Take the Guesswork

Out of Your Life

Explore Your
Destiny With
Runes
Rune Reading:
What is it, and how to do it?

Rune reading is one of the oldest, most accurate, and spiritually loaded methods of
divination that has come from northern Europe. Since ancient times, people have been
using runes to get a better understanding of their lives and the world they live in. Based
on Norse myths, Celtic lore and religious practices, and Germanic mystic traditions, runes
help to see into the future and get a clearer vision and interpretation of the events of the
present.

Historically, runes were etched into stone, bone, or wood, hence their angular shapes.
Modern runic divination is performed with a set of 24 stones, one per each rune of the
Elder Futhark (the ancient runic alphabet). Each of the 24 runic symbols has a particular
significance and magical interpretation. To read the runes, one needs to spread or cast
them, examine the cast, and interpret the symbolism.

Modern runic divination kits are made of different materials - from historically accurate
wood and bronze to luxurious jasper, amethyst, or even plastic and resin. But you don’t
need an actual rune set to tell your fortune - online rune casts are just valid and accurate,
plus much more convenient! After all, rune divination is not about physical objects; it’s
the art of “reading” and interpreting the runes that matter.

Rune reading is a complicated procedure, full of intricacies and hidden specks of

meaning. It’s not only the individual runes that matter; one needs to interpret them in
tandem, while paying close attention to where and how they are positioned, to discover
in-depth insight into the events of the present, the past, and the future.
 FEHU /FEH-hoo/

Old Norse: Fé – (mobile) wealth

Old English: Feoh – livestock
Gothic: Faihu – cattle, wealth
(fee and fief are better-known cognates of the three words)

In runic divination, FEHU is closely connected to cattle. However, you should not treat it as actual
live animals. Historically, livestock has always been the most valuable asset. And it has not been
sitting and gathering dust, like diamonds in a locked safe. Instead, it’s been continually growing
in numbers and, consequently, increasing its owner’s wealth. It’s worth being noted that this is
the kind of wealth that needs constant and close attention to stay healthy and continue to
increase its worth.

From a more general point of view, FEHU stands for personal property in the broadest sense of
the word. It includes a person’s body, memory, ideas, feelings, and emotions, i.e., anything that a
person can get. But what a person can get, a person can lose, and FEHU stands precisely for
that. Nothing a person can possess is eternal or unshakeable. Yet many people make the
mistake of identifying themselves with their property, thinking that the things they have and enjoy
really, truly belong to them. FEHU symbolizes anything that can be given to a person. And what
can be given can be taken back.

All in all, no rune can be identified with a person as an individual or their personal self. Runes
stand for the guises, the thin casing a person hides inside. And FEHU symbolizes the thickest,
palpable case of a person - their physical and primary emotional incarnation.
FEHU doesn’t always yield immediate results. It needs time to reveal itself. Be prepared to wait:
FEHU is not eager to quickly come to the surface.

It’s the rune of possession, ownership—the rune of the material. Do not be condescending to it,
do not think it weak because of its firm focus on solid things. Because this focus is actually its
fundamental force, its task, and its purpose.

You can use FEHU to achieve a tangible result, to turn your plans into palpable reality. In any
case, FEHU tells you to stay as uncomplicated as most material things are. It draws your attention
to the world of the material and promises to support you and help you succeed.
 URUZ/OO-rooz/

Old Norse: Urr – bison

Old English: Ur – bison
Gothic: Urus – bull

URUZ is all about energy as we know it. All possible interpretations of this powerful rune are
based on its energetic side.

URUZ is the rune of power and energy (both magical and sexual). However, unlike TIWAZ, this
rune is not about the all-conquering will but rather the energy that is feeding itself.

The essence of the rune is not furious and invasive Yang. It's much closer to powerful, discerning
Yin. Yang is active and pervasive, while Yin is passive and perceptive. The rune's goal is not to
inspire but to allow you to create and materialize (unlike FEHU, which is not about opportunities
but already created, materialized things). It's a blank page – it has no meaning or essence yet,
but its potential is enormous and allows Yang to create whatever it wants. Yang decides what to
do with this blank page: draw a picture, write a poem, make an origami crane, or just throw it
away. URUZ is about giving possibilities – and that's all.

