ᚠ
Fehu
Wealth, cattle
Letter: F · Deity: Freyr/Freya
Abundance, prosperity, earned income, luck, material gain, new beginnings in finance
Loss, greed, failure, poverty, over-attachment to possessions, squandered resources
Fé veldur frænda rógi,
fœðisk ulfr í skógi.
Verse: 'Wealth causes strife among kin, the wolf grows in the forest.' — Cattle (wealth) must circulate or it breeds conflict.
Magical Applications
Carve on a green candle to draw money into your home
Draw on a job application or resume to attract earning opportunities
Include in a wealth-drawing charm bag alongside pyrite and cinnamon
Meditate on Fehu when starting a new financial venture or side project
Fehu or Faihu — the rune of the first letter. Cattle were the original currency of the Norse world.
ᚢ
Uruz
Aurochs, wild ox
Letter: U · Deity: Thor
Vitality, courage, health, tenacity, raw power, primal energy, physical strength, perseverance
Weakness, illness, inconsistency, misdirected force, cowardice, lost opportunity
Úr er af illu járni,
opt løypr ræinn á hjarne.
Verse: 'Slag comes from bad iron, often the reindeer runs over frozen snow.' — Uruz is raw material refined into strength.
Magical Applications
Carve on a red candle before athletic competitions or physical challenges
Draw on the body (solar plexus area) during healing work to boost immune vitality
Place in a charm to restore energy after illness or exhaustion
Use in spells to break through obstacles that have blocked your path for too long
The aurochs was a massive wild ox — powerful, untameable, and free. Uruz is the force of untamed nature within you.
ᚦ
Thurisaz
Thorn, giant
Letter: TH · Deity: Thor
Protection, defense, catalyst for change, reactive force, gateway through difficulty, directed aggression
Danger, vulnerability, betrayal, malice, temptation, compulsion, uncontrolled destructive force
Þurs er kvenna kvöl
ok kletta búi
ok varðrúnar verr.
Verse: 'The giant is the torment of women, dweller in cliffs, husband of Vardhruna.' — Power that must be handled carefully.
Magical Applications
Carve on a black candle to create a shield against psychic attack
Draw at the entrance of your home as a ward against those who wish harm
Use in bindings to immobilize a person causing you active harm
Meditate on Thurisaz when you need to confront a difficult truth head-on
The thorn of the rose draws blood but also guards the bloom. Thurisaz is the necessary sharpness that protects what matters.
ᚨ
Ansuz
Mouth, the divine
Letter: A · Deity: Odin
Communication, wisdom, divine inspiration, messages from the gods, signals, clarity of speech
Manipulation, misunderstanding, delusion, bad advice, failed communication, vanity, trickery
Óss er algingautr
ok ásgarðs jöfurr
ok valhallar vísi.
Verse: 'The divine is the progenitor of the gods, the ruler of Asgard, the lord of Valhalla.' — Wisdom that comes from above.
Magical Applications
Carve on a blue candle before giving an important speech, presentation, or difficult conversation
Draw on your throat chakra area to strengthen communication and break through blocks
Include in study or learning spells to aid comprehension and retention
Use in divination rituals to invite clear, truthful messages from spirit guides
Ansuz is Odin's own rune — the breath of the divine, the word that shapes reality. Every spell spoken aloud draws on Ansuz.
ᚱ
Raidho
Journey, wagon
Letter: R · Deity: Ing
Travel, movement, right action, rhythm, evolution, moral compass, the soul's journey, sacred path
Crisis, rigidity, injustice, irrationality, disrupted journey, being stuck, bad decisions
Reið er sitjandi sæl
ok snúðig ferð
ok jórs erfiði.
Verse: 'Riding is pleasant for the warrior, and a swift journey, and the horse's labor.' — Movement in harmony with fate.
Magical Applications
Carve on a candle before long-distance travel for safe passage
Draw on luggage, vehicle dashboards, or travel documents as a protection ward
Use in spells to help someone lost find their direction in life
Include in rituals for legal proceedings to invite just, righteous outcomes
Raidho is not just physical travel — it is the path of right living, the cosmic order one follows when walking in alignment.
