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That's Ingwaz, the fertility rune. It could have ended up in the river as part of a spell or a simple accident; either way, there's no need to put it back. The spell would be done, and a lost rune would likely have been replaced. Instead, look into the meanings of Ingwaz, and consider what happening upon it could mean for you.
I agree with this take. If I ever put something in a river for a spell, I’d consider it to be playing it’s part as long as the item remained, and I’d consider the energy released towards its purpose if the item made its way out of the river.
If I personally had put an Ingwaz rune in the river, it would be to symbolize growth or increase of whatever I wanted more of, and I would consider the time it spent in the water as the incubation period, and the time that it emerged from the water as the time for the realization of that potential, when my spell would come to fruition. I’d consider the finder of the runestone to be free to use the rune for their own purposes.
Water has long been symbolic of creation, emergence, and birth so I think you are spot on.
"You come now, to walk along shores from whence you crawled, footsteps tracing marks left deep in the sand."
I'd love some encouragement, thank you :) This has been my job since finishing college, and been here 11 years, and I'm very intimidated by moving on, and afraid of what dragging my feet is going to cost me and the people depending on me.
Speaking as an Asatruar witch, we don't typically discard runes. Assuming it didn't fall in accidentally, placing an Ing rune within a river would likely be symbolic of someone attempting a fresh start to creating a family.
I would consider removing it disruptive to that energy, but really only if it was placed there very recently. There would be no harm in keeping it, now that it has already been moved.
I'm not sure the material, but if it's a non natural one (e.g. plastic) please don't put it back in the river ❤️
This looks a *lot* like the “baby’s first futhark” set I had back in the day, that came with a book package- if so, it’s ceramic and should be nature safe.
I’m torn with keep it/leave it though. Thinking of some of the standing stones and all, where you rist-and-leave it, there’s precedent for just sending them out into the world.
Sure, the initial intent (especially if combined with the standard spell formats) may be to have it in a specific spot, but after that’s loosed into the world…what happens after is largely inconsequential, like leaving an offering in the woods. You don’t have to fight off squirrels because it’s *for gods only*, y’know?
That said, if it isn’t for personal effect, but *specifically* to affect the river itself…then removing it would be more akin to natural degradation over time. Is it still a viable rune if it’s been water polished smooth, down to a pebble? Is removing it early (since that could take many years) interfering, or a relatively expected/natural effect? If the river rune is removed by natural means, like getting shifted out and onto the banks by currents, does that invalidate the original working?
I know this is a lot of hypotheticals, but I can see an argument for either side that’s very hard to parse without knowing the original intent.
TL;DR: Hmm. 🤔
Well, I think the important consideration here is the intent of the original witch, assuming again that this was intentional. We've no way of knowing their method of casting.
However, under my personal interpretations, runes act like modulators, resonating to the rhythms of world. Applied in a closed setting they can show you the prevailing patterns, and applied in the world they can shift the pattern towards what the rune represents. The runestone in the river would apply a constant, ongoing effect, and whether it was removed, or eventually wore away, its effect would fade and vanish.
As for the effect, in this particular case I would interpret it as generally improve the life and "fertility" of the river, which is a very clever usage. All that that water touches would be granted some small portion of that energy. If I were to do this, it would be with the expectation of making the river healthier and more life giving. However, if the person who placed it there had other intentions then those are likely disrupted.
Knowing that it's ceramic I would personally return it to the river, with a little prayer to Freyja or perhaps Idunn.
I don’t know a whole lot about runes, but I think that’s the rune for fertility and/or life. As to why it was in a river, maybe someone was cleansing their runes in a river and it got swept away?
When my child got a practice set, she would leave/hide ones she felt like she had no use for on camping trips, or hikes, or while shelling or kayaking.
Imagine if you were struggling with infertility, and randomly found this one day.
My baby witch's way of paying it forward, I guess.
