Sunday Prayer (Isaz): Temper my vanity and remind me that hardships and boredom are fleeting moments everyone must struggle to endure.
Runes used in this Sunday Prayer, Isaz
The Isaz rune, representing the “I” sound, symbolizes ice in the Elder Futhark. In Asatru, Isaz embodies stillness, stasis, and the cold, unyielding nature of ice. It reflects a time when progress halts, forcing reflection and patience. Like ice, Isaz can preserve or freeze situations, emphasizing the need for caution.
In divination, Isaz often signals a pause or standstill. It may indicate that forces beyond control are at work, urging the querent to wait rather than act. This rune can represent a period of inaction, where external circumstances prevent progress. However, this stasis can offer an opportunity to reassess goals or strategies.
Isaz’s energy can be challenging. It may test one’s endurance and patience. In Asatru, where the cycles of nature and the gods’ influence are respected, Isaz reminds practitioners that not all times are for growth or action. Some phases require endurance and acceptance of things beyond control. Embracing Isaz means understanding that challenges, like winter’s chill, are temporary. Ice eventually melts, giving way to movement and change.
When used in rituals, Isaz might be invoked to freeze harmful influences or halt unwanted progress. For example, practitioners might use Isaz to cool a situation that’s become too heated or to preserve something valuable from change. It can also be a protective rune, creating a barrier against forces that threaten stability.
In the broader context of the Elder Futhark, Isaz sits between Hagalaz (disruption) and Jera (harvest), emphasizing its role as a natural pause. While Hagalaz represents chaotic change, and Jera symbolizes reaping rewards, Isaz offers a moment of stillness. This placement in the rune row shows Isaz’s importance in the cycle of events, acting as a necessary pause before progress resumes.
For those who follow Asatru, Isaz is a reminder of the power in stillness. It teaches that not all progress is forward motion. Sometimes, standing firm and enduring the cold is essential for growth and future movement.
