Our theme for the month: Tradition and Transformation
Those who have not been wounded can never know what it means to be whole.
In the dawn light soft blue turns indigo as the lake saturates her robes. Air meets water beneath their woven threads, buoying them up for just a moment before the sky releases them to the depths, sinking in gentle eddies. Only the tall trees witness her passage. You might simply think she is a woman bathing. Overcome by the beauty of the morning, compelled to wade out fully clothed into the rippling silver horizon. But you would be wrong. This is Saga. Goddess of history, memory, poetry and prophecy. In her hands she holds, raised above the water, a bound book. Not just any book. A treasure. It has an illuminated spine gleaming in brilliant reds, blues and greens, with touches of gold leaf. Its leather cover evidences much careful handling. Now Saga holds this heavy, ancient book above the rippling, sucking water. It has resided for age after age in the great library of Sökkvabekk but now it is here, vulnerable in the wild places of the edge. She looks at the book. Then at the water. It seems inevitable.
Are you drawing in breath? Re-living some past moment. A cherished tome falling head-long into the bath? A beloved family album mixed up in the charity box? A box of letters consumed by fire? Are you wincing as she places one hand over the book and pushes it, slowly, steadily beneath the water. It bubbles, the paper resisting the pull, covers squeezing hard to protect their contents. But Saga is strong and patient and slowly the books gives in. Memory is drowning all the time. Precious exchanges of thought and connection dissolving in the waters of wyrd never to surface.
Out there in the world there is more of a record of you than has ever, ever been the case for more than a small handful of our chosen heroes and villains. There is a version of you walking the realm of the story-world. Which is your truth? The soft flesh of your body, the rise and full of your lungs, the mind reading this right now? Or a littany of dates, images, qualifications, jobs, posts, polls? Do not grieve for that book. For it binds just as much as it informs. If you could choose the stories of your life, the ones to live by, what would they be?
When Saga lifts it once more water streams from its sodden pages. The leather is soaked and dark as mulch. Soon it will crack and fade as the air that cherished it only minutes ago now finds it emptied and stripped of value. Still Saga cradles it with care, wading from the waters without a glance at her drenched skirts. On the bank a long table has been set with drinking goblets, fruit, bread, curds and a bowl of dripping honey comb. At the far end quills and parchment have been laid out with weights of silver to stop the wind taking them. Saga lays the book down in the centre of the table and gently opens it to the first page. She rememebers how dense the text was when she read it all through the evening last night. Tightly packed ink, faded with age. Now there are but a few words on this single page. But they are bright and bold. As if all those words carried away by the living waters have offered their energy to what remains. She smiles at the first phrase held within this new-born book. It is alive, vibrant, beating with energy. Memories held sharp and clear, gifted from one generation to the next. Around these memories the present will shape itself. Some painful, held as warnings to the living from the experience of the dead. Some joyous. Some profound. Some incomplete – offering the task of re-making meaning to the children of the present age. Saga lifts her quill and begans to copy those words down on a fresh, new page.
Sökkvabekk is the fourth, where cool waves flow,
And amid their murmur it stands;
There daily do Othin and Saga drink
In gladness from cups of gold.
(Trans Henry Adams Bellows)
This is a story fragment The Poetic Edda. So many times I have taken students to this place by the waters where Odin and Saga meet. What you read above is the result of one such visit. I imagine Odin walking across the grass towards Saga to join her for breakfast. By this time she has copied much of the living story from the old, wrecked book. A new one is rising and Odin comes to speak to the goddess of prophecy and hear what the story of the past has to offer the future. Like humans, the northern Gods are mortal. They must rise, fade and rise again. This is part of their healing, part of their renewal. “Those who have been wounded will never know what it means to be whole” is the oracular offering from Odin as he travels through the waters of Laguz. It reminds us that, in seeking to stay complete and perfect we miss out on the magic of life.
Through this week the Moon is in its waxing phase making this an excellent time to open to receiving. In Middle Earth Readings we looking at opening to spirit guidance from the following six runes:
- Laguz – water, death, renewal
- Raidho – rites of passage, evolution
- Perthro – change, uncertainty, hidden wisdom
- Wunjo – ecstasy, joy
- Dagaz – transformation, new beginnings
- Kenaz – creativity, knowledge, craftsmanship
Which rune is guiding you this week?
If you are new to Middle Earth Readings, we follow the lunar cycle, allowing us to dive deeper into each rune:
- On the week of the new Moon we will be setting intentions for working with a single rune as a spirit guide during the course of the month.
- On the week of the waxing Moon we will be opening to receiving the guidance and energies of that rune
- On the week of the Full Moon we will be exploring rune magics
- On the week of the waning Moon we will be working on releasing and completion ready for a new cycle to begin
We cover 6 runes in depth each session meaning we will cover all 24 during the course of each lunar cycle. Supporting every phase we have a beautiful discussion thread set up by the lovely Suzanne in the Hearthspace for you to share your intentions, receivings, magics and releasing.
In Conversation With...Rionach Aiken
What gives a giantess the courage to take on the gods? Standing on the rainbow bridge ready to claim her destiny. Skadi. Heart-slowing, resolve growing, just knowing. This month as we explore the theme of influence and otherness with the giantess Skadi I have a very special guest ready to offer wisdom, guidance and support for stepping from the edge-places and shadows into visibility and power.
Rionach Aiken is a CEO, poet and transformation leader helping soulful business owners be seen, be known and be valued. Is it time to reveal your magic? Are you already revealing it but struggling to be heard? Are you already revealing it, just selectively, hesitantly, drop by drop? Then you won’t want to miss this interview. You can find out more about Rionach and her work at https://www.rionachaiken.com/
Join the Hearthspace to be with us for this live event!
Awaken
A 1-year programme connecting you intellectually, intuitively, physically and energetically to the power and wisdom of the runes.
Is it time for you to draw the power and healing of the runes into your life? To participate in the collective soul retrieval of the northern peoples taking place at this time? To become the healer, seer and Elder your people need?
Awaken to the Runes, the Magin Rose certified programme in rune practice is now accepting members for our 2023-2024 cohort. Are you meant to be among them? Then click the link to read more…