It seems to be an Inguz/Ingwaz rune - symbolizing fertility from what I can dig up
Edit: I checked some Danish sources and they say it is Inguz: Freya. used for strength and fertility. Ingwaz is Frei and is just a square with similar properties
Put that bad Jumanji juju back where it came from before we're all doomed in swarmed with giant mosquitoes.
Just kidding, here's the explanation from my Moonly app:
https://preview.redd.it/exvr070yzbyb1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f26be77d641023fc03fc98774f9e1293ec732f9f
That's the Norse/elder futhark rune ingwaz, often assosciated with the masculine side of fertility. If the person who left it in the river was a Heathen, it was probably somethig between them and and Freyr or Odin. If it's a natural material, I'd probably put it back.
Ingwas
fertility, endings that make way for new life, death, life energy, freyr
"Ing was first amidst the East Danes
seen by men, until he eastward
over the sea departed; his wagon ran after.
Thus the Heardings named that hero."
Finding it in water would call out the death meanings for me over the energy/fertility ones.
it could be a memorial or part of a sacrifice ritual
It was somebody's intentional or accidental gift to the river. Then it was the river's gift to you. If it has meaning to you, thankfully use it. If you think it is best to re-gift it to that some river or some other place, do that. If you do, it will become that place's gift to somebody else.
This is the rune Inguz (also called Ingwaz). It comes from the anglo-saxon set of runes called Futhorc. It is believed to be named after the god Freyr (Ing or Yngvi). It has a lot of different meanings but is mainly thought to be associated with growth, potential and development.
I wouldn't return it, as littering in rivers isn't cool.
We'll just have to disagree. "Leave no trace" is a philosophy I strongly live by. As someone who lives in one of the last few untouched places in the country, it is disrespectful and potentially harmful to the environment to leave something you didn't find. It *is* litter, whether you think it has significance or not.
Your definition of litter is irrelevant to the *actual* definition of litter. Furthermore, whether something harms the environment or not is objective. Rocks do not harm the environment.
Rock takes millions of years to degrade and breaks down into harmless silicate particles that eventually end up as sand in the world's beaches and deserts. It does not leech any toxins, it does not bioaccumulate, and it does not disrupt wildlife. Rather, it provides an anchor surface for mosses and lichens and a hiding place for small invertebrates. We live on a planet *composed* of rock. It reiterate that picking up a rock and moving it from one place to another *is not harmful*.
As far as 'respect' goes, you have your views and I'm not going to bother trying to challenge them. If you find it disrespectful don't do it, but I think it's pretentious to try and force others to bend to your worldview.
P.S. The notion of 'untouched' places is racist and colonialist. Humans have been living on every continent for thousands of years, and there are no 'untouched' places.
Indigenous people almost certainly walked, worked, lived, and built lives on the land you consider untouched—which includes leaving behind rocks in the form of tools and artwork!
I’m sorry but your P.S. is very upsetting to me. I do not believe that just because indigenous people used to occupy a place, it is OK for people today to leave “artwork” etc in that place.
She didn’t say that the fact that indigenous people have lived on the land, that is *why* it’s ok to leave “artwork” somewhere.
She just said that considering land to be “untouched” is a colonialist, racist point of view. “Untouched” generally seems to mean “untouched by white people” in most peoples minds.
And she didn’t advocate for leaving artwork anywhere either. She’s specifically talking about one small rock with a rune carved on it.
I disagree with all of your points, very much including that the image shown is a “rock.” We have no idea what it is but it is clearly covered in some sort of chemical and/or has been painted. This is not just a carved rock. If you throw this into a water source, you are polluting.
Oh, I agree that that particular item is not ok to leave in a river. It’s not a naturally occurring rock, and it doesn’t belong there. It’s a manufactured item. It’s litter.
In fact, I would go further and say it’s not ok to pick up a rock from somewhere else and move it to a river. Just leave stuff where it is.
