Historically

The “Thôrr, Thurs” or Th-Rune According to Friedrich Fischbach (1900)

This Rune belongs to the Thunder-God Thôrr . It shows his sharp Hammer, the Thunderbolt [Donnerkeil ].

In the North, the rounder Form also occurs. In the South, the Rune of the Battle-God Tyr (the Spear- and Sword-God) probably replaced the older Form, because we find there the Abbreviation without a Stem/Handle and the Pyramid-Form .

In Nordic War-Legends, the Victory-Stone [Siegerstein ] is often Mentioned. It is also possible that such heavy, sharp Thunderbolts were used to smash the Shield of the Opponents and this weapon was pulled back by Straps.

Thôrr brings Spring with the first Thunderstorm, because he chases away the Winter-Demons [Winterdämonen ] when he comes out of the Mountains and blesses the Fields with his Hammer. He scatters the Lightning blessing Seed [Blitze segnende Saat ].

His Heavenly-Thunderbolt had therefore originally no evil Meaning, but (similarly to the Light-Bringer Lucifer who became a devil) at some point the Thörr-Rune also become the Thursen-Rune, although Thörr ’s task is to defeat the Thursen (Storm- and Cold-Giants).

The Lightning purifies the Air. The often simply numbing Lightning is the Sleep-Thorn [Schlafdorn ], but it also brings that eternal Sleep. Therefore we also conclude that this Rune means Death [Tod ].

In the past, Graves were planted with wild Thorns, because they keep Predators away and provide Protection for Songbirds. The Hawthorn sprouts new shoots after a long Frost and is therefore a Symbol of Re-Awakening [Wieder-Erwachens ]. Brunhilda received Odin’s Sleep-Thorn and slept like Sleeping Beauty on the rock bed surrounded by Thorns and the Waberlohe *.

It is also a Fire-Rune, note the words Pûis = Pyr = Fire and Pur = pure. Odin blessed Baldur ’s ** Funeral-Pyre with Thôrr ’s Hammer.

-Paraphrase from Origin of Gutenberg’s Letters [Ursprung der Buchstaben Gutenbergs] (1900)
by Friedrich Fischbach

NOTE: * The Waberlohe is an impenetrable firewall in Germanic mythology. It surrounds the castle in which the Valkyrie (who has fallen into a magical sleep) lies until Siegfried is able to penetrate it and awaken Brunhild.
            ** Baldr is one of the Æsir gods, the son of Odin and Frigg. He’s loved by all the gods, goddesses, and beings of a more physical nature. So handsome, gracious, and cheerful is he that he actually gives off light.

 

The “Thorr, Thurs, Thors, Thorn, Dorn” Rune According to Guido von List (1907)

thorr, thurs, thorn = Thor * (Thunder, Thunderbolt, Flash or Lightning), Thorn.

There’s a Third I know, that suits me too well,
As a Fetter for my Enemies.
I dull the Swords of my Opponents;
Neither Weapon nor Defense helps them.

This Rune is the “Thorn-of-Death” [Todesdorn ] which is what Wuotan used to put the disobedient Valkyrie, Brunhilda (a female warrior), into a Death-Sleep (compare Sleeping Beauty).

But in contrast to this, it is also the “Thorn-of-Life” [Lebensdorn ] (the Phallus), with which Death is conquered through “Rebirth [Wiedergeburt ]”.

This threatening Sign surely dulls the opposing Weapon (of the one Struck to Death), as well as the Might of the Powers-of-Death, through a constant Renewal of Life in Rebirth.

Therefore: “Preserve Your Self [Ich ]!”

-Paraphrase from The Mystery/Secret of the Runes
[Das Geheimnis der Runen]
(1907) by Guido Von List

NOTE: * Thor is the hammer-wielding Æsir god of thunder, lightning, storms, oak trees, strength, hallowing, fertility, the protection of mankind and of the fortress of Asgard .

 

The “Thorr, Thurs, Thorn” Rune According to Ernst Tristan Kurtzahn (1924)

Exoterically: Will (and Action) [Wille (und Tat) ]
Esoterically: Phallus, Seed, Donar
Generally: Thunder, Lightning, Thorn, Death and Life as Opposite-Poles.

