Historically
The “Lögr” or L-Rune According to Friedrich Fischbach (1900)
The L Rune indicates the Connection of its Shape, which is most likely the shape of the Boat-Hook [Bootshaken ], and thus [is associated] with the Lake/Sea [See ]. However, in the runic form, this Boat-Hook or Anchor is directed upward, in later forms it is turned downward.
 by Friedrich Fischbach(fixed)_sm.jpg)
-Paraphrase from Origin of Gutenberg’s Letters [Ursprung der Buchstaben Gutenbergs] (1900)
by Friedrich Fischbach
The “Laf, Lagu, Lögr” Rune According to Guido von List (1907)
laf, lagu, lögr = Primordial Law or Ur-Law [Urgesetz ], Ocean [Meer ], Life [Leben ], Downfall/Decline [Untergang ] (Defeat /Failure [Niederlage ])
A Fourteenth I sing to the assembled People
by Naming the divine Names;
For [I Know] all the Gods [Aesir ] and Elven [Alben ] Kind
[and] I Know [them] like No One [else].The intuitive Recognition of the organic Essence of the Universe, and thus of the Natural-Laws [Natururgesetze ], forms the unshakeable Foundation of the ancient Doctrine-of-Salvation [Heilslehre ] or “Wihinei ” (the Ur-Religion), which was able to grasp and embrace the Universe, and therefore also the Individual, in its [1] Arising, [2] Ruling, and [3] Passing-Away to new Arising.
Such esoteric Knowledge was communicated to the People in symbolically formulated Myths, since the naïve Eye-of-the-People (unaccustomed to such Deep- and Distant-Vision) is just as incapable of seeing the Ur-Law [Urgesetz ] as the physical Eye is incapable of seeing the whole Ocean, or the untrained inner spiritual Eye of seeing the Endlessness of Life in the Universe.
Therefore the fourteenth Rune says: “First learn to steer [steuern ], than dare to Sail!”
-Paraphrase from The Mystery/Secret of the Runes
[Das Geheimnis der Runen] (1907) by Guido Von List
The “Laf, Lagu, Lögr” Rune According to Ernst Tristan Kurtzahn (1924)
Exoterically: Test [Prüfung ], Temptation [Versuchung ]
Esoterically: Experiential-Knowledge [Erfahrung ]
Generally: Ocean [Meer ], Existence/Being [Dasein ], Failure [Misserfolg ], Downfall/Decline [Untergang ]If the preceding Rune (the
Bar-Rune) means Birth [Geburt ], then it is only logical that this Rune is connected with the Existence that follows Birth: Life.
Life is a great determined Test [eine festgesetzte große Prüfung ] and a painful Initiation [Einweihung ]. The few golden Hours in it should be understood as Rewards for any well-passed Sections of these multi-part Exams.
“Does Life even have a Purpose?!” one often hears asked, but no one could give a satisfactory Answer to such a Questioner except the questioner themselves!
“If you do not feel it, you will never be able to claim it [er sagen ]!” But what is it that one must feel?
Well, a feeling of Certainty of one’s own Reconnection (re-ligio ) with the unnamable God, the Source or Ur-Reason of all Being [dem Urgrund alles Seins ], and consequently also with the nameable Deities… Our Ancestors had this Feeling of Reconnection [Gefühl der Rückverbindung ] in the very highest Degree!
We have seen up to now, in every Rune, that it is always about the Wihinei (or Ur-Religion) with its actual esoteric Significance.
Being-Conscious [Bewusst-Sein ] of this Ur-Religion results in a Realization, which for the person concerned (well understood, however, only for themselves) brings Knowledge instead of Faith in Regards to the Purpose of Life [das Warum des Lebens ], the Continuation of Individuality, etc.
They then know that with physical Death “not everything is over”, provided that his or her Individuality acquired so far through Experiences did not extend to just Eating, Drinking and what People are used to calling ‘Love’ (but at most may be called Child-Procreation).