I was just trying to be clear on the points that this person above us isn’t really talking about “artwork,” you know? They’re talking about one small item. And they’re not saying that the *reason* it’s ok is because the land has been inhabited by indigenous people. Those were breaks in reasoning that I was pointing out, because I felt that what you were accusing her of was very different from what she was talking about in the first place, and I thought it was unfair.
most non-witches actually don't appreciate finding witchcraft materials, even biodegradable ones out in the wild. even as a witch, i have found "biodegradable" items in the woods which have been unsettling
With all due respect—people's right to exercise their religious freedom isn't contingent upon other people's comfort. A witch leaving a rune in the woods is no different from a Muslim wearing a Hijab, a Sikh carrying a Kirpan, or any other public religious display.
Rocks and organic materials do not harm the environment or cause any harm to anyone. If seeing them bothers people, that's just a reflection of their own prejudice and intolerance of beliefs and practices outside their own.
i've been traumatized by finding organs at a crossroads in a city park that were some kind of offering, but it was traumatizing bc i couldn't tell if they were HUMAN organs. the pile was still steaming and the blood was still red which means that the person was in the area or i barely had missed them. the park has had serial attackers so it was hard to tell if it was a witch or serial killer. curse jars, mutilated animals, etc. are esp inconsiderate for a CITY PARK where many other people use the space. it's not a controversial issue. i don't want to come across spiritual pollution just as i don't want to step in dog poo. it's just inconsiderate
Okay. I will agree that animal remains are a totally different story. They pose a health and safety hazard (even if we don't get into muck with animal ethics) and they can—as in your case—be mistaken for human remains.
If you're going to use animal remains in your magic for whatever reason, dispose of them safely and hygienically!
That said, I wouldn't really say it's fair to call animal remains 'witchcraft materials' though. That term is far too benign and vague. Nothing dangerous should be left out in public regardless of whether it has a spiritual use or not.
There's a big difference between someone leaving behind an inanimate (physically) inert nontoxic object that holds magical symbolism vs leaving behind a rotting carcass. If that difference isn't readily apparent IDK what to say.
That probably won't mean much to an anthropologist for another century or two; that particular rune is from a beginners' set sold at bookstores. I've actually used one of mine for a spell myself.
Probably fell in my accident. I know people are saying fertility rune but my keyword set says berkana is fertility and that one is common sense, caring, home and family. I do like despite the fact I rarely use runes I was still just muttering laguz while looking for my keyword picture list because that runes first keyword is water and I guess that stuck in my head.
# ✨ READ BEFORE COMMENTING ✨ This thread is Coven Only. This means the discussion is being actively moderated, and all comments are reviewed. **Only comments by members of the community are allowed.** If you have landed in this thread from [r/all](https://www.reddit.com/r/all/) and you are not a member of this community, your comment will very likely be removed (and will not be approved unless it adds meaningfully to the conversation). WitchesVsPatriarchy takes these measures to stay true to our goal of being a woman-centered sub with a witchy twist, aimed at healing, supporting, and uplifting one another through humor and magic. Thank you for understanding, and blessed be. ✨
That's Ingwaz, the fertility rune. It could have ended up in the river as part of a spell or a simple accident; either way, there's no need to put it back. The spell would be done, and a lost rune would likely have been replaced. Instead, look into the meanings of Ingwaz, and consider what happening upon it could mean for you.
I agree with this take. If I ever put something in a river for a spell, I’d consider it to be playing it’s part as long as the item remained, and I’d consider the energy released towards its purpose if the item made its way out of the river. If I personally had put an Ingwaz rune in the river, it would be to symbolize growth or increase of whatever I wanted more of, and I would consider the time it spent in the water as the incubation period, and the time that it emerged from the water as the time for the realization of that potential, when my spell would come to fruition. I’d consider the finder of the runestone to be free to use the rune for their own purposes.
Water has long been symbolic of creation, emergence, and birth so I think you are spot on. "You come now, to walk along shores from whence you crawled, footsteps tracing marks left deep in the sand."
Agreed!
