The rune Wunjo is the eighth rune in
the Elder Futhark. It is the rune of joy and light.
Wunjo is one of those rune glyphs which the inexperienced almost always react to with
interest and excitement. It always amazes me that a seeker will cringe and act
disappointed when they draw Nauthiz, the rune of constraints, and visibly brighten
when they draw Wunjo. When, in fact, Wunjo is no more positive than Nauthiz.
In the same way, Nauthiz is no more negative than Wunjo.
Wunjo does not guarantee instant joy and pleasure. In fact, it might be said that
Wunjo is more a rune for groups than for an individual’s joy.
Let me explain. Wunjo is the rune of joy, but not of the kind of instantaneous
personal joy most people expect. Wunjo has a unique mysterious power of bringing
together forces or people from a common origin. This is why it is often thought of
as a rune for groups such as families, clans, tribes, or nations.
The forces or people which Wunjo bring together may appear to be diverse, but they usually
have some harmonizing factor. Wunjo’s power recognizes these harmonizing
factors and brings them into play. While the concept was not really thought of in
ancient times, Wunjo could be said to be the rune of teamwork. When diverse people
come together for a common need, mission, or to solve a common problem, Wunjo is often
there at work.
However, you can’t just sit back and let Wunjo work. Its magic is active.
The seeker, and the other active players, have to recognize that they have something
important in which to participate. Then, they have to willingly take part in their
joint activity.
As those of you who have been following this column regularly can guess, “actively
participating” is not just a physical, or mundane, activity. Active
participation is required across all the realms of human life; mundane, emotional, mental,
and spiritual.
I used to do volunteer search and rescue work. About thirty
times a year, I’d get a call in the middle of the night. Within minutes,
several dozen volunteers from over half a state, were up, awake, and starting numerous
activities. A government civil servant might turn on the radio in his back room and
provide communications statewide. A sixty-five year old seamstress might lead a
ground search team, while a college student would monitor the satellite tracking
equipment. Then a warehouse worker, a carpenter, and a housewife might fly and man
the search aircraft. This is a pretty diverse group. But, for the hours the
search goes on, they are one integrated team. Nothing else concerns them for that
time. When they successfully pull it off, they all experience a sense of joy, relief
and contentment. This is Wunjo at work.
While the magic of Wunjo does work on groups, it also works on the individual members of
the group. It speaks of a harmony within the individual members of the group, just
as it does on the group as a whole. Drawing Wunjo is a clue that the potential is
there, but it happens when the seeker is in personal harmony. When the mundane and
spiritual are on the same path. When the self, and the Self, are as one. An
individual, personal team working on the same goal.
If you draw Wunjo inversed, look at the path and structure of your life. Is it in
harmony? Or, is there something which doesn’t fit? You may have to
harmonize and balance your life among the various realms. Also, remember that Wunjo
works toward a specific, evolutionary goal. Wunjo inversed could be warning you that
you are walking away from a joy which could change the path of your life.
The Old English Rune Poem suggests a method to tap into the power of Wunjo. First,
the runemaster must separate from all forms of sadness and woe. But, keeping just
enough to remember what it is. Then, he must gain three things. First is
prosperity. For a runecaster, this is not getting more money. It is the intake
and release of energy. Allowing more spiritual energy to flow through you to
others. Next, is Bliss. The sense of being filled with joy and
meaningfulness. Finally, a “good enough house for the soul.” Or if
you will, a body worthy of maintaining the special power and magic; the divine spark which
is your-Self.
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