Wunjo – the rune of joy
We have reached the last rune in the lineage of Frøy/Frøya. I have seen this rune's name translated as joy, happiness and laughter. All three fit. I think I will add compassion, for compassion too lies in the rune's energy.
Where Thurs has a thorn, Wunjo has "the flag at full mast." Every time Thurs shows up in my reading I hurry to draw a "bind rune" consisting of Thurs, Gifu and Wunjo as protection. Thurs can warn that the storm is coming, Wunjo says: "this will pass."
Wunjo creates happiness, the rune gives us something we can take joy in.
If we say that Santa Claus is a further development of Odin – and that Odin's eight-legged horse, Sleipnir, gave rise to Santa's eight reindeer … and that Odin travels around handing out gifts, or that Odin hands out Wunjo to everyone … it is not a foolish comparison. :-)
Compassion is truly in Wunjo's energy. People who have empathy and compassion are warm-hearted. A warm heart gives joy, so a warm heart is Wunjo. I remember the comforting hugs of my foremothers, their warm words, their "Oh, come here and get a hug" – just the memory of them gives me a feeling of Wunjo.
Humor is Wunjo. One should be careful not to be flippant, but humor dissolves a great many situations. I know a person who sees everything in the darkest light. When he is not seeing life darkly, he is looking sourly at life. And when he can finally take something in the worst possible way, he does so. The comment sections on social media are flooded with his sour comments. I feel Wunjo crawl under the sofa when he calls … Poor man, it must be awful to be so negative. Fortunately I know other "happy birds" who bubble over with Wunjo energy. It is good to have a chat with the "Wunjo birds" after a conversation with the "Wunjo scarer."
Most things go more smoothly if you take things with humor and a cheerful mood. You cannot chirp your way through everything, but perhaps you can smile and joke in situations that are difficult?
Many years ago my family and I got the idea to buy an old house and renovate it. It sounded so simple and we started with the bathroom and kitchen. It was anything but simple. The walls had mold, the floors were crooked – and the windows were rotten. It became more expensive than planned, it became more work than we could have imagined, and this took ten times longer than we had imagined in our wildest fantasy. We made it through this project thanks to the ability to smile our way through obstacles – sometimes the smiles were a little tight and the tears not far away, but we made it through. The house was finished! We had gotten ourselves a very decent holiday place! We enjoyed this for many years. The house was sold to a married couple with three children.
Now comes the eerie part … the last day we were in the house cleaning out, there lay some twigs in the shape of a cross. My mother thought this was a little creepy. The last we saw of the house, we saw through a rain shower from the ferry. Then the house looked dark and sad.
The family moved in and lived there for a few years. Then we saw on the news that the family had died in a fire. The father of the family had killed his wife and children before he committed suicide.
Later the house was razed to the ground.
Our time in the house was filled with Wunjo, but it puts a damper on all the happy memories with the tragedy that unfolded later.
If Wunjo comes the right way up in a reading, we can rejoice over "something." Perhaps you know what it is, perhaps you will receive news you can rejoice over. Joy is on its way.
If Wunjo comes up reversed or in an awkward position, this can mean that you become depressed, or that you take things too lightly.
I associate Wunjo with the zodiac sign Leo. You would have to search long for a more charming and sociable sign than Leo when the Wunjo energy is allowed to prevail. I must also include Jupiter with this rune. Jupiter is a happy planet and it has much of Wunjo's energy.
Among Tarot cards I will select the "Four of Wands" and "The Star." These cards have much of Wunjo in them.
Among crystals Irene Resaland recommends Bornite, often called the "rainbow ore" because of its play of colors, said to have strong grounding properties. It is often used to balance energies and can help clear away negative feelings, while at the same time promoting optimism. The stone's energy is experienced as stabilizing and it lifts the mood, which makes it popular both in meditation and energy work.
On my own account I will include Citrine, which is a crystal often associated with joy, optimism and inner strength. It strengthens self-esteem and motivation, as well as attracting prosperity and success. Many believe that citrine has a cleansing energy that can dissolve negative thoughts and feelings, which makes it popular among those who wish to bring more light and positivity into their lives.
