Read about Asatru and
Heathenry
RUNE MAGICK
MEANINGS AND USES FOR THE RUNES
This is a brief synopsis of the Runes that make up the Elder Futhark. The Elder Futhark consists of 24 Runes. Futhark means
‘alphabet’ and this word comes from the first 6 staves (letters) of the Futhark.
Other Runic alphabets have different numbers of staves. For example, the Younger Futhark
has 16 and the Anglo-Saxon Futhark has 32 or 33
staves. The word ‘Rune’ has several
interpretations – it means ‘to roar’, ‘to whisper’, ‘mystery’ and
‘secret’.
The Runes are strongly associated with the God, Odin who is
credited with their discovery through an act of sacrifice and shamanic
initiation. Odin hung from the World
Tree, Yggdrasil (which means ‘horse of Ygg’, and Ygg is another name for
Odin) for 9 days and nights, fasting and pierced with his own spear –
sacrificing himself to himself. The
story of Odin’s sacrifice is depicted in the Havamal
Poem.
Each Rune represents an object or force in nature. These forces can be harnessed for magickal
purposes, bound in talismans or invoked through rune-song (galdr). They also make a good focus for
meditation. Reciting the entire Futhark can be used as an effective protection chant.
The pictographs, names and interpretations of the runes have
some variation. The details that follow
are taken partly from various written sources and partly from the direct
experience of myself and others.
I will list the corresponding lunar fortnight (just over 15
days), hour, god(s), stones and symbols for each rune and give details of their
magickal use. This is not a definitive
or complete correspondence table as space does not permit me to include all
available information – but it should give you an overview of the meanings and
uses of the Runes.
f
Rune name: Feoh
Pronounced: fay-oh
Meaning: Cattle/wealth
Symbol: Cow
Quality: Primal
growth
Tree: Elder
Stone: Bloodstone/amber
Plant: Camellia
Hour:
Fortnight start: 29
June
Deity: Gullveig/Freyja
Magickal use: Increase
wealth, happiness or vitality. New beginnings.
u
Rune name: Uruz
Pronounced: Oo-rooz
Meaning: Auroch (extinct large wild bovine)
Symbol: Horns
Quality: Primal
strength
Tree: Birch
Stone: Peridot
Plant: Mint,
rue
Hour:
Fortnight start: 14
July
Deity: Freyr/light elves
Magickal use: Healing,
fertility, energy and vitality.
T
Rune name: Thurisaz
Pronounced: Thur-ee-sawz
Meaning: Ice
giant
Symbol: Shield
or hammer (mjollnir)
Quality: Catalyst
Tree: Blackthorn
Stone: Obsidian
Plant: Thistle/bramble
Hour:
Fortnight start: 29
July
Deity: Loki/Thor
Magickal use: Self
defense, hexing and returning curses.
a
Rune name: Ansuz
Pronounced: Ahn-sooz
Meaning: God/word
Symbol: Mouth
or the wind
Quality: Expression
Tree: Poplar/ash
Stone: Labradorite
Plant: Fly
agaric/gum mastic
Hour:
Fortnight start: 13
August
Deity: Odin
Magickal use: Public speaking, confidence, study, creative
writing and release from bonds.
r
Rune name: Raido
Pronounced: Ray-doh
Meaning: Journey
Symbol: Wheel
Quality: Direction
Tree: Oak
Stone: Moss
agate/sardonyx
Plant: Mullein
Hour:
Fortnight start: 29
August
Deity: Freyja/Odin/Thor
Magickal use: Determination
and focus. Also safety in travel.
k
Rune name: Kaunaz
Pronounced: Kaw-nahz
Meaning: Torch
Symbol: Spring
Quality: Consciousness
Tree: Pine
Stone: Lapis
Plant: Sage
Hour:
Fortnight start: 13
September
Deity: Mimir
Magickal use: Solving problems, increase knowledge, spiritual
enlightenment and overcoming depression
g
Rune name: Gebo
Pronounced: Gay-bow
Meaning: Gift
Symbol: Necklace
Quality: Sacrifice
Tree: Elm
Stone: Turqoise/Amber
Plant: Catmint/hearts-ease
Hour:
Fortnight start: 28
September
Deity: Freyja/Odin
Magickal use: Balancing
the self, relationships, partnerships and love.
w
Rune name: Wunjo
Pronounced: Oon-yoh
Meaning: Joy
Symbol: Valknut
Quality: Potential
Tree: Ash
Stone: Quartz
Plant: Flax/borage
Hour:
Fortnight start: 13
October
Deity: Baldr/Odin
Magickal use: Draw happiness, conclusions, gain
favour with superiors, exams, success and hope.
h
Rune name: Hagalaz
Pronounced: Haag-a-laaz
Meaning: Hail
Symbol: Dark
Moon
Quality: Initiation/death
Tree: Ivy/holly
Stone: Hag
stone
Plant: Hemlock/blackthorn
Hour:
Fortnight start: 28
October
Deity: Hel
Magickal use: Hexing,
protection and to return a curse.
n
Rune name: Nauthiz
Pronounced: Now-theez
Meaning: Need/Necessity
Symbol: Domestic
Fire
Quality: Necessity
Tree: Rowan/beech
Stone: Smoky
quartz
Plant: Bindweed/snakeroot/wormwood
Hour:
Fortnight start: 13
November
Deity: The
Norns
Magickal use: Bringing a person back to their destiny and
bringing what is needed against all odds.
i
Rune name: Isa
Pronounced: Ee-sah
Meaning: Ice
Symbol: Mountain
Quality: Static
force
Tree: Furze
Stone: Black
tourmaline
Plant: Clove/henbane
Hour:
Fortnight start: 28
November
Deity: Skadhi
Magickal use: Stop/slow a situation, increase courage, resolution
and persistence.
j
Rune name: Jera
Pronounced: Yeah-rah
Meaning: Year/harvest
Symbol: Scythe
Quality: Rebirth
Tree: Oak/Spruce
Stone: Malachite/aventurine
Plant: Rosemary
Hour:
Fortnight start: 13
December
Deity: Sif
Magickal use: Change, resolutions, overcoming bad habits,
fertility and moving on.
