Othin spake:
1, "Counsel me, Frigg, for I long to fare,
And Vafthruthnir fain would find;
fit wisdom old with the giant wise
Myself would I seek to match."

Frigg spake:
2. "Heerfather here at home would I keep,
Where the gods together dwell;
Amid all the giants an equal in might
To Vafthruthnir know I none."

Othin spake:
3. "Much have I fared, much have I found.
Much have I got from the gods;
And fain would I know how Vafthruthnir now
Lives in his lofty hall."

Frigg spake:
4. "Safe mayst thou go, safe come again,
And safe be the way thou wendest!
Father of men, let thy mind be keen
When speech with the giant thou seekest."

5. The wisdom then of the giant wise
Forth did he fare to try;
He found the hall | of the father of Im,
And in forthwith went Ygg.

Othin spake:
6. "Vafthruthnir, hail! | to thy hall am I come,
For thyself I fain would see;
And first would I ask | if wise thou art,
Or, giant, all wisdom hast won."

Vafthruthnir spake:
7. "Who is the man | that speaks to me,
Here in my lofty hall?
Forth from our dwelling | thou never shalt fare,
Unless wiser than I thou art."

Othin spake:
8. "Gagnrath they call me, | and thirsty I come
From a journey hard to thy hall;
Welcome I look for, | for long have I fared,
And gentle greeting, giant."

Vafthruthnir spake:
9. "Why standest thou there | on the floor whilst thou speakest?
A seat shalt thou have in my hall;
Then soon shall we know | whose knowledge is more,
The guest's or the sage's gray."

Othin spake:
10. "If a poor man reaches | the home of the rich,
Let him wisely speak or be still;
For to him who speaks | with the hard of heart
Will chattering ever work ill."

Vafthruthnir spake:
11. "Speak forth now, Gagnrath, | if there from the floor
Thou wouldst thy wisdom make known:
What name has the steed | that each morn anew
The day for mankind doth draw?"

Othin spake:
12. "Skinfaxi is he, | the steed who for men
The glittering day doth draw;
The best of horses | to heroes he seems,
And brightly his mane doth burn."

Vafthruthnir spake:
13. "Speak forth now, Gagnrath, | if there from the floor
Thou wouldst thy wisdom make known:
What name has the steed | that from East anew
Brings night for the noble gods?"

Othin spake:
14. "Hrimfaxi name they | the steed that anew
Brings night for the noble gods;
Each morning foam | from his bit there falls,
And thence come the dews in the dales."

Vafthruthnir spake:
15. "Speak forth now, Gagnrath, | if there from the floor
Thou wouldst thy wisdom make known:
What name has the river | that 'twixt the realms
Of the gods and the giants goes?"

Othin spoke:
16. "Ifing is the river | that 'twixt the realms
Of the gods and the giants goes;
For all time ever | open it flows,
No ice on the river there is."

Vafthruthnir spake:
17. "Speak forth now, Gagnrath, | if there from the floor
Thou wouldst thy wisdom make known:
What name has the field | where in fight shall meet
Surt and the gracious gods?"

Othin spake:
18. "Vigrith is the field | where in fight shall meet
Surt and the gracious gods;
A hundred miles | each way does it measure.
And so are its boundaries set."

Vafthruthnir spake:
19. "Wise art thou, guest! | To my bench shalt thou go,
In our seats let us speak together;
Here in the hall | our heads, O guest,
Shall we wager our wisdom upon."

Othin spake:
20. "First answer me well, | if thy wisdom avails,
And thou knowest it, Vafthruthnir, now:
In earliest time | whence came the earth,
Or the sky, thou giant sage?"

Vafthruthnir spake:
21. "Out of Ymir's flesh | was fashioned the earth,
And the mountains were made of his bones;
The sky from the frost-cold | giant's skull,
And the ocean out of his blood."

Othin spake:
22. "Next answer me well, | if thy wisdom avails,
And thou knowest it, Vafthruthnir, now:
Whence came the moon, | o'er the world of men
That fares, and the flaming sun?"

Vafthruthnir spake:
23. "Mundilferi is he | who begat the moon,
And fathered the flaming sun;
The round of heaven | each day they run,
To tell the time for men."

Othin spake:
24. "Third answer me well, | if wise thou art called,
If thou knowest it, Vafthruthnir, now:
Whence came the day, | o'er mankind that fares,
Or night with the narrowing moon?"

Vafthruthnir spake:
25. "The father of day | is Delling called,
And the night was begotten by Nor;
Full moon and old | by the gods were fashioned,
To tell the time for men."

Othin spake:
26. "Fourth answer me well, | if wise thou art called,
If thou knowest it, Vafthruthnir, now:
Whence did winter come, | or the summer warm,
First with the gracious gods?"

