|
ORIGIN OF THE RUNES
Scholars have yet to agree on a generic source of
the Runic alphabet. Some advocate that the Greek alphabet, c.600 BCE is a
prototype, while others have proposed that the Latin alphabet is the source,
although neither claim has been proven.
Another theory suggests that the Runes may have
originated in the ancient Etruscan cultures of northern Italy. To support this
theory, scholars point to the discovery of 26 bronze helmets, that were found in
1812 at Negau in the Austrian Empire. these helmets, dating from the 3rd
century.
BCE have a Germanic inscription engraved in the
Etruscan script on them that includes the words "Harigast I Teiva".
Translated, these words are an invocation of the war-god Harigast.
Other scholars propose that the Runes developed from
the Hallristningar rock carvings. The symbols were carved in the latter part of
the Stone Age or early Bronze Age and have been discovered in parts of northern
Italy, Austria, and southern Germany. these Runes, their pictorial symbols, and
associated song names and lore, were the ancestral inheritance of the North
Germanic peoples migrating south from Scandinavia.
One historical fact is certain, that the earliest
inscriptions so far found were written from right to left, indicating an
alphabet at least as old as Hebrew language.
The shape of the Runic letters, based on vertical
and diagonal strokes, and avoiding horizontals and curves, suggests that this
was an alphabet designed for carving in wood.
EXPANSION OF RUNES THROUGH EUROPE
The current revival of interest in Runes reflects
the fact that we are today searching for a deeper spiritual meaning to our
lives, and seeking a more natural way of living through the ancient skills and
wisdom of our ancestors.
The growth and influence of Runes were linked to the
expansion of the Germanic tribes as the imperial power of the Roman Empire
declined. by 410 CE the Visigoths (or West Goths, an ancient Teutonic people who
began moving out of northern Europe), had sacked Rome and established their own
empire. They invaded Spain, and occupied many parts of it right up until the
Moorish conquest in the 8th century. Britain was also dominated by Germanic
tribes - The Saxons, Jutes, and Angles - and by the end of the 6th century
consisted of several kingdoms. The three largest were Northumbria, Mercia, and
Wessex.
From "Runes" by Catherine J. Duane &
Orla Duane
1. FEHU/FEOH/THE F-RUNE
POEM: (associated with this Rune)
Wealth is a comfort to everyone,
yet each must give freely,
if he will glory in heaven.
THE RUNE:
The Fehu or Feoh Rune denotes the use and misuse of
power. Fehu refers to cattle, and is a sign of wealth and prosperity. The Rune
represents plenty, but also adds that wealth must be shared with others to win
favour. Generosity is an important feature in many literatures.
This is the first Rune of the Frey's Aett or group
or family, and strongly connects to the god of Fertility, known as Frey.
INTERPRETATION:
This Rune can help in recognizing the true value of
things. Possessions are not an end in themselves but a means to an end. While
money can give access to power, the greatest (truest) power is the potential
within us. This form of power cannot be bought, but must be developed and
cherished. The moon in Fehu suggests domestic security and wealth. It can also
signify over-dependence on a mother. When Mercury is with Fehu they may bring
about brilliant insight into financial matters, but when Mars is with Fehu there
can be anger and forcefulness that may lead to frustration and to injury.
The number associated with Fehu is one that
signifies unity. The colour red, meaning magic power and strength, is also
associated with the Rune Fehu. The tree associates with this Rune is the elder,
that represents endings and beginnings.
The planetary deity Odin, together with the goddess
Frigg, rules, over the Rune Fehu.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2. URUZ/UR/THE U-RUNE
POEM: (associated with this Rune)
The wild ox is fierce,
with horns above,
a bold fighter who
steps the moon,
almighty.
THE RUNE:
This Rune is known as Uruz/Ur/the U-Rune. It is the
symbol of the wild ox or aurochs. According to Viking legends, these now extinct
animals were of great strength, fast-moving, and could carry great loads.
INTERPRETATION:
This Rune indicates power but there is also a danger
in untamed power. As the strong beast cannot be pushed, care must be taken to
use power and energy wisely. The Rune encourages us to face the obstacles and
challenges in life without fear.
