Esotericism and the Armanen Runes
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The Armanen Runes stand out among the various rune systems in that, by nature, they are esoteric. The other systems, especially, the Elder Futhark may be studied and used in mundane ways, for example conveying a simple message – or even writing lengthy articles or books. I recall a project in which an organization was planning to produce and publish a copy of the Poetic Edda written entirely with Elder Futhark runes. As questionable as such a project may have been, it would certainly have been foolish had the plan been to use the Armanen Futhorkh. The Armanen Runes are found originally in the Hávamál – "the words of the High One." Many tend to forget that this important lay from the Poetic Edda records the wisdom of Odin.
As one explores the mysteries of Odin, and considers his many names, including: the Masked One (Grimnir), and the Wanderer (Gangleri), as well as his association with Magick and Poetry, I find it surprising that many interpret the Hávamál in a very mundane fashion. It seems self-apparent to me that the Hávamál contains hidden meaning for those initiated into such understanding. Nowhere in the text is this more true than in Rúnatáls-þáttr-Óðins (Odin’s Rune Song.) The knowledge provided within the poetic strophes of Odin’s Rune Song are purposefully obscured. While I believe it true of each Runic system, it is especially so with the Armanen, that the important meaning of each rune is esoteric, rather than exoteric.
Such an understanding correlates to my thinking of the Norse lore, and much religious and spiritual writing in general. There has been a tendency for the majority to interpret these stories and texts at a very superficial surface level. This is the level at which, for example, many consider that Thor is simply fighting “giants” (very large beings). Few take time to consider the inner or hidden meaning of such tales. In Christianity, there are many such believers who argue vehemently for example that the world was created in six literal days, that a snake spoke with Eve in the Garden of Eden, that a “whale” swallowed the prophet Jonah at sea, etc. There should be little wonder that many people adopt the mundane rune meanings provided in popular rune books and other mediums. Many simply accept, for example, that THORN means nothing more than a thorn found in nature or that EH (or EHWAZ) means horse, etc.
I believe that not only is there a deeper esoteric meaning to the Armanen Futhorkh Runes, but that such meaning may be revealed through magical work. As an Armanist, I have felt the power of the runes, and therefore easily grasp that the runes are far more powerful and spiritual than many believe.
I fully appreciate that, while each rune has a unique set of properties and abilities that we are able to tap into, they are also representative as a whole of a unique special cosmic force –life force. This is the force that has been identified with various names by different authors. It is called Orgone by Welz, Vril by Avery, and Od by many others. I am somewhat partial to the latter term Od or Odic energy. The 18 Runes then encompass all aspects of that Odic energy when understood as a set or system. The sequence is also very important as the runes reveal a “story” when considered in the sequence normally presented. One rune and its meaning leads to another. They are also organized in aetts (groups) of six in which each rune has a special relationship to a rune in the other two aetts. Hence there are associations between the vertical alignment of the runes—so that the first, seventh, and 13th runes have a special relationship to each other for example.
As a system, I see revealed a “life” story that works on multiple levels. On one level it parallels that of the Norse mythology from Ginnungagap to Rebirth following Ragnarok. But such a tale that follows the pattern of Arising- Being – Passing Away to New Arising, is also the tale of any life-cycle. It may then also importantly be applied to the process of learning the Runes for any Rune Master. Therefore it is my thought that the Runes themselves teach the runes! The first aett sets the groundwork for the budding Rune magician. In FA, it is determined if the student has the potential for the great work. In UR, they must first heal themselves before embracing the power of the runes. In THORN, they encounter the raw Odic energy that may be used for light or darkness / good or evil. In OS, they create their world just as Odin created the world from Ymir’s corpse. In RIT, a proper order of the cosmos –literally rita is established. With KA, knowledge and senses are utilized to round-out the rune magician’s abilities and understanding.
As we move to HAGAL, we encounter the runes of “being.” With HAGAL we find all aspects of the Futhorkh – the KRIST-ALL (the World Crystal). HAGAL is potential demonstrated within the second aett. With NOD we encounter the healing abilities associated with UR, but now expanded to multiple lives – as we embrace karma or garma. IS, like THORN, may have both positive and negative qualities. In IS we embrace the ego, but control its desires. Such control leads us to AR –we become sun-men. Like OS and the creative abilities of Odin, we now come into our own – able to truly shape our world. And from the sun imagery of AR we move to SIG. It shows us victory – but in a defensive way. It is not the victory of the conqueror but the victory of those besieged. It is a passive victory that leads us directly to TYR. With TYR we discover self-sacrifice. This is an important message for each Rune Master. For not only must there be sacrifice to pick up the runes, there is sacrifice required as one gains the knowledge and abilities to use the runes.
From TYR we move to BAR and the final aett – the aett of "passing away to new arising." Here we find rebirth. As HAGAL represented the ALL to the second aett, and FA represented potential to the first aett, in BAR we are reborn to a higher potential. LAF is the etheric water. It enables us to transcend our world – to travel astrally and to visit realms other than the material. This leads importantly to MAN. It is through MAN that we embrace the spiritual. It is MAN that brings us to the divine / spiritual realm. But MAN is closely anchored by YR. YR is the material realm. It teaches us that these runes must always be in balance. We err by being entirely spiritual through MAN, just as we err by being entirely material through YR. This balance is brought together in an esoteric “marriage” in EH. We are complete spiritual and material, both male and female. The opposites once seen as a dichotomy in THORN are now shown in balance. This state of perfect union and balance leads to the divine secret of GIBOR. GIBOR does not stand still however. It is indeed whirling and turning and presenting life’s cycles. It is through GIBOR that we hear Odin’s whispered message to Baldr as he lay upon his funeral pyre. Baldr reminds us his return following his death and the events of Ragnarok. We see then the cycles of the cosmic consciousness and realize that GIBOR is no end but rather returns us back to FA –the primal fire from UR-time and UR-space. The origin of all.
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