Vafthruthnir spake:
27. "Vindsval he was | who was winter's father,
And Svosuth summer begat;"


Othin spake:
28. "Fifth answer me well, | if wise thou art called,
If thou knowest it, Vafthruthnir, now:
What giant first | was fashioned of old,
And the eldest of Ymir's kin?"

Vafthruthnir spake:
29. "Winters unmeasured | ere earth was made
Was the birth of Bergelmir;
Thruthgelmir's son | was the giant strong,
And Aurgelmir's grandson of old."

Othin spake:
30. "Sixth answer me well, | if wise thou art called,
If thou knowest it, Vafthruthnir, now:
Whence did Aurgelmir come | with the giants' kin,
Long since, thou giant sage?"

Vafthruthnir spake:
31. "Down from Elivagar | did venom drop,
And waxed till a giant it was;
And thence arose | our giants' race,
And thus so fierce are we found."

Othin spake:
32. "Seventh answer me well, | if wise thou art called,
If thou knowest it, Vafthruthnir, now:
How begat he children, | the giant grim,
Who never a giantess knew?"

Vafthruthnir spake:
33. "They say 'neath the arms | of the giant of ice
Grew man-child and maid together;
And foot with foot | did the wise one fashion
A son that six heads bore."

Othin spake:
34. "Eighth answer me well, | if wise thou art called,
If thou knowest it, Vafthruthnir, now:
What farthest back | dost thou bear in mind?
For wide is thy wisdom, giant!"

Vafthruthnir spake:
35. "Winters unmeasured | ere earth was made
Was the birth of Bergelmir;
This first knew I well, | when the giant wise
In a boat of old was borne."

Othin spake:
36. "Ninth answer me well, | if wise thou art called
If thou knowest it, Vafthruthnir, now:
Whence comes the wind | that fares o'er the waves
Yet never itself is seen?"

Vafthruthnir spake:
37. "In an eagle's guise | at the end of heaven
Hræsvelg sits, they say;
And from his wings | does the wind come forth
To move o'er the world of men."

Othin spake:
38. "Tenth answer me now, | if thou knowest all
The fate that is fixed for the gods:
Whence came up Njorth | to the kin of the gods,--
(Rich in temples | and shrines he rules,--)
Though of gods he was never begot?"

Vafthruthnir spake:
39. "In the home of the Wanes | did the wise ones create him,
And gave him as pledge to the gods;
At the fall of the world | shall he fare once more
Home to the Wanes so wise."

Othin spake:
40. "Eleventh answer me well, |  . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
What men . . . . . . | in . . . . . . home
Each day to fight go forth?"
(Much of this verse is missing)

Vafthruthnir spake:
41. "The heroes all | in Othin's hall
Each day to fight go forth;
They fell each other, | and fare from the fight
All healed full soon to sit."

Othin spake:
42. "Twelfth answer me now | how all thou knowest
Of the fate that is fixed for the gods;
Of the runes of the gods | and the giants' race
The truth indeed dost thou tell,
(And wide is thy wisdom, giant!)"

Vafthruthnir spake:
43. "Of the runes of the gods | and the giants' race
The truth indeed can I tell,
(For to every world have I won;)
To nine worlds came I, | to Niflhel beneath,
The home where dead men dwell."

Othin spake:
44. "Much have I fared, | much have I found,
Much have I got of the gods:
What shall live of mankind | when at last there comes
The mighty winter to men?"

Vafthruthnir spake:
45. "In Hoddmimir's wood | shall hide themselves
Lif and Lifthrasir then;
The morning dews | for meat shall they have,
Such food shall men then find."

Othin spake:
46. "Much have I fared, | much have I found,
Much have I got of the gods:
Whence comes the sun | to the smooth sky back,
When Fenrir has snatched it forth?"

Vafthruthnir spake:
47. "A daughter bright | Alfrothul bears
Ere Fenrir snatches her forth;
Her mother's paths | shall the maiden tread
When the gods to death have gone."

Othin spake:
48. "Much have I fared, | much have I found,
Much have I got of the gods:
What maidens are they, | so wise of mind.
That forth o'er the sea shall fare?"

Vafthruthnir spake:
49. "O'er Mogthrasir's hill | shall the maidens pass,
And three are their throngs that come;
They all shall protect | the dwellers on earth,
Though they come of the giants' kin."

Othin spake:
50. "Much have I fared, | much have I found,
Much have I got of the gods:
Who then shall rule | the realm of the gods,
When the fires of Surt have sunk?"

Vafthruthnir spake:
51. "In the gods' home Vithar | and Vali shall dwell,
When the fires of Surt have sunk;
Mothi and Magni | shall Mjollnir have
When Vingnir falls in fight."

Othin spake:
52. "Much have I fared, | much have I found,
Much have I got of the gods:
What shall bring the doom | of death to Othin,
When the gods to destruction go?"

