Heathen Nation

The Runes

The word “rune” stirs up an exotic array of mystical images: old mages, wizards, Celtic warriors, druids gathered at midnight around a flickering fire, secret workings in shadowy oak groves, arcane markings carved in weathered stone, sorcerers, magic, dungeons and dragons. In these modern times, more often than not, the average person assumes that “runes” are just another colorful feature of a swords-and-sorcery, Tolkienesque fantasy game or hobby. It might surprise them to discover that runes are a set of symbols with roots extending back through thousands of years of human history.

The Runes in Norse/Germanic Lore

So just what are runes and where did they come from? To our ancient Northern European ancestors, the runes were the domain of Odin, the god of knowledge, magic, and battle. Our heathen ancestors knew and honored Odin with many names, including the Wild Huntsman, the Masked One, the Father of the Slain, the Wanderer, the Wise One, and, most important to our studies, the God of Runes. According to Norse/Germanic lore, Odin’s tireless quest for wisdom led him to perform the ultimate self-sacrifice, and he was rewarded for his effort with the knowledge of the Runes.

   Wounded I hung on a wind-swept gallows
   For nine long nights,
   Pierced by a spear, pledged to Odhinn,
   Offered, myself to myself
   The wisest know not from whence spring
   The roots of that ancient rood.

   They gave me no bread,
   They gave me no mead,
   I looked down: with a loud cry
   I took up runes, then from that tree I fell.

(“The Havamal”, from The Poetic Edda, Translation by W.H.Auden & P.B.Taylor)


Because Odin was understood to be so tremendously powerful and wise in mysticial matters, our Northern European ancestors regarded him, his Runes, and the heathen rune workers with awe, and respect.

But if we set aside, just for a moment, the profound spiritual origins of the runes, we might do well to ask ourselves the question again in a purely mundane historical context. What are the runes, and where did they come from?

The History of the Runes

Runes are the oldest known writing system of the Northern European people. Like most writing system, each character represents a sound, and putting these sounds together makes words. The oldest set of known runes, and the only ones with which this paper concerns itself, is called the Elder Futhark. “Elder”, because it is the oldest. “Futhark” because the first six runes are: Fehu (F), Uruz (U), Thurisaz (Th), Ansuz (A), Raido (R), and Kenaz (K). Thus the Elder Futhark was named in much the same way that our own modern alphabet is named after its first two characters. Of course, to the ancient Northern Europeans, the use of the runes as a writing system was only part of the story; the original use of the Elder Futhark was as a divination system to seek the counsel of unseen forces, and to foretell the future.

There are many theories as to exactly when and where runes first evolved, but none of the evidence is considered to be conclusive. The oldest item preserved with runes inscribed on it is the Meldorf brooch, found in western Jutland; archeologists estimate it’s origins to have been around 50 B.C. There is also a spearhead from around the same time period which may bear a runic inscription, but the historians’ efforts to decipher it are still inconclusive. In his work, Germanica, written at the end of the first century CE, the Roman General Tacitus described his observations of the heathen tribes working with runes in a divinatory manner.

The Northern European runes appear to have been strongly influenced by the Greeks; there are, in fact, some early inscriptions made in the runic style, but carved using Greek characters. Several Germanic and Greek characters strongly resemble one another. The runes were certainly influenced by the Mediterranean languages, but older, Germanic symbols were included as well, and sometimes caused the Greek symbols to be reshaped in uniquely Germanic ways. This theory is persuasive when one considers that the ancient Northern Europeans had a great deal of contact with the Greeks even before the Romans. Evidence exists to show that Northern Europeans served as mercenaries in various Mediterranean armies for hundreds of years.

Xenophon, a Greek chronicler, records Celtic mercenaries serving in Egypt in the 4th century BC. Greek and Roman authors recognized a people whom they called variously the Keltoi, Galli or Galatians. In the fourth century BC, they tell us that the Celts sacked Rome and sent ambassadors to the court of Alexander the Great in Babylon. In the third century BC a party of Celtic warriors sacked Delphi in Greece while three tribes settled in what is now Turkey. Their descendants were still called Galatians when St. Paul wrote to them in the first century AD. The Romans fought the Celts in Northern Italy, Spain and France for over 300 years. When they were not fighting, the archaeological records demonstrate that they were trading with one another. Many wayfaring Germanic folk had to have seen Greek and Roman writing, and recognized the power of keeping records in written language.

Virdomarus the northern Italian Celtic leader bragged that he was born from the waters of the Rhine, and the Roman poet, Martial, spoke proudly of his Celtic ancestry. Julius Caesar, who defeated Celtic tribes in what is now France, indicated that that there were close cultural links between Britain and continental Europe. A growing body of evidence from inscriptions found on the continent confirms this view. Even Alexander the Great was intrigued by the Celts. Obviously, the early Europeans had many opportunities to see written language in use, especially Greek and Roman characters.

At first, mysterious symbols scratched on a tablet must have seemed very much like magic to our ancestors. An interesting parallel exists in contemporary North American history. The Cherokee writing system was invented by one man Sequoyah: a Cherokee who, after contact with white men, decided that written language was a powerful thing and his people should have one of their own. He developed it by taking each sound in the Cherokee spoken language and assigning it a written character. He then demonstrated that it worked by meeting with the chiefs, writing down what each said, he then brought in his daughter who had not been present at the meeting and handed her the paper. When she was able say what each man had said at the meeting just by looking at a piece of paper the chiefs were amazed and convinced of the value of such a system indeed writing was like magic. It is my understanding that the Cherokee achieved nearly 100 percent literacy with this new written language and even for a short time published books using it, of which some still survive. Thus, it would not have been too big of a stretch for the Germanics after hundreds of years and thousands of contacts with the ancient Greeks and other people to adapt their runes to written language. In a similar manner: assigning a sound to each character, and quickly transforming the runes for the additional use as a writing system.

When one considers that the Northern Europeans had contact with Greeks and Romans and Egyptians for hundreds of years, and witnessed their use of written language, it makes perfect sense that they would mimic the skill and make it their own. In fact, for them not to have picked up and adapted what they saw to some personal system would have been suspiciously inconsistent with standard development patterns among human societies.

There are researchers who argue in opposition to the above theory of a Greek/Roman/Southern European origin of the runes. Their claim is that all of the earliest surviving artifacts bearing runes have been found in Northern parts of Europe, even Northern Germany instead of Southern Germany. I believe this can be explained by simple sampling error: items of antiquity may survive in the dry deserts of Egypt, but not the moist, temperate climate of Europe. Most artifacts would have been lost to rot, corrosion, and rust. It is also important to remember that the vast majority of all objects inscribed using runes would have been wood, and therefore unable to survive the ravages of time.

It is also important to note that, in order for the Futhark to gradually solidify into a stand-alone writing system, increased distance from the source of the earlier influential writing systems and languages of other cultures was necessary. Only as the Northern Folk found themselves isolated from more temperate lands by distance and harsh, travel-limiting weather, would their alphabet finally stop “mimicking” those of other cultures, and become firmly established as a proudly and uniquely Northern system.

The Appearance of the Runes

One thing that is immediately evident when looking at the runes is that they are all straight lines—no curves. This gives them a very stark, stand out effect, especially if viewed in a natural setting; nature, of course, has very few straight lines. But Runes were designed in this manner for practical reasons; when carving in wood with sharp stone or antler, it is much easier to control the stroke of a straight line than a curved one. The ancient Chinese developed beautiful curved characters, but the lines and strokes of those characters relied in great part upon the freedom enabled by the use of ink brush and paper, a medium the ancient European did not have. The Northern European runes are stark, straightforward, and direct, much like the northern European climate itself.

Another element that becomes apparent after some familiarity with the runes has been accomplished but I have never heard expressed anywhere else is this, those runes which are not symmetrical in form are definitively constructed to flow from left to right. Like our familiar modern alphabet, the design of the Elder Futhark naturally draws the eye to flow from character to character, left to right across the page. However in carvings on ancient runestones the runes were often etched in uneven, flowing lines that made the best decorative and expressive use of the surface and shape of the chosen stone. Runes where written left to right or right to left or bottom to top then looping back down again. It seemed to be up to the individual writer-artist-poet.

Modern Uses for the Runes

Runes continue to be a profoundly useful tool for written communication, magical divination, meditation, self-discovery, therapy, understanding the world, understanding yourself, and personal growth. Some modern scholars have even developed theories of the runes as a number system, and suggested methods in which they could have been used in that way. Although runes may well have had numerical values and can be used as such—numbers did indeed have meanings to our Northern European Ancestors—no conclusive evidence confirms that Runes were ever relied upon as a number system in ancient times. Although this in no way stops modern heathens from benefiting from there use in this way.

