Raidho
Raidho is the fifth rune of the Elder Futhark and, I think, the first one where all three surviving rune poems agree on its general meaning. Each rune poem - Old English, Old Norwegian, and Old Icelandic - all mention horses and/or riding. Yet this synergy obscures how each verse treats riding slightly differently. From Wikipedia:
Old English
Riding seems easy to every warrior while he is indoors
and very courageous to him who traverses the high-roads
on the back of a stout horse.
Old Norwegian
Riding is said to be the worst thing for horses;
Reginn forged the finest sword.
Old Icelandic
Riding is of sitting a blessing
and swift journey
and horses toiling
In the Old English verse, riding becomes almost metaphorical. A journey appears easy when contemplated from indoors; its difficulty becomes apparent only when someone actually undertakes it. The reference to a warrior may also suggest that experience, physical ability, and social position shape the journey.
The Old Norwegian verse focuses more bluntly on the animal’s burden: riding is worst for the horse. Its second line invokes Reginn, the legendary dwarven smith associated with Sigurd and the sword Gram. The relationship between the two statements is not obvious, but in my own reading, both lines evoke useful things whose value depends upon labor, craftsmanship, or strain that the beneficiary may not fully see.
The Old Icelandic verse is focused on travel and the ease of the traveller contrasted with the horse's burden.
Three verses, the same root, three very different meanings.
As usual, I favor the Old English translation in my practice. From the ease of warriors at rest to the peril of the journey, it's easy to see the same ideas in today's world. While horses can feel dated or even limited in a modern world, the idea of transportation is incredibly tangible. The idea that skill and class can change the nature of a journey is also very relevant. And a perilous journey is a thread that has been with us in every era.
What does Raidho have to say to us today, though? Beyond the literal meaning of a journey, or travel, Raidho, to me, is about action and growth. It can refer to a literal trip, but that's only one of this rune's meanings. Journeys are not just about the destination, though that is surely part of it. Journeys are about the process to get from one place to another. That adds a dimension of planning, of foresight, to Raidho that should be considered. While tarot's Fool walks into the unknown, Raidho proceeds with a destination in mind.
In Raidho's shadow, this flips. The planned, orderly trip or the clearly laid-out process to grow inverts to a person who is either stuck in place and unable to change or someone who is chasing the wrong target.
With Raidho in a reading, there are a couple of key questions to ask: Am I moving? And am I moving in the right direction? Those questions can help clarify whether or not Raidho is speaking for where you are now or where you should be going.
Especially with this rune, it's important to look at runes that are drawn with it in a reading. In particular, I would pay attention to the relationship with the other runes in its aett or row: Fehu, Uruz, Thurisaz, Ansuz, Kenaz, Gebo, and Wunjo. Within my reading practice, I also consider patterns created by runes occupying corresponding positions in the other aettir: Eihwaz and Laguz. These relationships can aid in interpreting Raidho's journey. Eihwaz's insight can help make sure Raidho's journey is the right one. Laguz's watery roots can bring Raidho back toward its more literal association with travel.
Regardless of all of this, Raidho as a rune is about the journey you are on or should be undertaking. But movement alone is not enough. The rune asks whether you are moving deliberately, and whether the road beneath you leads anywhere you actually want to go.
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