Here’s your weekly update on what planetary movements are coming up. As always, Middle Earth Readings for the week is published at the bottom of the page after the live event.
Odin’s Chariot (Roman equivalent Mercury) in Perthro evokes the story of Odin’s visits to Mimirsbrunr (the Well of Mimir). Perthro is the rune of wyrd, karma, play and laughter. It connects us to our individual and collective pasts and prompts us to open to the forces of the unseen. In his perpetual search for wisdom Odin visited the Well of Mimir, situated deep within the root complex of the world tree. There the wise sage Mimir advised him to sacrifice his eye to gain second sight. Odin left his eye either in, or under, the well. Although he is known as ‘one-eye’ it is possible that his other eye sees still – looking through the deep primordial waters to perceive the truth of things hidden to our normal sight. Sometimes we require a teacher, mentor, colleague or friend to help us access the next step on the path.
Sunna’s Chariot (the Sun) in Eihwaz calls forth the eternal spark of life that survives all hardship and sorrow. Eihwaz is the rune of the Yew tree, symbolising both the quiet and enduring strength of the tree and the life force that it keeps protected within its core. One of its ‘kennings’ (poetic meanings) is ‘fire’s keeper’ perhaps alluding to Yew containers used to keep ashes hot through the night ready to kindle in the morning – or perhaps the fire is the fire of life itself. It is said that when the end of times comes the great World Tree will offer its boughs to a small number of humans and shelter them until the dawn of a new age. Eihwaz is a symbol of life in death providing wisdom, hope and endurance. From the husk of the old year the new is born.
This time offers us the strength to see the light within the dark; to oppose without judgement and to understand without repeating. Frigg’s Chariot (Roman equivalent Venus) in Eihwaz reminds us that, beneath the outer shell of most things exists an original intention founded in love. Eihwaz is the rune of longevity, defence and fortitude; it literally means ‘Yew tree’ and evokes the power of the great world tree Yggdrasil. A company, a painting, a glass on your shelf. A marriage, a law, a movement. Frigg runs her hands over the trunk of the World Tree where the present moment is inscribed. She reads the runes that speak of violence, suffering loss, greed, anger and fear. Beneath the words her fingers feel the pulse of life, the desire to protect, to create, to be seen, to be understood. She reminds us that life has already equipped us to take on the challenges of the present moment.
Manni’s Chariot (the Moon) moves through one rune approximately every 24 hours. The edge of the new Moon is as a scythe cutting through what has come before and reaching towards desire, hope and purpose. It forms a moment for release, clarity and intention setting. Manni’s Chariot in Eihwaz connects us to ancient wisdom. It encourages us to follow our inner-knowing, even if we can’t yet explain consciously what is calling us or what purpose it serves. Trust your instincts, protect your right to choose. Remember that sometimes we do not need to step into the fray, justify ourselves or overcome our enemies – we simply need to stand firm.
This week we move into the half month of Eihwaz, a rune which is sometimes likened to the Death card in tarot; it is a rune of transformation and testing, stripping away that which is worn out, diseased or weak so that strong new growth may occur. The Eihwaz rune is also associated with the spinal column, the core self, and the eternal part of the soul.
Find out more on Eihwaz here.
Middle Earth Readings
Join Maggie on Monday 27th December at 11:00 AM UTC for our regular Facebook Live sharing inspiration and insight for the week ahead. Don’t worry if you miss it, the video will be published at the bottom of this page once it’s finished. View the event in Facebook here.
NOTE: Middle Earth Readings will be hosted in the Hearthspace Facebook Group from Monday 3rd January 2022 – see you there!
