Intermittency of Manifestation
We call a wide bridge ‘ice’; the blind need a guide.
It belongs to the Second Aett — the Rune of passivity, of slowing or suspending movement. However, given prior events, this suspension is necessary for further development.
Since, in Manifestation, the stages of Yav always alternate with periods of Navi (life–death, day–night, etc.), to ordinary consciousness it appears discontinuous. Those interruptions, which in fact are simply periods of another state of being, symbolize the forces of the Rune Isa.
Isa (Ice) – is the Rune of inward withdrawal; like the Rune of Pregnancy, it corresponds to the shifting of events from external to internal levels, when all forces are focused on the hidden embryo formation, and external manifestations are limited.
Mythologically, Isa corresponds to the Forces of Niflheim: “And the High One said: “Many ages before the creation of the earth Niflheim had already been made. The World Abyss in the north was filled with the weight of ice and frost; to the south rain and winds reigned, while the southernmost part of the World Abyss was free of them, for sparks flew there from Muspelheim“.
Moreover, Isa corresponds to the inhabitants of Niflheim — the Frost Giants (Hrimthursar), beings hostile to consciousness and development.
Thus, the Forces of Niflheim served as the material, the passive medium, from which the fabric of the cosmos was formed. Therefore Isa is the Rune of concentration of intent, of the ripening of creative forces, the Rune of static formation.
Moreover, Isa’s ice has a proper crystalline structure; therefore this Rune also expresses the inner order of material existence.
The magical use of Isa included recognition of its protective properties and its ability to halt negative processes (therefore Isa can be counted among the Healing Runes of Sigrdrifa), as well as its employment for focusing attention and awareness. Of great importance is Isa’s meaning as the Rune of Withdrawal, of inconstancy, in a broad sense as a consequence of inertia; therefore this rune requires effort to overcome.
At the same time, inexpert use of Isa risks a complete halt to movement, freezing with no chance of recovery, and manifestations becoming brittle and rigid.
In this aspect Isa corresponds to the Thurs Bergelmir, who became the progenitor of the Hrimthursar despite the efforts of the Aesir: “The sons of Bor killed the giant Ymir. And when he fell dead, so much blood flowed from his wounds that all the frost giants drowned in it. Only one took refuge with his entire family. The giants call him Bergelmir. He sat with his children and his wife in a chest and thus was saved. From him the new tribes of the frost giants sprang“
The rune of ice, in both literal and figurative senses of the word. The area of action of the rune is quite vast, and its main magical purpose is to ‘freeze’ anything. With its help, one can pause (but not eliminate!) a negative process: illness (physical or mental), an outburst of rage (not just one’s own), a social phenomenon, etc. In some situations, it allows one to get the necessary respite.
Divinatory content.
Key word – ‘stagnation’. If you asked for advice, this sign recommends not to ‘bang your head against the wall’, to show patience, and to understand the necessity of a more or less prolonged wait, possibly a temporary withdrawal from affairs (or from the matter at hand about which you are asking). If you are analyzing the situation, the appearance of this sign indicates the onset of a period of stagnation, which, however, may not be related to specific troubles. Your intellectual life right now is probably not brilliant, affairs are convoluted, some have even started to seem meaningless. The situation may not be pressing on you, but nevertheless, the desired results are absent, and the realization of hopes is postponed.
Indeed, successes are now unlikely, but do not be stubborn, become patient and gentle – that is what the situation requires. But note that the rune Isa does not distinguish between direct and inverted positions; stagnation and development are combined here in one sign. This is ‘a period of hidden growth preceding rebirth’ (Blum).
When I worked with the Ice rune, I saw the rune in space like a crystal of ice.
By the way, regarding this first stage of enlightenment. Actually, that could be said about me. I said it is an awareness of the nature of the mind. And it’s true. And there is nothing great or small in it. I wouldn’t jump at anyone who is for or against, I don’t actually need any words on this matter at all. Because it is a property of consciousness and it exists. Although consciousness is not a stable thing, it is a stream, and it is not a license. I can fly out at any moment. Or I may not fly out.
Why is “the discontinuity of manifestation” simply pure cosmic yin – the dark matter from which Yang, the Sun, is born? It projects into our world in the form of slowing down processes until their complete stop, hence the association with the 13th arcana – death!