Hagalaz opens the line of the so-called three great runes of delay (Hagalaz, Nauthiz, Isa). I deliberately start talking about them on Tuesday, so as not to start the week with them. All three runes have not too favorable energy. Although in them you can find something positive, because in reality there is no good or bad energy, and sometimes it is our assessment of something as good or bad..
As well as Gebo, Hagalaz has no inverted position. I will remind you that the interpretation of runes that do not have an inverted position is differ from the interpretation of runes, which have it. Such runes do not give a direct answer "yes" in direct position or "no" in inverted position. They rather say: "If you take my advice, everything will be fine/not too bad, and if not, then there will be troubles or no success".
Hagalaz means hail (in different versions: late Scandinavian, British and Gothic - Hagl). "Hag" is also called the casting-mourner, who is in the image of a woman with crow's wings. It was believed that if Hag knocked at the window of a house, then someone from the inhabitants of this house would die.
Hagalaz carries the energy of explosion, destruction. The explosion in this case should be understood widely: a natural, emotional, social explosion. In more physical terms can mean an accident, a literal explosion. And the straight Hagalaz means that this explosion will happen unexpectedly, when nothing foreshadowed it. The situation is complicated by the fact that the "explosion" can occur in a completely different sphere than the one about which you are asking, but will certainly have influence on it and will be associated with it.
So, for example, you want to leave your job and runes answer: "Hagalaz". What does it mean? In a more transparent version, this means that you will be fired with scandal and trouble, even if nothing foretells such a development of events.
The second version, when the dismissal itself will pass quietly, but then there will be an event that, in conjunction with your dismissal, will make the situation very difficult (for example, money will urgently be needed to solve some problems).
The most unpleasant moment with regard to direct Hagalaz is unpredictability, it can not be calculated, you do not expect an explosion that it carries. The energy of Hagalaz is well described in catastrophe theory when the accumulated errors lead to the instability of the system in such a way that even a minor impact can destroy it and plunge it into a state of primordial chaos. A good example in this case is an avalanche in the mountains.
The positivity of Hagalaz energy is that it destroys the system in which a critical mass of errors has accumulated. Negativity of this energy lies in the fact that it will destroy everything - both wrong and right, dead and alive. I can not help comparing the energy of Hagalaz with the energy of the Tarot Major Arcana the Tower. The energy of the Tower also destroys, but it only destroys the dead.
The main advice that the straight Hagalaz gives us, to stop, not to take any action, to wait.
Of any rule there are exceptions. Sometimes Hagalaz, on the contrary, can help "break through" the previously unsolvable situation. It's like "blowing up" an obstacle that blocks your path to the goal. But it should be remembered that this is a very rare aspect and it is difficult to recognize it. In this case I do not in any way recommend that you draw Hagalaz in order to get such help from it.
Hagalaz also can mean the destruction of illusions.
Hidden Hagalaz is more favorable. It does not carry an unexpected explosion. You see that the situation is aggravated and an explosion may follow. It's like if you watch an abscess. If you take action immediately, you can still fix it. For example, you see that your boss is dissatisfied with your work. Immediately begin to act: no delays, non-working phone calls, smoke breaks! Concentration and responsibility - and you have a chance to avoid an explosion.
Background Hagalaz can be described as a series of troubles, a dark streak in life. Every day you get into unpleasant situations.
The inadequacy of the hidden Hagalaz increases dramatically if a person takes an "ostrich position" and does not want to see the obvious.