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The meaning of the runes
The runes of the Elder Futhark are 24 signs of the oldest Germanic alphabet, written from the 2nd to the 8th century. They fall into three aettir of eight runes. In the divination tradition each rune has a meaning, and the 16 asymmetrical ones also have a reversed one, when they fall upside down. The eight symmetrical ones read the same both ways.
The futhark
All 24 runes of the Elder Futhark
| The stone | Name | In a word | Upright | Reversed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freyr’s aett | ||||
 | Fehu | Wealth | Abundance, money, gains and a well-earned reward. Material success is coming: guard and grow what you have. | Loss, expense, false expectations, or wealth slipping through your fingers. Be careful with money. |
 | Uruz | Strength | Raw strength, health, will and vitality. You have the energy to break through: act boldly. | Exhaustion, weakness, a missed opportunity, or strength aimed in the wrong direction. |
 | Thurisaz | Obstacle | Protection through confrontation, a test, a sharp reaction. A force that defends but can also wound: stop and think. | Rashness, danger, a conflict you can still avoid. Do not force things. |
 | Ansuz | Message | News, wisdom, communication, a sign from above. Listen closely: an important message or piece of advice is coming. | Misunderstanding, a lie, bad advice, or a missed sign. Check your information. |
 | Raidho | Journey | A path, movement, progress in the right direction. Things are moving forward: follow the rhythm of the road. | Delay, a confused route, a standstill in your plans. Rethink your direction. |
 | Kenaz | Insight | A torch, knowledge, creativity, clarity. Light in the dark: you grasp something important or give birth to an idea. | Loss of clarity, extinguished inspiration, confusion. The light dims. |
 | Gebo | Gift | A gift, partnership, generosity, balanced exchange. A bond in which you give and receive in equal measure. | Reads the same: the rune looks the same upside down. |
 | Wunjo | Joy | Joy, harmony, success, contentment. A period of happiness and wishes fulfilled. | Disappointment, delayed joy, disharmony. Happiness is on hold. |
| Heimdall’s aett | ||||
 | Hagalaz | Disruption | Hail, sudden change, destruction beyond your control. A storm that clears the way for the new: weather it. | Reads the same: the rune looks the same upside down. |
 | Nauthiz | Need | Need, constraint, resistance, a lesson learned through hardship. Patience and discipline will carry you through. | Hasty decisions under pressure, stubbornness, repeating the same mistakes. |
 | Isa | Stillness | Ice, standstill, a pause, frozen time. Nothing moves right now: wait, do not force it. | Reads the same: the rune looks the same upside down. |
 | Jera | Harvest | Harvest, reward after labour, a natural cycle. What you have sown you will reap in its own time. | Reads the same: the rune looks the same upside down. |
 | Eihwaz | Endurance | The yew, endurance, transformation, a link between worlds. Hold firm: you are passing through an important transition. | Reads the same: the rune looks the same upside down. |
 | Perthro | Fate | Mystery, fate, chance, hidden knowledge. Something unknown is being revealed: trust the process. | Disappointment, an unpleasant secret, luck that stays locked away. Do not rely on chance alone. |
 | Algiz | Protection | Protection, the higher Self, an instinct to safeguard. You are shielded: follow your intuition. | Vulnerability, a warning ignored, an open door to harm. |
 | Sowilo | Sun | The Sun, success, vitality, victory. A strongly positive rune: your goals are lit up. | Reads the same: the rune looks the same upside down. |
| Tyr’s aett | ||||
 | Tiwaz | Honour | Justice, honour, victory, courage. Fight for what is right: the truth is on your side. | Injustice, a lost battle, weakened will, or foul play. |
 | Berkano | Growth | The birch, growth, a new beginning, fertility. Something young is blossoming: tend to it. | Stalled growth, family troubles, unrealised potential. |
 | Ehwaz | Movement | The horse, movement, trust, partnership in step. You move forward together with someone: harmonious change. | A standstill, distrust, falling out of step with another. |
 | Mannaz | The Self | Humanity, the self, community, reason. See yourself clearly and seek connection with others. | Isolation, selfishness, hostility, or a conflict within yourself. |
 | Laguz | Intuition | Water, flow, intuition, emotion. Let yourself be carried by the current and listen to your inner voice. | Confused feelings, fear, lost intuition, emotional stagnation. |
 | Ingwaz | Completion | Fertility, completion, ripened potential. A stage closes successfully and frees up new energy. | Reads the same: the rune looks the same upside down. |
 | Dagaz | Breakthrough | Day, dawn, breakthrough, insight. A bright turning point: something becomes clear and begins anew. | Reads the same: the rune looks the same upside down. |
 | Othala | Heritage | Home, heritage, roots, ancestral wealth. What is yours by right: family, tradition, property. | Parting from home, a family rift, lost inheritance. |
The aettir
The three aettir
The futhark is divided into three rows of eight runes, called aettir. Each bears the name of a god from the Norse myths and has its own theme in the tradition.