Vafthruthnir spake:
53. "The wolf shall fell | the father of men,
And this shall Vithar avenge;
The terrible jaws | shall he tear apart,
And so the wolf shall he slay."

Othin spake:
54. "Much have I fared, | much have I found,
Much have I got from the gods:
What spake Othin himself | in the ears of his son,
Ere in the bale-fire he burned?"

Vafthruthnir spake:
55. "No man can tell | what in olden time
Thou spak'st in the ears of thy son;
With fated mouth | the fall of the gods
And mine olden tales have I told;
With Othin in knowledge | now have I striven,
And ever the wiser thou art."

1. Hearing I ask | from the holy races,
From Heimdall's sons, | both high and low;
Thou wilt, Valfather, | that well I relate
Old tales I remember | of men long ago.

2. I remember yet | the giants of yore,
Who gave me bread | in the days gone by;
Nine worlds I knew, | the nine in the tree
With mighty roots | beneath the mold.

3. Of old was the age | when Ymir lived;
Sea nor cool waves | nor sand there were;
Earth had not been, | nor heaven above,
But a yawning gap, | and grass nowhere.

4. Then Bur's sons lifted | the level land,
Mithgarth the mighty | there they made;
The sun from the south | warmed the stones of earth,
And green was the ground | with growing leeks.

5. The sun, the sister | of the moon, from the south
Her right hand cast | over heaven's rim;
No knowledge she had | where her home should be,
The moon knew not | what might was his,
The stars knew not | where their stations were.

6. Then sought the gods | their assembly-seats,
The holy ones, | and council held;
Names then gave they | to noon and twilight,
Morning they named, | and the waning moon,
Night and evening, | the years to number.

7. At Ithavoll met | the mighty gods,
Shrines and temples | they timbered high;
Forges they set, and | they smithied ore,
Tongs they wrought, | and tools they fashioned.

8. In their dwellings at peace | they played at tables,
Of gold no lack | did the gods then know,--
Till thither came | up giant-maids three,
Huge of might, | out of Jotunheim.

9. Then sought the gods | their assembly-seats,
The holy ones, | and council held,
To find who should raise | the race of dwarfs
Out of Brimir's blood | and the legs of Blain.

10. There was Motsognir | the mightiest made
Of all the dwarfs, | and Durin next;
Many a likeness | of men they made,
The dwarfs in the earth, | as Durin said.

11. Nyi and Nithi, | Northri and Suthri,
Austri and Vestri, | Althjof, Dvalin,
Nar and Nain, | Niping, Dain,
Bifur, Bofur, | Bombur, Nori,
An and Onar, | Ai, Mjothvitnir.

12. Vigg and Gandalf) | Vindalf, Thrain,
Thekk and Thorin, | Thror, Vit and Lit,
Nyr and Nyrath,-- | now have I told--
Regin and Rathsvith-- | the list aright.

13. Fili, Kili, | Fundin, Nali,
Heptifili, | Hannar, Sviur,
Frar, Hornbori, | Fræg and Loni,
Aurvang, Jari, | Eikinskjaldi.

14. The race of the dwarfs | in Dvalin's throng
Down to Lofar | the list must I tell;
The rocks they left, | and through wet lands
They sought a home | in the fields of sand.

15. There were Draupnir | and Dolgthrasir,
Hor, Haugspori, | Hlevang, Gloin,
Dori, Ori, | Duf, Andvari,
Skirfir, Virfir, | Skafith, Ai.

16. Alf and Yngvi, | Eikinskjaldi,
Fjalar and Frosti, | Fith and Ginnar;
So for all time | shall the tale be known,
The list of all | the forbears of Lofar.

17. Then from the throng | did three come forth,
From the home of the gods, | the mighty and gracious;
Two without fate | on the land they found,
Ask and Embla, | empty of might.

18. Soul they had not, | sense they had not,
Heat nor motion, | nor goodly hue;
Soul gave Othin, | sense gave Hönir,
Heat gave Lothur | and goodly hue.

19. An ash I know, | Yggdrasil its name,
With water white | is the great tree wet;
Thence come the dews | that fall in the dales,
Green by Urth's well | does it ever grow.

20. Thence come the maidens | mighty in wisdom,
Three from the dwelling | down 'neath the tree;
Urth is one named, | Verthandi the next,--
On the wood they scored,-- | and Skuld the third.
Laws they made there, and life allotted
To the sons of men, and set their fates.

21. The war I remember, | the first in the world,
When the gods with spears | had smitten Gollveig,
And in the hall | of Hor had burned her,
Three times burned, | and three times born,
Oft and again, | yet ever she lives.

22. Heith they named her | who sought their home,
The wide-seeing witch, | in magic wise;
Minds she bewitched | that were moved by her magic,
To evil women | a joy she was.

