Can I get your input on what this could mean to you?
I love Havamal, one of my favourite wisdom texts.
here's my attempt for line-by-line:
I counsel thee, Stray-Singer, accept my counsels,
(singer means skald/bard, but also the connotation here is magician)
they will be thy boon if thou obey'st them,
(will bring good things to you if followed blindly)
they will work thy weal if thou win'st them:
(however, if you become worthy of them and truly understand then they will bring happiness to all)
when ale thou quaffest, call upon earth's might --
'tis earth drinks in the floods.
(earth can soak water, but the concept of earth is the solidity and strength required to weather a clouded mind)
Earth prevails o'er drink, but fire o'er sickness,
(fire cleans, fire destroys that which is poisonous, direct action cuts sickness free)
the oak o'er binding, the earcorn o'er witchcraft,
(oak is solid, strong, unmoved, and yet grows tall for a small seed. growth defeats binding)
(corn is sustenance, the bounty of nature, tended carefully it can bring life. hard work and natural law defeats unnatural affliction)
the rye spur o'er rupture, the moon o'er rages,
(rye spur is ergot, the hallucinogenic poisonous fungus. not sure about this one)
(the moon is unaffected by all earthly things, and shines on all. Although it changes, it cycles regularly. also represents insight.)
herb o'er cattle plagues, runes o'er harm.
(herb is knowledge, lore, medicine. even unstoppable seeming dangers can be overcome with knowledge and understanding)
(runes are language, communication, the magic of names, the mind. All fear and pain exists within the mind, mastery of the self and the minds of others defeats all harm)
Overall, this stanza is about the natural world, and the way that all human struggles are inconsequential in the face of nature. However, understanding the
Dao of nature (forgive my language here haha) can produce change and defeat any obstacle in human life.
