Rune meanings

Freyr’s aett

Freyr’s aett opens the Futhark, from Fehu to Wunjo. Its runes speak of what you bring into the world: resources and strength, boundaries and words, a journey and the inner fire of craft. Gebo and Wunjo close it with gifts, give-and-take and the joy of belonging. These are runes of beginnings: what you have and how you use it.

• Fehuresources · fruits of labour · tending what you have
• Uruzraw strength · drive · courage
• Thurisazobstacle · protection · time to think
• Ansuzthe word · message · inspiration
• Raidhojourney · movement · travel
• Kenazinner fire · understanding · creativity
• Gebogift · reciprocity · partnership
• Wunjojoy · harmony · belonging

Hagal’s aett

Hagal’s aett holds the runes of trial and of what you cannot control: sudden change, need, an enforced pause, the unknown. Alongside them stand Jera, with a harvest that ripens in its own time, steadfast Eihwaz and the gentle protection of Algiz. Sowilo, the sun, closes it: hard times pass, and afterwards you can see what to lean on.

• Hagalazsudden change · what you can’t control · a test of strength
• Nauthizconstraints · real needs · patience
• Isapause · stillness · conserving energy
• Jerathe turning year · harvest · patience
• Eihwazresilience · flexibility · constancy
• Perthromystery · chance · the unknown
• Algizprotection · safety · alertness
• Sowilolight · clarity · self-belief

Tyr’s aett

Tyr’s aett is about people and the ties between them. Tiwaz speaks of justice and keeping your word, Berkano of gentle growth, Ehwaz and Mannaz of trust, partnership and knowing yourself through others, Laguz of feelings and intuition. Ingwaz and Dagaz mark an ending and a new dawn; Othala, the last rune, speaks of home, family and heritage.

• Tiwazjustice · courage · keeping your word
• Berkanogrowth · nurture · a new beginning
• Ehwaztrust · a reliable partner · mutual understanding
• Mannazhumanity · self-knowledge · mutual support
• Laguzintuition · flow · emotions
• Ingwazinner ripening · completion · gathered strength
• Dagazdawn · breakthrough · clarity
• Othalahome · ancestry · heritage

Rune spreads

• Rune of the dayRunes: 1

  One rune as a hint for today

• Three runesRunes: 3

  Situation, action and result

• Yes or no with runesRunes: 1

  A rune’s short answer to a direct question

• The Norns spreadRunes: 3

  Past, present and future

• Love rune spreadRunes: 3

  You, the other person and what connects you

• Rune crossRunes: 5

  Five runes, from the past to the outcome

• Rune spread interpretation

  Drew runes yourself? Mark them by position and get the same kind of interpretation.

About the runes and rune reading

The Elder Futhark is the oldest runic alphabet, used by Germanic peoples from the first centuries AD; today its signs are often simply called Norse, Nordic or Viking runes. It has 24 signs, and its name comes from the sounds of the first six runes: f, u, th, a, r, k. Runes were carved into stone, wood, metal and bone, usually as short inscriptions: names, dedications, a craftsman’s signature. The signs are divided into three aetts of eight runes each, and every rune has a name that carries an image: “cattle”, “hail”, “sun”, “horse”. Rune reading as we know it today largely took shape in the twentieth century: little is known about how runes were used in the distant past beyond writing, and today’s interpretations grew largely out of the rune names themselves. That doesn’t make the runes any less worth your attention: their short, vivid images are good companions when you want to think a situation through.

Reading the runes is simple: think of a question (ideally an open one about yourself), draw one rune or several, and read what they mean. A rune doesn’t predict events or make decisions for you. It offers an image through which you can see your situation afresh, notice what you might have missed and ask yourself what you really feel. Above is a chart of all 24 runes, grouped by aett. Each has its own page: the sign and its image, the upright and reversed meanings, love, work, advice and a yes-or-no answer.

Like a tarot card, a rune can come up upright or reversed. Upright, it speaks at full strength. A reversed rune isn’t a “bad” one: its theme struggles to come through, gets stuck or turns inwards, which hints at where to look more closely. However, nine runes (Gebo, Hagalaz, Nauthiz, Isa, Jera, Eihwaz, Sowilo, Ingwaz and Dagaz) look exactly the same when turned through 180 degrees, so they can’t be reversed. Each of them has a single meaning, and its page explains how to read the rune’s harder side.