Runes - Tumblr Posts

Rune Meanings

These are a few keywords and themes for rune symbols along with their modern alphabet equivalents.

*longer read*

Ansuz - Message, A

God, Ancestors, Revelation, Signs, Visions, Insight, Message, Knowledge, Communication

Berkana - Birch, B

Earth Mother, Birth, Fertility, Growth, Renewal, New beginnings, Creation, New projects, Creativity

Kaunaz - Torch, C/K/Q

Fire, Knowledge, Enlightenment, Comprehension, Insight, Illumination, Calling, Purpose, Idea

Dagaz - Dawn, D

Intuition, Light Within, Day, Awakening, Consciousness, Clarity, Hope, Balance, Growth, New cycles

Ehwaz - Horse, E

Twin Gods, Relationships, Progress, Movement, Harmony, Trust, Loyalty, Friendship, Assistance, Duality, Animal instincts

Fehu - Wealth, F

Wealth, Mother Rune, Abundance, Luck, Hope, Prosperity, Fortune

Gebo - Gift, G

Divine Interaction, Generosity, Partnership, Gifts, Talents, Charity, Service, Assistance, Luck, Fortune

Hagalaz - Hail (as in the type of weather), H

Transformation, Egg of Life, Destruction, Natural wrath, Uncontrolled forces, Testing, Change, External input

Isa - Ice, I

Cosmic Coherence, Suspension, Delay, Stillness, Frustration, Blocks, Pause, Waiting

Jera - Harvest, J

Earth, Right Action, Year, conclusion, Life cycle, Endings and beginnings, Abundance, Learnings, Growth

Laguz - Lake, L

Fertilty, Living Renewal, Water, Intuition, Imagination, Healing, Dreams, Mysteries, Insight, Instinct, Knowing

Mannaz - Man, M

Divine Union Manifestation, Humanity, Collective, Mortality, Community, Relationships, Morals, Values

Nauthiz - Neccesity, N

Needs, Friction, Shadow, Restriction, Disagreements, Resistance, Survival, Lacking

Othila - Heritage, O

Genetics, Legacy, inheritance, Spiritual growth, Abundance, Values, Contribution

Peorth - Destiny, P

Divination, Luck, Primal law, Fate, Mysteries, Occult, Feminine fertility, Chance, Fortune, Mysticism, Unknown

Raido - Journey, R

Solar Chariot, Rhythm, Progress, Movement, Evolution, Perspective, Journey, Travel

Sowulo - Sun, S

Thunderbolt, Wheel of Power, Success, Vitality, Inspiration, Justice, Success, Joy, Happiness, Abundance

Teiwaz - Victory, T

Masculine Gods, Warrior Rune, Leadership, Rationality, Honour, Bravery, Courage, Strength, Perseverance, Endurance

Uruz - Power, U

Primal Creative Force, Gateway, Strength, Endurance, Health, Courage, Vigour, Vitality, Force, Perseverance

Wunjo - Joy, V/W

Kinship, Heritage, Joy, Pleasure, Feast, Celebration, Comfort, Belonging, Community, Success, Festivities

Thurisaz - Thor, X, th

Protection, Polarity, Regeneration, Defence, Challenge, Danger, Attack, Strength

Eiwaz - Yew, Y

Tree of Life, Dreaming, Magic, Connection, Inspiration, Endurance, Sacred knowledge, Protection, Life cycles, Divinity

Algiz - Elk, Z

Divine Protection, Sanctuary, Protection, Guardian, Awakening, Courage, Defence, Instincts

Inguz - Fertility, NG

True Love, Music, Harmony, Fertility, Virility, Inner growth, Virtue, Peace, Harmony

Merry meet,

Atti <3

attention people who use runes (esp. the elder fuþark):

if you work with or have done research on the Elder Fuþark runes, you may have noticed that there are lots of variations on the names. & i mean LOTS, e.g.:

there are a couple of reasons for this:

HOWEVER, most actual runic inscriptions in the Elder Fuþark are actually in Proto-Norse, the intermediate stage between Proto-Indo-European and Old Norse. A lot of the discrepancies between the attested names & their names in other Germanic languages (i.e. Gothic and Old English) is due to this fact (Orðstírr has a good intro to Proto-Norse sounds especially re: runes)

modern English is missing many of the sounds and letters that existed in early Germanic languages, so variant spellings are different ways of rendering them in our limited 26-letter alphabet

many sources on runes come from magickal writings from many decades ago, and because language science is constantly evolving, so has our reconstruction of Proto-Germanic. thus, many of the names are based on outdated reconstructions.