For if this would have been the Case, then he or she would be nothing more than an Instrument of Nature, which then, after it was sufficiently used up and worn out, would continue to exist only according to its Components for a different Use in the cosmic Economy [andere Verwendung im kosmischen Haushalt ], and thus without any Individuality (which we are to acquire here or on other Planets in the course of probably quite many existences as Man and Woman). This is because, as a rule, nothing at all can be lost in the cosmic Economy… Therefore the Laf-Rune is suitable to the Planet Mercury (
), which is said to be neither masculine, nor feminine.
The ancients knew that, during their Life-on-Earth [Erdenlebens ], they slowly form a ‘etherial or subtle Flesh’ [feinstofflichen Leib ] in their earthly Body [irdischen Körper ], which escapes like a Phoenix from the used up Body-Envelope [Körperhülle ] during the so-called Dying. They also knew that this new ‘etherial or subtle Body’ will only belong to them for a Time [eine Zeitlang ], in order to make Way for a far more glorious one.
They knew that there is only one type of development: the return to God [zurück zu Gott ], to the Source or Ur-Reason of everything [dem Ur-Grund von allem ] that was, is and will be. They knew that this was for everyone who seriously wants it and not only wants it, but needs it. And those discerning ancients who knew even more, knew the Path to develop the ‘Etherial-Flesh’ [Feinstoffleib ] to Perfection here in Earthly-Existence and – even how to make use of it.
Although this Path is secret [ist dieser Weg geheim ], it is clearly marked out in the Runes for the Knower [den Wissenden ]. What would be the use of further Clarification here? Everyone should go this way alone, because “no one becomes an Initiate except through themselves”.
Then there are here dangerous Deviations and Aberrations which lead to Labyrinths, where Monsters prey on misguided Victims (such as Spiritualism, Hypnosis) and demands of Sexual-Magic to a terrible extent. Therefore, the Laf-Rune also means Downfall/Decline [Untergang ] – it fears the Gods of the Human-Race – only the Initiate really knows “all the Aesir and Elven Kind/Types”.
-Paraphrase from The Runes as Salvation-Signs and for Unbinding-Fate
[Die Runen als Heilszeichen und Schicksalslose] (1924) by E. Tristan Kurtzahn
The “Laf, Lagu, Lög, Laug” Rune According to R.J. Gorsleben (1930)
Letter L and Number 14.
Laf , Lagu , Liquidification, Lex , Law-of-Life [Lebensgesetz ], Lux , Illumination [Erleuchtung ], the Light that descends into the Darkness. Through Initiation and Illumination, the Heaviness [Schwere ] of Life is taken away.
Dr. Friedrich Teltscher’s Ur-word is Bestimmung meaning “Determination” as well as Decisiveness, Resolution, Regulation, Purpose, etc.
“A Fourteenth I sing to the assembled People
By Speaking out the divine Names –
The Aesir and Albes [are] of different Types
[and] No one knows how to utter [them].”
The Rune means Life, Leaf/Foliage, which also is “Life”, Refreshment [Labe ], Position/Location [Lage ], Law [Gesetz ], Liver, Lye, Glue [Leim ], Leeks (which have a Clarifying/Purifying-Effect [Läuterungseffekt ] and were highly valued by the Ancients). As Foliage-Rune, the Laf-Rennet-Foliage-Life Rune [Laf-Lab-Laub-Leben Rune ] shows also the Leaf that is on its Stem.
Martin Luther [the seminal figure of the Protestant Reformation] has the Runes Laf and Tar [another name for Tyr ] in his name. His Name, written in Runes, would be
[“LAFTAR”] for short. Thus we have Laf-Tar , the Procreator-of-Life [Lebenszeuger ], and he shows himself to be a Pure-One [Lauterer ].
Lagu [= Ocean], Laach , Pool [Lache ], Hole [Loch ], Lech, Leak, Larva, Spawn [Laich ] are Words relating to the Water [Meeres-Worte ]. Other Concepts that are contained in the Rune and the imagery of which it mediates are: Light, Air [Luft ], Love, Body [Liebe ], Flame [Lohe ], Luminary, Sound [Laut ], sincerely [lauter ], Spring [Lenz ], Linden-Tree, Course [Lauf ], Purely [Laren ], Song [Lied ], Locks/Curls/Ringlets [Locken ], Praise [Lob ], Ladder [Leiter ], Lesson [Lehre ], leaning [lehnen ], Eyelid [Lid ], Clay [Lehm ], Glue [Leim ], peek (sight) [lugen (sehen) ], Steering [Lenkung ], Leeward [the side sheltered from the wind], Scythe.