URUZ is potential. In theory, you could try to avoid using it, but it is so powerful that ignoring it is
practically impossible. That's why the rune is usually used when you need a push. In a narrower
sense, the rune is associated with instincts, sexuality, and fullness of life. The rune's essence is
feminine and masculine, making it one of the most potent runes in love magic.

It should be noted that URUZ helps in healing, especially if a person is weakened by a severe
and prolonged illness, and also helps to feel the joy of life.

The URUZ rune contains enough energy to bring it into any area of your life. It can kick-start your
projects and ideas and drive them further on. URUZ's spontaneous, powerful energy overcomes
any obstacles in its path.
 ANSUZ/AWN-sooz/

Old Norse: Уs – god

Old English: Уs – god
Gothic: Ansus – message

Unlike THURISAZ, ANSUZ is easy to understand and articulate. Its essence is communication in
all forms, including interaction with higher powers and our own subconscious. ANSUZ speaks to
us in a language we understand. However, this language is only understandable if we want to
hear and understand it. Wisdom will not knock on the window if you have closed the door.
ANSUZ is a manifestation of the world's will to speak with you. It's not about giving you orders.
Those who have ears must hear.

The ANSUZ rune is associated with Odin, the supreme god of Scandinavian mythology. Odin is
the father of the Scandinavian gods and the wisest among them. But his wisdom is not just
something inherent in him initially. In many ways, Odin acquires Knowledge as a result of his
tireless, unquenchable striving for wisdom and willingness to make sacrifices. All of this seems
utterly inexplicable to those who do not experience such a desire.

To comprehend the secrets hidden from the eyes of others, Odin sacrifices himself.
Knowledge is not given to the indifferent; only those truly thirsty for knowledge can receive it.
The runes are a huge and scary secret, and even Odin, the supreme god, had to make a great
sacrifice to get them.

It's important to understand that Odin made a sacrifice to himself. Does this not mean that the
knowledge of the runes belonged to him from the very beginning, just like it belongs to us? And
that the essence of the sacrifice was only in overcoming his own fear of Knowledge?

ANSUZ is all about understanding and knowledge, but you should remember that these are not
products of internal comprehension but something given to us, even if given by some part of
ourselves.

ANSUZ is the personification of information streams piercing the Universe. The rune is
associated with the transfer of information and the relationships between students and teachers.
It's also connected with any sources of information, including dreams and revelations.
 RAIDO
/RYE-though/

Old Norse: Reiр – road

Old English: Rad – road
Gothic: Raida – travel

This rune is associated with roads and movement. Unlike EHWAZ (which means travel as
some kind of movement made to achieve a goal), the concept of this rune focuses not on
its purpose but on the movement itself. That's why it's associated with any movement: that
of molecules and atoms, blood through our vessels, planets around the Sun, and the Sun
itself – all these things are RAIDO.

The rune is all about roads. If you set off on the road, and want your path to be smooth and
successful, draw the rune. If you get this rune in your reading, it means that you're on the
way. It's simple.
 KAUNA/COW-nah/

Old Norse: Kaun – ulcer

Old English: Cen – torch
Gothic: Kusma – pine sap

Norse myth tells us about how the world began and how it will end. In the beginning, there were
only two realms: Muspelheim, the glowing land of fire, and Niflheim, the land of eternal ice and
cold. When the frozen waters of Niflheim were melted by the heat of Muspelheim, creation and
life began. At the end of time, Surtr will come carrying his bright sword and burn the Earth.

According to Norse cosmology, fire is an essential part of creation and destruction, and this is not
a mere coincidence. Old Scandinavians have mixed feelings about the fire. It's always been seen
as a vital thing, which is only logical, considering the climate they had to survive in. But it's also a
danger one has to always remember about.

