And so we arrive at Journey Nine. It feels like such a long haul already and we’re not even halfway through. Honestly, I’m just glad to even get this far given everything going on right now. However, I wanted to make sure I meet with Straif this week as it’s an appropriate time to continue journeys as the weather slowly begins to turn nice, I’ve gotten good news that brings a close some medical issues, and I’ve had a full spiritual house cleansing that has cleared out a lot of unwanted energies. I find Straif emergence and communion with me at this time awakening. The word sacrifice has been on my mind for awhile, and it keeps coming up over and over again, and with it, I’ve felt the keenness of that in my own life. I’ve been making constant sacrifice in the last few weeks, and I’ve been tested, sometimes failing, sometimes meeting the need. Straif is also a battle cry in my mind, as I go to war to survive my own mind and my own body. However, I must also realize I can’t battle myself always, I must find a communion with myself, and meet myself half way. Straif also witnesses this. Thus, we meet him.

Attributes and Associations

Straif. Straith. STRAYF. Straif means Blackthorn. the original phonetic value is uncertain, but it may have been st, ts or sw. The medieval manuscript tradition transcribes it with Latin Z.

The probable meaning of the name is “sulfur”. The first two kennings could be explained by the main use of sulfur as dye, and its alchemical significance, respectively. The third kenning could be a corruption of saiget nél “arrow of the clouds”, i.e. sraibtine “lightning”. An alternative kenning has aire srábae “chief of streams”, and those referring to the “Tree Alphabet” base an identification with draigen “blackthorn” on this, by thinking of a “hedge on a river”. The “chief of streams” kenning may be referring to sulphur by reference to a stream of brimstone, sruth sruibhe.

The briatharogam kennings refer to three possible meanings, tressam rúamnai “strongest reddening”, mórad rún “increase of secrets”, and saigid nél “seeking of clouds”. The main associations are authority, control, conflict, difficulty, protection, truth, and strength. The closest patron deity I feel for Straif is the Dagda, but there are many others. He is our first male spirit that has come to me from the Ogham, and faeries follow him.

I feel I could go on and on about Straif, there is actually a lot of information about him, and seems to be one of the better known Ogham. So I’ll try my best to summarize the important aspects. As a symbol of authority and control, the Blackthorn is connected to strength and triumph over adversity. Blackthorn is a tree or shrub of winter, and its berries only ripen after the first frost. White flowers appear in the spring, and the bark is black and thorny. Oftentimes you’ll see blackthorn used in the making of the Irish Shillelaghs, a tool of might. The berries upon the blackthorn tree are known as Sloe berries, where Sloe gin comes from, and is used as a tonic for digestive issues. As blackthorn is a plant that flourishes when all else is dying, it’s associations are also a harken to dark times, and thus Straif finds himself in the company of the Cailleach and even the Morrigan, for its association with the death of warriors.

Other associations are issues hidden in disguise, damaging payment, blood, new secrets, painful experiences, wounds, surgery, and war. Although many of Straif’s association can be seen as negative, it can also be a clear call to action against these experiences.

The Contract

Straif comes to my door and asks me to open it. I know once I pull that door open what will happen. I fear what I will see, I fear what I must confront. It is my choice to open that door. Straif knocks loudly and clearly, but not with malice. I stand silent and still, with my hand upon the doorknob. I am both resisting the action, and not turning away. I know if I do not open the door my life will go on, but I will not move forward. If I open the door I am accepting everything that is happening and must take action. Straif continues knocking.

Straif calls us to action, but does not force our hand. He warns us what is coming and does not gloss over the facts of pain and damage that may be associated with it. “It is what it is.” is a phrase of Straif. He tells us to always expect the unexpected, especially when change beckons. No plans can stand in the way of these changes. External forces are working either against or for us, and we must meet them, no matter our foreknowledge. New journeys are on the horizon, and it doesn’t matter if we’ve already begun another path. These obstacles will alter us, but also give us strength. Life-changing, revealing, the mighty and the bloody, the door must be opened to continue.

The other face of Straif also speaks to pain and misery hidden in the guise of “goodness”. Events and situations that may seem fine and good paths to take on the surface may lead us to wounds and damage we did not see. Tread carefully. Thorns are under those pretty flowers and berries. This may also be an indication that secrets may be forming in situations and they must be addressed. Sometimes Straif may even beg indicating we need magical protection from something or someone that may be attempting to control our path.

Straif is a herald of war. We can find strength and immense power in the call of Straif, but he will exact a price, and as we fight these wars we will rarely come out unscarred. There are symbolic or real sacrifices to be made, and Straif does not make compromises, you either work with him or against him. If you do not walk with sure footing, if you do not stand with certainty, it is perhaps best to find another path, and leave the door closed for a time. It is your own will, it is by your own hand that you turn or let Straif within.

This week’s drawing is Luis.