Freyr’s aett
from Fehu to WunjoIn the tradition: the material world, the basic needs and the foundation on which life is built.
Fehu, Uruz, Thurisaz, Ansuz, Raidho, Kenaz, Gebo and Wunjo
Heimdall’s aett
from Hagalaz to SowiloIn the tradition: the forces of nature, the trials and the change that comes with them.
Hagalaz, Nauthiz, Isa, Jera, Eihwaz, Perthro, Algiz and Sowilo
Tyr’s aett
from Tiwaz to OthalaIn the tradition: people and the law, relationships, growth and heritage.
Tiwaz, Berkano, Ehwaz, Mannaz, Laguz, Ingwaz, Dagaz and Othala
Upside down
Reversed runes
UprightReversedExample: Fehu upright and Fehu reversed
A rune that falls upside down is read reversed. In the tradition it shows the harder side of its meaning: Fehu upright means wealth, and reversed loss and expense.
16 runes have a reversed meaning. The eight symmetrical ones look the same both ways and read the same: Gebo, Hagalaz, Isa, Jera, Eihwaz, Sowilo, Ingwaz and Dagaz.
The spreads
How several runes are read
Choose a rune from the table. Draw it and record its name exactly. In a separate column, note its meaning in the tradition. This keeps the historical writing system distinct from later divination readings.
For a two-rune exercise, write a question first and then compare their meanings.
One rune
1 runeOne clear message for the day or a specific question.
Place: rune of the day
Three runes
3 runesThe Norns spread: the past, the present and where it leads.
Places: past, present, outcome
Cross
5 runesThe full picture: core, obstacle, root, advice and resolution.
Places: core, obstacle, past, advice, outcome
Runes
Guides
Runes: A Complete Beginner's Guide to Divination
Learn about runes, how to divine with them, and the meanings of the 24 Elder Futhark runes.9 min readMeaning of the 24 Runes (Elder Futhark)
Full list of meanings for all 24 Elder Futhark runes, from Fehu to Othala.13 min readHow to Read Runes: Step-by-Step Guide
Learn how to read runes: one rune, three runes (Norns), and cross spread.13 min readReversed Runes (Merkstave): Meanings and Interpretation
What reversed runes (merkstave) mean in divination.13 min readThe Three Aetts of the Runes and Their Meanings
The Elder Futhark is divided into three aetts (groups) of 8 runes each: Freyr's, Heimdall's, and Tyr's.9 min readRunes vs. Tarot and Lenormand: Which System to Choose
Runes, Tarot, or Lenormand?13 min read
Runes
Frequently asked questions about runes
What is a reversed rune (merkstave)?
When an asymmetrical rune falls upside down, it shows the harder side of its meaning in the tradition. Fehu upright means wealth, and reversed loss and expense.
Which runes have no reversed meaning?
The eight symmetrical ones: Gebo, Hagalaz, Isa, Jera, Eihwaz, Sowilo, Ingwaz and Dagaz. They look the same both ways and read the same.
What are the three aettir?
The groups of eight runes into which the tradition divides the Elder Futhark: Freyr’s aett, Heimdall’s aett and Tyr’s aett.
Are the runes hard to learn?
The meanings of the 24 runes can be learned in a few weeks; reading several runes together takes practice. Start with one rune a day.
Can I cast runes online?
Yes: on the rune reading page you draw one, three or five runes. Rune reading.
Divination
Draw a rune for today
A virtual draw with an interpretation of every rune.