Divination
Runes are useful in several ways as a divination system the earliest recorded reference of such use was made around 70 CE by Tacitus. He related how, when a question came up that needed an answer, the head of a household would select a the limb from a fruit bearing tree, cutting it into strips then putting marks on each piece. He would cast all the pieces up into the air, letting them fall on a white cloth; he would then select three of the pieces, and read them for signs of the most advisable course of action. The runes can be used for divination similar to the way a tarot card deck might be used, but the runes are more powerful than the tarot, with clearer, less ambiguous meanings.

The Three-Rune Casts
The three-rune cast described by Tacitus is probably the most popular method used by modern rune workers. In some cases, a rune worker will conduct a similar toss; otherwise, equally satisfying results can be had if the rune worker prepares himself mentally and spiritually for the inquiry, then simply pulls three runes out of the bag sight unseen, reading them in the order pulled.

1. The first rune pulled represents the past or Urd norn of the past,or that which is. What has been, what got us here, how we got here, what has led up to this point. It is an overview, the root causes of the situation you are inquiring about.

2. The second rune pulled represents the present or Vernadi norn of the present, or that which is becoming. What is, the way things are, where we are now, the present situation, where we now stand. This rune has a way of representing a challenge that must be faced presently.

3. The third rune pulled represents the future or Skuld norn of the future. That what should be, what could be, what may be, what should be. This rune may point to a sacrifice you might have to make as every action has a price. It also often points to an action called for. It may mean a new course of action or new direction that must be taken.

Some form of the above described three rune pull is probably the most popular modern method of rune casting it is quick easy and convenient, accurate and gives a new course of action to take. It is sufficient for almost any inquiries. Always remember to give thanks after receiving a response to your questions.

The one rune pull
Some modern rune workers will also do periodic one-rune pulls when seeking a short, quick answer to a query. These are not complex casts, to do one simply thinks or asks the question or states the problem. You can meditate on it for a minute if you want. Now reach into your bag and pull out a rune. Whatever rune you pull will have some bearing on your question providing insights or answers to the problem or the current circumstance you are inquiring about.

The Full Rune Cast
The full rune cast is one that is very complex in perspective, offering the most complete response to a query; but it is a method that, as far as we know, has no historical precedent. To employ this method, the rune worker makes a sun wheel-type shape on the ground before him, using two crossed swords, two pieces of yarn or string, or two scratched lines in the dirt. This sun wheel shape is very much like the cross hairs of a riflescope. The vertical line should be oriented north and south, and the horizontal line east to west, thereby following the path of the sun around the earth.

The rune worker then has a choice of standing facing the north or the south of the casting area. When the rune worker stands in the north of the casting area, his position puts him in the position of facing and following course of the sun as it crosses the sky. For the purposes of the divination the runes are read left to right or east to west just as the path of the sun travels, constantly revealing our lives. An alternative is for the rune worker to stand in the south, facing the north. In this case the rune worker still reads the runes left to right as I believe the runes should be read that being the orientation of every rune that has an orientation. But in the case of the rune worker facing north the runes are read west to east in opposite direction of the sun. The logic behind this going against the sun is the rune worker is pealing back layers of time, going back into the past and looking ahead into the future. Going against the natural movement of our solar system and reading west to east but still left to right. Having taken his or her position, the rune worker then tosses all 24 runes into the air above the prepared casting area centered on the cross hairs of the sun wheel. Those runes landing face down should be ignored.

The rune worker who is facing south reads the runes he has thrown much as though he were viewing a tableau, from left to right east to west as the sun travels. The rune worker who has chosen facing north, reads the runes from left to right but west to east against the sun peeling back time. The idea in this case is that the rune worker is peeling back layers of “real” time, looking beneath the mundane and obvious for hidden meanings. In both cases, the rune workers are reading the rune throw from left to right with or against the path of the sun.

The closer a rune lies to the vertical line, the more immediate its effect is to “now”, the present moment. Runes lying to the left of the vertical line reflect what has been, and why things are as they are now. Runes lying to the right of the vertical line reflect what is becoming, the future. The farther a rune lies to the left the greater time has passed since the rune’s message influenced the present; the farther the rune right, the further in the future it’s influence will manifest.

The horizontal east-west line is the mind’s “surface”: any runes that lie below the horizontal line are indications of overlooked subconscious knowledge, sometimes accidentally hidden from the conscious mind, or perhaps even intentionally hidden from view, by enemies. Runes landing above the line, of course, reflect the development and immediacy of the rune’s message in the conscious mind; the higher above the line, the more remote and undeveloped—perhaps even dream-like—a particular message might be.

Novice rune workers will be surprised to see how many times this runes will end up with 20 face down, or all 24 below the horizontal line, revealing that the caster has been functioning “blind, or in the dark.

The various casting techniques described above are simply the ones I have found to work best; each individual person will develop his or her own favorite, probably with some personal modifications. I have taught my method to one rune caster in particular who have modified the above described method and casts her runes facing south but reads them right to left against what I think is their natural orientation. We have gotten together and experimented with several casts to see if her or my method is more accurate but we could only agree that she is most comfortable doing it her way it simply feels right for her. In rune casting you must “feel” your way along the runes are primitive archetypes they should key right into your subconscious if it doesn’t feel right you are probably doing something wrong. Keep modifying until you get it right. Rune casting is like cooking you can read every cook book in the world and even train with the best chiefs but until you spend your time in the kitchen cooking yourself will never get a “feel” for cooking. Every cook even the ones trained at the same school puts the ingredients together differently “the proof is in the pudding” the final result is what counts. Can the rune caster reveal the truth? In casting, just like in anything else, practice is the key to getting better. So practice customize your own technique burn some meals, throw some runes.

Additional Uses for the Runes
Runes can also be used as a tool for self-discovery. Modern psychology often makes use of artistically neutral objects, like the Rorschach inkblots, to provoke the assignment of meaning by a subject’s mind, and then analyze the response. Even if neither therapist nor patient has any particular belief or interest in esoteric Runic studies, they could still find runes a powerful and helpful tool to reveal thinking patterns and suggest therapeutic approaches. In the same way, runes can be a valuable tool with which to explore your own mind. Runes are also valuable tools for mediation. They seem to key into basic points or concepts deep within the human consciousness; each represents a fundamental element of the natural forces our Northern European Ancestors encountered in life. Storms, ice, hail, livestock, lakes and seas: these things are projected to represent the basic feelings, fears, hopes, dreams, and so on that are shared by all people. Meditation practice provides extraordinary health benefits; it is documented to lower blood pressure, lower resting pulse, help you relax, clear your mind of the day’s flurry of events, help you sleep, etc. It is no wonder western people have been so long attracted to eastern mediation practices. But in meditative use of the runes, we have a form of meditation that will serve us just as well, and offers the additional satisfaction of being part of our own culture.

Now, in truth, anything can be used to meditate. You can close your eyes and picture in your mind a lotus blossom or an empty room. You can repeat a meaningless word, called a mantra, over and over again until you have cleared your head. You can sit and stare at a spot on the wall and concentrate completely on that spot until you have momentarily forgotten and cleared your head of everything else. Or you can try one of the most effective forms of meditation of all, and just grab a rune out of your bag, picture it in your head, and think about it for five minutes. It is an easy and clear way to achieve all the benefits of meditation.

With all of these valuable benefits, it is time to explore your history and your ancestral roots, get in touch with your heritage and yourself. You will find that the more you work with the runes, the more they will reveal; the more you put into the runes, the more they give back. Soon you may reach a point where you will not need anything to reveal the future to you; you will be consciously weaving your own.

The Meanings of the Runes

The First Aett

1. FEHU: (F) Cattle. Material Possessions, Money, Quantitative wealth, a method for counting, a way to keep track of numbers.

The shape of this rune is easy to understand: Simply visualize it as a tally mark—one straight line with two small lines branching off, possibly representing the “first herd, two cattle” or a similar symbol meant for keeping track of things, material possessions or any wealth that could be counted. Cattle were the main form of material wealth among the early Germanic people.

Inherent in Fehu is also the implication of the trouble or discord material possessions can cause for the unwary or greedy man. The Anglo-Saxon rune poem states "Wealth must be shared; a man should deal it out freely”, while the Norwegian poem asserts “Wealth causes strife among kinsmen, greed and envy; a wolf grows up in the woods."

Bear in mind that a particular item might possess a complex combination of both quantitative and qualitative value. For instance, a family farm that has been passed down through the generations is likely to have both fehu value (quantitative) and ansuz value (qualitative.) The farm can be converted to gold or money at any time by being sold for market value; but it is likely there is part of it’s worth that is hidden, and deeply sentimental, involving memories and treasured family traditions. While this cannot be quantified, it might be of considerably more worth to the owner than mere market value. This hidden, unquantifiable wealth is discussed under “Ansuz”.

