The Meaning of the Rune "Nauthiz"

Interpreting this rune

Literal Meanings of "Nauthiz"

Need, necessity, trouble, constraint

Description

A vast canyon or icy crevasse exists between one's current position and the position or goal that is desired. One 'needs' to cross this great distance, but how? Passage across this chasm must be secured or a shortage may become worse. A 'need' or 'shortfall' is indicated here in all its forms: Nauthiz is the worker who has done a particular trade for years and finds themselves laid off, their trade obsolete. Nauthiz is the harvest which falls short, unable to provide. Nauthiz is a yearning of the soul which is currently unfulfilled. Nauthiz is a sudden demand which overwhelms one's stores and savings. Nauthiz indicates a time to retrain, relearn and plan effectively in order to get what is wanted from a particular situation. Nauthiz is a rune of 'wanting', and it is generally a negative rune since it describes a 'lack' of something. If the reader believes the need referenced by Nauthiz is a constant need, then one's needs should be reevaluated. If the need referenced by this rune is temporary in nature, it may be necessary to take steps to fill it. In general, the rune Nauthiz represents a gap between that which one requires and the capacity that one has to fulfill that requirement.

How to Interpret "Nauthiz"

Something is desired or lacking by the querent. Without fulfilling this need, forward motion will be difficult and unpleasant. Material need or sometimes impoverishment, whether real or imagined may also be described here. The exact meaning of such impoverishment may be different for different people; for one person, poverty may mean one car in the family instead of two. For another, it may mean no food for a week. Whatever the definition, the result is the same: a degradation of life-quality through a shortage of something. Rectifying this situation will requires either diligence and intelligence in order to improve the situation. A managing of one's desires may also be called for. An alternate meaning of Nauthiz is a purely spiritual yearning for some greater level of enlightenment: a need created by spiritual impoverishment or a withering of the soul. In some cases Nauthiz represents a semi-permanent state of spiritual disatisfaction, or one who is eternally disatisfied despite material and emotional plenty. It should be noted that while many see Nauthiz as a negative rune, depicting a shortage or a lack of something -- others see Nauthiz as a positive challenge -- a test that must be overcome to achieve the object of one's desire.

Inverted Meaning

There are those who believe that Nauthiz cannot be reversed -- and others who say that it can. With this particular rune, this decision must be made by the reader based upon the nature of the reading. A possible inverted interpretation is as follows: The shortage is at it's worst and the only way from here is up -- bear this in mind during the coming struggles. Strong character is forged through difficult situations like this -- and fortunes made. Some of the most successful and enduring people achieved greatness because they underwent extreme hardships at some point in their lives.

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