Examining the Bïork rune in 2026

We have now come through the Tyr year, the stark masculine energy, the struggle. The Bïork year is upon us. Berkana, the birch rune, the rune of transformation and rebirth. The softening feminine energy shines through. This is a year of new beginnings. But we must be cautious, what is present in the roots, is what will unfold. Change takes time, but birch trees are fast growing. We can turn things around, letting go of old patterns, causing new ones to take root.

For those of you new to this series, I am using the Rune Poems along with Rune Rasmussen’s Nordic Animist Year to build up a sort of Farmer’s Almanac of what each year will hold for us in a 19 year cycle. I also look at historical events and weather patterns for comparison and as a basis for what may come in this cycle. All of this is experimental. A multi-year project which may or may not have any worth.

I always start with the rune poems. Rune Rasmussen’s book uses the Swedish Rune Poem, but I compare the others as well.

Bïorkahult grönast.

Greenest Birch forest.

Bïorkbrumar frodast i.e. bäst til Wärke.

Birch branches most fertile, I.e. best material for working.

Swedish Rune Poem

We see new growth as an element of this year. We have the opportunity for change if we put in the effort to create it.

Bjarkan er laufgrønstr líma;

Loki bar flærða tíma.

Birch has the greenest leaves of any shrub;

Loki was fortunate in his deceit.

Norwegian Rune Poem

It is interesting Loki gets mentioned here, since he is primarily discussed in Icelandic sources. However, we see that what is catalyzed in this year is dependent on the energy we put into it. We need to exercise caution in what seeds we nurture going forwards.

Beorc byþ bleda leas, bereþ efne swa ðeah

tanas butan tudder, biþ on telgum wlitig,

heah on helme hrysted fægere,

geloden leafum, lyfte getenge.

The poplar bears no fruit; yet without seed it brings forth suckers,

for it is generated from its leaves.

Splendid are its branches and gloriously adorned

its lofty crown which reaches to the skies.

Anglo Saxon Rune Poem

I think it is interesting that the translator reads the tree as Poplar instead of Birch, although both trees are very similar in many aspects, and hold the same feminine energy in my opinion. We see here a repopulating from common roots. We want to make sure these roots are of good stock, so that the new growth is healthy and not diseased. Think creating grassroots movements as catalysts for change, and giving power back to the people. Everyone’s voices matter this year.

Bjarkan er laufgat lim

ok lítit tré

ok ungsamligr viðr.

abies buðlungr.

Birch

leafy twig

and little tree

and fresh young shrub

Icelandic Rune Poem

We need to start small to make change and let it grow. Many small voices coming together is what will eventually take root and reach sunwards.

The next thing I like to look at are historical weather patterns for these years, while I am inclined given the political climate that started this year off with a bang to focus there, for the consistency of this experiment, I want to also interpret what weather implications there are this year for new growth in terms of crops. I look at historical weather data for Sweden as well as Canada. Since there have been a lot of drought conditions in recent years in Canada, it could lead to food scarcity in terms of crops, as well as cattle herd sizes dwindling (and as we know, cattle are symbolic of wealth). Therefore, I want to see if this year predicts a return from food scarcity to abundance.

Immediately I see that Sweden had one of the warmest winters historically in 2007. 1998 featured a very severe snowstorm, this weather coming in off the open sea is described as a “snow cannon” and leads to squalls. There were also snowstorms in the winter of 1969 and 1931.

Looking at Canada, 1988 had a lot of severe weather across the country, including severe thunderstorms and flooding, a hot summer on the prairies and strong Chinook winds affecting the 1988 Calgary Olympics. From this perspective, drought conditions seem likely to continue. 1950 saw Eastern Canada blanketed by forest fire smoke. In 1931 the Canadian prairies were in the thick of the Dust Bowl. From this perspective, continued drought conditions seem likely. That said, 1969, had cyclones, and heavy snowfall, as well as parts of Canada experiencing a deep freeze. In 1950 Winnipeg had a huge flood. Therefore there are some variabilities in potential weather projections. Of course, Canada is quite large, and so this is partially affected by regional variations. For the sake of food related concerns it seems pertinent to focus on the Prairie region, which likely will either experience flooding or drought based on historical doubt. We are looking at extremes that will not be good for food production.

Moving on to the political climate of the Bïork year it seems there is a lot of room for political unrest, but also Bïork years seem to highlight growth in innovations. There is also room for movements helping to stabilize the political climate.

Unrest

2007 - Gaza conflict, growing global mortgage crisis/housing bubble/recession, Virginia Tech shooting

1988 - Pan Am Flight 103 bombing

1969 - Vietnam War

1950 - Korean War, increasing Cold War tensions, Truman push for the H bomb, Red Scare/anti-Socialist and communist sentiments rising, China invades Tibet

1931 - deepening Great Depression due to European banking crisis, rise of Hitler, Japanese aggression in Manchuria

1912 - sinking of the RMS Titanic, the beginning of the First Balkan War (foreshadowing WWI)

1893 - the Panic of 1893 (a major U.S. depression)

Innovations

2007 - Significant Tech/iPhone launch

1988 - resumptions of NASA Space Shuttle flights after Challenger disaster, introduction of Prozac, growing internet popularity

1969 - moon landing (Apollo 11), rise of the Internet (ARPANET)

1950 - discovery of DNA’s structure

1931 - opening of the Empire State Building

1912 - invention of motorized cameras, Fibonacci sequence shapes mathematics

1893 - the opening of the World's Columbian Exposition (Chicago World's Fair) featuring the first Ferris Wheel

Movements

2007 - Myanmar protests, EU expansion, peace in Northern Ireland

1988 - end of Soviet-Afghan War, the rise of Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan, Iran-Iraq ceasefire

1969 - Woodstock, Stonewall riots (LGBTQ+ movement civil rights), end of the Prague Spring

1950 - Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity founding

1931 - Spain becomes a republic, Ådalen demonstration

1912 - establishment of the Republic of China, major labour strikes in the USA, founding of African National Congress (ANC)

1893 - New Zealand grants women the right to vote, Gandhi's first act of civil disobedience in South Africa, the premiere of Dvorak's "New World Symphony," and the first Stanley Cup playoff in hockey

As we can see, whatever the Bïork year brings, will have lasting ripple effects. We can expect this year to be a mixed bag, but what we put into it will continue on over a larger cycle. Therefore, the actions of individuals and small communities matter. Go forth, into the Bïork year and spread your messages. Become the change you want to see. Start movements. Lay down the roots, so that they can grow. While we face struggles, both political and environmental, we can see a way through them. Don't give up.

Previous Years:

2021 - Nöd

https://hearthsidecommunity.blogspot.com/2021/05/examining-naudiz-in-2021.html

2022 - Is

https://hearthsidecommunity.blogspot.com/2022/02/examining-isa-in-2022.html

2023 - Ar

https://hearthsidecommunity.blogspot.com/2023/05/examining-ar-in-2023.html

2024 - Sol

https://hearthsidecommunity.blogspot.com/2024/06/examining-sol-in-2024.html

2025 - Tyr

https://hearthsidecommunity.blogspot.com/2025/01/examining-tyr-rune-in-2025.html

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