23. On the host his spear | did Othin hurl,
Then in the world | did war first come;
The wall that girdled | the gods was broken,
And the field by the warlike | Wanes was trodden.

24. Then sought the gods | their assembly-seats,
The holy ones, | and council held,
Whether the gods | should tribute give,
Or to all alike | should worship belong.

25. Then sought the gods | their assembly-seats,
The holy ones, | and council held,
To find who with venom | the air had filled,
Or had given Oth's bride | to the giants' brood.

26. In swelling rage | then rose up Thor,--
Seldom he sits | when he such things hears,--
And the oaths were broken, | the words and bonds,
The mighty pledges | between them made.

27. I know of the horn | of Heimdall, hidden
Under the high-reaching | holy tree;
On it there pours | from Valfather's pledge
A mighty stream: | would you know yet more?

28. Alone I sat | when the Old One sought me,
The terror of gods, | and gazed in mine eyes:
"What hast thou to ask? | why comest thou hither?
Othin, I know | where thine eye is hidden."

29. I know where Othin's | eye is hidden,
Deep in the wide-famed | well of Mimir;
Mead from the pledge | of Othin each mom
Does Mimir drink: | would you know yet more?

30. Necklaces had I | and rings from Heerfather,
Wise was my speech | and my magic wisdom;
Widely I saw | over all the worlds.

31. On all sides saw I | Valkyries assemble,
Ready to ride | to the ranks of the gods;
Skuld bore the shield, | and Skogul rode next,
Guth, Hild, Gondul, | and Geirskogul.
Of Herjan's maidens | the list have ye heard,
Valkyries ready | to ride o'er the earth.

32. I saw for Baldr, | the bleeding god,
The son of Othin, | his destiny set:
Famous and fair | in the lofty fields,
Full grown in strength | the mistletoe stood.

33. From the branch which seemed | so slender and fair
Came a harmful shaft | that Hoth should hurl;
But the brother of Baldr | was born ere long,
And one night old | fought Othin's son.

34. His hands he washed not, | his hair he combed not,
Till he bore to the bale-blaze | Baldr's foe.
But in Fensalir | did Frigg weep sore
For Valhall's need: | would you know yet more?

35. One did I see | in the wet woods bound,
A lover of ill, | and to Loki like;
By his side does Sigyn | sit, nor is glad
To see her mate: | would you know yet more?

36. From the east there pours | through poisoned vales
With swords and daggers | the river Slith.

37. Northward a hall | in Nithavellir
Of gold there rose | for Sindri's race;
And in Okolnir | another stood,
Where the giant Brimir | his beer-hall had.

38. A hall I saw, | far from the sun,
On Nastrond it stands, | and the doors face north,
Venom drops | through the smoke-vent down,
For around the walls | do serpents wind.

39. I saw there wading | through rivers wild
Treacherous men | and murderers too,
And workers of ill | with the wives of men;
There Nithhogg sucked | the blood of the slain,
And the wolf tore men; | would you know yet more?

40. The giantess old | in Ironwood sat,
In the east, and bore | the brood of Fenrir;
Among these one | in monster's guise
Was soon to steal | the sun from the sky.

41. There feeds he full | on the flesh of the dead,
And the home of the gods | he reddens with gore;
Dark grows the sun, | and in summer soon
Come mighty storms: | would you know yet more?

42. On a hill there sat, | and smote on his harp,
Eggther the joyous, | the giants' warder;
Above him the cock | in the bird-wood crowed,
Fair and red | did Fjalar stand.

43. Then to the gods | crowed Gollinkambi,
He wakes the heroes | in Othin's hall;
And beneath the earth | does another crow,
The rust-red bird | at the bars of Hel.

44. Now Garm howls loud | before Gnipahellir,
The fetters will burst, | and the wolf run free;
Much do I know, | and more can see
Of the fate of the gods, | the mighty in fight.

45. Brothers shall fight | and fell each other,
And sisters' sons | shall kinship stain;
Hard is it on earth, | with mighty whoredom;
Axe-time, sword-time, | shields are sundered,
Wind-time, wolf-time, | ere the world falls;
Nor ever shall men | each other spare.

46. Fast move the sons | of Mim, and fate
Is heard in the note | of the Gjallarhorn;
Loud blows Heimdall, | the horn is aloft,
In fear quake all | who on Hel-roads are.

47. Yggdrasil shakes, | and shiver on high
The ancient limbs, | and the giant is loose;
To the head of Mim | does Othin give heed,
But the kinsman of Surt | shall slay him soon.

48. How fare the gods? | how fare the elves?
All Jotunheim groans, | the gods are at council;
Loud roar the dwarfs | by the doors of stone,
The masters of the rocks: | would you know yet more?