ᚲ
Kenaz
Torch, fire
Letter: K · Deity: Freya/Heimdall
Knowledge, creativity, inspiration, transformation, inner fire, the light in darkness, craft, revelation
Darkness, ignorance, instability, false hope, creative block, disease, the void of not-knowing
Kaun er barna böl,
ok bardaga [fár]
ok holdfúa hús.
Verse: 'The torch is the bane of children, and the destroyer in battle, and the house of decay.' — Knowledge costs something.
Magical Applications
Carve on a gold candle to ignite creative inspiration before an artistic project
Draw on your forehead or dominant hand when studying, reading, or learning new skills
Use in spells to illuminate hidden truths or reveal what has been deliberately concealed
Include in healing work to bring warmth and light to infections or cold-related illnesses
The torch carried through the dark forest of ignorance. Kenaz is the fire of craft — both the smith's forge and the artist's muse.
ᚷ
Gebo
Gift, exchange
Letter: G · Deity: Odin
Generosity, partnerships, balance, exchange, sacred contracts, sacrifice, the gift that binds
No reversed meaning — Gebo is always in balance. But watch for: obligation, strings attached, parasitic relationships
Gjöf er gæfa ok heiðr
ok hylmis líð
ok niðja náð.
Verse: 'A gift is grace and honor, and support of the king, and help from kinsmen.' — All relationships are built on exchange.
Magical Applications
Carve on two pink candles bound together for partnership and love spells
Draw at the center of a spell circle to create sacred space that honors all parties equally
Use in business partnership rituals to establish fair, balanced agreements
Include in gratitude rituals to honor the gods, ancestors, or spirits who have aided you
Every gift in the Norse world created a bond. To give was to bind. Gebo represents the sacred reciprocity at the heart of all magic.
ᚹ
Wunjo
Joy, clan banner
Letter: W · Deity: Odin/Freyr
Happiness, harmony, prosperity, ecstasy, glory, spiritual reward, belonging, tribal unity, wish-fulfillment
Sorrow, alienation, delirium, intoxication, possession, frenzy, being separated from one's joy
Vend er þat er líðr
ok þat er á við þrif
ok þat er elr glöð.
Verse: 'Joy is that which glides along smoothly, that which thrives, and that which delights.' — Happiness flows when in alignment.
Magical Applications
Carve on a yellow candle to invite joy, lightness, and positive energy into your life
Draw on wish-papers or bay leaves when writing out what you desire to manifest
Include in home blessing rituals to bring harmony and happiness to your living space
Use as the sealing rune in any positive spell to stamp it with the energy of success
Wunjo is the joy of belonging — to a family, a tribe, a place, a purpose. It is the satisfaction of the soul fully inhabiting its life.
ᚺ
Hagalaz
Hail, hailstone
Letter: H · Deity: Urd/Hel
Disruption, uncontrolled forces, natural disaster, testing, awakening, the storm that clears the air
No reversed form — Hagalaz is already a challenge. Severity and duration of disruption may intensify
Hagall er kaldakorn,
ok krapadrífa
ok snáka sótt.
Verse: 'Hail is cold grain, a shower of sleet, and the sickness of serpents.' — The storm that precedes the clearing.
Magical Applications
Use in weather magic when you need a disruptive energy to break up stagnation
Include in bindings to call on inevitable natural forces against a persistent threat
Meditate on Hagalaz when life has become chaotic, to find the pattern within the storm
Draw in wax-melting rituals to represent the breakdown needed before transformation
Hail destroys the crops — but the water it leaves feeds the next season. Hagalaz is the painful transformation that creates new life.
ᚾ
Nauthiz
Need-fire, constraint
Letter: N · Deity: Skuld/Nornir
Necessity, resistance, survival, endurance, self-reliance, patience, the creative power within constraint
Deprivation, want, emotional hunger, poverty of spirit, being controlled by necessity rather than choice
Nauðr er þýjar þrá
ok þungr kostr
ok vássamlig verk.
Verse: 'Need is the grief of the bondwoman, a hard condition, and toilsome work.' — From necessity grows the strongest will.
Magical Applications
Carve on a black candle when doing protective work during a time of genuine danger or scarcity
Draw on your dominant hand before beginning a difficult but necessary task
Include in resilience spells for someone going through hardship — Nauthiz strengthens the spine
Use in banishing spells to remind a negative force that its need to leave is absolute
The need-fire was lit by friction — only in grinding resistance does the spark emerge. Nauthiz teaches what you are made of.
