Vikings! - Pertho

PERTHO

Key Phrase
‘Make your own choices and take charge of your own destiny.’

Viking Rune Equivalent and Meaning
Initiation. A secret matter.

Keywords
Choice, decision-making, hearth, the game played between desire and destiny, the dance of life, brings things to fruition, initiation, sexual intercourse, rebirth, mystery, fertility, laughter, music, divination, reveals what is hidden, chance, a secret matter, hidden things, fellowship, joy, the essence of one’s being.

PERTHO is ‘Experience.’

It is the rune of the warrior who constantly tests himself against chance and luck. Traditionally, the Pertho rune is seen as either a ‘dice-cup’ or a game (chess) piece. This not only fits the shape of the rune, but also hints to the objects original use as a container in which to keep runes.

Pertho represents mandatory changes brought about by external forces. Pertho is the ‘width’ measurement of life. It indicates not how long you live your life, but how well you live it.

Pertho, in its essence, represents the happiness of being alive and the joy of living.

The Perthro rune is closely tied in with the Wyrd and the idea and concept of ‘fate’; that the road we travel, regardless of what we choose along the way, is pre-determined from the moment of birth. The very act of being born sets us along a course of cause and effect, action and reaction. Pertho is the beginning of this process, as well as the tool for accomplishing it.

Throughout life, the games we play, both as children and adults, can be high-staked risks or games just for fun. As with all games, we experience them and learn from them. Pertho is the experiences dealt in the ‘game of life’. Through winning and losing throughout life, we gain experience. With this we learn lessons and gain wisdom. Pertho is therefore, a rune of self-awareness.

Pertho is a rune that says that deep transformative powers are at work. It is the rune of ‘what has yet to be revealed.’ It is the rune of taking chances. It can indicated mystery and secrecy.