most magickal writings on runes are not written by historical linguists who study ancient Germanic languages

luckily i regularly study & use Proto-Germanic, & based on our most recent & accurate reconstructions, the names for the Elder Fuþark would have probably taken the following forms (text in /slashes/ is IPA phonemic transcription; where names are different, this is due to differring names in the different attested langauges, or variation within Proto-Germanic dialects):

ᚠ    *fehu /ɸexu/ “wealth, cattle”

ᚢ    *ūruz /uːruz/ “aurochs”

ᚦ    *þurisaz /θurisɑz/ “giant, monster” OR  *þurnuz /θurnuz/ “thorn”

ᚨ     *ansuz /ɑnsuz/ “deity, mouth”

ᚱ     *raidō /rɑi̯ðɔː/ “journey”

ᚲ    *kēnaz /keːnɑz/ “torch” OR *kauną /kɑu̯nɑ̃/ “ulcer”

ᚷ    *gebō /ɣeβɔː/ “gift”

ᚹ    *wunjō /wunjɔː/ “joy”

ᚺ    *haglaz /xɑɣlɑz/ “hail(storm)”

ᚾ    *naudiz /nɑu̯ðiz/ “need, distress, force”

ᛁ    *īsaz /iːsɑz/ “ice”

ᛃ    *jērą /jɛːrɑ̃/ “year”

ᛇ    *ēhaz /eːxɑz/ < *īhwaz /iːxʷɑz/ OR *īwaz /iːwɑz/ “yew”

ᛈ    *perþō /perθɔː/  “?pear-tree, ??game-box (uncertain)”

ᛉ    *elhaz /elxɑz/ OR *algiz /ɑlɣiz/ “elk”

ᛊ    *sōwulą /sɔːwulɑ̃/ OR *sōwilą /sɔːwilɑ̃/ “sun”

ᛏ    *tīwaz /tiːwɑz/ “the god *Tīwaz (Norse Týr, Anglo-Saxon Tíw > Tue[sday])”

ᛒ    *berkaną /berkɑnɑ̃/ “birch”

ᛖ    *ehwaz /exʷɑz/ “horse”

ᛗ    *mannaz /mɑnnɑz/ “human, person”

ᛚ    *laguz /lɑɣuz/ “water, sea, ocean”

ᛜ    *ingwaz /iŋʷgʷɑz/ “the god *Frawjaz (Norse Freyr, Anglo-Saxon Fréa)”

ᛞ    *dagaz /dɑɣɑz/ “day”

ᛟ    *ōþalą /ɔːθɑlɑ̃/ OR *ōþilą /ɔːθilɑ̃/ “ancestral home”

if you would like more in-depth explanations for each of these, HERE is a good source (where we differ, i’d note that this source leans heavily on the Norse variants because our oldest attested uses come from Proto-Norse)

What Are Runes?

Runes are a written alphabet used by the Germanic peoples in northern Europe until around the thirteenth century when they slowly phased out of use. The word rune is believed to be derived from an Old Germanic word rúna meaning whisper, mystery or secret [Elliott, 1959; Melville, 2003; Thorsson, 1984]. The current belief as to why the name of a language was based off a word meaning ‘secret’ is because not many people were educated in the meanings of runes and so runes were seen as a ‘secret language’ that was usually associated with magic by those who could not understand them [Elliott, 1957; Elliott, 1959; Melville, 2003; Rix, 2011].

Because runes were used by the Goths of Eastern Europe, the Saxons of Germany, the Netherlands, and England as well as the Danes and Vikings of Scandinavia; there are many different variations (like how both America and England both speak English however there are many differences between the spelling, pronunciation and preferred syntax) [Antonsen, 2002; Buck, 1919; Hempl, 1902; Rix, 2011]. The Scandinavian peoples are commonly referred to as Norse and since more of their runic writings have survived than any other Germanic peoples, their runes are the most commonly seen.

