“Don’t try to fix what we should break before it breaks us.”
Hagalaz - “Hag-all-az” – Literally: “Hail” or “Hailstone” – Esoteric: Crisis or Radical Change
Key Concepts: hailstones, crisis and catastrophe, disruption, radical change, destructive elements of nature, severe weather, the uncontrollable, unavoidable unpleasantness, Jungian shadow, psychoanalysis, regression, acceptance of the unalterable
Psi: disruption, change, personal past
Energy: power beyond human ability to harness, perfect pattern, seed formation, objective confrontation, destructive natural forces, chaos
Mundane: bad weather, obstacles, surprises, shelter
Divinations: Change according to ideals, changes for the long-term good, controlled crisis, corrections, completion, inner harmony; or catastrophe, crisis, stagnation, loss of power, loss of property, short-term disappointment, victim-consciousness, obsession with the past, blame.
Governs:
Completeness and balance of power, integration of unconscious shadow elements
The inevitability of Fate, Wyrd, Orlog
Evolutionary progress and operations of becoming
The outworking of a perfect pattern
Protection through banishing or exorcising disharmonious patterns, protection
Awareness of the unconscious ideas for eventual processing
Causing discomfort in others by awakening their own subconscious ‘garbage’
Hagalaz Rune Meanings Notes:
Hagalaz signals a major shift of energies as the Elder Futhark begins its second row of aetts. Hagalaz is the rune of objective confrontation with past patterns. It will uncover the vast flow of energies around and through human energy systems. Its nature is completely impersonal and it represents power generally beyond human ability to harness.
Hail shocks you with stinging hardness (confrontation) then it melts into water which creates germination of seeds (transformation). The ancients describe hail as a grain rather than as ice, thus creating a metaphor for a deeper truth of life. It contains the seed of all the other runic energies and this can be seen in its other form, a six-fold snowflake. Spiritual awakening often comes from times of deep crisis.
As the ninth rune, Hagalaz has a special place in the ordering, as nine has particular significance in the elder futhark. Nine signals completion of a perfect pattern. Nine months is one of nature’s most regular human cycles, that of the gestation period for a baby in a mother’s womb. In this sense it is a protective rune, and assists us in acceptance of the unalterable, the seeking of shelter and patience while things blow over.
Hagalaz can be used as a force of repulsion or banishment. It is used in work to process and dispel the effects of subconscious baggage and ‘shadow elements’ so that your life pattern can carry itself forward in its pure form. Hagalaz has the magical energy of a ‘spring cleaning’. It reveals the personal past, past lives and early environmental factors in childhood development. It follows that LAGAZ, from which hail is ultimately made, is also a rune of profound unconscious exploration and personal depth.
Hagalaz can be used as a curse against others, aimed to bring up their suppressed inner conflicts and thus impeding them. It is a clean curse, as the recipient is only experiencing the ill effects of their own accountability. It is a dark, feminine power and can been associated with witchcraft and destructive female magic.
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More on Hagalaz:
Lessons of Hagalaz: Rune of Disaster and Healing
Further reading:
Basic Laguz Rune Meaning
Laguz Rune Meaning Analysis (in-depth)
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15 Responses to Hagalaz – Rune Meaning
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radical discontinuity…
on sunday morning over breakfast, we drew runes, & for all of us (anto, dina, petra & myself) they were quite profound. mine was hagalaz, hail, the rune of disruption, a major shift of energies and the deep need to break free of constricting circumstan…
I’ve been brousing the site and I’m very impressed. In particular I’m feeling a lot of resonance from Hagalaz, is there an in-depth analysis planned for it? I’d be very interested to read any insights that are to be shared.
Hadit:
An in-depth analysis is planned for each rune. My goal is to have them all completed within the year, along with a meditation music piece for each as well. Then I’ll form all this into a book with the CD of 24 rune meditations, and incorporate a lot of the feedback and insight from visitors and guests who comment. We are all here to help one another, on Rune Secrets, and I think that the internet allows us to really do something with the body of rune lore that has never been done before.
Very interesting… this resonates! Would love to hear further insights you might have, Tyriel. Especially with regards to the connection with Hel. )O( Idun
[...] my personal rune set, I replaced the elder futhark Hagalaz symbol with the younger futhark Hagalaz variation a while ago, a personal choice, and I should take this [...]
What does Hagalaz and Laguz mean when joined together?
It could represent a tsunami, most literally. On the psychological level it could also point toward a surprising and disruptive unconscious disturbance or event — something deep within causing visible outer conflict, remaining unseen itself.
As I often try to state, however, it is exponentially more difficult to talk about the meaning of two or more runes combined together — it is hard enough to speak of a single rune’s meaning.
Context is everything: observe and understand as much about your situation — without runes — as you seek to understand of the runes themselves. Then you will know what they point toward. Good luck!
Hagalaz + Laguz means difficulties and adversity resulting from negative past actions. Basically, karmic lessons are on there way. It will be rough ride, but if successful, the personal transformation will be major.
The second group of eight runes begins with Hagalaz (Adversity / Challenge) and end with Sowilo (Triumph / Achievement). You are running the gauntlet with the runic energies of the second aett, but with strength and determination, “Triumph over Advserity” is always the outcome.
I have been reading the commentaries and description of the Runes and I am ver lucky to have found such a treasure!
I have been interested on the subject for many years but never found such a wealth of knowledge and interested people before…..
I am very interested in purchasing the book when it is released ( not very sure re website?)
I see two strengths coming together.
I love this site, and have learned so much here over the past few years. For all things runic, I come here first, after meditating, but before researching anywhere else. I am waiting for my copy of your book with great anticipation and excitement, Tyriel!
I pulled Hagalaz as my rune of the day today, and I take it as a warning to hold on tight; the winds are about to blow! I find it odd that I feel no fear or trepidation at the news of Hagalaz energy entering my life right now. Rather, I feel I am as ready as I can be, and excited at where this particular storm will take me. I have had a sense of impending change for quite a while now, and this feels like the starting flag letting my internal self know that it is ok to shoot forward! It is almost a relief to know it is here!
@Didi … Hi… I feel as you do regarding this site and interestingly enough I also pulled Hagalaz this morning… So I look forward to the change ahead…it only can be for the better:-). Feeling a little shaky n unsure in some areas… But have faith it will all work out
[...] of Rune Secrets explains it this way: “Don’t try to fix what we should break before it breaks us.” [...]
I drew Hagalaz as a daily rune twice in the last three months. On that days, the first time I had my foot broken, the second a friend of mine died abruptly … I must tell I am a bit scared of this rune.
oh… So sad..simona…. well.. In case one draws a Hagal or any other highly negative rune as a divination or rune of the day as an alternative draw a second rune to use as a protection – that is to meditate on to reduce the ill effects of the first rune?I would like the opinion of the other members -
Should we follow the maxim
Happy (Quantum) Leap Year! « Laura Bruno’s Blog says:
way: “Don’t try to fix what we should break before it breaks us.”
or try the alternative?