According to Nordic mythology Uruz represents the
space that lies between Cosmic Ice and Cosmic Fire, and contains the power of
essence. The tree associated with Uruz is the silver birch, is symbolic of
rebirth and new beginnings. The planetary deity Urd rules over the Rune Uruz.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3. THURISAZ/THORN/THE TH-RUNE
POEM: (associated with this Rune)
Thorn is very sharp
to everyone,
bad to take hold of,
severe to those who
rest among them.
THE RUNE:
This Rune is associated with the god Thor and is
named Thurisaz/Thorn/the Th-Rune.
Thor in folklore was an aggressive personality and
there are many stories of his battles with monsters. This Rune therefore relates
to standing one's own ground firmly and being assertive.
Thurisaz is said to be the symbol of the ice demon
that fed on human flesh. The people of antiquity had a fear of being frozen to
death in the cold climate of the north and being attacked by wild animals and
then consumed.
INTERPRETATION
This Rune can help you to overcome fears. It can
help one to break down barriers. When the solar powers are with Thurisaz it
indicates a defensive nature and also carries the feeling of masculine energy.
Because the blackthorn is a dense bush and has many thorns, it is usually
associated with the Rune Thurisaz.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
4. ANSUZ/OS/THE A-RUNE
POEM: (associated with this Rune)
Mouth is the origins of speech,
the support of wisdom,
and for everyone a blessing and a confidence.
THE RUNE:
Ansuz means god and connects with Odin and the ash
tree, the wolf and the raven. The essentials of this Rune are related to
communication, wisdom and ideas.
INTERPRETATION:
This Rune is considered one of luck and can be used
as a general invocation of the beneficial powers of the earth. It can also be
used in creative work. We are warned to be on our guard when we play with words,
since they can cause harm.
Ansuz is connected to the god Odin and also the ah
tree with its deep and strong roots. This Rune is a symbol of primal power.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
5. RAIDO/RAD/THE R-RUNE
POEM: (associated with this Rune)
Riding in the hall is very pleasant,
it is more strenuous sitting on a strong horse,
covering the mile paths.
THE RUNE
This Rune is said to relate to journeys inwardly and
outwardly. The Rune is also used in invoking the spirits of the dead. It is a
symbol of change in oneself.
INTERPRETATION This Rune signifies travel, movement,
new horizons and changes in life. It can also mean a crisis, a challenge to the
way things are. Results do not come without sacrifice.
Raido is representative of the bright power of the
sun-wheel. The oak tree, strong and durable, is connected to the Rune Raido.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
6. KAUNAZ/CEN/THE K-RUNE - INNER LIGHT
POEM: (associated with this Rune)
Torch to all living is pale and bricht,
it burns most where noble folk rest.
THE RUNE
The sixth Rune is related to the word "kerman"
in Old German and means "knowing". The god related to this Rune is
Heimdall, the shining god. The Rune is connected to fire.
INTERPRETATION
This Rune suggests new energy and a positive outlook
emanating from within.
The Pine tree, that is long and slender, is
associated with Kaunaz and helps one to value knowledge. The herb associated
with Kaunaz is the cowslip, and this Rune is said to contain female energy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
7. GEBO/GYFU/THE G-RUNE
POEM: (associated with this Rune)
Gift is for everyone
Glory and exaltation,
and for the needy
a help and sustenance.
THE RUNE
The Gebo Rune is a reminder that there is a price to
pay for wisdom and insight. It suggests the sharing of good fortune with those
who are less fortunate.
INTERPRETATION
The Rune indicates compassion and generosity of
spirit.
Gebo is associated with the colour deep blue, and
the herb connected to it is the heartsease. Gefn is the deity, and Gebo has the
symbolic meaning of sacred mark. The ask or elm are he trees that are connected
to this Rune.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
8. WUNJO/WYN/THE W-RUNE
POEM: (associated with this Rune)
Joy is needed not
by those that have
little want and sorrow
and have increase and bliss.
