Algiz – Rune Meaning
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“Fear has its place in every heart. Courage is only a response.”
Algiz (or Elhaz) – “Al-jiz” – Literally: “Elk” – Esoteric: Protection, Higher Self
Rune of the essential link or connection with the patterns of divine or archetypal consciousness, such as the Valkyrie. Rune of the possible danger of realizing this link when unprepared.
Psi: divinity, higher self, the state of listening
Energy: protective teaching force, the divine plan, Valkyries
Mundane: protection, safety, spirituality
Divinations: Connection with the gods, awakening, higher life, protection; or hidden danger, consumption by divine forces, loss of the divine link, fear.
Governs:
Strengthening of hamingja (personal gravity, ‘luck’) and life force through courageous deeds
Mystical and religious communication with non-human sentient beings
Communication with other worlds, especially Asgard
Protection/defense
Receiving instruction on the magical potential of the runes
Banishing the fear of death
My notes:
Algiz is the single strongest energy connected with my own existence. It is a protective teaching force that promotes independence and autonomy as well as faith. Courage in the face of fear is central, not the absence of fear, because fear may or may not be a warning to us that protection and defensiveness is necessary. Algiz supplies the insight necessary to make such judgments and stand in true service to Asgard.
The spiritual force, hamingja, generated by Algiz envelops the invoker with so much energy that he or she becomes sacred, set apart and protected by Divine power. The image of the Valkyrie in mythology is fully representative of the way in which the energies of Algiz work to protect you. Meditating on the image of a Valkyrie in her teacher, swan and warrior forms is a powerful method of invoking Algiz energy.
The Valkyrie will not assist in evading punishment for wrong deeds, or illegal or immoral acts. It will act to soften the blow of punishment if the person willingly accepts accountability for the harm cased by his or her acts and begins to take steps to compensate.
Do not mistake the archetypes encountered through use of this rune. Ask them politely of their purpose and to identify themselves. Good entities always will respond favorably to such requests, and mischievous or harmful entities tend to become offended or refrain from answering. Have courage and fortitude, as you will sometimes be tested. These entities come in many forms, so be prepared to open your mind as to allow their unique methods of communication to take place.
Other topics:
Activation of the Higher Self
Perception of the Divine Plan
Knowledge of the Ultimate Good in all things/events
Listening correctly to the Voice of the Universe (as non-human sentient beings ie. Valkyries, gods, giants)
Being tested by such entities and instructed
Further Reading:
Algiz – Rune Meaning Analysis (series)
11 Comments to “Algiz – Rune Meaning”
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Mahryan says:
Michael – this was your experience. Looking at the description of Algiz here in the upright position, consider what some of the opposite meanings or representations might be. What might that represent to you as a learning from the incident that you describe?
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Eric says:
did you get my comment, eric
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michael says:
thank you,
the true meaning has just become known to me.
god does not want me to use drugs. this experience would not have happened if i had turned down the offer of alcohol. during the summer solstice i was on mushrooms and i sawl the face of the cosmic Christ, he was not happy that i was high, my path requires me to be sober. -
Michael, I’m happy for you to gain this epiphany. I also had to sacrifice something that I thought was GIVING me experiences, but really it was a crutch, preventing me from finding truth and living a sane and sober life of authentic wisdom. Facing reality takes bravery. I wish you the best of luck.
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Ali Rayner says:
From my experience with this rune, the right way up is open to inspiration and connection to the higher realms.
Upside down represents grounding to the Earth. Learning wisdom from contrast.
With grounding comes centeredness, balance, inner peace and the flow of perfect timing.
Tree branches and tree roots.
Have a look at Yggdrasil, the world tree.
There are 3 wells or springs, representing amongst other meanings, past present and future. The tree roots tap into these.
I know one is the well of wisdom, not sure about the other two, perhaps self awareness and knowledge?Clear headed is good. You have gained wisdom from your experiences.
Keep moving forwards.
Hope this helps.Ali.
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jon says:
well i have a story and i am trying to figure out what the algiz rune combined with the thurisaz means havent found anyone that could answer that
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I would need more information from you about the context and situation they were drawn in.
Off the bat, I’d imagine that combined they may have something to do with defensive protection, or a protective tool or weapon of some sort. But there’s just so many possibilities without any information about the question that was asked during divination, the context in your life they were pulled — which is why you don’t often catch me trying to interpret other people’s rune lays.
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one possible interpretation: practice safe sex!
(thurisaz = male sexuality, algiz = protection, condoms!)
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Regarding the comments here on getting sober or at least putting down drugs and/or alcohol because they are interfering rather than helping on a person’s spiritual quest —
Algiz can be seen as a bridge connecting mundane consciousness to higher, divine consciousness. Its secrets touch upon the gifts of meditation and prayer, of reaching up to the gods and seeking communication and communion with them.
