Laguz rune meaning
- Group
- Tyr’s aett
- Place in the aett
- 5 of 8
- Sound
- l
Upright
- intuition
- flow
- emotions
- adaptability
- depth
Reversed
- confusion
- drifting
- overwhelming emotions
- self-deception
- fear of depth
In short
- Upright
- Laguz is the rune of water and feeling: it teaches you to hear your own intuition, move flexibly and not fear the depth of your emotions.
- Reversed
- Reversed, Laguz speaks of feelings that have left their channel or are buried too deep; before acting, it is worth waiting for clarity to return.
Laguz rune symbol: the sign and its image
Laguz’s sign is an upright stave with a short branch slanting down to the right from its top; it calls to mind the crest of a wave or a stem bending towards the water.
The rune’s old name is usually translated as “water”, “lake” or “sea”: in Old English lagu is the sea, and in Old Norse lögr means water or sea. Scholars have suggested other readings of the name, but in divination the rune is read as water. Laguz is the fifth rune of Tyr’s aett and carries the sound l.
Laguz upright meaning
Laguz is the rune of water in all its forms: lake, river, sea and rain. Water takes the shape of whatever holds it and still remains itself; it wears down stone not by force but by persistence. So the rune speaks of a flexibility that is by no means weakness, and of feelings that everyone has, even when talking about them isn’t the done thing.
The old rune poems saw another side of water too. In the Old English poem the sea frightens sailors when high waves toss their ship, while the Norwegian poem speaks of a torrent falling from a mountain. Water nourishes and carries, but it demands respect: you don’t argue with it; you read it, the way an experienced boatman reads a current.
When Laguz comes up, notice what you feel before you start reasoning. A first impression of someone, a vague unease, an unexpected lightness when you think about a particular choice: all of this is information worth weighing alongside the facts. The rune doesn’t ask you to give up logic: it suggests letting the part of you that knows more than it can explain have its say as well.
Laguz reversed
Reversed Laguz is not a bad omen but a signal: your feelings need more attention right now. The imbalance can take different forms. In one, the water bursts its banks: anxiety, hurt or infatuation take up all the space, and decisions are made on a wave of mood and regretted later.
In another, it is held back behind a dam: you don’t let yourself feel sad or glad, brush hunches aside and live as you “should” rather than as you wish. There is a third, too: someone else’s current carries you along, and you mistake other people’s expectations for your own desires.
What can you do? First, simply name what you are feeling, aloud, on paper or in conversation with someone you trust. Then don’t rush your choice: an important decision is better left for a day or two, until the picture clears.
Laguz in love: trusting your feelings and putting them into words
Upright
In relationships, Laguz is the rune of emotional closeness: being able to share not just plans but fears, doubts and tenderness. It supports couples who notice each other’s moods and ask about them gently. If there is no partner in your life just now, the rune suggests listening to yourself: what kind of closeness do you really want — and what does your instinct tell you about the people around you?
Reversed
Reversed in love, Laguz speaks of feelings that either churn or hide. One person may expect to be understood without words and feel hurt when that doesn’t happen, while the other dodges every serious conversation. Sometimes jealousy or suspicion stems from your own anxiety rather than from anything your partner has done. Try to speak about your feelings directly, without turning them into reproaches.
Laguz at work and with money: flexibility where force gets you nowhere
Upright
At work, Laguz helps wherever instinct and adaptability are needed: in negotiations, working with people, creative tasks, changes within a team. If you have hit a wall, there is no point banging your head against it: you can change the order of steps, find someone else to talk to, strike a different kind of deal. In money matters, heed your doubts: if a deal leaves you vaguely uneasy, check the terms and figures again before agreeing.
Reversed
Reversed in practical matters, Laguz warns against decisions made on emotion: a purchase to calm your nerves, a sharp reply to your manager, saying yes to a project for fear of refusing. Drifting is possible too: tasks carry on by themselves and you no longer know where you are heading. Go back to figures and deadlines, write down what you want to achieve, and talk through anything unclear with someone who sees it from outside.
The Laguz rune’s advice
Before making an important decision, ask yourself what you feel as you picture each option. Write the answer down, then check it against the facts. Let both heart and head have their say.
Laguz as the rune of the day
Laguz: yes or no
Upright
Likely yes
Probably “yes”, if you are willing to act flexibly and listen to yourself. Laguz speaks of a current, not a straight road: you can reach your goal, though perhaps by a different route than you planned.
Reversed
Likely no
Probably “no” while your feelings are still running high. Reversed Laguz advises against deciding while you are agitated: come back to the question when you can look at it calmly.
Questions about the Laguz rune
What does the Laguz rune mean?
Laguz is the rune of water: feelings, intuition and flexibility. It invites you to listen to what you sense and to move towards your goal by adapting to circumstances rather than breaking them. At its heart is trust in yourself, not surrender to whatever current comes along.
What does reversed Laguz mean?
Reversed Laguz speaks of feelings that have lost their balance: they sweep you away or, on the contrary, are held down. Sometimes it points to self-deception or someone else’s influence. The rune advises holding off on important decisions until it is clear what you yourself want.
What does Laguz mean in relationships?
In relationships, Laguz is the rune of emotional closeness and sensitivity to each other’s moods. Upright, it supports openness; reversed, it highlights jealousy, hurt and things left unsaid, which are worth discussing calmly and directly.
Is Laguz the rune of intuition?
That is the link people make most often: water is an ancient image of what lies hidden in the depths. But Laguz doesn’t ask you to rely on hunches alone. It suggests checking them against the facts; that way instinct becomes a support rather than a source of anxiety.