I was winded just crossing the parking lot and getting to my cube at the office.

Fortunately, one of my favorite places is just two traffic lights away, or about the distance from here to the Kaiser medical offices. Incentive, anyone?

I had a question for the runes...

There are some new opporutnities about to emerge at work, and I'm being encouraged to apply for them. I am comfortable in my current duties, but things have become stagnant for the last six months or so. I've pulled runes for virtually every career decision I've hade in the last few years, and all of the draws have been dead-on with respect to what happened later.

"Should I avail myself of these opportunities?" I asked my runes and pulled one.

I got this:

Ehwaz: (E: Horse, two horses.) Transportation. May represent a horse, car, plane, boat or other vehicle. Movement and change for the better. Gradual development and steady progress are indicated. Harmony, teamwork, trust, loyalty. An ideal marriage or partnership. Confirmation beyond doubt the meanings of the runes around it. Ehwaz Reversed or Merkstave: This is not really a negative rune. A change is perhaps craved. Feeling restless or confined in a situation. Reckless haste, disharmony, mistrust, betrayal.

My read: the new opportunity is with a new mobile technology. This fits the rune's traditional meaning since this technology is mobile. Not only that, the rune implies trust and teamwork, which is what this new tech group is all about. I think I'll apply for it!

The Birthday Boy Pulls Some Runes

Okay, now this is interesting . . .

The Norn spread is used to plot the crucial elements of past, present, and future, and to reveal the evolution of the situation through the arc of time. Gold Runes are most commonly used for questions about business, career, and property.

The left rune represents an important element of the past. Ehwaz is representative of the eight-legged horse ridden by the god Odin. As such, this is the rune of controlled movement and travel, including the pursuit of an objective or station in life. Since some older sources show Odin not as a man riding a horse but as a centaur-like being, this rune can also represent the union of man and nature, or the fusion of two entities in perfect harmony. As this rune is reversed, this could bode poorly for travel or for the vehicle involved. In the more spiritual sense, this rune could represent difficulties in self-improvement or other attempts at advancement. Finally, it may represent a splitting of two or the inability of two to act as one.

The middle rune represents a deciding element of the present. Tyr is the symbol of the warrior. This rune most represents masculine force and potency, and frequently victory in battle. Beware though, for this rune represents directly the Norse god whose name it bears - Tyr stands out in legend for having sacrificed his hand that he might bind Fenrir, a monstrous wolf that threatens to swallow the world. As such, this rune is known to portend a great victory that can be bought with a terrible sacrifice. Tyr is also the god of law, frequently placed in such position above Odin. In this aspect, protection of justice may be had by this rune.

The right rune represents the critical element of the future. Sowelu is a strong symbol, for it represents the sun. Unlike equatorial cultures who may see the sun as a harsh and imperial force capable of causing droughts, in the cold north the sun is a purely feminine force that gives life and allows crops to grow. In dark times, this rune represents clarity of sight and the victory of good over evil. Sowelu is irreversible, as the cycles of the sun and seasons are perpetual. My read on this, as I posed the question of "what does the birthday boy have to look forward to this yesr?" is fascinating. Past, I think indicates not separation from another (ex #2 most likely) nor car trouble but a lack of progress or foward movement in my life; present certainly applies with my current tax situation (paying some back taxes from the aformentioned marriage, a kind of 'justice," getting my just desserts); future is the solar rune. Clarity of vision and victory in my struggles. It's interesting that Tyr has shown up in my last two readings. Very. Weigh-in today and party at Michelle and David's tonight.

OK, this is interesting . . .

The Norn spread is used to plot the crucial elements of past, present, and future, and to reveal the evolution of the situation through the arc of time. Ice Runes are most commonly used for questions about struggle, conflict, and achievement.

The left rune represents an important element of the past. Wunjo is the rune of joy. The reversal of this rune suggests that joy is withheld. Since joy is frequently communal, this rune often suggests loneliness. Alternatively, some have seen Wunjo as the rune of perfection and the rune of the gods. Therefore this rune reversed could signal a feeling of separation from one's deity, or as imperfection in an important work.

The middle rune represents a deciding element of the present. Laguz is the rune representing water. Laguz is a strongly feminine rune, and like the ocean contains much power of an uncontrollable nature. Here the rune is seen in the reversed, symbolic of the ebbing tide. This may suggest power being drawn away, or may perhaps the start of a journey. Since this is a rune of sexual power, the reversal can also suggest sexual problems or dissatisfaction.

The right rune represents the critical element of the future. Tyr is the symbol of the warrior. This rune most represents masculine force and potency, and frequently victory in battle. Beware though, for this rune represents directly the Norse god whose name it bears - Tyr stands out in legend for having sacrificed his hand that he might bind Fenrir, a monstrous wolf that threatens to swallow the world. As such, this rune is known to portend a great victory that can be bought with a terrible sacrifice. Tyr is also the god of law, frequently placed in such position above Odin. In this aspect, protection of justice may be had by this rune. Interesting pull. Very interesting indeed. Now, I don't usually read my runes as reversed / merkstave, but here the variant positions make sense. I freely admit the joy I feel in life has been diminished, especially since I've gotten so effing overweight. There have been times the last couple of months where I hurt so very much thsat I was tempted to put an end to it all; fortunately, my social support system -- family by choice like M&D and Iz, my gaming groups, even WoW -- is first rate. There are things I want to do, and things I need to do . . . and being o'weight prevents them from happening. Thus, dimished joy. Further, even the bit about "Therefore this rune reversed could signal a feeling of separation from one's deity" makes sense; the Gods want us to be happy (as the Charge says: " . . . let there be reverance and mirth . . ."), and with too damn much of my personal power tied up in my personal accumulation of suet, I sometimes feel as if I'm letting the Lady down being this way. As I ponder the second rune, I'm blinking away tears. Again, the reverse of this rune makes sense. This song, to be released by a friend of mine on her new album, adds some emotional context. Twice in just over two yesrs, I've gone back to sea, "caught the tide" to leave something which was comfortable and return to that I have always been. The first departure was from someone who echoed this woman's feelings in the song. The second departure is from the "comfortable" lifestyle of free-range eating that was killing me, and may still kill me . . . if I don't hurry and catch the tide. I'm beginning another journey . . . The third rune, the future, is the rune of He Who is my Norse patron. Tyr speaks to my self image as a warrior. The rune itself tells me that there will be a victorious struggle in the future, one that will mean pain and sacrifice on my part. Tyr tells me that the pain is worth the sacrifice. My sacrifice? A lifetime's worth of comfortable but ultimately highly problematic attitude about food and exercise.