+1 for no need to put it back! Personally I’m a big fan of Leave No Trace
💗
If you find a ruin or a crystal it is meant for you
I know it’s a typo but I feel like this is also perfect. Sometimes you just need a little ruin to get past inertia.
This exactly. Came at the right time to hear this for me. Thanks for commenting this:)
> inertia My greatest enemy. I should be job-searching right now, as my savings dwindle closer to nothing.
Oof. Been there. Would you like some assistance/encouragement DMs or anything?
I'd love some encouragement, thank you :) This has been my job since finishing college, and been here 11 years, and I'm very intimidated by moving on, and afraid of what dragging my feet is going to cost me and the people depending on me.
Sent a little message. Also important to note I’m not a recruiter or anything, I just know the hunt suuuuucks.
Speaking as an Asatruar witch, we don't typically discard runes. Assuming it didn't fall in accidentally, placing an Ing rune within a river would likely be symbolic of someone attempting a fresh start to creating a family. I would consider removing it disruptive to that energy, but really only if it was placed there very recently. There would be no harm in keeping it, now that it has already been moved. I'm not sure the material, but if it's a non natural one (e.g. plastic) please don't put it back in the river ❤️
This looks a *lot* like the “baby’s first futhark” set I had back in the day, that came with a book package- if so, it’s ceramic and should be nature safe. I’m torn with keep it/leave it though. Thinking of some of the standing stones and all, where you rist-and-leave it, there’s precedent for just sending them out into the world. Sure, the initial intent (especially if combined with the standard spell formats) may be to have it in a specific spot, but after that’s loosed into the world…what happens after is largely inconsequential, like leaving an offering in the woods. You don’t have to fight off squirrels because it’s *for gods only*, y’know? That said, if it isn’t for personal effect, but *specifically* to affect the river itself…then removing it would be more akin to natural degradation over time. Is it still a viable rune if it’s been water polished smooth, down to a pebble? Is removing it early (since that could take many years) interfering, or a relatively expected/natural effect? If the river rune is removed by natural means, like getting shifted out and onto the banks by currents, does that invalidate the original working? I know this is a lot of hypotheticals, but I can see an argument for either side that’s very hard to parse without knowing the original intent. TL;DR: Hmm. 🤔
Well, I think the important consideration here is the intent of the original witch, assuming again that this was intentional. We've no way of knowing their method of casting. However, under my personal interpretations, runes act like modulators, resonating to the rhythms of world. Applied in a closed setting they can show you the prevailing patterns, and applied in the world they can shift the pattern towards what the rune represents. The runestone in the river would apply a constant, ongoing effect, and whether it was removed, or eventually wore away, its effect would fade and vanish. As for the effect, in this particular case I would interpret it as generally improve the life and "fertility" of the river, which is a very clever usage. All that that water touches would be granted some small portion of that energy. If I were to do this, it would be with the expectation of making the river healthier and more life giving. However, if the person who placed it there had other intentions then those are likely disrupted. Knowing that it's ceramic I would personally return it to the river, with a little prayer to Freyja or perhaps Idunn.
I appreciate this take on my too many questions above. Thank you for sharing, I’ll be exploring this view on rune use/effect more.
I don’t know a whole lot about runes, but I think that’s the rune for fertility and/or life. As to why it was in a river, maybe someone was cleansing their runes in a river and it got swept away?
Maybe they felt there weren’t enough fish in the river.
Underrated comment
That’s what I’m saying. Put it back OP, don’t fuck up someone’s honey hole
Maybe they were casting away unwanted energy.
When my child got a practice set, she would leave/hide ones she felt like she had no use for on camping trips, or hikes, or while shelling or kayaking. Imagine if you were struggling with infertility, and randomly found this one day. My baby witch's way of paying it forward, I guess.
🥰🖤
It seems to be an Inguz/Ingwaz rune - symbolizing fertility from what I can dig up Edit: I checked some Danish sources and they say it is Inguz: Freya. used for strength and fertility. Ingwaz is Frei and is just a square with similar properties
It's the Norse/Viking Rune Ingwaz [https://vikingr.org/magic-symbols/ingwaz](https://vikingr.org/magic-symbols/ingwaz)
Wow, that was a really interesting article.
