Dagaz

Dagaz is the 23rd rune of the Elder Futhark and has the etymological root of the word “day.” Today we will explore the intricacies and mysteries of the Mobius strip rune and flip the hourglass of infinite light and darkness until we finally get a clear picture. The Dagaz rune is tied to concepts that are deeply woven into our everyday lives. While some people reflect on these ideas frequently, others remain unaware of their importance. You’ve probably heard the word “enlightenment” tossed around in spiritual discussions or by self-proclaimed YouTube gurus.

The word “enlightenment” was popularized and brought into the English vocabulary by the Buddhists and Zen Buddhists of East Asia. Enlightenment means to be “awake.” This is why the Buddha is called the “awakened one.” He’s revered throughout history for being the guy who simply woke up first—like being the first one awake at a friend’s house during a sleepover, sitting there awkwardly, wondering if it’s too early to raid the fridge or turn on the TV.

What does it mean to be “awake”? It’s a word full of many meanings, and context is important. For instance, you’re “awake” right now. You are “not asleep.” You’re reading these words (Unless this is some kind of inception-level dream sequence, in which case, bravo, dear dreamer! Email me; we’ll compare notes). You’re going through the usual motions of daily awakened consciousness: seeing these words, hearing the noises around you, feeling the chair or cushion beneath you, the air in your lungs. If you really dial in, you’ll feel your heart beating in your chest. By the classic definition, you are awake. You are, in this moment, the Awakened One. Years of spiritual seeking? Nailed it.

But the word “awake” can carry us into further abstract realms, where this basic down-to-earth definition just doesn’t satisfy us. We want to be awake in the sense that we “understand” ourselves and the world around us. We crave the wisdom to know how to act and what to do with ourselves in this ever-growing chaotic world. Take a moment to reflect: how many times have you zombied through your day, juggling past regrets, future anxieties, and the hypnotic siren song of your glowing screens?

Glance at your clock now. How much of your day have you been “awake”? If the sudden awareness of what time it actually is and how much of your day is “gone” gives you vertigo, then you’re on the right track. Or maybe you looked at your clock with a great feeling of relief, knowing you have enough time to do all the things you want to do today.

Dagaz thrives in those “aha!” moments, whether it’s the realization that you’ve squandered the afternoon doomscrolling or the euphoric discovery that the night is still young as you laugh with friends. We then make a judgment after being awakened to this temporal fact—having more than enough time, not enough time, thinking, “Jeez, how long did that take me?” or, “Wow, we’re here already?” It’s the aha moment we have every day without even realizing it. It’s that moment when your chosen hypnotic screen presentation ends, and you become aware that it’s nearly midnight, that you have many things to do tomorrow, and that you should, indeed, go to bed. You have just “awakened” to this through the awareness of time in the context of your current situation and orientation within your life.

Dagaz holds within its the mysteries of that “aha” feeling—a moment of revelation that can be profound and moving, or a simple recognition of your spacetime orientation on this particular day. Some of these moments carry with them exhilaration and excitement for where we are and all the time we have left. While others evoke a sense of dread and anxiety about the unknown—how we’ll navigate what lies ahead and whether we’ll manage to get everything done.

The hourglass of infinite light and darkness swirls around, and we are not sure where one begins and the other ends. But in this cosmic meta-labyrinth, where you can hear the clock ticking by, notice yourself. What time is it? How will you judge this moment for yourself? You are awake. And now, what will you do?

AHA! It’s time for a wizard’s lunch.