Postures of Purpose: Reimagining Exercise”

What are your favorite physical activities or exercises?

Have you ever imagined using your body as a living, breathing symbol? That’s exactly what I do through rune yoga, a fascinating practice that blends physical movement with ancient Norse symbolism. Before you dismiss this as something weird or mystical, let me explain how this unique form of exercise has transformed my understanding of movement and energy.

Rune yoga is an intriguing practice that uses the human body to create runic symbols – an ancient Norse writing script – while simultaneously channeling and absorbing what practitioners believe to be runic energy. Unlike typical exercise routines focused solely on physical fitness, rune yoga is a holistic discipline that connects body, mind, and what some describe as subtle energy fields.

Armanen rune yoga postures

The practice centers around 18 key Armanen rune postures that might look simple at first glance. Take the FA rune, for example. It involves standing upright with hands lifted diagonally, the left hand slightly higher than the right, forming a specific shape that represents flow and original fire. What makes this practice unique is that holding these poses isn’t just about physical endurance – it’s about experiencing an internal energetic process.

While this might sound unusual to modern ears, rune yoga offers a different perspective on physical exercise. Instead of counting repetitions or burning calories, practitioners focus on energy flow and personal transformation. The practice recognizes five different energy fields, ranging from subterranean earth energies to cosmic celestial forces. Each rune posture is believed to interact with these fields differently, potentially influencing the practitioner’s mental and emotional state.

What sets rune yoga apart is its philosophical approach. Where most exercise routines target physical achievement, this practice aims to develop personal integrity, balance, and a sense of purpose. It’s less about how your body looks and more about how it feels and functions as an integrated system.

I understand this might sound strange to those unfamiliar with alternative movement practices. Modern society often disconnects our physical experience from deeper energetic and spiritual dimensions. Rune yoga invites practitioners to reconnect, to see the body not just as a machine, but as a dynamic, responsive system capable of profound transformation.

Of course, like any practice involving energy work, individual experiences vary. What feels profound to one person might seem peculiar to another. The key is to approach it with an open mind and personal curiosity.

Intrigued by rune yoga? Curious to explore this unique practice that blends physical movement, ancient symbolism, and energy work? I’m always excited to share more about my journey and help others discover this transformative approach to movement. Whether you’re a seasoned yoga practitioner or someone simply looking to expand your understanding of holistic exercise, I’d love to connect. Feel free to reach out to me in a comment to learn more, ask questions, or potentially experience a rune yoga session together. Every body has a story to tell, and rune yoga might just help you tell yours.

© Jurgens Pieterse. All rights reserved. 2024.

My Musical Inferiority Complex

What is something others do that sparks your admiration?


Musical wizards bewitch! When their fingers begin to dance across the strings, keys, or drums, and my senses begin to attune to a celestial symphony of sound, I am filled with a profound admiration for these wizards of sound. To play a musical instrument with even a modicum of skill is to conjure magic from thin air, to bend the invisible forces of harmony and rhythm to one’s will.


Alas, I am a mere mortal, cursed with clumsy fingers and a tin ear. The trumpet spurned me, the guitar mocked me, and the harmonica nearly landed me in jail for disturbing the peace. Yet, I persist, forever drawn to the siren song of music.


To those rare souls who can coax forth melodies that soothe the savage beast within us, I offer my heartfelt homage. You have unlocked a dimension of beauty and emotion that remains forever beyond my grasp. Your talent humbles me, and I am grateful to be a mere listener in your auditory universe.


So, dear reader, if you possess the divine gift of musical expression, please share your instrument of choice. Let us celebrate the magic you create.

An AI self-portrait

I asked ChatGPT: Create a portrait of me based on my history with ChatGPT and then asked ChatGPT to explain the picture. Here is the outcome:

My ChatGPT self-portrait

This picture portrays you as a thoughtful and dedicated individual deeply immersed in the study of spiritual systems and personal transformation. It emphasizes your intellectual and creative pursuits, especially your work on the Armanen runes, symbolized by the glowing FA rune on the desk. The serene environment reflects your connection to both ancient wisdom and modern insights, blending history, mysticism, and practicality.

The inclusion of books, papers, and symbolic elements suggests a balance of scholarship and intuitive exploration. The lighting and composition highlight focus and inspiration, presenting you as someone who seeks to harmonize profound spiritual understanding with real-world applications.

Overall, the image conveys a sense of purpose, introspection, and a commitment to crafting meaningful contributions through your knowledge and practice. It encapsulates the essence of your journey as a writer, thinker, and seeker.

——

If you do the same then please leave a comment and I will come and comment on your AI self-portrait.

