Mannaz: the People Have Power

Mannaz: Humanity

Meaning: A Person, Communities or Groups of People, Intelligence, Memory, Planning, Societal Influences

Affirmation: We are all one.

Associations: Existentialism, the Human Condition

Mannaz is us: that Hagalaz has come before Mannaz in the series is actually very fitting to our world timeline, and so I find that Mannaz, and all that it embodies, are especially important concepts during these trying times. Mannaz embodies you and I, and humanity as a whole. It is everything that we are, as well, including our abilities, memories, and societies. While Ehwaz, a similar rune, addresses how we are connected to those we are loyal to or who are loyal to us, Mannaz explains all the ways that we are connected to everyone, even those we have never and will never meet.

Mannaz can indicate the human quest for enlightenment, or our overall condition. It asks us to analyze, not just our societies, or the state they are in, but how they came to become this way. They ask us to analyze ourselves from the perspective of our world inward, as well. How have we been shaped by everyone and everything else? Who would we be if the people were not the way they are? How can we be more true to that truth within us, without disrupting the balance of everyone else? And, really, would disrupting them really be so bad, after all?

When I look at Mannaz, the first thing I notice is that it is Wunjo looking at itself. This makes the old, "no man is an island unto himself," by John Donne come to mind. We are responsible for our own joy, and in so doing, create joy in the communities around us. We also rely on the world around us to provide us joy, as well. If the community or place we find ourselves does not reflect the same sort of morals or foundations that we do, we are not likely to find joy among it, as much as we may provide to that group or place with our differences. The balance of finding a place in the world in which we feel joyful, and it is joyful to have us, is part of the overall balance in the function of our global societies. A major part of the awakening process is to learn to allow others to have their joy, without having to impose our definitions on others as to what joy is! Mannaz and Wunjo ask this is of us, too.

I also see Isa. Isa helps Mannaz to create the long lasting effects of societal memory, and the overarching energies of culture and community that form human interaction and behavior. It also represents our roles as individuals, coming together to form a whole. Through interacting with one another as individuals, we create something much larger, and respective of our collective thoughts and energies.

In the center of Mannaz is Gebo. Gebo creates the energies of reciprocity and balance on which the energies of humanity ebb and flow. If one culture or subgroup of people grows too large and inconsiderate of others, the smaller communities it is crushing are likely to join forces and topple it - or spirit itself will take action! Gebo reminds us that we should always try to give as much as we take from the world, and to try our best to enforce that the world do the same for us and ours, too.

Uruz is another rune that helps form Mannaz. Uruz works with the energies of Isa in a lot of ways, to help create enduring and long standing traditions. It allows for the primal energies of the universe to play a major role in our human function. Another rune of independence and self-identity, Uruz reveals that society and humanity as a whole are built off of our collective individualism. The condition of any society or human group, good or bad, is a reflection of the condition of its individuals. I also think is greatly indicative that humanity is based on enduring and coming to understand the greater meaning of challenges.

Lastly, I see Laguz. Laguz gives humanity its compassionate heart, its creativity, and its ability to adapt to change. It can also mean that we can be easily misguided or ruled by our emotions, however, and that we, as a species, are not as logical as we would be if we were ruled by, say, Tyr. Our importance as individuals, capable of logic, is emphasized in the energy of Laguz in Mannaz. If we do not work to control the naturally emotional nature of humanity through intelligent analysis of our behavior and goals, things can get super crazy, really fast!

The spread featured for Mannaz is Social Order, and asks about the energies of our current place in the human picture - in particular, our social circles. This usually includes colleagues, coworkers, and friends, but will be great for any group of people you spend a lot of your time around, or energy on. It is one of many spreads featured for Mannaz and the other Elder Futhark in my upcoming book, Runic Wisdom. I hope you enjoy it! If you happen to share it on social media, please tag me, or use the hashtags #RunicWisdom or #RunicWisdomMannaz to make sure I can get a look.

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