Tales from the Ironwood

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 article appeared in nearly full-form in my dreams of the morning of Saturday 18 April 2020. I glanced up at the clock and it displayed 3:15. When works such as this appear to me, I am always confronted with the dilemma of whether to get out of bed and begin typing furiously at my computer or wait until the morning properly arrives. Having chosen the latter and having my effort limited to recollection and editing, I can only wonder if the final result is superior or inferior to the dream itself. ********* When someone comes home to Ásatrú from Christianity, as I did, it quickly becomes evident that the two represent entirely different ways of envisaging the world. Beyond that, there are stark differences in how one behaves and speaks about the religion that they practice. It certainly could be said, “In Ásatrú, there are no ‘Thou shalt nots.’” An important concept that is taught to each child in Sunday School is that of the Ten Commandments. Personally I don’t recollect learni...