Elhaz has an alternative name, "Algiz," which means "protection," which is indeed one of the meanings of this Rune. The Gothic letter corresponding to Elhaz went by the name "Algis." Others include deer other than moose, hunting (what humans usually do to deer), hallowing (Elhaz is commonly used to ward/bless sacred space prior to a blot), anything regal (think of the dignity of a stag, or the fact that all the deer in England once belonged to the king), honour, and grandeur.The only surviving verse for this Rune is from the Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem, since Elhaz did not carry over into the Younger Futhark. The verse names this Rune "Eolh-Secg" = "Elk-Sedge" and refers to how sharp the leaves of this plant are. This ties in, of course to the Rune's protective aspects. Sedges grow in marshy places, and moose are particularly fond of grazing on plants that grow there. Thus elk-sedge is, among other things, moose-chow! It is interesting that the Anglo-Saxons remembered this long after moving to mooseless England!
The Sheils ascribe the protective function of Elhaz to its fire/solar connections. They mention that antlered beasties are traditionally seen as symbolic of fire and the sun. Though Elhaz, Sowilo (the Sun-Rune) takes form in Midgard (our world). Elhaz creates a circle of protective white and blue light. Remember that unlike most traditions, the Sun is seen as feminine in the Norse tradition. The Northern sun is a gentle, warming, life giving force quite unlike the harsher effects of the sun further south! Quick theology lesson: it is NOT a question of the Norse being right and the Greeks and Romans being wrong! The sun and moon both have both masculine and feminine energies. Due to factors of climate, culture, etc., some cultures picked up on one instead of the other. Elhaz is the male pole of solar energy. Only male deer (with the exception of reindeer) have antlers! Frey is definitely a solar God. It is perhaps not coincidental that he fights with an antler at the Ragnarok. Elhaz can indicate that you need to be on your guard, but can also mean that a means of protection is at hand....read more...