THE RUNE
This Rune is associated with Odin, who was also
called Woden, in his role as the bearer of gifts and signifies contentment and
joy. The symbolism of Wunjo is drawn from the weather-vanes used in Scandinavia.
INTERPRETATION
This Rune suggests comfort, good fortune and
happiness. It could signify a positive solution to any problems in either
personal or business matters.
Symbolically, Wunjo means flat or weather-vane and
is associated with the deities of Odin and Frigg. It represents the colour
yellow, the herb connected to it is flax and the tree it represents is ash.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
9. HAGALAZ/HAEGEL/THE H-RUNE
POEM: (associated with this Rune)
Hail is the whitest of grains,
it sweeps from the sky,
its whirled by the wind,
and turns to water.
THE RUNE
This Rune is a symbol of ice and hail and is
identified with the gods Urd and Heimdall. This Rune represents the potential
within us.
INTERPRETATION
The Rune in this case helps to banish boredom and
enables one to accept the challenges of difficult and frustrating situations.
The symbolic meaning of Hagalaz is the serpent,
light blue is its colour and the ash and yew trees are associated with this
Rune.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
10. NAUTHIZ/NYD/THE N-RUNE
POEM: (associated with this Rune)
Need is narrow in the breast,
but can often be a help,
if attended to early.
THE RUNE
Nauthiz relates to need, necessity and compulsion.
The goddess associated with this Rune is Nott (goddess of night) who was the
mother of Dag (god of day).
INTERPRETATION
The Rune represents great opportunities and success.
With patient planning, problems can be overcome.
Nauthiz is associated with the deity Skuld, and has
black as its colour. The Rune is associated with the trees beech and rowan and
the herb snakeroot.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
11. ISA/IS/THE E-RUNE
POEM: (associated with this Rune)
Ice is cold and slippery,
it glistens like glass,
is as bright as gems,
the field wrought with frost
is fair to the sight.
THE RUNE
Symbolically this Rune resembles an icicle. The
goddess connected with this Rune is Vardandi (one of the three Norns, or
northern goddesses of fate.) Ice is slippery, like a floor made from glass, but
it is nevertheless also beautiful.
INTERPRETATION
This Rune encourages meditation and as a result
answers to problems may surface. Isa is the Rune of self containment and can
help one to recognise the powers within.
Isa is associated with the god Verdandi and is
symbolic of the icicle and the primal ice of Niflheim. Like Nauthiz, the tenth
verse, its associated colour is black. The corresponding tree for this Rune is
the alder and the herb connected to it is henbane.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
12. JERA/GER/THE Y-RUNE
POEM: (associated with this Rune)
Year of fruitfulness,
is the hope of everyone,
when the gods allow the earth,
to give her bright increase
to rich and poor.
This Rune refers to the annual harvest period. It is
a symbol of community and festival and is a representation of actions that are
right and good. The god Frey is identified with Jera.
INTERPRETATION
The Jera Rune is a symbol of gradual improvement and
is helpful during changes in our lives. It also enables us to be joyful, to
celebrate life and enter more deeply into harmony with nature.
Jera, whose colour is light blue, is connected to
the herb rosemary and the oak tree.
The god associated with this Rune is the fertility
god, Free and it is representative of both male and female energy. The Rune Jera
corresponds with the earth.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
13. EIHWAZ/EOH/THE EI-RUNE
POEM: (associated with this Rune)
Yew is outwardly
a smooth tree,
Hard and fast in the earth,
the shepherd of fire,
twisted beneath with roots,
a pleasure on the land.
THE RUNE
This Rune represents a powerful woman who is able to
bring about good or evil. This Rune is also connected to death and for this
reason can be frightening.
INTERPRETATION
This Rune teaches that there is nothing to fear.
Death is another path on the journey of life. Transformation and development are
inherent in life and offer limitless possibilities if we are willing to embrace
the challenges on offer.
