This is rune number 18 in the Futhark
Many believe the rune depicts a pregnant woman, with swelling breasts and a growing belly – and I am one of those who see this. I also see an eternal cycle: birth, growing up, reproduction, death, birth … for if you look more closely at this rune you see that the energy runs round and round, without obstruction – and so it is for us on earth as well. Generation follows generation in a long, long, long course. Perhaps an eternal cycle?
Bjarka is said to be the women's rune, and I regard this rune as Frigg's rune. She is the women's foremost goddess. Frigg is Odin's wife, but if you read about her you will discover that she lives an independent life. Her dwelling is Fensalir, where she gazes out over the world. It is said that it is she who gathers the clouds, spins, and gives the threads to the Norns. Frigg is all-knowing, but she never tells others what she knows. She can truly keep a secret. Frigg protects women in all of life's phases. She looks after the expectant mother, protects mothers and children, she cares for the childless, and she watches over the older women, also called crones.
Bjarka means "birch," and the birch tree is Frigg's tree. The birch tree is a very fascinating tree. Have you taken a closer look at this tree on a full-moon night? It is as if the tree shines almost ghostly in the moonlight – as if the tree represents our foremothers and assures us that the foremothers too are with us. The birch supplies us with bark, and bark can be used for shoes, birch-bark containers and much else useful to us humans. Among the birch's qualities is protection. The wood has been used for cradles and children's beds, precisely because people felt this tree protected the children.
Witches often use the bark to draw "sigils" on, reading over the sigil for extra power. Small birch twigs are gathered and used in various forms of magic, and we must not forget that birch twigs are gathered to make proper witches' brooms. These are used to sweep away unwanted energy.
I must add that the birch is also associated with Freyja, Hel and Idun – and that a number of witches out in Europe regard the birch as a tree the elves prefer. I understand the connection with Idun, she is the "eternally young" – and the birch is a tree that supplies us with vitality. Hel – well, a full-moon night and white birch trees – one understands that Hel may be present. Freyja too, but elves? I cannot quite get a grip on them in this context.
The Finns use birch whisks after the sauna. Despite being equipped with Finnish DNA, I am not so keen on "being boiled," and certainly not on being "ice-cold" after a "boiling bath." No, my DNA swung clear of this arrangement. Ugh, ugh. Even so, I understand the choice of birch whisks after the sauna session. The birch is refreshing, quite simply.
In my hectic, younger years, when I had to juggle work, studies, the role of mother, housewife, daughter and wife, the day grew very short. Every time I had a little time to myself, I ended up in my private little "birch grove." Here I breathed out and here I drew strength, and then most things sorted themselves out.
Many like to make themselves a tincture. They believe it gives them a little extra energy in everyday life.
Birch tincture – here is a simple recipe you can make at home:
Gather fresh birch leaves in spring, preferably when they are young and light green. Rinse the leaves well and pat off excess water lightly.
Fill a clean jar with birch leaves, without pressing them together too hard.
Pour over 40% spirits (for example vodka) until the leaves are completely covered.
Put on the lid and let the jar stand dark and cool for 2–4 weeks. Shake the jar gently every day.
Strain the tincture through a coffee filter or a fine sieve, and pour it into clean, dark glass bottles. Usually use 10–20 drops diluted in water, 2–3 times daily.
The planet that resonates best with Bjarka is the Moon, which is also regarded as a feminine planet. With the Moon, Cancer always comes into play, and I think Cancer's sign suits Bjarka well. Cancer is a sign that takes care, protection and family seriously. So does Bjarka.
As for tarot cards, it is probably the Empress and the Queen of Swords that suit best. The Empress because she offers so much, and that is the role of mother in a nutshell – offering the children what one has? At least the role of mother should be like that if it is "normal" :-)
The Queen of Swords because she is a tough lady, and mothers are tough. When they defend their children, the vast majority of mothers are warriors. Look at nature: come between a she-bear and her cubs and you are good and ready to enter Hel's realm.
Irene Resaland suggests moonstone and chrysocolla.
Moonstone is known for its soft, shimmering colours and its strong bond to the feminine and to lunar cycles. It promotes intuition, inner peace and emotional balance, and is often associated with protection. Many believe moonstone helps open up to new beginnings and strengthens the connection with intuition; just like the Bjarka rune and the moon, the crystal has a close relationship with care and sensitivity.
Chrysocolla is known as a stone that brings balance and inner calm. It promotes communication and supports emotional healing, while helping to release stress and negative thoughts. Chrysocolla strengthens intuition and gives the strength to meet life's challenges with greater security.
Among plants I will mention those I believe resonate with Bjarka. I have already mentioned birch, so I will take a few others. I will just add this: when I want to make an offering to the "spirit of the place" or to the "little folk," I almost always lay my gift at the foot of a birch tree. Why? I do not know, but the birch tree feels right :-)
Chamomile is a herb I associate both with Fehu and Bjarka. With Bjarka because chamomile calms the soul, and if you are calm, you feel secure. Bjarka and chamomile both have this "motherly calm" within them. I also recommend people whose souls have "stiffened" to work with Bjarka and drink a little chamomile – this to bring out their inner child. This applies to people who have had a terrible childhood, or who struggle with terrible memories from childhood – go to therapy, drink chamomile and work with Bjarka. The advantage of Bjarka is that it reminds us of the value of a calm soul and a healthy body.
A plant called dong quai, or Chinese angelica, I will also bring forward. This is really quite a woman-friendly herb. It is said to be an excellent gift to offer to Lilith, for those of you who are "friends" with her. I heard of a mother who placed this herb beside the bed of a baby who cried a lot at night, and she laid a cloth on which she had embroidered the Bjarka rune in the cot. This helped, the baby calmed down and both got a peaceful night's sleep – and that is a good thing :-) I have also heard that Chinese angelica helps against postnatal depression. It is also said to be good for the blood circulation. It also strengthens self-image and gives inner strength. (Perhaps that is why Lilith likes this herb so much?)
It is also said to be good to use during menstruation, especially if it is troublesome.
It should not be used during pregnancy or if you have diarrhoea.
Løvehale is called motherwort in English, and that is a fitting name for this plant. This plant is one of the best for healing emotional wounds. It is also good to use if you need more courage and strength to carry out a difficult task. Many use it, with good results, against heart conditions. I would say that anything to do with physical heart diseases and emotional wounds is eased by this wonderful plant. I find that simply by seeing it, touching it and "drawing in" the plant's power – there is something calming about it. It is good both as a tea and a tincture.
Here is a recipe for motherwort tincture: Fill a clean jar halfway with fresh or dried motherwort leaves and/or flowers. Pour over 40% spirits (for example vodka) until the herbs are completely covered. Put on the lid, and let the jar stand in a dark place for 4–6 weeks. Shake the jar lightly every day. Strain the herbs and store the tincture in dark bottles.
Take a few drops as needed, for example in a little water or tea.
Personally I like to bring a little motherwort when I am going to make an offering to Frigg. If anyone had asked me what Frigg's herbs are, I would probably have mentioned motherwort as one of the first.
In Serbia I know that many witches use this herb against prostate troubles. This I have never recommended myself, but I know that Serbian witches are skilled, so I keep it in the back of my mind – and I mention it here, in case you want to test it out.
Then Bjarka is finished and I move on to Ehwaz.