2. URUZ: (U) Aurochs. Strength, Primeval Power, Manhood, Virility, Potency, Achievement.

Collecting the Aurochs horns was quite an achievement for early Germanic youth. The Uruz rune represents wild power: unpredictable, primal, and not easily controlled. There are several images one can use to help in understanding the meaning to its shape: Uruz can be seen as an arch, a bridge support, representing strength but not necessarily in balance, it’s asymmetry representative of its primal origins. (A symmetrical arch would be more likely to represent stable, controlled power.) Another useful image for the Uruz shape is to visualize it as two horns coming out of the forehead of a great Auroch bull, his head tipped sideways to look at you.

We have found the most meaningful connection to the untamed, raw creative power of Uruz by visualizing the shape of this rune as a sideways silhouette of the Aurochs itself: high, massive, heavily muscled shoulders facing left, followed by low, lean, streamlined power in the hind quarters. Think of the non-symmetrical shape of the bison in profile: a basic domestic cow, by contrast, is much more boxy and symmetrical. A wild boar bears the same asymmetrical shape, while a domestic pig is simply barrel-shaped.

Most creatures and man made caricatures representing overwhelming masculine power are drawn with this shape or general outline—a cartoon bulldog, with wide skull and shoulders, yet narrow rear and hind legs; cartoon drill sergeants; cartoon bar room bullies, such as Popeye’s rival, Bluto; football players, wrestlers and weightlifters in advertisements and on tee-shirts—all share a shape that emphasizes massive necks, shoulders, and chests, while the rest of the body narrows below. It’s as if all these figures are all based on the same primal power imagery, which we are able to key into and recognize on a subconscious (DNA?) level.

3. THURISAZ:(th) Thorn. A thorn hidden in the foliage of a rose, an alert to danger or betrayal, a need to exercise caution, Giants, raw, uncontrolled power.

The shape and meaning of this rune is simple and straight forward: its staves represent a thorn in the middle of a rose stem. One message of Thurisaz is to take care while grabbing for what looks good, least you be unpleasantly surprised and harmed by an element not immediately obvious. Attractive things sometimes hide a danger. In this manner, this rune can symbolize subtle defensive power.

We are convinced, however, that there is a great deal more significant going on in Thurisaz than just “thorn”—there is also a deeper, chaotic strength here. Consider the power, yet the potential destructiveness of electricity: you use it to cook food, and heat and light your home; it aids in human industry, communication, and transportation. But should you come in direct contact with it—suffer a mishap with an electric appliance, perhaps, or touch a live wire while doing simple home improvements—you can abruptly die. In this way, the power of Thurisaz is the proverbial double-edged sword. Rudyard Kipling wrote a great poem called “The Secret of the Machines”, which speaks of the inhuman, unsentimental power of machinery:

   But remember, please, the Law by which we live,
   We are not built to comprehend a lie,
   We can neither love nor pity nor forgive.
   If you make a slip in handling us you die!
   We are greater than the Peoples or the Kings-
   Be humble, as you crawl beneath our rods!--
   Our touch can alter all created things,
   We are everything on earth--except The Gods!

Thus, Thurisaz is an uncommitted force, like other inhuman forces: medicine, electricity, water, nuclear power, etc. Thurisaz can represent any extraordinary power that can be used to help or kill; nuclear power, for instance, can be used to power a hospital or a lethal explosive device. Medical knowledge can be use to heal a child or concoct a poison, genetic engineering can be use to cure birth defects or create a plague.

Contradictions between translations of the Skírnismál from the Poetic Edda have led some rune workers to believe that Thurisaz is extremely dangerous and destructive. The Hollander translation, in particular, might lead the reader to think Thurisaz should be reserved for use as a threat and a curse. Other translations of the same text, however, differ considerably from Hollander’s and allow the rune worker to take a more rational and balanced view of the power of Thurisaz.

Do not misunderstand Thurisaz as being “evil”; rather, consider that it can stand for any truly great force, capable of destruction depending on how it is wielded, and depending on who does the wielding. It can be constructive or destructive; it can kill you or help you—the outcome is all in the care you’ve taken to understand it and respect it. Thurisaz is raw power, lacking any built-in control. Thurisaz is, in a very real sense, a “giant thorn.”

4. ANSUZ: (A) Aesir. Esoteric knowledge, Higher meaning, Wisdom, Poetry, The god Odin. Qualitative wealth or value.

Ansuz advises us to be alert for subtle meanings, signals, teaching, and knowledge not obvious or hidden meaning. The shape of this rune is easy to remember, once familiar with the “tally marks” of Fehu: it resembles Fehu except in Ansuz the tally marks are pointing down instead of up. Fehu is tangible, quantifiable wealth; Ansuz is intangible, qualitative, wealth. This wealth is not physical, but mental or spiritual: knowledge, thought, ideas, memories. Who can put a price on these?

Another image that may help bring Ansuz to mind is the general shape of the letter “A”, = the Aesir = order, reason, refined, controlled and directed cerebral power of the highest order. Higher thoughts, maybe even thoughts beyond the material world, on a higher plane. Ansuz is supremely controlled, intelligence, reason, and intellect. Ansuz is embued in the calm, confident readiness of a finely trained military tactician.

5. RAIDO: (R) Riding, Journey, Wagon, Adventure, Movement, Running, Action, Travel.

Remember to the ancient European, this could be travel by boat, horse, walking, running, and so on. To understand the shape, meaning, and sound of this rune, simply envision it as a modern capital R drawn straight as carving into wood or stone would demand; now imagine the leg of the R as a leg of a man stepping out, walking or running, beginning movement, if you will. This could symbolize progress, riding, running, or any movement. Remember Raido is not just limited to physical movement; significant spiritual/intellectual movement can apply here, too. Raido also symbolizes taking the initiative, starting a new project, assuming leadership, taking control.

Not only does Raido indicate your ability to move freely, using your strengths, but also, in so doing, to discover the limits of those strengths. By discovering your limits, you can see where your next personal movement or development must take place. Raido can indicate not only that you’re making/have made a decision, but also that you will follow through and carry it out. “To choose your own path, to exercise your free will, to “ride and not be ridden”, as observed by Freya Aswynn.

Raido is also valuable for meditations when travel is called for; it is good for freeing a mind that has been in a rut, and journeying to a different place, maybe an inner place of knowledge and awareness. You see, Raido can mean any travel, movement, or journey with no distinction between spiritual or physical movement, as they are essentially of a similar nature.

6. KENAZ: (K) Torch, Fire, Opening, Ulcer, Sore. Rotting away of the corpse; new beginnings, transformation, opportunity, receiving.

The various given meanings of this rune seem at first glance to be confusing, conflicted almost contradictory. But to understand the meaning of this rune we must first remember our history, and the post mortem practices of early Northern European folk. In early times, a corpse might be buried in a specially prepared mound, or on other occasions, ritually burned; in both instances, the purpose was to transform the spirit of the dead and send it forth to their new existence.

There are several ways to help understand the meanings of Kenaz. Imagine the shape of this rune as the light projecting off a torch, or even a modern floodlight. Another way of visualizing it is to picture the bottom stave of this rune as the twisted brand that has been set alight, and the top stave as the burning flame itself, rising from the brand.

To help with understanding the burial or “rotting away” analogy, imagine this—the Kenaz staves are the revealed bones, skeletal remains of a knee or elbow joint. Flesh has rotted away, a clean joint remains, startlingly revealed (after all, who ever gets to actually look at their own bones, uncovered from flesh?) The idea is that Kenaz is shaped like joints implying movement, movement on to the sprit world or in this case, the movement of the mind to the new idea or insight that has been revealed. Another obvious image and a way to visualize the meaning is to think of a kenaz-shaped open wound in the body of a corpse: an opening from which new meaning has emerged, leaving old, dead ideas behind. All of these seemingly contradictory images are really are quite compatible if considered in this context. Kenaz is revelation, discovery, epiphany. Truly, Kenaz provides a sudden illuminating cast of light on an existing idea or issue, so as to reveal new insight.

But remember that pain may accompany new growth and new knowledge. It hurts for a caterpillar to become a butterfly, and therein lies the connection to the remaining image belonging to Kenaz: that of an ulcer, or rotting sore. The idea of rotting flesh falling away from the bone to reveal new beginnings, sloughing away to (painfully) reveal a clear view of the innermost, previously hidden center of an issue is actually the same image as that of the torch, holding all at once pain and relief and new insight.

Kenaz serves as a particularly good example of how a complete understanding of the native European mindset is necessary to thoroughly understand the runes.

7. GEBO: (G) Gift. Exchange of gifts, Partnership, Gift, Share, Relationship, a Kiss.

The shape of this rune is simply an X: one side slashes diagonally and the other mirrors and reverses the motion--an equal exchange! Each side “gives” to create the finished rune. Another way to remember this runes shape is the XOXO sometimes penned on letters in modern times, symbols of hugs and kisses showing the sender’s affection for the recipient.

