The Birthstones Of Denmark

In the Danish town of Jelling stand the two Jelling stones, which are located in a churchyard. The stones are situated between two large grass mounds. They show the transition period from the Norse pagan religion to the religion of Christianity. The largest stone has an inscription of Christ standing as if crucified and tied up in what appears to be branches of a tree. Experts believe that this signifies Christ replacing the pagan religion and the Norse god Odin. In myth Odin hung for nine nights in the tree Yggdrasill. On the other side of the stone there is a carving of a serpent that is wrapped around a lion.

The larger of the two stone is often referred to as the birthstone of Denmark’s and is strongly identified with the creation of Denmark as an independent nation. Both the stones have one the earliest inscriptions of the name “Danmark”.

A thousand years of erosion caused quite significant damage. Cracks were starting to appear. In 2008 a team of experts visited the site in Jelling and said that the stones must be moved to protect them it was decided an indoor temperature controlled environment would best suit. There was a protest to keep the stones in place however an agreement was reached and the stones were left where they stand but were enclosed in a strict temperature-controlled case to stop the erosion making the situation worse.

When the stones wire first carved they would have been painted however because of the erosion issue most of it has flaked away. There was enough left to see the colours that were used. In 1955 a replica was made of the larger of the two stones for a festival in London. The replica was painted how it would have originally looked. This  now resides in a Danish church in St Catherine’s precinct.

The inscription on the largest of the stones when changed into English reads "King Haraldr ordered this monument made in memory of Gormr, his father, and in memory of Thyrvé, his mother; that Haraldr who won for himself all of Denmark and Norway and made the Danes Christian."

The Isle Of Berezanji Rune Stone

This is a picture is of a runic stone that was found on Berezanji Isle in the Dnepr river.
 
The area of land at the time of the find belonged to the Russian Empire; it then passed to the USSR, it now belongs to the Ukraine. The stone is now held in the Odessa archaeological museum in the Ukraine.
 
The stone was discovered in1905 in a grave-mound during an archaeological excavation of the island. The stone lay in the tomb under the head and bust with inscription facing towards the ground. 

It was part of a larger rune stone that did originally stand on one of the grave-mounds. It was then laid into the grave at a later date. The stone can't have stood for very long, as there is very little damage to wind erosion. The bottom part was never found.

The inscription can be dated from XI century and reads :-

 : krani . kerþi . half . þisi . iftir . kal . fi . laka . sin

This translated into English means : "Grani made this grave-mound after Karl, his comrade."

 

The Meaning Of the Rune Stone Joy

Joy is another well-celebrated rune stone and it is associated with the colour Yellow and the Hawthorn tree
It means as it name suggest it a time of fun and celebration. It is also linked with spring and the dawning of new exuberent time after the long hard winter. As in the world, spring brings fore new plants which seemed dormant and dead during the winter, Joy can mean a joyful reunion or reawakening of feelings long since forgotten.

When joy is drawn the person is usually in for a time of happiness and celebration. When romance if in the forefront of the person’s mind it can mean a wedding of a christening is going to occur. Anyone who is single who draws Joy can mean they are about to meet a new love or an old romance is going to be rekindled which will be much more successful this time round.

Even lonely people can draw happiness from the appearance from joy as this time of sadness and loneliness is going from they're life and an old accquentence or family member is going to bring happiness back to the person.

In careers and business life Joy spells a tine of good fortune. An old associate may show up which will bring about pleasant implications in the future.

The tall and very imposing stones of Björketorp were carved during a transition period of languages in the area so there is a mixture of both Elder Futhark and Younger Futhark letters on the stones.

Most experts believe the rune stones of Björketorp were raised and carved between the 500AD and 700AD. However there are some conflicting theories why the stones were placed in a circle like this.

The first theory is that this was to form a circle around a burial site. However an archaeological team were sent to the site in 1914 and carried out a detailed excavation. The team failed to make any finds either outside or inside the stone circle. This then moved the theory and led some experts to believe that is was a memorial site which is some distance from the true burial site. A second theory says that it is a shrine to Odin to aid fertility. There is also a suggestion that the circle is a boundary marker between the Swedes and Daner a Nothern Germanic tribe.

There are inscriptions which are on two sides of  the largest most imposing stone of the three.

The shorter inscription on side A reads: - uþArAbA sbA

The longer inscription side B Reads hAidz runo ronu fAlAhAk hAiderA ginArunAz ArAgeu hAerAmAlAusz utiAz welAdAude sAz þAt bArutz

Translation side A: - I prophesy destruction / prophecy of destruction.

Translation side B: - I, master of the runes (?) conceal here runes of power. Incessantly (plagued by) maleficence, (doomed to) insidious death (is) he who breaks this (monument).

Not too put to finer point on this it is a curse or a protection placed to protect the stones or what is burried with or near to them.

The Meaning Of The Rune Stone Gyfu

This Rune is associated with the Elm Tree (sadly now extinct in Britain and Europe) and the colour red.

Everyone who draws the runes stone eagerly awaits the appearance of Gyfu. As it means gift or blessings or, an act of unexpected generosity. It can also mean an exchange of gifts between lovers.

Rune stones are now over 1500 years old and this rune, which is a large "X”, is still in use today.  Two lovers will put Gyfu on the back of a sealed love note, inside a card or when we give a small gift we write "GYFU" on the outside.

Lovers selecting this rune are in for happy time.  It could mean receiving a gift such as a ring or they are about to receive a lavish gift for an unexpected source. It may even mean a marriage proposal.

In business or career it means an unexpected offer of some kind or an unexpected advance.

The only thing to remember with the Rune Stone Gyfu is, in Norse times it was customary to give a gift in return for receiving one. So to reinforce the effect of Gyfu you should also give a gift in return.

The Meaning Of Peorth

  

Peorth is linked with the Silver Birch tree and red.

It is a deeply engrossing stone and a long time ago represented the dice, or chance. Over the years however more and more layers have been added to the meaning of this emotionally charged stone. Peorth is now associated with mystery, intrigue and repressed emotions.

When the person who is drawing the rune stones is thinking of romance and relationships, if Peorth is drawn its possible that they are about to embark on an illicit affair or they’re partner is about to, or already has. It could also mean that a previously hidden admirer is about is about to make their feelings known to the subject.

In business or career it means there is something going on behind the back of the subject, that they are  totally unaware of. However they would do well to find out what’s going on. They may also be letting themselves be pulled into a hidden plan or plot. While this is not necessarily something bad, the subject would do well to remember, Peorth means gambling or chance and lady luck is very fickle. She will eventually walk out on the person who chances their arm.

The Meaning Of Feoh

This is the rune Feoh it is associated with the elder tree and the colour brown in runic terms it means wealth.

1500 years ago a mans wealth could be measured in terms of heads of cattle and how much land he owned. Today this rune has a more subtle meaning it still means wealth but is also associated with hard work, perseverance and determination. There may well be wealth but its been well earned.

Feoh also reminds us the sacrifice we have to pay for riches such as time and pleasure.

When it comes to romance if Feoh turns up it means that the relationship will prosper. However like wealth there has to be hard work and determination. The person desired will succumb to the affections but there will be a lot of hard work and perseverance beforehand.

When Feoh turns up in any reading it means you can start looking through the Aston martin brochure but don't order it just yet there’s a bit of hard work to do beforehand.