Runes

What are Runes? Our myths tell us Odin got them while hanging on a branch of Yggdrasil for nine days. They are the root to many of our modern day alphabet(The term AlphaBet actually being of Latin origin, A, B, etc..) Nobody is really sure of when they first came into use, a long time ago is a good guess. Understanding the runes was a sign of great knowledge, it brings us closer to Odin. Odin of course was always on a quest for knowledge. I would like to think he was proud that his children learned to use them and know them as he did.

We feel the runes still hold a certain spiritualness about them. Some Odinist even think that the runes hold magical properties. They use them to construct spells, bless objects, etc.. I however just feel they represent a devotional object, much like the Christians use the crucifix. As other religions have things that are symbolic in their rituals, so do we. The runes I feel are just one of those things for us.

I’ll give you an example. On my fork I use in competition I have the rune “Tiwas” burned into the handle. Tiwas represents the god Tyr. Tyr was once the ruler of the gods but stepped aside when Odin came. Odin was thought to be the wiser ruler I guess. Tyr is known for his sense of justice. He was once the also god of war. He favors warriors who show honor in battle and who fight justly. Warriors would often carve the Tiwas on their swords to honor Tyr and hopefully gain his favor in battle. Tyr loves competition as well. I honor him by burning the Tiwas on my fork, the only implement we really use when we compete. It reminds me to compete justly and treat my competitors with honor. In the past I was afraid to put it on my fork. You are asking Tyr to watch you while you compete and to make sure justice is done. If I was to think ill of my fellow competitors, or to think of them dishonorably because they were doing better than I was, Tyr would find that cowardly and may bring his vengeance against me. I do not like losing, and in the past I have had trouble keeping honorable thoughts in my head.

This year my path is true and my convictions strong, so I feel I am ready to make Tyr proud. I am no longer afraid.

So that is a short description of one of the runes and why I use it. No magic, just a reminder of faith.