ᛁ
Isa
Ice, stillness
Letter: I · Deity: Verdandi
Stillness, concentration, focus, clarity through calm, introspection, ego, the present moment crystallized
No reversed form. Can indicate stagnation, emotional coldness, ego rigidity, being frozen in place
Ís er árbörkr
ok unnar þak
ok feigra manna fár.
Verse: 'Ice is the bark of rivers, the roof of waves, and the danger of doomed men.' — What seems solid may be treacherous beneath.
Magical Applications
Use in stillness and meditation practices to quiet the mind before deeper work
Carve on a white candle during a period of forced pause to extract wisdom from the stillness
Include in freezing spells to stop a harmful person or situation from advancing
Draw on paper and place beneath a photograph when you want to pause or suspend an energy
Ice is water with perfect stillness. Isa is the rune of meditation — not movement, but the perfection of complete presence.
ᛃ
Jera
Year, harvest
Letter: J · Deity: Freyr/Freya
Reward, fruition, natural cycles, patience, right timing, success as a result of past efforts
No reversed form. Can indicate poor timing, impatience, expecting harvest without planting, rushing cycles
Ár er gumna góði
ok gott sumar
ok algróinn akr.
Verse: 'A good year is good for mankind, and a good summer, and a fully-grown field.' — The reward of faithful tending.
Magical Applications
Carve on a green candle at the close of a long project to invoke the energy of deserved reward
Include in abundance spells that are building over time — Jera guarantees the eventual harvest
Draw on contracts or agreements when you have done your work and are waiting for results
Use in agricultural or garden magic to bless crops, herbs, or any growing thing
The farmer cannot rush the harvest by pulling up the grain. Jera teaches that all things ripen in their own time — and then they arrive.
ᛇ
Eihwaz
Yew tree, World Tree
Letter: EI · Deity: Odin/Ull
Endurance, protection, the World Tree Yggdrasil, the death-rebirth cycle, reliability, the spine of the cosmos
No reversed form. Can indicate confusion at crossroads, fear of the necessary death, clinging to the old
Ýr er vetrgrœnstr viða;
vant er, er brennr, at svíða.
Verse: 'Yew is the greenest of trees in winter; it is wont to crackle when it burns.' — Endures where softer things perish.
Magical Applications
Include in protection amulets for its association with the undying World Tree
Use in ancestor rituals — the yew is sacred to the dead and the threshold between worlds
Carve on a black or deep purple candle for initiation work and transformational magic
Draw on items you want to last — relationships, projects, binding agreements
The yew tree lives for thousands of years. Its berries are poison; its wood makes the finest bows. Eihwaz holds the world together.
ᛈ
Perthro
Dice cup, fate vessel
Letter: P · Deity: Nornir/Frigg
Mystery, chance, secrets revealed, divination, the unknown, destiny, what is hidden coming to light
Addiction, stagnation, loneliness, hidden sickness, buried secrets that poison, unknown dangers
Perþ er æghwam hlutum leofur
ok gamlum deorce.
Verse: 'Fate is always dear, in the games of men, where the lot-cup tips for the bold and old.' — Destiny reveals itself to those who dare.
Magical Applications
Use in divination rituals to deepen the accuracy and clarity of any oracle reading
Draw on divination tools (rune bags, tarot cloths) to enhance the quality of readings
Include in spells to bring hidden information or secrets to light
Meditate on Perthro before making a major decision to access the wisdom of fate
The dice cup holds the dice of fate. What falls out is already written — but the cup is a mystery until it tips. Perthro is that moment.
ᛉ
Algiz
Elk, protection
Letter: Z · Deity: Heimdall
Divine protection, the shield of the gods, guardian, higher self, sanctuary, the outstretched protective hand
Hidden danger, taboo broken, loss of divine protection, warning to stop proceeding on current path
Ýr er vetrgrœnstr viða;
Algiz hlífi æ fara.
Verse: 'Algiz is the shield of those who travel — raised always against those who would harm.' — Divine protection walks with you.
