The Meanings of the Runes
The meanings of the Elder Futhark runes — ancient symbols that speak the language of nature and the soul.
Runes are living energy.
Each one carries an archetype that we can recognize within ourselves.
When we look at them not as marks to be studied but as mirrors of the inner world, their meaning is not something we learn — it’s something we remember.
Runes are not “good” or “bad.” Each has its own character, with both light and shadow aspects. To understand them is to see the whole pattern — especially when we use runes to create an inscription, a bindrune, or a tattoo that carries intention.
In divination, upright runes reveal their flowing, positive nature, while reversed ones reflect the lessons and limits that call for awareness.
Yet like all that lives, their meaning depends on context — on how they speak to one another.
The runes do not ask to be decoded.
They ask to be listened to.
Here you’ll find the 24 runes of the Elder Futhark — each with its core meaning, its light and shadow aspects, and, where relevant, its mythic associations.
FEHU
Meaning: Cattle.
For the peoples from whom the runes originate, cattle were the foundation of wealth — a measure of prosperity, security, and life itself.
Today, Fehu represents everything we own and create: money, work, material resources — but also our inner ability to sustain the flow of abundance.
It speaks of the energy of creation and exchange — the circulation of value. Fehu reminds us that true wealth lies not in possession but in allowing energy to move freely.
Use: Support for business ventures, financial stability, or any form of fertile creation.
Positive aspects: Security, gain, success, fertility, generosity.
Negative aspects: Loss, greed, envy, poverty, attachment to the material.
Deity: Freyr
URUZ
Meaning: Aurochs — the wild ox that once roamed Europe and is now extinct.
Uruz embodies pure life force — primal, untamed energy that fuels strength of body, will, and spirit. It is the surge that rises when we think we’re empty and pushes us onward when we’re ready to stop.
In a reading, Uruz shows vitality and the renewal of inner power. Reversed, it may suggest that energy is scattered or misused — a time to pause and restore strength.
Use: To build endurance, awaken courage, or release blocked energy.
Positive aspects: Health, endurance, independence, perseverance.
Negative aspects: Exhaustion, impulsiveness, anger, passivity.
THURISAZ
Meaning: Giant, thorn.
Thurisaz holds fierce, protective power. It appears when we meet resistance — external or within ourselves — that demands courage and awareness. It’s the rune of confrontation, of boundaries tested, of forces that must be faced to be transformed.
Carrying the energy of Thor and his hammer, Thurisaz defends, cuts, and purifies. It stops what harms, redirects what drains, and returns energy to its rightful source.
It reminds us that strength without awareness can destroy, but awareness without strength cannot protect.
Positive aspects: Protection, endurance through hardship, transformation through challenge.
Negative aspects: Conflict, aggression, reckless reaction, sudden upheaval.
Deity: Thor
ANSUZ
Meaning: God.
Ansuz is the breath of spirit — the rune of inspiration, speech, and wisdom. It is the moment truth finds its voice.
Linked to Odin, it represents the power of language — the bridge between worlds.
If this rune finds you, it may bring a message or a moment of sudden understanding. It invites you to listen — to signs, intuition, and words that carry the vibration of truth.
Reversed, it warns against false guidance or vanity that clouds clarity.
Use: To strengthen communication, insight, and decision-making aligned with higher wisdom.
Positive aspects: Wisdom, inspiration, clarity, truth.
Negative aspects: Misunderstanding, deceit, confusion.
Deity: Odin
RAIDHO
Meaning: Riding, journey.
Raidho is movement — the rhythm that carries us forward in alignment with life’s course.
It speaks of both physical travel and inner progress: the unfolding of purpose through conscious action.
If it appears, it calls you to take the reins with awareness — to move in rhythm with what feels right rather than what feels urgent.
It protects travelers, both on roads and in the landscapes of the soul.
Positive aspects: Direction, travel, conscious progress, new beginnings.
Negative aspects: Losing direction, chaos, external pressure, stagnation.
KENAZ
Meaning: Torch.
Kenaz is the light that reveals. It illuminates darkness — both ignorance and fear — bringing insight and creative clarity.
It reminds us that illumination begins within: the spark of understanding that turns confusion into vision.
If this rune comes to you, it invites awareness — to see what is truly there, and to recognize the knowledge already waiting beneath uncertainty.
