Lesson One: Beginnings by Matthew Risk

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem(with slight amendations): f Fehu (Fey-ho)(Wealth) is a comfort to all men; yet must every man bestow it freely, if he wish to gain honour in the sight of the Gods. u Uruz (Oor-ooz)(The Aurochs) is proud and has great horns; it is a very savage beast and fights with its horns; a great ranger of the moors, it is a creature of mettle. x Thurisaz (Thur-ee-sahz)(Thorn) is exceedingly sharp, an evil thing for any knight to touch, uncommonly severe on all who sit among them. a Ansuz (An-sooz)(s [Oin]) is the source of all language, a pillar of wisdom and comfort to wise men, a blessing and a joy to every knight. r Raido (Ride-oh)(Ride) seems easy to every warrior while he is indoors and very courageous to him who traverses the high roads on the back of a stout horse. k Cano (Can-oh)(torch) is known to every living man by its pale, bright flame; it always burns where princes sit within. g Gebo (Gay-bo)(gift) brings credit and honour, which support ones dignity; it furnishes help and subsistence to all broken men who are devoid of aught else. w Wunjo (voon-yoh)(bliss) enjoys who knows not suffering, sorrow nor anxiety, and has prosperity and happiness and a good enough house. h Hagalaz (ha-ga-laz)(hail) is the whitest of grain; it is whirled from the vault of heaven and is tossed about by gusts of wind and then it melts into water. n Nauthiz (Now-theez)(need) is oppressive to the heart; yet often it proves a source of help and salvation to the children of men, to everyone who heeds it betimes. i Isa (Ees-ah)(ice) is very cold and immeasurably slippery; it glistens as clear as glass and most like to gems; it is a floor wrought by the frost, fair to look upon. j Jera (Year-ah)(harvest) is a joy to humanity, when the gods suffer the earth to bring forth shining fruits for rich and poor alike. Y Eowaz (Eh-oh-waz)(Yew) is a tree with rough bark, hard and fast in the earth, supported by its roots, a guardian of flame and a joy upon an estate. p Perthro (Pear-throw) (?) is a source of ease when midwives sit blithely together in the birth-hall.

z Algiz (Al-geez)(sedge-grass) is mostly to be found in a marsh; it grows in the water and makes a ghastly wound, covering with blood every warrior who touches it. s Sowulo (So-vool-oh) (Sun) is ever a joy to seafarers when they journey away over the fishes bath, until the courser of the deep bears them to land. t Tiwaz (Tee-vaz) (Tyr) is a guiding star; well does it keep faith with princes; it is ever on its course over the mists of night and never fails. b Berkana (Ber-ka-na)(birch) bears no fruit; yet without seed it brings forth suckers, for it is generated from its leaves. Splendid are its branches and gloriously adorned its lofty crown which reaches to the skies. e Ehwaz (Eh-vaz)(Horse) is a joy to princes in the presence of warriors, a steed in the pride of its hoofs, when rich men on horseback bandy words about it; and it is ever a source of comfort to the restless. m Mannaz (Man-az)(Man) is an augmentation of the dust; great is the claw of the hawk. l Laguz (Lag-ooz)(ocean) seems interminable to men, if they venture on the rolling bark and the waves of the sea terrify them and the courser of the deep heed not its bridle. q Inguz (In-gooz)(Ing) was fist seen by men among the East-Danes, till, followed by his car, he departed eastwards over the waves. So the Heardingas named the hero. o Othilla (Oh-thil-ah)(estate) is very dear to every man, if he can enjoy there in his house whatever is right and proper in constant prosperity. d- Dagaz (Dag-az)(Day), the glorious light of the creator is sent by the gods; it is beloved of men, a source of hope and happiness to rich and poor and of service to all.

