Mythology around Runes: Ansuz

Mythology: Ansuz


Odin was considered to be the creator of the runes themselves, or as i've told you before, he found and caught the runes knowledge after his shamanic jorney, and this specific rune Ansuz share his attributes. Since Odin's companions were two ravens, Hugin and Munin, or "Thought" and "Memory", these carrion birds are associated with Ansuz, as well as the two fierce wolves that were also his pets. It is said that Odin hung for nine nights from the windy ash tree, Yggdrasil, to learn the secrets of the runes, and so the wood of the ash is connected with Ansuz. This sacrifice of Odin was repeated many times by those who wished to become proficient in rune magic. For this purpose, potential rune masters would put themselves through gruelling physical ordeals to learn wisdom in the same terrible manner as their god. Hallucinogenic substances were also part of these trials, hence Ansuz is connected with the properties of the fly agaric toadstoll.