“A fool believes
He may live forever
Steering clear of strife;
But age gives him
No mercy,
Though spears spare his life”
Hávamál 16
He may live forever
Steering clear of strife;
But age gives him
No mercy,
Though spears spare his life”
Hávamál 16
Literal Meaning & History
The direct translation of the name of this rune, Raidho/Reið is ride, specifically in the context of a horse ride and in the context of travel.
As in, a two days ride.
Figurative Meaning & Symbolism
Though the literal meaning is easy to translate and one can simply translate the figurative meaning to “Ride!” as the core term, you would be doing this rune a disservice by thinking of it simply in the context of travel and all that that entails.
No, this rune refers to all the things we can refer to as rides, as travels, as paths.
This is the family vacation.
This is the long awaited visit to a friend.
This is the change in your life.
This is destiny.
This is the search within, and without.
This is the path of labor, from an amateur to an expert.
This is the path of Life.
This is the long awaited visit to a friend.
This is the change in your life.
This is destiny.
This is the search within, and without.
This is the path of labor, from an amateur to an expert.
This is the path of Life.
The little runic poem above translates as follows:
Reið is the pleasure of the rider
And a tricky journey
And the labor of the horse.
Reið is the pleasure of the rider
And a tricky journey
And the labor of the horse.
That’s the thing about Raidho, even in it’s most mundane translation. Whether you are the rider or the ridden when it comes up is entirely up to context.
Suggested Homework
Think about the last year of your life and look for all the different ways your life has displayed this concept.
How many rides can you find in the last year of your life?
Did you change your job?
Did you take the bus?
Did you drive?
Did you go on vacation?
Did something change drastically?
Did you change your life on purpose?
Etc, etc, etc, etc…
Think both macro and micro, physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual and biological, outside yourself and within yourself, as a person or as a drop in the oceanic ebb and flow of humanity.
Did you take the bus?
Did you drive?
Did you go on vacation?
Did something change drastically?
Did you change your life on purpose?
Etc, etc, etc, etc…
Think both macro and micro, physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual and biological, outside yourself and within yourself, as a person or as a drop in the oceanic ebb and flow of humanity.
Write down in only a couple of words as many rides as you can think of.
