The Fehu rune is one that leaves many confused. It being the first Rune, it is obviously of the utmost importance, yet, the most common meaning attributed to it is that of “wealth”. The word wealth instantly conjures a very superficial image, especially in our modern minds. This has left many dissatisfied, even some to believe it shouldn’t actually be the first rune at all.
The mighty Cimbri although victorious over Rome, still did not have the land they so desperately craved. Yet, in spite of this they make a most puzzling decision, and it would not be their last on their famous journey.
On the one side we have Radbod, honoring his blood ties to his Grandson and on the other side Charles Martel, riding to war against his nephew and disobeying his father’s wishes. Charles Martel was defeated at the battle of Cologne, Giving Radbod the renown of being the only man to ever defeat the famous King of the Franks.
Whilst I could of easily just took one look at this story and dismissed it, as mere tall tales, I am glad I didn’t. As keeping that door of belief open, just a little, I was lead on a wonderful journey of ancient daring and conquest, that I had never heard before. For a few moments I was lost at sea battling whirlpools and Giants. Even if it is just pure fabrication, I was allowed a glimpse inside the imagination of my Ancestors. Whilst this is often overlooked in our times, and heavy focus is put on their actions, it is in the imagination of the man that you find his reasoning . So I ask you what better way to truly understand our forebears, than their wildest thoughts, to see how they viewed the world around them and what magic inspired them?
If the Tuetones sensed Carbos plan to betray them and secretly prepared themselves, we do not know, but we know that Carbo’s plan backfired terribly. Far from profiting from this treacherous act, the Tuetones by their sheer ferocity not only overcame the ambush, but killed all but a handful of the thirty thousand legionaries Carbo had brought to destroy them.
Blood carries within it the sum total of all that has gone before, all that is and all that can be. Blood is eternal; it is the timeless landscape through which the story of our kin is told. The illusion of time and space puts Offa in a different Era and far off lands, but the truth of blood has us sharing the same breath.
What makes this burial even more spectacular, is that among the debris of her hut was a mammoth carving of a female head, that exactly like the woman in the burial was disfigured on the left side of the face.
This powerful aspect of blood heritage has long been practised by Heathens the world over. Even though they could not explain it logically maybe, they knew it intuitively. We are our ancestors, when we understand them, we understand ourselves. Remember, honour the ancestors, and they will honour you.
I recounted how Wisna, Described by the historian Olaus Magnus, “as the most knowledgeable in matters of war” and the Danish standard bearer, who took on the legendary Staraddr, and cleft his chin before losing her arm and military standard to his sword. There was also Hetha, who commanded 300 shield maidens, as well as Vebiorg who down the champion soti, among others.
The Battle of Bravellir has to be one of the most enigmatic and spectacular battles of Norse legend. Countless ancient champions and even the mighty Woden himself are said to of been present. With the historians unsure if such a battle even took place, the magnitude of the events that unfold, assure us something phenomenal…