Taking up the runes: Becoming one with runic reality is not a simple task. Like anything, the more effort one puts into the process, the greater the results will be. Dedication and commitment are needed if one is to really discover the immense power lying at the heart of the runic mysteries. That being said, it can also be fun. Runic meditation # 1: Sun-up meditation. Set aside some time in the morning to meditate on the runes. 5 minutes is usually sufficient, and easy enough to accomplish. Meditate on one rune a day for a series of 24 days, completing the elder Futhark over the period of almost a month. Start by looking at the rune you are working on for that particular day, and reading its meaning. Draw it in the air with your finger, imagining a beam of red light emitting from your finger to draw its form. Say the name of the rune aloud in such a way as to make it vibrate through your whole body, then repeat the name in your mind while concentrating gently on the energy rune you just drew in the air. Attempt to generate as strong an emotional charge as you can, while focusing on whatever emotions you associate with the meaning of the rune. Once finished, go about your daily life in the usual way with one exception. Make an effort to interpret events arising during the day as though the rune itself were speaking to you. This should not interfere with your work, or decision making process, but merely be an exercise for getting to know the runes. Runic meditation # 2: Moon-up meditation. Purchase a notebook of the kind one might use for a journal, or sketchbook. Set aside some time in the evening to meditate on the runes. The evening meditation will be more reflective than the morning one. Take a scrap of paper and a red pen and draw the rune to be contemplated on it, fixing it on the wall in front of your chair or cushion so that it is directly in front of your gaze when you sit. Stare at the rune and repeat its name in your mind or aloud until all other thoughts fall away except for those that pertain to the rune. Allow images to arise in your minds eye without judging, or trying to change what you see. Open your minds ears and see if you can hear the rune speaking to you. Record what you see or hear in your journal. Once finished, return to your body with some gentle movements. Reflect on the day which has just come to an end and endeavor to explain how the events of the day related to the rune for that day. Runic meditation # 3: the hanging tree. This is an exercise in self awareness to be attempted after the first two meditation cycles have been completed. The runes came to Odin as he hung on the world tree, Yggdrasil. The world tree is the home of nine worlds that correspond to parts of the individuals awareness. These are seen as discreet worlds unto themselves, but also as modes of perception the individual can use to navigate the world around them. In the eddic poem Alvissmal we are shown how different things are seen from different perspectives. For example, what men see as wood, the gods refer to as mane of the field suggesting that the earth is alive. The giants refer to it as fuel reflecting their lack of concern for life, and the elves refer to it as fair limbed out of

respect. Seeing things this way, we can divide the human mind into categories, or modes of thinking that relate to the nine worlds on the world tree. Here are their general meanings: Asgard: Realm of the Gods. The divine godhead. Spiritual connectivity, self-awareness, truth, the gods and our relationship with them. That part of ourselves that knows its purpose and its direction. Vanaheim: higher creative potency, feeling, sensation Alfheim: Thought, inspiration, reasonableness, the spirits of flora and fauna. Alfs (elves). Midgard: Earth. The realm of interaction between time and space. The human world. The body. Materiality. Muspelheim: intuitive awareness. Creative fire, though destructive if ungrounded. Svartalfheim: Dark elves. Sensation. Craft. Pride. Alchemical realm. Jotunheim: land of ice-giants. Disruptive masculine force. Chaotic self. Exploitive consciousness. Niffleheim: world of Ice and coldness. Deepest part of shadow. Disturbance. Conflict. Suffering. Helheim: destructive feminine aspect. The devouring mother. The receptacle of past traumas and experiences. Source of dreams and nightmares. Once the basic meaning of the realms is understood, pull a rune for each of the worlds as a meditation. Interpret the rune based on how it relates to the influence of that particular realm on your life at present. If the underworlds bring up any unpleasant memory or thought, allow yourself to experience it without judgment and accept it for what it is. Record your findings in your journal. If things are out of balance, pull runes to tell you how to change it for the better, then cast them into the realms in question. This is done as follows: a) call the realm in question by reciting its name while drawing its rune in the air and visualizing it opening a door in space before you. b) Cast the fixing rune into that space by drawing it in the air and sending it through the door in space. c) Feel the influence of the rune as it initiates change in that part of your self. d) Picture the door closing and move on to the next realm, if any. Doing this meditation on a semi-regular basis can lead to in increase in understanding of the self, provided you are honest with yourself about the unpleasant truths of your life situation and are prepared to make necessary changes.