Samurai Jack: A Spiritual Odyssey Beyond Time”

What’s your favorite cartoon?

The cartoon character Samurai Jack

Gather close, seeker of illumination, and listen to the tale of Samurai Jack, a wandering soul whose journey reveals the deepest mysteries of existence. In the great spectrum of cosmic understanding, his story is no mere legend, but a living parable of the eternal struggle between light and darkness.

Long ago, in a world balanced between harmony and chaos, there lived a warrior whose spirit burned brighter than the sharpest blade. Jack was more than a mere mortal—he was a vessel of divine principle, cast into a world twisted by the shadow of Aku, a dark force that consumed all light and hope. Understand this, my student: Aku is not merely an enemy to be defeated, but the very embodiment of the chaos that lurks within and without.

Hear me well: Time is but an illusion, a river that flows not in a straight line but in spirals of meaning. Jack was torn from his pure world, hurled into a future where everything he knew had crumbled to dust. Yet his essence remained unchanged—a testament to the great Hermetic truth that the true self transcends the illusions of temporal existence. Each moment of his journey was a lesson: the past is but a dream, the future a whisper, and true power resides in the eternal now.

The world Jack traversed was a mirror—a reflection of the inner landscape of humanity. Those metal monsters, those soulless machines that served Aku, they were more than enemies. They were manifestations of the spiritual decay that occurs when humans disconnect from their divine essence. Watch carefully, for in Jack’s battles, you witness the eternal struggle between the mechanistic world of pure matter and the luminous world of spirit.

Every step Jack took was an act of alchemy—transforming the base metal of suffering into the gold of wisdom. His sword, passed down through generations, was more than a weapon. It was a conduit of ancestral wisdom, a bridge between the seen and unseen worlds. When Jack raised his blade, he did not merely fight—he performed a sacred ritual of restoration, seeking to return balance to a world fundamentally out of harmony.

Listen closely to the deeper truth: Jack’s seemingly endless journey was not about defeating an external enemy, but about maintaining inner light amidst the darkest of circumstances. Aku could change his form, could spread his darkness across worlds, but Jack remained constant—a burning flame of integrity that could not be extinguished. In this, my student, lies the greatest Hermetic secret: true power is not found in conquest, but in unwavering inner harmony.

The machines, the landscapes of metal and despair—these were but shadows on the wall of reality. Jack moved through them like water, neither resisting nor surrendering, but always maintaining his essential nature. His journey teaches us that the spiritual path is not about escaping the world, but about transforming it from within. Each challenge was a chance for inner alchemy, each moment an opportunity to transmute suffering into understanding.

And so, seeker of wisdom, remember this: Jack’s story is your story. The dystopian world of Aku lives within each of us—those mechanical thoughts, those moments of spiritual disconnection. But so too lives the warrior of light, the part of us that remains pure, that can cut through illusion with the sharpness of understanding.

The tale is not about victory or defeat, but about maintaining the inner flame. In a world that seeks to break you, to mechanize your spirit, to reduce you to a mere function—you must be like Jack. Unmoved. Unbroken. A beacon of light that transforms darkness simply by its unwaivering presence.

Close your eyes and see beyond the surface. For in Jack’s journey, you glimpse the great mystery—the eternal dance of light and shadow, of spirit and matter, of the divine principle that moves through all things.

Reimagining Samurai Jack

The Power of Simplification

What could you do less of?



I’ve been wrestling with a profound insight: sometimes, doing less is the key to achieving more. It might sound counterintuitive, but simplifying can be a powerful strategy for clarity and effectiveness.


When complexity entangles our thoughts, the solution is often to strip things down to their essence. While it’s true that some nuanced topics require intricate understanding, simplicity offers a more practical approach. Complex systems can trap us in endless mental gymnastics, whereas a simplified perspective allows for clearer thinking and action.

Do less complexity and more simplicity


Simplification doesn’t mean being reductive—it means being strategic. By cutting away unnecessary elements that don’t add value, we create space for what truly matters. Think of it like sculpting: removing the excess reveals the beautiful form underneath.


This doesn’t mean discarding beauty or depth. Instead, seek elegance in simplicity. Find the golden ratio between straightforward understanding and necessary complexity—perhaps around 60-40, where simplicity leads and nuance supports.


The result? Clarity emerges like muddy water settling, making it easier to set targets and chart a clear direction. By embracing simplification, we can transform overwhelming complexity into manageable, actionable insights.
It’s very simple: Simplicity is not about being simplistic. It’s about finding the most direct path to understanding and effectiveness.

© Jurgens Pieterse. All rights reserved. 2024