# Mannaz

Traditional meaning: man

Meanings when upright:

- balanced partnership
- romantic attachments or marriage
- maintaining one's independence
- healthy cooperation with others
- humanity

Meanings when inverted:

- an enemy
- distrust
- overbearing polymorphic blood
- depression because of hopelessness

Mannaz can be useful for:

- learning/maintaining healthy social boundaries
- increasing one's intelligence/memory/powers

Anglo-Saxon rune poem:

> Man byþ on myrgþe his magan leof:
> sceal þeah anra gehwylc oðrum swican,
> forðum drihten wyle dome sine
> þæt earme flæsc eorþan betæcan.

> The joyous man is dear to his kinsmen;
> yet every man is doomed to fail his fellow,
> since the Lord by his decree will commit the vile carrion to the earth.

Norwegian rune poem:

> Maðr er moldar auki;
> mikil er græip á hauki.

> Man is an augmentation of the dust;
> great is the claw of the hawk.

A modern poem:

> Our cooperation
> enhances our freedom.
> It seems like a paradox, but it's true.
> Think about it: if you come down with the flu
> or a cold or some other illness,
> while you suffer in bed, who will protect you?
> Me, because I am here.
> I will care for you, ensure
> you have what you need.
> If I while hunting or gathering food
> an awful injury suffer,
> who will carry me home?
> Who will tend to my wounds?
> You, with your strong arms
> and our connection sans Veil,
> location always known.
> Come,
> my love,
> let us fill the gaps in each other,
> let us our blind spots cover.
> The strength to do together what neither can alone:
> to carve out a world and maintain a home.