For the week of 17 February 2019
divinity + resources + needs
Sowilo (Sowilu) is the half-month stave through 27 February. Sowilo is above right, with Sowilo beneath it. Jera is the intuitive rune, and Nauthiz indicates the Futhark’s message to us. Read right to left is Sowilo, Jera, then Nauthiz.
I truly believe that #theweeklyrune includes the keys to making better choices based on keen insight into the present, to help each of us be more active in creating a better reality for us all. That realization process includes learning to tend what can’t just be fixed, and using every tool at our disposal to accomplish that. The runes are such a tool, and in the Old Norse tradition, this process is wyrdweaving at it deepest potential.
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What’s a half-month rune?
“Half-month” is an astronomical concept in which each month is divided into two parts: days 1-15, then 16-month’s end. In terms of the runic calendar, the half-month rune is based on the Elder Futhark, and governs for a tad over two weeks (14 and 1/4 days, or a fortnight).
As we experience a shift between the half-month runes this week, the energies subtly reflect a change in focus.
Learn More
The Weekly Rune is a three-rune cast. Those runes are the half-month, the intuitive rune, and the overview. The half-month is a set rune, which for the most part follows the traditional ordering of the Elder Futhark. The intuitive stave (meaning, I draw it blind) indicates the life force most available to us, to the focus of the half-month rune into sharper focus. It suggests how we can best handle the half-month energies. The final rune (also drawn blind) provides a high overview of the current time, and speaks from different voices. These voices are usually Nature, Earth, Creation, though are sometimes others. I note who’s speaking each week, as it is revealed.
New to The Weekly Rune?
- Catch a couple of my IGTV videos, which explain the intention and process behind the runecast, and what makes it different from other ways of casting.
- Listen to my What in the Wyrd podcast, which is available across all popular podcast platforms, including Google Play and iTunes. The latest episode discusses the nuances of Raidho.
- A few people have asked the reason that I switch between different rune sets for TWR. The short answer is: because. The more nuanced answer is I ask which sets wants to speak each week. I don’t assume the same elements are in play according to the timing of the runes; I also don’t assume the same elements of my runes are appropriate to speak each week. I did a podcast on this subject, so there’s more info there. (See above)
- Also, for deep work on coming into relationship with the runes in season, check out my book, Runic Book of Days.
The Runecast
Sowilo is a beneficent rune. While every rune brings challenges, the ones faced this week are largely internal. This week we explore the depths of Sowilo.
Learn more about this seasonal progression, and how to draw its insights into the personal spiritual path in Runic Book of Days.
What does it mean?
Sowilo is the rune of the sun, which we previously discussed is pretty much why everything. We are a solar-centric culture, and much of inner and outer grounding comes from our relationship with the sun. As with anything that prominent in our lives, humans internalize its attributes. We acknowledge the actual thing, then metaphorize it and seek its meaning in our personal lives, the narrative it inspires within us. The narrative that the sun speaks through Sowilo is that of being our own sun and realizing where we shine on others–or in some cases where we don’t.
We live in a do-gooder culture, at least on the surface. Clearly the dire straits of most of the world don’t reflect the outcome of a majority doing good, which leaves us with a sense of fakeness around the so-called ‘do unto others” motto that’s crammed down our throats. As I noted somewhere (TWR or podcast) last week, if quizzed about our divinity status, we would all hastily respond that we know we’re divine. We know we are. Yet, how often does knowing translate into action? Into doing good? How often do we define what doing good means by our terms, and not by those of whom we project to assist?
That granular understanding of pay-it-forward is what Sowilo reminds us of this week. With the framing runes, the emphasis on self-check is huge. In order to make sure we understand how to do good, we have to have mastered the lessons of the second aett. The way the runes came up for this cast, Sowilo is making sure we got the memo of the second aett before we fully move on to the challenges of the third.
Jera as the adjective to our Sowilo noun says we need to make sure we have the right resources, timing, and planning to do good. Nobody ever says that. Nobody ever quanitifies showing up to community under the umbrella of self-care. They throw around the idea, then either do nothing, or burn out. There’s very little between the extremes.
Nauthiz tells the tale on this process. If we haven’t been humbled by Sowilo and motivated by Jera, Nauthiz will either trigger or clarify (or both). The voice of the Futhark tells us through Nauthiz that in order to really shine on others with the resources in place to do so well, we have to have a deep running, growing, organic knowledge of our own needs. It’s not something we assess once a year when Nauthiz rolls around, but ongoing, and in-depth.
And it is with that last bit that we really need to sit this week: By the time we sit with out own needs and devise how to meet them, what’s left to shine on others? How does shining on others affect our home? Self? Resources?
For suggestions on how to do that gracefully, subscribe to my private runes community on Patreon.
