The name of the first Rune comes from the name of the Aett, Hagalaz. What can we expect from Hagalaz? Let's see how it looks. Roughly it is shaped like an H, with the horizontal line lightly going downwards.
The second aett (set), which is ruled over by Heimdall, the Watcher of the Gods, begins with Hagal or Hagalaz, the ninth rune. The three runes at the beginning of this Aett are icy and binding runes, expressing their place at the first part of winter in the year-circle. Hagal represents the most powerful sacred number of the Northern Tradition, 'by the power of three times three'. Because of this, it is sometimes called the Mother Rune. (It is the ninth Rune, so three times three is quite obvious.)
Literally, the name Hagal means hailstone. Hailstones are water transformed for a short while from its liquid into it solid phase, during which time it falls from the sky, sometimes so violently that it destroys crops or property. But when the damage is done, it melts, changing back into harmless, even beneficial, liquid water. More generally, Hagal represents all aspects of frozen water that falls from the sky -- sleet and snow as well as hail. Everyone who has experienced a bad winter will know the sudden transformation that a snowstorm brings. Green fields and black roads are transformed rapidly into a sea of whiteness. Equally transormative is the thaw, when the colors of the landscape are restored. In folk magic, this rune is the protective sigil called the lucky star. This is drawn as a six-petalled flower formed of arcs within a circle. It can be seen on many old buildings, still protecting them magically against bad weather. Hagal's element is ice, the fifth element in the Northern Tradition, ruled by Rinda, goddess of the frozen earth.
Now we can look at the magical meaning of Hagalaz. Since there is no upside down for it, there is only one way to look at it:
There is a need to break free from constricting circumstances. There are some things beyond your control. Though this Rune has only an upright position, it operates through reversal. You may feel as though you are waking from a long sleep and take some time to come to your full senses. There may be a loss before there is a great gain.
The connection between the hailstone that thaws is shining through here. Also, when the solid form hits down, the damage that is done, that is the sign of the loss you may suffer before things look up again. A very typical example is when you are feeling down, and things can't possibly get worse. The situation then can prove you wrong by getting a bit worse, before things get better again.
So, when you draw this Rune, consider the atmosphere in that you are looking at it. If you can understand the position you are in, meditate on it, and try to find out what things you should cover, or get to work on so the outcome will be most easy on you.
As with the first Aett, the first set of eight, this one also is a starting point. You will see that this is something that comes out in every Aett. In each of them, on a different level of life, there is a progression towards becoming better, more insightful.