Kenaz                                                            “torch” / “fire”

                                                                           Element: Fire                                     Herb: Cowslip

                                                                           Astrological: Venus                         Tree: Pine

                                                                           Color: Light Red                               Crystal:
Bloodstone

Kenaz: (Keh-nahz)

Literally: “Torch”

Key Concepts: torch as a
symbol of knowledge and intellect, illumination, searching for enlightenment,
shedding light on matters, quest for truth, skills and abilities, creativity,
art, craftsmanship, cunning, acquisition and application of knowledge, intuition,
enthusiasm in teaching/learning, study, opportunity, playfulness

Psi: observation, clarity of thought,
cognitive faculties, humility

Energy: Controlled energy, transformation
(phoenix fire), teaching/learning dynamic, illumination

Governs:
          -Creative inspiration, enthusiasm for learning
          -Exploration of paradigms in the search for truth
          -Exposing the hidden to gain new knowledge, especially through study, reflection
and new information
          -Strengthening of abilities in all realms
          -The light within, the observer

Element: Fire’s direction is
south; illuminating magic

Astrological: Venus is associated
with Libra (Sep.23-Oct.22) and Taurus (Apr.20-May.20)

Herb: Holding a feminine
nature, connotation with water, and strong under Venus, cowslip has the
abilities of youthfulness, healing, and treasure finding. Cowslip is a member
of the primrose family and prefers to grow as a wildflower in open meadows; it
is also referred to as “the key flower” which is known to bring happiness and
love.

Tree: Like other evergreen
trees, Pine is associated with immortality. More importantly, it holds powerful
cleansing abilities; used to purify ritual spaces and general magical
cleansing. Pine has also been called “the sweetest of woods”.

Crystal: Bloodstones are
powerful purifiers of both the physical, spiritual, and magical nature.
Additionally, it is a bringer of change and circulation. Besides being a symbol
of justice, it provides grounding and calming qualities.

       Kenaz symbolizes the control and
harnessing of fire for warmth and illumination. It represents our having
harnessed forces and energies greater than ourselves. Where Thuriaz is the
creation of tools, Kenaz speaks to their skillful use. It signifies the mystery
of transformation and our power to create as nature does. Ancestrally, we each
must carry our own torch, creating a path of light that flows through the
darkness. These torches are never extinguished, and can be used as signposts in
the navigation of the ancestral stream, and to acquire the knowledge and tools from
our ancestry represented within Ansuz that are
rightfully ours to use in the present lifetime. Kenaz is like a torch lit
library, and the energy is clearly filled with unlimited potential to learn and
to map. Sometimes a good deal of digging around is necessary to uncover the
knowledge that will help. Do not forget that the map is not the territory, as
Kenaz represents the acquisition of knowledge, not the knowledge itself. Not
truth, but the search for truth.