The day before Hurricane Helene struck Western North Carolina, I drew a rune for guidance which is something I do almost every day. This time I felt compelled to draw two and, wouldn’t you know it, I pulled Algiz and Raidho from the bag. I laughed out loud because I immediately knew what the Divine was trying to tell me: You are protected but, buckle up, it’s going to be a bumpy ride. You’re going on a journey and it won’t be a fun one. Little did I know how bumpy the ride was going to be.

Helene tore through our beloved mountains with a fury I have never witnessed. Areas such as the River Arts District, Chimney Rock and downtown Marshall were literally washed away by historic flooding. We were cut off from the rest of the world for about three days with all major roads into Asheville being impassable.

When help arrived, they found a city that was already working hard to rescue trapped people, cut downed trees and share whatever resource we had with those who needed them the most. This storm brought the people of Asheville together in a way I have never seen before. Whatever differences we had were not important anymore. We were neighbors helping neighbors and, with the help of an amazing number of volunteers and professionals from across the country, we have slowly but surely begun to reclaim our city and our lives.

I share this story with you because it helped me to understand Algiz in a new way. Yes, it’s a rune of Divine protection but this protection might also come in human form. Depending on where this rune falls in a reading, the Divine might be calling us to lend a helping hand to someone who really needs it. Conversely, it might also be a challenge for us to be vulnerable enough to accept help from others.

If you have any thoughts on this, I’d be interested in what you have to say. Please leave a comment and share your experience of Algiz. I’ll be back to posting regularly soon.

Blessed be! David

Copyright ©2024 by David Taliesin, http://www.abidingsaviorlutheranchurch.org