Remember for a kiss to be complete and satisfying, it must be an equal exchange. Gebo signals mutual obligation, the existence of a lasting bond (of obligation, respect, kinship, sharing) between two people. Remember the culture in which the runes where produced was very aware that nothing in life came for free. The Havamal says,

No man is so generous he will jib at accepting
A gift in return for a gift
No man is so rich that it really gives him
Pain to be repaid.

The Northern European mindset included a firm belief that “there’s no such thing as a free lunch”, and that concept is well-represented by Gebo.

8. WUNJO: (W) Perfection. Glory, Prize, Honor, Joy, Celebration, Happiness, Comfort, absence of suffering, spoils of victory, accomplishment of a goal.

The shape of this rune resembles a pennant, like the flags handed out at high school football games for the home crowd to wave after every touchdown. Even the checkered flag at the end of a road race is pennant-shaped, waved to announce your victory. This rune reminds us to enjoy the fruits of victory. There is a reason to fight, but once victory is secured, there is also a reason to celebrate.

Wunjo can also symbolize the force of attraction, an energy that aids in bringing/binding together people, plans, or ideas. Binding together, for example, the original notion to act, with the actual process of action, and finally the completion of that action. A plan “comes together” and results in victory. Another example would be: identifying one’s opponent, engaging the opponent, and defeating the opponent, all in one smooth seamless effort/action. This is similar to the buddhist idea of mu shin: the aspect of everything coming together in consummate victory, overcoming or slaying the opposition to accomplish Perfection/Honor/Victory all in one clean stroke.

Clearly, the characteristics of Wunjo would make it extremely useful in the creation of bindrunes.

The Second Aett

9. HAGALAZ: (H) Hail. Disruption, Storm, Winter, Hail, Snow, Sudden and violent change.

The old Icelandic poem says “Hagalaz is the coldest grain.” The image of “grain” is important, here; it symbolizes that preparation for regrowth is taking place. Hagalaz can be a destructive force, but in the same way that a plow is a destructive force as it tears up the ground to prepare for new planting. The “plow” image is easily brought to mind by the shape of this rune: two upright poles with a diagonal slash across the middle like a plow blade, rending the earth. As with Uruz, the asymmetry of the crossing line is a strong indication of the rune’s meaning; if the crossing line was straight, no change would be indicated, rather, more of the status quo. The diagonal indicates an element of wildness, changability, uncontrollability.

This is a rune of violent action—ACTION—things are happening, like it or not. In our experience, violent action (however unwelcome) usually precedes an astonishing new revelation or realization (Kenaz, in the painful, shedding-of-dead-flesh mode), and, in retrospect, enables one to break free of an old habit or rut, to see things in a profound new way. If there are matters remaining unresolved in one’s past—indeed, things that should have been resolved, but were, for one reason or another ignored or passed over—it may be necessary to address them in order to bring closure to an issue and move forward. Hagalaz might be signaling the arrival of an agent of change.

10. NAUTHIZ: (N) Need fire. Necessity, something is lacking, healing is required.

Nauthiz can indicate the need for any number of things: more sleep, more love, more peace of mind, fire when cold, friends when lonely, your needs, or a family member’s, or someone else close to you.

"Nauthiz is the cause of suffering,” says the Anglo Saxon rune poem, “although to the children of men, it often becomes help and salvation if they heed it in time." The Old Icelandic rune poem says “Need is the grief of the bondmaid, and toilsome work." As these poems suggest, NEED runs the whole gamut of Maslow's hierarchy of needs: starting with food and shelter, to safety and security, to friendship and love, to self-actualization. All needs are represented and can be indicated: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual.

The best way to remember the shape and meaning of this rune is to think of the shape of a bow drill, the old woodsman’s fire-starting tool. The vertical line is the wood and the slanted horizontal line is the bow. When our Ancestors needed fire for warmth, they used a bow drill to make one. Nauthiz indicates both the existence of a need and the promise of its fulfillment; the shape of the bow drill signifies that not only may you need fire, but you also possess the means to acquire or make it. Sometimes in a rune cast, the runes that follow Nauthiz in the reading will indicate what is needed or required. But remember, any expression of need contains the promise of fulfillment.

11. ISA: (I) Ice. Cold, Freezing, Standing still, Immovable, Fixed, Firm, Unyielding, Blockage.

In the creation myth of our people, fire met ice in Ginnungagap. (We’ll talk about this more in Section 3.) The ice had to be melted before anything could be accomplished. To a Northern peoples way of thinking, ice was something that had to be dealt with before progress could be made; you either had to walk across it, dangerously break it to get your ship through, or thaw it to grow anything. "Trust not ice until crossed." To our Ancestors, ice was a blockage to travel or growth; and this is where the shape and meaning of this rune comes from: it has the long, vertical shape of an icicle, frozen and immobilized, and is drawn simply as a tall modern “I”. Isa is resistance to change, stubbornness, standing in opposition to ongoing, healthy growth, headlong risk taking, or impulsive change.

An additional positive interpretation might be in the “I” form itself—representing strong self-awareness, “I”ndividualism, the survival instinct. Often when this rune appears in a reading, it is a notice that a barrier must be surmounted, like a writing block, or a confusing, discouraging situation. Isa could signal a blockage or personal resistance to exerting a necessary effort, but is not specifically negative; you are being told in no uncertain terms that there is a factor in place that must be overcome.

12 JERA: (J) One year. A complete cycle, Whole, Finish, Both sides, beginning and the end, winter and summer, plant and harvest, completion. The meaning and the shape of this rune suggest both halves of a whole, fitting neatly together. Summer comes with winter, harvest comes with planting, and the top half of Jera comes with the bottom half. The staves form a pinwheel, clearly in motion, revolving in flux. Jera represents a sense of natural cycle.

There are three runes that serve as indicators of “change” in the Futhark: Jera is the rune of gradual or comfortable change (Dagaz is the rune of more abrupt change, and of course, Hagalaz is the rune of violent change.) Jera is reassuring—things are going the way they should, everything is unfolding on schedule, all things come in their own time. Patience.

13. EIHWAZ: (Y) Yew. The World Tree, Axis of the world, a bow, the universe, backbone.

This rune can be visualized as the axis of the world. Every elementary school child is taught to look at the classroom globe and see the imaginary pole sticking through the north and south points, symbolizing the north and south poles. Eihwaz is that pole for our model of the world, but with a barb at either end, to remind us that it is firmly set in place, and any movement to the pole will affect the whole “globe”. This rune symbolizes the universe, the world tree of Norse/Germanic mythology.

Another helpful visual association is to think of Eihwaz as a man’s backbone/spine, that runs the entire length of the man; this is the same thing, on a smaller scale, as the world tree is to the nine worlds. Another helpful visualization is the image of a man’s spine or backbone giving him sense of courage, confidence, and daring that keeps him walking powerfully upright, with his shoulders back. Weak men are called spineless, or described as having no backbone. Confident men, on the other hand, take courageous action, and any decisive action of such a confident man causes a ripple effect in all the space-time fabric.

The Norse/Germanic universe is understood to be part of a continuum, a weaving-in-progress being created continually by the Norns. The Eihwaz rune signifies impending matters loaded with extraordinary significance, matters inherent in an individual’s orlog; the very stuff that wyrd is woven of. Matters of such importance combine the “axis” image and the “backbone” image. Consider how a chiropractor might discover that your foot hurts because of something ailing or misaligned in your back; a signal showing up in one part of your body is actually caused by something transpiring in an entirely different part. All places and activities in the universe are connected in this same manner—from the vast worldly scale, reaching the depth and breadth of the universe, to the confident, decisive, and intimate acts of an individual man—they are all connected, and Eihwaz indicates that a matter or action affecting the Whole is imminent.

14. PERTHRO: (P) (also PERTHO) Dice cup. A gamble, chance, luck, unknown, memories, something hidden from you, the past, dreams, hidden meanings.

The shape and meaning of this rune is easily visualized as a dice cup, tumbled on its side to spill it’s contents forth. The ancient Germanic people were avid gamblers and would trust fate to the point of betting their own freedom on a single throw of the dice; the loser stoically rising from the game as a slave or a freeman, depending on the results of the throw. This rune symbolizes man’s unseen fate, his future unrevealed and unwritten.

In some traditions of divination, there are sigils and oracles that inform the querant that “it is not appropriate to reveal the answer at this time.” Eastern frameworks often return to this theme: like Karma, “everything is predestined.” And then, of course, in the christian framework, the curious or confused are quieted with “just never mind, you’re too immature or ignorant to comprehend it; God will take care of everything.” To resign ourselves to ignorance and helplessness in this manner is alien to the Norse/Germanic mindset.

