Berkana

“The most obvious Truth is hidden deep within, and only you will ever know it.”

Berkano – “Burr-can-oh” – Literally: “Birch Goddess” – Esoteric: Birth, Sanctuary

Rune of continued growth and continual rebirth or renewal in all things. The rune of becoming.

Berkanan is the reconstructed Proto-Germanic name of the b rune ᛒ, meaning "birch". In the Younger Futharkit is called Bjarken in the Icelandic rune poem and Bjarkan in the Norwegian rune poem. In the Anglo-Saxonrune poem it is called beorc ("birch" or "poplar"). The corresponding Gothic letter is 𐌱 b, named bairkan.

The letter shape is likely directly based on Old Italic  𐌁, whence comes also the Latin letter B.

The rune is recorded in all three rune poems:

Rune Poem:	English Translation:
Old Norwegian Bjarkan er laufgrønstr líma; Loki bar flærða tíma.	Birch has the greenest leaves of any shrub; Loki was fortunate in his deceit.
Old Icelandic Bjarkan er laufgat lim ok lítit tré ok ungsamligr viðr. abies buðlungr.	Birch is a leafy twig and little tree and fresh young shrub.
Anglo-Saxon Beorc byþ bleda leas, bereþ efne swa ðeah tanas butan tudder, biþ on telgum wlitig, heah on helme hrysted fægere, geloden leafum, lyfte getenge.	The poplar bears no fruit; yet without seed it brings forth suckers, for it is generated from its leaves. Splendid are its branches and gloriously adorned its lofty crown which reaches to the skies.v

Runic Number: 18

Meaning: New Life. Growth. Fertility. Physical beauty or stature. A new broom.

Translation: Birch Twig

Gemstone: Moonstone

Color: Dark Green

Polarity: Female

Element: Earth

Gods: Nerthus, Holda

Astrology correspondence: Virgo

Tree: Birch

Plant: Lady’s Mantle

Psi: secrecy, silence, safety, mature wisdom, dependence

Energy: container/releaser, female fertility, trees and plantlife

Mundane: motherhood, healing, gardening, child raising, the womb

Divinations: Birth, becoming, life changes, shelter, liberation, sanctuary, secrets; or blurring of consciousness, deceit, sterility, stagnation, conspiracy, insecurity

Governs:

Rebirth in the spirit

Strengthens the power of secrecy

Works of concealment and protection

To contain and hold other powers together

Realization of stillness, the Now-ness of all things

Bringing ideas to fruition in the creative process

My Notes:

Berkano has the energy of a birch grove, and is a hidden sanctuary in times of need. The birch is the first tree to awaken in the spring time, and so Berkano is about the cycle of birth, death and rebirth. Healing of all sorts is strongest through this rune, particularly recuperation, rejuvenation, purification, detoxification and regeneration. Purification & detoxification can be strengthened in combination with LAGUZ.

This is the rune of maternity and represents the ready womb for child-bearing. Also represented here is the the concealment and protection of what is coming into being, in the most mundane sense, pregnancy shelters the baby until it is ready to enter this world. There is no safer place for us, as living things, as the womb. It was a time of secrecy, silence and utter safety and dependence. We knew implicitly that our mothers going to exceptional lengths, doing all they could to protect us, and although we cannot consciously remember this experience, it is still accessible to us through deep meditation and work with Berkano.

Motherhood, the wisdom that comes with maturity and the patience developed by nurturing children are all mental and spiritual strengths emphasized through use of this particular rune. While INGUZ represents the inner-child, Berkano represents the outer-child: the power of dependence, trust and the certainty of love. While connecting with one’s own inner-child may be more in harmony with the domain of INGUZ, the endeavor of seeing the inner-child of all beings, in the outer-world, is a quest undertaken as the understanding of Berkano broadens.

Secrecy with Berkano is not a wicked thing, but a power that can be used to great effect. It is the mastery of silence as a device for listening and protecting. It is a life giving rune, so is best used to assist life, to heal and to protect. It will enhance efforts to give oneself, and others, the time and space they need to grow on their own. The creation of time and space is a magical act done consciously through restraint and silence, even concealment of one’s hand in the affair altogether. This ability is magical, requires great humility and is an enviable feminine power.