The Giants’ Tarot, Raven Kaldera

Draw for January 1, 2017:
Active Influence: Logi/Ace of Wands
Rune: Laguz/Flow
Hidden Influence: Fenris/The Devil

Happy new year! Even though the calendar year is an artificial construct, its importance in our cultures, and its resulting deep effect on our mental and emotional states, is important to acknowledge. There is no objective reason today should be considered a day of new beginnings, but because the idea is deeply ingrained in our society, it is deeply ingrained in our psyches. So, today is a day of new beginnings, new possibilities, new focus. Make the most of it!

Appropriate to the day’s energies, Logi offers creative energies to spark new projects, and to bring new life to ideas which have been forgotten or abandoned. “Now! Do it now!” Logi encourages us, although having at least an outline of a plan before you jump in is advisable.

Laguz brings in the flowing energy of creation and movement. Whether it’s the intentional flow of a river towards the sea, or the wild flow of a waterfall cascading over a cliff, that energy is there for you to tap into and fuel your work. Go with the flow!

And then there’s Fenris, whose message, while difficult, is equally important. If you are serious about your new plans and projects, you must be honest with yourself about the obstacles and impediments which have interfered with your work before. Whether your self-sabotage manifests as procrastination, disorganization, or the seeming inability to devote the time necessary for your work, you need to go within yourself and discover the root cause. These issues may be so deeply seated that professional support of some kind is required—a therapist, a coach, a mentor of some kind. Get the help you need to identify and work through those things so that this year you can do those things you know you are capable of achieving.

Here’s to a wonderful 2017!

If you are new to working with bindrunes, I suggest you read the introductory bindrune post here, then return to this post to read about this specific bindrune. Remember that working with bindrunes, as with working with any kind of magic, does not carry guaranteed results, and may produce results quite different from what you expect.

Having released the frozen energies in your self and your life with last week’s bindrune, you can now work with this week’s symbol to move forward into the unknown in the flow of love and trust.

Bindrune of Mannaz, Laguz, Gar

Mannaz (left tile, dark blue in bindrune): Mannaz is the rune of the Self, your highest and best being. Grounded in your true Self, you are prepared to make the best of what comes your way, and to create the circumstances you need to prosper.

Laguz (center tile, light blue in bindrune): Laguz is the rune of flow. Laguz helps you let go of that which you cannot control, so that you can focus your energies on doing those things you can do, and focus on doing them well.

Gar (right tile, black in bindrune): Gar is the unknown. Gar tells you that, while you don’t know what’s going to happen, you still need to move forward, calmly and confidently. This rune is associated with Odin, and reminds you that other beings in the universe are taking actions that will support your work and help you reach your goals. You don’t have to do it all, you just have to do your part.

The bindrune on the left was done in colored pencil. The one on the right was done with fine point calligraphy markers. They are shown in two different media to give an idea of how the same bindrune looks different depending on how it is created.

You could put a drop of  rose oil to evoke feelings of love and trust, or a drop of your favorite oil on it to reinforce the energy with your personal scent. You can also use a magical oil, such as a hoodoo oil or other type of specially prepared oil.

We make plans, and we make change, but we do not know for certain what will happen. This bindrune helps you to be guided by the Gods. Do your work, and let the Universe do its part.

Use this bindrune—and all bindrunes—entirely at your own risk.

For all my Patreon supporters—I’ve posted the Weekly Insight (that actually happened yesterday!) and the Community Altar for December.

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Drat My Hateful Birthday
~ Sulpicia
Translated from Latin by John Dillon

Drat my hateful birthday
to be spent in the boring old country.
It’s going to be a day of mourning
without Cerinthus to hug.
Oh the joys of city life!
Is a musty old country house
Any fit place for a girl?
And that freezing river at Arezzo!
Please, sweet Messalla, relax,
too anxious, as ever, for my comfort!
Banish this grim expedition
totally out of your mind.
If I’m to be snatched away
I’ll leave heart and soul behind here,
Since I’m not to be granted
licence to run my life.

The Giants’ Tarot, Raven Kaldera

Draw for December 26, 2016:
Active Influence: Hati & Skoll/The Chariot
Rune: Fyruedal/Inspiration (reversed)
Hidden Influence: Thrym/King of Swords

Even if you’re not feeling inspired, or even if you’re feeling completely unmotivated, Things are Happening and you need to Do Things. Fyruedal reversed says you may be feeling tired, or wrung out, or sugar-crashed, or hungover—or some unfortunate combination thereof—and you don’t feel like doing anything today. You must resist the siren call of the couch and Do Things, because tomorrow and the rest of the week are going to be much more complicated if you do nothing today. At least clean the house and do your laundry so you can go to work tomorrow.

Thrym says you just need to work smart, not hard, so it doesn’t have to be exhausting or complicated. Assess the situation, plan your actions, then act. Then have a nice dinner and go to bed early, because tomorrow is going to be busy, too.