Tales from the Ironwood

This essay was originally written on 10 August 2024. Shortly thereafter I gave in to the impulse to self-censor. This decision was grounded in the fear of the opinions of others. A more recent talk with an old friend impressed upon me the importance of such ideas. Indeed, if I am not to share this vision, then who shall? Revised during the contemplative morning of 27 December 2025. Revised 31 January 2025. ********* About ten years ago, I embarked on a search for an answer to the age-old question: Who am I? At the time, I convinced myself that a deeper understanding of my ancestors would reveal that answer. In the course of that search, I discovered Ásatrú—the modern revival of the old Northern gods, intertwined with a strong emphasis on ancestor veneration. I believed I had finally cast off the imposed teachings of Christianity and uncovered my true self in the lives and spirits of my long-dead forebears. Yet today, what once seemed so certain now appears clouded by self-decepti...

Joseph Campbell succinctly explained,“Mythology is not a lie, mythology is poetry, it is metaphorical. It has been well said that mythology is the penultimate truth--penultimate because the ultimate cannot be put into words." Written from 26 May through 29 June 2025.  ********* While most modern readers of the Eddas view the tales as mythology or even fantasy, many adherents of present-day Heathenry adopt a literal interpretation of the events and characters. In both cases, the esoteric value of the stories are often lost with little more than an exoteric understanding gained. From the latter perspective, the stories make little sense and their application to one’s life is quite limited. For those who read the stories as pure fantasy, the tales excite the senses, but not in a more significant way than other heroic fiction might. For the literalists, and especially those who cling to some type of Heathen orthodoxy, the gods and giants are awesome figures to be feared or worship...

Written on eve of the anniversary of Grandmaster List's passing away to his new arising-- 16/17 May 2025.  Conceived for many days, weeks, months, and years. List wrote of the rune MAN --"Be a Man!" We must ultimately reveal true self. Be true to thine self. If not now, then when? ********* To the vast majority, the terms “Armanism” and “Wuotanism” are unknown and obscure— words hardly a part of the popular vocabulary. For those familiar with contemporary Heathenism or occultism the terms may conjure up imprecise and inaccurate ideas supercharged with polemics and politics. While some might, and have, argued that these terms reach back into antiquity, their popularization and perhaps even origin date to the early 20th century and the ideas and works of the Austrian mystic, Guido von List (1848-1919).  Today, List is identified by his supporters and detractors alike as an early proponent of Heathenry or Odinism and the creator of an odd, if not discredited, rune-row or Fut...

Fresh perspectives are a necessary ingredient for the healing of old hurts and wounds. Written on 1/11/2025.  ********* Last night, while reading the words of Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895-1986), the influential Indian philosopher, a new perspective on the Rune UR and its meaning emerged for me. While Krishnamurti did not comment on the Runes in his extensive writings and talks, he did frequently consider the topics of memory and truth. In his essay, “On Immediate Realization,”[1] he discusses the challenge of responding to an issue without the baggage of memory. He argues that residual memories result in a type of self-conditioning which limits our ability to tackle new challenges in a fresh way. He also emphasizes that, as he puts it, "[each] challenge is always new, is it not?” Therefore, we face new challenges through old methods filled with old baggage and scars. He explains his idea this way: “Let me put it in a different way. I met you yesterday. In the meantime you have chan...

This portrait of Friedrich Marby was begun on 28 December 2024. Marby is one of those figures that is filled with contradictions. His work, as perhaps the first modern Rune Magician, however is highly influential on most who practice Rune Magick today. Some simply avoid mentioning him while others distort his life based on their own political and social outlooks. ********* Friedrich Bernhard Marby was born on 10 May 1882 in Aurich, Ostfriesland, a historic region in what is now Lower Saxony, Germany. A pivotal figure in esoteric and magickal Rune practice, Marby was the first to develop the concept of forming Rune postures with the body—a practice he called Runengymnastik (Rune Gymnastics), which is now more commonly known as Rune Yoga. Marby provided detailed occult explanations for the energies and benefits associated with his practice. However, like many early 20th-century Rune Magicians, much of what is said about Marby consists of half-truths and distortions—shaped by both his fie...

Over the past several weeks, I have further explored the ideas of Guido von List. My initial draft is completed on this, the 17th day of November 2024.  ********* An important, but often overlooked, concept in Guido von List’s Das Geheimnis der Runen ( The Secret of the Runes )[1] is that the ancient Armanen (the societal class comprised of priests, skalds, magicians, and kings) concealed key philosophical principles within the mysterious symbols known as Runes and the Eddic passages they wrote to describe them. List reveals several layers of secrets of the Runes in his most famous volume. First, he recognizes the 18 verses of the Hávamál referred to as the Rúnatal or Odin’s Rune Song corresponded to an 18 Rune Futhorkh. The next secret has to do with the interpretation of the meaning of these ancient symbols. To provide that, List takes the approach of interpreting the known Rune Poems,[2] the relevant Hávamál verses, and the etymological roots of words extending their German ...