Guide to the runes
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The 24 runes of the Elder Futhark: their history, what the rune poems say, their modern reading and a first spread. One page per rune, with sources and limits.
RuneFehuFehu, ᚠ, opens the Elder Futhark. Its reconstructed name refers to livestock, and so to movable wealth. History, rune poems and modern symbolic reading.RuneUruzUruz, ᚢ, is the second rune of the Elder Futhark. Its name evokes the aurochs, a large wild bovine that has since disappeared. Historical sources and symbolic reading.RuneThurisazThurisaz, ᚦ, notes the "th" sound in the Elder Futhark. Its reconstructed name refers to a giant; the Anglo-Saxon poem sees a thorn in it. History and readings.RuneAnsuzAnsuz, ᚨ, fourth rune of the Elder Futhark, bears a name that refers to a god (one of the Æsir). History, rune poems, link with Odin and modern symbolic reading.RuneRaidhoRaidho, ᚱ, fifth rune of the Elder Futhark, owes its name to the idea of riding and travelling. Meaning of the name, rune poems and modern symbolic reading.RuneKenazKenaz, ᚲ, sixth rune of the Elder Futhark, has two names depending on the tradition: the torch in Old English, the ulcer in Old Norse. History and readings.RuneGeboGebo, ᚷ, seventh rune of the Elder Futhark, bears the name of the gift. It takes the form of an X-shaped cross. Meaning of the name, Anglo-Saxon poem and modern symbolic reading.RuneWunjoWunjo, ᚹ, the eighth and last rune of the first family, is named after joy. The meaning of its name, the wynn letter of Anglo-Saxon manuscripts and modern readings.RuneHagalazHagalaz, ᚺ, opens the second family of the Elder Futhark. Its reconstructed name means hail. Runic poems, history and modern symbolic reading.RuneNauthizNauthiz, ᚾ, the tenth rune of the Elder Futhark, is named need or distress. Meaning of the name, medieval runic poems and modern symbolic reading.RuneIsaIsa, ᛁ, the eleventh rune of the Elder Futhark, is a simple vertical stroke whose name means ice. Runic poems, history and modern symbolic reading.RuneJeraJera, ᛃ, the twelfth rune of the Elder Futhark, means the year and, by extension, a good harvest. Meaning of the name, runic poems and modern symbolic reading.RuneEihwazEihwaz, ᛇ, the thirteenth rune of the Elder Futhark, is named after the yew. Its phonetic value remains debated. Runic poems, the yew in history and modern reading.RunePerthroPerthro, ᛈ, the fourteenth rune of the Elder Futhark, is the most enigmatic: its original name is unknown. Hypotheses, the Anglo-Saxon poem and modern reading.RuneAlgizAlgiz, ᛉ, the fifteenth rune of the Elder Futhark. Its name is a reconstruction from Old English eolh: elk, sedge or protection, depending on the theory.RuneSowiloSowilo, ᛊ, sixteenth and last rune of the second family of the Elder Futhark, named after the sun. Runic poems, mythology and modern symbolic reading.RuneTiwazTiwaz, ᛏ, opens the third family of the Elder Futhark. Its name is that of the god Týr. The myth of Fenrir, runic poems and a modern symbolic reading.RuneBerkanoBerkano, ᛒ, eighteenth rune of the Elder Futhark, named after the birch. Meaning of the name, runic poems, lore about the tree and a modern symbolic reading.RuneEhwazEhwaz, ᛖ, nineteenth rune of the Elder Futhark, named after the horse. Meaning of the name, the Anglo-Saxon poem, the role of the horse among the Germanic peoples and a modern reading.RuneMannazMannaz, ᛗ, twentieth rune of the Elder Futhark, named after the human being. Meaning of the name, the myth of Mannus in Tacitus, runic poems and a modern reading.RuneLaguzLaguz, ᛚ, twenty-first rune of the Elder Futhark, named after water, the sea or a lake. One hypothesis sees the leek. Meaning of the name, poems and a modern reading.RuneIngwazIngwaz, ᛜ, the twenty-second rune of the Elder Futhark, takes its name from an ancestral hero, Ing. The meaning of the name, the Anglo-Saxon poem, links with Freyr and modern readings.RuneDagazDagaz, ᛞ, the twenty-third rune of the Elder Futhark, is named after day. The meaning of the name, the Anglo-Saxon poem, the figure of Dagr and modern symbolic reading.RuneOthalaOthala, ᛟ, the last rune of the Elder Futhark, is named for inheritance, the family estate. The meaning of the name, the word odel, the Anglo-Saxon poem and modern symbolic reading.RuneThe Elder Futhark: history and reading of the 24 runesThe Elder Futhark is the oldest runic alphabet (2nd-8th century). Origins, inscriptions, the three families, the rune poems, and the difference between historical use and modern casting.RuneRune casting for beginnersRune casting is a modern practice of reflection. Choose your set, ask a question, draw one or three runes, read them upright or reversed, and keep a journal.
The meanings mentioned belong to tradition and symbolism. They are neither promises of results nor medical advice.