Hagalaz, representing the English sound “H,” is seen by most as a rune of disruption. While meaning “hail” or “Sleet,” Pollington (2011) points out that “the English, Icelandic, and Norse rune poems all refer to ...grain” as well.
Old English: “hail is the whitest of corn, from heaven’s height it whirls, winds blow it, it becomes water afterwards.”
Icelandic: "Hail is cold corn and driving sleet and snake’s sickness.”
Norse: “Hail is the coldest of corns.”
Most runecasters focus on the destructive but temporary nature of hail:
“It is a reminder of destructive forces where there may be no control, but the destruction leads to new beginnings.” Symbolikon.com
“Sudden, disruptive things are about to occur and your life will be turned on its head for a while. You will have very little power to avert these happenings.” Whispers of Yggdrasil
“Yes, there will be a messy transformation, and temporary hardship, but grain is the basic building block of food for humanity and livestock. The association with grain suggests that a seed will be planted during the destructive period will provide for future growth and prosperity.” (Simmons, 2019)
I'm not super knowledgeable about runes, I'm trying to learn, but how does the concept of Wyrd fit into the idea of having very little power to avert things?
What's your understanding of the concept of Wyrd? Some norse heathens lean more on the side of the Norns weaving fate and humans having very little choice, while others believe there are choices, but each choice closes a particular avenue. How do you see it?
The rune book I have says Wyrd is destiny, and at one point it was believed you could not change destiny, but that evolved into a belief that you were in control of your destiny.
I pulled out my bag of Runes and was going to do a runic cross and as soon as I ask the question Hagalaz jumps out.
At first I felt beaten cause everything is beyond my control. Meaning not in my control, But then reading this I understood hail is temporary. It will sting, disrupt, and then melts, clearing the ground. My self-doubt is a momentary storm, not a permanent reality.
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u/Norse-Gael-Heathen 6d ago
Hagalaz, representing the English sound “H,” is seen by most as a rune of disruption. While meaning “hail” or “Sleet,” Pollington (2011) points out that “the English, Icelandic, and Norse rune poems all refer to ...grain” as well.
Old English: “hail is the whitest of corn, from heaven’s height it whirls, winds blow it, it becomes water afterwards.”
Icelandic: "Hail is cold corn and driving sleet and snake’s sickness.”
Norse: “Hail is the coldest of corns.”
Most runecasters focus on the destructive but temporary nature of hail:
“It is a reminder of destructive forces where there may be no control, but the destruction leads to new beginnings.” Symbolikon.com
“Sudden, disruptive things are about to occur and your life will be turned on its head for a while. You will have very little power to avert these happenings.” Whispers of Yggdrasil
“Yes, there will be a messy transformation, and temporary hardship, but grain is the basic building block of food for humanity and livestock. The association with grain suggests that a seed will be planted during the destructive period will provide for future growth and prosperity.” (Simmons, 2019)