Paganistan: Notes from the Secret Commonwealth
In Which One Midwest Man-in-Black Confers, Converses & Otherwise Hob-Nobs with his Fellow Hob-Men (& -Women) Concerning the Sundry Ways of the Famed but Ill-Starred Tribe of Witches.
Ale-Rune
Ansuz-Laguz-Uruz: God-Lake-Aurochs. ALU, “ale.”
This mysterious word is one of the earliest and most frequently-occurring runic inscriptions, which commentators generally agree seems to have some sort of magical component: in effect, a “magic word.”
But what does it mean?
Occurring both by itself as well as in other inscriptions, the on-the-face-of-it meaning of the word would seem to be “ale.”
Meaning—what?
(Note the visual similarity of all three rune-staves. Something powerful is happening here.)
Over the course of the past 150 years, since the decipherment of the Elder Futhark, runologists have proposed various readings of the word—frequently referencing ale's supposed entheogenic qualities—but personally, I can't help but wonder if maybe we shouldn't take it at face value.
“Ale.” It's a verbal libation.
Here's the scenario: I want something to happen. So—in the pagan “gift-for-a-gift” divine economy—I make a request, and pour a libation as a sweetener.
(“The offering bears the prayer,” said the ancestors or, conversely, “The prayer rides the offering.”)
Now, a hornful of ale is a fine thing and a good gift indeed, but it's soon enough over. Rist, though, ALU on your fibula, and—by the magic power of the runes—it thereby becomes a libation that never ends.
An unending libation, poured forth while ever the runes shall last.
ALU.ALU.ALU.
Now that's some powerful magic.
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