KAUNA is the incarnation of the primary fire of Muspelheim. This spark brought life to the land of
ice and became the beginning of creation. The rune is associated with masculine strength, which
cannot be revealed unless it merges with the conceiving, the feminine. And the feminine
principle, in its turn, stays infertile unless it comes together with the masculine.

KAUNA stands for raw power that gives life; it is used to fuel any initiative with energy. The rune
helps transform information into interpretation and understanding, which is an entirely different
level. In general, KAUNA is a master starter for any project, and one of the classic runes in love
magic. It is to ignite passion, to create a relationship, and fuel it further on… At the same time,
KAUNA is not a firm foundation - it's the Muspelheim, unknown and blazing hot, energizing but
completely unlivable. It's not even an embryo, it's a male cell that can become an embryo.
 GEBO/GEH-bow/

Old Norse: no direct equivalent

Old English: Geofu – gift
Gothic: Giba – gift

As the etymology of the word indicates, GEBO means gift. At the same time, GEBO is considered
to be the rune of partnership, union, and relations in general – it means that friendship and
relationships are an objective value. The rune's concept is based on something valuable, but it
has nothing to do with buying or selling.

Since GEBO is a partnership rune, it is associated with love magic; but GEBO is more about
partnership than love. It is no coincidence that the rune is symmetrical. As above, so below. What
you give is given to you. This situation is not very similar to romantic relationships as we know
them. Usually, love is understood as a feeling that seeks to either give or possess. In any case,
we are not talking about balance. Love is generally chaotic.

We can say that GEBO greatly exacerbates the give-and-take balance in a relationship. For
romantic unions under the GEBO rune to be harmonious, this balance must be strictly observed.
Any bias in one direction should be avoided because it can corrode the relationship.
 WUNJO /WOON-yo/

Old Norse: no direct equivalent

Old English: Wynn – joy
Gothic: Winja – joy

This rune is full of energy. WUNJO supplies you with strength and energy, but the effect of
WUNJO is unique and entirely different from the powers of SOWILO or TIWAZ. WUNJO is much
lighter; it does not press or require strength to implement its principle; it does not impose its will.
WUNJO simply paints the world in various colors. Its impact is subtle, and it is often difficult to say
when and why it started, but it is very clearly felt and cannot be confused with anything.

WUNJO is the rune of joy. It's all about being happy with your life. At the same time, WUNJO
affects your perception of reality and not reality itself. However, the power of this impact should
not be underestimated. The internal determines the external. A WUNJO state of mind may help
establish good relationships, be more productive, and improve your well-being. However, all of
the above may not lead to WUNJO's cloudless joy. This feeling is not merit-based – you get it for
no reason at all.

WUNJO teaches you to give and take – but unlike GEBO, it is not focused on balance.
WUNJO's joy is selfless. This is the joy you feel when someone accepts your gift – this is not the
hope of receiving something in return, but the pure joy of giving.

WUNJO is also present when you receive a gift and accept it, giving only gratitude in return. All
these situations are very complex and unusual. The balanced GEBO situation is more
understandable to us; we usually prefer to admire such acts of kindness from afar. We often feel
awkward while giving someone a gift, and subconsciously expect them to return the favor.

That's why WUNJO can be considered the rune of love, or even the rune of passion. This
powerful rune is all about giving as much as possible to your significant other. Then, the GEBO
rune enters the scene with its exact balance that is felt subconsciously.

WUNJO is a light and clear rune. Don't ask the impossible from it. It won't make your life perfect,
but it can give you the necessary impulse to fill your soul with light, warmth, and gratitude to the
universe.
 HAGALAZ /HAWG-ah-lahz/

Old Norse: Hagl – hail

Old English: Hagl – hail
Gothic: Hagl – hail

This is the rune of destruction. It is associated with the natural forces of destruction and with the
energies of the elements. The spikes of energy during mass disasters (floods, earthquakes,
volcanic eruptions) are similar to the power of this rune. The primary magical use of this rune is to
help get out of the "vicious circle." The simplest example: the feeling of self-pity that is familiar to
almost everyone.

