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Jennifer's Alternative Religions Blog

By Jennifer Emick, About.com Guide to Alternative Religions since 2002

Reader Question, Cult Quibbles

Wednesday March 9, 2005

Reader Koen writes:
I am desperately seeking for the meaning of Björk's tattoo, see picture.



This image is a Norse "bind-rune." A bind rune is a runic charm or magical spell made by combining runic alphabet characters to arrive at desired numbers or meanings. A spoked design of this type is called a "rune compass," or a "Helm of Awe," and was a Viking charm usually used for protection or to enhance personal power, to create invisibility, etc.. The specific runes chosen for the wheel probably have personal significance to Björk.

You can see a basic spoked rune (The Helm of Awe) here, or more about the runic alphabet here.

Self described cult expert Rick Ross and Ross-described "Cult" Church Order of Christ/Sophia are sniping again- mostly, it seems, because some people abandon their everyday lives when joining the order. Rick doesn't seem too concerned about Catholic convents and monasteries, however. Now, I don't mind that there's someone keeping an eye on some of these groups, but not speaking to Mom and Dad after an unpopular religious conversions is so, wel, common. Let's get some perspective. On a related note, here's an LA reporter amusing himself by visiting Scientology and Kabbalah Centers.<BR>

Comments

March 6, 2008 at 3:40 pm
(1) ste says:

it a runeic compas to prevent getting lost!

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