Kenaz

KENAZ

Kenaz (KEN - ahz) - (also known as - Cen, Ken, Kenniz, Ka, Kunst, Kunno, Kaun, Kun, Kano)

Value - K or CH or G or CK or KA (generally K though, lol)

Numeric Order - 5 or 6

Traditionally Represents - Change. Capability. Creativity. Torch. Candle. Cancer. Sex.

Represents - Loki. Spruce. Wormwood. Worm. Wyrm. Change. Soul-light. Creativity. Torch. Sexuality. Sickness. Cancer. Inflammation. Ulcer. Heat. Passion. Artistry. Pine. Zirczekaja.

The man that hurts me
consumes himself and ends
pyre-struck and heart-sick.
I am the burning torch
and the last dancing wolf.

Vilturj Rune Poem

Kenaz, or Ken, is seen as the shaman's rune, or the rune of the shaman's magic. It is the rune which both heals and brings sickness, and the Scandinavian shamans of old were known to do both according to what the spirits, and the people required. Kenaz is a 'higher mystery' rune, and it is a good rune to meditate on during thunder journeys. Historically, or mythologically, Kenaz represents Odin's ordeal between the two fires in Grimnismal. Kenaz has a double meaning according to culture, so much that they have often been hard to reconcile. In Scandinavia 'Kenaz' was thought to mean Cancer or Inflammation. In the Norse Futarc 'Kenaz' meant Light or Passion. In Vilturj, Kenaz is complicated, and encompasses many meanings, including the wiry strength of the underworld god Zirczekaja. Meditating on this shape will bring its meaning closer to you.

I tend to work with three different meanings for Kenaz. The first is the idea of Kenaz as the light or flame of sexuality. This is the one definition which seems to reconcile the passion of the Norse word with the inflammation of the Scandinavian. Passion and unification of the body parts leads to blood rushing to erogenous zones whilst the sacred inner sparks of fire pool and flow. Upright this rune tends to suggest peaking times of sexual energy, and suggest that these particular times are good specifically for sexual healing. This relates back to the Vilturj god, Zirczekaja, who is seen as a dangerous god personified as a wiry youth. He is extraordinarily sexual in nature, in the same way that an adolescent male can sometimes be considered insatiable. His energy inspires sexual union, sometimes devoid of sensuality.

The second meaning is the idea of Kenaz as the inner light, or the torch that is held aloft. This is the most common interpretation (probably because it's the most 'positive' and therefore the most 'fluffy' but I'll let you decide). This torch light was all forms of fertility, particularly the fertility of the artist, as such this rune has been associated with the Celtic deity Bride. This is the Rune of Art, and a good patron rune or rune to use in a 'bind-rune' for artists and those who are creative.

Kenaz, as well as being the rune of art, is also the rune of the noble. It is a flashing torch-fire, respected and heroic. Therefore this rune is the patron rune also of heroes and brave kings. It is associated with the highest and best of society.

The third meaning was that of cancer, ulceration and inflammation, and certainly Merked this rune can predict these things. It tends to show a peaking of the body's energies in areas of functional sickness (if one believes that ALL sickness is functional), and therefore suggests that we are not actually consistently paying attention to ourselves, rather paying attention to the symptoms - such as the illness - rather than the cause of the illness at its root. In a community setting it represents a flaring up or burning up of the community, working itself into a fever in order to 'cleanse' the toxins of society. It can also represent a massive communal burning out, so that society can recharge, or if necessary; die.

Kenaz can be seen as a feminine energy, the anima in all of us. It says that our internal light, our internal fertility and our internal soul are our highest possessions. It suggests the imperative of protecting the family, or that which belongs to our 'grove of trees' regardless of whether the family is being threatened or not.

Merk - Merked, this rune tends to represent sickness and illness, particularly the types of sickness that we do not learn from, or will continue not to learn from. It can represent artist's or writer's block and general burnout that leads to illness. It is the spreading of oneself too thin. Merk Kenaz can represent the decay or breakup of a long-cherished relationship, and the decay of the body. It is dissolution of that which we do not want to be dissolved. It can in extreme cases (particularly when combined with Merked Haurgl) represent sudden death, particularly from terminal illness, or illness.

In Ritual - In ritual this rune is associated with the scent of sulfur and the colour of white and creamy white. In meditation it can be used to uplift the soul, and to realise the reasons behind all functional illness, from a broken arm to cancer. It is great as a support during creative ritual, particularly ones for those who work in areas of artistry.

This rune tends to be associated with all forms of shield-work, particularly those where malevolent energies are reflected back to the one who created them or generated them. Kenaz is associated with a magical fire or projection that deceives others and gets you what you want. In a way, it's function is like that of sickness. Whilst we have a cold, we project inability onto others so that they'll leave us alone, and we use the time to get what we want and need. It is the body's form of deception. Kenaz reflects this. It can be used to strengthen shields and charge them with a very strong energy.

This rune is also specifically employed for all post-death ritual, and all ritual associated with fire that is necessary, such as need-fires, fires of vigilance, fires of cremation.

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