Often we spend hours and days thinking about our own troubles without actually doing anything
about them. 'Doing nothing' is energetically stable and therefore, can be pathological. You must
realize you've fallen into such a "vicious cycle" and are being held captive by endless internal
reflections of your own negative energy. If you cannot escape on your own, draw the rune – it
will produce the necessary "explosion" and break the cycle. By the way: if you see that another
person is in a similar position, draw the rune for them – it will help them understand the situation
and get out of it.

The rune is about breaking. You want to free yourself from everything that limits you and feel
your own world of freedom. Relationships and plans are destroyed. You need to understand and
feel that something spontaneous has entered your life. Expect anything: trouble, failed plans, etc.
Some events are beyond your control, and the force driving them is quite powerful. However, the
rune speaks not only about destruction but also of change. Sacrifice some of the familiar values –
you will no longer need them.
 ISAZ
/EE-sahz/

Old Norse: Iss – ice

Old English: Is – ice
Gothic: Eis – ice

Ice in Scandinavia is way more than snowflakes, frostwork on windows, or icicles on the roof's
edge. Scandinavian ice is power. It comes in blocks, ridges, and mounds that can smash ships. It
comes in blizzards that can lead astray and bury even the most experienced traveler. And it also
comes as the many-feet-thick cover that is very safe and even convenient to tread. Ice is a force
that cannot be defeated, but that can conquer anything it comes in contact with.

Ice is water that has achieved the utmost solidity. And so is ISAZ. It is the ultimate form of matter.
Nothing can withstand its might. ISAZ is tangible, solidified, inert, and overpoweringly forceful.
However, its force is not that of an acute mind, willpower, or emotional depth. The ISAZ rune is the
embodiment of the might of the material world. There are superior forces that rule ISAZ, but only
until it comes down upon you with all its hard-hitting strength. It may not break your spirit or
conquer your mind - but is it so important if it is going to crumple your physical shell like a candy
wrapper?

ISAZ is the rune of suspension, of forced halt. As long as ISAZ is present in your reading, you won't
be able to move at the same pace you did before. Everything that surrounds you will resist your
forward movement, and your progress will slow down.

However, hindrance is not the only superpower ISAZ has. The rune may also give you one of the
most exceptional opportunities - a chance for fulfillment. Compared to ISAZ, every other rune
seems shallow and unfounded. ISAZ does not push forward, it's devoid of haste. But this slowness
of movement allows for building a firm material foundation for the world.

Norse myth says that the icy land of Niflheim is one of the creators of life on Earth, and quite
rightly so. It needed an impulse, that's true. Still, the impulse required to be applied to something
powerful enough to create the world, and that powerful place was the land of icy ISAZ.

ISAZ is the rune of a physical, solid plane, the rune of embodiment. It's the force that gives shape
and order to your ideas. It helps your chaotic thoughts and emotions to slow down and assemble
into a significant and vital Something.

Other runes may be more energetic and easy to maneuver, they may offer more opportunities. But
the power of ISAZ is beyond any limit you can imagine because ISAZ is more than a thought - it is
the embodiment of a thought.
 NAUTHIZ/NOW-these/

Old Norse: Nauр – need

Old English: Nied – need
Gothic: Nauths (Nauthis) – need

Nauthiz is the need. And need can never be self-sufficing. Need is always the necessity of
something, the feeling of shortage of something one cannot do without. Nauthiz indicates an
incompleteness and dissatisfaction with one's current state.
Nauthiz is akin to astrological Saturn. It causes psychological dissonance and gives endurance,
the power to cope with this discontent for an unknown period.

This rune is cold, reserved, disciplined, and relying on a continued interaction with you. A
situation caused by Nauthiz cannot be overcome with willpower, reflection, or action. Still, one
can develop self-discipline and acquire humility in the face of fate. The change will come when
it's time for it, most importantly, it will happen. It's essential to learn the lesson that life gives us.

