ᚾ
I pulled this Rune today, since purchasing a set of bone runes, it has found its way into my hand 3 times, it’s not necessarily a “fortunate” rune, but it’s one that sets me thinking (though few things don’t).
I thought I’d give some thoughts on this rune, as an ideogram, its etymology, and its magickal significance. Here are some initial translations.
Norwegian Rune Poem
ᚾ Need carries a heavy cost;
a naked man dies in the frost
Icelandic Rune Poem
ᚾ
Is the thrall’s throes
And terrible state
And wretched work
Laboring Dwarf
Anglo Saxon Rune Poem
ᚾ Need is hard on the heart;
yet oft men’s sons are helped and healed if they listen
Knot
ᚾ is called “Naud”, “Nyd” or “Naudr”, generally meaning, and the root of the English “Need”
Some say constraint, bondage, emergency, etc.
The Norwegian Rune Poem calls to mind the English phrase “beggars can’t be choosers”
The association with the thrall in the IRP, gives me the ideogrammic image of a bondage knot, a restraint.
Nazarene
When I first learned about this rune, it struck me most, largely because of it’s thematic and visual symmetry with the Christian Cross.
✝ and ᚾ
Christ is not only nailed, but tied to the cross.
I found this rune to be almost a “hyperstitional” sigil, which is to say, a picture that manifests itself. The torment and pain symbolized by a glyph very like a cross is a brilliant coincidence. As we know, Christianity would set the viking world in bondage.
Correspondences
I correspond this rune in two “Scales”. It’s place among the 24 Elder Futhark, and among the 16 Younger Futhark.
I map the Elder to the Major Arcana (Unevenly) and the Younger to the 16 Court Cards.
In the Elder Scale ᚾ is the Hanged Man, the man in bondage, and the card of crucified Christ. He is Water.
And in the Younger Scale to the Princess of Cups, the attending lady, who like all Princesses lacks a singular Zodiac sign, but is the emblem of her element. she is Water.
Hopefully these thoughts give some insight into the mystery of the Runes.