Berkano
Berkano is the eighteenth rune, sound “b.” Literally “birch”; a rune of the feminine principle and of growth.
Upright Position
Birth, growth, care. Berkano means something new that appears quietly and grows gradually: a child, a project, a home, recovering your strength. The rune is favorable for anything that needs nurturing and unsuited to quick undertakings. It often points to family, a mother, a feminine influence.
Reversed Position
An obstacle to growth: stagnation in the family, health problems, a venture that doesn’t bear fruit. A reversed Berkano also speaks of excessive care that hinders the person being cared for.
In love and at work
In relationships, the upright rune means family, home, pregnancy, calm intimacy; reversed, it means domestic problems and smothering care. At work — gradual growth, working with people, looking after a team.
The rune’s advice
Let the matter grow gradually and look after it without rushing it. Nurture in moderation: care should not smother.