49. Now Garm howls loud | before Gnipahellir,
The fetters will burst, | and the wolf run free
Much do I know, | and more can see
Of the fate of the gods, | the mighty in fight.

50. From the east comes Hrym | with shield held high;
In giant-wrath | does the serpent writhe;
O'er the waves he twists, | and the tawny eagle
Gnaws corpses screaming; | Naglfar is loose.

51. O'er the sea from the north | there sails a ship
With the people of Hel, | at the helm stands Loki;
After the wolf | do wild men follow,
And with them the brother | of Byleist goes.

52. Surt fares from the south | with the scourge of branches,
The sun of the battle-gods | shone from his sword;
The crags are sundered, | the giant-women sink,
The dead throng Hel-way, | and heaven is cloven.

53. Now comes to Hlin | yet another hurt,
When Othin fares | to fight with the wolf,
And Beli's fair slayer | seeks out Surt,
For there must fall | the joy of Frigg.

54. Then comes Sigfather's | mighty son,
Vithar, to fight | with the foaming wolf;
In the giant's son | does he thrust his sword
Full to the heart: | his father is avenged.

55. Hither there comes | the son of Hlothyn,
The bright snake gapes | to heaven above;

Against the serpent | goes Othin's son.

56. In anger smites | the warder of earth,--
Forth from their homes | must all men flee;-
Nine paces fares | the son of Fjorgyn,
And, slain by the serpent, | fearless he sinks.

57. The sun turns black, | earth sinks in the sea,
The hot stars down | from heaven are whirled;
Fierce grows the steam | and the life-feeding flame,
Till fire leaps high | about heaven itself.

58. Now Garm howls loud | before Gnipahellir,
The fetters will burst, | and the wolf run free;
Much do I know, | and more can see
Of the fate of the gods, | the mighty in fight.

59. Now do I see | the earth anew
Rise all green | from the waves again;
The cataracts fall, | and the eagle flies,
And fish he catches | beneath the cliffs.

60. The gods in Ithavoll | meet together,
Of the terrible girdler | of earth they talk,
And the mighty past | they call to mind,
And the ancient runes | of the Ruler of Gods.

61. In wondrous beauty | once again
Shall the golden tables | stand mid the grass,
Which the gods had owned | in the days of old,

62. Then fields unsowed | bear ripened fruit,
All ills grow better, | and Baldr comes back;
Baldr and Hoth dwell | in Hropt's battle-hall,
And the mighty gods: | would you know yet more?

63. Then Hönir wins | the prophetic wand,

And the sons of the brothers | of Tveggi abide
In Vindheim now: | would you know yet more?

64. More fair than the sun, | a hall I see,
Roofed with gold, | on Gimle it stands;
There shall the righteous | rulers dwell,
And happiness ever | there shall they have.

65. There comes on high, | all power to hold,
A mighty lord, | all lands he rules.

66. From below the dragon | dark comes forth,
Nithhogg flying | from Nithafjoll;
The bodies of men on | his wings he bears,
The serpent bright: | but now must I sink.

I would tend to agree with the standard interpretation here. As Grymdycche has mentioned they were very fond of games of chance and thus the casting of the lots from a cup
Given that the warriors are sitting blithely ( a casual but cheerful indifference deemed improper or callous) it seems to me that they are resigned to fate no matter what and with that in mind they seem to have the attitude that no matter what fate throws at them they will grin and bare it.

When reading this rune I tend to read this as something will present its self which will require your input to determine its outcome, this could be anything but rest assured that it will be decided by your actions.
In reverse it has usually associated its self with things that are going to go wrong or information etc that has been wrong .


As for the possible symbolization of a Bard, I suppose it could be a stylized Mouth.

This is not the first time that I have come across the association of Thurisaz with women, and the deeper one meditates on this the clearer the association becomes.

Let us take all three Poems

Old English

The thorn is exceedingly Sharp
An evil thing for any knight to touch
Uncommonly severe on all
Who sit among them.

Norwegian

Giant causes anguish to women
Misfortune makes few men cheerful

Icelandic

Giant
Torture of women
And cliff dweller
And husband of a giantess ( Vardhrun)


At first only the Norwegian and Icelandic poems agree on the suffering of women, however if we take the Thorn as being that of a rose as Winter night has suggested, then we have the a very ancient symbol of the feminine and thus a veiled reference to women.

Now given that the reference is to the thorn and not to the rose it’s self we can draw the conclusion that it refers some hidden evil veiled by the beauty of the Rose.

I know that this does not look as if it will tie up with the Norwegian or Icelandic but I am getting there (I Hope!!)

Given the now fragile link I have suggested (Evil, Torture, Anguish) I will try to explain this further.

In the book of Enoch the Watchers (Angels or minor Gods) took for themselves wives.

