Runes & nazi's

[velvet]

Hey all..

I was just looking up some info on runes on the internet and a lot of pages about nazi's came up. They used a lot of runes and rune-like symbols during worldwar2 and still a lot of extreme right-wing rascist use these symbols nowadays. Ofcourse, this was not what I was looking for. It's too bad that symbols get abused for hatefull stuff (like the swastika) or are associated with evil (like the pentagram).

Do you ever think of the symbols you use and what they might mean to other people? Does it effect the way you deal with them (not wear them in public, having a dislike for some in spells because of their association etc.)?

Just curious how you're feeling about it..

[BlackBillBlake]

Probably symbols only have the meaning invested in them by those who use them. The NAZIs used the swastika as their main emblem - an ancient Hindu symbol still found all over India to-day.

[velvet]

*duh* :P

But would you wear a swastika on a tshirt if you felt very attracked to the hindu symbolism? Or would you feel too uncomfortable since it has a different meaning to lots of other people and they might be offended?

[BlackBillBlake]

*duh* :P

But would you wear a swastika on a tshirt if you felt very attracked to the hindu symbolism? Or would you feel too uncomfortable since it has a different meaning to lots of other people and they might be offended?
I wouln't personally wear a tee shirt with any symbol on it. There is obviously a negative connotation with the swastika, as it has come to represent the NAZIs. This is because, as I said, symbols have no independent meaning but only what we attach to them. Ultimately, all symbolism is probably something to be transcended. Direct seeing is on a far higher level, and also, symbolism can be a maze in which people get lost, or believe the symbol to be the thing it stands for.

[Pharoah]

I have a tapestry with swasticas all around the border (its a Buddhist tapestry) It also has the OM and suns in the middle. I have had a friend or 2 comment something like, "whats up with the swasticas?" or "You know you have swasticas on your curtain right?" I just explain to them what the meaning is. It doesnt look like the Nazi swastica. But just the symbol alone represents so much. It sucks that it has been abused and now represents fear and hatred to so many people.

I think the Nazis adopted it due to the thinking that they where the desendants of Atlantis, and this was believed to be used in that culture.
This is an interesting page;
www.thecyberfarm.com/otherstuff/ swastika/swastikahome.htm

I was watching the PBS show (just last night)on how the Nazis came to power and it was very interesting. It brought to light why people followed Hitler so religiously. And how today the very same thing could happen again if we all get caught up in our own agendas.

For me the Swastica is about a symbol that lets people not forget the evil that may come of seemingly good intentions.
More intersting info
www.tribwatch.com/nazi.htm (http://www.tribwatch.com/nazi.htm)

For over 3,000 years the Swastica was a symbol of good luck and life, since the early 1900s' it has become a symbole of death and hate. It feels to me to be an extreme version of the yin yang symbol. From so many people it brings on different responses.

Did you see the show?

another site on swasticas...
www.hostultra.com/~Exidor/Swastika/Swastika.html

[steffan]

Probably symbols only have the meaning invested in them by those who use them. The NAZIs used the swastika as their main emblem - an ancient Hindu symbol still found all over India to-day. it is sigel twice, and its farrr older than india or in the hymalayas were its its been very commanly used for untold millenia,
i should also point out that hilters crew basterdized its meaning, so if you see it on a tattoo or somewere please dont assume there nazis,

[cerridwen]

I didn't know rune symbols were used that way...

I don't think it'd affect my purpose or use of them though... I know what my intentions are when I use certain objects, regardless of more modern negative connentations...

[BlackBillBlake]

it is sigel twice, and its farrr older than india or in the hymalayas were its its been very commanly used for untold millenia,
i should also point out that hilters crew basterdized its meaning, so if you see it on a tattoo or somewere please dont assume there nazis,
I don't know what you mean about far older than India. Do you mean the modern state, one of the ancient civilizations, or the land mass of the sub-continent itself?
I doubt that here in the west there would be many who weren't Nazis or simply 'heavies who would get a swastika tatoo.
I don't actually attach much value to symbolism myself anyway.

[steffan]

next time look up asatru
and i ment the culture,

[rain_in_summer]

If at all, I would use runes that feel right to me.
And if I see a swastica I think of Nazis, no matter whether it's an ancient sun symbol or not. It may not be the case for others, but I personally find all symbols I connect with Nazis directly disgusting. It's a pity, but I can't change it.
Besides, wearing a swastica is out of question for me anyway, as it is forbidden in Germany, like some other runes and symbols. :p

[cerridwen]

I think in general we need to educate ourselves a little with what the true meanings of things are, so we can better understand how history has twisted their negative spin on it.

[The Flow]

If you come to a scandinavian country, like Norway or Sweden, or even better: Iceland, you´ll find out, that runes still are a quite normal part of the living there (as well as pagan practices).
As well: if you should ever visit India, watch out for the swastika, you´ll find it everywhere!
I guess, a symbol is always what you make out of it. Don´t feel disturbed, only because some small-brain idiots have misused (your) sacred symbols more than half a century ago.
B.t.w.: remember, that the main christian symbol, the cross, originally was an instrument, used by the Romans to torture and kill people (the change of a symbol´s meaning can also go into the other direction...).

[Kiz]

The "swastika" is a sun symbol going right back to Neolithic (cave man) times. The hallristningar carvings are very early indeed. It is my understanding that the Nazi's took their swastika from early Germanic Neolithic carvings, not from Indian society as some people commonly misinterpret it as being. I see swastikas quite a lot, but then, I am heavily into asiatic art. It is still a very common buddhist symbol. I would not use them myself as they do not speak to me as a sun symbol, but I do agree with the above poster - why let a bunch of bigoted idiots change a symbol that has been sacred to many cultures for millenia, just because they have used it for a few decades?

The SS double S symbol is directly from Sigel/Sowelu, another sun symbol. Yes, the Nazis did use runes in their propaganda. No, I would not let this stop me from using them, I like runes. They are part of my heritage. (I am half Danish)

[Meagain]

Many symbols are universal to mankind, I think Jung was into this. There are sites on the net somewhere that allows you to enter any symbol by describing it or by nameing and it gives you a very nice explaination...but I forget where it is.




One variation of the cross is the swastika. Swastikais a Sanskrit word meaning "well-being" or "auspicious," and there are said to be seven keys to its inner meaning. This symbol is found in India, China, Tibet, Thailand, Japan, the Americas, Greece, Rome, and among early Christians. In Scandinavia it was known as Thor's Hammer; in India as Vishnu's discus or as the Jaina cross; in Buddhism it is a "wheel" denoting eternal motion and stands for evolution. Representing spirit-matter, its central point is the god principle, and its four arms represent in succession birth, life, death, and immortality.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika....more) ...more stuff.

You have to watch useing symbols as most people are shockingly ignorant of everything and will form opinions on the slimest of evidence. I would think if the swastika is displayed in context with other cultural artifacts, you can get away with it. For example, on an obviously Buddhist painting, or an American indian teepee.
Otherwise forget it.

[Archemetis]

what swastica the nazis used was inverted or reversed to reverse the meaning.

[Xac]

i really like the swastika (hate the nazi background) i like the cross and the star of david all cool symols, but for many the Swastika will ALWAYS be a sign of evil and i can understand and respect that.