The Rune Dad

The rune that symbolizes water, Laguz ᛚ, is one of the easiest ones to understand on the surface, and yet so deep at the same time. I froze when needing to write this post because I simply couldn’t capture its depths.

On the basic level, all sorts of idioms come to mind, which makes Laguz so easy to identify in our daily lives. Idioms like: “Go with the flow,” “In deep water,” “Keep your head out of water,” or “Still water runs deep.” When we recognize these types of idioms in our daily lives, it points us to the wisdom of Laguz.

The easiest way to understand water is to conjure up all the images you can of it. Slow moving streams, roaring river rapids, deep mountain lakes, murky ponds, crystal clear seas, and dark menacing waves in the ocean. Each of these images will evoke a different feeling. You could experience fear, calm, caution, adventure, or curiosity.

Now, think about your life. How is your water flowing? Let the right idiom about water come to your mind. What advice would you give someone in that situation? Are you ready to listen to your own?

For me, I feel like I have a kayak. I know what I’m doing; I know how to get myself out of danger. The river is full of rapids down the way, and I know from my years of experience, that I’ll be just fine. But I’m still churning on the top part, in the stillness: letting myself get a little further down before coming back to the banks. I have trepidation despite my skills to master the rapids. Laguz is telling me to go with the flow. It’s telling me trust in myself, my experience, to be able to fight, and that I’ll probably have a fun time doing it if I just let go.

Laguz is also our emotions. When you have a strong emotion, what do you feel welling up behind your eyes? Water. Tears. Our bodies are wells of emotions, and, like the tide, they ebb in and out. Pay close attention to how you’re feeling. If you’re full of joy, magnify that! For me, that’s the image of jumping off the dock or diving into a wave on the beach. But if you’re feeling sorrow, what image comes to mind? Are you trying to swim for shore? Are you paddling upstream? Use your mind to help you identify your situation, and then take your own advice as if you’re shouting to yourself from a safe, dry place.

I held onto this topic for several days, not knowing which direction to go. It was as if I was a seafarer who lost their way at sea on a cloudy night. I needed to wait for morning light to orientate myself to the rising sun. But it turns out, I trust you, my fellow readers, that you will find your own wisdom with water. Respect it. Fear it. Show gratitude for it. Have courage, and let the waters guide you.