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The Rune Raido and herbs
Raido means “ride” and “journey”. This is, in other words, the rune that creates movement.
Raido also covers “decision”. Taking the reins and steering, in short. This rune can refer to physical movement, journeys, spiritual journeys and indeed moving house. I have seen the rune turn up when a move is under way. Both when one was to change address and when the workplace was to be relocated.
I perceive Raido as “the shaman's rune”, for who moves more between the worlds than the shamans?
Travelling is something I am completely in tune with. I love to travel, whether I'm going to Dubai or Drammen. To see other cultures, experience foreign scents, taste food and just take in new knowledge. Unfortunately it is governed by finances, work and duties. It often happens that I have to undertake “journeys in the spirit”, but that can be rewarding too, can't it? Or a journey on foot in the neighbourhood. That's fine too 🙂
In California I came across a group of “travel folk”. Everything they owned they had packed into their backpacks. They lived off odd jobs and took life as it came. They hitchhiked, walked and rode the rails as drifters. What I noticed was that two of these free souls had the rune Raido tattooed on them. They probably felt the rune's energy 🙂 The next time I came across Raido in the USA was on the East Coast; there I met a married couple who lived in their motorhome and travelled around as often as they could. They had Raido pendants. They had had these pendants made for themselves, inspired by a book they had read about our Norse runes. I have no tattoos, but if I were to have one, Raido would be a natural choice.
Whether we like to travel or not, we are all “wanderers” and we travel on “the highway of life”. Sometimes we take the wrong road, sometimes the road is bumpy and steep, other times there is fine flow. It happens that we have to make a U-turn, based on a “poor sense of direction” – and this probably applies to all of us. And the reason we are exactly where we are is often because of decisions we made before we got here where we are now. Our decisions are responsible, plain and simple. We learn from experience. I often think that if I had been as wise as I am with hindsight, then I would have been a genius! Are there others who feel that way? 🙂
Well, whether we travel on the highway, by boat, in the spirit, or through the air, we travel with Raido's energy and in Raido's spirit.
When Raido comes up in a rune layout, it can mean that one is to set off on a journey, or move house, or “leadership” in the sense that one must take the reins. Together with the Is (Ice) rune, it can mean delays or that the rune asks that one take things a little more calmly. Together with Thurs, it can mean that you must be a little careful on a journey, and so on. Reversed, Raido can either warn that you will have a difficult journey, or that you must take more responsibility for your life.
It can also be a warning that you are on a completely wrong thought or path when it comes to the spiritual.
I was mulling a little over going to a “spiritual school” and learning a bit more about that type of spirituality. The answer from the runes was Raido reversed. Later I have had confirmations that the runes answered very wisely. I saved both time and money on that answer.
The way I perceive Raido, it has much in common with Sagittarius's sign and the planet Jupiter. Raido is adventurous, and so are the Sagittarians. Or, the Sagittarians are supposed to be, at any rate. Jupiter is a planet that loves knowledge, and it loves to gaze out over the landscape. Jupiter's shadow side is that it may take to overdoing things, whether it gambles away a fortune, grabs a fortune for itself, walks over corpses or stuffs itself with too much food and drink. There is always a danger that the shadow sides can emerge. Raido's shadow sides are irresponsibility, restlessness and escapism.
I believe that Raido is charged better at the new moon than at other moon phases, but if you have a different experience, then that's perfectly fine too. I don't sit on any definitive truth, just so that's clear. I only share from my own experiences 🙂
Among the Tarot cards I think “Six of Swords” and “Eight of Wands” fit best, and if I'm to choose a card from the Major Arcana, then both “The Emperor” and “The Chariot” fit, I believe. The Emperor takes responsibility and the Chariot rolls …
For journeys, Irene Resaland recommends aquamarine. Especially for journeys on water. As well as that this crystal brings luck on longer journeys, according to Indian gurus. On my own account I'll add fluorite; it is good to have when you have decisions to make. The crystal makes you think and see the consequences of the choices you make. If that isn't good, then I don't know 🙂
This matter of crystals is also a little difficult; what works for one person may perhaps not work as well for another. Here you can experiment and make your own experiences. I only include crystals as a guide.
Raido and plants
I can't get around Yggdrasil, which most people believe to be an ash. Perhaps it is a yew, but I lean towards the ash tree. So, let's talk about ash. The first man was created from a trunk of the ash tree. This wonderful flowering deciduous tree. I am so fortunate that I am surrounded by ash trees, and I love every single one. When these trees bloom in spring, my heart rumbles a happy melody, and when I'm setting off on journeys, I pick an ash leaf and write the Raido rune on the leaf before I put it in my bag, or whatever travel bags I'm bringing. When the trip goes up into the mountains, I place a few ash leaves in my shoes, just in case … Many make themselves runes from ash, and that is brilliant. The ash is an impressive tree, and there is much to it. If you are now going to make yourself runes from ash wood, then it's good if you take a branch from the ground – but if there aren't any branches on the ground, then you'll have to ask the tree whether it's all right that you take a branch, and leave an offering for the tree. I think I would bring a bottle of water. Ash is associated with water and Neptune, so water as an offering will surely be appreciated.
Calamus root is a plant I associate with Raido. Calamus root is a plant I associate with taking control of one's own life. It is said that if you chew on a calamus root, tobacco tastes utterly dreadful. And the one who quits smoking takes the very “test of womanhood” in self-control …
My hoodoo witch friend uses calamus root for all jobs that involve persuasion and gaining control over both oneself and others. Control over oneself is good, while control over others … well, you are responsible for what you do. That you can do something need not mean it is necessary or wise to do it. In any case, calamus root is a power plant. An incense made of frankincense and calamus root is excellent for helping in a situation where you feel you have lost control.
This root can also be used to strengthen the memory, relieve cramps and against poor digestion. Do not use it if you have heart conditions or are pregnant.
Comfrey is the ultimate “travel plant”. It protects on journeys, so before you set off to travel, place a few pieces of comfrey in your luggage or car. I brought a whole bag of comfrey from Germany, and of course the customs officer became very interested. I explained to her about the herb's magical properties; she listened and said: “Oh really, so you're one of those crazies who believe in that sort of thing?” I let her question pass without comment. She shook her head in resignation before letting me pass with the comfrey bag intact. Perhaps comfrey protects against customs officers too? 🙂
In my younger days I was an active show jumper and I played handball. Both led to a few fractures here and there. I got the advice to place dried comfrey in the bed for faster healing. I don't know whether this worked, but the skeleton mended quite quickly. Or do I have fast healing naturally in my body? I don't know 🙂
It is also said that comfrey is excellent to use if one is troubled by fungal infections. The same applies to skin problems, if the skin is burned or damaged.
Feverfew is a sweet plant to look at, but the taste … well … since I am a mosquito magnet, I am very fond of feverfew. I rub it on myself and then I get slightly fewer mosquito bites than I get when I am not “rubbed”. Flies don't like feverfew either, so a small sprig in the windowsill can keep flies out. In the Balkans I got the advice to pick a bunch of feverfew and place it in a room where there was illness. Feverfew sped up the healing and helped people back on their feet.
Feverfew also gives clarity of thought, and that can of course help you make good decisions.
You can eat the plant raw, but I recommend tinctures, capsules or tablets. The taste is not the best, as mentioned.
There are people who benefit greatly from feverfew for migraines and other varieties of headache. This also applies to people who are troubled by nerve pain. Try feverfew in one variety or another. Good luck.
The next rune is Kenaz, or Ken as I call it.
