The Third Aett of the Elder Futhark represents the culmination of the runic journey. If the First Aett symbolizes creation and the Second Aett transformation, the Third Aett elevates us to the realm of divinity, mastery, and ultimate Oneness.

Within the Third Aett lies the potential for either divine mastery or total destruction, depending on the choices we make. The runes of this aett guide us in balancing polarities, mastering the elements, and embracing our birthright of wisdom.

As with the other blog posts, I'll also delve into the associated Mythology, in the hope that the knowledge can help deepen your practice.

Justice and Nurturing: Tiwaz and Berkano

As Algiz shielded us and Sowilo lit our path, Tiwaz and Berkano remind us that true harmony requires both strength and care. Tiwaz calls for the sacrifices needed to uphold justice, while Berkano nurtures the growth and renewal that sustain us through cycles of life.

• Tiwaz (Tyr): The rune of Tyr, Tiwaz represents law, justice, and the warrior’s path. It embodies the masculine polarity of structure, discipline, and sacrifice. Tyr’s sacrifice of his hand to bind Fenrir demonstrates the importance of selflessness in maintaining cosmic balance.
• Berkano (Birch): In contrast, Berkano is the rune of the Mother Goddess, symbolizing beauty, birth, and nurturing. It represents the feminine polarity of growth, renewal, and the life-giving cycle.

Tiwaz and Berkano reflect the balance between order and creation. While Tiwaz calls for justice and strength, Berkano nurtures growth and rebirth, showing us that both polarities are necessary for harmony.

The Dualities of Humanity: Ehwaz and Mannaz

The justice and renewal of Tiwaz and Berkano set the stage for Ehwaz and Mannaz, which bring the focus to humanity’s dual nature. Together, these runes guide us to balance our individuality with partnership, and to harmonize the divine spark within us with the grounded reality of human experience.

• Ehwaz (Horse): This rune symbolizes partnership, trust, and the harmonious collaboration of dualities. Ehwaz reflects the Vanir's connection to nature and their balance between order and chaos, emphasizing unity through cooperation.
• Mannaz (Man): Mannaz represents humanity, specifically our potential for divine realization. It speaks to the qualities of intellect, community, and self-awareness. Mannaz reminds us that we are both divine and mortal, tasked with uniting these aspects.

Together, Ehwaz and Mannaz teach us to find balance between individuality and partnership, and between our human limitations and our divine potential.

The Waters and the Earth: Laguz and Ingwaz

Following the lessons of partnership and self-realization in Ehwaz and Mannaz, Laguz and Ingwaz call us to connect with the elemental balance of life itself. Laguz teaches us to trust the intuitive flow of emotions, while Ingwaz grounds us in the fertile potential of the Earth’s steady energy.

• Laguz (Water): The rune of water, Laguz represents intuition, flow, and the life-giving energy of pure emotion. It is the water of life that connects all things, a symbol of fluidity and adaptability.
• Ingwaz (Earth God): Ingwaz embodies the energy of the Earth, symbolizing fertility, grounding, and the potential for growth. It reflects the seed’s promise of transformation, reminding us that all things emerge from the Earth.

Laguz and Ingwaz together show the balance of flow and form, reminding us to honor both emotional intuition and the grounding energy of the physical world.

Illumination and Completion: Othala and Dagaz

Laguz taught us to trust the waters of intuition, and Ingwaz grounded us in the fertile earth of potential. Now, Othala and Dagaz guide us to the summit, where all energies unify into legacy and illumination, revealing the radiant wisdom of divine completion.

• Othala (Inheritance): Othala is the rune of completion, Oneness, and legacy. Associated with Odin, it represents the air element and the ultimate synthesis of all energies into a unified whole. Othala signifies mastery, both of the self and the cosmos.
• Dagaz (Day): Representing the element of fire, Dagaz is the rune of light, illumination, and breakthrough. It symbolizes the dawn of enlightenment, where wisdom burns brightly and clarity is achieved.

Dagaz and Othala mark the pinnacle of the Third Aett’s journey, where light and wisdom bring the realization of divine unity. Together, they represent the final steps toward transcendence and the inheritance of spiritual truth.

Mythological Themes of the Third Aett

• Odin’s Quest for Mastery: Many runes in this aett echo Odin’s journey to gain wisdom, including his sacrifice of an eye at Mimir’s Well and his nine nights on Yggdrasil. These sacrifices symbolize the path to mastery and the unity of all elements into Oneness.
• The Elements and Oneness: The Third Aett explores the elements—water (Laguz), earth (Ingwaz), fire (Dagaz), and air (Othala)—guiding us to integrate them into a coherent whole. This mastery aligns us with the Orlog, the cosmic order of existence.

The Divine Mastery of the Third Aett

The Third Aett of the Elder Futhark is the aett of divinity, where the runic journey culminates in wisdom, mastery, and Oneness. By balancing polarities, aligning with the elements, and embracing our divine potential, we follow Odin’s path toward transcendence. These runes guide us to realize that within every challenge lies the seed of divine realization.