by Allan T. Perkins

In a previous column, we learned about the Nordic story of creation. How ice from the great rivers of Nifiheim fell into the great crevice along with sparks from the sword of the giant guarding Muspellsheim. In the great gap, the power of the fire and the power of the ice are balanced. Out of this balance of primal forces came the great races, and through them, the world is created.

Isa not only represents the ice which balances the fire of creation, it represents a type of cosmic anti-matter. The spiritual Self could not survive without the balancing force of Isa.

I’ve heard it said many times that Isa is like a river frozen over in winter. While Laguz, the rune of flow, is like a river in summer, flowing through the lands, nurturing the land. In fact, I’ve used this example myself. But, this is really a very simplistic explanation of the power of Isa.

Ice is not just water held still. It is also the power of water compacted and concentrated in a natural power source, waiting to be released by the contrasting power of fire. I’ve seen it myself.

Many years ago, I spent a year inside the Arctic circle. The place where I was living was unique because it is believed to be the only place where three giant glaciers dump into the North Atlantic together. The power of ice is apparent when a huge chuck, the size of an office building, falls a hundred feet or more into the ocean. Just the noise is something you will never forget. Also while staying in the arctic, I learned about just how much ice is compacted and concentrated. Some friends wanted to cheer me up in the middle of the dark, depressing arctic winter. So they took me out onto the frozen bay. We chipped chunks off an iceberg, which was stuck in the bay, and took them back to our quarters. When we put pieces of the iceberg in our drinks, it expanded so quickly we could only fill the glasses half way. A small chip of iceberg would expand and fill the whole glass. Not only that, it popped like Rice Krispies.

So, what does this have to do with Isa. Well, we said it is the rune of ice and stillness. But, it is also the rune of concentrated energy. So it is. When we draw Isa, it may mean that we are not "flowing" toward the Self as we should. But, it may also mean that we have to look at our life. Especially if we are having problems on the emotional and spiritual levels. There is a reason why a creek flows free in summer and freezes in winter. It is a law of nature that living things, in all realms, function in cycles. Plants don’t always bloom. Animals don’t remain young, strong adults. People are not always close to the Self. Even the earth herself, has living cycles. Cycles so long that man has not lived long enough to record them.

What Isa may be telling us, is to stop running like the frantic molecules of boiling water. We need to slow to a stop and contract our forces and energy. To stop the body, still the mind, and concentrate on the Self.

As I was writing this column, it occurred to me, this is a near perfect explanation of meditation. And, we have discussed meditation many times. When the mundane world is too much for us, the runes tell us to meditate. When we are off the path to the Self we should stop and meditate. When we can’t understand the signals the runic oracle has for us, we are told to meditate. To gain centering, we meditate. To gain empathy with the runes we hold them and meditate.

There is a verse of scripture in the Christian Bible which tells us to "pray continually". The rune Isa says the same, in the motif of Nordic mythology. "When life is rushing too fast for the Self, meditate continually.