Haurgl

HAURGL

Haurgl (HORE-gl) - (also known as: Hagal, Hagall, Hagalaz, Hagaloz, Haegl, Hagl, Hagel, Haghall)

Value - H (hard), CH (velar as in the 'Loch'), CH (as in German 'ich')

Numeric Order - 8 or 7

Traditionally Represents - Hail. Change

Represents - Transformation. Growth. Creation. Universe. All-Hedge. Gods. Christ. Othinn. All-Mother. Cailleach. Destruction. Hail. Change. Explosion. Active. Ever-Moving. Vavale. Kaczal'cze (God of hail)

The village blazes furiously
over the prisoners.
So furiously that I cannot save it.
Then the hail.

- Vilturj Rune Poem

Haurgl is the hail rune. In fact, the name literally translates as 'hail' (Old English Haegl, Icelandic Hagall). Haurgl is known as the All-Raune, or the all-rune. In its traditional representation it had six external points, much like a hexiform crystal. It is a good conductor, and often empowers the runes that are around it. If Haurgl actually touches another rune, it lends it an explosive and sometimes destructive energy. Whereas Isa is stable, Haurgl is active, and its energy is ever moving.

Hail has been described in the ancient poems as 'the whitest corn', the hard food which melts and waters the soil, but can also destroy that which lives on the soil. In fact, it is for this reason I believe that the ancient Icelandic poem states that 'hail is the coldest of corns.' It can certainly bring life in the form of water which melts, but it commonly can bring death.

Haurgl ends the first Aett and begins the second Aett, and is the bridge between the worlds. Represented by either fog or a rainbow after a storm. Haurgl is change, the act of one matter turning into something else (in this case, ice into water and then into life). Because of the association with hail, which is often quite a violent force, Haurgl can portend or suggest a time of crisis that leads to transformation. It can also be a good rune in a controlled crisis. So not only does Haurgl bring the force of crisis behind it, more importantly, it brings the assurance that the ice will eventually melt into water, inner harmony WILL be forthcoming. This in mind, Haurgl can also represent completion.

Haurgl is aware and alert, it surrounds and destroys, and also reminds us that we have the internal power to bring disaster to other's lives, even if we have the intention in the long run to heal. It represents introspection and introversion, locking ourselves within ourselves to the point where all our good intentions destroy the results that others have worked hard to bring about. It's not so much raining on someone else's parade, but hailing on it.

Let's look at the hail aspect some more. Hail as an aspect of weather energy represents the need for dark forces, and destructive forces. Hail is often unexpected, destructive for a short amount of time, and then it's gone, leaving behind its fecund water and ionised dirt. Haurgl is the seed of change, the catalyst - good or bad - forcing one to actually change, move on, or transform. It is when the storm of your life becomes forceful and powerfully kicks you up the backside. 'Get a move on' Haurgl says, 're-sow those seeds, look to another project, don't give up.'

Finally, a personal note. Haurgl's meanings, like it's energy, are transient. Many people develop highly personalised meanings after coming in contact with this rune. Remember that the overall power of this rune is not wrathful or malicious, and that whatever change it brings is natural.

Merk - This rune has a few meanings Merked. Firstly, it represents catastrophe and destruction, or change for the worse. It can also represent stagnation, preventing any metaphorical matter within (such as hail) from melting, means that the destruction Haurgl brings stays, but no positives come of the bruising force of the hail. This destruction can also indicate a loss of power, and a loss of prosperity.

Haurgl can also represent destruction just before completion, or just before you are about to reap the rewards of hard work. Though it IS fertilising, it will make you wait longer to once again reap rewards. In a way, Haurgl is disaster, frightening and sudden.

In Ritual - This rune is one of the few that is NOT to be messed with. Employing it in spellwork can lead to chaotic, catastrophic or disastrous results (encouraging huh?). However, if you want to meditate on this symbol, pay special attention to fostering a deep breathing technique that really slows down your brain waves and heart beat. As you breathe out you can say 'haaaaaaaaaaaa' if you like, deeply and calmly. Deep concentration on this rune allows astral travel or astral perception and heightens our awareness of crown chakra based experience. The smell associated with this rune is sulfur. The colour is an indigo blue, or a painful glaring white.

For advanced workers, this is a fantastic banishing rune, and enables focus. It also bridges and provides links between opposing points of view.

Next: Nauthija