I’m not much of a religionist, the whole concept, particularly organised religion makes that little voice in the back of my mind ask too many questions.

I was asked to leave midnight mass many years ago when I broke down into a fit of laughter.

Nobody ever did see the funny side, but a married couple two rows ahead of me were giving it the full devout treatment.

He’d been selling her for blow-jobs in the back of one of the pubs two weeks earlier.

Each to their own though, my hypocrisy just doesn’t run that deep and to be clear; I’ve known some very religious people who have been amazing humans and fantastic company.

I’m nowhere near to being an atheist though, I’ve seen some strange stuff and dallied with Hindu gods in my time.

Of Gods and Thunderdogs

Quarantined Dog

I read an awful lot and I walk hundreds of miles a month, the two things combine nicely in my mind, the peace of walking in countryside and woods allows my little brain to make sense of some of the things I’ve read.

I never really think about religion or gods though, not unless something catches my eye or I half-hear something that makes me question what I’ve seen or heard.

And so it was yesterday.

A normal walk, five miles of canals, woods, roads and fields.

And I followed one of the dogs into a little copse that’s usually more enclosed.

To see this tree and the vine on it.

I had a vague notion that it might look like a rune, ran it through an AI and the answer was that it did look like the Algiz Rune.

The runic symbol Algiz (ᛉ) is from the Elder Futhark alphabet.

Algiz, also known as Elhaz, is often interpreted as representing protection, divine connection, or awakening, and its form is visually evocative of a person standing with arms raised in a gesture of defense or invocation, elk antlers, or a stylized tree with branches extending upward.

There’s a load of information here.

https://vikingr.org/magic-symbols/algiz?srsltid=AfmBOopdL3JYDWVHjI-BM98j3FxHxvIQtUgsX6aVIAsg6Sz10SDgUp0N

It’s interesting in its way and the idea of the symbol, once you’ve seen it, can’t be unseen.

I’m sat in the orchard while I write this and I’m sat in the shade of two silver birch trees with my two little protectors – or they’re sat with theirs.

I’m not superstitious, nor a true believer in anything.

I’ve always had a strange affinity with crows (and knives but that’s another story) and if I ever see them, I pay a little more attention to the world, especially if I’m driving. There’s no logical reason for that and it sounds a bit dumb even to me, but it’s hardwired in for some reason.

But this post is about signs.

I saw a tree and vine that made me think about things.

While I’ve been typing this, Spotify has been running a playlist for me.

A song by Mike and the Mechanics has just played, it’s maybe the first time I’ve heard it in ten years.

Silent Running.

‘Take the children and yourself
And hide out in the cellar
By now the fighting will be close at hand
Don’t believe the church and state and everything they tell you
Believe in me, I’m with the high command

Can you hear me?
Can you hear me running?
Can you hear me running? Can you hear me calling you?

There’s a gun and ammunition
Just inside the doorway
Use it only in emergency
Better you should pray to God
The Father and the Spirit
Will guide you and protect you from up here

Swear allegiance to the flag
Whatever flag they offer
Never hint at what you really feel
Teach the children quietly
For someday sons and daughters
Will rise up and fight while we stood still’

I was going to write about the need we all have to identify and protect those we love against evil.

But, you know.

A fucking song.

Anyway.

None of this means anything at all, but I do have something running in the back of my mind right now.

I’ll listen to it.

Oh yeah.

I also bought a T Shirt.