Manifold and to some extent seemingly opposite are the Meanings of this profound Rune! On one hand, the peculiar Form of the Rune symbolizes a Thorn, which resembles an Ithyphallus (a depiction of an erect phallus), the Thorn-of-Life [Lebensdorn ], which expresses the Expression of the ‘Will to Life’ through Procreation-Readiness.

On the other hand, however, there is also the implied condition of Death (necessary to define Life) together with Rebirth in almost infinite Change: “No Life without Death”, but also: “No Death without Life!”

Nothing and no one is able to resist this iron Law, because in a futile Battle one’s Sword is dulled!

Happy is the one who has recognized their real SELF [wahres ICH ] within as Jesus Christ, the Son – because they will respect their physical Life correspondingly less and (like our noble ancestors) will absolutely and gladly give away this ephemeral, allegorical Life for Honor, Liberty and their Fellow-Human-Beings…

-Paraphrase from The Runes as Salvation-Signs and for Unbinding-Fate
[Die Runen als Heilszeichen und Schicksalslose]
(1924) by E. Tristan Kurtzahn

 

The “Thorn, Thurs, Dorn” Rune According to R.J. Gorsleben (1930)

Letters Th and D and Number 3.

Thorn, thurs, Thor’s Hammer as a Thorn-of-Procreation and -of-Death [Zeugungs- und Todesdorn ]. Self-Assertion in the Realm-of-Force [Kraftreich ], the Vault-of-Heaven, the ASA-THOR, the Architect-of-the-Worlds [Weltenbaumeister ], rotating upon its Axis. The World-of-Drives (that is, of Instincts and of Urges).

Dr. Friedrich Teltscher’s Ur-word is Ziel meaning “Aim” as well as Goal, Destination, Objective.

“A third one I grasp, if danger threatens,
To bind the enemies with magic
So I dull the steel of the angry opponent,
And like a stick his sword cannot cut any more.”

Thorn = will and action: Donar , Thunder. The Don-Aar (Aar is Eagle). The Ton-Aar (Ton is Tone or Sound). Both Don-Aar and Ton-Aar = the sounding Sun; that which Sounds in the Divine Will [göttlichen Willen ]. Sound is the dance of atoms, of the smallest particles, from which the universe is built.

Thorn [Dorn ] is the Thorn-of-Life [Lebensdorn ], the Wick-of-Life [Lebensdocht ] = the Phallus, the Symbol of the ‘Will to Life’ by means of Procreation-Readiness [Zeugungsbereitschaft ], but it also means Death caused by Life, the Thorn-of-Death [Todesdorn ], but which leads then to Rebirth.

No Life without Death. No Death without Life!

Eternal Death [ewigen Tod ] has been praised by the Catholic Church, but it was forgotten that without eternal Life there is no eternal Death, because each is the Opposing-Pole of the other, and neither is conceivable without the other.

No Sleep without Awakening, no Death without Birth, no End without Beginning.

With the Thorn-of-Death [Todesdorn ] Wodan put the Valkyrie Brunhilde (a female warrior) into the Death-Sleep and surrounded her with Waberlohe that only the person could cross who is “unafraid-of-death” and who therefore is worthy to awaken her with the “Thorn-of-Life [Lebensdorn ]”.

The Thurs-Rune is the Rune of the Thorn, or of the Dowsing-Rod [Wünschelrute ], and hence of body-magnetic Transmission [körpermagnetischen Übertragung] or ‘Od-magnetic transfer’.

The male Magical-Thorn [männliche Zauberdorn ], the Thorn-of-Awakening [Weckdorn ], overcomes the Thorn-Hedge of the Selection-Castle [Wahl-burg ], the Rampart-Castle [Wallburg ], the Bride-Selection-Place, the Thunder-Hedge, the Thun-Ar-Hedge: Tun = Fence, Ar = Sun, therefore the Sun- or Fire-Fence.

