Hagalaz – Rune of Disruption
The Hagalaz rune has a very ‘Tower’-like effect, for those of you who are familiar with Tarot. When it shows up, it inevitably means the destruction and disruption of something you had been busy constructing in your life… or maybe the whole world around you comes crumbling down, such as when natural disasters strike.
Hagalaz is the 9th rune and the first rune of the second line of runes known as Hagal’s aett/ätt (aett = family).
Stripped back meaning based on the actual word and shape
The Hagalaz rune even looks a bit like the Tower that has started to crumble and the roof has fallen in.
The Norse word ‘hagalaz’ translates into hagel in modern Swedish and simply means hail in both instances.
Hail never comes without a storm and this is the kind of storm that will at a minimum bring disruption to whatever you have going on but it can range all the way to complete destruction of life as you know it. Surrounding runes will give you a fuller picture of what is going on.
Correspondences
- Polarity: Feminine
- Zodiac correspondences: Mars
- Tarot card correspondences: The Tower, 2 of Wands, 9 of Wands, 8 of Cups (when inner pressure is causing disruption rather than outside circumstance)
- Archangel correspondences: Archangel Camael and Archangel Michael
- Chakra correspondences: Solar plexus chakra
- Health: Protection from accidents, problems related to the head
Divinatory Meanings
General: disruption, trauma, destruction, storms, natural disasters, life changes, egotism, pride of the kind that goes before a fall, no spiritual underpinning to ongoing dealings, righteous anger, rage – Reversed: N/A (this rune is the same reversed)
Love & relationships: break-ups, blow-outs, unexpected endings in love – Reversed: N/A
Health/wellbeing: cuts, bruises, broken bones, accidents, protecting oneself against accidents – Reversed: N/A
Business: stock market crisis, natural disasters affect business, unexpected cutbacks and layoffs, unexpected mergers that lead to massive reorganisation – Reversed: N/A
Holistic Healing Tips for Hagalaz
You will come across this rune being used to curse someone and also the claim that it is a ‘clean curse.’ I’m speaking from experience on this: Don’t and there is no such thing as a clean curse. The reason some claim it’s a clean curse is because, supposedly, you are only making the faulty subconscious thought constructs ‘erupt’ for this person so that they will become aware of their own faulty ways.
Just no. Or at least make sure you are in fact more spiritually advanced than they are (spot the Catch 22).
It’s a bit like walking up to your neighbour and poking your finger in their eye to clear out the speck of dust in their eye while you have a big oak splinter sticking out of your own.
Nobody made you God of someone else’s consciousness and you cannot possibly begin to assume what is moving in their depths. If you still think it’s OK, go ahead… do it. But there will be consequences. Again, I speak from experience here. Yes, I was that foolish and I had to learn this the hard way.
Holistically though, this rune can be used to create breakthroughs for yourself when you are ready and really cross with yourself for not being able to break through old patterns. For that, I recommend working with the affirmations below.
Holistically, this is also a good rune to meditate with to rid oneself of wishful thinking. It’s also a great rune to chant when righteous anger arises to muster the courage to do the RIGHT thing. Also draw the Hagalaz rune in the palm of both hands for this.
Affirmations
- I am safe from life’s storms in God’s arms.
- I fear no one who cannot harm my eternal soul.
- I am brave in the face of social injustice.
- All is well, all shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well (Julian of Norwich)
- I express my anger in healthy ways.
- Trust in God is my foundation and the Holy Spirit lights my path
To strengthen the effect of the affirmation, you can draw the Hagalaz rune over a glass of water. Say the affirmation out loud while holding the glass. Then drink it slowly while being mindful of your intent. This will also help you calm down if you are feeling upset.
Hagalaz Prayer
Dear Mother-Father God, Thank you that you keep me eternally safe even in life’s most stormy moments. Help me to avoid unnecessary calamity by building my life inspired by the wisdom of your Holy Spirit. Amen and so it is!
Blessed be!
Lisa Frideborg