Mannaz
: M
Human,
mankind The
Old English Rune Poem says: (Mann) is, in his mirth, dear to his
kinsman; although each shall depart from the other. It is a rune
of the human existence, of which life and death are both part. It
is the rune of mortality. It also represents interdependence and
support, as well as duty and responsibility. No individual is independent
of others, each is part of a larger pattern. We are individuals,
but in a society.. for all there are roles which, whether we realize
it or not, all effect. |
Gebo
: G
Exchanged
gifts Gebo
represents hospitality, generosity and giving. It is the joining
of giver and the one who receives. As Thorsson points out in "Futhark:
A Handbook of Rune Magic" it also has the meaning of a gift from
the Deities, particularly through union. He relates the gift to the
wisdom received by the hero from the valkyrja. |
Ansuz
: A
Windblown
cloak of Odhinn, giver inspired speech (Ond) This
is the rune of inspired speech and incantation as a creative
expression. It is linked with the ancestors, the magic of speech
which passes along knowledge with the breath of life, the passing
of knowledge through the spoken word, as differentiated from
the written. It is the rune of the poet, the saga, the seer,
those of inspired speech. It thus represents the ecstasy of inspiration,
the "swan song" chanting out one's life as he or she prepares
to meet death, the first cry of a newborn baby. It is whistling
in the dark to banish fear. It encompasses the power of suggestion
and sublimation. |
Othala
: O
Ancestral
property Othala
is the rune of the sacred enclosure, the homeland, the village,
the homestead. It is the family group, its customs, lands and
language as well as the duties and responsibilities that go along
with maintaining family ties. Its the concept of ones ancestry,
not only of the immediate and extend family, but also that of
long bloodlines.. the root of one's birth. It can be used to
invoke a solid and peaceful family or group life, and to continual
growth and prosperity. It is the "inherited" wealth that comes
from one's ancestors, the customs as well as property or physical
attributes. It represents the wise management of family assets
or one's family or kin. |
Uruz
: U
Primal
force, strength. Audhumla,
the great cow (primal force) which was formed from the dripping rime
produced from the meeting of the fires of Muspilheim and the yeast
laden ice of Neiflheim. She was the "shaping force" that licked the
ice into the form of the primal giant Ymir, and was the source of sustenance
for him. The
auroch is the wild ox, large and fierce. It is protective when in defense
of its territory or young. Though controllable, the Ox is undomesticable
and can be dangerous. Uruz is associated with the primal creative force,
primitive, earliest or original. |
Perthro
: P
Dice
cup or Lot cup Perthro
is one of the mysteries of the runes. As a container with the
lots of life, Perthro represents the opportunities of chance
which can not be controlled. However the pieces fall, the player
must move boldly taking what is cast and make up for in skill
and wisdom any lack in luck itself. It contains the mystery
of the Nornic runes. It is the rune of the vitki, the one who
seeks the mysteries of the cosmos through the understanding
of synchronicity. It is the rune of the warrior who constantly
tests himself against chance and luck, even to that of Fate. |
Nauthiz
: N
Need Naudhiz
is another of the cosmic forces which is recognized as being a "shaping" power
which form the fates of the world and mankind. It is associated with
the Nornir who are the "shapers." In the rune poems it represents the
layered concept of necessity providing the friction that leads to transformation.
It represents the fire bow which engenders the "need-fire." It is the
cause of the spark that leads to the fire. The friction that begets
the raging flames. |
Ingwaz
: Ng
The
god Ing / Freyer Ingwaz
is associated with Nerthus as well as Ing, and thus also Freyer.
It is primarily a rune of fertility and growth. The circuit of the
wagon that was associated with their respective worship, represented
the "king's circuit", the walking of the bounds, or the circuit of
the sacred wagon which insured fertility to the land. It is a rune
of ritual embodying action on behalf of the earth and mankind. Just
as the greening of the earth follows the northerly progression of
the sun, and retreats in it's wake, the rune is one of movement as
well as action and reaction. It
is a rune of invocation and action, as well as responsibility. It
is a rune of warmth and inner fire. It can be used to stimulate the
growth of slumbering abilities into full growth. It is the container
of energies to be relased to promote growth. Ing is closely related
to Jera, as well that of the respective runes for male and female
fertility. The seed from which things will grow and be transformed. |
Eiwaz
: EI / I
Yew
tree Eiwaz
represents the spinning World Tree, Yggdrasil. It is the axis about
which all else revolves and spins out of. It contains the mystery
of life and death. It is a life giving force which has its roots
in the Underworld, and death. The yew is a powerful stave of protection
and banishing, not only because of its association with the forces
of life and death, but because of its association with the bow made
of yew wood. The yew bow was an extremely powerful weapon, thus associating
itself with the power of active defense, and death. The spinning
Yggdrasil, from which all else revolves, is also thus the sustainer
of thing. In it is the both creation and destruction.. the process
of Birth, Evolution, and Entropy. |
Elhaz
or Algiz: E
Protection,
the antlers of the Elk, the splayed hand thrust forward The
Old English name, "elk-sedge" is a kenning for sword, and thus may
represent a two-edged blade. It can be seen as the godhi or gydhja
( priest or priestess) in the attitude of addressing or invoking
the gods. Thorsson gives the esoteric interpretation of the name
as the protective foces, valkyrijur. It can represent the splayed
hand, the horns of the elk, a swan in flight, the branches or a tree,
a divergence or convergence of paths or forces. It is a sign used
to promote victory and protection. The Gothic word "alhs" or sanctuary
is also closely related. If you look at the rune, and were to enclose
it with a circle, you would also have the commonly displayed "peace" symbol.