The Origins of Runes

In Norse tradition it was Odin (the god of wisdom, communication and magic) who traded his eye to drink from the Fount of Wisdom and brought knowledge of the runes to humans when he left Asgard to travel the Earth (Midgard – Middle Land). Scholars, however believe that runes did not originate from the Norse and are instead derived from existing alphabets with which the Germanic peoples came into contact [Antonsen, 2003; Mellville, 2003; Hempl, 1902]. In evidence of this, the oldest known runic inscription is much closer to Proto-Germanic than it is to Old Norse [Antonsen, 2002; Hempl, 1902; Melville, 2003]. In 1874, the Danish scholar L. Wimmer theorised that runes were actually adapted from an early Latin alphabet around the second century B.C.E and in 1899, Norwegian philologist S. Bugge proposed that runes were actually adapted from the ancient Greek alphabet by the Goths [Antonsen, 2002; Hempl, 1902; Melville, 2003]. However in 1928, Swedish scholar C. Marstrander suggested the more popular theory that runes might actually be related to an ancient Etruscan script from pre-Roman Italy [Melville, 2003]. This theory was more likely due to the fact that several early Roman texts refer to Germanic tribes living in the Alpine region of northern Italy around the fourth century B.C.E. [Melville, 2003].

Reference List:

Antonsen, E 2002. Runes and Germanic Linguistics, Mouton de Gruyter: New York. [link to ebook]

Blum, R 1982. The Book of Runes, Oracle Books: Los Angeles. 

Buck, C 1919. ‘An ABC Inscribed in Old English Runes’, Modern Philology, Vol. 17, No. 4, pp. 219-224.

Elliott, R 1957. ‘Runes, Yews and Magic’, Speculum, Vol. 32, No. 2, pp. 250-261.

Elliott, R 1959. Runes: An Introduction, Manchester University Press: Manchester. [link to ebook]

Hempl, G 1902. ‘The Runes and the Germanic Shift’, The Journal of Germanic Philology, Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 70-75.

Melville, F 2003. The Book of Runes, Quarto Publishing: London.

Rix, R 2011. ‘Runes and Roman: Germanic Literacy and the significance of Runic Writing’, Textual Cultures, Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 114-144.

Thorsson, E 1984. Futhark: A Handbook of Rune Magic, Weiser Books: San Francisco. [link to ebook]

New to runes?

I found this neat five-part article series on norse-mythology.org. It gives a general overview of how the runes came to be and their general meanings. It’s a pretty short read, so if you’re interested it’s definitely worth a click.

Part I: Introduction

Part II: The Origins of the Runes

Part III: Runic Philosophy and Magic

Part IV: The Meanings of the Runes

Part V: The 10 Best Books on the Runes 

OKAY BUT REAL QUESTION... what is the institutes wifi name? 

Cause imagine if it starts out really basic like ‘Los Angeles institute’ obviously selected by Diana or Julian and then the Blackthorn kids try to mess with it because yes?

“Everyone get off the wifi, I’m trying to look at my meme”

- Kit Rook

How I Use My Runestones

Hello again lovelies!! I’m a green witch by nature (pun intended) but I also practise divination. I’ve just bought these Elder Futhark runestones (and they are literally beautiful) and I’m going to explain how I use and prepare my runestones. Of course, remember you can follow any other method - and there are a bunch - and this is just a very easy and basic way in which I use mine.

Preparing Stones For Use

• I always like to carry my stones around with me for several days so I create a kind of bond with them. I have a bag for mine, and even though at this time I can’t go to many places I’m still going to keep them around.

• Because I’m a green witch I’m also going to probably use them outside in the woods somewhere in true witchy Hozier-like fashion.

• I’m also cleansing them with smoke before use for the first time (using the same method I use for pretty much everything - put out a flame in a glass bottle or jar and then put the item inside and pop the lid on for a while until you feel it’s ready to go, then remove). Remember to be fire safe if you use this method though!! <3

Using The Stones

This may be considered a method that’s a little bit off the beaten path but it’s just what feels right for me :)

• you’re going to pick 4 stones from the bag and place them in a square.

