Friday, March 14, 2014

Gebo Rune


Gebo or Gyfu rune g means gift or to give, for the letter g or gh.  Gifts, both in the sense of sacrifice and of generosity, indicating balance.



Giving is a grace that gains respect
and honor for the giver; those owning

nothing find it a help when perhaps there's no other.

 

Usually a gift or a present is an item given to someone without the expectation of payment.  The act of mutually exchanging money, goods, services etc.  But gifts can have more meaning then the physical item. 

Gebo is a rune of connection, particularly the connections between people.  When a lord wanted to ensure the loyalty of one of his subjects, he would give that person a gift. The gift would create a debt on the part of the person receiving it, and this debt would ensure his readiness to serve his lord. Similarly, a gift given between lovers, especially that of the ring, symbolizes the bond between them.

In Northern lore, there is always a price to pay.  Every decision you make requires the acceptance of one thing and simultaneous sacrifice or release of another.  Odin on the tree sacrifices ‘himself to Himself’ in his shamanic initiation to discover the knowledge and wisdom of the runes.

You must find the balance between giving and receiving and learn to give responsibly. This means deciding when to give and who to give to as it is not appropriate to give to everyone indiscriminately.

 

 

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