Enoch Ch. 6 1 – 3
“And it came to pass when the children of men had multiplied that in those days were born unto them beautiful and comely daughters. And the watchers, the children of heaven, saw and lusted after them, and said to one another: ‘come let us choose us wives from among the children of men and beget us children’

Enoch Ch.7 1 - 3
“ And all the watchers took unto themselves wives, each chose for himself one, and they began to go in unto them and to defile themselves with them, and they taught them charms and enchantments, and the cutting of roots, and made them acquainted with plants. And they became pregnant, and they bare great Giants”

Here we can see the link between the Giants and women.  This may also somewhat explain the Torture and Anguish in the Norwegian and Icelandic prose as a reference to the pain of childbirth in spawning these Giants

Further with these women whom the watchers have taken for wives we see that they are taught charms and enchantments and the cutting of roots. This may be the Thorn that is extremely sharp from the rose that is beautiful.


We also know that Thurisaz is associated with Thor, the enemy of the Giants (Thurses or Etins) Thor was a hero to peoples of both Iceland and Norway and therefore the Knight in the Old English would allude to the same thing.  We have to look at how things were in those times. The Knight would be the hero figure, Giants would have been seen as monstrous creatures and thus the “an evil thing for any knight to touch”

It would be foolish of me to expect you all to draw the same conclusions as me as each individual rune is open to personal interpretation but I hope that so far I may have been able to cast some light on the similarities between all three prose.

Going back to the original post by Winter Night

I would tend to agree in the fact that it is “a kick ass “Rune

Thurisaz, as I see it, is a force of defense given it’s association with the thorn. In ancient times the likes of Roses (these would have looked very different to todays varieties), hawthorn etc with there thorny stems were used to surround ancient  positions of importance as a means of defense much like the moat around a castle.

On a side note Thurisaz is also connected to Thunar the god that protects sacred enclosures

It could also indicate destruction and / or decay given its links with the Thurses (Giants) who were constantly battling with the gods. I have also read that the Thurses were supposedly very wise.

Given it’s phallic shape however it is not surprising that it may symbolize the regeneration and fertilization of something that has been previously destroyed such as ones self esteem after a troublesome relationship for instance

It would really depend on the questions that you were seeking to answer how you would read this rune and you would need to take into account its relationship to the other runes in the cast

Generally I see this rune as a point to which one must reflect on what got you to this point and a warning to seek advise before continuing along your course. Weigh up everything very carefully .
Depending on its relationship and position among the other rune it may well indicate a change in circumstance for the better or some useful learning in some specific area.

Magikally I tend to use it for defense and preparedness.

Definitely interesting

While looking through some of my own notes on the runes i came across some interesting associations between the runes in "ALU" and ale

Ansuz may alude to a container
Laguz is Water
Uruz is associated with the dripping Rime (Yeast, Salt and Water)

It seems to me that "ALU" although a charm may also be a basic recipe for Ale itself.

And yes i do realise that this is definitely a bit left field, but it does seem to be a very simple conclusion to draw.

And yes I know Tyr is also a god of war

Should of maybe put this in with my post but it was one of those brain to finger moments.

Nauthiz certainly fits with the ale ruins as it is generally thought of as the rune of resistance and or deliverance

And again with Tyr as a winning rune (read war) as it is associated with the idea that justice will prevail.

Given Eihwaz is Yggdrasil then it would probably a good assumption that it's life giving force would make it a solid candidate for being one of the birth runes. Berkano would also fit into this category and as you rightly pointed out it would also fit into the branch runes however I believe that it is more than likely one of the birthing runes

Branch runes or beech runes ( or possibly book runes) could signify some conection with knowledge so therefore I would be tempted to include Uruz, and Mannaz

Definitely laguz as a wave rune

Speech runes I would say Wunjo and possibly Othala

As for thought runes there are many candidates for these

But this does pose the question, that if there are specific runes for these categories then is it a possibility that one rune may appear in more than one category?

The obvious answer would have to be yes, but in saying that if it were that they did not then would this give us a better understanding of how the runes were not only interpreted in antiquity but also a better understanding of the magical uses?

I think I will devote some time to this and attempt to separate the individual ruins into the afore mentioned groups.

McD

It is a fact that a lot of the  Norse wording still exists in certain scots dialects, especially the North east of scotland.

And as MW pointed out at present this has been incorporated into the everyday dialect as "ken" and used as to mean "Know." I suppose if we were to look closer at the various colloquial terms used then the meanings of some of the more obscure Norse words may be revealed, some may however leave us completely baffled

Sigurth rode up on Hindarfjoll and turned southward toward the land of the Franks. On the mountain he saw a great light, as if fire were burning, and the glow reached up to heaven. And when he came thither, there stood a tower of shields, and above it was a banner. Sigurth went into the shield-tower, and saw that a man lay there sleeping with all his war-weapons. First he took the helm from his head, and then he saw that it was a woman. The mail-coat was as fast as if it had grown to the flesh. Then he cut the mail-coat from the head-opening downward, and out to both the arm-holes. Then he took the mail-coat from her, and she awoke, and sat up and saw Sigurth, and said:

1. "What bit through the byrnie? | how was broken my sleep?
      Who made me free | of the fetters pale?"

