Chaotic Visage

I recently finally finished my personal study series on the Elder Futhark runes and wanted to make a quick and easy masterpost to track them down because, as we all know, tumblr’s tagging system is absolute trash. Links to each individual post are embedded in the listed names below.

— Introduction Page —

— First Ætt —

Fehu     Uruz     Thurisaz     Ansuz     Raidho     Kaunan     Gebo     Wunjo

— Second Ætt —

Hagalaz     Nauðiz     Isaz     Jera     Eihwaz     Pertho     Algiz     Sowilo

— Third Ætt —

Tiwaz     Berkanan     Ehwaz     Mannaz     Laguz     Ingwaz     Dagaz     Othala

So what’s next in regards to this? Well, there’s still a lot to learn about just the Elder Futhark, alone—I’ve only scratched the surface with these. I’d like to slowly digitize all of these and have a file that I can adjust and add more information fluidly as I learn it. I’d also like to study the other runic alphabets—particularly the Younger Futhark and the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc—, since I know that, while the Elder Futhark is more well-known/popular today, it wasn’t as commonly used in the Viking Age as other runic alphabets. And while most historical runic alphabets seemed to fade from use as Latin and Christianity began to spread, there are runic alphabets that were still in use up into the 20th century.

If you are facing new challenges/obstacles, then you’re going the right way.

No one blames you if you have to check the map.

Always come prepared.

Everyone is worth talking to.

Even if you don’t get money for something, you always get experience.

Explore!

The places that are hardest to get to always have the best rewards.

The best way to become someone’s friend is to actually talk to them.

If you want to be someone’s friend faster, also give them food.

Don’t hold on to too much crap, you’ll fill up your inventory.

Don’t be deterred if a challenge was too much for you; go back, level up, increase your skill, and try again.

You don’t learn anything if you get someone else to do it for you.

Don’t feel like you have to plow through the main story. The best content is sometimes in the side quests.

If you’ve tried and failed 30 times, you probably missed something. Go back and look around.

Never judge someone’s skill solely on their achievements; you don’t know how they got them.

When you succeed after multiple failures, you feel so much more accomplished.

Take full advantage of character customization.

My friend turned 29 today. For his birthday, he hosted several “challenges” to set our stats - contests of strength, agility, wisdom, etc. (constitution was how well we could bear eating spicy salsa, intelligence was nerdy trivia, etc)

Strength - Who were the first 3 to land a ‘fatal’ blow on a pinata, spilling its candy guts to the world!

Constitution - Spicy Salsa challenge. When did you tap out? Did you drink from the chalice of weakness? (aka milk) 

Wisdom - How many ‘wise’ idioms can you remember in 120 seconds?

Intelligence - Nerdy trivia, primarily about DnD

Charisma - Playing the card game ‘But Wait, There’s More!’ - basically impromptu salesmanship and being as charismatic as possible selling a ridiculous item. 

Dexterity - Croquet game. Someone suggested parkour or jump-rope tricks but several of the players were still recovering from leg and hip injuries, so that was nixed for fairness. 

Also, we made the Giant Dice ourselves - Foamcore sheets cut into the shape of the sides, taped together, filled with expanding foam, excess trimmed, then taped over with red duct tape, and numbered with white duct tape. It was an Ordeal to make the whole set, but the result was awesome! 

And this is me, being the Goblin Queen, with my trusty warhammer and wolfskin cloak! (aka the furry blanket off the couch and the winning croquet mallet lol) 

Antique Bone Dice Photo by Matthew Venus

Astragalomancy, which is a form of Cleromancy, is divination by use of dice. It is an ancient form of divination and is still used by many when seeking answer to the unknown.

One of the most common forms of Dice Divination used today is accomplished by using three dice.

The diviner will either draw out a circle, roughly eight inches or so, on a piece of paper or on the ground. Some diviners have a simple mat which they use for this that will have the circle pre-drawn. The question is posed and the dice are cast.

To determine the meaning of the reading the diviner will first examine if any dice have fallen outside of the circle.

1 dice outside - Difficulties lie ahead

2 dice outside- Arguments and Quarrels are likely

3 dice outside- A sign of luck and success (no reading needed)

The dice that land within the circle are totaled up and their sum indicates the message.

0,1,2 - No answer available. Ask another day

3 - a change in circumstances will happen soon

4 -  Unpleasantness, arguments, misunderstanding

5 - Unexpected surprise or information, your plans and wishes will be fulfilled

6 - Loss of some kind, most likely financial, possibly material, or a relationship

7-  Potential hardships, gossip, finances, etc. They will eventually be resolved

8- You should not act to hastily, lack of discretion may lead to misfortune

9- A possible union in love or in business , success in romance and/or gambling   10- New beginnings, possibly a birth, or a new job/promotion

11- Potential loss of a person, death, short term illness; or the return of a person who was estranged from you

12- Important communication will arrive soon, seek counsel if it is a legal matter, potential for a large sum of money

13- Continuation on your current path will lead to misery and difficulty

14- A friend or relative will offer their assistance, possibly an new romance arrives

15- Proceed with caution, avoid starting new projects for the next week, do not be drawn into gossip

16- A short trip will provide relief, entertainment, and potentially profit

17- Change of perspective, adjustment to plans may be needed, be receptive to the council of others, even those whom you don’t know

18- Luck, Success, Blessings, Attainment and Fulfillment

Some additional items to note

*If two dice fall one on top of the other while throwing the dice it means that you will receive a gift. Re-throw the dice for your reading.

