Runes
Runes
A free guide to the 24 runes of the Elder Futhark - meanings, spreads and how to read them together. An ancient system for clear answers.
What are runes?
Runes are the writing system of the ancient Germanic peoples. The Elder Futhark has 24 runes, each with a clear symbol - Fehu for wealth, Uruz for strength, Algiz for protection. Beyond writing, they are also used for divination.
As with Lenormand, runes are not read in isolation but together. Some also carry a reversed meaning. Start with the complete beginner’s guide, then move on to the meanings and spreads.
Runes - A Complete Beginner’s Guide to Rune Reading
startWhat runes are, how they are cast and read, and how to do your first reading. Start here.
Meaning of the 24 Runes
The upright and reversed meaning of each of the 24 runes of the Elder Futhark.
How to Read - Rune Spreads
One rune, three runes (the Norns) and the cross - step by step, with examples.
Reversed Runes (merkstave)
What a reversed rune means, which runes can reverse and which are symmetrical.
The Three Aettir
The groups of 8 runes - Freyr’s, Heimdall’s and Tyr’s, and what unites each one.
Runes vs Tarot and Lenormand
Which system to choose - a comparison of runes, tarot and Lenormand.
All 24 runes of the Elder Futhark
Every rune with its keyword, its upright meaning and, where the shape allows it, its reversed one. Eight of the twenty-four are symmetrical and read the same either way.
| Rune | Name | In a word | Meaning | Reversed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. | Symmetrical, reads the same | |
| Wunjo | Joy | Joy, harmony, success, contentment. A period of happiness and wishes fulfilled. | Disappointment, delayed joy, disharmony. Happiness is on hold. | |
| Hagalaz | Disruption | Hail, sudden change, destruction beyond your control. A storm that clears the way for the new - weather it. | Symmetrical, reads the same | |
| 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. | Symmetrical, reads the same | |
| Jera | Harvest | Harvest, reward after labour, a natural cycle. What you have sown you will reap - in its own time. | Symmetrical, reads the same | |
| Eihwaz | Endurance | The yew, endurance, transformation, a link between worlds. Hold firm - you are passing through an important transition. | Symmetrical, reads the same | |
| 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. | Symmetrical, reads the same | |
| 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. | Symmetrical, reads the same | |
| Dagaz | Breakthrough | Day, dawn, breakthrough, insight. A bright turning point - something becomes clear and begins anew. | Symmetrical, reads the same | |
| Othala | Heritage | Home, heritage, roots, ancestral wealth. What is yours by right - family, tradition, property. | Parting from home, a family rift, lost inheritance. |
Frequently asked questions about runes
What are divination runes?
Runes are an ancient Germanic alphabet of 24 symbols (the Elder Futhark) used for both writing and divination. Each rune carries a symbol and a clear meaning - Fehu for wealth, Algiz for protection, Raidho for the journey. In a reading the runes are cast and read together as a message.
Are the runes hard to learn?
The basic meanings of the 24 runes can be picked up in a few weeks - there are fewer than tarot cards and they have clear symbols. The bigger challenge is reading the runes together and interpreting the reversed ones. Start with one rune a day.
What is a reversed rune (merkstave)?
When a non-symmetrical rune falls upside down, it shows the more challenging side of its meaning. Symmetrical runes such as Gebo, Isa and Dagaz look the same either way and have no reversed meaning.
Can I cast runes online for free?
Yes. You can cast your runes for free and without signing up using our online rune reading tool - choose a spread, ask a question and get an interpretation right away.
Separate the character from its interpretation
Choose a rune from the reference guide. Draw it and record its name exactly. In a separate column, note the symbolic meaning used in the guide.
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.