Compare the Shape of the Rune, which shows the Silhouette of a Scythe, but also of a Whip, with which Life, the Laf , whips us forward. The Rune also connects with the German suffixes of -lich and -ling , and the English word ‘Limb’. Other words that belong to the Laf-Rune are: Suffering [Leid ], Bait (on the Fishing-Rod of the Laf-Rune), to stop/refrain, to leave; as well as: Lingam, Love, Logos.
From the Stone [Lapis ], that which was Set-Down, or Laid-Down, therefore the “Lex ”, the Law was recognized or the Position of Things and of the Stars. On the other hand, the superior Logos is [truly] the Law, the Ur-Position [Urlage ], the Primoridal set-down, laid-down Law! We read the Law of the Times in the Heavens.
The Ur- Word Laf or Lag contains not only the brilliant Fire-of-Heaven, but also the destructive Flame of the Fire-of-Life, of the Light-of-Life. The Laf-Rune is dedicated to the wise Planet Mercury, the Merk-Ur , the Ur-Merk , the Merker , the Star-of-Intelligence.
In the Ur-word Laf or Lag is both the brilliant ‘fire of heaven’ or ‘light of life’, and the destructive flame of that fire.
As we see, each Rune is a Secret-Symbol of a huge amount of ideas and concepts, a collection of all constructive thoughts and of the building material of the spiritual world.
If the previous Rune Bar
Great as the ocean (lagu ), unbridgeable, appears life and law which is based on the earthbound eye, which cannot look into itself and therefore cannot look beyond what is earth bound. One should know the lawfulness of the eternal change of life & death, and then one’s spiritual eye can overlook the vast expanses of life and of the ocean of laf and lag .
As was mentioned, the
We could also see this Rune as a Self (an Is- or Ich-Rune
), with an arm hanging down. The one Self is a wavering stalk, which goes with the wind and which can break in the storm, yet if it fraternizes with a second Self-Laf , then it is more resistant.
Combat/Struggle is the Ur-Law-of-Life and be it even in the adjustment & approach of two lives that are united in marriage.
Two Runes-of-Life combine
to form a matrimony [ehelichen ], that is, a legal Union, resulting in the Eh- or Ehe-Rune, the Marriage-Rune. In old German, Ehe [Wedlock, Marriage, Matrimony] has still kept the Ur-meaning of ‘Law’.
Laf = “life” and Lag = “that which was laid, which was set in stone” (Law). Live following the law, the original law: the procreation of life. Adjust to the natural-Ur-law, the highest law of nature. The ideas of Lion [Löwe ] and Life [Leben ] are closely connected. In heraldry, the Lion was used as a symbol of this Rune.Two LAF Runes crossed over in such a way that the arms touch each other in the upper angle of a rhomboid, result in the
OTHIL Rune, which equates with od-hil = spiritual healing, or Od-Heil (‘Od ’ or Odin aka Wotan; and ‘Heil ’ meaning Hail, Heal, Salvation, Deliverance, Well-Being).
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-Paraphrase from The Peak-Time of Humanity [Die Hoch-Zeit der Menschheit] (1930)
by Rudolf John Gorsleben
The “Laf, Lögr, Lagu, Laug” Rune According to S.A. Kummer (1932-1933)
(L) The L-Rune, Laf, lögr, lagu, laug means Life, Law-of-Life [Lebensgesetz ], Liver, Charge (or supply with power), Refreshment [Labe ], Lye, the Lye-Water (an Alkaline solution), Leaf/Foliage, Leek (the healing Plant), Glue, Lagu = Ocean [Meer ], Pool/Laugh [Lache ], Loch, Leak, Spawn. – Numeric-Value 14.
Furthermore it also relates with: Love, Air, Light, Flame/Blaze [Lohe ], Light-Life [Lebenslicht ], Insight-into-Life [Lebenseinsicht ], Luminary, Enlightenment/Illumination [Erleuchtung ], Salmon/Pollack [Lachs ], Refreshment, Sound, Spring-Time, Linden- or Lime-Tree, Affliction [Leid ], Instruction, Leash/Rope, guide = learn/study.
