Monday, August 13, 2007

Runes

Last night, the bf and I saw Stardust, cinematic interpretation of Neil Gaiman's lovely fairy tale novel. Both the movie and book are wonderful and highly recommended. (A critic, I can't remember which one, noted that Stardust is the next generation Princess Bride, a description I found to be pretty apt.) Also! A necklace is very heavily featured in the plot, which is a very big plus.

Claire Danes (as Yvainne, the star) on a unicorn. Wearing an enchanted necklace. Yes, this is a fantasy film. What tipped you off?

On Saturday, I had a Bjork siting in Nyack, NY., and then again in Piermont, NY, three hours later. I don't care much for Bjork's music, but she and partner Matthew Barney are very much celebrities to me, so I was a bit starstruck. (And my mom? Well, she loudly noted her distaste for Bjork's shoes. Mortification.)

Cover of Bjork's Medulla album. Obviously this pic chosen for the wonderful necklace...

Today's post is a bit inspired by both: Bjork hails from Iceland, a place with incredible Nordic history and in the film, many of the characters used Rune Stones--a piece of that Nordic history.

A little information about runes, all from this website:
Runes are an ancient Germanic alphabet, used for writing, divination and magick. They were used throughout northern Europe, Scandinavia, the British Isles, and Iceland from about 100 B.C.E. to 1600 C.E. Runic inscriptions of great age have even been found in North America, supporting stories that the Vikings arrived in the Americas long before Columbus.



Sterling Silver Possessions Rune Ring - This is a rune of material gain and prosperity. It signifies overcoming opposition. It is a rune of Achievement, ambitions fulfilled. $28.50


Runes are an oracle from which one seeks advice. They work best if you detail your current circumstances and then ask a specific question. Rune readings are sometimes obscure. They hint toward answers, but you have to figure out the details. This is when the rune casters intuition becomes paramount.
Runic divination or "rune casting" is not "fortunetelling" in the sense that one actually sees the future. Instead, runes give one a means of analyzing the path that one is on and a likely outcome. The future is not fixed. It changes with everything one does. If one does not like the prediction, one can always change paths.


Sterling Silver Large Rune Necklace, $345. This sterling necklace also comes in gold and features a complete set of rune pieces. (The entire alphabet.)

Since ancient times, runes have been used for divination and magic, in addition to writing. The word "rune" actually means mystery, secret or whisper. Each rune has esoteric meanings and properties associated with it, beyond its mundane meaning and phonetic value. Each translates into a word or a phrase signifying concepts important to the early peoples who used them, representing the forces of nature and mind. Each rune has a story attached to it, a relationship to a Norse God


Magical Rune Pendant: Danobus, $42.55
For wish fulfillment.



Special Cross Rune, carried to ward off evil spirits or ghosts. $67.85

Really interesting and beautiful in a very primitive way...

11 comments:

WendyB said...

Great and very informative post. I love that Bjork picture. She's amazing! And, by the way, I am pro-swan dress.

In Yr Fshn said...

Thanks! You are too quick for me. I usually edit at least once after I've posted. It's too hard to see errors as html! I am also pro-swan dress and had actually written an entire post about swan jewelry instead, but didn't like how it turned out. Also? Matthew Barney is HOT.

WendyB said...

Ooh, I am doing a swan ring to match my Cleves swan necklace. I hadn't even thought about that vis-a-vis Bjork. I guess she's very over swans now, though, so I won't try to sell her one! It sounds like I will have to go check out Stardust for sure.

In Yr Fshn said...

I had your necklace on my post! I just couldn't get excited enough about the post in general. Poor post.
She looked a bIt swanny when I saw her: white eyelet dress with one sleeve and little bits of fabric hanging off the sleeve, by the the shoulder. White flats with big poof balls on them. But maybe the family has moved on the other creatures of flight: their daughter was dressed up like a ladybug, wings and all!
Re stardust: one of the better movies I've seen in a while.

WendyB said...

Oh,that's so adorable about their daughter. I love them! Though whenever I think of Bjork and her kids I think of that clip of her punching a journalist!

In Yr Fshn said...

Oh, I know! I FORBADE my mom to ask for a picture or autograph. "She'll beat you up!" I said.

WendyB said...

Bjork will cut you! Look out!

WendyB said...

I just took another look at that Bjork picture...bosomy, isn't she!

In Yr Fshn said...

Ha! She really is in that picture. Maybe she was pregnant then? In real life though, she's pretty curvy.

Anonymous said...

Bjork scares the crap out of me! Since the day i saw her on the news for bashing up a journalist at the airport because she asked bjork "how are you"?!

Anyways that is a very cool picture and the jewelry adds to it making it very intense.

And i love the way you and wendy are having a lovely little converation here lol :)

In Yr Fshn said...

Oh, I know! Bjork, though small in stature, is definitely intimidating.
Thanks for the comment, Shaz! Wendy and I have little conversations all over the place---I probably comment more than blog! : )