Rune Symbols and Meanings
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An Introduction to the Runes
The word rune is derived from a Germanic word meaning mystery. The origin of the runes is still debated by scholars.
We do know the runes themselves were a language form used for mundane, everyday matters as well as for magic in Germanic tribes as late as 1000 years ago.
In Norse mythology, it was Odin the All-Father who sacrificed himself to himself and hung on the World Tree to learn the wisdom of the runes and bring it to humanity.
We do know the runes themselves were a language form used for mundane, everyday matters as well as for magic in Germanic tribes as late as 1000 years ago.
In Norse mythology, it was Odin the All-Father who sacrificed himself to himself and hung on the World Tree to learn the wisdom of the runes and bring it to humanity.
The Rune Rows
AKA - The Aetts
Given here is a compact guide to the symbols and their meanings. Recommendations for further research are given below.
The runes presented here are those of the Elder Futhark and are broken up into three groups or rows called Aetts (for eights). The guide to the layout given here is as follows:
Rune name - (pronunciation) - word meaning - most common Norse deity association if applicable - modern divination interpretations.
The runes presented here are those of the Elder Futhark and are broken up into three groups or rows called Aetts (for eights). The guide to the layout given here is as follows:
Rune name - (pronunciation) - word meaning - most common Norse deity association if applicable - modern divination interpretations.
First Aett
Fehu
Fehu: (fay-hu) Cattle. Wealth and all that comes with it including the good and bad. Learn more about this rune in my article Fehu - Rune of Wealth and Power. Uruz
Uruz: (oo-rooz) Aurochs, ox. Strength, standing one's ground, will, determination. Learn more in my article Uruz - Norse Rune of Health and Manifestation. Thurisaz
Thurisaz: (thur-ee-sahz) Thurs, thorn. giant. Thor. Force - physical or magical - for good or ill. Overcoming obstacles. Ansuz
Ansuz: (ahn-sooz) God, mouth. Odin. Communication, divine inspiration, spiritual power. Raidho
Raidho: (rah-eed-ho) Ride. A journey whether physical or spiritual, transportation issues, the path of the journey rather than just the destination. Kenaz
Kenaz: (ken-ahz) Torch. Light in the darkness, heat, fire, enlightenment, illuminating that which is hidden. Gebo
Gebo: (gheb-o) Gift. Generosity, hospitality, gift giving whether you expect something or as a fair exchange, sacrifice. Wunjo
Wunjo: (woon-yo) Joy. Bliss, happiness, revelry, good news, being happy with what you have. 
Yggdrasil - The Norse World Tree
Second Aett
Hagalaz
Hagalaz: (ha-ga-lahz) Hail. The storm that brings change, new beginning, a ruminating seed, the chaos before creation. Naudhiz
Naudhiz: (nowd-heez) Need. Necessity for caution because of limited choices, need to approach situation wisely, constraint. Hopeful outcome if right action is taken. Isa
Isa: (ee-sa) Ice. A barrier, frustration, need to stop and assess situation, possible hidden agenda, patience needed. Yet, ice holds the promise of melting and giving way to spring. Jera
Jera: (yare-a) Year. Harvest, completion of a cycle, rewards of labor, benefits of long-term planning coming to fruition, slow but steady change. Eihwaz
Eihwaz: (ay-wahz) Yew tree. The world tree (Yggdrasil), stability, the power of life and death, connections between different worlds and people, getting to the heart of a matter. Perthro
Perthro: (per-thro) Lot, game of chance. Competition, friendly or otherwise, fate, destiny, luck. Elhaz
Elhaz: (el-hazh) Elk, elk-sedge. Protection, warding, self-defense physically and magically. Also called Algiz. Sowilo
Sowilo: (so-wee-lo) Sun. Sunna (female Norse sun goddess). Good fortune, energy, victory, clarification. To Learn More
The Rune Primer: A Down to Earth Guide to the Runes
Amazon Price: $15.51 (as of 02/14/2012)
I highly recommend Sweyn Plowright's The Rune Primer. The author does an excellent job of sorting fact from fiction and providing a solid introduction to the runes. The book is relatively short and to the point. He has a myth-busting section where he points out the positive and negative aspects of works from several popular authors, some of whom he has met and worked with. This will help students decide which direction they want to take their rune work.
