Raidho - The Meanings of the Runes
Updated: Nov 2, 2023
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Raidho, the fifth letter in the Elder Futhark alphabet, directly translates to "ride" as both the verb meaning "to ride" as well as its noun form meaning "vehicle". Looking at the Anglo-Saxon, Icelandic, and Norwegian rune poems, raidho conveys a need to act or move at the right time as well as moving with a sense of purpose toward a goal, target, or destination. These poems stressed that life on the road was strenuous compared to a settled life. However, giving oneself distance, living life on the road, grants one a different perspective.
In Norse mythology, many of the gods rode in wagons or chariots that were drawn by their totem animals. Even the sun and moon, personified as their divine counterparts Sol and Mani, rode through the sky on horse-drawn chariots. Upon examination of this culture, it is plain to see that carts, wagons, and chariots carry a deeper significance than as just a mode of transportation. Although, that is the bare-bones definition of raidho.
On their own, carts aren't very useful--they require a horse or other draft animal to pull them and a person to guide that animal. Imagine if you have a driver but no horse. The cart will still not move. Or vice versa, a cart and horse but no driver will lead to the horse pulling the cart wherever it feels without consideration for where the contents of the cart need to go. Additionally, a vehicle can typically carry one person or multiple people. It can be drawn by one animal or multiple animals. But in any of these conditions, everyone needs to work together. The driver must communicate to the animal and the animal must follow direction from the driver. Multiple people cannot be giving multiple cues and the animals must be pulling in the same direction.
This rune is also connected to wheels which symbolize cycles, constant motion, an infinite loop.
Summary
Direct translation: "Ride"
Symbolizes: To move or act at the right time, moving with a sense of purpose toward a goal or target or destination, travel, swift pursuit, motion.
Features to note: Chariots, wagons, and other modes of transportation carried significance in Norse mythology. This rune is also connected to wheels which symbolize cycles, constant motion, an infinite loop. Stands for groups working together in an organized manner.
Resources (paid links):
Taking Up the Runes by Diana L. Paxson
Runes for Beginners by Lisa Chamberlain
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