“Only when we know our solitude to be different from our loneliness
can we be whole enough to honor another’s place.”
Inguz – “Ing-guz” – Literally: “Seed” or “The god, Ing” – Esoteric: Process, space
Rune of isolation or separation in order to create a space or place where the process of transformation into higher states of being can occur. Rune of gestation and internal growth.
Psi: internal growth, personal development, the power of suggestion, the inner-child, wholeness
Energy: earth-god, stored energy, gestation process, male mysteries, subtlety, planned bursts
Mundane: male sexuality, agriculture
Divinations: Resting, gestation, internal growth, expectation, time for oneself; or impotence, scattering, movement without change, frivolity, immaturity.
Governs:
- Storage and transformation of power for ritual use.
- Stored Energy
- Passive meditation and centering of energy and thought
- Sudden release of energy
- All forms of subtle, creative action
My Notes:
Represented by the very ancient god image Ing, Inguz is a rune of male fertility. The English language participle “-ing” adds to any verb the idea of acton. Do-ing, Be-ing, See-ing, etc. The addition of “ing” represents action in the actual process of activity (rather than an object). Thus, even common elements within our most common language use “ing” to infer the process of creation.
Inguz is that potential energy that must accumulate gradually in storage before being released as a single surge of energy. It represents the process of a mental ‘seed’ desire implanted by the conscious mind into the subconscious for incubation and gestation, later to emerge as a new creation in your life affairs. Inguz governs the process of seed into catalyst, and the self-sacrifice of one form to bring into being a new form, and the characteristics inherited because of this transformation.
Thus, Inguz contains within its lore the true meaning of sacrifice. Such sacrifice occurs when one form is called upon to die so that a newly evolved form may begin to grow. This is one of the cornerstone concepts in what is known as the ‘male mysteries’. To die for something, such as a cause or an ideal such as freedom, a universal theme in warrior traditions, is thus connected to the energies of Inguz.
There is great wisdom in creating an analogy between this fundamental act of nature and the mystical act of generation. The failure of a magical operation is often caused by the lack of the operator ‘letting go’ of some past form of manifestation so that a newly desired form can be born. All humans live in the past to some degree or another, but one must apply the laws of nature which call for death of the old in order to bring about transformation into new energies and new forms. This sounds simple to do on an intellectual level, but in practice it is requires masterful artistry.
Inguz signals the integration of the four selves: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. It is the drive toward completion and totality and acts as the catalyst for movement toward wholeness. Where Berkano signifies the outer child, hidden within the wisdom of Inguz is the activation of one’s inner-child.
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12 Responses to Inguz – Rune Meaning
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[...] amie un peu plus tôt dans la journée (”The Goddess inside goes outside”) et l’interprétation d’Ingwaz qui est faite ici : Inguz signals the integration of the four selves: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. It [...]
[...] of one thing and simultaneous sacrifice or release of another. For more on that sacrifice, see INGUZ. Self-sacrifice (for honor in battle or for the greater good) is a common theme with the death of [...]
I am not an experienced runecaster, so when I pull a rune for myself each day, I google it and see what others have to say about its interpretation. Then I meditate on what I find and journal about what resonates with me. Time and again, I find the words of this site among the most powerful I read. I have been learning so much as I read this site. Thank you!
I am also intrigued by the correlation between the english gerund case and the sense of action inherent in Inguz. Does anyone know if this is truly related? Did the -ing develop as the runes were incorporated into the everyday language, or perhaps the syntax predated the name? Or is it ‘coincidence?’
Regardless of the history, I think I will now find myself listening for it in speech patterns and wondering if the power of Ing is playing itself out in the lives of those who use lots of -ings in their speech!
>”The Goddess inside goes outside”
Ying – it’s a core of Yang, so it’s not “a tail” ( :) ), it’s “a heart” of male’s energy embodiment, if it is possible to speak so.
>The addition of “ing” represents action in the actual process of activity…
It’s the most true description of “Here and Now” meaning – it’s PRESENT CONTINUOUS, present continuum, in the meaning everlasting, evergreen, etc., up to “never ending”… :)
So, this … :) is not the end of “be” and “do” – of the most commonly used verbs, by the way. :)
…in the meaning OF… (I beg your pardon for my English)
Good point. Is there any relation?
I was wondering, as well, why 14 of 22 runes end with Algiz. One could say that it could be an evidence of their divine nature, but what about the others?
Is there a deeper explanation?
Not to mention that Algiz, itself, is the only one that ends with its own representative sound. Is it a pattern?
I found this site a month or so ago and have been loving it, thanks!
I’ve just pulled Ingwaz today and am very curious about ‘ing’ making it’s way into the English language and also about the continual evoking of that energy in our language, and our obsession with doing rather than being.
@Vanir very interesting contemplation,I wonder are there phonetic patterns/meanings we have lost the knowledge of?
I can really see the seed in the image of Ing or even an egg if you will. This therefore leads me naturally to understand that it is about gestation and also relates to fertility – though I believe it is more related to male fertility and Berkana is concerned with female fertility.
I can also see the image being that of two hands cupped together – if you consider raising energy in a witchcraft ritual or using the energy to flow through your hands in Reiki, then this is quite fitting, as we use our hands a lot for such things. Hands are also cupped in a way when it comes to praying (traditionally speaking from a Christian perspective). The hands being cupped together also are a focal point either for some way of focussing or containment.
The very image of this Rune is enclosed and suggests potential, a sense of anticipation. The four selves are evident in the four sides of the Rune. The number four being a number of stability and strength, not to mention earthly elements rather than spiritual although not excluding the spiritual as such but rather being more concentrated on the earthly elements; the traditional earth, air, fire and water, the supposed elements of creation (talking from old fashioned ideas of the way the world came about, etc).
Yes, the image of Ingus is virtually bursting with promise. There is a birth awaiting, the birth of something new and exciting, something that requires action, not passivity for one to benefit. After all, we are not creatures who are merely carried along by fate, rather we have choices and opportunities.
Hi Didi, Funnily enough i do not normally read the comments but i scolled down and read yours today…I do the exact same thing as you every day…It is so much help and I think its amazing….
You can learn so much from the comments too, or gain some guiding idea to learn something further :)
… Like others that have posted before me, I just stumbled on to this site and feel blessed to have such a resource. I pull a” rune of the day”, with hopes to obtain guidance, clarity. Today’s rune is Inguz, and so I thank you all for your comments and guidance