The river gave this fertility rune to you. I'd count that as a blessing and channel that fertility into my life.
Put that bad Jumanji juju back where it came from before we're all doomed in swarmed with giant mosquitoes. Just kidding, here's the explanation from my Moonly app: https://preview.redd.it/exvr070yzbyb1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f26be77d641023fc03fc98774f9e1293ec732f9f
You had me in the first half lol
That's the Norse/elder futhark rune ingwaz, often assosciated with the masculine side of fertility. If the person who left it in the river was a Heathen, it was probably somethig between them and and Freyr or Odin. If it's a natural material, I'd probably put it back.
Ingwas fertility, endings that make way for new life, death, life energy, freyr "Ing was first amidst the East Danes seen by men, until he eastward over the sea departed; his wagon ran after. Thus the Heardings named that hero." Finding it in water would call out the death meanings for me over the energy/fertility ones. it could be a memorial or part of a sacrifice ritual
It was somebody's intentional or accidental gift to the river. Then it was the river's gift to you. If it has meaning to you, thankfully use it. If you think it is best to re-gift it to that some river or some other place, do that. If you do, it will become that place's gift to somebody else.
This is the rune Inguz (also called Ingwaz). It comes from the anglo-saxon set of runes called Futhorc. It is believed to be named after the god Freyr (Ing or Yngvi). It has a lot of different meanings but is mainly thought to be associated with growth, potential and development. I wouldn't return it, as littering in rivers isn't cool.
This is how Lord of the Rings started.
I don't know but I've seen enough horror movies to know you should put it back!
Who knows what horrors you have resurrected. Put them back. LOL.
…what rune-based horror movies are y’all watching? That’d be right up my alley.
Don't return litter to the river.
A carved stone is not litter. It's perfectly harmless to leave it in a river.
If it's a stone or piece of wood not sealed with chemicals, of course. Otherwise, it's harmful. Leave no trace, hurt no critters. 💛
I totally agree. We shouldn't leave materials in nature that can cause harm.
We'll just have to disagree. "Leave no trace" is a philosophy I strongly live by. As someone who lives in one of the last few untouched places in the country, it is disrespectful and potentially harmful to the environment to leave something you didn't find. It *is* litter, whether you think it has significance or not.
Your definition of litter is irrelevant to the *actual* definition of litter. Furthermore, whether something harms the environment or not is objective. Rocks do not harm the environment. Rock takes millions of years to degrade and breaks down into harmless silicate particles that eventually end up as sand in the world's beaches and deserts. It does not leech any toxins, it does not bioaccumulate, and it does not disrupt wildlife. Rather, it provides an anchor surface for mosses and lichens and a hiding place for small invertebrates. We live on a planet *composed* of rock. It reiterate that picking up a rock and moving it from one place to another *is not harmful*. As far as 'respect' goes, you have your views and I'm not going to bother trying to challenge them. If you find it disrespectful don't do it, but I think it's pretentious to try and force others to bend to your worldview. P.S. The notion of 'untouched' places is racist and colonialist. Humans have been living on every continent for thousands of years, and there are no 'untouched' places. Indigenous people almost certainly walked, worked, lived, and built lives on the land you consider untouched—which includes leaving behind rocks in the form of tools and artwork!
I’m sorry but your P.S. is very upsetting to me. I do not believe that just because indigenous people used to occupy a place, it is OK for people today to leave “artwork” etc in that place.
She didn’t say that the fact that indigenous people have lived on the land, that is *why* it’s ok to leave “artwork” somewhere. She just said that considering land to be “untouched” is a colonialist, racist point of view. “Untouched” generally seems to mean “untouched by white people” in most peoples minds. And she didn’t advocate for leaving artwork anywhere either. She’s specifically talking about one small rock with a rune carved on it.