Nauthiz is not a sudden blow on the head, but a steady pressure of circumstances. One can feel
it but can endure it as well. This state can be compared to nursing a sick relative, saving money
for a new flat, or keeping accounts of a large company since the previous accountant quit a
month ago.

Nauthiz makes people retreat into themselves, urging them to draw all the necessary things in
themselves. At the same time, Nauthiz doesn't let anyone forget that this is not all. With this
rune's help, people learn patience, wisdom, discipline, and self-restriction.
Against all the odds, Nauthiz carries a lot of optimism. It knows that any circumstances will
change if you wait long enough. Truth be told, here waiting is not a passive dreamy expectation
of a miracle but a persistent struggle with the pressure coming from the outside or/and within.
 JERA/YEH-rah/

Old Norse: Aar – plenty

Old English: Year – year (obviously)
Gothic: Jer – year, harvest

Harvest not only stands for gathering the fruit of a year's labor; it's also the time and actions
needed to let crops give that fruit.

The meaning of JERA resonates with that of FEHU. They both are associated with the most
prominent wealth a person could have before money was invented. But if we dig deeper, we'll
see that these runes are also very different, and not only because of the difference in the
notions of "agriculture" and "cattle breeding."

Livestock is wealth. And it's not only that when it's live, breeding, and growing in numbers. It
also gives fleece, milk, meat, and leather, it helps to do other work and can be sold, after all!

Agriculture only yields once a year - at harvest time. Some countries are lucky enough to get
two or even three harvests of certain crops per year but not the Scandinavian ones. The rest of
the year, you have to work really hard to get not even an abundant harvest - to get any produce
at all! You can neither sell it nor benefit from it in any other way. You can only work - day after
day, month after month - and patiently wait till the time comes.

However, the result is usually worth the wait and all the work. It's also usually much more
rewarding than the one that you get from FEHU. It's ten, twenty, even a hundred times bigger
than what you planted in the fertile, fat soil several months ago. The reward is so big that it will
help you live and enjoy life until next year's harvest time.

The point of this prelude is the following: JERA needs time. It's all about time and the reward
that awaits you, but only if you work hard and long enough despite all the difficulties and lack of
understanding. The virtues of the rune are diligence, patience, and trust in the natural order of
things.

If you see JERA in your reading, your positive efforts will soon be rewarded. JERA stands for
your kindness and all the good things you did that will pay off in a big way. It's about justice and
rightfulness of any kind. You reap as you sow.
 EIHWAZ /AY-hahz/

Old Norse: Yr – pine

Old English: Ēoh – yew
Gothic: Eiws – yew

Eihwaz is a rune of transition, one of the most perplexing runes of Elder Futhark.
Traditionally, Eihwaz has been linked to Yggdrasil, the tree on which the nine worlds of Norse
cosmology existed. It's odd that the world tree should be a yew, but none of the rune's
translations mentions it. The reason for that probably lies in the fact that Yggdrasil has never
been unanimously classified as a certain botanical species.

EIHWAZ is a rune of transition, of borderline, which makes it extraordinarily complex. On the one
hand, a border is something that divides. But on the other hand, it is the common part of two
separate things. It becomes the only feature two different entities have in common, so it unites.

As a rune of transition, EIHWAZ is sometimes linked with death. Because death is a kind of
transition, too. A person is transitioning to another world, crossing the border.
EIHWAZ has a profound meaning. It's the border, but what is there beyond it? It's the rune of the
unknown, but, unlike PERTHRO, it's not unknown like the results of a lottery. EIHWAZ tells you
about a grand, palpable, and real world that we can't know or experience until we cross that
border. It's a rune of mystery, of initiation.

The transformation it brings is uneasy. But do you have to take it personally? The answer is: you
don't because this transformation affects the universe in general. It's a transition into another
world. Should you take the rules and laws of the current world into the new one? Or does the
transformation concern us, too, and we will have to leave the present world behind? Only
EIHWAZ knows the answer.

