Tiwaz, Týr, Tiw: Tis but a scratch.
Tiwaz, Týr,Tiw
ᛏ
Honor and Courage,
Quickly, Bluntly; They will mold
Persevere and Rise
Pronunciation: Tiwaz: TEE-waz, Týr: tear, Tiw: tew/tuu
Literal Translation: Tyr, honor, victory
Sound: T, d, z, ti, tir
Magical Correspondences: Justice, Honor, Offensive weapons, Sacrifice, order, battle, Invoking Tyr, indicator, arrow
Divination Meaning Upright: Tiwaz, Týr, and Tiw all advise us to act with honor and courage, and not always in grandiose ways. The appearance of these Runes can also announce a period of change. Certainly, new projects will be started (change of job, home, etc.) or events will change one’s lifestyle (marriage, the birth of a child, or moving to another country). All this indicates that it is time to apply the wisdom accumulated so far, so that everything goes in the best way. But it is necessary to be careful, to learn from all these new and promising experiences, so that no opportunities escape. Approach these changes with a sense of duty and order.
In practice, these Runes can be used almost everywhere; their energies are positive, but require strength to achieve goals. They can serve as an indicator of the goal, or in contrast, they can be a means of achieving this goal. They can promise success in our actions, but only with some personal sacrifice. They also suggest success in matters of justice, if we are honorable and truthful. These Runes are of justice, honor, and courage, so don't be surprised, if pulled or cast in a reading, that they are speaking of something which the client does not want to hear or accept at that time.
Divination Meaning Reversed: The message is decisive: they reveal that important changes are on the way, but if you don’t have the courage to take risks, and if you don’t know how to use your full potential, you won’t profit from this new, positive situation. They also warn to be on guard against fears, insecurity, and lack of self-esteem. Instead, it is necessary to be able to measure one’s strength and to work hard to achieve one’s goals. There is no need to justify, nor to feel sorry for, the wounds suffered in the past. If you want to live, says Tiwaz, you only need to look ahead and fight bravely for what you want to achieve.
Delving into the Runes: Tiwaz, Týr, and Tiw are all runes of the Norse god Tyr, and we can best understand them by coming to understand his myths (that of Fenrir's binding and Aegir's pot). There is very little found in Norse mythology or lore regarding Tyr, but the one legend that does exist tells us a great deal about this god. The most well-known tale of Tyr is the Binding of Fenrir, or Loki’s wolf son. Fenrir was a wolf pup that was growing at a rapid rate, so quickly the gods feared for their safety. They entreated the Dwarves to make a chain for Fenrir with which to bind him, so he couldn’t escape and be a threat. Fenrir, ever suspicious, would only wear the chain the gods brought to him if a god would put his hand in the wolf’s mouth as a sign of good faith. Tyr was the only god to step up to the challenge, and when Fenrir was incapable of breaking free of the chain that bound him, he bit off Tyr’s hand. I implore you to read the rest of the story as this is just my paraphrased synopsis on how these Runes' meanings connect to Tyr and the lore in a single facet. It is in this instance however that the Runes of Tyr came to be the symbols of cosmic order, especially justice as decided by war.
The Ancient Norse considered themselves honorable, as much as they could be, in their pursuit of war, and oftentimes the day and times of battles were decided beforehand. It was a custom that battle could be averted by a duel, letting the gods decide the fate of the two warring parties by who they designated the winner. Tiwaz, Týr, and Tiw, much like a spear itself, have been found in archaeological records etched and carved into spears and other weapons. These are the Runes of all kinds of warriors, urging us to pay close attention to honor, integrity, and duty, and at times they call us to selflessly serve.
These Runes can lend moral strength to those who need it, providing the will to succeed and, when used in combination with Sowilo, Söl, and Sigel, can provide almost unstoppable force. They remind us of the importance of upholding promises and oaths, and that all of our actions should be rooted in principle. We must be courageous in the face of adversity, tenacious in our pursuit of fairness, and disciplined in how we carry ourselves. In runic formulas, they can be used as a protective or, on the contrary, an aggressive Rune.