In this instance, the peace is found within the containing circle,
protected. |
Fehu
: F
Property,
wealth (cattle, gold, material gain) The
basic meaning is wealth in the sense of material gain, whether via
money or possessions. In their time, cattle was a measuring of one's
wealth. Fee, or payment, comes from this root of this stave. It may
also be interpreted as an increase of fellowship and friendship,
a wealth of another kind. |
Wanjo:
W
Happiness
and joy, glory. The battle well-fought and won. A wand. Prosperity
and good fellowship. Peacefulness. There
is a term in Anglo-Saxon, "wuldortanas", which is "glory twigs." which
many experts associate with the rune. |
Jera
: J / Y
The
(good) year, harvest It
is the completion of a cycle, a season, or a year, representing the
dynamic rotation and changes of the cycles. It is the fruitful completion
of a cycle, or the eternal contrast of opposites which provide a
whole. It is invoked for a good season (or harvest) and is associated
with fertility. The name is similar to "Ari" which is another OldNorse
word for eagle, a solar symbol. In either case it is the energy which
brings to fruition our efforts. |
Kenaz
: K
Torch,
the of bearing illumination It
is the flame of transformation and regeneration. It is associated
with kin and the sacred fires of sexual generation as well as the "kith
and kin" who gather around the hearth. It is the flame of the forge,
the volcano and deep earth energies. It is the controlled flame of
the artist and craftsman. It "breaks out" in unexpected ways, and
holds the power to create and/or destroy. It is a primal force of
creation, in the myths it is fire and ice that produce the life force. |
Tiwaz
: T
The
god Tyr -- A spear point, or arrow. A guiding star. The
T-rune is primarily one of justice since Tyr is the Norse god
who presided at the "thing", (the Germanic general judiciary
assembly). Judgment was not always arrived at by discussion,
judgment by arms was a common concept to the Norse/Germanic
cultures. It is associated with the idea that "justice will
prevail." The Old English Rune Poem, says Tir is a star, it
keeps its faith well. It is always on its course over the mists
of night. It is represents the guiding principles which are
steadfast and can be relied on to judge one's position. |
Berkano
: B
Birch,
the birch goddess, birch twigs The
B-rune is related to the Great Mother, the Earth Goddess. It
is the mother of manifestation and of birth and rebirth. The
birch tree was often planted before a home to protect it in
Scandinavian countries, and the custom continued to be observed
in America where settlers built new homes. It is used in "birthing" new
ideas, bringing them to life. The birch is frequently the wood
from which many a wand was also carved, thus the striking of
an object or magickally charged item with the wand is thought
to be the releasing action of energies applied before. It can
represent or bring about a rebirth in spirit, as well as the
renewal of spring after a period of winter. It
is representative of the Feminine energies at work. Nurturing,
frequently subtle, and thus thought to be the counterpart to
the energies found in Tiwaz.
|
Ehwaz
: E
Horse,
or ehwo: the "two" horses Ehwaz
is associated with "twin" gods or heroes, the divine twins, or two
horses. The Saxon conquers of Britain were Hengist and Horsa (stallion
and horse). It is the harmonious relationship between two forces.
With its close connection to the horse it is also a symbol of fertility,
and partnerships. These partnerships thus act as one, although from
two or more distinctly different parts. The
Ehwaz was connected closely to the concept of a man's fetch, the
spiritual "horse" that carries one on the journey between worlds.
