Will of Gaut

Runes, the Algiz ᛘ, and the Cross I agree with Tom's take regarding this (linked below). I don't think List was fully full of it like he does. I think working within general post Theosophy and Occult influenced List had certain ideas that weren't correct or had Christian holdovers. Some of List's takes had truth to them when seen via a mystical lens. Runes are absolutely magical, but as Tom says (linked below) they are also just letters by themsleves. Rune meaning "mystery" or "secret" shows that it us more like a key to these divine and cosmic powers. Runes can be, and are both. Letters for writing and symbols to represent power and magic to be used in formula. The Rune poems give us clues to not only how the alphabet was memorized but the meanings and potential mystical understanding of different Germanic peoples for each. ᛘ in the Icelandic is Maðr (man). "Maðr er manns gaman ok moldar auki ok skipa skreytir." "Man = delight of man and augmentation of the earth and adorner of ships." In Anglo-Saxon: "ᛉ sec[g e]ard hæfþ oftust on fenne ƿexeð on ƿature, ƿundaþ grimme blode breneð beorna gehƿẏlcne ðe him ænigne onfeng gedeþ." "The Elk-sedge usually lives in the fen,growing in the water. It wounds severely,staining with blood any manwho makes a grab at it." In the inverse in Younger Futhark the Rune ᛦ is a Yew tree. "Yr byþ æþelinga and eorla gehwæs wyn and wyrþmynd, byþ on wicge fæger, fæstlic on færelde, fyrdgeatewa sum" "yew-bow for every noble and warrior is a joy and adornment, is fair on a steed, a trusty piece of war-gear for a journey" Also we have: "Eoh byþ utan unsmeþe treoƿ, heard hrusan fæst, hyrde fyres, ƿyrtrumun underƿreþyd, ƿyn on eþle." "The yew is a tree with rough bark, hard and fast in the earth, supported by its roots, a guardian of flame and a joy upon an estate." It being a tree is very much were List got the connection to the Rune of life, Oðinn, and Yggdrasil. This isn't an improper understanding. Nor is the life and death as the inverse of this Rune ᛦ is often used as a Z (or an M). People have associated this life and death with the Roman Crucifixion and thereby Christ. But also Oðinn and Yggdrasil. Whereby Christianity pulled this into what would become their understanding and amalgamation of God which was a heavy merger between Dyeus / Jupiter, Dionysus, Oðinn, Jesus, and of course El / Yahweh. These are the elements that make up the Christian God regardless of what anyone says. With that one could be correct saying that the Rune, and symbolism, were adopted by Christianity and connected to the Cross. However, it is absolutely also a true statement that in Proto Germanic the Algiz Rune is an Elk. As Algiz means Elk. The image, cosmological connection, and ritual associated with the Elk is an obvious core Pagan understanding. Also it should be noted that this Rune was found in Etruscan / Italic as 𐌙. Regarding how Christianity absolutely took from Paganism. Almost none of it's imagery, including the cross (which the church tried to ban the imagery off because it was too Pagan many times) is without European Pagan or general old Eurasian Pagan influenced. Many E Christians love to complain about Pagans while promoting a Hebraic Middle Eastern and Mesopotamian god mix of Yahweh who was a pagan god out of a Pantheon as their primary god. Then adding Angels, Demons, and Saints with a Divine mother....and you have a Pagan Pantheon and shell. You just have to fill it with substance. This substance is European virtues, symbolism, metaphysics, and philosophy. Arguing with Christians online is often not worth your time. Many of these people are Christians in name only but mostly just disenfranchised angry people who use their hobby of Christianity as a means to have debates and feel like they have meaning in their life. I'm not going to defend Christianity but I dont see many red letters that command them to spend their whole lives attacking Pagans online and slandering others. Tom's original reply.