f A-S Rune Name Feoh, Proto-Germanic Fehu, Roman Letter f
Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem Verse:
Fee (money) is a help--to everyone,
Though every man should--deal it our freely,
If they wish before the Lord--To cast doom's lots.
Féoh is the power of domesticated cattle. The ancient Northern Europeans likemany peoples used cattle as a form of money in bartering. This power was later transferred to raw gold and jewelry and finally to coins. Today it can be seen in checking accounts and cash.
Féoh symbolizes all that money does; power, wealth, position. It is as many writers havestated symbolic of mobile power. This power has a good and a bad side. As stated in the "Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem," it must be given out freely. Otherwise its power can lead to the greed and envy which lie behind the warnings in the Icelandic Rune Poem, "Fee is strife amongst kinsmen..." Thus féh is a two edged sword bringing favor from greater powers for those that give it away, strife and warfare for those that do not. It is no different today. féh is therefore linked to Giefu, the rune of giving in its good qualities and to thorn in its bad. It is also related to Mann which is also a two edged sword. All of these runes have exceptionally good qualities and bad ones, the difference being how we use them.
Féoh, because it is linked to gold, also symbolizes fire. In the poetic imagery of the ancient Northern Europeans, gold and fire are symbolically linked, fire being bright like gold, and the earliest form of mobile energy. Fire in the mythology of the ancient Northern Europeans is seen both as creative and destructive. It is the fire that the blacksmith uses to beat out farming implements, and the fire that destroys forests. Even in its destructive aspects, fire brings forth new birth, as many plants on the American prairie have been found to need fire to germinate their seeds. It can also been seen as a person's spiritual strength. The final line of the poem refers specifically to the casting of rune lots, and how in order to cast runes one must first win the favor of the dryhten or "lord." In ancient times this would have been Wóden whose title in Old Norse was Dröttin, cognate to Old English dryhten.
In divination, féoh can mean that money is going to be received or it can be a warning against greed. Often it indicates one will be in a position to generate wealth. Usually, féoh carries its good and bad sides with it, where wealth is received some of it must be given away. In the ancient lore only dragons hoarded wealth. Good kings were called "ring givers" or "givers of gold." In spellwork it can be used to generate wealth or mobile power.
u A.-S. Rune Name Ur, Proto-Germanic Uruz, Roman Letter u
Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem Verse:
Aurochs is savage---and greatly horned,
A very fierce beast---it fights with its horns,
A well known moor walker---that is a bold wight.
Ur is the power of the extinct wild ox, the aurochs. The aurochs was one of the largest bovines to ever live, often standing 7 feet at the shoulder. As fierce and strong as the American buffalo, its horns spread out form its skull like a Texas longhorn and made it a deadly prey to hunt. Ancient Germans used to hunt the aurochs as a test of manhood in the woods and glades of Northern Europe. The horns were prized as drinking vessels, and the hides and meat provided warmth and food for the children of the tribe.
Ur symbolizes strength, fierceness, and individuality. It is the rune of determination and individuality, the strength needed to accomplish great things. It is the rune of raw physical might or spiritual strenght. It's traits are valuable to a warrior, but they also have much in common with the outlaw. The word fr,cne used in the "Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem" is related to the Old Icelandic word Freki, the name of one of Woden's wolves. Wolves in the ancient lore were commonly associated with outlaws in general and seen to have many traits in common. This trait is further borne out by description of the aurochs as a "moor walker" in the "Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem."
The outlaw in Northern European society held a unique position. Outlaws because they were largely expendable were used to commit deeds that no one else were willing to do. Often the outlaw though feared and hated found themselves in the role of hero.
Many feel Ur represents the cosmic bovine Audhumla and therefore represents the vitality of the life force or mæen. This ties in with the meaning that lies behind the "Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem" verse quite well, although more likely Ur represents the physical aspect of mæen called might.
In divination it usually represents strength will be called for or fierceness and the courage to use these qualities. In magic it can be used to bring about strength and physical health.
T A-S Rune Name Thorn, Proto-Germanic Thurisaz, Roman letters th
Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem Verse:
Thorn is very sharp---for every thane
Who grabs it, it is evil---and immeasurably cruel
For every man---that with it rests.
In Old Norse this rune's name is thurs or giant. The thurses were known for their brute strength and often were in opposition to the Norse gods, though sometimes they were helpful. The Anglo-Saxon name refers to the thorn of the rose or any other plant. However, it must be remembered that while the thorn may draw blood, it often defends something of great beauty like the rose. The Old Norse and Old Icelandic rune poems portray this rune as harmful to women, and it is also the rune with which Skirnir threatens Gerdhr when seeking her hand in marriage on behalf of the god Freyr. This is probably the dark side of the rune. Its ability to draw blood and do harm. It has for this reason been seen as a phallic symbol, the phallus that takes away the maiden's virginity.