Laf the Rune of Initiation/Inauguration into the higher Life [Einweihung in das höhere Leben ], which therefore also reaches down into the Life of the painful Experiences and Negations, Suffering, Corpse, Corpse-Life, Easily-Corpse, Loose/Lot/Lottery, the Lot-in-Fate/Destiny or Lottery-of-Destiny [Schicksalslos ], Gap/Opening [Lücke ], Emptiness/Void, Response, Whim/Mood, Lie/Falsehood, Loki, Logos.
Laf , the Initiation-Rune [Einweihungsrune ], but also the Rune of Experiential-Knowledge [die Rune der Erfahrungen ]: that is to say, of the more or less painful Tests on the Path to the true God, to All-Father.
The Windward [Lüv ], Living [Leb ], Lew , Lion. The Heraldic-Animal or Emblem of all Life is the twisted or Kala-ified Laf-Rune (remember that Kala = Mystery/Secret, Veiling, Twisting).Laf is the Law-of-Life [Lebensgesetz ], Right/Law, Dignity, Force/Power and Strength.
But woe to the Unclean who dares to approach this Law [Gesetz ] of the Laf-Rune: then it works in the Demonic and leads to painful Destruction/Annihilation [qualvollen Vernichtung ].
The one who lets themselves be tempted by Egoism [Egoismus ], Greed and Sensual-Pleasure [Sinneslust ] will suffer heavily and painfully from the Forces of the Laf-Life-Rune until one has found-one’s-way-back [zurückgefunden ] and knows how to sail [steuern ] on the Lagu = Ocean [Meer ] of Life and Death.
The Laf-Rune is also the Rune of the Flesh, of the ‘Flesh of light’ [leichten Leibes ], and of the Astral-Flesh [des Astralleibes ].
The Demonic of the Laf-Rune is Ruin/Rotting, Destruction/Annihilation, Lying and Delusion, pathologically egotistical, useless Fight against the Fate/Destiny and the Law, vindictive, black magic Procreation of the Descendants.
The Laf-Rune is the Signpost to the higher divine Life [das höhere, göttliche Leben ]; it is also in you: feel/experience it, and consciously recognize it…
“Runes can be found in the Soil and Stones of the Earth;
Runes greet you as Rocks/Cliffs, Peaks and Mountains.Runes flow as Streams and Rivers through Land and Forest;
Runes shine in every Form [Gestalt ].Runes draw the Clouds in the Sky;
Runes shine as Constellations of the Night.Runes sing and foam the Ocean-Wave;
Runes pull the Storm with Might [Macht ].Runes whisper [raunen ] in Colors and sound in Tones
harmoniously permeating the great Universe;
Runes point-out Truth, Law and Right.Runes lead to Victory [Sieg ].
Runes whisper in our Breast;
Rune Man, Rune Woman: consciously recognize the All-Embracing Royal-Rune in Thyself!”
Kummer’s Full Body Rune Exercise(s):
The Practitioner, again, takes the Ich-Rune-Position (Military “At-Attention”), and then slightly raises both arms which are placed laterally, obliquely forward, so that when seen from the side it produces the Laf-Rune.
One let’s the cosmic Waves pulsate in their Body and sings “L” or “Laf”. Later, the Sound-Formula: “la-le-li-lo-lu” can also be used.
Then one concentrates on the following Meditation:
“Through Pain, Failure, Need/Hardship [Not ], Temptation and Suffering, I have come to know the true Life. I now know the divine Path and the cosmic Laws [Gesetze ].
Light and Enlightenment/Illumination [Erleuchtung ] were granted unto me through you, All-Father.
My Ich rejoices and exults!
So I dare the Journey, and learn to guide and steer thereby.”
After these two Practices the Student lingers for a Quarter-of-an-Hour in complete Calm/Peace, turning off all Thoughts, or if that is not yet possible for them, then one has only Thoughts of Love and Harmony, Confidently awaiting Advice/Counsel [Rat ], Instruction, Inspiration or an Answer.
