Riding is joy of the rider
And a speedy journey
and the labor of the horse
Continuing our series examining modern pagan practice via the Elder Futhark, we move on to the fifth rune, Raidho. As usual, the rune-poem above provides a starting place.
The theme of Raidho is very obvious - this is all about travelling the world and the joys and challenges of the road. There is also a significant focus on the means of travel, which back in the day would have been an animal such as a horse or a wagon of some kind. That leads to three obvious issues to look at for modern folks: Why bother travelling in the first place, how to value the experience of getting there, and what tools we use to make the journey.
There are basically two places we can travel to: The familiar, and the unfamiliar. Travelling to the familiar is important, and common. We go to work, to school, to homes, to the homes of family and friends, and so forth. While this is undoubtedly useful for seeing people we need to see, and doing work we need to do, it is also not really pushing our boundaries in any significant way. However, travelling to the unfamiliar allows us to have new experiences that we would not have had if we had simply stayed where we were.
When picking out unfamiliar places to go, there are obviously many options, but they generally can fall into a few categories:
It is vitally important to travel to places where you are going to find something you like. If you don't really like cities, don't expect to find much value in travelling to Manhatten.
So now that we know where it is we are trying to get to, the next step is to figure out how we're getting there. In modern times, it's not likely that we'll be riding a horse or wagon to get around anymore. Instead, our options amount to planes, trains, buses, trucks, cars, motorcycles, and bicycles.
Being neo-pagans who love nature, it's worth looking at the environmental impact of each of these different ways of moving. The easiest thing to look at is carbon footprint: By that standard, bicycles are the best way to get around, followed by public transit options like trains, planes and busses in that order, followed by personal vehicles, where smaller is better. The numbers change significantly, of course, if more than one person is crammed into a vehicle, or if there is a lot of stuff as well as people to move.
Unfortunately, the challenge is that many of the destinations pagans are trying to get do are not those with strong public transit service, and bicycles are frequently impractical due to cargo and distance. For example, a typical pagan festival happens out in a rural area, which means that public transit alone won't get you there. That typically means that cars or trucks will have to be used. To minimize mishaps and environmental damage, you'll need to take good care of those vehicles if you own them, and aim for the minimum gas mileage that you can afford, and reduce the size and weight of the stuff you are taking with you to the best of your ability. You should be thinking about how much comfort you really need for a weekend getaway, for example - a simple tent will probably leave you comfortable enough, and do you really want to spend the entire time in your tent anyways?
So now that we know where we're going, and how we're going to get there, the next part is to get moving. But how do you enjoy the trip?
The answer is really simple: treat the travelling portion as just as much a part of your trip, if not more, as getting to your destination. Give yourself extra time when travelling for pleasure, and don't be afraid to stop and savor where you are while you are on the way. Also, try to pick ways of getting there that will allow you to be comfortable and happy: If you're the gregarious sort, find friends to bring along. If you prefer alone time, then aim to travel alone. Add extra pillows. Claim the exit rows. Bring games to play. Consider options that might be slower but more fun, like a long-distance train trip rather than cramming into the airplane with barely an inch of room to move.
And if it's a long trip, find someone or somewhere to visit along the way. Even if it's totally silly, like the Biggest Ball of Twine. Those landmarks can help you remember that it's not all about getting there, because while you're getting there there's a whole lot of here's worth seeing.
The only real alternative to travelling is becoming a shut-in. The problem with that is that you cannot experience the sheer joy and beauty the world has to offer. Even relative introverts would do well to hit the road periodically and see what you can find out there.
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