Bind Runes and Witch Names

Words have power, so it follows that names do as well. There exists such a thing in Wicca known as a witch name. It's used during rituals and is personal and meaningful. Some Wiccans have more than one name. One is reserved for inner work and the other is reserved for outer work. In other words, one is private and one is public. Numerology is involved in its selection, as is whatever dieties, animals, crystals, elements, etc. one might be drawn to. Witch names can be revealed during initiation, or if you're Solitary like me, you create your own. Some reveal their names, some don't. I happen to be one that doesn't. But I do love rune divination and one of the cool things to do with it is to create a bind rune of your name. So, I thought I would do that with my witch name. It ended up being prescient to say the least.

Bind runes are symbols you essentially bind together from whatever runes you happen to be using. I approach it in the same manner as reducing numbers. I find the commonalities and go from there, trying to create the smallest version of the bind rune possible. Balance is encouraged without being redundant. Writing out my witch name brought forth the following runes:

• Tiwaz - The god, Tyr - justice, balance, self-sacrifice, rational thinking - represents fundamental cosmic law as true reality and our alignment to that reality.
• Wunjo - Joy - understanding, community, harmony, leadership, connectedness - indicates a concern for others and their well-being, and recognizes that feeling joy is our strongest desire.
• Isa - Ice - stillness, self-preservation, focus, ego-awareness - expresses individuality, yet superficially, reflects illusion.
• Laguz - Water - unconscious, psychic power, oneness of all, imagination, dreams, collective consciousness - water symbolizes life as it flows along, our real foundation that exists outside the body, also involves Karma or Wyrd as actions have consequences.
• Othala - Homeland - inheritance, oneness, spiritual awareness and power, paradise - separation fades away leaving only oneness and unity as we accept responsibility for our home and for each other.
• Mannaz - Humankind - intelligence, thought, mind, service to others, incorporation of the divine into the everyday - how we perceive the world has consequences, so the emphasis is on harmony and community and what kind of world we, as co-creators with Source, create. Responsible behavior stemming from responsible thought.
• Nauthiz - Need - necessity, conflict, effort, consequences of behavior, doing whatever needs doing - the focus here is on what we actually need for survival and not neglecting our most basic needs. Recognizes the difference between survival needs and other desires.

Your witch name should reflect who you are and what matters to you. As an empath, I experience the energetic connection between myself and others. I not only believe we are all one, I know we are. I experience it. Our collective attention is here on this Earth, in this universe, to learn how to relate to each other in harmony and unity. Justice, self-sacrifice, community are all part of that process.

Underlying everything is Laguz, which tells us that our real existence is outside the body, and that everything we do here has consequences. This is a particularly important truth to an empath. We're aware of the collective consciousness that unites us all and that we have a responsibility to embrace the principles of Tiwaz including balance, justice and aligning with fundamental cosmic law while here in this life.

We have our basic human needs that Nauthiz refers to. But anything else is a choice, and we incorporate Mannaz to bring the divine into our everyday lives so that we behave responsibly toward each other. A sense of community results in joy, or Wunjo, which is our strongest desire.

The duality we explore in this life includes expressions of individuality which are not necessarily conducive to oneness and Isa tells us to be aware of the superficiality of the ego and to not let it deter us from embracing all as one. Oneness is preferable to self-preservation and sometimes this takes focus and a stillness so that we can see reality over the illusion.

Othala, the final rune, reinforces our reality of oneness and shows us that as separation fades away, our essential reality becomes all that is. As above, so below.

Runes are so fascinating. Using them offers clarity and perspective in our daily lives. I had no idea when I chose my name that it would contain all of this. I never thought of it in terms of runic divination. Both my date of birth and my birth name reduce down to 9. It also reflects two things I feel connected to. Looking at the runes and their meanings, it's everything I believe. I love synchronicity. Your witch name should reflect alignment with Source. I believe mine does..

~Blessed Be!