Hagall in old Norse, representing the viking rune letter H, and hagalaz/haglaz in proto-Germanic elder futhark means hail, as in the weather phenomenon where ice falls from the sky. The “long-branch” rune, mainly found in Denmark, has a central line with a cross in the middle. The “short-branch” rune, mostly found in Sweden and Norway, instead has a single shorter line crossing the center of the main line horizontally.

[…] ok nú tekr veðrið at ylgjast í norðrit, ok dregr upp ský dökkt ok dimmt með hafino, ok gengr upp með öllo skjótt;
en þat var í þat mund dags, er tók út eyktina,
ok dregr nú yfir skýit skjótt ok fylgir þegar jel, ok þótti þeim, sem þángat væri bæði eldíngar ok reiðar þrumor, því allir Jómsvíkíngar átto at vega í gegn jelino.

[…] and now the weather began to change sharply in the north,
and there grew up a black and threatening cloud from the sea, and it rose with great speed;
it was at that time of day, half-past three,
and then it quickly clouded over, followed by hail,
and it seemed to them that it would be both lightning and angry thunder,
because all of Jomsvikings got the weather right against them.

Hail has the possibility to injure and damage, but it will always melt and become water. Hagall represents the transformation from something bad to something good, from something destructive to something life-giving. It can both be a representation of an external act, which had damaged us but we are looking to turn into something constructive, or it can symbol an internal shift in ourselves – a transformation of our own destructive thoughts or actions into positive and constructive insight.

Hagall signifies the inevitability of upheaval and the need to confront challenges with resilience and adaptability. It prompts individuals to embrace change as a natural part of life and to find strength in times of adversity. Hagall symbolizes the cleansing power of storms, purging away obstacles and paving the way for new growth and renewal.

By embracing the energy of Hagall one can navigate through tumultuous times with courage and grace, trusting in the process of change and finding opportunities for growth amidst the challenges. Hagall reminds us to remain resilient and to have trust in our inner strength, knowing that we have the power to weather any storm and emerge stronger on the other side.