The Fourteenth Rune

Fate
in motion
chance
my destiny

Names - PERTHO - device for casting lots, PEORTH - dice cup, PEORDH - gaming piece

Pronunciations - "per dho" "pee orhd"

Phonetic Value - "P"

Symbolism - The Dice Cup

Keywords - Fate


Pertho is symbolic of the mysteries of the runes and is represented by the a pictographic image of the dice cup.

This pictogram is also thought to be a representation of the womb which is symbolic of the great mystery of life.

In either depiction, this rune is viewed as a container holding the lots of life and therefore Pertho represents the uncertainties of chance which can not be controlled.

However the pieces fall, the player must move boldly taking what is cast and make up for in skill and wisdom any lack in the casting itself.

Phonetically this rune seems to resemble nothing in present day language to link it to either a dice cup or a womb. Don't let this bother you. Human language has changed so much in the intervening years that it would actually be more surprising to find a direct link from "Peorth" to a word with either of the above meanings.

If you absolutely must have a phonetic link to a keyword with a similar present day meaning, try "piece", like a game piece, or a chess piece. This is in no way meant to indicate that these words have similar roots or originations. They probably do not, but, they sound a little alike and they mean something similar enough to (hopefully) trigger a recollection of the deeper meanings of "Peorth".

Those deeper meanings are that this rune contains the mystery of the all the runes just as the womb contains the mystery of life, and from within the dice cup of chance represented by this rune comes luck, or fate, or karma.

It is the rune of the vitki, the one who seeks the mysteries of the cosmos through the understanding of synchronicity.

It is the rune of the warrior who constantly seeks to improve himself by testing his skill against chance and luck.

It is the rune of intuition and understanding through meditation.

It is the stroke of luck that brings gain through sociability and introductions to powerful associates.

Magically it a powerful force when used to invoke luck in action. It is the mystery of luck and life.

Invocations involving Peorth are most suited to those situations when human intervention or action seems unlikely at best and perhaps impossible altogether. Those occasions "left in the hands of fate" are the occasions requiring the influence of Peorth.

In divination it can represent any of the following forces.

PERTHO UPRIGHT:Fate, mystery, hidden things, occult abilities, initiation, destiny, foreknowledge, luck, pertaining to feminine mysteries including female fertility, good lot, good luck,

PERTHO MERKSTAVE: Addiction, stagnation, loneliness, malaise, destiny denied, bad luck, unavoidable difficulties, inauspicious timing, misuse, dishonesty, misfortune.


To Return to the Midnight Moonchild Rune Page, please select the Runes icon to your left. For more detailed information on the meanings of each individual rune, please select the individual Rune icons to your left