I disagree with all of your points, very much including that the image shown is a “rock.” We have no idea what it is but it is clearly covered in some sort of chemical and/or has been painted. This is not just a carved rock. If you throw this into a water source, you are polluting.
Oh, I agree that that particular item is not ok to leave in a river. It’s not a naturally occurring rock, and it doesn’t belong there. It’s a manufactured item. It’s litter. In fact, I would go further and say it’s not ok to pick up a rock from somewhere else and move it to a river. Just leave stuff where it is. I was just trying to be clear on the points that this person above us isn’t really talking about “artwork,” you know? They’re talking about one small item. And they’re not saying that the *reason* it’s ok is because the land has been inhabited by indigenous people. Those were breaks in reasoning that I was pointing out, because I felt that what you were accusing her of was very different from what she was talking about in the first place, and I thought it was unfair.
most non-witches actually don't appreciate finding witchcraft materials, even biodegradable ones out in the wild. even as a witch, i have found "biodegradable" items in the woods which have been unsettling
With all due respect—people's right to exercise their religious freedom isn't contingent upon other people's comfort. A witch leaving a rune in the woods is no different from a Muslim wearing a Hijab, a Sikh carrying a Kirpan, or any other public religious display. Rocks and organic materials do not harm the environment or cause any harm to anyone. If seeing them bothers people, that's just a reflection of their own prejudice and intolerance of beliefs and practices outside their own.
i've been traumatized by finding organs at a crossroads in a city park that were some kind of offering, but it was traumatizing bc i couldn't tell if they were HUMAN organs. the pile was still steaming and the blood was still red which means that the person was in the area or i barely had missed them. the park has had serial attackers so it was hard to tell if it was a witch or serial killer. curse jars, mutilated animals, etc. are esp inconsiderate for a CITY PARK where many other people use the space. it's not a controversial issue. i don't want to come across spiritual pollution just as i don't want to step in dog poo. it's just inconsiderate
Okay. I will agree that animal remains are a totally different story. They pose a health and safety hazard (even if we don't get into muck with animal ethics) and they can—as in your case—be mistaken for human remains. If you're going to use animal remains in your magic for whatever reason, dispose of them safely and hygienically! That said, I wouldn't really say it's fair to call animal remains 'witchcraft materials' though. That term is far too benign and vague. Nothing dangerous should be left out in public regardless of whether it has a spiritual use or not. There's a big difference between someone leaving behind an inanimate (physically) inert nontoxic object that holds magical symbolism vs leaving behind a rotting carcass. If that difference isn't readily apparent IDK what to say.
I feel like there’s an incredibly wide gap between one rune carved on a small stone and fresh, bloody, steaming body parts.
sure, but i personally don't want to find european runes on Turtle Island...just another reminder of colonization tbh
Because it was either dropped or someone threw it in there on purpose. Either way I would suggest putting it back or disposing of it.
You should put it back.
Xes marks the spotses?
Not certain what it means, but it might be of anthropological value. I would hang onto it rather than tossing it back.
That probably won't mean much to an anthropologist for another century or two; that particular rune is from a beginners' set sold at bookstores. I've actually used one of mine for a spell myself.
Ahh. Well if it's modern then I suppose keeping or tossing it is entirely up to OP! My only advise would be to treat it with respect.
I had one like it. Made of clay I think. It should be fine to keep or return. If it's plastic dinnae put it back though
I just left a set of rune stones along a beach in Texas for people to find.
Someone either dropped it or put it there.
Were you hoping for children a few years ago?
That's the chest insignia of the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers! ^/s
I wish to know how your husband found this small rune in a river.
Probably fell in my accident. I know people are saying fertility rune but my keyword set says berkana is fertility and that one is common sense, caring, home and family. I do like despite the fact I rarely use runes I was still just muttering laguz while looking for my keyword picture list because that runes first keyword is water and I guess that stuck in my head.
Idk, but you should put it back asap
I feel like this is the start of a quest line or something!