*If you are throwing the dice on a tabletop and a one falls on the floor, you may lose a friend

*It is said that the dice shouldn’t be thrown on a Monday or Wednesday, nor should they be thrown more than three times for the same person in one day.

Matthew Venus

“Vestibular sense provides information about where the body is in relation to its surroundings. This is the sense that helps you understand balance, and it connects with all the other senses.

When the vestibular system does not develop properly all other senses will struggle to function properly. Without a strong vestibular sense, kids will have no choice but to fidget, get frustrated, experience more falls and aggression, get too close to people when talking, and struggle with focusing and listening. Because they literally cannot help it.”

“Here are a few ways to support your child’s vestibular sense:

Spinning in circles.

Using a Merry-Go-Round.

Rolling down a hill.

Spinning on a swing.

Going upside down.

Climbing trees.

Rocking.

Jumping rope.

Summersaults or cartwheels.

Using monkey bars.

Skating.

Going backwards.

Swimming.

Dancing.

Wheel-barrel walks.”

Yeeting kids, spinning them, flipping them upside down, tossing them in the air, and otherwise disrupting their balance temporarily, is Important For Their Development, specifically for their vestibular sense.

We all seek proprioceptive input, leaning against walls, pushing against the steering wheel when driving, giving your body a squeeze to wake yourself up, the list goes on! When we ‘crash’ kids into soft things like pillows or beds, we’re waking their bodies up AND calming their bodies down! In other words, getting them into this super nice zone of “just right” regulation. 

When I see a child who is bouncing off the walls and can’t seem to stand still for more than a few seconds? I start wrestling with them, crashing them into pillows, giving their body the right amount of input they need to feel good and organised. And suddenly, this kid is able to sit and play attentively or do their handwriting practice. It’s amazing! If you want to know more about why the vestibular and proprioceptive systems are awesome at making your body feel good, google those two words (and sensory processing) and read through some occupational therapy websites! 

Side note: As adults, does your body ever feel jittering/jiggly/wiggly/like it needs to move or calm down but you just can’t figure out why? That’s your sensory system saying Hey! I need to feel differently in order to function better! Here’s what you can do:

Jump up and down (vestibular and proprioception)

Give yourself big squeezes (proprioception)

Place your hands on a wall and do push ups (proprioception)

Do cartwheels (vestibular and proprioception)

Get someone to give you the biggest bear hug for at least 10 seconds (proprioception and social connection, also proven to help regulate your sensory system into just right zone!)

Get a drink of water and drink it through a straw OR blow bubbles into the water (way more fun!) (oral motor input and respiration)

Have a shower or a bath (tactile)

Stretch and do exercise (vestibular and proprioception)

Eat something crunchy or chewy (like chips or gum) (oral motor input)

Listen to some music that suits your mood (auditory)

etc etc etc! I’m sure you already have a strategy that your body has figured out works for you. I personally like to chew gum when I feel like i need to eat something but I’m not actually hungry and just need that chewing sensation in my jaw. 

Tilt and move your phone three times like this”

6-8: Forests

9-11: Mountains

12-14: Tundras and snow covered lands

15-17: Farms and towns

18-19: Larger cities

D20

1-5: Plains and fields

6-8: Forests

9-11: Mountains

12-14: Tundras and snow covered lands

15-17: Farms and towns

18-19: Larger cities

20: Capitals and castles

D12

1-3: Plains and fields

4-6: Forests

7-8: Mountains

9-10: Tundras and snow covered lands

11: Farms and towns

12: Larger cities

D10

1-3: Plains and fields

4-6: Forests

7-8: Mountains

9: Tundras and snow covered lands

10: Farms and towns

D8

1-4: Plains and fields

5-6: Forests

7: Mountains

8: Tundras and snow covered lands

D6

1-3: Plains and fields

4: Forests

5-6: Mountains

D4

1-2: Plains and fields

3: Forests

D4: Hills (1-2), Mountains (3-4)

D6: Plains/fields (1-2), Tundra (3-4), Desert (5-6)

D8: Special locations, like monuments, castles, ruins, etc. Assign numbers appropriately for your game

D10: Young Sparse Forest (1-3), Normal Forest (4-7), Old Dense Forest (8-10)

D12: Streams (1-4), Rivers (5-8), Lakes (9-12)