[Vilturj] 17 - Berkana

[moonvoice]

Berkana (BER-kah-naa) - (also known as: BJARKA, beorc, bjarkan, bjarken, berkano, berkane, berchta, bercha)

Value - BH or B

Numeric Order - 17 or 18

Traditionally Represents - Birch. Earth Mother's Breast. Freaje. Spring. Fertility. Birth. Children. Babies.

Represents - Birch. Freaje. Motherhood. Nurturing. Feminine Principle. Anima. Conception. Fertility. Reproduction. Children. Babies. Gentleness. Protection. Birth. Safety. Belonging. Recovery From Trauma. Healing. Liberation.

The birch tree puts its roots down
And releases crowns of leaves to the sky
It births the green fire of the forest.
She who sings softly.

- Vilturj Rune Poem.

Berkana literally translates to 'birch', a reference to the goddess Freaje (Freya) in her role as earth mother. Berkana if likened to a tarot card would be the Empress. Berkana is the mothering, feminine principle, it represents the nurturing growth of the mother. It suggests protection from being abandoned and embodies traits of safety, comfort, protection, gentleness and warmth. Berkana is the womb where Teiwaurz is the phallus.

Berkana is an aid to fertility and represents reproduction. It's fertile aspect can be seen in the birch, the first tree to turn green after a long winter. Berkana is also affiliated with Idun, the goddess of Spring, as Spring is the season of regeneration and reproduction. The natural fertility of the earth at this time is fecund.

Berkana is associated with the new buds on a twig, the first sprout from a seed and the first virginal flowers of the season, not yet plundered by bees. It is raw fertility which works cyclically season after season, year after year. Berkana is also associated with menstruation and the onset of menses, and is an excellent women's charm for problems with periods. Berkana is particularly associated with growth that does come from seed, but from suckers that run along the ground and sprout roots. It is regeneration. The mother plant may die, but its genes gave birth to, and will succeed the following plants.

Berkana represents initiation. It is the baby's first breath as it is birthed. It is the maiden's first period as the blood is birthed. It is the seed's first sprout into open air, birthed from the mother soil. As such, this rune is a place of passage, the energy that brings the life-force forward. This is a rune for birthdays, naming days, movements through spiritual initiations, particularly in the eyes of the mother goddess. Berkana represents the gentler, mothering aspects of both Karijiana and Freaje.

Berkana lives between Teiwaurz and Ehwaz. It lends it's gentle healing strength to Teiwaurz after a battle for justice, and is aided by Ehwaz' strength of communication. The two triangles, equal and side by side in the rune, can be interpreted as two partners who are equal and face forward side by side, strengthened together. This is the rune of positive relationships and working closer and closer together to achieve a common goal and aid effective communication.

In a casting Berkana represents regeneration and renewal and suggests a successful healing from injury. Berkana is also the arrival of passion either creatively, or usually in the form of a love affair, whether you learn how to love your own body, someone loves your body, or you love somebody else's. It can indicate pregnancy or an increased chance of fertility. It also indicates that you are being a mother, are asked to be a mother, or are being mothered. Berkana brings safety and soothing energies to your cast.

Merk - Berkana is a negative rune (more often than not) when reversed, it can indicate necrosis post-surgery, infertility, a loss of mothering and spiritual/emotional mal-nutrition, as well as a loss of a place of safety. At the least it tends to slow down healing and shows problems with mother figures in one's life, and can indicate that the querent is a bad mother. It can in extreme cases suggest chronic regression and escapism by a querent who wishes to re-capture their childhood through any means necessary. It can also show carelessness with loved ones and imply a blurring of personal, physical, spiritual and emotional boundaries.

Watch out for problems with infertility, particularly if drawn by a female. If the querent is asking a specific question to do with childbirth and fertility, there is a very high chance that the querent is being told they will never be a mother, and to abandon the concept of motherhood.

In Ritual - this is a great rune to be drawn upon post-surgery, particularly if there's a large chance of necrosis. It is also good post trauma and can lessen the symptoms of post traumatic stress. Use Berkana for all fertility issues, and issues relating to feminine energies and health. This rune helps with the general healing plants, animals and people.