Divination: Rune Study - Berkanan

 Dear Reader,

This rune is one that is strongly associated with femininity by modern interpreters and seems to have this connection in possible antiquity. Berkanan is associated with the letter 'B'. There are three separate rune poems associated with it. The strongest association that Berkanan has is with the birch tree. It is also associated with the poplar tree by way of the Anglo-Saxons. In modern readings, I have seen it also associated with the beech tree. I am not sure if the beech tree association is because of a mistranslation of birch by someone or because of some manner of oral tradition that's been passed down and never actually written down. In my study of the runes, I have encountered it as the beech tree multiple times and as the poplar tree often as well.

It is my suspicion (as it is of serious scholars) that this rune's connection with trees is an indication of cross communication between the Norse and Germanic peoples with the Celtic peoples. The Celtic peoples of antiquity used a divination and alphabetical system that was centered around trees. Within the Celtic Ogham system, the Beech tree is considered female and maternal in nature. A similar sentiment is expressed by modern diviners regarding Berkanan, though the rune poems make no mention of such a sentiment. Two of the rune poems describe the tree and it's nature as a very leafy and persistent plant. One rune poem briefly touches upon the highly leafy nature of the tree and then states that Loki was lucky in his mischief. The association with Loki is an utter mystery. A possible hypothesis is that Loki found the mistletoe that he used to fashion the dart that killed Baldur on a birch tree. But that is pure conjecture.

In interpreting this rune, it has a direct and an indirect/reversed meaning. In the direct orientation, Berkanan is a rune that speaks of feminine forces in the querent's life (be it people or raw forces of nature, such as feminine aligned deities). Berkanan also speaks of new life, new beginnings, and pregnancy, when in the direct orientation. In the indirect orientation, Berkanan speaks of missed opportunities, false starts, and (in some cases) a loss of something dear to the querent (i.e. a miscarriage if the reading is discussing pregnancy).