While the Norse/Germanic tradition makes clear that we are all connected in the web of Wyrd, it does not go so far as to claim that our lives and fates are already prewritten. And for good reason: they are not. We have the ability to control our fate with massive and extraordinary applications of Will and Honor. There is no reason why we cannot take charge of our fate, provided we have the courage and strength to do so, for it is, indeed, a mighty task. When Perthro appears, you are being told that “it is not yet decided;” the matter is still open to your will and your influence.

The Norns are weaving, the future is being created. Our future does not already exist, laid out somewhere. We know that it is difficult to alter the flow of Wyrd, (look at the size of the weaving! Easy to conceptualize why that’s tough!) but it is possible to alter it! Perthro represents our participation in the creation of the future, the active weaving of the Norns, right now, our live, willful, honorable effort, affecting the flow of wyrd, dynamically affecting the unknown future. This makes this rune a powerful reminder of our ways.

15. ALGIZ: (Z) (Also ELHAZ) (could be pronounced All-geese) Elk sedge. Antlers, Sedge grass, Protection, Sanctuary, Hallowing, Swan, Defense.

The meanings associated with this rune suggest a complex combination of elements, and it is a complex rune, indeed. Algiz symbolizes right attitude, inner reflection and reverence. This rune symbolizes what is sacred and should be protected. The form of the staves can be visualized in one of several ways: Algiz represents the antlers of the elk, or the outstretched wings of a swan on either side of his extended head and neck, or the shape of a man standing erect, with head up and arms outstretched, the position he takes in honor and fellowship with the Gods and Goddesses.

The Anglo Saxon rune poem states, "Elks sedge has its home most often in the fens; it waxes in the water, and grimly wounds and burns with blood any man who in any way tries to grasp it.” Remember, the gifts of Algiz cannot be grasped by the hand of man. The Vikings’ admonition about grass that would “burn with blood” reminds us that there are some things that cannot be achieved with power or violence. Such things must be approached with respect and with reverence. The old rune poems suggest a warning about the lack of sacred ground, the sacred enclosures and groves, the special places, sacred blots; all of which are important to our ways. All of which—now, more than ever, as the Folk work tirelessly to grow and thrive once again—are ours to protect.

The Elk’s sedge is a powerful image of protection: the reverent protection of the sacred. Protection with respect, which is a non-traditional form of protection, doesn’t involve weapons, but demands attentiveness, and that we recognize the sacred in each moment.

We suggest the following use of the Algiz rune: this is an exercise that can be done greeting sunna every morning and saying good night every evening. At the close of every day, take up the position to give account of what you did that day. At the beginning of every day, take up the position and make a boast of what you will do/ accomplish this day. It should become a habit. It does not have to be gigantic—like, I will slay a dragon today and boast at end of day you did it. Your statement can be “I will share breakfast with my daughter; I will write 10 lines; I will wash dishes.” Take up position at morning and night and see what happens; you might be surprised at the results.

This is the power of the Algiz rune—we are both the Protectors of and Protected by our Folkway.

16. SOWULO: (S) The Sun. Energy, The sun’s rays, Life Force, Warmth, Radiance, Shining.

One way to remember the shape and meaning of this rune is to think of the suns rays coming down from the sky, striking the ground, or any type of radiating energy wave. Some people are reminded of a lighting bolt coming from the sky and striking the ground. Almost any form of energy from the sun—or from any source in the universe, for that matter—can be represented by Sowulo.

Often people feel a strong personal connection with Sowulo: they are experiencing a connection between the light and energy within themselves and the energy of the universe. Similar to Eihwaz, with its connections to every aspect of the world tree which therefore touching everything in a physical way, Sowulo touches everything in an unseen “energetic” way, as the sub-atomic vibration of particles. This becomes even more meaningful when we consider modern science teaches us that energy and matter are really the same thing. This rune may help people make connections and feel connections even when they are physically separated from other people, places, etc. of importance to them.

The powerful Sowulo connection has sometimes been put to dishonorable use. One terrible example of this is the nazi use of the double Sowulo as a symbol for the SS. Hitler used such powerful symbols to stir people’s passions, then directed their energy for his maniacal manipulation.

Sowulo can also be interpreted as a symbol for the sacred Self, the spinning, perfect balance of the internal and external selves. One side of the staves represents one’s external, physical self, and one’s material position in the world: career, money, family, social activities, and so on. The other side (of the bolt) represents the internal self, the deep internal search for connectedness and meaning, the discovery and growth of the private self, the reach for spiritual transformation and transcendence. Sowulo symbolizes the union of the internal and external selves, the material self and the spiritual self, the physical and energy forms of the very universe and the profound and unique point of brilliance and completion that union represents.

The Third Aett

17. TEIWAZ: (T) The god Tyr. War, Warrior, Victory, Straight justice, legal contracts, binding oaths, right action, kick-ass-take-names attitude.

The shape and meaning of this rune is clear; you can see the straight-ahead, no- compromise attitude of the god Tyr in the staves forming a straight, sharp spear or arrow. No other shape could represent Teiwaz as well. Remember that warriors going into battle for a just cause would call twice upon Tyr. Teiwaz commands us to do the right thing, the honorable thing, no matter what the cost. Remember, Tyr was the only one who didn't hesitate to place his hand in the Fenris wolf's mouth, to uphold his oath, even through it required grave personal sacrifice. Teiwaz represents self-discipline and self-sacrifice in the name of justice and higher purpose.

18. BERKANA: (B) Birch. Pregnancy, Birth, Ripeness, Blossoming, Female, Spring, Fertility.

This rune represents birth: the successful pregnancy, the continuation of successful fertilization (which was Ing) to spring blossoming. This rune even resembles the Venus mother earth-fertility carvings, which are the oldest religious figure known to us, in use by Europeans as long as 40,000 years ago. Berkana resembles a pregnant woman’s figure with exaggerated breasts and swollen belly.

The birch is an especially dramatic symbol of fertility because of its brilliant appearance in springtime. In a winter woods the birch are scarcely noticeable, even though they thrive all up and down the stream and riverbanks. But in spring, their green explodes and their white trucks stand out so noticeably, they’re like reflector lights. It is spectacular. Berkana speaks to the all-encompassing fertility of Spring, not just the birch tree, but also the swelling of a woman, a clutch of bird’s eggs, a baby lamb or rabbit, or a tree in bloom: all are the successful completion of life. At another level, Berkana can also symbolize intellectual/spiritual fertility. This rune can indicate the fruition of ideas, and the fullness and ripening of time or plans.

As a side note, linguists sometimes note that the more important something is in a culture, the more words or ways of describing it develop in that tradition. Arabs have dozens of words for camels; Inuits for snow, Americans for cars; cowboys for horses or cattle (For example, a city person might simply see a horse, while a cowboy can point out a cayuse, buckskin, mustang, pony, filly, gelding, etc., each word encompassing the crude idea of “horse”, but going beyond to add distinct refinements.) This phenomenon exists because the more familiar and intimate an object or event becomes, the more distinctions people begin to recognize. In the case of Berkana, a specific aspect of fertility is indicated. Berkana is the completed act of fruition, successful birth; it is related to, but not at all the same as Ingwaz, which is simply pollination, or impregnation. Our people placed so much importance on fertility that we recognized each contribution to the fertility cycle individually.

19. EHWAZ: (E) Horse and rider. Horse, wagon, cart, any vehicle of transportation, partnership, cooperation, marriage.

In Norse/Germanic mythology, horses could carry you to the spirit world. Odin undertook an inner journey among the nine worlds astride his horse, Sleipnir. To early Germanic people, the horse was a status symbol, a sacred animal used to communicate with the gods. Special horses where kept in sacred groves and no human was allowed to ride them. A man who could afford a horse was considered wealthy.

The staves of Ehwaz form a pair of figures, each the mirror image of the other. You can see in this rune the symbol of partner ship between horse and man, two things working together to accomplish something neither could accomplish alone. Ehwaz is the vehicle for movement, not the movement/travel itself (physical or spiritual journeying falls in Raido’s realm.) Horses, cars, trains, wagons, are covered by Ehwaz, in a physical sense. But, in a spiritual sense, Ehwaz represents cooperation and partnerships—like the team of a horse and rider, car and driver, train and engineer—cooperation with something bigger and/or stronger than yourself.

Ehwaz especially represents marriage and loving partnerships, where the strength and devotion of each partner combines to create a powerful, effective unit. The two halves of the partnership represented by Ehwaz possess complimentary strengths. Teamwork and cooperation are also symbolized by this rune, and maybe even compromise. But the idea is not to sacrifice anything, not to cede any of your Self, nor your integrity, nor your power, nor your conviction, but that those things in you are joined and enhanced by those same things in another person… a dynamic combination that results in a whole even greater than the sum of it’s parts. Anything shed off or dropped away in the process was due to be dropped anyway, and you are able to do so now because the partnership has enabled you to shine new light on old habits/ideas.

