Is, for when nothing seems to make sense
Published: Tue, 06/25/13
In Norway during the winters the Fjords can freeze over and it is
possible to drive across in a motor vehicle. You can drive as fast
as you like on a perfectly smooth surface with nothing to get in
the way which apparently can be great fun. But if you get
disorientated and drive towards the sea, well I think you can
imagine what would happen. The Is rune is just one vertical line
and the corresponding stance is just standing still and upright.
Is suggests the situation where nothing in happening, nothing is
changing, when there is no direction or clear pathways. It can
seem like one is frozen and stuck and there is no possibility of
progress and development.
But Is is the rune of the Jarl and that means taking the time to
stop and pay attention. The glacier may seem solid and immobile
but watch it long enough and eventually you will see the direction
of movement. The Is rune will give you your bearings in time and
space if you can be a little patient. You can use the stance or
just put a stick in the ground. As the sun rises the shadow will
fall to the West so if you have the rising sun on your right side
and the shadow on your left you are facing North. At the end of the
day North is found when the sun is at your left side and the shadow
on your right. If your shadow is as long as you are tall then it
is probably time to start preparing for the night because darkness
isn't that far away. (remember that even watches and compasses
are relatively new inventions, let alone mobile phones and sat
navs, and your body or a stick doesn't have a battery that can
run out!)
I was asked on Saturday how to tell which direction to face in when
doing the stances, well that is how you find out. (there is another
way for when it is cloudy but I will save that for another time.)
When life seems like it has no direction and you don't feel
like you are getting anywhere, that is the time to simply pay
attention and no matter how frozen and featureless everything seems
something will make itself clear soon enough.
regards
Graham
PS Just one place left for the Summer Camp now, just sayin'
http://www.stavcamp.org/