• 1: top left - what you want

• 2: top right - what you need

• 3: bottom left - what you have

• 4: bottom right - what you’re going to have

• this is really useful for visualising your current situation and thinking about how to move on or improve it :)

Alternatively there are methods in which you cast the runes across paper or a mat of some kind, but I’m not too familiar with this. If this method is speaking to you instead of mine, that’s great too! 💞 Follow your intuition ☺️

If you’d like me to do a reading for you, because you can’t get your hands on your own stones, let me know and ping me a message - it doesn’t take much effort and for now I’m gonna do them for free unless I get loads of demand 🥰

Something something wells and mirrors

#runes #rune #shadowhunter #shadowhunters #shadowhunters➰ #shadowhunterrunes #drawing #draw #drawings #art #artist #artistsoninstagram #artwork #christ #christianrunes #nephilim #nephilims #demonhunter #demonhunters #demonslayer #magic #chistianwitch #christianwitches #christianwitchcraft #christianwitchery #christian #god #godisgood https://www.instagram.com/p/B0RSbA6Ju4S/?igshid=hnwr4qawl034

#magic #magical #magick #witch #witchesofinstagram #witchcraft #witchyvibes #witchythings #pagan #pagansofinstagram #paganism #paganwitch #wicca #wiccansofinstagram #wiccan #wiccanspells #meme #dankmemes #memes #memes😂 #rune #runes #insta #instagram #instadaily #vibe #vibes #goodvibes #vibez #thing https://www.instagram.com/p/B6ZK4UwJuNb/?igshid=vwp0i5nocy70

First post here, I’m pretty exited. :D

This is an explanation of my name and the signature I hope to use in the future.

Yes, calling myself a “master artist” is a big boast, but I can’t say that I’m not a perfectionist.

I like my cow bone runes. I'm new to them, I've been known for my skill at Tarot for a while, but I'm going through shit and I find my runes give me cleaner results.

I think that because the cow ate as I eat, drank the water I drink, breathed the air as I breath and moved through the world as I do, that the cow bone runes understand more what it's like to be a person.

Tarot and runes are both divination, so both are a higher power giving you knowledge, but I feel like tarot cards are further removed from people and don't know how to explain it to us. They tell you more but not in a way you fully understand.

The runes understand people better. It feels like they not only know, but know how to tell you in a way you'll understand. My tarot cards never liked simple questions because the cards see it as more complicated then me, but the runes seem to get my perspective better and give me the answers I need.

Yet amusingly, can't seem to do yes/no with runes. But they've proven true so far, and I can pull runes at work, not so much with Tarot spreads.

Runes

Greetings and Salutations!

Here is a post on the Elder Runes, and a quick break down of them. Please be warned that runes are very tricky as they will rarely give  you a set answer on what you’re looking for. There is a lot of reading between the lines when it comes to runes and what they mean. 

’*•.¸♡ ♡¸.•*’

Dagaz: ᛞ

Rep: The Dawn

Meaning: Awakenig, Completion, Hope

’*•.¸♡ ♡¸.•*’

Othala: ᛟ

Rep: Inheritance

Meaning: Ancestry, Value, Possessions

’*•.¸♡ ♡¸.•*’

Inguz: ᛜ

Rep: The Seed

Meaning: Goals, Change, Common Sense

’*•.¸♡ ♡¸.•*’

Laguz: ᛚ

Rep: Water

Meaning: Flow, Intuition, Dreams, Change

’*•.¸♡ ♡¸.•*’

Mannaz: ᛗ

Rep: Humanity

Meaning: Help, Society, Frienship

’*•.¸♡ ♡¸.•*’

Ehwaz: ᛖ

Rep: The Horse

Meaning: Trasportation, trust, progress, travel

’*•.¸♡ ♡¸.•*’

Berkana: ᛒ

Birch Tree

Femininity, Birth, Healing

’*•.¸♡ ♡¸.•*’

Tiwaz: ᛏ

the god, Tyr, rune

Masculinity, Battle, Logic

’*•.¸♡ ♡¸.•*’

Sowilo: ᛊ

The Sun: 

Health, honor, victory, cleansing

’*•.¸♡ ♡¸.•*’

Algiz: ᛉ

The Elk

Protection, defense, effort

’*•.¸♡ ♡¸.•*’

Perthro: ᛈ

Dice Cup

Chance, fate, destiney

’*•.¸♡ ♡¸.•*’