Kummer’s Hand Rune Exercise (‘Mudras’ or “Rune-Grips”):
The Rune Practitioner should take up the Ich-Rune-Position (Military “At-Attention”); this is followed by a deep Breathing-Exercise three times, with thoughts directed toward physical and spiritual purification; a practice which must be observed with all the Rune-Grips.
The Practitioner raises the left Arm upward and assumes the Hand-Position in Figure 14, the Laf-Rune-Grip. One uses the following Sound-Formulas with this Grip: “L-a-f” and “la-le-li-lo-lu”.
Thoughts are focused on Love for the Fa-tor , and on the Enlightenment/Illumination [Erleuchtung ] of the Self [the Illumination of the Being]. The Practitioner will observe a mild Warming of the left Hand. With this Grip, one is able to have a fortifying effect on one’s Aura.
It is also the Grip for Initiation into the higher Life [die Einweihung in das höhere Leben ].
Remember that each Rune-Grip must be repeated three times (for 3 Minutes each, followed by a short Pause in the Ich-Rune-Position between sets), since otherwise no satisfactory Collection of Subtle-Force [Feinkräfte ] can be reached in the Hand-Centers.
Afterwards, a conscious-willed [willensbewußt ] Circulation through the whole Body should not be forgotten. After Completion of the Exercise, Kummer could notice a Smell similar to Rubber several times. The astral Color is bright-fire-red by Day, ruby-red by Night.
-Paraphrase from Holy Runic-Power [Heilige Runenmacht] (1932)
& Rune Magic [Runen-Magie] (1933) by Siegfried Adolf Kummer.
Note that the following themes can be highlighted in Kummer’s description of this Rune: Life (insight into life, life as an initiatory process), the ‘Waters of Life’ and the Logos that fecundates those ‘Waters’; Light (learning from life in order to be illuminated); Love (love for humanity and allowing others to have their Free-Will); and Law (the Ur-Law of life).
Rosicrucian and Gnostic
The “Laf” Rune According to Huiracocha
Beloved Disciple: We have arrived at the
All of this means that at the moment when we have something or we are owners of something, we can put the Article in order to give it life. Thus the Stone [la Piedra ], the Air [el Aire ], are living things and have a positive existence.
In both the North as in South and Central America, we find stones with these two Runes engraved upon them that read LAFTAR and means SAVIOR. In both syllables is also the mystery of the word or Logos or Light that has, in itself, the primitive and eternal force.
In the L or LAF, we also have the Latin Lex or Law, and means STONE in the Nordic language, reminding us of the word LORELEI (or ‘Murmuring rock’ that is found on the Rhine river), that is, the triangulation of all things.
If we join the two
EHE Rune which has 2 shapes]. In this way the union of EL and LA (or HIM and HER), forms a pair, a conjunction. They are, therefore, two lives that seem to form only one.
The practice of the Norns , in order to attract the forces of
“With this water clean my being, my inner-self, of all weeds [maleza ]
in order to receive the human being, the cosmic being, the cosmic forces.”
The instructions of this Rune must be given along with those of the
MAN Rune which is the God-Man (or Divine-Humanity) who raises his arms.
Let us remember that greatly misunderstood and interpreted phrase “I AM AS MUCH AS YOU ARE” that does not signify establishing a comparison between two persons. This phrase is symbolic and means, “I AS A SMALL MICROCOSMOS, AM SO MUCH LIKE YOU, IMMENSE MACROCOSMOS.”
The person who is conscious of their value, must never go about with a lowered head in an attitude of humiliation, but must instantly possess the idea that they are REAL LIFE, flooded with ardor, with fire, with accumulated potentiality. Who dominates and who is not dominated. In whom reason vibrates and this is, in them, like an overwhelming force and who, while listening, is firmly grounded, with the forehead up, and with all the right of their Being and the full weight of their spiritual energy. For this reason we have the articles EL, LA or “LAF”.
LAF signifies that God is locked up in us or imprisoned within, and who (with the absolute right to attain Light and Liberty) cries and appeals to Heaven. All this is enclosed within these two Runes (Laf & Man ).
R.C.
