Laguz

laguz rune symbol

Laguz, the rune letter L, alternatively spelled lauguz or laukaz, means leek (equivalent to lauki in old Norse) or lake in proto-Germanic. The same rune in the younger futhark is lögr from old Norse.

[…] sól skein sunnan
á salar steina,
þá var grund gróin
grœnum lauki.

[…] sun from the south
shone on the rocks,
then the ground was green
from growing leeks.

Or interpreted as lake:

Lögr þvær flaust, en fagrir,
flóðs vaskar brim stóðum,
þar er sær á hlið hvára
hlymr, veðrvitar glymja.

The lake washes the ship, but gently,
the sea surface washes steadily,
in that place where sea and river meet,
noise, the weather-beast splashes.

For the Vikings, water and the sea was not just a vital resource but an integral part of life, serving as a pathway for exploration, raiding, and trade. Mastery of seafaring was a source of power, prestige, and vital for their survival and expansion, enabling the Vikings to amass wealth and resources and expanding their cultural influences.

The leek on the other hand has been interpreted as a symbol of fertility. The leek is extraordinarily hardy and grows happily even in cold climates. The leek also has ritualistic value, such as attested in Vǫlsa þáttr, and was believed to have healing properties. As such the leek has often been used as a charm to grant the bearer fertility, strength and good health, but also as a talisman to aid in childbirth and -rearing – one wanted one’s child to grow like leeks.

Based on this laguz inspires a deep connection to the nurturing forces of nature and our own potential for growth and regeneration. Laguz is life-giving, granting the bearer strength, resilience, fertility and good health. It also motivates us to embrace the life-giving aspects of our existence, encouraging us to flow with life’s changes and to cultivate fertility in our thoughts, actions, and relationships. By embracing the essence of laguz we tap into the ancient wisdom that recognizes the vital forces of both water and earth as fundamental to nurturing the seeds of our future.

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