Magin Rose

The 13th January saw the beginning of the half month of Perthro – one of the most enigmatic runes in the Elder Futhark thought to represent the motion of Wyrd itself.  The dark side of Pethro is making itself known in the world at present; legend has it that the Well of Wyrd would periodically overflow, causing catastrophe through out the Worlds – we are certainly feeling this on Middle Earth at present.  Of course, the rune calendar we are following works with the motion of the sun, and therefore in the Southern hemisphere the rune of Uruz is now giving way to Thurisaz; Uruz also has associations with the Well of Wyrd, and Thurisaz is the rune of chaos and hidden depths so their energies are unlikely to do anything to curb the welling over of Perthro, whatever hemisphere it originates in.

Despite its associations with flooding and the devestation this obviously causes, Perthro is normally considered a very positive rune, described as ‘ever play and laughter’ in the Old English Rune Poem.  The actual meaning of the rune is lost to us and there has been much speculation regarding what causes  ‘play and laughter’; some of the most common suggestions include gaming, birthing, luck, sex, singing and alcohol.  The shape of the rune itself has added strength to suggestions that it might be a lot cup (e.g. a cup for throwing dice, or pieces for divination) and this notion of a cup shape has in turn led to its interpretation as a cauldron, pool – or perhaps even the open legs of a woman during child birth.

For me, Pertho is intimately bound up with the act of rune casting.  The rune can be interpreted as a representation of the lot cup or rune bag before casting occurs (in this sense Perthro can represent that which is about to manifest).  When we do a reading for a particular person or situation, we are asking for individual and/or collective Wyrd to be made known to us – as they fall, the runes become a representation of the way in which Wyrd is flowing.  The energy of Pertho starts in stillness within the calm waters of the well, its energy then rises upwards, flowing out into manifestation (perhaps literally as the birth of a child, but also as the manifestation of ideas, hopes and dreams); once it has been made manifest that energy will eventually returns to its source and be renewed within the Well, ready for manifestation once more.

As the Wheel of the Year turns back towards Spring, the energies of the new year are amassing and we may seek guidance on how best to flow in harmony with our individual and collective Wyrd.  Simply sitting and chanting the name of the rune as a mantra as a means to know your own desires and how to manifest them will be helpful at this time.  Alternatively, now is an excellent time to try your hand at rune casting or to have a reading done for you. 

In honor of Pertho, I am offering a special price of only £15 for a 12-month forecast by distance reading (i.e. you will receive pictures and a sound recording of your reading).  If you have never had a rune reading before then now is the time to try as these readings are normally £35!  You can see an example of a yearly forecast in my entry on twelve rune spreads.  Visit my shop to book your reading – this offer will last until 27th February when the half month of Teiwaz (first rune in the last Aett of the Elder Futhark) begins.