This is also the significance of the Fairy tale of ‘Sleeping Beauty’, who sleeps the Hibernation of Infertility, until the Prince, the Knight, the Fearless-One, arrives, penetrates the Thorn-Rose-Hedge and Awakens the Virgin with kisses, who is sleeping the Sleep between Death and Rebirth and whose destiny is to give birth to the Son of the Hero, before she falls again into the long Sleep-of-Death.

 
Part of the Thorn-Rune is also the Office/Department of the “Dragon”, who has the Rotating-Power [Drehgewalt ], to draw, the Procreation-Power [Zeugungsgewalt ] in the ancient Electoral-Regulations [Wahlordnung ], for which reason he had also the Virgins in his Custody, which “dying-only” he left to the “fearless” man, who is not afraid of the Thor-, Threat-, Rotation-Law, that is the Law-of-Becoming and -of-Passing-Away [Werde­ und Stirb-Gesetz ].

Therefore, we often find the Dragon in the Place of the Thorn-Rune in Coat-of-Arms. Other representations of the Thorn are: a Tip, a Spear, and the Scorpion. The Scorpion, astrologically speaking, is the Awakening-Thorn [Weckdorn ], the Stinger-of-Life [Lebensstachel ] as well as the Singer-of-Death [Todesstachel ], and rules over the Sphere of Sex [Sphäre des Sexus ] in the Zodiac.

 
If    Fa represents the Father, the Begetter (Generator/Producer) [Zeuger ]; and    Ur is the Ur-Mother, the Ur-Womb; then    Dorn or Thorn is the Third, Thor (the Son of Wotan).

Thor and Tyr (both Sons of Wodan) are the Sons-of-the-Thorn of the Thorn-Hedge.

Through the Narrow-Door [Tür ] (Tyr ) of Childbirth we enter Life and through the large Door/Gate [Tor ] (Thor ) of Death we leave it again.

This Rune teaches that the Human-Being is subject to the Law of eternal Rebirth. During one’s earthly Life, through useful Combat, one’s Sword gets dull. Whosoever is capable of preserving their true Self [wahres Ich ], recognizes that everything Temporal is merely a Parable.

The Thorn-Rune is consecrated to Thor , the Turner [Dreher ], the one who Turns, as well as the Group-of-Three [Dreier ], and the Trinity of [1] Becoming, [2] Ruling (Being), and [3] Changing (Rotating) to new Arising.

 
The Double-Thorn-Rune    approaches one of the shapes of the    Ehe- or Marriage-Rune.

Only Marriage creates the Human Being in its entirety through Man & Woman, who beget the Third one (who is more than them both). According to the Runic-Sequence from Fa (the Father, the One) and Ur (the Mother, the Two) originates Thor ( the Tro , the Three, the Third one), the Child. This Child becomes the Connection between two Human-Beings…

The    Thorn-Rune awakens the Thoughts & Feelings of the Youth of Humanity and of the individual Human, of their “Paradise”, and of the Dancing-Time in Life [Tanzzeit des Lebens ].

 
The Demonic side of the Thorn-Rune is Deception [Trug ], while on the Theonic side is the Three, the “Troy”, the Loyalty [Treue ], like the ancient Faith which was a Knowledge entrusted to the Druids.

The Ur-Word (Ziel meaning “Goal/Aim”) also refers to Destruction [Zerstörung ] = Zer . Furthermore it refers to Dying, Perishing, Starving, Drought and Concealing: the Helmet-of-Concealment or Tarnhelm (a magic helmet in Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle Operas).

-Paraphrase from The Peak-Time of Humanity [Die Hoch-Zeit der Menschheit] (1930)
by Rudolf John Gorsleben

 

The “Thor, Thurs, Thorn” Rune According to S.A. Kummer (1932-1933)

(D/Th) The D- or Th-Rune, Thor, thurs, thorn; Thorn is Will and Action. Thunder [Donner ]; Donar , the Thunderer. Donar = Don-Aar , the singing Sun, the thundering Sun, Thor ’s Hammer. The Door/Gate [Tor ] – Numerical value 3.