As a bridge to divinity, Algiz can be associated with Bifrost, the burning, rainbow colored link between the realm of mortals (Midgard) and the higher worlds of the gods (Asgard). At the divine-end of this bridge sits the god HeimdallR, the ever alert guardian whose hearing is so keen it can sense the growing of a blade of grass. HeimdallR is the divine security system — through his constant vigilance, he alerts the gods to danger, alarm and all (in the form of a horn he blows).
Along with Algiz, another rune is linked to HeimdallR: Mannaz, or humanity. If HeimdallR is the central character of the Lay of Rig, as many believe, then he is the teacher of humankind, the giver of higher human consciousness, instructor in the runes to humanity, who shows us the way to the bridge to the divine within us.
HeimdallR has been called by some “the sober god.” My personal experience (as a sober pagan) has been that he, indeed, is a comfort to those whose spiritual path requires constant vigilance, clear-headed awareness, and firm mental grounding in the lessons of the here and now.
Rather than escape from reality, as many of us long to do through drugs and alcohol use, we can learn from HeimdallR how to accept life on life’s terms, to utilize and enhance our inherent gifts of consciousness, and, importantly, how to connect not only with the divine but also with other people.
Finding or creating communities of like-minded individuals who crave connection to higher consciousness, and then committing ourselves to developing and growing those communities, is one of the joys of the spiritual life. To look another human in the eyes and know that you can bridge the consciousness divide between you and share–and relate to–personal experiences of a higher order is the gift of HeimdallR. It brings a new level of meaning to our lives as spiritual beings inhabiting physical reality.
Algiz and Mannaz, therefore, are themselves powerfully linked through HeimdallR and are excellent runes to aid in protecting ourselves against toxins that pollute our clear thinking and hinder our efforts to achieve enlightenment. They also help us to attract and find like-minded individuals who share our quest for reaching higher levels of consciousness, while also repelling those whose influence could jeopardize our spiritual development.
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Luckylicious thanks for contributing a great comment. I think I’d add Laguz in when dealing with poisons and toxins, but Mannaz and Algiz definitely bring that power to our minds. I’m largely convinced by many of the findings of neuroscience, so when we want to detox our minds, I believe the best place to start is with the physical toxins.
“You are what you eat” is a perfect aphorism.
I’m generally wary of groups of “like-minded” individuals. I’ve never met an ‘individual’ who was that like-minded. But! Like minded enough to enjoy overcoming their differences and speaking to one another… that is definitely one of the spots where spiritual communion is at its peak. Wunjo is, to me, the rune to focus on when it comes to the group/individual dynamic and its joys.
Again, Lucky., thanks! :)
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Tyriel (also known as James Lord Bard) is a writer and graphic designer, living in Canada. He is passionate about the runes, and about bringing spiritual consciousness and heightened freedom to the mainstream. He has a solid background in web design, graphics and video production. He is also a poet, a novelist and musician.
i’m curious what this (algiz) rune means when upside-down. here’s the background story:
my friend asked me to drive her to a swimming hole for her 18th birthday party and i was glad to do so. there were seven of us total two guys (myself included) and the rest were young girls 16,17 and the oldest being the birthday girl, already being 18 i was the oldest one at the party. on the way my car pulled beside a car with two older (over 20) guys the b-day girl knew and she leaned out the window to tell them to meet us at the swimming hole. i got a weird feeling and wanted to go to a different swimming hole but said nothing, after all that day was about what she wanted.
we had a great time at the swimming spot and as we were about to go back to the house for cake and ice-cream we see three guys who i did not know but who the b-day girl knew, walking down the river with a cooler(overloaded with beer and wiskey). naturaly we agreed to hang out a little longer and get piss drunk.
as we hung out i herd them say many things that would have been warning signs to a sober person such as when the biggest and oldest one (they were all huge ripped wrestlers) said “yeah when my brother said it was two guys and five girls i didn’t believe him” . and we chated about martial arts (they saw the striking pads i left in my car) and the big dude had a calcium deposit the size of a pea on his center knuckle. his brother asked him if he was ready for the fight and i assumed he was having a match fight later that week, but they really had an evil plan.
it was getting dark and time to get back so we said our goodbye’s and they just kept saying that we had to follow them to there house to chill at the fire but i refused saying we already had plans and had to get back but we should hang out some time soon. i was so drunk i couldn’t walk straight and i didn’t know how i was going to drive home but just that i had to. i was leaning against my car so i wouldn’t fall over when i was recording his number in my phone and right then he punched me on the bridge of my nose intstanlty crumbeling my septim and sending me flying over my car and into the ditch where another one was waiting to stomp on my face, i took evasive maneuvers and managed not to come out with a deformed face, the girls freaked out and scratched there eyes to make them stop and they almost drove off with the b-day girl in there car but the other guy got her out before they drove off.
i healed very quickly as is normal for me and now there is a scar just under my third eye that looks like this rune but upside down. it is normally pale and unnoticeable but when i’m angry (very rare for me) it turns deep red.
any light you can shed on this seemingly significant trait would be appreciated.