Eihwaz's symbolic meaning is the yew tree, a sign of
protection and it is associated with Ullr. Its colour is dark blue and is
representative of male energy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
14. PERTHO/PEORTH/THE P-RUNE
POEM: (associated with this Rune)
Chess is ever play and laughter
to the proud,
where the warriors sit
in the beer hall
cheerful together.
THE RUNE
Of all the Runes this one is the most mysterious.
The Rune is a symbol of the boundary between life and death. Pertho is the
symbol of the goddess Frigg.
INTERPRETATION
Pertho corresponds to the aspen or beech tree and
has as its symbolic meaning the womb, or a dice cup. The herb connected to it is
aconite and the colour is black.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
15 ALGIZ/EOLA/THE Z-RUNE
POEM: (associated with this Rune)
Sedge grows in the fern,
flourishing in water,
burning the blood of everyone who touches it.
THE RUNE
This Rune is used to ward off evil. It is said to
relate to the elk, to the yew tree, and to sedge. The god connected to this Rune
is Heimdall.
INTERPRETATION
This Rune has uses in healing and protection, and
can help to achieve a state of enlightenment.
Algiz corresponds to the colour white and the yew
tree. The herb connected to it is sedge and this Rune has as its symbolic
meaning an open hand, the flying swan and the elk.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
16. SOWULO/SIGEL/THE S-RUNE
POEM (associated with this Rune)
Sun to the seafarer
is always confidence,
When they move across
the fishers' bath,
'til the sea-horse
brings them to land.
THE RUNE
This Rune refers to the sun as a guiding light to
seafarers. The Rune is used as a symbol of salvation, light and order against
the forces of chaos and darkness. Sowulo is also representative of the god
Baldur.
INTERPRETATION
This Rune helps us to contact our inner life force
and indicates a need for a deeper spirituality. With the Sowulo Rune we reach
the end of the second group of eight Runes.
Sowulo is associated with the colour gold, the herb
mistletoe, and the juniper tree. Baldur is the deity connected to this Rune, and
it represents the male energy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
17. TEIWAZ/TYR/THE T-RUNE
POEM (associated with this Rune)
Tyr is a token
which has the confidence
of nobles,
It is ever moving
and in the darkness
of night never rests.
THE RUNE
Tyr the Norse god is concerned with law and order,
war, and justice. This Rune represents a spearhead and is a symbol of divine
justice, of strength, purpose of will, power and of courage and determination.
INTERPRETATION
The Rune is used when courage and determination are
needed and can help us take responsibility for our own actions.
Teiwaz is associated with the oak tree and
represents bright red. Its symbolic meaning is the value of the heavens over the
cosmic pillar.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
18. BERKANA/BEORC/THE B-RUNE
POEM (associated with this Rune)
Birch is fruitless
but bears twigs without increase,
it is beautiful in its branches,
is laden with leaves,
heavy in the air.
THE RUNE
This secret Rune is sacred to the godess Freya. It
is a Rune of healing, of atonement for past deeds and indicates regeneration.
The Rune is also used in the aid of childbirth.
INTERPRETATION
This Rune is useful in relationships to restore a
state of love and fruitfulness. It is also used in times of new beginnings.
Berkana corresponds to the deity Holda and is
connected to the birch tree. The corresponding colour is dark green and this
Rune represents female energy.
Regeneration and birth are associated with Berkana.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
19. EHWAZ/EH/THE EH-RUNE
POEM (associated with this Rune)
Horse is the joy of nobles,
where heroes wealthy on
their horses exchange words,
to the restless it is a comfort.
THE RUNE
In mythology, this is the Rune of the horses, that
were regarded in many ancient cultures as sacred animals. The god associated
with this Rune is Frey.
INTERPRETATION
This Rune is used when one needs help from the
divine in times of trouble. It is also used for communication and helps restore
a sense of control and balance.
Ehwaz is associated with the herb ragwort and with
the oak and ask trees. This Rune is linked to the deity Frey and the
corresponding colour is white.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
20. MANNAZ/MAN/THE M-RUNE
POEM (associated with this Rune)
Folk in their happiness
are dear to their kindred,
yet all must depart
from each other,
because the Gods commit
the body to the earth.
