Thurisaz – Rune Meaning
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“If we must fight for peace then let us find our peace in battle.”
Thurisaz - “Thor-is-as” – Literally: “Thurses” or “Giants” – Esoteric: Strong one, Resistance
Key Concepts: Unconscious forces, sociological forces, Thor, Loki as giant, chaos, destruction by natural forces, complexities of aggression, conflicts, disputes, psychological problems, lightning, breakthrough, aggressive male sexuality, battering down barriers, thorn of awakening, trouble, enthusiasm
Psi: enthusiasm, struggle against unconsciousness, male sexual prowess
Energy: enthusiasm, self-empowerment, chaos, active defensive force, breaker of resistance, destructive storms
Mundane: storms, tools, weapons, conflict
Divinations: Reactive force, directed force, vital eroticism, regenerative catalyst, constructive conflict; or danger, defenselessness, compulsion, betrayal, dullness, disease, explosive violence, annoyance, strife
Governs:
Destruction of enemies, curses binds and fetters
Awakening of the will to action
Breaking resistance of blockages in body, mind and spirit
Increased potency and prowess in romantic relationships
Understanding of the division and separation of all things
Aiming the use of psychic force
The combination of right/left brain processes for generating powerful realization
My Notes:
It’s not uncommon for the rune meaning of Thurisaz to be described as a thorn that is most sharp, a grim and evil thing to take grip on or touch. However, it is representative of Thor and his hammer, protecting Asgard from the thurses, giants who resist the expansion of consciousness throughout the multiverse. In every respect, the energies of Thurisaz are a forceful enemy of unconsciousness, ignorance and the rule of brute violence. Thurisaz represents the warrior that combines consciousness and wisdom with matters requiring force. Thor is the champion god of courageous and free human beings and the ultimate physical fighting force.
Thurisaz is also a fertility rune in the sense that it breaks down the barren and hard, rocky realms into workable soil as to bring fruitfulness to crops and wombs. The best mental state for working with the rune is enthusiasm, rather than anger or fear, as the former will much better sustain right awareness and diminish the potential danger of dealing with strong Thurisaz magic.
This early rune is representative of the use of tools and technology (so is KENAZ, to an extent), whether physical or psychological, especially as weapons of protection or active resistance against forces detrimental to the expansion of consciousness and awareness signified by DAGAZ. Human consciousness is a state of mind that evolved from pre-existing state of unconscious which continually strives to re-establish itself. Unless we promote consciousness actively in living out our lives we will succumb to entropy.
The power of Thurisaz is easily located because it is on the borderline, the frontier of consciousness. It is wise to never start a fight, but if one has started, be sure to finish it.
Tags: conflict, enthusiasm, giants, storms, Thor, thorn, Thurisaz, thurses, tools
12 Comments to “Thurisaz – Rune Meaning”
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Arryn Ash says:
I am very new to the realm of runes and gods, but an extremely powerful dream I had some time ago keeps shouting at me and seemingly is giuding me in this direction. In this dream there was a ‘viking-like’ man teaching me a chant: “Give me the Power, the Strength, the Courage and the Wisdom.” There was some urgency to this because a storm was almost upon us. As I chanted I felt more powerful (physically and spiritually) and rose up amidst thunder and lightning to face the enemy. When I awoke I had the distinct impression that the person teaching me the chant was Thor, maybe because of the lightning. I am trying to figure out what runes to signify this chant. Can you help?
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Mahryan says:
Arryn:
What a wonderful dream to have! Welcome child of Thor.
It is your dream so you are probably the best person to figure out which runes are represented – and if in doubt call on your teacher for guidance. Reading your description did bring some runes immediately to my thoughts and for what that is worth I will share these:
Thurizaz – the one under which your comment came – seems apt as it is Thor’s rune. It’s positve aspect is Thor’s hammer weilded against the giants (uncontrolled violent energy like a violent storm). The chant, however made me think first of Tiwaz (the wise warrior rune and also symbolizing courage). At the same time, a rune often associated with physical strenth and health it Uruz. Othila as Odin’s rune is many-aspected, but ultimate knowledge and wisdom are definitely part of that (Odin received the knowldge of the runes through his courage and sacrifice).
Arryn let us know if you have had further reflections on the dream you describe! -
KAT says:
I was trying to figure out this one murkstave then. This is a difficult one and it talks about Thor’s hammer and power and protection. Would this then be more delayed power or sight, cooper does says stagnation, refusal to face facts, but Blum has a more postive on the reversal and has a more negative like on the non-reversal. Can someone kind of clarify on this one. thanks!!!!!
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Vanr says:
Thor name resembles the Thurses (Giants). Thor was said to be the only Aessr that could deal with and destroy the Giants.
