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  • casting runes — 09jan26

    09Jan26 | 13.57 CST
    © 2026

    michael raven

    c: 260109.1357
    fehu
    "we want the world &
    we want it now..."

    rip out the barbed wire fences,
    carry swine to the edge
    of the world &
    throw them all down

    A poem prompted by a randomly selected Elder Futhark rune.

    Today’s rune is fehu, which has a core meaning of “cattle” or a more generalized “livestock”, which was a representation of personal wealth or earned prosperity. Sometimes luck played a role. Wealth and prosperity was valued, but was looked down upon when material accumulation appeared to be excessive, greedy, miserly or turned to hoarding, especially when those around you were lacking.

    Please visit my Elder Futhark pages at sceadugenga.com for additional interpretations of the runes based on multiple references and personal reflection.

    tagged:

    fehu, poetry, rewilding, rune

    filed under:

    poetry
    3 comments on casting runes — 09jan26

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    casting runes — 09jan26

  • Half-penny thoughts — 09jan26

    09Jan26 | 11.54 CST
    © 2026

    michael raven

    c: 260109.1154

    Do you ever get that itchy feeling that you ought to be up to something but cannot quite put your finger on what, exactly, that something might be aside from some nebulous notions that flutter like butterflies in the summer sun inside the space most folks store their brains?

    Yeah. That’s the prevailing feeling I am getting these past few days: an Ought which is disappointingly lacking in Substance.

    Maybe it is just my rebellious nature itching to get out and do something in light of the recent events that have taken place in my hometown (I moderate my activism to protect my family, but would act up significantly more if I had only myself to be concerned about).

    But that does not feel quite right. If I got involved with current activist events, I’d probably sign up to marshal more than agitate anyway. That feels closer to the heart of this indecipherable vibe I am feeling. Spirit/soul work of some sort, perhaps?

    Well, let’s not worry about solving my conundrum. It’s very likely something I need to get at myself without external help. That’s the kind of vibe it is; internal stuff.

    However, going back to the original thought at the head of this post:

    How often do you feel you ought to be doing something, but cannot think of what that something might be? Frequently? Never?

    And, if you do, are you always able to eventually resolve what that thing is? Or do you just let it go and hope that it comes to you a little clearer after you give it room to breathe?

    Do you ever get vague hints from wherever vague hints are born? Or does the realization come directly/not at all?

    tagged:

    half-penny thoughts, ought, rebel rebel, rewilding, spirit, thinking too much

    filed under:

    thinking
    37 comments on Half-penny thoughts — 09jan26

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    Half-penny thoughts — 09jan26

  • waiting to begin

    09Jan26 | 10.22 CST
    © 2026

    michael raven

    c: 260109.1022
    awake to ear ringing
    & litmus tests papering
    our present lavender

    faint, the voice calling
    so i resthead on the ley
    hoping for to clarion that
    lost in babble on & on

    a need to root in & stone
    branching out & to oak
    careless as a whisper
    on the wind

    i wait for them in
    forgotten corridors
    waiting to begin

    tagged:

    betwixt and between, poetry, rewilding

    filed under:

    poetry
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    waiting to begin

  • casting runes — 08jan26

    08Jan26 | 12.43 CST
    © 2026

    michael raven

    c: 260108.1243
    wunjo
    tug of the healer calling
    drawing up a hood
    walking the woods
    as i did once & again

    A rune poem, based on an Elder Futhark rune selected at random.

    Today’s rune is wunjo, which is translated as “joy” and has been interpreted in both the earthly sense as well as in spiritual ecstasy. It has been associated with healing (emotional, mental and interpersonal) and some sources connect the rune to luck, the act of making a wish, or applied will. Wunjo can also be the inspiration for creativity.