Magical Applications
Draw at entrances to your home or workspace as a powerful protective ward
Carve on protective amulets, talismans, or jewelry intended to guard the wearer
Use in space-clearing and shielding rituals to establish a protected sacred environment
Include in any spell for personal safety, especially before travel or uncertain situations
The shape of Algiz is the spreading antlers of the elk, or the human standing with arms raised in sacred protection. A living shield.
ᛊ
Sowilo
Sun, lightning bolt
Letter: S · Deity: Baldur/Sol
Success, vitality, wholeness, honor, life force, will to victory, the power of the sun to illuminate and energize
No reversed form. Can indicate false confidence, destructive solar force, retribution, overwhelming force
Sól er skýja skjöldr
ok skínandi röðull
ok ísa aldrtregi.
Verse: 'The sun is the shield of the clouds, shining glory, and the destroyer of ice.' — Cuts through all darkness and doubt.
Magical Applications
Use in any success spell as the primary rune — Sowilo amplifies and activates
Draw on yellow or gold candles for solar rituals, confidence, and victory
Include in healing work as Sowilo's life force energy fights disease and lethargy
Combine with Tiwaz in battle charms for unstoppable will toward a just goal
The sun cannot be stopped. Sowilo is the rune of the life force itself — of the victory that comes to those fully alive in their purpose.
ᛏ
Tiwaz
The god Tyr, the North Star
Letter: T · Deity: Tyr
Justice, self-sacrifice, honor, leadership, victory in battles that matter, law, the fixed point in chaos
Injustice, cowardice, blocked energy, over-sacrifice for unworthy causes, legal defeat, imbalance
Týr er einhendr áss,
ok úlfs leifar,
ok hofa hilmir.
Verse: 'Tyr is the one-handed god, and the leavings of the wolf, and the ruler of the temple.' — Victory at personal cost.
Magical Applications
Carve on a red or blue candle before legal proceedings, court cases, or appeals for justice
Draw on your dominant wrist before confronting a difficult person or situation unfairly
Include in protection spells where justice — not mere force — is the intention
Use in leadership work to invoke the qualities of the just, self-sacrificing leader
Tyr gave his sword hand to bind the wolf Fenrir. He sacrificed power for the protection of all. Tiwaz is the cost of true justice.
ᛒ
Berkano
Birch tree, birch goddess
Letter: B · Deity: Frigg/Freya
Birth, fertility, growth, renewal, nurturing, the Great Mother, new beginnings, sanctuary, healing
Family problems, anxiety, carelessness, loss of control, blurry vision, blocked nurturing energy
Bjarkan er laufgrœnstr líma;
Loki bar flærðar tíma.
Verse: 'The birch is the leafiest of branches; Loki bore the times of deception.' — New growth hides deep mystery.
Magical Applications
Use in fertility spells — physical, creative, or business fertility all respond to Berkano
Carve on a pink or white candle for healing of the womb, family bonds, or mother-child relationships
Draw on nursery walls, garden beds, or baby items as a blessing of growth and protection
Include in new beginning rituals — new home, new relationship, new chapter of life
The birch is the first tree to return after a forest fire. Berkano is the rune of life returning — of birth after the long dark.
ᛖ
Ehwaz
Horse, sacred bond
Letter: E · Deity: Freyr/Freya
Movement, partnership, trust, loyalty, teamwork, transportation, the sacred bond between rider and mount
Not forward progress but betrayal, mistrust, deep restlessness, a partnership breaking at the seams
Ehwaz er jóa gaman,
þar sem heiðar hrossum
fœta of þytr.
Verse: 'The horse is the joy of princes, where heroes exchange words about it, and it is a comfort to the restless.' — Partnership in purpose.
Magical Applications
Include in partnership spells — business, romantic, or collaborative — to bind two in shared purpose
Draw on travel items for safe, swift passage and good companions on the journey
Use in spells to restore trust and open communication in a strained relationship
Carve on a blue or red candle when beginning a major collaboration with another person
The relationship between a Viking warrior and their horse was one of the deepest bonds. Ehwaz is trust in motion — together forward.
ᛗ
Mannaz
Humankind, the self
Letter: M · Deity: Heimdall/Odin
Self, humanity, social order, intelligence, awareness, mortality, the human condition, cooperation
Depression, blindness, self-deception, cunning manipulation, self-destruction, isolation from others
Maðr er moldar auki;
mikit er egis skjálfti.
