Three days after I began working with this rune I received the following message: "Algiz is a symbol of the elk's mighty antlers, this rune is very protective!" and "This rune is a symbol of the swan's wing and is highly protective!" So, the rune was a protective rune, but was it an elk's antlers or a swan's wing – and did it matter? This I had to explore. Both seemed credible. I looked at the rune and could see both antlers and wing, but surely this rune had to represent something more? I noted protection on my writing pad and took the rune out into nature. Then I went over to my "sacred stone" under my "sacred tree" and sat down to philosophize over Algiz. To this place I would go, many a time – without becoming any wiser about Algiz. There was somehow something about the rune I couldn't grasp. I was left with one word: "protective" and I savored the word, it sounded right – but I knew, I felt that there had to be more. Swan? Elk? Antlers? Wing?
Early in the autumn when the rowan berries were ripe, the foliage was beginning to slowly change color, then I was back in place again. I focused on Algiz and looked out across the landscape. I thought the brook rumbled like a great river and chuckled a little at this. It hadn't been so loud even in the spring. Then I became aware of a skein of geese flying loudly toward the south. There are quite a lot of sounds out in nature and they are wonderful – mostly.
Suddenly a rainbow appeared in the distance. I sent Heimdal a thought. Was he standing on the bridge now? And then it struck me, Algiz must be Heimdal's rune. Heimdal made sure that we got access to the runes, Heimdal guards the bridge to Asgard, and I was convinced that he had some things to tell us humans. Before you object to my conviction about Algiz + Heimdal … listen to what I have to say …
Heimdal likes us humans, he hears the grass grow and he catches everything that is said. We humans say much that is foolish and empty, but we also say much that is sensible. We get ourselves tangled up in things, we get ourselves out of things – in short, we sometimes have to be protected against others and, not least, against ourselves! Who suits Algiz better than Heimdal?
I now see Algiz as a symbol of "prayer", as if the rune cries out a: "Look here, help me!" and a symbol of "Stop now. Halt now!" It can also be interpreted as "be careful now" and "tread carefully".
So every time Algiz appears in a reading, I think of Heimdal and of what he has to communicate to me. This works for me. Algiz protects me. Most of all it protects against myself :-)
Do you know, it is said that Bifrost has three colors, that's what the Algiz horns remind me of. (Red, green and blue) It is also said that Bifrost is created from three elements … Doesn't that fit well with Bifrost, Algiz and Heimdal? I think so :-)
And when your basic needs are met, then you can concentrate on the spiritual, can't you? It's great to work, it's good to be financially secure, but it's good to be spiritually satisfied too.
For some reason I think it is easier to work with Algiz on a waxing or full moon. Algiz is also powerful at the waning and new moon, but best is waxing and full … that is my experience.
I draw Algiz on myself when I have "awkward" tasks ahead of me, or I feel that "disagreements" are going to arise. Then I take a little oil and draw Algiz on my hands or my forehead – depending. Algiz has a lot of power and Algiz wants you to feel safe.
When you take Algiz out into nature and you begin to thank nature, the creators and the ancestors more for all the blessings one truly receives, then you soon discover that you wish for less and less. We humans, we don't really need as much on the material plane as we think. I feel that Algiz also shows us this.
Of the star signs I have picked out Aquarius. It is a fixed air sign and air stands for thought and speech. There is nothing that gets us into more trouble than what we think and what we say. The Aquarius sign is fixed and holds a steady course. Algiz is fixed and holds a steady course, so Aquarius + Algiz = the same harmony.
The planet I think fits best is Uranus. Uranus can be brilliant or totally crazy! It can hold a thought and it can be a master with words. It can also come up with the most madcap things – so, it is unpredictable, but then so are we humans, by golly. Algiz – protect us :-)
The tarot card "Strength" fits Algiz best. On the card we see an angel patting a lion. The angel and the wild beast – opposites. Who wins? Well, in the end it is probably Algiz that draws the longest straw.
Plants and Algiz
I think I will bring forward the alder tree first of all. This is actually a fascinating tree. Did you know that the leaves this tree sheds in the autumn are, mostly, completely green – sometimes faintly yellow-brown? In the old days it was said that alder had the ability to protect against evil spirits and accidents, and many alder twigs were hung over doors to keep negative forces away. The alder's reddish sap, which can be reminiscent of blood, strengthened the belief that the tree had healing properties. The bark and leaves were used in various decoctions and compresses against inflammations, wounds and fever. If you drink tea made from the bark of the alder tree you can get prophetic dreams. The bark is also used as incense when a dying person enters their final phase – this is meant to help the dying one to depart more calmly.
The alder tree has such "adorable" cones. These cones are good to carry on you when you are exposed to negativity and evil. These cones are also excellent to gather and make a tincture of. Of this tincture you use 5 drops, morning and evening, to regain your "grounding" and your faith in yourself. You stop daydreaming, think more realistically and see where you can be of use. It also calms down our nervous system.
Angelica is a plant I value greatly. It is wonderful to use in "cleansing water", foot baths, baths and for all sorts of cleansing of yourself, the house or tools. I like to dry the root, grind it up and use it for all forms of cleansing. In stressful situations I have a little pouch of angelica with me and the rune Algiz. I have a couple of friends who have the bear as their "spirit animal" and I have noticed that these are also so fond of angelica. One day I read that bears eat angelica root to start up their system when they come out of hibernation. I take this as a sign that bears also have a close relationship with angelica :-)
Angelica gets our blood circulation going, but don't use it if you are on blood-thinning medication. Angelica is very good to use for respiratory complaints, but don't use it if you have a dry cough, as it may make the complaint worse.
Black elder is a tree with a very varied reputation. My grandmother loved that tree, while my grandfather was annoyed that the tree had a tendency to spread a bit too much. The tree has many nicknames. It has been called the witch tree, elf tree, doomsday tree and old-woman tree. It has also been a tree that symbolized the underworld. In England they believed that the black elder protected against lightning strikes and that the tree protected the livestock. In Russia they believed that the tree protected against evil spirits. While in Germany they believed that if you burned a twig or two on Christmas Eve, local witches would be exposed. It mostly amounts to the same thing, namely protection. My grandmother believed that if you were searching for an answer, you should sit down by an elder and whisper out the question. If the tree spirit was willing, you would find an answer within reasonable time. You must never harm or cut down an elder, for then you bring misfortune upon yourself. Not even my non-believing grandfather dared to cut down the elder. Many regard the black elder as a bridge between the living and the dead. The elder is associated with the 13th full moon in the Celtic calendar, and the black elder's moon is regarded as the conclusion of one cycle and the beginning of a new one. That is, life – death and rebirth. It is also said that if you sleep under a black elder you get many, somewhat confusing and quite prophetic dreams. I have never slept under an elder, for great-aunt Augusta warned me most strongly against this. Why? No idea, but I assume she knew what she was talking about. :-)
Black elder (Sambucus nigra) is a plant that has been used as medicine for a long time. The flowers and berries are often used in tea, juice and syrup, and both the berries and the flowers strengthen the immune system and relieve cold symptoms. Black elder has a sweat-inducing and fever-reducing effect. It is important to be aware that raw berries and other parts of the plant can be poisonous, so they must be boiled or treated before use.
And then I conclude Algiz.
The next rune out is Sol – Sowilo.