Third Aett
Tiwaz
Tiwaz: (tee-wahz) The meaning and god associated with this rune is Tyr. Loyalty, self-sacrifice, spiritual and/or physical warriorship, legal issues, possible conflict, fighting for what is right. Berkano
Berkano: (ber-kah-no) Birch tree. Mother, fertility, goddess, feminine, a birth or rebirth, nurturing, creativity. Ehwaz
Ehwaz: (eh-wahz) Horse. Teamwork, physical or astral travel, strong partnership or friendship, link between humankind and spirit realm. Mannaz
Mannaz: (man-naz) Man, human. Identity, self-realization, the human race, human strength and weakness, the physical plane, defining purpose in life. Laguz
Laguz: (lah-gooz) Lake, leek. Water, the subconscious, intuition, creativity, going with the flow, movement. Ingwaz
Ingwaz: (ing-wahz) The meaning and god associated with this rune is Ing who is often associated with Yngvi-Frey, or more simply Frey. Masculine energy and sexuality, fertility, plenty, peace, harvest, compared to the sacrificial god of the harvest of many Pagan traditions. Dagaz
Dagaz: (dah-gahz) Day. Daylight, clarity, good fortune, balance, revelation, growth, transformation. Othala
Othala: (oh-tha-la) Inheritance. Ancestors, kinship, spiritual or physical family, heritage, protection of home and land. Notes on the Runes
The pronunciations are taken from author Diana Paxson's Taking Up The Runes.You will see reference to a blank rune elsewhere which is mainly based on the work of Ralph Blum who takes the runes out of their historical and cultural context. There is no evidence to the historical accuracy of the blank rune, however, and I personally feel it is redundant since the runes are already part of a complete system. But I will leave it up to the reader to make up their own mind.
Pictured are runes from a set made from polymer clay. This is quite easy to do or make your own carved or burned into wood.
A good online resource for learning more about the runes is Jordsvin's Rune of the Month Pages.
I've also created a Pagan Symbols lens with a brief introduction to some common modern Pagan symbolism from other paths.
Diana Paxson's Book and Online Heathen Resources
Important!
The Sayings of the High One
"Wounded I hung on a wind-swept gallows
For nine long nights,
Pierced by a spear, pledged to Odhinn,
Offered, myself to myself
The wisest know not from whence spring
The roots of that ancient rood
They gave me no bread,
They gave me no mead,
I looked down;
with a loud cry
I took up the runes;
from that tree I fell."
- Odin from the Havamal. To learn more, visit my article Odin's Journey for the Runes.
For nine long nights,
Pierced by a spear, pledged to Odhinn,
Offered, myself to myself
The wisest know not from whence spring
The roots of that ancient rood
They gave me no bread,
They gave me no mead,
I looked down;
with a loud cry
I took up the runes;
from that tree I fell."
- Odin from the Havamal. To learn more, visit my article Odin's Journey for the Runes.
More Rune Teachings
Find a Pre-Made Rune Set
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Reader Feedback
Do you study the runes?
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Donnette
Jan 11, 2012 @ 2:26 am | delete
- I bought - and subsequently lost during a move - a set of runes, from an outlet in Old Town FL in 1995... I cannot find any in South Africa, and although I'm not madly familiar with their usage and meaning, I enjoyed owning them!
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poddys
Mar 21, 2011 @ 1:42 am | delete
- This is something I always wanted to learn more about. Excellent lens, and nice to meet you.
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yourgoldenfuture
Mar 20, 2011 @ 7:07 am | delete
- very interesting...have to study that more in depth
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Intuitive
Dec 6, 2010 @ 1:27 pm | delete
- I used to be a medical transcriptionist, too. :) This is a helpful list of rune meanings. I've lensrolled it to my runes lens.
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Heather426
Oct 4, 2009 @ 1:11 pm | delete
- Love Runes, love the lens. Great job!
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Sources and Credits
Opening picture and Yggdrasil credit: Wikimedia Commons, public domain as of May 2009.
Sources consulted:
Sources consulted:
- Paxson, Diana L. Taking Up The Runes: A Complete Guide to Using Runes in Spells, Rituals, Divination, and Magic, Weiser Books, 2005.
- Plowright, Sweyn. The Rune Primer: A Down-To-Earth Guide to the Runes, Lulu, 2006.
by PJ_Deneen
PJ_Deneen
Hello, I'm P.J. (Trish) Deneen. I work at home doing medical transcription and freelance writing.
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