The first eight Runes in the Elder Futhark prepare us for our initiation. We begin in everyday, mundane life, taking care of our physical needs. Most people do not dare venture beyond the ordinary; some see beneath and through the materialism of modern life, and venture into the unknown, seeking something more. There is joy in the journey, and sacrifice; we are charged to be strong, to listen, and to learn. We begin to understand that we are not alone in the universe--there is something, or Someone, waiting to guide us, calling us, at once as far away as the corners of Creation, and as close as the ground beneath our feet.
This is the beginning. A journey of a thousand miles lies before you, but before you can take the first step, you have to choose to get up and walk.
(Fehu)
Letter/Sound: F
Translation: Cattle
I am the hanging fruit
and the lowing herd
Four walls and a feast
to share with your kin
I give to you the
abundance of the Mother--
Yield me up again with
gratitude,
And I shall return
threefold.
The first Rune of the Spiral is, as you might expect, the beginning of our quest. Mythologically speaking it is bound up with the myriad stories of creation; in Norse myth, the human race was more or less begun by a primordial cow, Audhumla, who licked a block of salt (a block of ice according to some sources) until the forefather of humanity, Buri, emerged.
This Rune, then, has a certain connection to the Pagan concept of the Great Mother, the primal Creatrix, though usually She is envisioned giving birth to the manifest world rather than licking it free. The Wealth Rune has a decidedly feminine energy to it, especially when compared to the next Rune in the Aett, the Wild Ox.
The Wealth Rune’s literal translation is "cattle." Historically cattle were a form of currency for many cultures--the more you had in your herd, the better off you were, for purely practical reasons. The herds were also a lot of work, and were the kind of wealth that could be lost as easily as it was gained. A hard Winter, a hungry pack of wolves, a disease, a thief, or many other things could destroy your herd, so you had to take care of your cows, tend them, and watch over them.
Having been born and raised in Texas I know quite a bit about cows. In my experience they are nurturing animals, whether to their young or to humans; they are also usually very docile, but whatever you do, don’t threaten their calves, as several hundred pounds of cow coming at you in a fury is never, ever a good thing. In this way Fehu is connected again to the Goddess, who can be both loving and terrible, as the breeze kisses us and the tornado rips the roof off your house.
On a much smaller and more personal scale, the Wealth Rune means just that: wealth, abundance, and prosperity, specifically material prosperity. It represents where you come from, but also what you must leave behind.
Spiritual practitioners often eschew worldly possessions and mundane wealth, taking the path of the ascetic. It is this attitude, that the material world is somehow inferior to the spiritual, that leads many to ignore the lower chakras in favor of the higher--you may have seen such people in the Pagan Community if you’re a part of it. They seem to spend all their time chanting "Om" and bathing themselves in white light, or boasting about their amazing magical prowess, when they cannot hold down a job and have been eating Ramen noodles every night since the Reagan administration.
The fact is, Wealth is a symbol of the absolute basis of any viable spiritual path. Just as it is very difficult to perform a ritual without grounding, it is hard to concentrate on spiritual matters when you’re starving. A cardboard box is not a mosque; freezing to death may bring you to the gods, but not in a way you’ll enjoy. Before embarking on the Great Work of the Spiral, we must first take care of business, in many senses of the word, so that we have a stable and strong foundation to build on.
Most people in this day and age tend to treat wealth as the end-all-be-all, and never move past this point in the journey. Many do not go beyond the safety of home, metaphorically speaking, and keep their heads down so they don’t see there’s more out there. The cattle spoken of by the Wealth Rune are domesticated; often so are we.
This is a Rune of creature comfort, of routine, and of the unexamined life. Many are content to stay here--a good comparison can be found in The Lord of the Rings, with the Hobbits, who don’t concern themselves with the outside world, and enjoy the simplicity and peace of the ordinary. In and of itself this is a good thing--being able to find the sublime in the mundane is a lifelong quest all its own. What becomes a problem is forgetting that there is a world past your front porch.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to be comfortable, to feel cared for and successful; what makes the difference is that there are some people whose hearts cannot be satisfied so easily, who stare up at the stars or watch patterns in the clouds and dream of grand adventures just beyond the horizon. Pagans tend to be the second sort; as I’ve said many times, a contented life doesn’t lead you to change religions, especially not to the esoteric and stigmatized. We take the harder path because something, Someone, tells us we must--at the beginning, though, we don’t know where we’re headed, or who is calling. All we do know is that we can’t stay where we are any longer.
