Kenaz stands for willed change and transformation.
Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem
Cen byþ cwicera gehwam, cuþ on fyre
blac ond beorhtlic, byrneþ oftust
ðær hi æþelingas inne restaþ.
Torch is to every living person known by its fire,
it is clear and bright and it usually burns
when the athlings rest inside the hall.
Norwegian Rune Poem
Kaun er barna bölvan;
böl görver nán fölvan.
Sore is the curse of children;
grief makes a man pale.
Icelandic Rune Poem
Kaun er barna böl
ok bardaga för
ok holdfúa hús.
Sore is the bale of children,
and a scourge,
and the house of rotten flesh.
Kenaz is represented by the torch or, in its harmful aspect, by the sore or inflammation, a painful thing that burns inwardly instead of outwardly. Now the torch is the symbol of controlled fire. Fire has been around far longer than we have and for a long time was completely uncontrollable for our distant Ancestors. Once our species had acquired the torch they had mastered this former threat and were able to use it to their advantage. This was one of the most essential steps in the evolution of mankind as now a whole array of food became available that was indigestible before. Predators could be kept at bay during the night by lighting a fire at the entrance of a cave and it even offered a fighting chance against the very dangerous wildfires that could now be fought by lighting a counter-fire.
If handled carelessly though, fire was still very dangerous and could harm or even kill. This is demonstrated by calling Kenaz a sore, something that brings pain, misery and death to the incompetent children that don’t know how to handle it as of yet.
Kenaz is the most important Rune in regards to willed Self-transformation. Controlled fire can be used to burn away unwanted thoughts and behaviors but it has to be handled with care as fire is something that always wants to expand and if it is no longer under willed control it can do immense damage.