This Rune is dedicated to Thor , whose Hammer strikes in the Triad: Becoming – Prevailing – Being – and Passing-Away to new Arising. Thor , the Third, the Three, Loyalty, those (such as the Druids) who were entrusted with high Faith, Knowledge, and Magic.

With the Three (Spirit – Soul – Body), I blunt the Steel of the angry Opponent; with Thor ’s Hammer I meet all threatening Dangers.

Through the Thorn, the mutual spiritual and physical Re-Polarization of Man & Woman takes place in Marriage. It is the Rune of the Divining-Rod, the magnetic, physical Od-Transmission.

The Thorn-of-Fate, the Thorn-of-Life (the Phallus), the Symbol of Life, of Procreation. This reminds us of Sleeping-Beauty who is awakened by the Thorn-of-Life.

The Thorn-of-Death with which Wotan put Brunhild into the Sleep-of-Death. However, it is also the Thorn-of-Death, which leads to Rebirth: no Life without Death, no Death without Life.

The Thorn-of-Life and the Thorn-of-Death are the Bind-Rune of the Dag-Rune    the Double-Thorn, the Dual-Type, the Winter-Solstice-Symbol, the Rune of Mother Earth.

The Demonic of the Thorn-Rune is black Magic, spiritual and physical Destruction, spiritual and physical Death. Animal Procreation.

Motto: “Realize your physical and spiritual Self [Ich ]!”

 

Kummer’s Full Body Rune Exercise(s):

Starting from the Ich-Rune-Position, the Practitioner places the left Hand on the left Hip, creating an angled left Arm; this is the Dorn-Rune-Position.

The Thor-Dorn-Rune-Position has the following Sound-Formulas:

“ta-te-ti-to-tu” and “da-de-di-do-du”.

 

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; which must also be observed with all the other Rune-Grips.

The Rune Practitioner stretches the left Arm upwards and taking the Hand-Position of Figure 3. Sing “d-a-a” three times (for 3 Minutes each), during which higher Tones are to be held longer. At the deepest Tone they are focused in the Feet.

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.

Here, too, cosmic Subtle-Forces [kosmische Feinkräften ] begin to accumulate in the Hand, which is experienced as Tingling in the outstretched Finger-Tips, as well as in the Ring-Finger and the Tip-of-the-Thumb. During the Pause, thoughts are directed to the Absorption of Solar-Forces.

After finishing the Exercise, the collected Subtle-Forces are to be directed throughout the entire Body by conscious-willpower [willensbewußt] . The astral Color-Vibration is bright Yellow.

Higher astral Laws can also be triggered through this Rune-Grip. This depends entirely on how much cosmic Force-Current [kosmische Kraftströme ] the Rune Practitioner is able to take in and feed into the Body. The deeper the inner Immersion, the stronger the Accumulation of Forces will be.

This Rune-Grip also has the following Sound-Formulas: “de-di-do-du”.

-Paraphrase from Holy Runic-Power [Heilige Runenmacht] (1932)
& Rune Magic [Runen-Magie] (1933) by Siegfried Adolf Kummer.

 

Rosicrucian and Gnostic

The “Thor, Thorn or Dorn” Rune According to Huiracocha

Beloved Disciple:

The third Rune that we are going to study is    THOR, also called TORN or DORN, whose variations we must refer to for a greater comprehension.

In the Dolmens of the megalithic period (Prehistoric Monuments of unhewn stones) from Valencia (Spain), we have a good opportunity to compare these same Runes with those found in the Dolmens of ALVAO (Portugal) to which Science applies an Age of about ten thousand years.

In Spain as in Portugal, the Nordic Druids taught the manipulation or management of these Magical Figures, but those who would eventually study THEOSOPHY, did not realize that we had all these things close by and transgressed by looking for things still more recent and of considerably less value in India.

On the other hand, we can see the surprise of the Catholic Priests when they arrived in Brazil and found in said country the same Paleo-epigraphic inscriptions on stones as those existing in Europe.

   DORN (which means THORN in modern German) has the significance of WILLPOWER in the nordic language.

Consequently, DONAR was the God of Willpower, he was the God of the Thorn.