Verse: 'Man is an increase of the earth; great is the claw of the eagle.' — We are made of earth and we aspire to the sky.
Magical Applications
Use in self-improvement and shadow-work rituals to bring the full self into awareness
Include in social spells — for better relationships, community building, or group harmony
Draw in your journal or mirror during personal development practices
Carve on a candle before therapy, counseling, or any deep inner exploration
Mannaz is the rune of what it means to be human — all of it. The glory and the shadow, the community and the individual.
ᛚ
Laguz
Water, the flowing lake
Letter: L · Deity: Njord/Nerthus
Flow, intuition, emotions, the subconscious, dreams, psychic power, the tidal pull, going with what is
Fear, avoidance, withering, psychic overwhelm, madness, obsession, loss of intuitive connection
Lögr er fállandi vatn
ok fjall ofljótt
ok gleðr oss gröf.
Verse: 'Water is the falling of a stream, and the steep mountain-cliff, and the man takes pleasure in the waves.' — The power of flow.
Magical Applications
Carve on a blue candle for psychic development, dream work, and deepening intuition
Draw at the base of the skull or on the third eye area before meditation or visionary practices
Include in water-based spells — moon water charging, sea magic, river offerings
Use in healing spells involving emotional release, grief processing, or trauma release
Water goes where it will, wearing down stone over time, filling every low place. Laguz is the wisdom of the water — yield and prevail.
ᛜ
Ingwaz
The god Ing, seed
Letter: NG · Deity: Freyr/Ing
Fertility, internal growth, gestation, common sense, family, the seed that holds potential, withdrawal before emergence
No reversed form. Can indicate impotence, purposeless movement, potential not actualized, stuck in gestation
Ing var fyrst með Austdönum
gesewen secgun,
oð he siðþan est
over wæg gewat.
Verse: 'Ing was first seen among the East-Danes, until he later went east over the wave.' — The potential that travels within.
Magical Applications
Use in fertility and pregnancy spells to protect and nourish what is gestating
Include in spells for projects in their early, vulnerable stages needing protected development
Draw on bedroom walls or under the bed for sexual and romantic fertility
Carve on a green or white candle when beginning a long-term project requiring patience
Ingwaz is the rune of the seed in winter dark — full of potential, not yet visible, gathering strength for the explosion of spring.
ᛞ
Dagaz
Day, the dawning
Letter: D · Deity: Heimdall/Baldur
Breakthrough, awakening, transformation, hope, certainty, clarity at last, the moment between dark and light
No reversed form. Can indicate blindness, hopelessness before the dawn, the liminal confusion of the threshold
Dagr er Dróttins sendill,
dýrr maðr Ljos.
glöð ok lofað
góðs kváðu ríðr.
Verse: 'Day is the Lord's messenger, dear to men, the light glides glad and praised.' — Every dawn is a gift and a beginning.
Magical Applications
Include in any spell as the 'breakthrough' rune to catalyze the decisive shift needed
Draw on sunrise or at the transition between seasons to mark and honor the turning point
Use in healing spells — Dagaz is the light the body seeks when fighting illness
Carve on a gold or white candle at the start of a major new chapter in life
Dagaz is the moment the sun crests the horizon. Not just light — but the breakthrough from not-knowing into absolute knowing.
ᛟ
Othala
Heritage, the enclosed land
Letter: O · Deity: Odin
Ancestry, inheritance, tradition, home, belonging, spiritual heritage, the gifts of blood and lineage
Homelessness, prejudice, clannishness, poverty, bad karma, cut off from ancestral support
Óðal er ofgefins fehu;
ok forns aðal.
Verse: 'The homeland is ancestral wealth; and the ancient nobility.' — What you inherit cannot be bought — only honored or squandered.
Magical Applications
Use in ancestor veneration rituals to call upon the wisdom and support of your bloodline
Draw on property, home boundaries, or deeds to bless and protect what you own
Include in inheritance spells or family healing work to repair generational wounds
Carve on a brown or gold candle when establishing your home or sanctuary
Othala is the ancestral home — the land the family has held for generations, the inheritance of blood, bone, and memory.