It is also linked to the god Thor however, a god who is linked to many plants that have thorns or thorn like structures like nettle and thistle. This is the good side of thorn, its ability to use its power to defend man and beast. Thor with his hammer and powerful arms protected both god and man from the giants. He was also responsible for sending the thunderstorms that brought water to the crops. Thorn in either aspect is a rune of silent strength waiting to be unleashed. Thorn is similar to Eolh-secg in its defensive aspects.
In divination, thorn can mean "look before you leap," or proceed with caution. It is a dangerous rune to be used in magic but can be used for defensive spells although it is commonly seen used in mythology and folklore in curses.
o A-S Rune Name Os, Proto-Germanic Ansuz, Roman Letter o or a
Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem Verse:
One of the 'sir is the ordfruma (i.e., "primalsource")---of all speech
Wisdom's support---and wiseman's help
And every earl's---riches and happiness.
Os is the rune of the god Wáden (Odin), god of magic, death, and speech. It was Woden (Odin) who first won the runes for mankind when he hung on the World Tree for nine nights and nine days. It is therefore the rune of wisdom and esoteric secrets. It is the rune of knowledge and the power that knowledge can bring. It can been seen as the rune of the psychic death and the spiritual rebirth of the shaman or spell caster. This makes it the rune of "shamanic" ecstasy. In order to win the runes, (Wáden) Odin hung on the World Tree for nine nights and nine days without food or drink. From the "Hávamál" stanzas 138 and 139 of the Elder Edda.
Wit I that I hung--on that wind swept tree,
Nights all nine--wounded by a spear,
And given to Odin--myself to myself,
On that tree which no man knows--from whence its roots rise.
Given no bread--nor horn,
I looked down--I took up the runes
Screaming I took them up--I fell back from there.
It is linked to all powers of speech and the written word such as poetry, song, and prose. It also governs the words of the magic charm. It is the word well spoken, the ability to sway others, the rune of poetic inspiration. Being the rune of speech it is also connected to the word of power, the secret word spoken only in arcane circles. It is the rune of runes, esoteric secrets known only to the enlightened. Os is therefore linked to divine inspiration, the flash of enlightenment that comes out of the blue. It is also the `them or breath of life, as Odin was god of the winds was giver of divine breath to mankind.
In divination, Os can mean divine inspiration, enlightenment, or a time when words will flow easily and freely. In magic workings it can be used to draw up magic energy or to receive enlightenment on some issue.
r A-S Rune Name Ræd, Proto-Germanic Raidho, Roman letter r
Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem Verse:
Ræd is in the hall---to every warrior
Soft, and mighty hard---to him that sits upon
A mainhardy mare ("strong")---over miles of paths.
Ræd symbolizes a journey, either a physical one or a spiritual one. The ancient Europeans saw the universe not as space but as action, for them where action was not taking place, there was a void where nothing existed. This action or movement is reflected in Ræ. This action was also reflected in the metaphysical realm by the movement of the dew dripping down from the World Tree into Wyrd's Well, only to become dew again. This action was symbolic of the flow of time itself. It is the rune of ordered movement and as such also is the rune of the dance and the rhythm to the dance. It is the rune of time keeping and travel. It is also symbolic of the sun's course across the sky as well as that of the moon. This being so Ræd is tied to the passage of the day, the months, and the seasons.
As can be seen by the "Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem" verse, any journey seems easy to the one not taking it. The ancient Northern Europeans saw action as necessary to the maintenance of the universe, non-action was seen as evil or detrimental. Therefore, it was desirable to take the long hard journey, to be constantly in movement. Yet, anything seems easy to one that does not do it. Ræd is related to the other "journey" runes Lagu and Sigel, as well as Eh which also implies movement.
Ræd can also represent the hard journey, the difficult road to travel in life. The "Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem" verse could refer to the refusal of the hero to take that journey, a part of Joseph Campbell's Monomyth. Refusal indicates a loss of what could have been a great reward, while acceptance can mean great benefits will be received after a hard time of travel.
In divination Ræd means a journey that should be or has been taken. In magic, it can be used to send one on a journey or to keep ordered movement.
c A-S Rune Name Cén, Proto-Germanic Kenaz, Roman letter c
Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem Verse:
Cén is to all of the quick (i.e., "living")---known byits fire
Shining and bright---burns it oftest
Where the æthelings ("princes")---rest inside.
