The Rune Series: ISA (Ice)
In the Stillness of God
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.
Greetings Dear Reader,
Welcome back to the Rune Series where we look at the ancient Runes through a psychological, practical, spiritual and philosophical lens.
I cannot fail to mention another incredible composition from Wardruna here, which is obviously ‘Isa’ (Wardruna, Runaljod, 2016). Alongside Raido, this has to be one of my favourite songs from them. It feels and sounds like a powerful prayer and it’s always present in my spiritual practice.
Stillness
ISA, also known as Isaz, Eis or Iss is the Rune of Ice and represents the stillness of frozen water.
“Isa is the crackling
of smooth, melting Ice.”
By its nature, water is in constant motion and it’s no esoteric knowledge that our bodies are mostly water. Still water can quickly become infected by deadly bacteria and, in the same way, stillness in our bodies would mean death. But frozen water is interesting: bacteria can still live inside it but they cannot reproduce and, apparently, ice crystals can kill said bacteria (I’m no scientist so this may be a little more complex than what I’m describing here, but it seems fitting).
While the Rune LAGUZ represents the power of the element of water as linked to the Unconscious, I believe Isa speaks more of the stillness that is associated with a particular moment in the ‘journey’ of water (or the journey of the seasons).
Rune Series 11/24
Second Aett: Isa
Meaning: ‘Ice’
Associated English letter: I
The (I)mportance of Rest
As the Runes originate from the frozen north, a Rune that speaks about ice makes a lot of sense. Our modern world is dreadfully detached from the natural rhythms of the seasons but if we make a little effort we can try and see the benefit of living our lives around the natural cycles, rather than against them. In this case, Isa is a reminder that winter is a time for stillness. All work should cease, all efforts put to rest.
“All of life — resting.
All of life — glimmering.” (Isa, Wardruna, Runaljod, 2016)
I think we all go through internal seasons of winter at various times of life. I personally find it fascinating (and incredibly frustrating) to pay attention to those times when, no matter how much I struggle to obtain something I want, it simply doesn’t work. In contrast, other times bring about a powerful flow that drives productivity or expression effortlessly. In my recent years, I am consciously trying to adapt to these natural rhythms.
The internet, social media (and even this platform here) constantly shouts at us about consistency. I say No. The next article will be written when the Gods decide, not when I want it done.
In the Stillness of All
“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
What a powerful passage. The Bible isn’t the only place where you’ll find this concept. The idea that God is the all-pervading stillness beyond all thought, positionalities and divisions, is found across the structures of most world wisdom and spirituality.
To further understand this, consider the concept of Identity. What or who do you identify with? Who are you? A human? A brain in a meat-suit? A person? A soul inhabiting a body? God made manifest into form? All these are stories. Different stories work better at different seasons of life.
But what if you were none of those and all of those at the same time? What if you were the concept of Identity itself?
Consider the beautifully simple shape of Isa — a simple straight, vertical line. It is the foundation of all other Runes and the simplest one among them. Likewise, stop and meditate for a moment on the simplest, most fundamental structure of your own reality: awareness itself. Beyond all positionalities, judgements, interpretations and thoughts (which, by definition are separation because ‘thought’ is ‘word’), what awareness is, is that which it is.
Something is happening.
And it’s happening inside of your awareness, or inside of you. Even the tiniest attempt at definition (such as shape, colour or sound) is an automatic separation.
If we take this back to the Biblical definition God gave to Moses, we end up with ‘I am that I am. (Exodus 3:7)’ — which means that God and the intake of your awareness are one and the same thing.
Isn’t that quite something?
Conclusion
I believe Isa is among the most beautiful of Runes, because of its innate reminder of the stillness that pervades reality as all thoughts and activity cease. Despite its constant claims to the contrary, the ego/mind always seeks that inherent peace but it lives under the conviction that it is something that has to be acquired through struggle or the satisfaction of desires.
Don’t try to stop it. But practice the reminder.
Blessings,
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