Positive aspects: Clarity, illumination, knowledge, inspiration.
Negative aspects: Confusion, illusion, lack of focus.
GEBO
Meaning: Gift.
Gebo is sacred exchange — the harmony between giving and receiving. It teaches that every act of generosity carries a current in both directions.
This rune appears when relationships seek balance — when love, partnership, or collaboration are ready to flow in equal measure.
It reminds us that giving without openness can deplete, just as receiving without gratitude can close the heart.
Positive aspects: Balance, love, partnership, generosity.
Negative aspects: Imbalance, dishonesty, depletion, unreciprocated giving.
WUNJO
Meaning: Joy, fulfillment.
Wunjo carries the warmth of contentment — the deep breath after struggle, the peace that comes from alignment.
It is joy that doesn’t depend on circumstances but flows from harmony within.
If Wunjo visits, it marks a time of well-being and gratitude. Yet it also whispers: joy must keep moving, or it turns to stagnation.
Positive aspects: Happiness, harmony, success, gratitude.
Negative aspects: Complacency, laziness, unmet expectations.
HAGALAZ
Meaning: Hail.
Hagalaz is disruption — the storm that clears the air. It represents forces beyond control: sudden change, endings, awakenings.
Though it can shatter what’s rigid, it does so to make room for new life.
If Hagalaz crosses your path, trust the breaking. Renewal begins there.
Positive aspects: Purification, renewal, spiritual strength.
Negative aspects: Chaos, destruction, restlessness.
Associated force: Norn Urd
NAUTHIZ
Meaning: Need.
Nauthiz shows us what is missing — and in doing so, it teaches resilience.
It appears when limitation shapes strength, when lack becomes discipline.
This rune reminds us that every obstacle hides protection — a pause meant to prepare us for what’s next.
Positive aspects: Patience, inner strength, creativity under pressure.
Negative aspects: Restriction, frustration, exhaustion.
Associated force: Norn Skuld
ISA
Meaning: Ice.
Isa is stillness. It asks us to stop — not in defeat, but in awareness.
It’s the quiet between breaths, the moment clarity forms beneath the surface.
Though frozen states can feel lonely, Isa offers strength through composure and reflection. It protects by preserving.
Positive aspects: Focus, calm, perseverance.
Negative aspects: Delay, emotional coldness, stagnation.
Associated force: Norn Verdandi
JERA
Meaning: Year, harvest.
Jera is the turning of the wheel — the completion of cycles and the reaping of what was sown.
It reminds us that growth unfolds in rhythm with nature’s seasons.
If this rune greets you, it signals results — the fruition of effort and patience.
Positive aspects: Growth, fulfillment, abundance.
Negative aspects: Delay, repetition of old patterns.
EIHWAZ
Meaning: Yew tree.
Eihwaz embodies endurance and transformation. Like the yew — rooted in shadow yet evergreen — it holds the secret of rebirth.
It is associated with the courage to take risks, with initiations, and with the conscious processes of transformation we undergo.
If this rune finds you, it offers courage to cross thresholds and trust your own resilience.
Positive aspects: Strength, initiation, renewal, perseverance.
Negative aspects: Fear, confusion, resistance to change.
PERTHRO
Meaning: Mystery, fate.
Perthro is the rune of what cannot yet be known. It governs the unfolding of destiny — the part hidden until the moment of revelation.
It’s connected with chance, destiny, birth, and feminine fertility — the silent creative force that shapes life beneath the surface.
Perthro often appears when life is asking for trust in the unseen. Some answers are not withheld; they’re still forming.
Positive aspects: Intuition, revelation, luck, birth.
Negative aspects: Secrecy, illusion, uncertainty.
ALGIZ
Meaning: Protection.
Algiz is the raised hand — the instinct to shield and the grace to stay open.
It connects us to divine protection and the higher self that knows when to stand tall and when to bow.
If this rune stands before you, it’s both a shield and a reminder: awareness itself is protection.
Positive aspects: Support, strength, guidance.
Negative aspects: Vulnerability, exhaustion, disconnection.
SOWILO
Meaning: Sun.
Sowilo is the rune of light and life force — the inner sun that warms, moves, and clarifies everything it touches. It brings strength, health, clarity, and optimism — an energy that uplifts and purifies.
When it appears, it signifies insight, success, and victory, yet reminds us that true strength comes from the light of awareness, not from domination.