The Wealth Rune also symbolizes the ego, particularly as it pertains to our social status. If the size of one’s herd marked the owner as rich, a valuable member of the community, it can be said that Fehu is an indicator of our standing as much as our success. It represents being able to hold your head high, knowing you are contributing, and knowing your own worth as a person and a member of the larger world.
Speaking of the larger world and Fehu, another important aspect of this Rune is generosity, an important concept to the Norse today as much as in the past. Hospitality, the willingness to share one’s food and hearth, was (and still is) vital to keeping one’s reputation as an upstanding person worthy of respect in the Heathen tradition. Being miserly will win you no friends. Fehu cautions us to show our gratitude for the abundance of the gods by sharing it, giving something back, whether it’s through volunteering, donating time or funds, or simply being kind, considerate, and compassionate.
The Wealth Rune in Divination
As you might expect, Fehu in a reading almost always speaks of material gain, or depending upon the surrounding Runes, material loss. It is a positive Rune more often than not.
Fehu’s realm is that of the home, as well as of business; it has everything to do with safety, security, and satisfaction. It often tells us that we are on the verge of a positive change in our financial circumstances: a change of career, a windfall, a successful business venture.
On the other hand Fehu can also be a warning that we are neglecting the mundane aspect of our lives. It tells us to bring our awareness to the Earthly, whether because we’re in for prosperous times or because we’ve blown it and are in for poverty.
Like the grace of Deity, Wealth should flow, both into your house and out of it. Drawing Fehu during a time of prosperity may be a sign that you must give as well as receive. If drawn with Mannaz, the Rune of Connection, Fehu could be telling you to volunteer in your community; if drawn with Ing, the Rune of Nature, Fehu might ask you to donate or contribute to environmental causes. The important thing is that generosity is called for, as well as gratitude.
In a reading that is describing a more spiritual or emotional issue, Wealth often asks us to consider whether or not we are truly fulfilled in our regular workaday lives, or if there is something else we need to be doing, somewhere else for us to go. Being happy day to day is rarely just about finances; it requires that you feel that what you are doing with your daylight hours is productive, ethical, useful, and fruitful. You may make a six-figure salary and hate every minute you’re at work, or you may bring in minimum wage and love mowing lawns; fulfillment is different for everyone.
As I said above, Fehu is an indicator of complacency, too. When you draw it, consider whether you (or the querant) have come to a place of mindless routine. If he or she, or you, want to be a Hobbit, it’s your right; if you don’t, however, Fehu may be telling you now is the time to leave the Shire.
Ever considered making a book out of this series too? The way you write about it is brilliant.
Posted by: Judith | July 02, 2008 at 11:49 PM
Thanks for writing these. :)
I don't interpret the Runes the way you do, but I love seeing a different perspective on it. It allows me to...deepen my understanding?
Posted by: Danmara | July 03, 2008 at 03:09 PM
Well, Dianne, I like what you say. I am a Tarot person, so my Rune lore is not all that, but what I like about this particular article is that I found something personal in it. I believe everything (including people) is connected and that signs or "clues" are everywhere if you just look. And, by this I don't mean spin-doctoring so that you get the answer you want. ANYWAY...I just happened to see if you had a new post, and almost eveything you said about Fehu, the only Rune I really remember from when I read about them years ago, had a bearing on several aspects of the car-crash of emotions I have currently created as my life. LOL Money, job, home-base, et al, that sort of thing. Just finding this article is my "clue", whatever you call it, to take a leap and go for a job that may not seem perfect, but will allow me to feel more safe and secure and probably lead to a position I realy do want, etc.,... But- no need to bore you with details. Once again, thanks, I always find something in what you write.
BLESSED BE, GIRL!!! YOU GO! YOU GO! YOU GO!
Posted by: Heath | July 04, 2008 at 06:20 AM
Dianne,
Thank you so much for beginning this study of the Runes. I have a set I've never really used, mostly because the book I bought to explain them left me feeling detached from the whole deal. I love your explanations. They make so much sense. I look forward to learning more about each Rune.
Posted by: Susan | July 04, 2008 at 11:13 PM
Thanks for writing these. Runes aren't part of my practice, but I'm enjoying learning more about their background and meaning.
Posted by: Calligrafiti | July 06, 2008 at 02:51 PM
Thanks for writing this commentary, Diane. I haven't used the runes for a couple of years but now I want to dig them out and work with theme again and begin to teach my eldest grandson about them.
Posted by: Ganga | July 06, 2008 at 10:07 PM