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Fehu #1
Oct 26, 2006 12:37:03 GMT -5
Post by Senbecc on Oct 26, 2006 12:37:03 GMT -5
Fehu (Feoh, meaning Cattle) This is a rune of fertility which is also associated with fire. Since as we just learned a few moments ago, fire was one of the two elements of the creation process, the fact Fehu (Feoh) is the first rune is not mere coincidence. Equally it is linked with cattle which should now make you think of Audhumla and her nourishing and sustaining role. When we consider the meanings of the runes we must be aware that they are supported and influenced by a complex mythology which is foreign to us. To really know them we must be prepared to relate to the runes on their own terms. The Prose Edda then goes on to describe how the first true man (Ash) and woman (Elm) are made out of trees by Odin. It also introduces the gods and their activities. Here fans of J.R.R. Tolkien may get a shock for on one page we find almost the entire character list of The Hobbit. Tolkien was a scholar of literature and mythology and borrowed heavily from Norse mythology. He took the story of the trolls turning to stone from Alvismal and the riddle contest from Vafthrudismal. Hence while the mythology the runes belongs to, is alien to us, we must also be prepared for the fact that it has influenced our culture in many subtle ways and much more than we may be aware When the Younger Edda moves on to describing Yggdrasil there are a number of differences. The chief dwelling place of the gods is said to be by the ash and the tree's root now goes to heaven where before in the Poetic Edda it was said to be "over men". The Norns are no longer limited to just three and the subtle mechanism of Wyrd is no longer the key determinant in deciding when people die. It is more luck now depending on whether they meet a good or a bad Norn. "The good Norns who come from good stock shape good lives, but those who meet with misfortune owe it to the evil Norns After completing the description of Yggdrasil the Younger Edda lists some of the other important places in heaven such as Alfheim where the light elves live, and Valaskjalf (Valhalla) the hall of the warriors slain in battle Gangleri continues his questioning and there are clear indications of how the gods are toying with him in their answers. "A well informed man would not ask this. Everyone knows why. However if you are the only person so ill-informed as never to have heard, I'll admit it is better for you to ask once in your foolishness than for you to go on any longer in ignorance of what you ought to know" Much of the material on the gods which is given in the Prose Edda has already been considered in Lessons 2 and 3. It also repeats some tales found in its predecessor. One story though concerning Thor's visit to Utgard-Loki is new and worth examining because of the insight into magic, the gods and society which it offers. Arriving at the stronghold the king challenges Thor and his companion gods to prove themselves worthy to stay. "We don't allow anyone to stay with us who is not a past master of some craft or accomplishment First Loki tries and fails in an eating contest. Next Thjalfi offers to outrun anyone Utgard-Loki nominates, but the gods do not realize that the king is a devious sorcerer using magic to deceive then, and hence Thjalfi also fails since his opponent, Hugi, is no man but Utgard-Loki's thoughts. It is left to Thor then to save the honor of the gods and he suggests a drinking contest. Utgard-Loki calls for his drinking horn to be brought forth. "We consider it good drinking if this horn is drained at one drink, some men take two to empty it, but no one is such a wretched drinker that he can't finish it in three" What Thor doesn't realize is that the tip of the horn is in the ocean so the tide refills it and hence he fails to make any impression upon the contents of the horn after three attempts. Mocking him then Utgard-Loki suggests an alternative. "Youngsters here perform the feat - It's not thought much of - of lifting my cat up from the ground" Once again Thor fails, only barely managing to raise the cat at all. What appears to be a cat is in reality though the infamous Midgard Serpent which is coiled around the world. Finally the shamed Thor attempts a wrestling contest with the woman Elli however she too is not what she appears and no-one can beat old age. This story is illustrative in a number of ways. Firstly it demonstrates that the gods are not infallible. Even a trickster god like Loki is capable of being duped. Secondly it shows the importance of life in the hall where men joined together in feasting and telling tales of their exploits. A man's status came directly from his deeds and the only way he would be known outside his own region would be by reputation. Hence the considerable shame Thor must have felt when Utgard-Loki teases him suggesting tales of his great strength were an exaggeration. Finally it indicates the areas of prowess a man could have which would bring him admiration such as drinking or physical skills such as running or wrestling. The last thing Gangleri/Gylfi hears before the gods eject him from heaven is the list of events that will transpire at Ragnarok when the gods are destined to fall. We often refer in these lectures to the force of Wyrd in connection with the runes and the gods are themselves often one of the means by which Wyrd takes effect. However Ragnarok is proof that the gods themselves are not immune to it. They too must face the consequences of their actions such as murder and breaking of contracts. www.runeschool.org/courses/intro_02/06_literature3.htm
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Fehu #1
Feb 10, 2008 9:00:00 GMT -5
Post by Senbecc on Feb 10, 2008 9:00:00 GMT -5
