Tiwaz is the Rune of the God Tyr.
Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem
Tir biþ tacna sum, healdeð trywa wel
wiþ æþelingas; a biþ on færylde
ofer nihta genipu, næfre swiceþ.
Tyr is a star, it keeps faith well
with athlings, always on its course
over the mists of night, it never fails.
Norwegian Rune Poem
Týr er æinendr ása;
opt værðr smiðr blása.
Tiw is the one-handed member of the Aesir;
often has the smith to blow.
Icelandic Rune Poem
Týr er einhendr áss
ok ulfs leifar
ok hofa hilmir.
Tyr is the one-handed As
and leavings of the wolf
and king of temples.
Here we enter the realm of the God’s, as Tyr is not a word but simply the name of a Norse God. Contemporary research suggests that Tyr used to be the supreme God of the Germanic pantheon until he was displaced by Odin. This process is thought to have taken place not long before the Germanic peoples entered into recorded history. At that time, he had already lost many important functions but we know from a few sources that he was still seen as the ruler of the Thing.
The Thing was the assembly of the male members of a tribe where the tribe’s laws were read out loud (a certain portion at every event, overregulation is not a purely modern problem) and where quarreling parties could present their cases in front of a board of judges. This was also the place, where the people voted on new laws and other decisions that had to be made that affected the whole community. So Tyr was associated with righteousness, honesty and loyalty, characteristics that are also reflected in the story about how Tyr lost his hand to the wolf Fenrir that is referenced in two of the three Rune Poems.
Tiwaz embodies these characteristics and therefore can be used to enhance them within ourselves and is very helpful in finding the most honorable solution in difficult situations. Said solution sometimes isn’t perfect though and often comes with a price as we can see in the story about how Tyr lost his hand. The Rune is also one that can give us courage and help us to face real life difficulties without being overwhelmed by them. As the Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem shows Tyr is also a God that stays his course and can therefore offer guidance when things get heated and out of control.