Cén is the rune of fire. Its Anglo-Saxon name means torch and the rune is therefore linked to all aspects of fire. Fire was seen by the ancient Northern Europeans as having warding and healing qualities. Food was passed over fire to bless it and cattle driven through the smoke of need fire to drive off pests and disease. In Medieval times, European nobles burned candles in their bedrooms at night to keep away evil spirits. Thus Cén is a rune of warding and defense, not to mention one of blessing. It is the opponent of disease and evil. It was also fire that sent such warriors as Beowulf off to the realms of the gods. This was the fire of cremation, which KveldolfR Gundarsson sees as a primary aspect of Cén (Gundarsson, Teutonic Magic, page 61).
It is also the rune of creation, the blacksmith's fire, and here it hold's much in common with the rune féh. As symbolic of the blacksmith's fire, Cén governs many of the creative energies of the artist and worker. While Os is the rune of divine inspiration, Cén is the raw energy needed to complete a task, the blood, sweat, and tears. Cén is also the rune of passion of flaming desire. And is Cén also controls many of the negative aspects of fire, its destructive qualities.
In divination, Cén can mean a need to be creative, to generate the energy needed to ensure one's health. It can also indicate passions and desires. In spellwork it can be used as a rune of warding, or to set off creative energies.
g A-S Rune Name Giefu, Proto-Germanic Gebo, Roman letter y, g
Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem Verse:
Gift is to men---glee and praise
Support and worship (worthiness)---and to every wretch
Ar ("honor befitting"), and edwist (sustenance)---that would otherwise be left without.
Giefu is the rune of gifts and giving. Giving was seen not only as a duty in early Germanic culture, but a necessity, and this verse reflects that. Gifts and giving was for the average man, happiness, praise, support, and a sense of self respect. To those in exile, gifts restored honor, for to receive a gift intimated a bond like that between knight and king, which was very important to the lordless outlaw. Of course, for those with less, slaves and such, gifts were their only means of survival. Giefu governs the law of giving, which states there must be an equal exchange of all things exchanged. Every gift calls for something in return. This gift in return need not a physical one, it can be in the form of acts of kindness or other good deeds or gifts of knowledge. Giefu also governs the exchange of energies, the exchange of mæen.
Gifts were exchanged between lord and vassal, husband and wife, and those making peace.It represented the exchange of mægen and created a bond between two people or groups of people. Giving also governs the hospitality of the home and sacrifices made either to the divine or in one's own life. It is the giving up of something in order to receive something else. Giefu is the rune of the ultimate exchange, that of love between two people in marriage for which no sacrifice is too great, it therefore represents the state of marriage.
Giefu governs the law of giving, that is it governs the exchange of spiritual energy. Failure to return gift for gift or the deliberate theft of something, be it a piece of jewelry or human life results in a scyld, the obligation to repay a debt owed. Failure to repay this debt can result in a loss of main.
In divination, Giefu represents any sort of exchange, while in spell work it can be used to bring about such an exchange.
w A-S Rune Name Wynn, Proto-Germanic Wunjo, Roman Letter w
Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem Verse:
Joy one brooks (uses/enjoys)---that knows little (of)want
Sores and sorrows ---and himself has
Blead (prosperity) and bliss---and bury (fortress)enough
Wynn is the rune of joy and pleasure. The rune name itself is related to the word winsome. This is the rune of positive thinking; to achieve few sorrows, one must use joy or happiness. In addition, they must have a good stronghold, a fortress of the self to withstand the travails of life. Wynn is the rune of elation, of happiness, of taking pleasure in life. Even with the often rugged and hard life of the ancient Northern Europeans there was room for happiness and joy; the togetherness of the family, the seasonal celebrations throughout the year such as Yule. Wynn is the rune of wishes come true, of dreams fulfilled, of togetherness and love. Wynn governs the harmony of humans, that which allows Mankind to live in peace and happiness.
Wynn also governs self esteem for without good self esteem, one can not truly feel happy. For this, one must have a strong will to survive, to combat sorrow. One who loves one's self is usually loved by others. In essence, Wynn is the rune of frith or peace, the peace of mind one has when living in a community of caring individuals without the threat of such hardships as poverty, famine, or heartbreak.
In divination, it can mean a period of joy or that happiness will be needed. In magic, it can be used to achieve joy and happiness.
The Second Aett
The Third Aett
Additional Runes of the Anglo-Saxon Futhark
The Anglo-Saxon Runes