20. MANNAZ: (M) Man. All of mankind. Collective humanity, kinship with the gods, reaching for your full potential, all your people, the whole tribe, the Self, Personal development, a complete adult human being, self-actualization, the power of the gods in you, the gods in all of us.

This rune is partly shaped like a sideways 8, if you had to carve it into wood or stone with bone or antler and using only straight lines. That “sideways 8” symbol is also our modern mathematical sign for eternity; but in Mannaz, it is raised up on two legs, standing elevated. This “heightened” status helps to symbolize personal growth and our potential fellowship with the gods. One might also visualize Mannaz as a banner raised up on two poles to boast, shout a reminder to the Folk to celebrate our connection to the gods, the ancestors, and our place in the line of our people extending into the future. We are part of something bold, admirable, magnificent! Note that this expression of pride is in direct contrast to the non-heathen traits of humility and self-effacement that are considered to be “virtues” in other faiths.

Mannaz emphasizes the sacred connection between your offspring, your self, man, clan, kin, tribe, your folk, your people, your ancestors before you, and the Elders—all stretching in an unbroken line from where you stand, both into the past all the way to the gods, and into the future, through the coming generations of your heirs. As Ing and Berkana are related in fertility, Mannaz and Othila are related to our ancestors, our traditions, our connections from the past and into the future.

21. LAGUZ: (L) Lake. Water in all its forms, ponds, oceans, rivers, streams, seas.

Water can take more forms than anything else on earth. Water is sometimes referred to as the universal solvent, and has unique chemical properties and physical traits, including flexibility, formlessness, and fluidity.

This rune might be visualized as a stream of water tumbling over a ledge or outcropping, and changing its shape to suit the shifting geography. Water’s fluidity means it is able to assume any shape, the ultimate in flexible, boundless creativity. Because water sustains all life, it is the source of all life, and therefore all possibilities. Bodies of water can be deceptively deep, and hold a great deal more complexity and mystery than evident at first glance The meaning of Laguz in a reading can be as evasive as water sliding between the fingers. To be fluid, with no handholds to grab onto, is its very nature. Laguz possesses an open-endedness similar to Perthro, but tends to be a bit more creative, optimistic, and less “risky.” It may be that the most important thing is Laguz’s message that there IS something hidden beneath the surface, or that matters are still in creative flow, and have not yet taken form.

22. INGUZ: (ng) The god Ing, also known as Frey. Fertilization, Pollination, Seed, Completedness, Maleness, Ejaculation.

Inguz is a vibrant portal, an opening to uniquely male energy in the same manner that Berkana is uniquely female. Inguz is a very sexually charged male rune. One way to visualize this rune is to imagine several Inguz runes stacked on top of each other, the image of which immediately assumes the shape of a segment of primal DNA, the two strands intertwined together as in the moment of fertilization or pollination. Every living thing on earth must begin life with the joining of DNA in the fertilization process.

Inguz is very different from Berkana, just as pregnancy is not at all the same thing as fertilization. Fertilization is obviously critical, but does not guarantee a successful pregnancy; after the sperm and egg come together, much care and nurturing is needed to result in a successful birth. Similarly, the act of pollination does not guarantee a ripe fruit, but is the first dynamic step in that process. Inguz is pollination, planting the seed, the first step in new life.

23. DAGAZ: (D) Day. Day and night, 24-hour cycle, Time, A point in time, a short time, time running out, urgency, immediacy.

Dagaz symbolizes abrupt change (as opposed to Hagalaz, which warns of violent change, or the gentle Jera, which assures us of gradual change.) The meaning of this rune can be remembered by its shape, that of an hour glass turned over on its side: a day merged into a single point. It is helpful to recall that our ancestors could only measure time in unrefined segments: years, seasons, moon cycles, and days. One day was about as small as they could go; it represented a finite point in time to them, much as, perhaps, the hour represents to us in modern times. Dagaz represents Now: your time is running out, change is imminent, a short period of time is about to elapse.

24. OTHILA: (O) Ancestral Inheritance. Homeland, Past, Ancestral home, Heritage, Your roots, your family line, Inheritance, Tradition.

The shape of this rune immediately suggests a sprouting seed with two roots hanging down, ready to be planted in the earth. This rune is about your roots, your ancestral lands and your ancestral self. Othila represents the characteristics of your family line, manifested through you… your psychic inheritance. This rune can also represent the inheritance you are gifting to your offspring; your hamingja, all that your ancestors were, you are, and that you are passing on.

In keeping with hamingja, this rune further symbolizes the strengths, challenges, and/or failings implied in such an inheritance. The burdens born by your ancestors are yours to bear now, and to lighten, if possible, through vigorous right actions on your part, laid in the Well of Wyrd, to be woven by the Norns into the newest strands of the Web. In the same way, the triumphs celebrated by your Ancestors are yours to celebrate, now, as well, but also to guard carefully, as you have been entrusted with the richness and well-being of your family’s fortune until the time comes for you to hand it off to your heirs. It is fitting that this last rune anchors the Elder Futhark with its two roots, even as it reminds us that we anchor our family’s well being with our own lives well-lived.

Using the runes in daily life

Runes have many uses besides casting they can be used for healing and for several of the mudane chores of daily life. The runes are ancient symbols they are archetypes that plug into various concepts, key into certain basic patterns that all people cultures share And by using these runes people can bring back a power tool of visualization to heal themselves and improve their life.

1. The first rune is Fehu it can be used for financial abundance and wealth or the accumulation of any material possession. Use of fehu can be responsible for providing for material needs, and keeping you in touch with this power to provide all your material needs. If you desire something you lack in addition to working for it and thinking about it visualize the fehu rune and the power of fehu drawning the wealth to you. You might even draw the Fehu rune on your hand before you ask for a raise or draw the Fehu rune on a bank statement and tack it to the refrigerator expecting your money to increase. This is a powerful tool use of this rune can be used to draw wealth to you like a magnet. Visualize see the money coming in and draw a Fehu rune to help focus your mind.

2. The second rune is Uruz it can be used for health and vitality to increase your power and strength. It helps you keep an image of strength, power, vitality, and health. Daily contact with this rune provides a good way to check your overall well-being. Think about this rune picture it to keeping you strong, healthy, and sound; he will keep your vital physical self in balance. I daily visualize Uruz to regenerate me heal me every time I go to bed at night I ask and feel and know the power of Uruz is regenerating the cells in my body replacing the worn tissue with new replenishing my youth. I can almost feel the new muscle growing the germs and toxins being destroyed. Any time I feel a cold coming on in addition to taking extra vitamin C I bring in Uruz in to heal me. Again the benefits from this technique can be derived whether you actually believe Uruz is restoring your health or you believe it is just a type of meditation or visualization technique. This is similar to what every accomplished athlete does Arnold Schaggner used to see or visualize his biceps as mountains he thought of them as great mountains when he did biceps curls he saw and felt the blood pumping into them imagined the nutrients going in the amino acids feeding the muscles. Lou Ferrigno who played the Incredible Hulk on TV wrote a famous book “The mind in bodybuilding” he claims that no body builder has ever achieved any high level of success without using his mind. When Lou was working on a sticking area his calf muscles he pictured in his mind his calves then he pictured what he wanted his calves to become not just simply but from every angle every view he went to bed at night thinking or how he wanted his calves to look when he exercised he imagined the nutrients flowing in building up his calves. He imagined walking out on stage in 4 months with his new calves and the crowd's reaction. He kept up his daily visualization of his calves until he could almost taste them he knew they where almost his. He even took into account that both his calves are not identical one is shorter than the other is. His mental picture of his calves was so strong that he passed through the stages of these are the calves I want to these are the calves I will get to these are the calves I'm getting to these calves are almost mine to these are my calves. It only makes good sense to do a daily maintenance of physical health and renewal to visualize Uruz giving your physical body a quick once over and healing you daily it takes less than one minute a day and the benefits are enormous.

3. The third rune is Thuraz it is a symbol of a thorn a hidden danger, harsh reality the danger involved in everything we do, theimpersonal killing power of electricity, water, gravity, or any other natural force. As the old anglo saxon poem about runes states I know a third if enemy swords come for me it blunts their points it warns me of danger. This is a powerful image of a watchman and warning of danger if not an outright protector. This rune is useful it keeps an eye out for you and all your dealings. By daily contact with Thuraz you are checking the status of your affairs and allowing your subconscious mind the freedom and power to work for you. Thuraz can bring to your attention the traps, obstacles, and hindrances that you were unable to see with your conscious mind because it is always busy driving to work dealing with people preparing food etc. But you subconscious mind never needs rest so it is always working for or against your goals you don’t have a choice about if it works or not. So you might as well but it to work for you and talk to it. By working with Uruz you have turned over your anxiety and fear to a strong guardian, to act on your behalf. Thuraz can also assist in maintaining your mental health and peace of mind. It can forewarn you of unexpected attacks, be they business or personal, which makes you more powerful because you are unable to be taken by surprise. Get used to listening to thuraz warnings of foolish actions or vulnerability, whether you believe you are speaking to and architype of warning or to your own subconscious mind, which has been freed to manage your affairs more freely. The end result will be the same: improved performance.

