Emerging from the Mound

Listening to the inner voice when it says, "Take a break."

Leaves and seed pods emerging on a birch tree in my yard. 2025

The first quarter of the year is over, and I’ve been somewhat low-key on my podcast and Substack. I was pretty eager to get the Substack set up and going and really thought I’d be able to get a regular post schedule going, but some commitments took priority which took up a lot of time.

And, honestly, since January, I’ve not felt the energy for a lot of projects. Thus, I just needed a break. A break mentally, time, physical activities, not feeling like I “have” to do something. I paused the podcast (a huge task since it involves reading and reviewing material, preparing for interviews, recording, creating posts, editing, and more) and I paused or lessened involvement in other activities. I just needed to regenerate. And to do it without making myself feel guilty (not an easy thing to do).

Usually, I am energized in winter and the summer is my down time (unusual and surprising to some people). But this year, I found myself needing to take a break after the holidays. So, I went “into the mound.”

“Going into the mound” refers to a contemporary practice of honoring the Vanir God Freyr at the end of the harvest time. Some Heathen practitioners do this around the end of October to coincide with the Celtic festival of Samhain*, while others may recognize it at a moon phase or other significant time during the month. Freyer is associated with fertility of the lands and prosperity. Placing him in a burial mound at the end of the harvest symbolizes the “death” of Freyr and signifies an end of the fertile season leading into winter. A time to regenerate, rest, transform.

There is a reference to placing Freyr in the mound upon his death to keep the peace amongst the Swedes. I believe this is what has influenced the modern practice: “Frey fell into a sickness; and as his illness took the upper hand, his men took the plan of letting few approach him. In the meantime, they raised a great mound, in which they placed a door with three holes in it. Now when Frey died, they bore him secretly into the mound but told the Swedes he was alive. … Peace and good seasons continued.” – Ynglinga Saga 12 (Laing translation).

Around February (generally early February which coincides with the Celtic celebration of Imbolc), practitioners will celebrate Freyr’s emerging from the mound to symbolize spring and bless the fields with fertility and bounty.

But with spring in Southern California in full swing – rain showers, flowers blooming, trees budding, and warmer, sunny days, I feel like I’m coming out of the mound. And even though there is a lot of turmoil in the country, we press forward.

I wondered if others may be feeling an emergence from mound, wintering, cocoon, or however it manifests to them. So, I pulled runes for some guidance about the emergence and what might give some inspiration. I drew berkano, jera, and kenaz. I’m glad these came up. They have hope and forward movement.

Emerging from the mound rune draw, April 2025. The cards are there as additional imagery.

Berkana: This is a nice start since it heralds fertility, new growth, and connection with the divine feminine. My birch and mesquite trees are just starting to get bedding leaves. They are waking up from their rest and getting ready to open up. Growth and leaves reaching to their fullest is on its way and berkano is emphasizing it’s time. Get out of the mound.

Jera: Another cue that it’s time to get going. Jera is the rune of cycles. “To every season, turn, turn, turn.” The season is beginning. Time to put Freyr on the wagon and ask him to bless the fields for a prosperous and abundant crop.

Kenaz: Kenaz is the torch. The light. On one of the cards for the rune shown, the light is at the end of the tunnel. Kenaz illuminates and helps us to see what we are missing. Use the light to get on the move and in the groove!

To add another layer, I thought I’d see what advice or guidance we could get from the goddesses of the Norse Goddess Rune Oracle. I drew the goddesses associated with the runes from the deck for additional guidance.

Rune draw with the associated goddesses from the Norse Goddess Rune Oracle.

Berkana: Birch Mother. Look for nurturing influences. What do we need to strengthen us as we emerge and get inspiration again? What or who can encourage you? Time to embrace well-being and let the transformation take hold.

Another view of emerging birch leaves to go with the Birch Mother.

Jera: Sif. Sif is connected to the harvest. As we start this journey from the mound, Sif is waiting to grant the harvest. As you nurture and tend to the things you allowed to rest and regenerate while in the mound and put them into action where needed with new gusto, she can help the pending harvest be bountiful.

Kenaz. (merkstave) Brynhild. When I pulled the rune and turned it over, it was merkstave. I do not automatically reverse the meaning, but I used it for the selection of the goddess from the deck. Brynhild is the Valkyrie who was cursed to sleep by Odin. When awakened, she shared her wisdom and strength. But don’t be consumed by the fires. Be inspired by Brynhild and let kenaz enlighten and illuminate your creativity and skills.

This went longer than expected (thanks, runes. 😊) I hope this will share a message for those who may be struggling with motivation to come out of the mound. However - if you are still feeling like you need to stay in, listen to those voices until you feel ready. And if you feel like you need to take that break and enter the mound, take that opporutnity to rejuvinate. Without guilt.

Thanks for reading.

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Note: Time references are for the Northern Hemisphere where I live. Most celebrations in the Southern Hemisphere will take place according to their seasonal cycles and not assigned to the months as observed in the Northern Hemisphere. Thus, Freyr would go into the mound around May and emerge in August.

Decks/runes used: Wood runes created by John Hijatt. Green Glyphs Runes by James Eades. Runes for Modern Life by Theresa Cheung and Camilla Perkins. Norse Goddess Rune Oracle by Rebecca Joy Stark and Sharon McLeod.