Meaning: Thunder, war
Symbolises: Power, protection
Mythology: Thor
Fylgja: Goat
Class: Herse
Tree: Rowan
Plant: Burdock
Day: Thursday
Old Norwegian Rune Rhyme:
Thurs causes the (monthly) sickness of
women;
Few are (sexually) aroused at that time.
Thor is a figure of much larger that life
proportions and we do know a great deal
about him from the mythology. He is depicted
as a big, brawny, red head with a quick
temper and slow wits. He is the defender of
Asgard, his great strength and courage, and
his formidable hammer, Mjollnir. The rune
represents a thorn, a sign of protection.
The thorn is also a protection against
complacency as anyone who has forgotten that
they are gardening near thorn bushes will
testify. Complacency is the greatest threat
of all it, like the thorn, can cripple or
disable the strongest man or animal. This is
a rune of contradictions, the idea of
strength being a weakness and the small and
weak actually being very strong. Being
careful and aware can provide more
protection that a dangerous weapon and heavy
armour, especially if you don't know how to
use the weapon, personal injury is possible.
Perhaps the most instructive stories about
Thor are the ones that show that things are
often not at all what they seem. There is
the account of Thor's Utgard where he thinks
he has been utterly humiliated but in fact
has terrified the giants with his enormous
strength as he took on impossible tasks.
This rune can be apt to questions of
personal happiness. Although everything
seems to be fine and no reasons to be
unhappy, there can still be problems hiding
waiting to torment us. If these are not
addressed then they can cause great pain.
The thorn reminds us every day that
eventually we must do what is right, because
ultimately there is no peace until we face
the truth. |