Thousands of years before being known to our judao-roman Christianity, a God on the Cross was known in the Mysteries and the most beautiful Crucifix we know, is the one found on the rocks of the Columbia River Valley whose age is not possible to specify, but that is the work of many thousands of years before of our Era.

We can equally say that there was found in Sardinal, coming from the Bronze Age, many Heads with Crowns of Thorns carved in the rocks; it is necessary to bear in mind that in those same centuries, we already know historically that there existed a cult to the God of Thorns, who, well considered and examined, gives us the figure of the THORN rune.

In the Mysteries of the cult of Thorn, practices were given to develop the willpower.

ECCE HOMO, therefore, as a sacred page from our Roman Christianity, is nothing more than a synchronism of the Norse Mysteries and a reminiscence of the cult of that epoch.

We now see, why the Rose Cross chose the symbol of the Rose that has not only leaves and petals, but also thorns.

DORN (thorn) also signifies Willpower and the figure of the Ecce Homo does not have a crown just to remind us of a historical fact, but to tell us: “Man, gird your head with the Crown of sacrifice and arm yourself with a precise Willpower in order to achieve triumph.”

DORN, is also the Falus or Phallus, the Volitional principle of Magic that offers us a new Key.

It tells us that we must accumulate in the Phallus the seminal impulses in order to acquire that deep, spiritual energy, which is called Willpower.

When the master gave me these practices I fell in love with a very cute and provocative woman. I was young and impotent, and after exciting myself by caressing her, at a certain moment, I imposed my willpower and passed on to necking. At that time, I spent almost a year abstinent from all carnal contact and there I acquired that willpower which made me triumph in life.

I do not want to say: “do the same thing, disciple”. Each one must settle this for themselves.

In some Menhirs in Spain, we find figures that are armed with a Hammer.

It is the german God DONAR (Dorna), who represents the THORN of Nordic Mythology with his Mace in hand which he throws from a distance in order to produce the ray or the spark.

Without the thorn that punctures, that hurts, there is no spark, there is no burst of Light that emerges. In this is the basis of the great esoteric teaching of this Rune.

ARM YOURSELF WITH A WILLPOWER OF IRON AND TRIUMPH WILL BE YOURS.

It is also the symbol of Reincarnation. If    FA has been the Father and    UR the Mother, then    THORN is the child and consequently represents the Trinity and is the emblem of the Cosmic Christ, of Cosmic Willpower.

In the many Spanish Shields, we find the THORN Rune in the way we have described it and this is a clear proof that the Nobles of Spain inherited their Heraldry from the Nordic Peoples.

PRACTICE:

As a practice for this Rune, and during fifteen days, you must place an arm on the waist or hip describing the shape of this Rune.

This exercise should be done in the morning saying “TA…..TE…..TI……TO…..TU”

R.C.

-Paraphrase from Runic Course [Curso Rúnico] (1931-1935)
by Arnoldo Krumm-Heller (Huiracocha)
available in Gnostic-Rosicrucian Runology

 

The “Thorn” or Dorn Rune According to Samael Aun Weor

One day, Samael Aun Weor and Litelantes visitied the Temple of Chapultepec in Mexico. There people also visited who still had their Lunar Bodies. Truly, how different are the SOLAR BODIES! What was astonishing was the way in which this LUNAR Group advanced, without veneration, without respect.

However, Samael Aun Weor could clearly comprehend that such a group should be seen with sympathy, since they were selected people and with a lot of merits. Unfortunately, it was not an hour for a meeting. The Superior master of the Temple was severely grumbling at them and he even took them out of the temple by singing in a very delectable language… thus, all of these people had to withdraw.

Samael Aun Weor remained reflecting upon all of this… The LOVE of CHRIST is formidable because this Lunar group is very sincere, even though these poor little ones have yet to achieve the Second Birth. But they deserve to be helped, so the Lord takes care and cultivates them, as if they were delicate little flowers from the greenhouse. Good opportunities will be finally granted unto them in order to work in the Ninth Sphere and disgrace will be upon them if they would fail in the difficult ordeal.

