The Rune Series: HAGALAZ (Hail)
The Runes of this series belong to the Elder Futhark, one of the oldest alphabets in recorded history. Each Rune has endless interpretations and deep meanings; while their origin and/or intent is lost to history, most interpretations come from the ‘Rune Poems’, possibly written around the 8th century. This series will explore the Runes through a personal journey and interpretation of them, alongside knowledge collected from written works, such as ‘The Book of Runes’ (R.Blum, 1982), and the intricately crafted website ‘Runesecrets.com’ by Tyrael, to whom I give thanks. Another useful source is ‘RuneLore’ (Edred Thorsson, 1988).
Greetings Dear Reader,
Welcome back to the Rune Series where we explore the ancient Runes through a psychological, practical, spiritual and philosophical lens.
You can check out the rest of this series below:
Hagalaz begins the second part of our journey with the Runes. It is the start of the second Aett (row) and begins a new part of this mythological tale. While all the Runes together tell a story, I find it easier to split them into groups of four separated by their corresponding rows. As such, Hagalaz begins the second row and is the first of an interesting group of four, very different from any of the ones we’ve explored so far.
Unexpected Disruption
Rune Series 9/24
Second Aett: Hagalaz/Hagal
Meaning: ‘Hail’, ‘Hailstone’
Associated English letter: H
Hagalaz or Hagal is the Rune of disruption, of unpredictable and chaotic forces of nature. Its meaning represents the phenomenon of hail, which is frozen, solid rain. Hail often destroys crops, which, as you might imagine, brought catastrophic consequences to a civilisation living off the land.
Like with other Runes, Hagalaz can be seen both as a representation of outside, natural forces, as well as inner, psychological ones. This, in my experience, tends to define the rest of the second Row. Hagalaz represents natural disruption, outside of human influence or control. Just as hail destroys the crops that we have spent considerable time cultivating, so does our unconscious patterns rise to bring chaotic disruption to our lives, very often without prior warning.
Is there anything we can do about it? Well, yes and no.
The nature of Nature
In all mythologies of our world, the duality of chaos and order prevails. This conflict is usually at the heart of all the stories we’ve told ourselves about ourselves and this is, likely, not coincidental given the world we inhabit. Nature has its own rhythms, cycles and patterns. Creation and destruction, birth and death, wake and sleep, growth and stillness.
It seems to me that our ancestors knew and were in tune with this wisdom a lot more than modern man is. It’s no great revelation that our modern way of life, structured by technology, has alienated us from the truth and perfection of natural rhythms. We tend to establish control and dominance over nature out of a creeping fear of the chaos that it will, undoubtedly, bring. In the same way, the mind has a tendency to fear and push back against the rise of chaotic, unpredictable energies that flow through the body every day: the energy in motion — EMotion. The invisible Hail of the senses.
Pushing back against Emotion is as pointless as refusing to prepare for the arrival of winter or the coming of hailstorms. But we do.
How to use Hagalaz
“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”
(Proverbs, 16:9)
To me, Hagalaz is a reminder to cultivate humility. This is a topic explored a little with WUNJO, and I think it’s no coincidence that these Runes follow each other, despite them being separated by their Rows. The main idea is, again, that of recognising that the Ego’s vast, complicated and self-indulging plans can be washed away in any moment by forces greater than itself.
Attachment to these plans create suffering; not because the plans themselves did not work out, but because the Mind is entirely convinced that their fulfilment will bring about its own satisfaction. Even those rare times when that is the case, its satisfaction is short lived and victim to the exact same cycles of nature: it comes and it goes.
But you’re still Here.
Blessings,
