A Leap to Success

The Sun is always
a sailor’s hope,
when sailors sail
over a shoal of fish,
until the waves’ horses
drive them ashore

The second att, like the others, concludes by preparing for the transition to the next cycle.

Because this att concerned personal efforts, the laws of one’s existence, in such an individual myth the kinetic energy accumulated during the previous seven Runes erupts in a powerful outpouring of power.

This flow of energy is symbolized by the Rune Sowelu (the Sun, sometimes Sigel — victory).

The most important mythological counterpart of this Rune is, of course, the Sun’s chariot with its charioteers. Moreover, it is the Rune of great heroes such as Sigmund and his son Sigurd (not coincidentally, the Rune’s name appears in their names).

Sowelu is the Rune of victory in its purest sense: the victory of one who has nowhere to retreat, the action of one who must act.

Therefore such a “crystallized” victory is often astonishing — it seems as if the unconquerable is conquered and the insurmountable overcome, though in reality this overcoming is the result of a long accumulation of the “energy of victory” within the Hero.

The outburst of the Power of Sowelu is an a volcanic eruption that has long been building and finally devastates its surroundings.

In a sense, Sowelu expresses enlightenment; however, this is less a spiritual enlightenment than an enlightenment of purpose, of action.

In this respect it is clear that victory is closer to those who see their goals clearly, and also to those who are more integrated.

The search for wholeness is, in general, one of the important characteristics of the Flow of Sowelu, since internal contradictions and inner friction weaken the warrior and thus reduce the chances of victory.

Moreover, the power of Sowelu is always personal power and effort; therefore the symbolic domain of this Rune also includes the idea of willpower, its development and application.

In light of the above, it is clear that the magical application of Sowelu included not only increasing strength (though not strictly magical power — Sowelu, like Wunjo, belongs to the Runes of Yav, although in Sowelu one can already discern Prav) and success, but also aid in fertility and victory over disease (healing).

Sowelu, in general, is a radiantly purifying, blessing Rune, driving darkness away from people and things.

Sigrdrífa apparently assigns Sowelu to the “Runes of Victory“, and Mimir’s head indicates this Rune adorned the “Hoof of Alsvinn” (one of the Sun’s horses), which also attests to the luminous principle of this Rune.

Graphically, Sowelu is related to Jera, since, being a solar Rune, it is the Rune of movement, which is always cyclical, and to Eihwaz, because the Sun, descending into the lower world at night, regains its strength there in preparation for the new day.

At the same time, clumsy use of this Rune flattens a person’s character, making him — rather than whole — primitive, and turning a warrior into a mere fighter. This tendency was particularly evident in Sigurd, who, not having attained the heights of warrior spirit his father had mastered (Odin himself slew Sigmund to secure his admission to the Einherjar), was treacherously killed and consequently went to Hel instead of Valhalla.

Sigurd strikingly reveals the dangers of Sowelu which, although they make him one of the greatest Northern heroes, cause much misfortune and lead to an inglorious end.