The descent into the Averno, Tartarus (the Ninth Sphere) was, in ancient times, the maximum ordeal for the supreme dignity of the Hierophant. Buddha, Jesus, Dante, Hermes, Krishna, Quetzalcoatl, etc., had to descend into the abode of Pluto.

Here we find the cave where Cerberus howls. With its barking, its three enormous flat-nosed heads and with serpents writhing on its neck, Cerberus fills all the defunct ones with terror.

Those who died cheated by the poison of Sexual Passion dwell in those painful profundities… Here are the three furies (Desire, Mind and Ill-Will) who flog the guilty with whips which hiss like viperous tongues.

To descend into those mineral regions of the earth, into that sub-world, becomes extremely easy, but to ascend again, to return up to the light of the sun is frightfully difficult, almost impossible.

When Samael Aun Weor was born in the Causal World (or better if we say the Parallel Universe of Conscious Willpower), then the sacred cloth of Veronica shone upon the altar of the temple.

Many heads crowned with thorns that are chiseled in stone are found related to the Bronze Age. A cult to the God of the Thorns existed. Such thorns present to us the symbolic figure of the    THORN Rune.

In the sacred mysteries of the Thorn Cult, special practices were given in order to develop Conscious Willpower. DORN, THORN, signifies Willpower (remember, Gnostic brethren, that our Motto is THELEMA ).

The Divine Rostrum crowned with Thorns signifies THELEMA, that is to say, Conscious Willpower.

  DORN is also the PHALLUS, the volitional principle of SEXUAL MAGIC (the MAITHUNA). There is the need, by means of the PHALLUS, to intelligently accumulate the seminal energy, and when it is refrained and transmuted, then it is converted into THELEMA (Willpower).

Arm yourself with a steel-like willpower, remember beloved reader that without the thorn which pierces or pricks, the spark does not jump, and the light does not emerge.

We can return from Tartarus and up to the light of the Sun, only with THELEMA (CHRIST-WILL).

Samael Aun Weor tells us that, truly, the CHRIST-WILL knows how to obey the FATHER on earth as in heaven. Take heed of the ILL-WILL, it is (in itself) the strength or force of SATAN, that is to say, concentrated desire.

PRACTICE: In the military position [la posición militar ], with our feet firm and facing towards the east, we place our right arm in such a way that our hand will remain resting upon our waist or hips, thus taking the form of this Rune.

Now, you must sing the mantric syllables: “TAAA…., TEEEE….., TIIIIIII…., TOOOOOO…… TUUUUU……”, with the purpose of developing the CHRIST WILL in yourself. This exercise must be practiced every day at sunrise.

-Paraphrase from The Magic of the Runes [Magia de las Runas] (1969)
by Samael Aun Weor

 

Sexual magic is the path… We must self-realize the CHRIST within ourselves in order to speak the creative verb; however, this is possible only by learning how to control the feminine principle of the sun…

We know that sexual magic is very hard and difficult for humans with a weak willpower and, therefore, we recommend our disciples to first practice the exercises of the    THOROS Rune in order to acquire the force of willpower, which will permit them to heroically control sexual magic.

Our disciples must perform this exercise by placing their hand upon their waist or hip and then vocalizing the syllables TI-TE-TO-TU-TA, prolonging the sound of each vowel.

They must then vocalize the mantra TORN as follows:
Toooooorrrrrrrrrnnnnnnnnn.

Our disciples who practice this exercise daily will acquire a powerful force of will, with which they will practice sexual magic, dominating their passionate beast.

The force of willpower is symbolized by the crown of thorns of the Nazarene Christ.

It is necessary to strike the hard flint strongly in order to make the spark of immortality jump.

The force of willpower is the tremendous force of sacrifice… it is the crown of thorns of the Master.

The willpower and movement of the Kundalini are intimately united.

The force of willpower is the THORN Rune and the force of movement (or motion) is symbolized by the OLIN sign of the Aztec-Mexicans.

-Paraphrase from Ch. 31 of Igneous Rose [Rosa Ignea] (1954)
by Samael Aun Weor

 

 

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