Eihwaz: ᛇ

Yew Tree

Balance, Enlightenment, Death, Coming to terms

’*•.¸♡ ♡¸.•*’

Jera: ᛃ

The Year

Harvest, Changes, Cycles

’*•.¸♡ ♡¸.•*’

Isa: ᛁ

Ice

Clarity, Challenges, Waiting

’*•.¸♡ ♡¸.•*’

Nauthiz: ᚾ

Need

Conflict, Restriction, Endurance

’*•.¸♡ ♡¸.•*’

Hagalaz: ᚺ

Hail

Nature, wrath, hardships to overcome

’*•.¸♡ ♡¸.•*’

Wunjo: ᚹ

Joy

Comfort, rewards, winning

’*•.¸♡ ♡¸.•*’

Gebo: ᚷ

Gift

Balance, Partnerships, Generosity

’*•.¸♡ ♡¸.•*’

Kennaz: ᚲ

Torch

Vision, clarity, improving yourself

’*•.¸♡ ♡¸.•*’

Raidho: ᚱ

Wagon

Travel, decisions

’*•.¸♡ ♡¸.•*’

Ansuz: ᚨ

Estuary

Communication, Understanding

’*•.¸♡ ♡¸.•*’

Thurisaz: ᚦ

The Thorn

Reaction, conflict

’*•.¸♡ ♡¸.•*’

Uruz: ᚢ

The Bull

Strength, Courage, Freedom

’*•.¸♡ ♡¸.•*’

Fehu: ᚠ

Livestock

Wealth, abundance

’*•.¸♡ ♡¸.•*’

In the future, I may make a post about the newer runes, however, since runes are so hard, it’s very hard to find information on them that is accurate. I made this post by cross referensing blogs and scholar papers, so not everything here may be correct, but i’m pretty sure most of it is accurate as possible. I also know it’s hard to read the runes, so if anyone needs to see them clearly, just inbox me and I’ll make flashcards and post them for you guys. 

As always, ily (/p) and i hope you are having a good day. dont forget to drink water and eat a snack if you can! 

A norse runework starter pack!

Because runework is basically at the core of my craft, I use it all the time and I’m already more than familiar with it. Runework is super easy to incorporate into everyday life and it’s got a wide range of use so I truly recommend. It feels safe and reliable, and I don’t need to put a lot of time or focus on them. Now let’s get down to business to defeat the Huns.

Their story real quick:

So in His endless search for knowledge, Odin the Allfather hung Himself and was pierced by His own spear in order to be alone with Himself. He accepted no bread and no mead until He found the truth He’d been looking for. And He did: through the darkness of His own mind, Odin saw the runes and reached for them. It was told they were so powerful He could bring a man back from the dead using them.

The basics:

The runic alphabet, otherwise called Futhark. Because I’m a history nerd I try to use the “elder futhark” as much as possible, though there’s a new one going around that’s really popular too.

The more complicated stuff:

Vegvisir (you’ll often find it depicted inside a rune circle like the second pic, especially on jewelry and pendants): Vegvisir is first and foremost a compass, and its name translated from Icelandic quite literally means “that which shows the way”. Historians speculate that its shape might be derived from old sailing wayfinders in Scandinavia, thus its association with the compass. It’s supposed to guide one’s way through the storm, according to a line in the Huld manuscript. (x, y)

Aegishjalmur (Helm of Awe): Protection, protection, protection! That’s what it’s about. All of its branches are considered to be “guarding” the center, thus making it a major protection rune. Once you get the gist of it, it’s super easy to draw and useful. If you’re a fan of dragons like me, perhaps you know Fafnir’s invicibility was drawn from this rune, as stated in the Fáfnismál: The Helm of Awe | I wore before the sons of men | In defense of my treasure; | Amongst all, I alone was strong, | I thought to myself, | For I found no power a match for my own. (x, y) 

Aight quick presentation for other complex runes:

Now; How do I use runes? Where do I put them? 

Draw them anywhere and everywere. I wouldn’t recommend painting a ten-feet inguz on the closest police station but there’s still tons of places where runes can be useful. I draw them inside my wrists and close to pulse points, as way of “pumping” them into my system, so to speak. I write them down to focus my intent during rituals, choosing the one/s I need most atm. In a similar way, I envision them during meditation to clarify my intent. I also use them to decorate altars or devotional art. If you’re a norse pagan like me, maybe look up what runes your main deities are associated with! Quick rundown:

Odin is usually othala or ansuz

I often see Freyja associated with fehu, but that’s also the case for most of the Aesir

Tyr with teiwaz

Thor with thurisaz or uruz; etc…

What about bind runes?

