Thurisaz is the rune of adversity and resistance. Thurisaz is also known as Thorn. The first name, Thurisaz, relates to the Old Norse name for the frost giants, ‘Tursar’ or ‘Rimtursar.’
Creation, our 3D world, exists because of/thanks to adversity and tension. Resistance is necessary for the life-giving force to provide the spark of life in this dimension. Adversity is the very foundation of physical creation, where primeval forces battle it out and in the process manage to produce ‘offspring.’
The Realm of the Tursar
In the realm of the ‘Tursar,’ the cycle of birth, decay, death and rebirth never ends. We are talking about the birth of galaxies here as well as of plants and living creatures.
It could be argued that without the presence of Thurisaz, we would still be in the pre-fall state of grace that is Paradise. Or that, as Christians, we would have fully realised the Kingdom of Heaven within ourselves and thus also in the world. Alas, not even the most saintly among us have, as the Apostle Paul testifies.
Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
2 Corinthians 12:7-9
Evil
Thurisaz is possibly the most misunderstood of the Elder Futhark Runes. Without the perspective of the creation story and reading it in context with the two preceding runes, Fehu and Uruz, it fails to fall into place. The reason for this is that Thurisaz is often associated with evil. The problem is, of course, that there is no such thing. The energy itself is neutral, only consciousness can make it evil but more about that when we get to Ansuz.
My own understanding of Thurisaz has emerged gradually thanks to my studies of both the Bible and the Norse creation myths. If it doesn’t resonate, I am fine with that and totally understand. To be honest, I struggle with what I have learned about Thurisaz so far.
However, I am finally able to see that it has to do with not wanting to recognise or put a spotlight on my own resistance. Nor am I always willing to be honest with myself about how I deal with ‘evil’ in my own life. It’s much easier to project it than to own it. Like Paul, I have issues of pride. Thankfully, I too have access to GRACE.
The general divinatory meanings of Thurisaz are resistance, adversity, evil and the overcoming of evil, pushing through blocks, choosing our battles wisely, and ‘what we resist persists.’
To quote Paul again:
For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.
Romans 7:18(b)-19
Working with Thurisaz
Learning to work with Thurisaz is about learning to release any blocks to love. This means acceptance of what is as the first step (to identify and accept Thurisaz energy however it shows up). We then turn to God with what it is we need to release that is blocking the path of love. When we give it to God, grace does the job for us.
We do not need to rebuke the source of evil in our lives, we simply need to turn to God and accept the gift of grace… as many times as it takes.
And as for praying the ‘Our Father,’ please use the correct translation which ends with ‘deliver us from the evil one,’ rather than ‘deliver us from evil.’ What we need to be delivered from is not the nothingness of ‘evil’ itself but from the Enemy who uses the forces of resistance and adversity to harm, destroy, steal and kill.
As for destroying the enemy, thankfully, that’s God’s job, not ours.
The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.
Exodus 14:14