The rune establishes a connection between the past, the present, and the future. It protects you
from the world of evil and provides help from your ancestors. It gives you a chance to intuit your
way through a puzzling situation.
 PERTHRO /PEAR-throw/

Old Norse: – no direct equivalent

Old English: Peorр – no exact translation
Gothic: Painthra – something that is concealed

PERTHRO is also one of the intricate runes whose meaning is based on a chain of associations.
And the starting point of this chain is its symbol, which was not chosen by chance. Runes are not
just random combinations of lines, but concepts concealed in symbols. Typically, the PERTHRO
symbol is considered to resemble a stylized image of a rune pouch, which is turned 90 degrees
to the right. This rune is also often associated with females and especially a female reproductive
organ, the womb.

Despite being seemingly unrelated, these two meanings have a lot in common. Both are entities
containing something. In the former case, it contains 24 runes. In the other case, it contains a
small creature of a particular species. And this absolute certainty goes together with sheer
unpredictability of what comes out: smart or stupid, beauty or beast, WUNJO, HAGALAZ,
NAUTHIZ, FEHU…

And this, PERTHRO symbolizes a vessel of mysteries. It is the symbol of choice that doesn't
abide by any laws except the force of destiny. Unlike EIHWAZ, which signifies the unknown,
something beyond human comprehension, another world, PERTHRO is the choice with an
unknown outcome. After all, we know people in general and all 24 runes and that there are only
them and nothing more. But we don't see what we come across in this individual case until we
decide: conceive a child or pick a rune.

PERTHRO is also associated with the feminine nature and female sexuality in particular. Hence,
there is a connection with the subconscious, a mystery, something close and familiar but
nonetheless concealed from view. No matter how closely one observes a rune pouch or a
pregnant woman, there's no way to even approach an understanding of what's to come out. The
outcome is unpredictable.
 ALGIZ/AL-geese/

Old Norse: Elgr – moose

Old English: Eolhs – no exact translation
Gothic: Algs (Algis) – reed

ALGIZ is the rune of protection. Generally speaking, there are several runes in the Futhark that
have a protective function. But, of course, each of these runes carries an exceptional meaning, its
own distinct taste. ALGIZ is a passive protection rune, but it is also quite efficient.

ALGIZ is not THURISAZ that will do anything for the sake of higher goals, ensuring its victory by
violating all possible social norms. ALGIZ is not TIWAZ that is ready to sacrifice itself to protect
what it considers necessary to protect. ALGIZ is not as sensitive as BERKAN whose protection is
kind, soft, and attentive.

This rune's protection is somewhat mechanical. It can be compared to an airbag in a car. On

impact, it will work and save your life, but it won't sacrifice itself to protect you. It's just the natural
order of things – under certain conditions, it acts in a certain way. And the result of this action –
saving your life – is just a side effect.

ALGIZ is impersonal, which, however, does not prevent it from being very effective. There is
nothing personal here – it just works like that.

But keep in mind that this is not a cure-all. An airbag will not save you from cold, hunger, or
heartbreak, so don't ask the impossible from ALGIZ.
 SOWILO /SO-wee-lo/

Old Norse: Sol – Sun

Old English: Sygil – Sun
Gothic: Sauil – Sun

SOWILO is the Sun. It is the most energetically charged rune. The energy it draws is parallel only
to that of HAGALAZ. But HAGALAZ possesses uncontrollable power, chaotic in its direction and
effect. It is an explosion. And the energy of SOWILO is a powerful channeled flow.

On the whole, SOWILO is an auspicious symbol, and there are many reasons for that. And, of
course, the region where runes originate from is not the last of them.

Naturally, life is impossible without the Sun in any place of the Earth. But Scandinavians
understood it better than their "southern" contemporaries. During long winters, they had to
endure cold weather for many months and spare their food. This rune is a prime example of the
Sun's power. After long winter months, it reappears, and its rays melt snow, which even
thousands of fires couldn't cope with. And green sprouts of the future harvest start reaching out
for the sky.

Besides energy and life-giving force, SOWILO symbolizes the Sun as the criterion of order. Think
of that: the notion of time is based solely on SOWILO. Year and day are natural chronological
tie-points on Earth.

