Freyjas

The runes are the ancient ‘alphabet’ of the Germanic people. As well as being used as symbols for writing they are also used as a system for magic and divination. Runes tend to be composed of straight lines and sharp angles which is indicative of the fact that originally they would be scored into wood or stone.

Origin of the Runes

While historians will point to the runes as perhaps being a development of the North Italic script used by the Etruscans, and carried across the European continent by their merchants, mythology gives the origin as a gift from Odin, chief god of the Aesir. Odin it is said sought knowledge and committed an act of self sacrifice, wounding himself and hanging himself from the cosmic tree, Yggdrasil. He hung there for nine days and during that time gained the wisdom of the runes.

This is described in the following passage from the Runatál:

I know that I was hanging on the wind-blasted tree,

Through nine days and nine nights,

I was wounded with a spear, and given to Odin,

Myself dedicated to myself,

On that tree, which nobody knows,

From which root it grows.

Neither with bread,

Nor with the drinking horn

Did they assist me.

I accepted the runes.

Screaming, I took them,

Then I fell back from that place.

The experience described in that text is very similar to similar quests for knowledge undertaken on shamanic paths; a period of fasting and pain that enables the mind to achieve an altered state and therefore obtain hidden knowledge.

There were a number of runic ‘alphabets’ developed with varying numbers of characters and meanings, however the one I describe here, perhaps the commonest in use, is the Elder Furthark. Futhark is derived from the values of the first six characters in the same way that ‘alphabet’ is derived from ‘A’ (alpha) ‘B’ (beta). In common with many writing systems each symbol has a sound and a meaning. The sound is that used for spelling out words, while the meaning is that which is used for magic and divination. The Furthark is generally arranged in three groups of eight runes, each group associated with a particular deity. The meanings given for each rune tends to vary across the different sytems and is usually described by a poem, however while there are existing poems to describe the Anglo-Saxon, Norwegian and Icelandic runes there is no recorded poem for the Elder Futhark from which they were probably developed. However the poem while describing the meaning of a rune is mainly just a key to unlock the hidden knowledge of the runemaster, and so it is really more important to interpret the runes in a personal manner, and so I have included here the meanings that I attribute to the runes so their may be some differences.

You will notice that there are only 24 runes listed here, whereas many sources list a 25^th blank rune. While many state that this is a modern addition (fingers point towards Ralph Blum) there are others who give it an older origin. To be honest while I started out with a commercial set of 25 runes I have now made my own and ‘lost’ the blank rune. I did this after much meditation and consideration and find that I am more comfortable with just the 24.

One thing that is I feel very important about working with runes is to recognise that they are not a ‘toy’ or in the spiritual equivalent of the public domain. Runes, or at least their magical use, are as described above a gift from Odin and so to use them without acknowledgement of his ordeal and without offering him the respect that he is due is not something I would recommend. While I myself do not dedicate myself to Odin, I have always been drawn to the runes (perhaps they chose me?) and I give thanks to Odin for his gift and ask for his guidance in my casting as I feel that this is only right. Because of this link to Odin, many Pagans who do not follow the Northern Traditions will not use these runes or any of their related systems.