Sowilo helps truth to shine and guides us to release what no longer glows in harmony with who we are.
Positive aspects: Confidence, clarity, success, vitality.
Negative aspects: Burnout, arrogance, overexertion.
Deities: Sól, Baldur
TIWAZ
Meaning: Tyr, god of justice.
Tiwaz represents honor, courage, and sacrifice in service of what’s right.
It is the warrior’s integrity — steadfast action aligned with truth, even when the outcome is uncertain.
If it finds you, Tiwaz calls for clarity of purpose and unwavering resolve.
Positive aspects: Discipline, fairness, perseverance.
Negative aspects: Dishonesty, unnecessary conflict, rigidity.
Deity: Tyr
BERKANA
Meaning: Birch.
Berkana carries the energy of birth and renewal. It is the mother force — nurturing, cleansing, ever-growing.
This rune supports beginnings and healing. Like the birch, it clears away the old so new life can take root.
Positive aspects: Growth, fertility, love, rejuvenation.
Negative aspects: Emotional instability, unexpressed creativity.
EHWAZ
Meaning: Horse.
Ehwaz symbolizes a bond of trust — a partnership built on balance, movement, and mutual understanding.
Like horse and rider, it reflects two forces moving as one, guided by rhythm and respect.
It reminds us that true progress arises through cooperation, harmony, and shared direction.
Positive aspects: Teamwork, unity, progress, loyalty.
Negative aspects: Betrayal, distrust, discord.
MANNAZ
Meaning: Human, humanity.
Mannaz represents self-awareness and our place within the whole.
It bridges the personal and the collective — the “I” that exists through the “we.”
This rune reminds us that growth is never solitary.
It speaks of understanding, empathy, and the delicate balance between individuality and connection — the great paradox and gift of being human.
Positive aspects: Understanding, empathy, community.
Challenging aspects: Ego, manipulation, isolation.
Deity: Heimdall
LAGUZ
Meaning: Water, flow.
Laguz is the rune of intuition and inner guidance — the gentle current of life that moves through emotion and dream.
It connects us with the subconscious and the unseen wisdom that flows beneath awareness.
This rune invites surrender — to stop pushing against the tide and trust where life wants to take you.
It brings healing, sensitivity, and deeper emotional understanding.
Positive aspects: Intuition, adaptability, empathy, dreams, healing, inner peace.
Negative aspects: Confusion, fear, emotional overwhelm, passivity, loss of direction.
INGWAZ
Meaning: The god Yngvi-Freyr.
Ingwaz is the rune of peace, fertility, and inner fulfillment. It brings a sense of completion — the end of one cycle and readiness for the next.
It represents fertility in its widest sense — creative, spiritual, and physical. It may indicate the birth of new ideas, personal transformation, or the renewal of life energy.
When it appears, Ingwaz brings calm, harmony, and a sense that things are naturally falling into place.
Positive aspects: Peace, abundance, prosperity, fertility, sensuality, harmony, inner warmth, creative energy.
Negative aspects: Immaturity, stagnation despite effort, lust, infertility.
Deity: Freyr
DAGAZ
Meaning: Day.
Dagaz is the rune of transition and transformation — the turning of night into day, darkness into light.
It marks awakening, clarity, and the breakthrough of a new beginning.
When Dagaz appears, you stand at the threshold of renewal.
Change may feel uncertain, yet this rune reminds us that every shift opens the way to greater freedom and illumination.
Positive aspects: Illumination, clarity, transformation, awakening, new beginning.
Negative aspects: Sudden change, instability, impulsiveness, openness without grounding.
OTHALA
Meaning: Heritage.
Othala speaks of our roots — the legacy we inherit and the one we create.
It represents home, land, ancestry, and the sense of belonging that gives life stability and meaning.
This rune invites gratitude for what endures and wisdom to let go of what no longer serves our growth.
It carries the energy of stability, rootedness, and reverence for the lineage from which we come.
Positive aspects: Heritage, home, family, belonging, stability, gratitude.
Negative aspects: Prejudice, rigidity, attachment to the past, rejection of difference, poverty.
The Elder Futhark is a living language — the whisper of the unseen through form and sound.
When you work with the runes, you step into an ancient rhythm that awakens the voice of knowing within.
Each rune is both an echo and a reflection — a space where creation, protection, and transformation flow through your being.
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