The Rune Dad

This one doesn’t mean so many great things and yet it’s a top favorite of mine. I’m sure that says something about me yet to be unpacked by a therapist, but I do enjoy challenges. In the next sentence, I’ll reveal the initial meaning, and you’ll wonder “why is this his favorite?” but keep reading. On its surface, Nauthiz ᚾ is the rune for need, desperation, and feeling stuck.

Nauthiz represents the moments in our lives where we feel like we have nowhere to turn. There are no positive directions. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. That lump in your throat builds up, and panic begins to set in. Right? Seems like all doom and gloom.

It’s what comes out of Nauthiz that I find fulfilling: self-awareness, innovation, and break-throughs.

When in a stressful situation, our bodies tend to react. Blood rushes to the muscles for quick reflexes, draining our brains. We don’t always make the right decisions because we’re ready to bolt. But being physically stuck somewhere is not the right time to jerk around. It demands calm. We’ve all heard by now that you don’t fight your way through quicksand. You’ll just get more stuck. 

Figuratively, I’ve heard several interpretations. But the one I gravitate towards are two sticks rubbing together. In ancient times, when illness affected cattle, they would cut down a specific tree known for its healing properties, create large piles of its wood, light the piles up, and create smoke. They would then run their cattle through this smoke in the hopes it would cure them of the disease. Remember that cattle are represented by Fehu, the rune for wealth. Their livelihoods were on the line. 

Necessity is cause and effect. We are in need due to unfortunate circumstances and it forces us to react. 

Once we’re in the state of “stuck,” we have to recenter ourselves. Breathe. Let the blood rush back to the brain. Self-awareness seeps in. You got yourself in this mess; you can pull yourself out. When you think back to these moments in your life, you may recall that there’s a spark of an idea—something you hadn’t thought of. You ask yourself, “What if I did it this way?” It worked, didn’t it?

This is innovation for me. All the great ideas were sparked because we were trying to solve an impossible problem. It’s the moments of “stuck” that, once we calm ourselves down, ignite our creativity to find the solution. 

I’d like to point out that I’ve mentioned and alluded to many meanings for other runes in this topic. Breath and inner voice: Ansuz ᚨ. Spark or ideas: Kennaz ᚲ. Wealth and cattle: Fehu ᚠ. When many runes come together in your mind, it can be considered a rune song. One rune causes others to jump out and create a larger meaning. 

That’s what Nauthiz does. You begin to problem-solve and look at the situation from many angles. Prior experiences come back to mind, and (if you practice) other runes will reveal themselves in your mind’s eye to begin getting yourself out.

In what areas of your life are you feeling stuck? Bravely approach the topic, breathe, and begin flipping it around. The more calm you remain, the quicker a solution will reveal itself.