I
Rune name: Eihwaz
Pronounced: Eye-wahz
Meaning: Yew
Symbol: Yggdrasil
Quality: Cosmic
connection
Tree: Yew/ash
Stone: Labradorite
Plant: Galangal/sandalwood/mugwort
Hour:
Fortnight start: 28
December
Deity: Odin/Ullr/Vali
Magickal use: Shamanic work, self reliance and getting in touch
with the higher self.
p
Rune name: Perthro
Pronounced: Per-throw
Meaning: Birth
Symbol: labyrinth/well
Quality: Creativity
Tree: Apple
Stone: Opal
Plant: Loosestrife/tansy/aconite
Hour:
Fortnight start: 13
January
Deity: Iduna/Frigg
Magickal use: Fertility, creativity, change, healing, psychic
work and restoring hope.
z
Rune name: Algiz
Pronounced: Al-geez
Meaning: Elk
Symbol: Wand/rainbow
Quality: Divine
link
Tree: Service
tree
Stone: Herkimer
diamond
Plant: Verbena/agrimony/hyssop
Hour:
Fortnight start: 28
January
Deity: Heimdall
Magickal use: Meditation/prayer, spiritual work, invoking divine
aid, protection, healing and friendship.
s
Rune name: Sowilo
Pronounced: Soh-will-oh
Meaning: Sun
Symbol: Sunwheel
Quality: The
Self
Tree: Hazel
Stone: Iron
pyrite
Plant: Bay/calendula
Hour:
Fortnight start: 12
February
Deity: Sunna
Magickal use: Courage, healing, success, happiness, energy and
overcoming negativity.
t
Rune name: Teiwaz
Pronounced: Tay-wahz
Meaning: Creator
Symbol: Sword
Quality: Universal
law
Tree: Oak/juniper
Stone: Tiger
eye
Plant: Plantain/sage
Hour:
Fortnight start: 27
February
Deity: Tyr
Magickal use: Bring
justice, balance, protection and strengthen will.
b
Rune name: Berkana
Pronounced: Ber-kah-nah
Meaning: Birch
Symbol: Full
Moon
Quality: Compassion
Tree: Birch
Stone: Moonstone
Plant: Honeysuckle/lady’s
mantle
Hour:
Fortnight start: 14
March
Deity: Nerthus/Audhumla
Magickal use: Female problems, nurturing, self love, calming the
mind, health and healing.
e
Rune name: Ehwaz
Pronounced: Eh-wahz
Meaning: Horse
Symbol: Fylfot/plough
Quality: Transformation
as an act of will
Tree: Horse
Chestnut
Stone: Carnelian
Plant: Elecampane/hops
Hour:
Fortnight start: 30
March
Deity: Freyr/Thor/Odin
Magickal use: Increase will and determination. Bring swift change and overcome difficult
circumstances.
m
Rune name: Mannaz
Pronounced: Maa-naaz
Meaning: Mankind
Symbol: Pentagram/Endless
knot
Quality: Being
Tree: Ash/elm
Stone: Hematite
Plant: Mandrake
Hour:
Fortnight start: 14
April
Deity: Rig/Odin
Magickal use: Balancing all aspects of the personality,
understanding and healing
l
Rune name: Laguz
Pronounced: Lah-gooz
Meaning:
Symbol: Axe
Quality: Liberated
subconscious
Tree:
Stone: Aquamarine
Plant: Parsley/osier
Hour:
Fortnight start: 29
April
Deity: Njord
Magickal use: Prosperity, psychic/dream work, inspiration and
finding/retaining lovers.
N
Rune name: Inguz
Pronounced: In-gooz
Meaning: Orgasm
Symbol: Spiral
Quality: Reconciliation
of Opposite/limitless expansion
Tree: Cherry/hawthorn
Stone: Unakite
Plant: Rose
Hour:
Fortnight start: 14
May
Deity: Freyr (Ing) and Freyja
Magickal use: Relationships, marriage, sex magick, binding runes
together, gaining positions of respect and balance.
o
Rune name: Othila
Pronounced: Oh-thee-lah
Meaning: Inheritance
Symbol: Torc
Quality: Knowledge
of birthright
Tree: Oak/rowan
Stone: Ammonite/belemnite
Plant: Betony/Dill
Hour:
Fortnight start: 29
May
Deity: Odin/Thor
Magickal use: Strengthen family, protect home, security, oaths
and memory.
d
Rune name: Dagaz
Pronounced: Dah-gahz
Meaning: Day
Symbol: Mobius strip
Quality: Unlimited
potential/unity
Tree: Mistletoe/oak
Stone: Diamond
Plant: Clary
sage/celandine
Hour:
Fortnight start: 14
June
Deity: Baldr/Loki/Heimdall
Magickal use: Completion and success, drawing energy in and new
beginnings.
Read about Asatru and
Heathenry