4. The forth rune is Anzus it is a powerful representation of qualitive value the things which don’t necessary have a monatary value what is the value of a poem or painting a kiss or love all of these things value is expressed by Anzus so by a daily mediation of Ansuz it frees up your subconscious mind to remember these things. The shape of Ansuz causes you to remember these important things which we often forget to in life.

5. The fifth rune is Raido it is an archotype representing movement travel in fact the shape of it speaks of a man taking his first step walking out. This rune can be used to facilitate any movement. Starting a business starting a diet starting a vacation. Any of these endeavors should be undertaken with Raido. Visualization of raido handling of the raido rune will led enthesium to any new undertaking any new journey.

6. Kano is the sixth rune it is an image of transformation changing from one form to another or removing the old and reviewling the new. Any time in your life when a change or transformation is required mediation of the kano rune would probably be useful.

7. Gebo is the seventh rune it is a archetype an ancient symbol of even exchange. The universal law of there is no such thing as something for nothing that there is no free lunch that there is now prepetual motion machine is elequently expressed by the shape of Gebo. Anytime a person is undertaking an action when they are transferring anything be it goods emotions money love power whatever they would be well advisied to seek the wisdom of Gebo.

8. Wunjo is the eighth rune it is a rune of victory of celibration. It is the symbol of a waving victory banner a powerful architype image that reaches down into the subconcious mind it brings hope which works hand-in-hand with faith but every businessman, psychiatrist, and coach knows the importance of hope. A hopeful state of mind is crucial to the winning of every gold medal, every successful harvest, every house built, every future imagined. This ancient archetype of victory.

9. Hailagz is the ninth rune it is an archetype of disruption violent change anytime in your life when these things are happening which can be often it is helpful to consult Hailagaz. If you are in an organization and it is being completely overhauled you can draw the Hailagz rune on your desk a disruption with a berkano with it to lead to rebirth.

10. Nauthuz is the tenth rune it represents need any kind of need this could be an need for healing a need for change often it is a curative need like a need of medicine. But in our modern world medicine can be thought of as any kind of cure not just in the narrow sense of a cure for some disorder but it could even imply a solution to a problem. Sometimes if I get a sore back I will have a friend draw a Nauthuz rune on it usually in a day it is lossened up and feeling better. Once I hurt my wrist and a friend drew a Nauthuz rune on it and it only got better at the place the rune was drawn I then put 3 more on the other parts of my wrist and in 2 days the other part of my wrist felt fine again.

11. Isa the eleventh rune is isa in the old european tradition Isa represented ice which was something to deal with something to cross it was a fact of life a force that had to be taken into account and worked around and through but could not be avoided for long. Everyone has Isa show up in their life from time to time and it is at these times.

12. Jera the tewelth rune is jera it is a rune which represents the a yearly cycle so much of our ancestors life was based on the seasons. They had to plant in the spring tend through summer harvest in the fall store up for winter each season had its chores. There was a time in every season to do certain things and this lead to the image of a year jera the complete cyclic image this rune is a nearly perfect archetype representing the yearly repeating cycle. A person can use this rune the powerful image to complete their tasks some healing actually every healing takes a certain amount of time and cannot be rushed. The image of this rune allows proper fulfillment of the time proper use of the time. Time is said to be a great healer and this is what is often necessary. Whenever time is needed you can use this rune to let nature take its course. Your knee might be injured and the doctor may tell you it requires six weeks rest. If you find that difficult to manage a daily picture of this rune in your mind may help.

13. Eliwaz the thirteenth rune is eliwaz this rune represents the entire 9 worlds everything the interconnectedness of everything. And being so it is extreamly useful in any holistic medical treatment. A bad back may cause pain in your neck. This is an example of the interconnectedness of your body in fact the rune eliwaz shaped the way it is can be thought of as protraying a mans spine the backbone of a man supporting the whole man this is not in conflict with its shape as a vertical axis of the world tree supporting the whole universe. In both these images eliwaz is the central support the nerve center the supporting coloum the back bone. So with this image any back problems bone problems skeletol problems can be helped with meditation upon the eliwaz rune.

14. Perthro- the fourthenth rune is perthro this is a rune of the unknown the unsure a chance its shape is represented by the dice cup. Taciticus the ancient roman historian recorded the gambling habits of some of the early germanic tribes. He stated that some of these northern barbarians would gamble everything they owned and then when down to nothing bet their freedom on a roll of the dice. If after the cast the dice showed ill for them they would stociaically walk off into slavery. As runes became more widespread for writing and forcasting and meditation. Perthro became more and more representative of the unknown the fates the things we can’t control. If a modern scientist ask him self a question and cast the runes to help him explore it and the rune perthro came up it would represent unknown factors the intangables almost a uncertainity principle. And since there is never every fact known about any decision we make this rune applies in almost every situation and can be helpful in most cases. If a person was faced with a difficult decision in which more information or a better understanding was needed. the rune perthro could be meditated upon letting the mind open and preparing it to receive these new answers or information.

15. Algiz- the fifthteenth rune is algiz this rune represents the entire universe the connectedness of everything its shape symbolizes the spine of the earth it also represents yggdrasil the world tree which in ancient germanic myth was the universe holding all the worlds. The shape of algiz also represents the spine of a man through which runs his entire nervious system touching everything in his body. So given this powerful image this ancient archtype Algiz can be used anytime a connection is needed if you need to walk in anothers persons shoes or look from their point of view. This can be useful to get along with your wife or husband and get along better with other people or it could be used to look through your opponents eyes for a hostile business takeover the use of runes can improve your effectiveness in every aspect of your life. From being a more loving husband wife father mother friend to being a more effective warrior businessman.

16. Sowulo- The shape of this rune is repeated in many cultures. The shape of a lighting bolt coming down from the sky had to be a very powerful image in almost every primitive culture. After the ancient europeans had developed runes to a writing and diviniational and meditation system the standardized shape gradually came to represent all energy even a 3rd grade kid making cartoon pictures of space men shooting each other will draw the rays coming out of ray guns as a sowulo shape it is almost hard wired into our brains this way. A high school science teacher showing light or x-rays or the suns beams coming down to earth as a sowulo shape. It represents all electromatic waves particles sunlight lighting x-rays gamma rays magnitisim etc perhaps even gravity waves it covers nearly all energy waves and is a pervasive architype used throught many cultures. So the relavant question how can you put sowulo to work for you. Anytime you need energy and who doesn’t anytime you need a charge a jump start sowulo is useful also any flow of energy if you have a broken bone a bruse a cut you can use visualization of sowulo to bring energy into a area in need of healing you can also use sowulo to bring energy into any area of your life needing more energy or a relationship maybe your wife had a bad day at work and needs you to send her some energy. Maybe you son is trying out for a part in a play and to help give performance more energy you send him some energy visualizing sowulo. You can even use sowulo to increase your own energy levels. If I am tired I can visualize sowulo to revitalize me. If I am driving late at night some people use caffeene to stay awake I just concentrate on sowulo and feel its energy revitalize me filling me with fresh energy. A student staying up late to study for a final exam could use sowulo to help them stay alert and receptive to new information.

17. Teiwaz is the seventeenth rune. its name comes from the god teiwaz the ancient sky god of europe. The root of nearly every primitive cultures religion start with an earth mother and a sky father. This is in ancient polyinesian culture ancient native american culture and in ancient pre christian european culture the sky father was teiwaz. The ancient anglo saxons called him teiwaz. His name survived into the viking age as tyr. The shape of this symbol is an arrow or spear a straight upright post with a stylized arrow head on the top pointing upward toward the sky. This shape or symbol over time became stylized to represent many aspects of the sky father god. He was masculine penetrating unyielding rigid upright unwavering timeless as the sky. All of these ideas concepts images are represented by the rune teiwaz. Any time in your life when you need courage steadfastness unyielding ridging absolute black or white right or wrong thinking then this rune is useful. Examples of this are when a difinite decision or a difficult but correct choice is required. One example of this might be when a morally correct but unpopular decision must be made. Even as late as the viking age when teiwaz name had morphed into tyr we have the relavently recent story only a couple thousand years old of the god tyr who to save the world offered to place his hand in the fenris wolfs mouth if he would allow the gods to chain him up the wolf did this as a gaurantee that the gods would let him loose again to devour the world. In the story the giant wolf was left in chains with tyrs hand in his mouth he was not released and in revenge bite tyrs hand off. This symbolism and image have been incorporated into the tyr runes meaning and are useful anytime such single minded courage is needed.