He answered:
"Sigmund's son, | with Sigurth's sword,
That late with flesh | hath fed the ravens."

Sigurth sat beside her and asked her name. She took a horn full of mead and gave him a memory-draught.

2. "Hail, day! | Hail, sons of day!
      And night and her daughter now!
      Look on us here | with loving eyes,
      That waiting we victory win.

3. "Hail to the gods! | Ye goddesses,
      hail, And all the generous earth!
      Give to us wisdom | and goodly speech,
      And healing hands, life-long.

4. "Long did I sleep, | my slumber was long,
      And long are the griefs of life;
      Othin decreed | that I could not break
      The heavy spells of sleep."

Her name was Sigrdrifa, and she was a Valkyrie. She said that two kings fought in battle; one was called Hjalmgunnar, an old man but a mighty warrior, and Othin had promised him the victory, and

The other was Agnar, | brother of Autha,
None he found | who fain would shield him.

Sigrdrifa, slew Hjalmgunnar in the battle, and Othin pricked her with the sleep-thorn in punishment for this, and said that she should never thereafter win victory in battle, but that she should be wedded. "And I said to him that I had made a vow in my turn, that I would never marry a man who knew the meaning of fear." Sigurth answered and asked her to teach him wisdom, if she knew of what took place in all the worlds. Sigrdrifa said:

5. "Beer I bring thee, | tree of battle,
      Mingled of strength | and mighty fame;
      Charms it holds | and healing signs,
      Spells full good, | and gladness-runes."

6.   Winning-runes learn, | if thou longest to win,
      And the runes on thy sword-hilt write;
      Some on the furrow, | and some on the flat,
      And twice shalt thou call on Tyr.

7.   Ale-runes learn, | that with lies the wife
      Of another betray not thy trust;
      On the horn thou shalt write, | and the backs of thy hands,
      And Need shalt mark on thy nails.
      Thou shalt bless the draught, | and danger escape,
      And cast a leek in the cup;
      (For so I know | thou never shalt see Thy mead with evil mixed.)

8.    Birth-runes learn, | if help thou wilt lend,
      The babe from the mother to bring;
      On thy palms shalt write them, | and round thy joints,
      And ask the fates to aid.

9.    Wave-runes learn, | if well thou wouldst shelter
       The sail-steeds out on the sea;
       On the stem shalt thou write, | and the steering blade,
       And burn them into the oars;
       Though high be the breakers, | and black the waves,
       Thou shalt safe the harbor seek.

10.  Branch-runes learn, | if a healer wouldst be,
       And cure for wounds wouldst work;
       On the bark shalt thou write, | and on trees that be
      With boughs to the eastward bent.

11.  Speech-runes learn, | that none may seek
       To answer harm with hate;
       Well he winds | and weaves them all,
       And sets them side by side,
       At the judgment-place, | when justice there
       The folk shall fairly win.

12. Thought-runes learn, | if all shall think
      Thou art keenest minded of men.

13.  Them Hropt arranged, | and them he wrote,
        And them in thought he made,
        Out of the draught | that down had dropped
        From the head of Heithdraupnir,
        And the horn of Hoddrofnir.

14.  On the mountain he stood | with Brimir's sword,
        On his head the helm he bore;
        Then first the head | of Mim spoke forth,
        And words of truth it told.

15.   He bade write on the shield | before the shining goddess,
         On Arvak's ear, | and on Alsvith's hoof,
         On the wheel of the car | of Hrungnir's killer,
         On Sleipnir's teeth, | and the straps of the sledge.

16.  On the paws of the bear, | and on Bragi's tongue,
        On the wolf's claws bared, | and the eagle's beak,
        On bloody wings, | and bridge's end,
        On freeing hands | and helping foot-prints.

17.   On glass and on gold, | and on goodly charms,
         In wine and in beer, | and on well-loved seats,
        On Gungnir's point, | and on Grani's breast,

18.  Shaved off were the runes | that of old were written,
       And mixed with the holy mead,
       And sent on ways so wide;
       So the gods had them, | so the elves got them,
       And some for the Wanes so wise,
       And some for mortal men.

19. Beech-runes are there, | birth-runes are there,
      And all the runes of ale,
      And the magic runes of might;
      Who knows them rightly | and reads them true,
      Has them himself to help;
      Ever they aid, Till the gods are gone.