The Elder Futhark

Freyjas

Aett

Hagals

Aett

Tyrs

Aett

RUNE	LETTER	MEANING	MY INTERPRETATION
*FEHU*	F	CATTLE	Cattle meant wealth and so this rune is indicative of wealth and also of the power it can afford.
*URUZ*	U	AUROCHS	Aurochs were giant wild oxen and were described by Julius Caesar as being slightly smaller than an elephant, the shape of a bull, swift, strong and ferocious.. Therefore this rune pertains to strength and endurance.
*THURISAZ*	Th	THORN/GIANT (THOR?)	The thorn is a painful thing to grasp and as such can be seen as a good thing to use as a protective barrier. It is also seen as a symbol of Thor’s hammer Mjollnir (the Crusher) and is a very potent symbol of masculine power.
*ANSUZ*	A	GOD/ASH TREE	The god rune represents the gods, particularly Odin. It is also linked to the ash tree Yggdrasil forms the cosmic axis and as such this rune indicates both the divine principle and the central point around which the world is anchored.
*RAIDO*	R	RIDING	This rune is concerned with action and control. It is a means of movement and progression (it also means wheel) and also of guidance in the sense of horsemanship. It also has connections with sexual acts – another type of riding if you will.
*KAUNAZ*	K	TORCH	A torch brings light into darkness and so this rune is associated with revealing the unknown and inspiration. As fire is also a process of change, this rune also indicates transformation or fever (illness).
*GEBO*	G	GIFT	The mark of an ‘X’ was often used to denote offerings to the gods; therefore this rune symbolizes the acts of giving and also the gift itself. The gift in question may be physical or perhaps one of time, talent, knowledge or some other metaphorical attribute.
*WUNJO*	W	BLISS/WIND VANE	The wind vane points the way of the wind and so remains balanced and in harmony with its surroundings. This rune therefore points towards harmony and fellowship; joy and a smooth passage.
*HAGALAZ*	H	HAIL	Hail is frozen water that falls from the sky it can also means a hail or arrows in battle. Both cause damage and disruption. So this rune indicates a threat or disruption. However it is a passing phenomenon and will ‘melt’ away.
*NAUTHIZ*	N	NEED	Need can mean requiring something that you have not, or also being required to do something. Therefore this rune can mean that something may be required or that action must be taken. Either way it carries the message to consider the situation and to know yourself.
*ISA*	I	ICE	Ice is the solid state of water, it is also slippery and can conceal (in the crystalline form of snow). A glacier is also ice, but ice that moves slowly and irresistibly. So this rune indicates delay and restriction, concealment and also hidden (powerful) forces. As ice melts this can also indicate both an ending and also a change.
*JERA*	J	YEAR	The year progresses through moons and season. From the sowing of seeds to the gathering of crops things follow a natural progression. Jera signifies that by following the correct steps we can achieve much; it symbolises the completion of a natural cycle and the bounty that can be had when plans come to fruition.
*EIHWAZ*	Y	YEW (TREE)	The yew is sacred to the hunter and the runemaster, for it was the wood of the longbow and a choice wood to carve runes. The yew is evergreen and longlived and as such this rune inspires longevity and protection.
*PERTHO*	P	DICE CUP/PAWN/ HEARTH/ WOMB	A rune that has many meanings: As a dice cup it is seen as representing chance. As a pawn it represents rules and regulations and perhaps fate. As hearth it represents companionship, home and family. As womb it represents female fertility and the production of new life; the bringing forth of new things.
*ALGIZ*	Z	SEDGE/ELK	The sedge is a very painful when grasped as the edges of its leaves are sharp; likewise the elk bears antlers as a weapon. So this rune is concerned with protection.
*SOWULO*	S	SUN	The sun brings light and warmth to conquer darkness and cold, so this rune symbolises positive energies and victory.
*TEIWAZ*	T	TYR	Tyr is the god of war and honour and the shape of the rune symbolises a spear or an arrow. Thus this rune indicates strength and integrity, also that to achieve things we must work in the right direction and accept that to succeed we must sometimes pay a price.
*BERKANA*	B	BIRCH TREE	The birch tree is seen as a sign of purification and new beginnings. The rune resembles the breasts of the Earth Mother (Nerthus) or the Spring Goddess (Ostara) and so this rune is concerned with purity and renewal.
*EHWAZ*	E	HORSE	The horse is an animal often held sacred (particularly to Frey) and is also a means of moving swiftly forward. Thus this rune can be seen as offering a means to speed things along or to carry things forward and as an indication of loyalty and teamwork.
*MANNAZ*	M	MAN	Man may be a person or the race of man as a whole. This rune may therefore pertain to an individual or to a family/group/race. It is particularly seen as a material aspect rather than divine.
*LAGUZ*	L	WATER	Water is liquid and changeable. In lakes and seas it conceals hidden depths and when roused it is a powerful force. This rune can be seen as representing the forces of Nature and the sudden and unexpected things that can happen in life.
*INGUZ*	Ng	ING/FREY	Frey is the Vanir god of peace, fertility and prosperity. He is also the great hero Ing. This rune may represent attaining peace and/or prosperity but it may also represent male fertility.
*OTHILA*	O	INHERITANCE	Inheritance is both what we have passed to us and to our home and by extension the land we live in. This rune therefore pertains to those things that we hold dear both individually and also as a group.
*DAGAZ*	D	DAY	Day is a time of security, when enemies can be seen and things can progress. This rune therefore offers security and clarity. It is a very positive rune.

The runes may be used for writing; they may also be used for the working of magic and forming of charms. However the most common use associated with them is for divination. The simplest method is to simply visualise your question and simply pick a runestone at random. Then consider the meaning of that rune in relation to your query. Another way is to draw three random runestones and place them in a line face down. Turn the stone on the left over, this represents the present. Turn the middle stone over this represents what you aim to achieve. Turn the right-hand stone over and this is what you must do or overcome to achieve it. The meanings of most runes are inverted when they are upside down, of course some runes look the same either way up so their meanings do not change. There are many ways of using runes for divination, and the two ways I have described here are quick ways that I use, though others may attribute different meanings and methods. I will revisit this subject in the future and include further details, but in the meantime I leave you with two pieces of advice. First runes are not toys and should be used with respect, secondly remember that the use of the runes is a gift from Odin, do not abuse it and always ask him for guidance and permission; thanking him is also a good idea.