Jun
Crisis and the Isa Rune
The Chinese character for Crisis is composed of two words. The first is Wei, which means danger, jeopardy and perilous. The other is Ji, which means opportunity, chance, and crucial point. Here we find the paradox of Danger and Opportunity.
This is very much like the Isa Rune, which has both its dangerous and opportune aspects. The physical manifestations of the Isa Rune illustrate it clearly. Ice can be danger. This is attested by the many accidents caused by Ice. Opportunity is seen in how Ice can create a path where none existed before. Ice can make an impassible swamp solid enough to traverse. It can turn a lake into a roadway.
An example of Danger versus Opportunity can be found in the 1939 Northern War between Finland and the Soviet Union. For the Russians, the snow and ice were treacherous hazards that were difficult to overcome. Ice caused Soviet troops movements to be limited to the few roads of Finland, which were narrow and crude. The cold made it hard for Russian troops to stay in fighting condition. It impeded the vehicles and made every movement difficult.
The Finns used the Ice to their advantage. They created hidden roads on Ice, using a series of weighted sleds. These roads could carry Finnish ski troops and light trucks. The Finns developed a sort of portable arctic housing for the troops that kept them healthy. The same cold that hurt the Russians was a help to the Finns. Finnish tactics made good use of ice and cold. Finnish raids and surprise attacks focused on things whose loss would make the Russians more susceptible to cold. Though possessing a massive army with tanks and modern equipment, the Soviets suffered greatly in their attempt to gain victory. The same Ice that was a weapon for the Finns was an unbearable obstacle to the Russians.
By the way, the Russians learned their lesson in Finland. In 1942, they used tactics learned from the Finnish War to fight the Germans.
The Isa Rune is a crucial point which can mean either danger or advantage. It is opportunity for some and danger for others. We see this even today. The Ice Roads of arctic Canada and Alaska are a temporary opportunity to ship freight by truck into places that are usually hard to reach by land. At the same time, the ice is a danger. Truckers have to be cautious and have quick reflexes on the ice roads lest they have a tragic accident.
Danger. Opportunity. There is the Isa Rune!
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If you enjoy history , especially military history, you can use it to gain a better feel for the Runes. The two publications listed below contain information on the Finnish War and arctic operations. They can illustrate various aspects of the Isa Rune in action.
Warfare in the Far North: the Finns use winter tactics and the arctic cold as a weapon against the Russians.
Fighting the Russians in Winter: three case studies of cold weather warfare against the Russians: US expedition of 1918, the Finnish War and World War II.