It is the rune of Sleipnir, Odhinn's eight legged horse which bore
him on journeys across both Asgard and Midgard. Also, it was upon
Sleipnir that Hermod rode to the netherworld to Hella's domain to
request that Balder be returned to the living gods. It facilitates "soul
travel" or the shaman's journey. As such it can be used to obtained
hidden knowledge or knowledge from a distance. The term "nightmare" is
closely related, the spiritual horse we ride during the night as
we sleep. It
can represent a journey in consciousness, a swifter travel then that
of Raido, and one that is protected or guided. Either deeper within
or in the Astral. Although the fetch is in many ways symbolized by
the horse, the fetch may be of man, woman, or any spirit form. Any
sprit guide you work with closely may be one's fetch.
|
Laguz
: L
A
body of water (or laukaz: leek) The
sea and other bodies of water, like the earth, were considered a
source of wealth and fertility and an expression of the unconscious
and undiscovered mysteries of life and death. The Aegir, the gods
and goddesses of the sea, both gave and took life and offered fertility
and wealth. They were the brewers and the Norse looked at the foaming
vat of beer and related it to froth of the ocean. Mead brewed during
the full moon was often given as a gift to newly-weds .. thus the
term Honey-Moon. It
represents ebb and flow, and dark currents. Those currents may be
soft and trickling, or sweeping and forceful. It can carve through
rock and yet be moved by one's hand. Laguz can be the water in a
well, bubbling up from secret depths, or dark and still, reflecting
and yet revealing nothing beneath the surface. It seeks its own level,
taking the path of least resistance at times, at other times sinking
into the earth to rise in a distant place. The ship burials, and
stone "boat" graves reveal the association of water with the journey
of death, a rite of passage. |
Hagalaz
: H
Hagalaz
hail, egg (?) The
Anglo-Saxon rune poem refers to "hail" as being "grain" which falls
and turns into water after being tossed about by wind. The layered
nature of a hailstone was recognized, as well as the potential for
destruction and the transformative qualities. The concepts that surround
Hagalaz recognize that the destructive potential for hail out of season
is balanced by the potential for transformation that will bring new
fertility and growth as it thaws. |
Raido
: R
A
cosmic chariot, solar chariot. A chariot of a god or goddess; The Ecstatic
journey Rhythm
and movement are important to the concept of Raido. The sound and dance
of the ecstatic traveler who is carried on a circular journey. The
spiral journey of the sun on it's annual course from North to South
and back, as in the journey of Nerthus and Freyr's processions. It
is the wheeling of stars around the cosmic axis. It can be thought
of as the chariot of Thor or Freyja or any other cosmic "transportation." As
the chariot is primal forces controlled by conscious thought. |
Thurisaz
: Th
Thor,
the enemy of unfriendly forces; The thorn on brambles. Thurisaz
is a force of defense and destruction. "Bramble" or thorny bushes
were used to "fence" and protect boundaries. One form of Norse/Germanic
execution was to throw criminals "into thorns", pikes which were
stuck into the earth. |
Dagaz
: D
Day
or Twilight (the border of the new day) Dagaz
refers to the a day, a period of darkness and light, since the Norse
counted their days from evening to evening, with the mid-point being
dawn and the rising of the sun. It is the rune of awakening, and metaphorically,
of rebirth. It represents a time that cannot be defined, a place between
places that are yet still interdependent of the other. It
is a rune of paradox, the balancing of opposites and movement, not
as contradictions and opposition, but as counterbalances and compliments.
It represents light, paradox. It is the rune of "clear vision" and "enlightenment." It
represents time and space, and the weaving movement of the loom of
life. One can also liken this rune to that of the symbol of Yin-Yang.
In this we also see the theory of Dynamic energies, as well as that
of the living counterpart. |
Isa
: I Ice
It
is the primal ice, the icy stream (or glacier) that flows
from Niflheimr. Is an "elemental" rune. It's form can be seen in nearly all of the
other runes. It is associated with the rime-giants, the hrimthursar,
and the wisdom of age. Ice can be considered "static" as
many do, however, ice whether one is speaking of the rune
or of actual ice
is a mysterious substance. Isa can bring things to a halt,
or place something in suspension. But the mysterious flow
of the glacier is
also inherent in Isa, as it is related to the primal stream.
Ice can also be an expansive force, or one that crushes
anything caught
in its grasp.
|
Sowilo
: S / Z Sol / Sun
The
S-rune is that of the sun, part of the solar wheel. Both the words "sol" and "sunna" for
the sun in Old Norse are feminine in nature as were the cosmic forces
represented by the sun. It is the counter-force to Isa, or the cosmic
ice. The S-rune is often connected to the lightning bolt, or a flash
of inspiration or ecstasy. It strengthens the spiritual and psychic
powers and abilities, increasing spiritual might. It provides "enlightenment" and
success through individual will. It
is a rune of education and understanding, as well as one that transforms
ice to water, a transformative force. It can represent high achievements,
honor and obtained goals. It is power radiating, from the source
and lighting all it touches. It can be healing as well as a cleansing
energy or light. Also, this can be the persistence of an influence
or energy to which things may flourish, or be steadily weathered
away.
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