Exercise 4. During the course of the introductory month, begin with the first two runes in the Futhark and give them each half of the month for detailed concentration. These concentrations should include active and passive meditations on the rune. It should begin with the construction of a ritual that embodies the energy of the rune and brings it into your life in a concentrated way. Focus on the meaning of the rune, as well as the possible modern associations that could be identified with it. What elements of your life relate to the rune? What could the rune be used for in your life now? How does moving into the Runes mindframe affect your perception of the world around you? How has this energy been used or misused in your past? What happens when you straighten the energy through ritual? Over the course of this time, spend some effort corresponding with the spirit of the Rune in order to answer these questions: Fehu: 1. Explain the ebb and flow of resources that can be labeled as personal wealth. 2. Research the Scandanavian concept of Hamingja and explain how it relates to the energy of Fehu. 3. Explain how Fehu relates to the generation and movement of basic life force energy. Uruz: 1. Meditate on physical health and how it is generated/moved in relation to the Uruz rune. 2. How do the events or memories of our past affect current and future events? 3. What is the purpose of Obstacles and how can they be overcome? Wardings: Almost every system of magic or mysticism includes as an essential part of their practice some form of banishing or warding. Explanations for this practice range between clearing the mind as preparation for concentration on the focal point of a further rite, to ending and preventing influence from harmful spirits. Regardless of the explanation, Wardings have been shown to be very powerful techniques of creating and protecting a location or person from unwanted distractions which may become very dangerous in certain instances. Most sources claim that ALL rituals should begin with the casting of a warding or banishing. When one begins a course of magical study, one begins to give off more energy than previously. This energy may become very attractive to forces or people who may not have your best interest in mind. Warding creates a shield against these forces, as well as giving one a working knowledge of the energy of the runes themselves. What follows are two examples of warding rites taken from different sources they act as wardings on one hand, but also as training techniques for the psychic faculties on the other: Freya Aswynns rune circle: Begin by standing with feet together and hands at your sides, facing north. Raise your gandr (wand), ritual knife, or hand and trace the form of Fehu in the air in front of you while chanting fehu fehu fehu as you see a beam of bright red light emitting from the ritual tool into the form of the Rune. Put your whole strength into it and make it as bold a gesture as

