Name: Rad (Raido)
Meaning: To ride, go on a journey
Rune ritual image: A saddle or chariot
Pity the poor horse who has to bare the rider on a rough journey that both the Norwegian and Icelandic rune poems say of Rad. Clearly this rune refers to the act of horse riding, and could be used to offer a blessing of safety and ease to the grim reality of an arduous ride across tough terrain in poor weather. A much broader concept could be applied to travelling by horse drawn cart or chariot, such as the Northern deities ride.
Riding seems easy to every warrior while he is indoors
and very courageous to him who traverses the high-roads
on the back of a stout horse.
Yggdrasil can be translated as the 'Horse of Odin' which presents the world tree as something that is ridden, a meaning to which this rune attests. My personal take is of Yggdrasil as representing the human nervous system and as such is ridden whilst undergoing an altered state of consciousness, writhing and kicking to the otherworld.
One notorious shamanic horse is the eight legged Sleipnir, or 'sliding one' ridden by Woden to cross over to the realms of Yggdrasil, further indicating Rad within esoteric practice.
Riding is also a euphemism for sex, potentially implied by other translations of the Anglo Saxon rune poem, implying riding in the hall is 'sweet' or more enjoyable than riding a 'mare'. This could offer an occult insight into the sex magick of Seidh, where orgasm is used to induce an altered state of consciousness for crossing the veil. One of the recorded visuals of the female extended orgasm is seeing a rainbow, and this would be Bifrost the bridge to Asgard.
Invoking deities can be seen as being ridden by a god or goddess, where the shaman's goal is to be possessed by them, bringing the deity into the mundane reality. Channelling spirits for divination or insight is a common practice and one that Rad would be applicable.
The magickal use of the rune Rad can cover all forms of travel through Midgard, providing supernatural support for such arduous endeavours. Rad should be employed for a spiritual journey or flight, aiding safe passage to non ordinary realms. Sexual activity is also covered with this rune, whether for occult means or not. Finally Rad could be used to facilitate channelling, encouraging spirit to ride our nervous system.
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