Brynhild spake:

20. "Now shalt thou choose, | for the choice is given,
       Thou tree of the biting blade;
       Speech or silence, | 'tis thine to say,
       Our evil is destined all."

Sigurth spake:

21. "I shall not flee, | though my fate be near,
        I was born not a coward to be;
       Thy loving word | for mine will I win,
       As long as I shall live."

22. Then first I rede thee, | that free of guilt
       Toward kinsmen ever thou art;
       No vengeance have, | though they work thee harm,
       Reward after death thou shalt win.

23. Then second I rede thee, | to swear no oath
       If true thou knowest it not;
       Bitter the fate | of the breaker of troth,
       And poor is the wolf of his word.

24. Then third I rede thee, | that thou at the Thing
       Shalt fight not in words with fools;
       For the man unwise | a worser word
       Than he thinks doth utter oft.

25. Ill it is | if silent thou art,
      A coward born men call thee,
      And truth mayhap they tell;
      Seldom safe is fame,
      Unless wide renown be won;
      On the day thereafter | send him to death,
      Let him pay the price of his lies.

26. Then fourth I rede thee, | if thou shalt find
       A wily witch on thy road,
       It is better to go | than her guest to be,
       Though night enfold thee fast.

27. Eyes that see | need the sons of men
       Who fight in battle fierce;
       Oft witches evil | sit by the way
       Who blade and courage blunt.

28. Then fifth I rede thee, | though maidens fair
       Thou seest on benches sitting,
       Let the silver of kinship | not rob thee of sleep,
       And the kissing of women beware.

29. Then sixth I rede thee, | if men shall wrangle,
       And ale-talk rise to wrath,
       No words with a drunken | warrior have,
       For wine steals many men's wits.

30. Brawls and ale | full oft have been
       An ill to many a man,
       Death for some, | and sorrow for some;
       Full many the woes of men.

31. Then seventh I rede thee, | if battle thou seekest
       With a foe that is full of might;
       It is better to fight | than to burn alive
       In the hall of the hero rich.

32. Then eighth I rede thee, | that evil thou shun,
      And beware of lying words;
      Take not a maid, | nor the wife of a man,
       Nor lure them on to lust.

33. Then ninth I rede thee: | burial render
       If thou findest a fallen corpse,
       Of sickness dead, | or dead in the sea,
       Or dead of weapons' wounds.

34. A bath shalt thou give them | who corpses be,
       And hands and head shalt wash;
       Wipe them and comb, | ere they go in the coffin,
       And pray that they sleep in peace.

35. Then tenth I rede thee, | that never thou trust
      The word of the race of wolves,
      (If his brother thou broughtest to death, Or his father thou didst fell;)
       Often a wolf | in a son there is,
       Though gold he gladly takes.

36. Battle and hate | and harm,
       methinks, Full seldom fall asleep;
       Wits and weapons | the warrior needs
       If boldest of men he would be.

37. Then eleventh I rede thee, | that wrath thou shun,
       And treachery false with thy friends;
       Not long the leader's | life shall be,
       For great are the foes he faces.

Could this be the reason for the shape? Two warriors on horse back face to face having a conversation much like the scene in the old Westerns or Any film of a battle before the start of the 20th century where the Generals (read Noble Warriors / Princes) would ride out into the centre of the battle field, their horses nose to nose to offer each other the terms of surrender before a battle commenced?

As said this rune tends to represent harmony, teamwork, trust & loyalty.

All of those qualities that a leader of men would command from his army leading them into battle. Typically the leader of any force would have had the best looking horse (not necessarily the best horse) one which would be befitting of his stature. One which he would ride out to face the enemy with pride and surety installing confidence in his men

and yes Uruz is how we look after a long day in the saddle

McD

I think that all three poems allude to the same thing

The Norse and icelandic poems both mention death directly but the Olde English only mentions the Torch and its flame. I think that this may be a case where the OEAS is cryptic in its meaning

A place where princes sit within could indicate a burial chamber and the torch the light within therefore cryptically mentioning death.

This would go someway to reconciling the poems

Also in this way Kenaz can be seen as the flame of transformation and regeneration, the flame of the forge and of the cremetorium. It holds the power to create or destroy

I can see what you are saying Grymdycche

But i have always taken Raidho to mean order and control of your destiny, to achieve the right action and order to your path.

Raidho is the rune of ritual, or, the correct way to seek the Gods. It is the channelling of force according to the natural laws. Rhythm and movement are important to the concept of Raidho (the same as it is to a warrior on horseback)

Raidho is also the rune of travelling, It is being in control of the journey of your life.

McD

Nice to see so many familiar names

For those who already know me hello
I have not been around much lately as time seems to be in short supply at the momment

For those who don't then i am Mcdee

Hopefully i will be able to contribute somewhat regularly