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Everything starts with the self.
This rune concerns the relationship of the individual to society
and to the divine. This is a huge subject considered by philosophers,
psychologists, politicians, and others.
Recall the famous quotation from former British Prime
Minister Margaret Thatcher concerning "no such thing as society".
(In fairness to her, she went on to say that "no government
can do anything except through people, and people must look to
themselves first ...". A huge subject, indeed.)
Advice associated with this rune includes wisdom such as a correct
relationship to oneself is primary because all ones relationships
with others and with the divine flow from ones peace with oneself.
Some
texts emphasize the unbreakable contract between each individual
and the divine and ask us to understand this in terms of humans
being descendants of the divine.
This rune is a caution against becoming too self-obsessed. Some popular
authors have argued that interdependence is a more efficient and
mature state than independence (Stephen R. Covey) - which brings
us back to the theme of the relationship between the individual
and other entities.
No one is truely alone is the world but sometimes it is necessary
to consider a wider perspective in order to appreciate ones own
situation and its context relative to others and to issues of
concern.
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