The Rune Dad

Today’s rune was Fehu ᚠ, the rune for material wealth and abundance. But, this rune acts a bit differently than how most people perceive wealth to be: money. For the ancient Norse, this rune represented cattle. Even today, many cultures throughout the world consider the possession of cattle to be the true marker of wealth.

Let’s dissect that for a bit. This type of wealth is a collection living, breathing animals in a very harsh climate. It requires ample grazing land in the summer months and shelter in the coldest months. These animals must be fed, given fresh water, and cared for when sick. Depending on the size of the herd, it would also require extra hands to take the cattle out for grazing, protecting them from wolves, and eventually the slaughter. In addition, they literally multiply. This would be considered a true investment in today’s world. The phrase “you have to spend money to make money” comes to mind.

In our world of consumerism, many of us have forgotten this art. We’ve been groomed to see wealth as the possessions we have. The quick bouts of dopamine we receive from a shopping spree or splurge. We focus so much as a society on the materials that we forget about the effort to maintain and grow actual wealth. What would happen if we began to look at material wealth as a living being: a being that depends on us? We would need to learn and invest our time in ensuring its well-being. Is it growing? Are there any illnesses (i.e., downturns) that we should prepare for? I do believe that we’ve been so conditioned to spend that we’ve forgotten what investment looks like.

I was slapped with that realization pretty harshly this morning about my own perception of wealth and my need for more financial acumen.

What does it feel like to have true wealth? It’s nice to think about the materials, but truly understand the feeling behind wealth. There’s self-assurance, confidence, trust-in-self, responsibility, fulfillment, and lack of want.

Greed may come to mind for many of you. But that is a program that has been conditioned to us to believe that money is sinful. “Money doesn’t grow on trees.” “Money can’t buy happiness.” “More money, more problems.” “Money is the root of all evil.” No. Greed is the evil: greed for influence, greed for control, greed for love, ….and greed for money. Greed is not wealth; it’s born from insecurity, lack of confidence, and dullness of the senses.

To drive this back to Fehu (cattle), someone who is a miser or stingy simply cannot win. If you collect but don’t sell, your cattle will simply die of old age and past their prime. Quality suffers from insufficient care or feed. Your land will suffer from over grazing. The list can go on. What are you holding on to out of insecurity? Is it suffering from your over-control and fear of loss?

Let’s talk about abundance. The Hindu goddess of abundance, Lakshmi, teaches us that true abundance consists of 4 aspects: wealth in love, wealth in wisdom, wealth in ethics and wealth in material. True abundance is having and pursuing all four. What is being rich if you don’t have ethics or love? What is true abundance if you have money but air in your head? I believe our purpose is to live abundant lives. When one is in lack, pursue the others.

I had the pleasure of walking through a flower garden today and was reminded of the sheer diversity and abundance of a garden. There were peonies, a dozen varieties of roses, honeysuckle, irises, gardenias, and more all wafting together and filling the air with such sweet fragrance. It reminded me of the abundance of earth and got me thinking about people in my life who enrich me. Think about your friends and loved ones who each have a different purpose in your life and who lift you up. What other ways can you experience a sense of abundance and enrichment in your life? Travel, hobbies, volunteering, hosting, sharing with your fellow man. Remember: Love, Wisdom, Ethics, and Material compromise abundance.

Rework any negativity you may have towards material wealth. See it as an aspect of abundance without negating the other three we discussed. Abundance is a feeling accomplished by leading a full and rewarding life for yourself and with others. Channel the security, confidence, and know-how that true wealth provides. Nurture it.