THE RUNE
This Rune is sometimes said to be the Rune of the
god Heimdall. It relates to man as a species and is a Rune associated with
relationships and kinship.
INTERPRETATION
This Rune holds the power to enable human beings to
become integrated and to know themselves.
Mannaz, whose symbolic meaning is that of the
marriage of heaven and earth, is linked to the deities of Heimdall, Odin and
Frigg. This Rune represents both male and female energy and is connected to the
holly tree. The herb with which it corresponds is madder.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
21. LAGUZ/LAGU/THE L-RUNE
POEM (associated with this Rune)
Water to land-folk,
seems tedious,
if they venture forth in
an unsteady boat,
the sea wavers will foam
and the sea horse heeds
not the bridle.
THE RUNE
Ancient tradition believed humanity originated from
the sea. Water is a sacred and spiritual symbol and is associated with this
Rune. The Rune relates to the seal, the gull and the willow tree and has
connections with the god Njord.
INTERPRETATION
This Rune indicates transition from one state to
another. It helps us to integrate the ebb and flow of life.
Laguz, the sea wave, or waterfall is linked to the
osier tree. The associated herb is the leek. The corresponding colour is deep
green and the connected deity is Njord, god of the sea. This Rune is
representative of female energy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
22. INGUZ/ING/THE ING-RUNE
POEM (associated with this Rune)
Ing was first seen among
the Eastern Danes,
departing over the waves,
his wagon ran behind,
thus the warriors named him.
THE RUNE
Ing was one of the gods of fertility. The Saxon
kings of northeast England claimed that they were descended from him. This Rune
is associated with this god.
INTERPRETATION
This Rune is concerned with the male fertility and
suggests new birth. Inguz also symbolises a journey into the inner depths of the
soul, where harmony and balance can be found to reside. Inguz could also signify
the successful completion of a difficult task.
Inguz has associations with the apple tree, that is
fragrant and graceful. The Rune is linked to Frey, god of fertility and natural
fruitfulness, whose main attribute was his erect penis. It is represented by the
male genital organs and may be the equivalent of the female Pertho.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
23. OTHILA/ETHEL/THE O-RUNE
POEM (associated with this Rune)
Home is beloved of everyone,
if they can enjoy their
rights and labour,
and prosper in peace.
THE RUNE
Concerned with matters of the home. The ancient
peoples were more respectful of the wisdom of their ancestors than we are today.
The Rune is used to invoke ancestral powers and is associated with the god Odin.
INTERPRETATION
This Rune can be used to help develop latent
talents, to guard family fortunes and to achieve great success.
Othila, connected to the god Odin, has as its
symbolic meaning land or property. The colour associated with this Rune is deep
yellow, and it is also linked to the hawthorn tree and clover.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
24. DAGAZ/DAEG/THE D-RUNE
POEM (associated with this Rune)
Day is the gods' messenger,
the light of the gods
is happiness and consolation
to rich and poor.
THE RUNE
This Rune is connected to awakening the power that a
new day brings. It is also concerned with the god and sage Heimdall.
INTERPRETATION
The Rune Dagaz is used to enable transformation to
take place in life. It helps one to realise that light and darkness in life are
opposites sides of the one coin and that synthesis is possible. It also
indicates the need for hard work.
Dagaz, which is linked to the deity Heimdall, is
representative of male energy and is associated with the spruce tree.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
25. WYRD - THE BLANK RUNE
POEM (There is no poem associated with this Rune)
THE RUNE
Wyrd, which means "to turn" is known as
the Blank Rune and has no connections with gods, plants or animals. This Rune is
concerned with fate or destiny. It represents the unknown factor.
INTERPRETATION
This Rune is indicative of a major change in one's
life and can even suggest death to a situation or event, or to a way of life.
Wyrd is the mother of the Norns, the primitive
goddess of fate, and she governs the Web of Wyrd (pattern of cosmic destiny)
between the root and the branch of Yggdrasill (the tree of life).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*** From "Runes" by Catherine J. Duane
& Orla Duane
|