By definition and according to historical speculation, bind runes are futhark runes which were merged into a single glyph (sometimes by carving them all on a single straight line, like oghams). They were super rare back in the viking age but they’ve become popular in the last few years.

People create them according to their needs. This aspect makes bind runes extremely versatile and personal because you can set really specific intents for them. They’re not exactly like sigils, though: when it comes to sigils, feeling and instinct usually guide people’s creation process. As for futhark bind runes, they’re made using existing glyphs from this specific alphabet. Here’s a bunch of bind runes that have been going around, just to give you guys a few ideas of what they can look like:

OKAYYY that’s all for me, time to sleep

Viking Rune Meanings

Norse soul. Alma vikinga. #norse #odin #runes #vikings #warrior #ink #black #soul #man #beard #valhalla https://www.instagram.com/p/BqYSQXJFCKO/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=kd003p4hxdyn

Unlocking the Ancient Wisdom: Exploring the Mystical World of Runes

Shaina Tranquilino

August 30, 2023

If you take the time to observe and look around, we are surrounded by ancient symbols and mystical practices. Runes stand out as one of the most fascinating forms of divination and communication. Originating from ancient Germanic and Norse cultures, these enigmatic characters have captivated scholars, historians, and enthusiasts alike for centuries. In this blog post, we will embark on a journey to uncover the secrets behind runes and explore their significance in contemporary society.

What are Runes?

Runes are a system of ancient alphabets used by various Germanic tribes such as the Vikings during the early Middle Ages. These characters were typically inscribed onto stones, wood, or metal objects and carried deep symbolic meanings. Each rune represents a specific sound, but they also hold broader associations with natural elements, gods/goddesses, and various aspects of life.

The Origins of Runes:

The exact origins of runes remain shrouded in mystery. However, many scholars believe that they evolved from older writing systems like Etruscan or Anglo-Saxon scripts. The earliest known runic inscriptions date back to around 150 AD and can be found across Northern Europe.

The Rune Alphabet:

The runic alphabet is known as "Futhark," derived from its first six letters: Fehu (wealth), Uruz (strength), Thurisaz (thorn), Ansuz (divine breath), Raido (journey), and Kaunan (torch). Over time, different versions emerged within different regions, resulting in variations such as Elder Futhark, Younger Futhark, and Anglo-Saxon Futhorc.

Divination with Runes:

One of the primary purposes of runes was divination – seeking insight into future events or guidance in decision-making processes. To perform a rune reading or casting, practitioners would traditionally draw runes from a bag or scatter them on a cloth, interpreting their meanings based on their positions and interactions.

Each rune carries its own unique symbolism, allowing for nuanced interpretations. Some common interpretations include Fehu representing wealth and abundance, Thurisaz symbolizing protection or defense, and Raido signifying journeys or travel.

Runes in Contemporary Society:

Despite being rooted in ancient cultures, runes have not lost their relevance in modern times. Many individuals find solace in exploring the wisdom embedded within these symbols and seek to incorporate them into their spiritual practices. Runes are often utilized for meditation, personal growth, intention-setting rituals, and even as decorative elements in jewelry or artwork.

In popular culture, runes have made appearances in various forms of media such as books, movies (e.g., "The Lord of the Rings"), and video games (e.g., "The Elder Scrolls" series). These depictions have further fueled curiosity about runes among enthusiasts worldwide.

Runes continue to captivate our collective imagination as powerful symbols of ancient wisdom and divination. Whether you approach them from an academic perspective or seek personal connection through spirituality, exploring the world of runes can be a transformative experience. As we unravel the secrets behind these enigmatic characters, let us honour the knowledge they carry by embracing their lessons with reverence and respect.

Daily draw #52

So me being a Druid I can communicate with my gods and goddesses via many different forms. Today I’ve decided to attempt runic circles for my new catalyst. This is hopefully a rune of health

Priscilla the Seer

______________________

An absolute history nerd. Fun fact, she is trans!