    Please visit my Elder Futhark pages at sceadugenga.com for additional interpretations of the runes based on multiple references and personal reflection.

    tagged:

    poetry, rewilding, rune, wunjo

    filed under:

    poetry
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  • hex

    08Jan26 | 09.20 CST
    © 2026

    michael raven

    c: 260108.0920
    Photo by Nastia Petruk on Unsplash
    to you who would soak us
    in our own blood:
    your swagger sickens me

    i reject your new amerika,
    you piggies at the trough
    with your shit-filled lies.
    when your butcher's bill comes
    i pray to all the gods that
    it is you who pays the price

    tagged:

    darts, dissent, hex, poetry

    filed under:

    poetry
    7 comments on hex

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    hex

  • casting runes — 07jan26

    07Jan26 | 19.17 CST
    © 2026

    michael raven

    c: 260107.1917
    fehu
    daggers gnaw the wolf's belly
    as he surveys snowy plains for
    young reindeer to offer "protection"

    A poem prompted by a randomly selected Elder Futhark rune.

    Today’s rune is fehu, which has a core meaning of “cattle” or a more generalized “livestock”, which was a representation of personal wealth or earned prosperity. Sometimes luck played a role. Wealth and prosperity was valued, but was looked down upon when material accumulation appeared to be excessive, greedy, miserly or turned to hoarding, especially when those around you were lacking.

    Please visit my Elder Futhark pages at sceadugenga.com for additional interpretations of the runes based on multiple references and personal reflection.

    tagged:

    fehu, poetry, rewilding, rune

    filed under:

    poetry
    No comments on casting runes — 07jan26

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    casting runes — 07jan26

  • Half-penny thoughts — 07jan26

    07Jan26 | 10.11 CST
    © 2026

    michael raven

    c: 260107.1011

    Sometimes, when I look in the mirror or in the work chat camera, I’m a little surprised by who I see there. The person looking back at me appears to be a reflection of myself, except that all that grey and all that beard (not to mention the bushier eyebrows) seems much more gnome that it ought to be for the person I recall being.

    If I’m being generous, I replace the “gnome” with “druid”. However, self-generosity doesn’t come easy, so gnome is of more frequent use. Perhaps there is a better description? I’ll have to think about it (I’ve not quite evolved into a “troll”, but I suspect it will come sooner than later).

    Are you ever surprised by who you see in pictures of yourself? If so, do you think it is generally for the better or for the worse? If you were to use a common word or phrase of less than five words, what do you think best describes your general appearance or that someone might mistake you for being?

    tagged:

    ch-ch-ch-changes, frivolity, gnomish, half-penny thoughts

    filed under:

    thinking
    19 comments on Half-penny thoughts — 07jan26

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    Half-penny thoughts — 07jan26

  • of the vale

    07Jan26 | 07.19 CST
    © 2026

    michael raven

    c: 260107.0719
    a path in the middle of a dark forest
    Photo by Wes Hicks on Unsplash
    chestnut flicked in amber
    to tease and taunt of eye
    stonewater crest elder oak
    shadow slip past of my
    dream her wrapped arms
    on arms in arms against
    the coming gale

    hollow you, broken child
    stolen child, darkling
    of the vale

    tagged:

    betwixt and between, poetry

    filed under:

    poetry
    2 comments on of the vale

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    of the vale

  • lean in, ask

    06Jan26 | 21.12 CST
    © 2026

    michael raven

    c: 260106.2112
    none of this exists until
    you lean in and ask

    given to fever in drift
    flowing over in waves
    my jaw aches for silence
    wired shut

    you dream in a
    wordspun heaven only
    a breath away

    lean in, ask

    tagged:

    betwixt and between, poetry, the dreaming

    filed under:

    poetry
    18 comments on lean in, ask

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    lean in, ask

  • rose of sanctuary

    06Jan26 | 14.33 CST
    © 2026

    michael raven

    c: 260106.1433
    sell me rose of sanctuary
    in rainsoaked night
    help me forget in rhythm
    as you pull me in under
    the afterglow neon lights
    and grant me sweet release

    tagged:

    poetry

    filed under:

    poetry
    6 comments on rose of sanctuary

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    rose of sanctuary

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