-Paraphrase from Runic Course [Curso Rúnico] (1931-1935)
by Arnoldo Krumm-Heller (Huiracocha)
available in Gnostic-Rosicrucian Runology
The “Laf” Rune According to Samael Aun Weor
Samael Aun Weor was still very young when, on one of those nights (it does not matter which one), he abandoned his physical body for a while and had an experience with the one named URANIA. How happy he felt while out of the dense body. There is no better pleasure than feeling oneself as a detached soul. Past, present and future become an eternal now.
To penetrate within the Parallel Universes becomes relatively easy when one has the CONSCIOUSNESS AWAKENED. While in the Parallel Universe of the 5th Dimension, he felt the necessity of invoking a Master, thus, he cried with a great voice, calling, beseeching, asking. In an instant it looked as if the whole universe was transformed, such is the power of the verb.
The silver cord has the power of infinitely elongating itself, and this is how the souls can freely travel throughout starry space. So, he traveled a lot and then arrived at the Temple. Filled with ecstasy, he advanced through the mysterious path which leads the Initiates to the doors of this very Holy Place.
He was then unexpectedly attacked by a great beast, by a Mithraic bull. He confronted the animal in a determined way and grabbed it by the horns, thereby managing to throw it to the ground. However, in those precise moments something unusual happened. Before his astonished consciousness, a chain of iron dropped and the terrible animal disappeared, as if by magic.
He intuitively comprehended everything in those moments. Clearly, he needed to make himself free, to brake the enslaving chains, to eliminate the animal EGO. Afterwards, he continued on his way and entered through the doors of the Temple. He became inebriated by an exquisite spiritual voluptuousness.
Next, he saw the chariot of the centuries, which was driven by three Masters of the WHITE LODGE and a venerable Elder was in this chariot of Mystery. He could not stop inquiring about this Elder, since he was terribly Divine and formidable. “His name is PETER” answered one of the Hierophants. Then he prostrated himself on the ground before this Elder, and, filled with infinite love & compassion, the Elder blessed him while speaking in the sacred language.
Since then Samael Aun Weor has reflected a lot on having taught humanity the Gospel of Peter, the Maithuna, Sex Yoga. And PATAR, PETER, said in the Christian Gospels: “Behold I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious… Unto you therefore who believe he is precious: but unto them that be disobedient, the Stone which the builders refused, the same is made the head of the corner. And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” [1 Peter, 2: 6, 7, 8].
But then, what about the Holy Grail? Is it not perhaps the same Initiatic Stone? The Grail is a precious stone which was brought to the earth by the Angels, and entrusted to an Initiatic Fraternity for its custody. This Fraternity was called the custodians of the Grail. Here we are then with the Stone of Jacob, the Sacred Lia Fail Stone of the Scottish [a Coronation Stone that is also known as ‘the Stone of Destiny’], the Cubic Stone of Yesod which is located by the Hebraic Kabbalists in the Sexual Organs.
Wolfram von Eschenbach [author of the German medieval chivalric romance Parzival circa 1210 (based on the unfinished French “Perceval, Count of the Grail”)] mentions the following, related to this HOLY STONE:
“Those heroes are animated by a stone. Do you not know its August and pure essence? It is called Lapis-Electrix (MAGNES); through it, any marvel (MAGIC) can be performed.
Like the Phoenix which is precipitated into the flames, it can be reborn from its own ashes. Because within the same flames it rejuvenates its plumage. And rejuvenated, it glows more beautiful than before.
Its power is such that any man, who, no matter how unhappy in his own state he might be, no matter his color, no matter his face, instead of dying as others, he no longer knows what age might be. And whether man or woman, they shall enjoy from this ineffable delight, which is to contemplate the STONE for more than two hundred years.”
This Initiatic Stone is esoterically converted into the Cup of Hermes, into the Sacred Chalice. PEDRO, PATAR, PETER, Initiatic Revelation, is within Sex, and anything that is not accomplished in this way signifies a useless waste of time.
It becomes tremendously significant that as much in North as in South America, we encounter engraved on the stones the LAFTAR (or
If we join two
The command of the King is written: “Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called but few are chosen.” [Matthew, 22: 13,14].
-Paraphrase from The Magic of the Runes [Magia de las Runas] (1969)
by Samael Aun Weor
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