The Runes

I know that I hung on Yggdrasil
For nine nights long
Wounded by spear
Consecrated to Odin
Myself a sacrifice to myself
Upon that tree
The wisest know not the roots
of ancient times whence it sprang.

None brought me bread
None gave me mead
Down to the depths I searched
I took up the Runes
Raised them with song
And from that tree I fell.

Runes you shall know, and readable staves,
Very powerful staves,Very great staves
Graven by the mighty one who speaks
Carved by the highest hosts

Odin among the Aesir,
Dvalin (sleeper) among dwarfs,
Dain (dead) among alfs,
Alvitter (all-knowing) among etins,
I myself carved some for mankind

The following are not recomendations, Alfather commands you to know the following if you are Asatruar.

Know how to carve,    know how to read,
know how to stain,    know how to understand,
know how to ask,    know how to offer,
know how to evoke,    know how to sacrifice.

The Runes go back when time began, we of Asatru have set a date from when the first Futhark was discovered 2253 years ago. This is known as the Runic Era which places us to date in the year 2253 R.E..

Asatruar have always lived in close harmony with the environment, the seasonal and stellar cycles, their Gods and Goddesses, and their ancestors. These forces come together in the mysterious symbols known as Runes. The word Rune means a secret or a whisper. Runes are magical tools for both divination and spell casting.

(Note that the first word below the Rune is the key used to remember its meaning)



The Elder Futhark of Northern Europe

Fehu (Cattle)

Letter: F
Wealth; Money, mobile property, finacial prosperity

Hagalaz (Hail)

Letter: H
Disruption; Disruption by natural events and uncontrolled forces.

Teiwaz (Tyr)

Letter: T
Justice; Success in competition in legal matters, honour, leadership and authority.

Uruz (Aurochs)

Letter: U
Strength; Physical strength and vitality.

Nauthiz (Need)

Letter: N
Trouble; Needs as opposed to wants, must be overcome hard work.

Berkana (Birch)

Letter: B
Renewal; Healing, recovery, physical or spiritual regeneration, a new growth from old roots, motherhood.

Thurisaz (Thurs)

Letters: TH
Violence; Conflicts and complexities of an aggressive nature.

Isa (Ice)

Letter: I
Blockage; A standstill which may be good or bad.

Ehwaz (Horse)

Letter: E
Loyalty; Status as it relates between you and others.

Ansuz (Aesir)

Letter: A
Inspiration; The multiverse in magical and religious acts, gaining knowledge.

Jera (Year)

Letters: J and Y
Harvest; Hopes and expectations the results of earlier efforts are realized.

Mannaz (Man)

Letter: M
Intellect; Power of human intelligence, rationality, memory, and tradition.

Raido (Riding)

Letter: R
Journey; Travel, both in physical terms and those of life-style direction.

Eihwaz (Yew)

Letters: EI
Enduring; Resilient strength to deflect difficulty or problems.

Laguz (Water)

Letter: L
Passage; Initiation into life as when a heathen child is sprinkled with water and given a name; the primal waters of Niflheimer.

Kenaz (Tourch)

Letter: K
Guidance; Creativity, and the strengthening of abilities in all realms.

Perthro (Lot-cup)

Letter: P
Concealed; Something unknown, or not yet revealed; a mystery in the same sense that an unborn child is a mystery.

Inguz (Ing)

Letters: NG
Gestation; Potential energy that must undergo a period of time in order to gain strength.

Gebo (Gift)

Letter: G
Generosity; All matters relating to exchanges, including contracts and sacrifice.

Algiz (Elk)

Letter: Z
Protection; Shelter oneself, luck through striving, a successful outcome to a quest.

Othila (Property)

Letter: O
Folkland; Inheritances, Your home, physical and spiritual heritage.

Wunjo (Joy)

Letter: W
Satisfaction; Happiness, general success and recognition of worth.

Sowulo (Sun)

Letter: S
Victory; Success or other favourable circumstances.

Dagaz (Day)

Letter: D
Awakening; Daylight clarity a time to embark on a new enterprise.