[Vilturj] 06 - Geafu

[moonvoice]

Geafu (Ghee-FOO) - (also known as; Gibor, Gibo, Giba, Gebo, Gifu, Gyfu, Gefu, Giefu, Geba, Geafurzhe (Vilturj), Gigeur, Gigas, Gifa, Gi, Ge, Gea, Geo, Geburah, Geuua, Giuua)

Value - G

Numeric Order - 6, often 7 or 18

Traditional Representation - A Gift For A Gift. Odin. Generosity. Grace. The Act of Giving.

Represents - Gift. Reward. Balance. Odin. Earth. Death. Female. Male. Sperm. Ova. Blood. Blot. God. The Swastika. Eternal Love. Rebirth. Geburah (From the Kabbalistic Tree of Life). Generosity. Grace. A Gift for a Gift. Karijiana and D'miezak'r (the union of Sun and Moon).

The earth bled and man came forth
the woman bled and life came forth
a gift for the greatest of gifts
the endless sacrifice.

Vilturj Rune Poem

The Geafu rune can only truly be known by Odin, and like Pertho, resists many forms of interpretation. That said however there is a wealth of information on the Geafu, or 'gift' rune. It is the gifts that Odin bestows upon the earth, and it is in turn the gifts that the earth bestows upon Odin. It is the idea of sacrificing in order to receive, to sow in order to reap, and to reap in order to sow, to receive in order to sacrifice. For this reason, Geafu and Fehu are quite intimately related with ideas of balance, and often, wealth. Yet Geafu also represents Gigur, the gift-destroying frost giant who was death before rebirth, or the flames that would incinerate the phoenix. It is the transition between the receiving and the giving.

Geafu represents skaldic music, and the idea of song (generally represented primarily with the fiddle). The fiddle and the flute were instruments of spiritual awakening, and so connected with rebirth. Their music enticed in people all manner of emotions, and often were the spiritual thread behind many told tales, the fyr (or love) behind the words and syllables (they were eventually banned by the church).

Geafu was symbolic of many ancient Germanic and proto-Germanic customs. Such as the King giving his followers rewards of treasure. The exchange of gifts between bride and groom. The return of food for food, and trade for trade. There is implicit importance in giving gifts back to the gods, and one's friends, for the gifts they give to you. One must understand that these gifts need not be expensive or extravagant, but they must come from the heart, and have meaning and intent behind them. This gift caused a Maegerr, or a link of energy between the two souls. Giving gifts back to the gods therefore, strengthened the Maegerr. Failure to gift, means a loss of the Maegerr, which could mean a lack of food in the winter, a lack of metal for trade.

Geafu is an old rune, an 'elder' rune. It is spirituality rather than religion, it is goodness rather than forced grace. It is the rune which also demands, no, expects blood sacrifice in exchange for gifts from the gods. It is the rune which oversees and lends its energy to the blooding of runes and other sacred objects, and the blooding of animals.

Geafu is a path to happiness, and suggests, at number six, that one must pass the stage of functional illness and suffering (Kenaz), in order to realise that nature is often being a generous teacher in lending its illness to you, and to discover happiness even when it may be impossible to see how any given situation could at all be positive.

Because of its implicit connections with giving and bonding, this is a rune that also tends to represent the healing of personal relationships. It is about all forms of partnership, with Fehu it is a positive business partnership, with Berkana, a positive parent/child relationship and so on.

In a reading, Geafu indicates that the time of sacrifice has come. It can represent a time of contracts, where you commit yourself and sacrifice time for a reward. It is a time to be generous, not only to others but to yourself, and trust that by being generous, generosity will be forthcoming. It also represents the cycles of time, and how time is marked by acts of love.

Merk - Merked this stave generally represents little reward in return for your efforts, and often it signifies greed, or expecting more than you actually need. Geafu merked is stinginess, selfish materialism, greed, pushing others away to benefit yourself, loneliness, severance of partnerships, and acts of hatred. It can also represent being overtly material, and being unable to recognise the gifts you are being given, because they may not be material.

Much of what a merked-Geafu means is worked out according to how it lies in appearance with the other runes. Fehu indicates materialism. Berkana indicates a dissolving of friendships. Isa indicates hoarding to the point of stagnation of wealth. Haurgl indicates catastrophe because of such greed or materialism. It can also be profoundly influenced whether the surrounding runes are upright or merked. Time and practice will reveal more of the meanings of merked-Geafu to you, which are certainly rich and many in this Capitalist world.

In Ritual - In ritual, this rune is fantastic for balancing sacrifice, and during meditation can suggest the best ways to 'gift' yourself to others, and show you how others, and the earth, is 'gifting' itself to you on a regular basis. You may have lost sight of this. Geafu is also good for strengthening known relationships, particularly if both are present during the ritual working. It aids partnership with the higher self and so vibrates well to the crown chakra, as well as the chakra at the base of the spine (always forget the name of this one). It vibrates astrally to the colours white, blue, pink and other pastel tones.