you can. If you are unable to chant the rune loudly due to circumstance, intensity of focus should replace volume. Turn to the north-east with your arm still held straight out, seeing a red line arc from north to north-east. Trace the form of Uruz while chanting the name of the rune in the same way as you did with Fehu. Continue through the first eight runes (Freyas tt) until you have completed a full circle. Not losing sight of the Fehu in the North, cast Hagalaz into the background behind it in the same manner. Continue the second circle with the second tt runes until you are encircled with two rings of runes. Continue this process with the third tt, casting it outwardly beyond the second ring. When you have completed all three rings, stand for a moment, seeing the threefold ring of runes around you. Then trace the sign of Thors hammer (an upside down T) seeing a huge hammer-sign of blazing lightning spring forth through and beyond all the runes (f, h, t) in the north and resting beyond them as you chant Hammer ward me wherever I go!. Repeat the Hammer-sign in each of the eight directions. When you have reached the north again, reach over your head and trace a clockwise fylfot (swastika or sun sign. If you have not emotionally overcome the damage done to this ancient sacred sign by the Nazi movement, use another hammersign. If you wish to do a great service to the ancient teachings, make an attempt to remove the negative associations of nazi misuse of this sacred emblem from your belief system. Pay attention to how the same sign was used by almost every culture in the known world as a symbol of life and whirling force) chanting hammer shall always hallow my ways. See the sign spinning faster and faster, funneling a flood of brilliant whiteness down into your red circle. The crown of your head should tingle with this might. Below you, trace a counterclockwise fylfot (or hammer) in glowing black light chanting hammer shall always hallow my ways!. See the sign spinning faster and faster, funneling a flood of brilliant blackness up into your red circle. The soles of your feet should tingle with this might. Lift head and hands so that you make the shape of the algiz rune and cry above me Asgards awesome might! Spread your feet shoulder-width and cry Roots below in Hels black halls! Bring your feet together and lower your arms until you stand with them stretched in the shape of a cross. Chant rune might ring around me. Rune might roar within me. Rune might ward me, work my weal wherever I shall go! stand for amoment, eyes closed if needful, seeing the whole ring as a burning triple wheel around you. The rune ring is now set and will follow you everywhere you go. Edred Thorrsons hammer rite: 1. with rune wand (or other tool, or finger) face North. 2. beginning with Fehu, in the north sign and send the runes of the Futhark around you at the level of the solar plexus as far out as the circle on the ground or floor, always with the sun or clockwise. The runes should form a complete band ending with dagaz next to fehu in the north. 3. stand in the cross stadha (stance) and visualize an equilateral cross lying horizontally in the plane of the rune ring and your solar plexus, with that point as the centre of the cross. The arms of the cross should end at the points where they intersect with

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the rune ring. Imagine a surrounding sphere of shimmering blue light with the red rune band as its equator. Then visualize the vertical axis coming through your length from the infinite space above and from the infinite space below. feel and se the force flowing into your center from all six directions as it builds a sphere of glowing red might. The colour may be altered depending on the ritual intention. Touch the back of the wand, or tool to the breast in the centre of the solar plexus and thrust it forward projecting the force from that centre to a point on the inside face of the outer sphere. Then the runester should sign the hammer from the mass of magical might. During this process intone: Hamarr i Nordhri helga v thetta ok hald vrdh (Hammer in the North hallow and hold this holy stead) Then turning 90 to the east, send and sign another hammer sign vibrating. Hamarr i Estri Helga v thetta ok hald vrdh (Hammer in the east hallow and hold this holy stead) Then turn 90 to the south and repeat, intoning: Hamarr i Sudhri helga v theta ok hald vrdh (Hammer in the south hallow and hold this holy stead) Turn again 90 to the west repeat hammer sign and intone: Hamarr i Vestri helga v theta ok hald vrdh (Hammer in the west hallow and hold this holy stead) Return to the north, direct your attention overhead, there send the hamarsmark to the ceiling of the sphere saying: Hammar yfir mr helga v thetta ok hald vrdh (Hammer over me hallow and hold this holy stead) Then project a hammer into the floor of the sphere and intone: Hammar undir mr helga v thetta ok hald vrdh (Hammer under me hallow and hold this holy stead) Now strike the cross stadha and intone: Hamarr helga v thetta ok hald vrdh! (Hammer hallow and hold this holy stead) Turning in the center of the space, repeat this once for each of the other four directions and once for the vertical axis. The visual effect should be one of axes connecting all six shining red hammers to our personal centre, all engulfed by a field of sparkling deep blue light and surrounded by a band of bright red runes. Finally, center all the forces of the space by folding your arms from the cross stadha toward your center, with your fingertips touching at the solar plexus, and saying: Um mik ok mr sgardhr ok Midgardhr! (Around me and within me Asgard and Midgard)

Try out these rituals and come to an understanding of their basic components. See if you can come up with a rite of your own which includes these essential components. Whether or not you come up with your own version, perform a warding that works for you at least once a day for the duration of your studies.

