“The worst things are those that are suffered alone.”
Grettissaga ch. 16
Grettissaga ch. 16
Literal Meaning & History
Hagalaz or hagall refers to hail. As in a hailstorm. As in tiny pellets of frozen ice that bite when they hit your skin.
The more modern form of this word, hagl or hagel is still used in the modern scandinavian/nordic languages for specifically this form of weather, though the word may have also, originally, referred loosely to other forms of horrible winter weathers.
Figurative Meaning & Symbolism
The core word to keep in mind when working with this rune is “storm” rather than the hail itself. Though remembering the connection is important.
This rune represents catastrophe in all it’s forms.
It’s bad luck and misfortune that finds you even during sunny days.
It is destruction.
It’s the a time of tribulation, an ordeal.
It’s the annihilation that leaves a clean slate behind.
It’s adversity.
It’s the feeling of loss.
It’s bad luck and misfortune that finds you even during sunny days.
It is destruction.
It’s the a time of tribulation, an ordeal.
It’s the annihilation that leaves a clean slate behind.
It’s adversity.
It’s the feeling of loss.
It is the end.
This is a rune of suffering.
It can be anything from walking through a literal storm to get home, whether or not you make it to the end of your journey, to weathering the strain of sitting at an awkward family dinner, full of frustration, hostility and judgement, for just one night.
It can be anything from walking through a literal storm to get home, whether or not you make it to the end of your journey, to weathering the strain of sitting at an awkward family dinner, full of frustration, hostility and judgement, for just one night.
But just as with the last rune, this doesn’t necessarily mean something bad.
There is always a silver lining and there is always an end.
It’s an undeniable fact of life that everything is subject to change.
Pain too. No matter what kind of pain or where it comes from, it changes, it’s not the same from day to day, pain itself changes, some days are better than others, and sooner or later even this will pass.
Pain too. No matter what kind of pain or where it comes from, it changes, it’s not the same from day to day, pain itself changes, some days are better than others, and sooner or later even this will pass.
And the world seeks balance.
Pain changes you. All pain changes you.
“No pain no gain.” If you’re working out you want to work out until it’s hard, until you have to strain, until your body objects, to maximise the rewards.
Sometimes we have to go through periods of hardship to make our lives better.
Sometimes we have to give up what we know, with all the pain and fear this causes, for a better unknown.
Pain changes you. All pain changes you.
“No pain no gain.” If you’re working out you want to work out until it’s hard, until you have to strain, until your body objects, to maximise the rewards.
Sometimes we have to go through periods of hardship to make our lives better.
Sometimes we have to give up what we know, with all the pain and fear this causes, for a better unknown.
Suffering doesn’t have to be a bad thing.
Context!
The little rune poem above translates as follows;
Hagall is the cold grains
and the falling sleet
and a plague of snakes.
and the falling sleet
and a plague of snakes.
Suggested Homework
Think of something you can do, that you want to do, but you’re afraid to do. Something that would be hard, scary, difficult… but not entirely possible.
Something you still Want to do.
Something you still Want to do.
OR
Think of the single hardest thing you’ve ever had to do, be it physically the hardest or emotionally the hardest.
Write down this thing in simple terms.
Then write down every good thing that came of it or it could bring you.
Everything.
From “sense of accomplishment/responsibility” to measurable monetary gain.
From strength gained to understanding achieved.
Everything.
Then write down every good thing that came of it or it could bring you.
Everything.
From “sense of accomplishment/responsibility” to measurable monetary gain.
From strength gained to understanding achieved.
Everything.
Every teeny tiny good thing that can find it’s way to you through this piece of suffering.
Still know, nothing in this world is free. No matter how much a thing can give you, doesn’t mean you won’t have to suffer for it.