SOWILO doesn't establish order, but life is possible only when we comply with this energy flow.

Move the Earth a little back or forth, change its tilt, and life as we know it cannot exist.
SOWILO is organizing energy.
 TIWAZ
/TEE-waz/

Old Norse: Týr (god)

Old English: Tir (unknown, but some interpretations include the north star)
Gothic: Tyz – the god Týr

TIWAZ is the rune of the Spirit Warrior.

To understand the essence of TIWAZ, you need to know that the Great Warrior once put his hand
into the mouth of a hideous wolf. The Warrior sacrifices his hand and does it willingly. He does
not go along with the wolf’s demand. The Great Warrior consciously and voluntarily gives up his
hand for a greater cause. He wants to defeat chaos. And this is what TIWAZ is all about.

The rune requires you to call up all your strength and get ready to sacrifice. When it comes up in
your runic reading, you can’t expect to profit or get any tangible reward. TIWAZ says: everything
has its price, and I will pay it. Unlike THURISAZ, it does not sacrifice others; if something has to
be given up, it will give up something of its own.
TIWAZ is associated with a very clear image of the Spirit Warrior, valiant, true to his principles
until the end, even if it will hurt him. It is all about honesty and faith, which have way more value
than anything physical.

In ancient times, warriors drew TIWAZ on their shields before a battle. In this way, they not only
asked the Great Warrior for help. They drew it as a reminder: in the heat of the fight, a true
warrior forgets about the values of the physical world, he or she is not fighting for them…

Moreover, TIWAZ helps to restore justice in litigation.

TIWAZ is the symbol of true grit.

 BERKAN /BEAR-kahn/

Old Norse: Biarkan – birch

Old English: Beorc – birch
Gothic: Bairkan – birch

BERKAN is one of the classic female runes. Traditionally, BERKAN symbolizes growth and
development; very often, BERKAN is associated with motherhood.

In general, BERKAN undoubtedly has some of the features traditionally attributed to the image of
a mother: caring, soft, delicate. BERKAN is feminine but not in a sexual way. It is a young girl or a
mother (as her child sees her), not a sexual partner.

In general, BERKAN is a very delicate rune – it's easy to use it and communicate with it. For the
rune, it's more important to support others than to manifest itself.

BERKAN is also the rune of creativity. BERKAN's delicacy and genuine attentiveness to others
allow it to notice the slightest manifestations of the creative impulse. The rune is like a poet's wife
who creates the perfect conditions for her husband to write beautiful poems.

BERKAN also symbolizes growth and protection, but its protection is not the powerful defense of
Thor or the impersonal protection of ALGIZ. The rune's essence is soft but attentive and shrewd;
it will do everything possible to solve a problem.
 EHWAZ /EH-wawz/

Old Norse – unknown

Old English: Eh – horse
Gothic: Aí us – horse

EHWAZ has traditionally been associated with Sleipnir, the eight-legged horse Odin used to
travel between worlds. This is the rune of traveling. And at the same time, it is not associated with
the concept of moving, which is the case with RAIDO.

Astrologically speaking, EHWAZ is a journey across the ninth house (the house of ideals, higher
education, and long-distance traveling). But this journey is unlike any other - it expands your
consciousness. It helps you embrace the things that you previously thought to be
incomprehensible. RAIDO stands for mere movement, but EHWAZ is the Journey, with an
uppercase J. It also covers shaman transitions between worlds.

In fact, the origins of the magical steed require special attention. Sleipnir is the progeny of a god
(Loki) and a giant horse (Svaðilfari). There is nothing of a woman in his blood - Sleipnir was born
from a man in a female incarnation. It is a man who accepted the feminine principle to the fullest
extent, meaning not only sexuality, which is not easy as it is, but the physiological aspect as well.
And the fact that an anthropomorphic being gave birth to another species indicates a genetic
change. Unlimited mind expansion and augmented cognition feel unprecedented and
empowering. And Sleipnir is the visual proof of a shifting framework and busting stereotypes.