Pathworking: Pathworking is a guided meditation. It usually involves a story set of imagery to be heard or run through while in a state of trance. There are many versions of pathworking to be found in many different systems of magic. Pathworkings can become very powerful methods used to experience communication with godforms firsthand, and also to program changes into the unconscious of the worker. In order to enter into the proper frame of mind to make use of pathworking it is necessary to relax the physical body while maintaining mental alertness. A pathworking can be memorized before hand, or read onto a tape to play back while in such a state. Pathworking to meet Odin: Start by lying down comfortably. Shake out any tension you may feel and get yourself into a comfortable position. Begin at the top of your head and scan your head for any tension that is there, releasing it and grounding it. Feel your head get heavy and very relaxed as you go, until it is impossible for you to lift it. Feel the tension draining out of your cheeks, your temples, your occiput, your jaw. Move down to your neck and release all the tension within it. Move further down into your arms, releasing the tension that is there and feeling the arms getting heavier and heavier as the tension drains out. Move through your chest and abdomen, releasing all tension that might be there and feeling your body get heavier and heavier. Move through your legs and release all tension that is there, feeling it drain out, and your limbs get heavier and heavier. Scan all the way down your body in a full body wash, releasing more and more tension with every repetition until you are completely relaxed as though asleep, while your mind retains its waking alertness. Pay attention to the visual effect behind your eyes: what is usually referred to as your capacity to daydream. See yourself walking down a forest path in an area where there is no other sign of human presence. See the trees around you getting larger and older as you walk down this path. You hear a cawing overhead and turn up to see a raven flying above you. It is obvious that the raven wants to get your attention. You follow it up the path and find it meeting with a second raven sitting on a signpost at a fork in the road. The signpost is written in runes that you do not have the ability to read. The ravens caw at you, then fly together down one of the two paths before you. In the distance you see a giant tree. As you approach this tree, it becomes clear that its size is massive. Its upper branches are invisible in the clouds. The ravens draw your attention as they fly around the base of the tree. You follow and come around a corner made by a massive tree root and find yourself in the presence of a figure sitting on a stone chair. He is wearing a wide brimmed hat and has two grey dogs sitting at his feet. The ravens are perched on the back of his chair and silently watch. You approach the man, with a growing sense of awe and fear. He lifts his head to regard you and you notice that he only has a single eye. Strangely, you feel more watched by his missing eye than you do with the one that is there, which seems to look through you. He also holds a long and ornate spear in his right hand. hail the man says. You introduce yourself. The mans dogs growl and run up to you. You are afraid that they will bite you, but they do not. They simply sniff your hands, then return to their place at the mans feet.

You recognize the man as Odin, the chieftain of the sir and the master of the runes. You explain to him that you are beginning a course of Runic study and ask him for his help in understanding them and integrating their energy into your life. Odin watches you carefully as you speak and then stands up. You are surprised by his height as he towers before you. Are you prepared to make the sacrifices necessary to obtain this wisdom? he asks. You answer. Are you ready to swear to live by the knowledge that they impart to you? You answer. If your answer is negative to either of these questions, apologize for wasting Odins time, and return to your body. Abandon your studies. If your answer is positive, read on. You swear to live by the power of the runes and to follow the path wherever it will take you. Odin asks you to bear your leg and slices into your inner thigh with his spear. He makes a similar ct on his hand and presses the wounds together. now that you have made this momentous step, the siric blood which now flows in your veins will activate the runic knowledge in your DNA. The runes will open to you and if you are steadfast, you will achieve the pinnacle of this knowledge. He then gives you a new name in the Northern Mysteries. You feel the blood of the god enter your circulation like a bolt of lightning flowing through you. You feel it pushing out impurities from your body, burning a part of your humanity away. The runes flow through your awareness one by one and find a home in the centre of your heart as the ravens caw an almost perceptible song in the background. Now return to your body and begin your journey. Odin says. When you look up, he is gone and you are alone in front of a simple stone that only vaguely resembles the chair you saw earlier. As you return back down the forest path, you find that you can read the signs that before were illegible. Return completely to your body, feeling yourself filling it from top to bottom. Stretch your limbs and rub your eyes. The pathworking is over. End lesson one.