Thanks to Tyriel and the thought-provoking comments people contribute to Rune Secrets I have recently spent time pondering Fehu. The following are just some thoughts going through my mind – they are offered to you for consideration, which some of you will hopefully share back again, so we can all learn more together. Some of my thoughts likely reflect things I said in my previous Fehu article or in comments I have posted, but Tyriel encouraged me to write up these latest reflections as an article. Hopefully they are not too rambling!

Photo by Andy Allen

Fehu and Uruz – the Primal Cow and Ox
First of all, some of the commentary on Fehu has raised questions about whether the energy is male or female. I think that, just as each rune contains positive and negative polarities, so both male and female energy is present in each. Runic teachings actually seem to really underline the necessity of combining those energies in order to achieve the spiritual wholeness for which we strive. The deities most associated with Fehu are the male and female twins Freya and Freyja.

That said, some runes are more strongly associated with a male, or a female, core energy. In the case of Fehu, there is no real debate among Runesters that Fehu represents the female, Mother Goddess energy – the creative fire that melted the primordial ice and gave birth to all – both the Giants and the Aesir (Gods). Fehu is fiery energy associated with Adhumla the primal cow and linked to the Muspellheimr the fire world… I note the links we had to great page on Yggdrasil and the nine worlds are broken. I couldn’t find anything I liked as well, but at this link is a diagram and an interesting discussion associating the worlds to  Chakra’s: http://home.comcast.net/~chakra_system/other4.html

Uruz, the following rune, is associated with Nifelheim – the world of frost and represented by an Auroch – a wild bull Ox. Uruz is primal earth (originally frozen) energy. For life to occur this ice must interact with the creative fire, which melts the ice releasing raw, primitive, indestructible energy (‘brute strength).  It is the primordial will to survive.

When disciplined by the creative will and energy (Hamingja), Uruz is a force of health, healing and growth, which in turn feeds the Fehu fire and creativity. Undisciplined the force can be destructive.

These two runes are inseparably interactive and dynamic– both are necessary to create and maintain life.

Fehu and Abundant Wealth
To the best of our current knowledge, the wealth associated with Fehu is of the movable kind and represented by cattle that could be exchanged for other material needs – used to pay a ‘fee’. It is pecuniary (from pecos, Latin for cow) wealth that the individual or community earns. Tied to cattle, and other exchangeable commodities, we should expect it to ebb and flow, but also that if we work as we should that we will receive at minimum what we need to survive.

Our current global economic construction is so far removed from the ancient notion of simple exchange that understanding the concepts of abundance and wealth imbedded in Fehu are, I think particularly challenging. ‘Wealth’ to the ancients quite likely meant having all basic necessities met.

One very important question is, “what do we do with an abundance of wealth?” To me, the Rune poems and Hávamál seem clear – if there is abundance it should not be stockpiled. When some have more than others trouble will quickly follow if it is not shared freely. This is a cycle of reciprocity (Gebo), for wealth is fleeting and one who has much today may have nothing tomorrow:

Wealth is a comfort to all men,
Yet everyone must give it away freely,
If he wants to gain glory in the Lord’s sight
[Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem: Translation R.I Page; Aswyn suggests the Northern Lord of Judgement is Tyr]

Full-stocked folds had Fitjung’s sons,
Who now bear a beggar’s staff;
Wealth is brief as the wink of an eye,
Of friends it is most false.
The unwise man, if he should get
Wealth or woman’s love,
His arrogance grows but not his sense –
On he goes deep in delusion
[ Hávamál: 78-79; Translation Diana Paxon in Taking up the Runes]

It must be remembered, that in ancient mobile societies, an abundance could not be easily transported – wealth was what could be taken along – priority would be to meeting life’s necessities: Live cattle; dried foods; enough water to get to the next drinkable supply; and materials (clothes for warmth). It is also notable that the Hávamál specifically indicates that a woman’s love is as important as material wealth – neither should be taken for granted.

Fehu, Wealth and New Beginnings
How then is wealth understood in the context of Fehu new beginnings? Today, moving to a new location does not mean leaving our money behind – although we may at times have to make hard decisions about property and other belongings. Nevertheless, as Tyriel recently reminded me, Fehu can indicate the need to make a new start – walking away with our head held high and only what we can carry.

For people who have experienced war or natural disaster, this is starkly true in a material sense when the ‘wealth’ they carry with them may be simply the Uruz-driven will to survive.

The rune may also be very apt in indicating the need for new emotional and/or psychological beginnings – where again we will also need to draw on the survival energy of Uruz to get ourselves to safety and new growth.

In today’s economic downturn it can also indicate a need for new material starts. We must ‘cut our losses’ and begin again to seek material security (a new job, a new home perhaps), but Fehu brings us the dynamic and creative energy we need for that. Uruz adds the physical stamina and sheer will to keep goinAg.

Fehu wealth then, in my ponderings, is very dynamic: sometimes abundant; sometimes scarce. It is about material need; but not material excess. It is about Hamingja – the creative energy that creates life; but also about the need for interaction and balance (positive-negative; male female).

First Aett Interconnections
All this got me thinking about how the whole of the first Aett could be seen as representing essential aspects-energies of life: Fehu and Uruz, the essential and inseparable primordial pair; Thurisaz, both Giant and Defender (Thor) – chaos and control. A dangerous barely conscious power unless tempered by wise application and direction (Ansuz). Raidho the road to be ridden and the wheels to ride – the means to move. Kenaz the torch – controlled and applied fire that creates “hearth and hall’ and guides communities; the knowing and the passing on of the knowledge. Gebo the essential balance – equal exchange or equalizing of energy and material necessities. And finally Wunjo the joy of being; and that being is good enough.

