The prefix rad for Radh or Raidho comes from the Latin word for spokes of a wheel or radius of a circle and infers moving, motion, travel, spiritual growth and visitor from afar. Raidho means action that energizes change in circumstances, quest for fulfillment and the ever present search for knowledge as well as the ancient idea of magical-ethereal shifts of passing through doors. A shortcut on a journey ends the journey, and Raidho warns that there is no cutting corners or easy way to reach your goals. Similar to the Ace of Swords card, it implies that it was a hard road traveled to get to the promise of a new beginning and is asking you if you are prepared for an ending and the expansion of a new beginning? Raidho is about the experience of the journey and not necessarily the destination while learning lessons along the way, and metaphorically is the spiritual journey undertaken at the same time or aside from the physical trek. Channeling your energy into a combination of physical and spiritual is needed to achieve your goals while setting the stage for right place and right time connections and is association with arrivals, departures and reunions. Raidho is a vector with both a magnitude of movement and a direction. Timing for Raidho can require calculated leaps of faith.

In the inherent cyclic nature of life, your journey and spiritual quest can be arduous that it requires planning, prescience and determination for seamless transitions through the stages of life’s seasons. I chose Sagittarius as the main usher of this rune because it is about aiming your arrow in the right direction for the adventures involved in the journey.

Raidho is akin to the St. Christopher’s Medal of his blessing for the protection of the traveler and can assist in finding lost possessions, settlement of legal ownership and final agreements from long drawn-out negotiations. The rune extends wise counsel from various sources along your journey and governs living in peace with the present and not the depression from remembering the past or the anxiousness associated with looking to the future.

Germanic tribes and Druids worshiped the Oak tree that is associated to Raidho. Oak’s sturdy and dense wood is superior for the construction of ships, and this slow burning wood that emanates immense heat is the chosen wood for the Yule-Tide fires. This King of the Woods tree is famed for strength, endurance and longevity, which symbolizes overcoming obstacles that fall in your path. The word Druid derives from the Sanskrit word Duir that gave rise to the Old English word for door and is perhaps referring to doorways leading to other dimensions. Each door brings a message, so how many doors do you have to open before you reach your goals?

The Oak tree can be the augur of sudden change for its ability to attract lightning at the highest point of its boughs. The Vikings associated Thor with the Oak tree and placed an acorn on their windowsills to protect the house from lightning.

You’re Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz whom meets her amicable companions for each has lessons to teach about intelligence, courage and heart. Change is the only constant that life offers, and you have to be adaptable and open to change in your journey in life. History repeats itself, and you have to learn from these patterns and cadences of life to avoid or welcome such repetitions. Although the journey may lead you to end up where you began, it was worth the effort because you have spiritually grown making hard times become easier from this maturity.

Keywords: Riding, Wheel, Chariot, Transportation, Vehicle, Movement, Journey, Departures, Arrival, Returning, Spiritual Path, Right Direction, Tempo & Rhythm of Life, Growth, Union, Reunion

Associated Tarot Cards: Chariot, Hermit, Wheel of Fortune, Ace of Swords, King of Wands & Knight of Cups

Astrological Signs: Sagittarius & Pisces

Planets: Jupiter & Saturn

Norse God: Odin is the wandering chief god of the Norse

Other Spellings: Rad, Radh, Raidha, Raidho, Raidu, Reda, Reidr, Reidh & Reidth

Pronunciation: Rye-though