Feb
The Protective Birch Rune
Yesterday we examined the Bjork Rune through several exercises. Bjork itself is old Norse for the birch tree. Birches are considered sacred to the Goddess Freya.
An old Nordic tradition was to make cradles, cribs and other baby furniture of birch. It was believed that the Birch wood had a protective quality for the very young. This is akin to an attribute of the Bjork Rune. The Rune is also protective of the young, and it is reflected in the maternal instinct. Mothers of most species will risk great danger to protect their young, be it a human mother, a cat, dog, bear, etc.
In those mammalian species where the father remains present after childbirth, the male role is to protect the mothers and infants. One wildlife example is the male lion, whose role is to defend the pride. It is a common human trait that the men defend women and children. Since ancient time, it is the man’s role to defend home and family. The male role is linked to an attribute of the Tyr Rune.
A loose analogy might be made to the Old Norse wedding, where the groom gave his wife keys and the bride handed her husband a hammer. It symbolized woman’s rulership in the home and man’s command of the outside. Obviously, this is once again the Tyr Rune as defender, and the Bjork Rune as that which is defended. Remember that the Bjork Rune is also a protective Rune. There is no coincidence that the Bjork Runeis linked to Freya, who is both a Love Goddess and a ferocious Defender. The combative aspect of Freya feels very much like that instant between the time a cat hisses and the instant it strikes with its claw.
In this instance, the Tyr Rune defends against that which is without and the Bjork Rune protects that which is within.
