Exploring Rune Magick: Ansuz

 

Ansuz, a rune of Elemental Air, is the rune of Odin and inspired communication. It teaches us to look at the entire picture and raises spiritual consciousness. It is the rune of wisdom and invokes divinity within. Diana Paxson tells us:

The rune ANSUZ is the most powerful mind-rune of all. It can be chanted, inscribed, or projected to stimulate eloquence and mental activity, and is a good rune for writers or anyone working in creative or intellectual fields.¹

And from Thorsson:

Ansuz is the mysterium tremendum of the rune row. The A-rune is instrumental in the creation of mankind. It describes two of the several spiritual gifts given to Askr and Embla (the primal man and woman) by the gods Ódhinn, Hœnir, and Lódhurr (a threefold aspect of the god Ódhinn). These gifts were önd or anda (breath, spirit, animating life principle) and ódhr (inspired mental activity, inspiration). This is the stave of Ódhinn as the numinous god of magic and of ecstasy.

Ansuz is the receiver-container/ transformer-expresser of spiritual power and numinous knowledge. This force is received from the AEsir and transformed in humanity to be reexpressed toward the multiverse in magical and religious acts.²

 

I use Ansuz in bindrunes to bring healthy communication and clarity. I’ve also used it in bindrunes for various blessings. It can be carried as a talisman when effective communication is needed. Quietly breathing in An, and breathing out suz is a wonderful focus for meditation and journeying. I instantly feel lighter breathing Ansuz and I’m able to align more quickly with Self. It’s also useful in stressful situations to breathe Ansuz, extending its energy outward so that all involved experience its blessing.

For the witch, Thorsson counsels that Ansuz will “increase of both active and passive magical powers and clairvoyant abilities, etc.”³ I include Ansuz on my altar during ritual to invoke Goddess energy into spellwork and divination, particularly when clarity or understanding are needed.

Runes are versatile in magickcal workings. Alone or together with others in a bindrune, they bring an added dimension to magick. I love them.

Next up, Raidho!

~Blessed be the runes!

 

1. Paxson, Diana L. (2005-05-01). Taking Up The Runes: A Complete Guide To Using Runes In Spells, Rituals, Divination, And Magic (pp. 57-58). Red Wheel Weiser. Kindle Edition.
2. Thorsson, Edred (2012-07-01). Futhark: A Handbook of Rune Magic (Kindle Locations 602-608). Red Wheel Weiser. Kindle Edition.
3. Thorsson, Edred (2012-07-01). Futhark: A Handbook of Rune Magic (Kindle Locations 629-630). Red Wheel Weiser. Kindle Edition.