18. Berkana this is the 18th rune. it is a rune of birth and motherhood its place in the atter is logical right next to the sky father tyr is the earth mother berkana the figure is a stylized donni figure these stone carvings have been found throughout europe 35,000 years ago our cro magnum ancestors carved stone figures of the great earth mother with exaggerated breasts and buttucts. The berkana rune which has come down to us is a simple representation of this it is the earth mother, spring, new life all of the conotations that come with these images. As can be seen with the history of this ancient symbol this image has been with people for a very long time and is a powerful image to key into a powerful source to tap into. Anytime motherhood, springtime, new life, is needed then berkana can be called upon to help focus your healing energy or direct your work toward. Life has many times in which the rune berkana is called for the birth of a child the beginning of a new business the start of a new home all of these lifes events call for a good charge of berkana energy.

19. Ehwaz is the 19th rune and it is a symbol of team work the pairing up of two things to accomplish a goal. Some surviving poem from prechristian europe allude to a horse and some modern rune scholars have stated the meaning of this rune as horse but this is a shallow misunderstanding of what our ancestors understood ehwaz to represent. The partnership of horse and rider was what was implied the working with something bigger and stronger than yourself. To the ancient europeans the horse was a sacred animal almost a divine creature of the gods so a partnership with a horse was a good example of the image ehwaz. The rune Ehwaz looks like a modern captial letter M the two halves come together to make it a whole. Without the other half the figure will fall upon itself. So to the important relavent question how can this rune help you in modern life. Anytime that teamwork is needed partnership is called for it would be helpful to picture Ehwaz and focus upon it. If you are having marrital strife a solid hour of meditation focusing on ehwaz may help at least it can do no harm. If you want a closer relationship with your children parents meditation on Ehwaz can be useful. And the relationship or partnership does not just stop at the personal level. An artist to become truly great must give himself completely to the art this is what the great poet william blake meant when he said

To be in a passion you good may do
But no good if the passion be in you.

This means give yourself to something greater than yourself it is good to be in something bigger than yourself but no good to make yourself bigger than your passions this is ehwaz personified.

20. Mannaz is the 20th rune it is another example of the importance of order in the runes just as ehwaz is a rune of partnership working with something bigger and or outside yourself Mannaz positioned right beside it is a rune of all of humankind raised up a power. Its symbol is a X elongated and raised up on two poles. This is a ancient archtype representing all of mankind the entire human species your whole tribe the folk all your people.

21. Laguz is the 21st rune this rune represents water in some old anglo saxon poems the rune laguz is described as a lake. In all of human experience water comes up again and again. All life is dependent on water our ancestors depended on rivers and lakes to drink out of. When farming became widespread rain was important for crops and all animals required water. So it is no wonder that there would develop a rune to symbolize this very important part of the peoples lives. The shape of this rune gives clues and insights to its meaning it is a simple vertical line which is approiate because water is commonly thought of as deep so a horzintal line would not work. But it is more complex then that so at the end the line reverses direction but not straight back it flys off at about a 45 degree angle. This was the basic shape that began to be representive of water. And it was not very much time before the rune laguz began to symbolize water and many of the properties of water. Water is the universal solvent it takes the shape of its container. It can take many forms it is the only common compound found in all its natural states solid liquid and gas at earth conditions. our ancestors used the runes to represent the natural forces and conditions they dealt with in their daily lives. It may be true that in a modern city we don’t die if the rains don’t come or we can’t find a river but laguz is still there and its still powerful. Every cell in your body is made of water and the fluidity and other charactisits of water can be very useful today. If a person needs to be more flexible laguz can be called upon. Suppose a person is stuck with a problem that needs creativity to solve perhaps his work has presented him with a project that needs an new way of thinking to solve that person may find that a few minutes of meditation on laguz may bring some help.

22. Inguz is the 22nd rune it is named after the old prechristian god ing a male god of fertility. Its shape is a good represention of this because it looks like an interwoven coil of DNA. In fact given the time period in which inguz was used and meaning assigned and the primitive state of our ancestors culture thousands of years ago it is amazing that they settled on such an approprate shaped symbol to represent Inguz. Inguz represents pollination fertilization the coming together of cells sperm and egg. this concept had a great implications in ancient times the fertility of the soil the pollination of plants the increase of the family. These where all important things again in our modern society we don’t have the life and death urgency of fertilization or pollination that we did thousands of years ago but there are still several cases when it is at least of major importance. Some examples of modern life in which inguz is of value and can be useful are many the start of a new business, the start of a new job the beginning of a new project and of course any time a new life or baby is wanted all of these situations and countless more which come up in your life can be helped with the use of Laguz rune.

23. Daguz is the 23rd rune in your daily life it is useful for any thing that requires a 24 hour period again in the ancient world this was an important symbol. Modern humans measure time in seconds, minutes, hours, clocks surround us. This was not the case in ancient times time was measures in a day and night one rotation of the earth what we know of as about a 24 hour period. There was no week either their was a month based on a lunar cycle and a year based on the earth’s trip around the sunso the only times they knew of where a turn of the earth day and night a trip of the moon what we call a month and a trip of the earth around the sun what we call a year. Daguz was the point of a day and night it represents a point in time an instant as well as a 24 hour period. The archotype of a day and night where important to our ancestors. The night time for many of our ancestors brought bears wolves lions remember the last european lion was killed in 200 AD in Armenia. So the night time brought danger as well as rest for the day had many dangers also. the shape of Dagaz is two triangles turned sideways touching each other at a point it is another amazing example of the almost perfect shape representing the day and night. It looks almost like an hour glass tipped on its side. So the daguz rune also represents that exact instant when the sand passes through the narrow gap between the two the moment before and the moment after. This is all taken in the urgency of a 24 hour period. Again we can still use the power of the ancient runes in our modern world. Anytime an urgent matter is at hand or timing is needed or you simply finish the day and lay down to sleep after a hard days work you can benefit from some contomplation and meditation and work with Daguz.

24. Othila is the 24th rune it is the last rune it anchors its place in the final position with two tendrils digging down. In fact the shape of Othila like all the runes represents its meaning well by its shape it looks like a seed that has been planted or put in water and has sprouted two tendrils or root hairs. In some of the old European rune poems othila is said to mean homeland or ancestry and this is exactly what it means. Othila is a archotype figure representing homeland ancestors or quit simple put your roots and it is approate with the two roots hanging off the planted seed figure no other symbol could quite capture the meaning of othila as well. Of course to our ancestors homeland ancestors roots was very important. A person cut off from his family was nothing. Banishment was a sever punishment. Today banishment would not mean much to an individual but in our past banishment cutting off of your roots was serious dire. So today in order to get in touch with your ancestorial roots or your past some mediation on othila might be beneficial. Anytime you wish to strengthen your family force or seek contact with family members or are concerned with your household or maybe you have ancestral lands maybe a family farm still in the family or a family house or a family business or even a family heirloom your grandmothers iron skillet or cook book all of these things are part of your past your heritage your roots your birth right any problem question concern involving any of these things can benefit from the use of Othila. Suppose you are having to clean out you died grandmothers old house as you go through her old cloths or photographs and the emotions might be overwelming a simple act as east as holding the othila rune in your hand while sitting on her bed may bring clearer understanding about your connections. A simple drawing of an Othila rune in pencil in an inconspicus place or on a post it note on the refrigiator may help the healing process our ancestors used runes for many purposes and it is fitting that we leave runes with othila the runes are your birthright they are a powerful tool to make your life better easier more complete and to better be in touch with the forces of life and nature we interact with on a daily bases. So you can use these runes in any way you wish you can caste them or mediate on them or write them or speak them I sometimes count laps with them I will run 24 laps around a quarter mile track and instead of counting 1-24 I will count Fehu-Othila and concentrate on the meanings and images each rune presents to me. On Tuesday and Thursday I swim 1200meters and count each 50 with a run sometimes I squat deep 24 times and count runes. During these times of stress I have had great insights to the meanings of runes. If I have a question that needs clearer understanding or deeper thought I can do a rune cast and it will often give new insights it is almost like talking over the problem with a committee of servents who are always on call eager to help and never argumentitive or interrupt. This can really help analyze a situation. It could be that after a long time of use with the runes a person could develop such a complete mind that he can look at all view points without the runes but I personally don’t know anyone who has reached that complete of development although I know it is possible because we do carry all the runes inside of use they represents the forces of nature the eternal struggle of life the questions and situations common to use all. So the runes are your birthright they are right here and can help you live a better more complete life simple take them and use them you will learn and get better grow and improve every time you use them.

   From a word to a word I was lead to words
   A deed to a dead lead me to deeds
   Waxing and waning in wisdom
   This is how I grew in wisdom
   This is how I grew in strength