Fehu is the first rune of the 24-rune Elder Futhark, and the first rune of the first aett. Fehu is the reconstructed Old Germanic name of this rune, which as its initial sound suggests, has the phonetic value of "F." It is known as Fe in Old Norse, Feoh in Anglo-Saxon, and Faihu in Gothic. The literal meaning of this rune is ‘‘cattle''. Its general meanings refer to money and wealth. Assets, money, wealth and goods in any (moveable) form, employees, followers, finances, and pay all embody Fehu. Since the ancient Germanic peoples often measured wealth in cattle, cattle, leather goods, and anything to do with dairying also fall under this Rune. Modern English cognates include fee, fine and fief. Three rune-poems have come down to us from medieval times: two of them, the Old Icelandic Rune Poem and the Old Norwegian Rune Rhyme, dwell on Fe being a cause of strife among kinsmen. Thorr and Audrey Sheil think that this has more to do with the fact that folks in that part of the world are notorious about squabbling with and holding grudges against kinfolks over unpaid debts, and that the information in the rune poems is often more cultural than having to do with the rune itself. Runes are based in the cycles of nature and the cultures of the Germanic peoples. A knowledge of these will help greatly when learning to do runework. The meanings of the runes should be sought primarily in their names, and expanded on by personal experience from there. Fehu represents movable goods; those other than land and buildings. Anything you use to make a living, whether tangible or intangible (skills, knowledge) is your Fehu. A magician's magickal knowledge is his or her magickal Fehu. Part of an employer's Fehu is the services of the business's employees. In this modern age, even electricity, like anything else that helps us carry out our will, can be Fehu! Fehu is a pretty tame Rune, especially compared with the following two Runes in the Futhark: Uruz (wild cattle) and Thurisaz (Giants/Jotnar). Norse tradition seeks a balanced approach to Fehu. While there is no virtue in poverty (ever notice that those religions that preach poverty as a virtue are always begging for money!?!), greed is also to be avoided. Sound investment is to be preferred to wild speculation. Fehu is morally neutral. Our use of and persuit of it, and the attitudes behind our behaviour, is where morality comes in. Fehu includes those things we use to gain wealth, how we use it, what we exchange for it, and how we replenish it. Magickally, Fehu is very useful. Money spells are among the most popular. I have found green to be an appropriate color, and patchouly an appropriate oil, to work with Fehu. I've seen sets of magickal oil blends, one for each rune of the Elder Futhark. While neat to look at, they are by no means necessary for your runework. The good wizard/ess works with what is at hand or readily obtainable! All of us use Fehu in one form or another. It is appropriate indeed that this rune begins the Futhark. I did some fairly extensive research for this article, and wound up using only my own experience and Thorr and Audrey Sheil's volume on runes I reviewed in the first, introductory installment of this column. Many runologers try to get too mystical and esoteric in their runework. Runes, as a part of the structure of the Universe, are actually quite down-to-earth, and conceal themselves from the unaware by their very simplicity! Runes don't play around. They get down to the nitty-gritty, whether it be pleasant, unpleasant, or as is so often the case, a mixture of the two. Runes are more a part of daily life than some flight of fantasy. Enjoy, learn from, and improve your life by means of your runic studies! The following comments on this Rune are from my friend and fellow Thorr and Audrey Sheil fan Pam C. and are of course posted by permission: "What I wanted to say was something about the differences in our teaching methods. While your suggestions for experiencing runic ideas sound like fun, and will do much to clarify basic meanings to those eager to know the futhark, I wonder if some might take these as conclusions rather than beginnings. I feel that Fe (Fehu) can be understood, more, HAS to be understood within the context of the student's life. I tend to steer (no pun) away from the cattle example since there are very few modern people that have ever raised cattle for profit and in the East, few that have ever even seen a cow. (Note from Jordsvin: I've milked them, raised them, helped butcher them, but Pam is right; most folks these day's haven't.) I find that it is much easier to understand if put in the context of daily life. If I don't perform maintenance on my Blazer, change the oil, add fuel, wash it, then that asset will cease to serve me. The same basic principal goes for friends and family. All are Fe. There is cow pasture that backs up on my land. I have to tell you, Cows are cute. They follow me like dogs, seeming to think that I can always pull peaches off the tree and toss them over the fence. But I don't get a hint of Fe from them. Flies, yes, Fe, no." Note from Jordsvin: while our relationships with friends, family and employees may indeed partake of Fehu (and Gebo as well), do not use people themselves as if they were Fehu. That's what Jehovah does with his followers! Pam continues: "I neglected to tell you that, upon our arrival here, one of the first things I did was point at the cows all lined up at the fence, and yell 'Fe!' And both girls ran up to them also yelling 'Fe!, cows!' Perhaps it was my comment that the girls had just been to "church" that offended my in-laws. They do not understand our religion." home.earthlink.net/~jordsvin/Runes/Rune%20Of%20The%20Month/Rune%201%20-%20Fehu.htm
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