Plants in Wunjo's spirit are many, I have picked out a few here.
Anise is one of these Wunjo plants. Now I am talking about anise, not star anise. Star anise has its uses, but here and now it is anise that applies. The sweet flavor and scent are heavenly. If you use it in incense to attract love you are making a wise choice. A little anise seed scattered over your bed gives you sweet dreams. The plant is so full of sweetness that it simply must rub off on your mood. For medicinal use this is excellent to use against fungal infections, either as oil or as a foot bath/bath. As a tea it is good to use against stomach complaints. It also stimulates milk production.
Clove smells very good, I think, and that is precisely why I sometimes buy a bouquet of carnations. Some flowers I put in the bath water and then I lie there and enjoy the water and the scent. For some reason I prefer white carnations. I have an aunt who gets "the heebie-jeebies" from white carnations … "they are funeral flowers, for heaven's sake," she groans, while I unprejudiced enjoy my white carnations.
Clove has for centuries been used both as a spice and as medicine. Medicinally, clove is used for its antiseptic and pain-relieving properties, especially in connection with toothache and inflammation of the mouth. The oil from clove has a natural ability to ease pain and acts antibacterially, which is why it has been an important part of folk medicine. It is not without reason that clove is associated with joy and well-being – its scent and properties give both warmth and relief, which harmonizes well with Wunjo's energy.
Clove oil is good to use on sore muscles.
Lemon balm is a plant I believe has been given too little space in the world of herbs. It is actually quite a "happy pill." I do not care for the word "happy pill," but I am using it now for lack of another word. "Happy herb"? Is that better? Yes, perhaps? The famous Hildegard of Bingen wrote this: "Lemon balm is warm, and a person who eats it readily smiles, for its warmth touches the spleen and then gladdens the heart." If you are anxious, troubled by a racing heart and worry, then drink lemon balm tea before you go to bed. This also applies when you have an upset stomach. If you have the opportunity, plant lemon balm in your garden and enjoy the plant's health-giving properties. And if you are going to serve fish, remember a few leaves of lemon balm. Wonderfully good, and then there is that lovely scent :-)
It is also said that lemon balm drives away evil.
Hollyhock you cannot get around when you are going to talk about Wunjo + herbs.
This plant is invaluable when it comes to easing grief and opening the heart to new experiences and impulses. When a friend of mine lost her mother and grieved very deeply, another witch made a little pouch with Wunjo embroidered on the outside. The pouch was filled with, among other things, hollyhock. My friend carried the pouch on her during the day and put it under her pillow at night. She herself believes that this magical pouch helped her through the grieving process. Nothing could bring the mother back, but it gradually became easier to accept the course of life and accept that we shall all die one day.
Hollyhock is also good to use against insect bites, sunburn, dandruff and skin problems. It is also good to use when you have a cold or a dry cough.
It is said that where the meadowsweet grows, there evil and low spirits wither. Meadowsweet strengthens the bonds between friends, family and lovers. The scent lifts the mood, and it is precisely the effects of the scent that make me think of Wunjo.
Make yourself a summer juice of meadowsweet and the recipe you will get here:
Pick: 40–50 meadowsweet flowers
Measure out two liters of water, get out one kilo of sugar and two lemons, as well as 30 grams of citric acid.
Then do the following:
Rinse the flowers gently to remove any debris and small creatures.
Bring the water to a boil and pour this over the meadowsweet flowers in a large bowl. Add sugar, citric acid and lemon slices.
Cover and let stand in the refrigerator or a cool room for 3–5 days, stir occasionally.
Strain the juice through a cloth and pour into clean bottles. Store cool.
Enjoy meadowsweet juice as it is, or dilute it with cold water or sparkling water. Perfect to serve on a warm summer day, ideally out in the garden where you can hear the bumblebees buzzing and smell the scent of flowers.
With that we have reached the end of Wunjo, and now we set to work on the lineage of Hagal.
The next rune up is actually Hagal.
