Meaning: Female energies
Symbolises: Magic
Mythology: Frigg, wife of Odin, Queen
of Heaven
Fylgja: Cuckoo and Hare
Class: All
Tree: Birch
Plant: Flax
Old Norwegian Rune Rhyme:
Birch twig is the limb greenest with leaves;
Loki brought the luck of deceit.
This is the symbol of Frigg, Odin's
second wife and mother of Baldur. It is also
the symbol of the birch tree, the first tree
to show its leaves in spring time and
apparently the first to re-establish itself
on the barren landscape left by retreating
glaciers. Bjork is the symbol of family life
and childbirth and is the female counter
point to Tyr. It represents female energies
in both the positive and negative aspects.
This rune suggests matters relating to
marriage, children, and family life in
general. It would tend to suggest a
successful and fruitful union is likely. It
is also symbolic of a mothers love, care,
and devotion. But as with all things these
need to be kept in balance. Frigg was so
devoted to her son Baldur that she became
over protective. When it was prophesied that
Baldur would suffer a premature death she
resolved to do everything within her
considerable power to protect him. She
persuaded everything, animal, vegetable, and
mineral to take an oath not to harm her son.
Baldur believing his mother capable of such
a feet, considered himself to be
invulnerable and became the focus of games
that involved attacking him with all manner
of lethal objects. It was this seemingly
innocent pastime which gave Loki his
opportunity to have Baldur killed with a
mistletoe dart, the one thing in all
creation the Frigg had overlooked. Bjork can
suggest an over protective mother figure who
believes that her love is so strong that it
can change the Orlog (Fate) for her
offspring. It also warns that even the
powers of female persuasion, intuition, and
capacity for self sacrificial love have
their limits. |
