Meaning: Animals in particular
cattle, domestic animals.
Symbolises: Riches, success.
Mythology: Frey (Twin brother of
Freya)
Fylgja: Deer, boar, hog.
Class Karl
Tree: Hazel
Plant:Barley
Day: Friday
Old Norwegian Rune Rhyme:
Money causes strife among kinsmen;
The wolf grows up in the woods.
Fe implies wealth, success, and fertility
but these things are meaningless unless
shared and freely distributed to those who
have need of them. A herd of cattle can be
acquired quite easily and quickly, by
purchase, by theft, or even by accident
should unbranded cattle wander onto your
land. But just as easily they can be lost by
accident, rustlers, or by hungry wolves.
Also if the whole herd is slaughtered at
once there will be no breeding stock for the
future. It is a kind of wealth that must be
nurtured and cared for and not used greedily
or carelessly. The rune poem refers to the
jealousy and strife that can arise from
sudden increases in wealth. The strife that
can come from that wealth can draw your
attention inward and prevent you from
noticing other dangers, the wolf in the
woods that waits to kill unguarded cattle.
This rune is also associated with the story
of Frey and Gerda, the story goes that one
day Frey sat in Odin's chair and saw the
nine worlds. As he had not been properly
prepared for this he was unable to cope with
seeing everything. Frey saw Gerda and was
paralysed by her beauty. As the god of
fertility the sexual attraction stunned Frey
and he was aware of a desire so powerful
that he never dared hope that it could be
fulfilled. With such strong feelings he was
unable to act. He instructed Skirnir, his
servant, to take his sword and his horse to
her as tokens of love. This act succeeded in
winning Gerda's heart but at the battle on
the day of Ragnarock, being deprived of his
sword he was unable to defend himself, fell
to the giant Surt. |