Related reading:

Fehu Rune Meaning (Basic)
Extended Fehu Rune Meaning by Mahryan

Kaedrich Olson is the author of a popular new book entitled ‘Runes for Transformation: Using Ancient Symbols to Change Your Life‘, which has been reviewed positively by authorities such as Freya Aswynn, Ralph Blum and Diana Paxson, among others. His book is currently on sale at Amazon.com

Below is his first guest post with us, a Rune Secrets exclusive!

Ansuz is the rune representing wisdom, knowledge, and communication. All in all, it is the rune of the transmission and reception of information. Information that is understandable and usable.

In the Eddic poem, Rigsthula, Heimdall, one of the wisest of all the gods, came to Earth (Midgard) disguised as a man named Rig. He then traveled to three homes and stayed nine nights in each home. During the course of those nights, he taught each family new things in ways they best understood. After his visit, each home begot children that advanced upon what the parents were able to provide.

The final house Rig visited produced a child of exceptional nature named Konunger. This child, when grown became was ready to learn runic information and the mysteries. That is when Rig returned to Midgard to teach Konunger about runes and other mystical wisdom.

In addition to being the progenitor of educated mankind, Heimdall is also called the guardian of Asgard. He watches the great gate standing at the portal of Asgard, known as the Valgrind. To do his job, Heimdall has incredible perception: great hearing and sight. From this position he is able to determine who is worthy to venture into Asgard.   Since he brought mankind great teachings, it is this wisdom that is the key to gaining passage.

Also relevant in this discussion is the rune, Othala. It is a rune of ancestry, inheritance and legacies. We see its effects upon the new generations that benefited from the teachings of Rig. That which he taught to the families he stayed with, they passed on to their children who exceeded in talents, skills, and greatness beyond their parents’ statuses. In our world, we all can benefit from our own Heimdalls in human form.

Many of those who came before us studied great things. They toiled and pondered great mysteries that have been passed on to us in their writings, teachings, and great works. Their great works are the things that we contemplate to try to gain a deeper understanding of all the things in the world around us.

This passage of information through the ages is like a bind rune of Ansuz and Othala – an inheritance of knowledge and understanding.

Because of these great things they left behind we do not have to redo the work they already did. To access their gifts we simply engage our own Ansuz in the real world. That is we study, learn, and understand the result of their efforts in order to gain the benefits they have already wrought.

In the Norse tradition, we honor the notion that a gift demands a gift. As gratitude to the ancients for the gifts they have bestowed upon us we offer them sacrifice. Sometimes this sacrifice takes the form of stories or songs remembering great deeds. Sometimes these sacrifices take the form of mead, food and blot (a Norse ceremony) offering energy and memories to the ancients.

Remember, sacrifice means “to make sacred” not “to dispose of”. The greatest sacrifice we can offer is the sacrifice of the self to the self. This means that you are to make your life sacred. To honor the ancestors, give to yourself only the best of the things they have to offer. Take that which brings you pleasure and find joy in its use. Share your joys with all that are around you and let them see your joy; let them know of your growth. More so, let them share in your joy. Then work to add to that joy and pass it on to those that will come after you.

All of the things the ancestors gave to us are ours to use. If we do not use these things or we choose to make them for ourselves, then we may be dishonoring the ancients.

Life is meant to be a joy. Our lives are meant to be at peace and filled with wonderment. The toil and work of the ancestors, little by little granted us greater ability to gain our joys. Just as the work we do today adds to the joys and wonderment of those that are to come after us. As we engage in greatness, we build upon the lives of all those around us, and for future generations. The best way, to honor our ancestry is to become as great as possible, to shun shyness, to live life liberally, and to grant liberty to all others to do as they please with their gifts. As we grow in our greatness, we give permission to others to do the same.

For us to desire and gain pleasure and happiness is the greatest sacrifice we can make to honor the ancestors, the gods, and all of mankind to come. Be free, enjoy all that is around you, and add to it so that it may grow even more wonderful. This is the desire of the ancients, for us, now. This is what they yearn for you to do, in your life, today! Meekness and mildness are the roads of dishonor. They breed only contempt and desolation. There is honor in greatness, joy, sharing of wonderment, and giving all of these things to yourself, so that all may share in your exuberance.

This is the lesson of the bind rune of ANSUZ and OTHALA. Give to yourself the greatness that has been won by those that came before us. It honors them, it honors you and it honors the future generations. If we toil in the work of the past and refuse to grow from what the elders have gained for us, we dishonor all and we make no gains. That which can be gained exists with the specific intention for us to gain it. Grasp it and hold on to it tightly. Only let it go only to those, in the future, who are willing to take the best from it. Learn, grow, and share.

Kaedrich Olson

Kaedrich Olsen has studied the runes and Northern mysteries for over 20 years. He also studied spiritually based hypnotherapy and Shamanism in order to become a transpersonal hypnotherapist. Within this practice, he applies runic wisdom to develop powerful techniques his clients use to transform their lives. Kaedrich lives in Boulder, Colorado with his wife and two daughters, where he is an accomplished leader in the Nordic spiritual community.

He is the author of a practical and contemporary workbook entitled ‘Runes for Transformation: Using Ancient Symbols to Change Your Life‘ and I highly recommend it for beginners and intermediate Runesters alike, as Kaedrich compels the reader to ask deep questions and think for themselves — two most important habits for anyone working with the runes.

Kaedrich has an online presence and can been reached at his WordPress blog ‘Among the Runes’ or on MySpace!