What came upon me yesterday is that perhaps Thor was once a Giant and for some reason decided to deploy himself with the Aessir. I understand that this is extremely radical, but this assumption seems to explain a lot to me on this rune and especially Thor himself.
It could explain your query, KAT, as well. Positive and Negative for whom? Aesir, Giants or Thor himself? If my assumption is true, perhaps Thor suffers because, through keeping Order against Chaos, he should fight his previous allies.
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Vanr,
I like that. I will think about that one. It does put both sides into it. :-)
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Vanr, I was taken with your feeling that Thor was once a giant becasue I seemed to recall that he was a half-giant. I checked my sources on Norse gods and all agree that Thor’s father was Odin. The majority of sources say that his mother was a giantess and of these most say the giantess was Jord (couple say Fjorgyn). Thor had two sons with the Giantess Jarnsaxa.
A giant called Thrym once stole Thor’s hammer. Thor, dressed as Freyer, and accompanied by Loki managed to get it back. Thrym is sometimes described as Thor’s shadow self. I can’t find anything on it, but I wonder if Thrym was Thor’s half-brother.
It would make sense then that, as you suggest, Thor would suffer in having to fight against the chaos of his own blood-kin.
I really know very little as yet of the Norse mythologies, so thank you for the the little Thurizas prick to find out a little more! -
Thank you Mahryan for this information.
My knowledge on Norse Mythology is much lesser and I would appreciate it if you could suggest some books.
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I don’t have muchknowledge of Norse mythology either. It is complex because there are Scandenavian, Icelandic and Germanic traditions. I have several book s that provide chapters on the gods & goddesses, but have not identified a nexcellent in-depth source. Asswyn’s Northern Mysteries and Magick is a generally good Rune source, which includes such a chapter, plus other information on the Asaatru tradition. Diana Paxon’s Essential Asatru is also useful.
I find that sources are often contradictory though and try to consult several when looking for information on the gods and mythologies. A good library would be a place to begin. If I find something else I will post it. -
There is this free download on Asswyn’s blog. Assgard and the Gods – the link is:
http://www.aswynn.co.uk/index.php?option=com_jdownloads&Itemid=62&task=view.download&cid=32 -
Thank you Mahryan.
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In looking into the mythology of Thor, I also did some re-reading on Thurisaz I find Freyer Aswynn, Leaves of Yggdrasil especially helpful on Thurisaz). Most sources portray this rune as ‘grim’ as in the Anglo-Saxon Rune poem; some describe it as entirely evil and best avoided. Aswynn provides a more nuanced view.
Here is what I think:
Thurisaz is the rune of elemental instinctual power – therefore, without training our minds, we are barely conscious of it within us. It has the suddenness of thunder and lightening. We can call on it and use it, but the danger is that we are likely to summon and wield this power through anger or fear and without due consideration of the consequences. And any time we hurl Thurisaz there will be consequences! If we call on this rune in petty anger our exaggerated fear, not only may we cause more harm to others than we really meant, but the power will also rebound onto us.
Aswynn sees Thurisaz as a “war fetter’ for binding powerful enemies when all else fails. She associates Thurisaz with the third ‘charm’ in the Hávamál and I would agree, heavily emphasizing the third line:I know a third: in the thick of battle,
If my need be great enough,
It will blunt the edges of enemy sword,
Their weapons will make no woundsIf my need be great enough. Most of the time t (for example Algiz or Berkana) or take control and re-direct negative energies (such as Raido, Isa, Ehwaz).
Thurisaz should be used only in desperate situations – in battles with Giants if you like. Even then, more as a threat I think than an action. I have had such an experience once or twice. Instinct has told me that I am facing someone dangerous, who unfettered will do much harm. Instinctively, I have found myself conveying to that person that I am as powerful as they – I literally felt as if I was growing in ‘size’. I didn’t throw Thurisaz at them, I merely conveyed that I could and it worked.
Alas, when words are my weapon especially, I am also guilty of occasionally throwing a Thurisaz when I should know better. The outcome is never good – it always rebounds and causes far more trouble than the situation actually warranted.
In a reading, Thurisaz will have as many ‘levels’ and nuances as any other rune and context is everything. Being an elemental power it is associated with raw sexual drive and can represent the very best and very worst of sexual power. It is always about power in some form or other and it should never be taken lightly. Previous comments help to illustrate the complex dark and light of Thurisaz.
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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 like what Tyriel has written on Thurisaz so far. I often find commentary on Thurizaz to be weak (fearful?), especially where divination and magical use are concerned and there is definitely room for development on these aspects in Tyriel’s notes.
Thurisaz is a rune of strong protection against evil or negative forces if truly needed.But it is a very powerful rune and should definitly be utilized with caution.Personally I find that other runes (such as Algiz, Berkana, Isa) usually provide sufficient and gentler protection.