Thurisaz

[Kraheera]

Thurs causes women's sickness,
Little cheer results from pain (discomfort).

Frost giant, monster? Chaos and wildfire? Everything about Thurisaz denotes a demand for respect. This rune seems to be about the danger from natural forces, from the truly "super" natural among our environments and peoples.

So this got me thinking. What do you fellow practitioners of Runes use Thurisaz for? Protection FROM natural forces, perhaps? Or maybe a nod, a recognition of such forces?

[Rick]

Will get back to ya this evening... stay tuned...

[Malcolm]

There are a few other poems associated with that rune as well. I'll post them when I get home from work tonight. :)

[Malcolm]

here we go....

the Norwegian Rune poem(NRP)

thurs causes illness in women:
few rejoice in bad luck.

the Icelandic Rune poem (IRP)

thurs is the torment of women,
and the dweller in the rocks/cliffs,
and the man [husband?] of Vardh-runa.

the Anglo-Saxon Rune poem (ASRP)

thorn is most sharp, for every thane
who grasps it, it is harmful, exceedingly cruel
to every man who rests among them.


If you would like to learn more about the runes I can suggest a few books.

Futhark: A Handbook of Rune Magic (Paperback) (http://www.amazon.com/Futhark-Handbook-Magic-Edred-Thorsson/dp/0877285489/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232772310&sr=8-1)

Runelore: A Handbook of Esoteric Runology (Paperback) (http://www.amazon.com/Runelore-Handbook-Esoteric-Edred-Thorsson/dp/0877286671/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b)

Runecaster's Handbook: The Well of Wyrd (Paperback) (http://www.amazon.com/Runecasters-Handbook-Well-Edred-Thorsson/dp/157863136X/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_c)

all of which can be purchased from Amazon for $32.35 plus shipping.

....and this one too, its a favorite of mine but only after you've read the other three

Taking Up The Runes: A Complete Guide To Using Runes In Spells, Rituals, Divination, And Magic (Paperback) (http://www.amazon.com/Taking-Up-Runes-Complete-Divination/dp/1578633257/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232772666&sr=1-1)

[Rick]

Thurs causes women's sickness,
Little cheer results from pain (discomfort).

Frost giant, monster? Chaos and wildfire? Everything about Thurisaz denotes a demand for respect. This rune seems to be about the danger from natural forces, from the truly "super" natural among our environments and peoples.

So this got me thinking. What do you fellow practitioners of Runes use Thurisaz for? Protection FROM natural forces, perhaps? Or maybe a nod, a recognition of such forces?

Symbolically, this is a conflicted rune. It represents both the Thurses (Giants) and Thor, the Thunderer. The Giants aren't necessarily evil, they are the unbridled Forces of Nature, the agents of chaos. Thor is the Warder of Asgard and Midgard, of Gods and men. He represents the forces of order. But while it has it's own built-in conflict, it also has it's own built-in conflict resolution... Thor wins. Worst case scenario, he ties. Even at Ragnarok, he slays the Midgard Serpent before he succumbs to it's poison.

We can draw some conclusions about Thurisaz from it's shape. The point suggests a thorn, or maybe an arrowhead, both of which pierce. A thorn on a plant, such as a rose, or a tree, or a cactus, acts to protect that plant. It's piercing is passive; something must act upon the thorn to be pierced. An arrowhead's piercing is active; it acts upon that which it pierces. Ergo Thurisaz can be used passively (defensively) or actively (offensively). If you turn Thurisaz so the the point is up, it resembles Mjollinir, Thor's hammer, the one weapon that can effectively be used to ward against the Giants. It has also been suggeted that, in this perspective, Thurisaz might symbolize a mountain (the passive 'strength' of Nature), or maybe a volcano (the active 'strength' of Nature).

I use my own invention that I call a thorngarth, a bindrune of eight Thurisaz's (see attachment), to create the magical equvalent of a barbed-wire enclosure (or bobwire, as we say in Oklahoma :smile: ). This can be visualized around you to protect you, or around someone else to contain them. Visualize the eight Thurisaz runes in a stop sign shape; thorns out for protection, thorns inward for containment.

Thurisaz is also related to the sleep-thorn of fairy tale and saga.

[Kraheera]

I really like that protective idea. Thanks Rick! I think I may try to use that during my spring cleaning for my house. We've had higher rates of burglary lately, and I usually try new home things around springtime, when I'm cleaning out my old stuff.

[SilverClaw]

I use my own invention that I call a thorngarth, a bindrune of eight Thurisaz's (see attachment), to create the magical equvalent of a barbed-wire enclosure (or bobwire, as we say in Oklahoma :smile: ). This can be visualized around you to protect you, or around someone else to contain them. Visualize the eight Thurisaz runes in a stop sign shape; thorns out for protection, thorns inward for containment.
Awww that is awesome thanks for sharing that with us :) I will be using that very soon :)