“It is better to be betrayed than to trust no one.” Fljótsdælingasaga ch. 13
Literal Meaning & History
There are three words that appear to refer to more or less the same sort of being, Jötunn, Risi and Þurs. The giants, or ogres.
Not necessarily evil, but not bound by the same morality as men, or æsir or vanir. Some were humanid, even beautiful, while others were multiheaded, with great big fangs and long sharp claws and even others resembled or were described as beasts and creatures.
Þursar and Jötnar are a staple of the old mythology, the beings with which the gods (æsir and vanir) interacted the most. Neighbouring powers that they shared history and even familial ties to. In some way the interaction could be seen to resemble the interactions between two royal houses.
The þursar refers mostly to ice and wind giants, whereas jötnar were more tied to the realm of fire (muspellheim).
Þursar were poetic, they hoarded knowledge and kept to themselves and demanded high payment for even the slightest share, they had a violent streak and were known to eat men and think very little of mankind in general, not that they thought highly of the gods either. There is a sort of selfish greed, self centered lack of morality and tremendous pride that is closely tied to the þursar, and they can’t exactly be called lazy either. The way these things manifest with them isn’t in the “selfish brat” sort of manner, but in the disciplined and ruthless manner.
In some sagas, þursar would regrow severed limbs and in general be extremely hardy and difficult to kill.
The small poem on the card reads;
Þurs is the torment of women
and the inhabitant of the rock
and the wardrune’s guard
Þurs is the torment of women
and the inhabitant of the rock
and the wardrune’s guard
Figurative Meaning & Symbolism
The key word here, or the one closest to it, would be “Focus”.
Not in the sense of perspective, but in the sense of single minded concentration and discipline.
Not in the sense of perspective, but in the sense of single minded concentration and discipline.
If you want something, you’ll have to work for it, you’ll have to concentrate, you’ll have to maintain focus, maintain discipline.
This is the action the card refers to.
This is the knowledge the card refers to.
This is the hardship the card refers to.
This is the knowledge the card refers to.
This is the hardship the card refers to.
This rune is the distilled essence of sitting at your desk, surrounded by books, deep in the work of reading and referencing, in preparation for a test, completely shut out from any distraction, any other purpose. This is the rune at it’s core.
This is not necessarily a bad thing.
I know the initial reaction is “holy shit, that sounds terrible” but it’s not.
I know the initial reaction is “holy shit, that sounds terrible” but it’s not.
The ability to focus on a task, to take it to completion, without getting side tracked, is not an unenviable ability.
Of course, as any person with attention deficit disorder will tell you, to slip into hyperfocus, to lose connection with the rest of the world because your mind has zeroed in on some one thing, doesn’t exactly have to be good either.
Of course, as any person with attention deficit disorder will tell you, to slip into hyperfocus, to lose connection with the rest of the world because your mind has zeroed in on some one thing, doesn’t exactly have to be good either.
Suggested Homework
Think of a scenario, preferably not regarding school, where focusing on the task at hand, putting in the work, and concentration, are required. Think outside the box, find something practical. Like building something, or destroying something.
Think of how concentration, self control, discipline, etc, etc, are a good thing, how these things can positively affect the work and your life outside of it, the outcome, and how completion of the thing affects you.
Then think about all the ways that these traits can become a bad thing, how they can negatively affect the work itself and your life outside of it, the outcome, and how completion of the thing affects you. (A little hint here; Change is hard. Who are you if you aren’t the person who does what you do?)