EHWAZ is also connected to Odin's two ravens, Huginn and Muninn. They sit on the god's
shoulders and whisper in his ear about everything they see or hear. Odin sends them to fly over
the world at dawn. They are back by breakfast with all the latest news.
It is believed that Odin needs two ravens because he wants to get unbiased information. The two
ravens are opposites, the male and female principle, the right and left cerebral hemispheres,
intuition and rational thinking. And this opposition guarantees that Odin has a clear, unbiased
view of things.

Back to the concepts of mind expansion and attracting opposites rendered by EHWAZ, the rune
unites the two poles into a single whole. They do not melt together but coexist in balance while
keeping their distinctive features intact.
 MANNAZ /MAWN-awz/

Old Norse: Maрr – man, human

Old English: Man – man, human
Gothic: Manna (Mannaz) – man, human

This rune symbolizes a human. And, as you know, people are social animals.

MANNAZ stands for the man (human) in the social sense of this word. And that's why the rune is
traditionally considered to be a rune of socialization. This rune appeals to the man as a part of
society. Here people are viewed as cogs in a mechanism. The focus is shifted from human
personality to social acceptability and the value of personality traits revealed in social life. Apart
from that, some other no less (if not more) essential characteristics could be ignored. These are
the traits that are not related to social image. It includes any personality traits that a person
doesn't make public.

The shift also changes the value of personality. It's defined not only by what part of the
mechanism it is but how successfully it interacts with the other parts of the machine.

This rune symbolizes the relationship between the man and society from the viewpoint of
society at that.

Beyond that, MANNAZ symbolizes society in general, its expectations, and plans. It is the rune
of public recognition, e.g., a career, and the man in society.
 LAGUZ /LAH-gooz/

Old Norse: Legr – water, lake

Old English: Lagy – water, lake
Gothic: Lagus – water

LAGUZ is another female rune that stands for water. Like BERKAN, it has nothing to do with the
notion of fertility (it seems femininity in Ancient Scandinavia was not directly connected to the
number of children women had).

Unlike BERKAN, whose task is to adapt to others and take care of what seems essential, LAGUZ
is a symbol of a free, independent, and self-confident woman. She believes herself to be equal to
a man and considers herself a value as she is, not as her husband's assistant or her kids' mother.
In other words, BERKAN is like Eve, while LAGUZ is like Lilith.

An important fact is that in the runic system, the meaning of water is different from its meaning in
classic European occultism. It's not a mysterious depth related to the unconscious and intuition;
here, it's more like a flow of life. It's a lucky chance, a force that carries and supports you. If you're
in harmony with this force, reaching your aims becomes a much less challenging task. Think of
traveling by river versus land travel, and you'll realize that the former is so much easier than the
latter! You don't have to carry heavy things and can move without any effort.

Another meaning of LAGUZ – intuition – is also connected to water as a flow. Water can
penetrate any small crack and uses any chance to move forward; just like it, intuition helps you
reach your goals. It's a piece of practical knowledge, not academic wisdom.
Despite being a very powerful rune, LAGUZ is void of aggression. River flow can be dangerous
and powerful, but only when the circumstances favor it. When a river corridor changes, the
character of the flow changes, too. The primary lesson LAGUZ teaches you is that you can adapt
to the circumstances without changing your inner self.

Water is a part of everything on Earth. You need it to live, and you're a part of the circulation of
water, whether you want it or not. There is no use trying to leave this circle even when we no
longer belong to this world.
 INGUZ/ING-ooz/

Old Norse: no direct translation

Old English: Ing – Yngvi (the older name for the god Freyr)
Gothic: Ing (Ingus, Iggws) – Yngvi

This is the rune of fertility.

INGUZ is the seed, the life, the beginning, and the end. The seed is both the end of the previous
cycle of JERA and the beginning of the next one - it will be placed in the fertile soil where it will
die to give life to the next circle of life. INGUZ works similarly. It symbolizes an event that
completes a stage and begins the next one. Birth, wedding, hiring, graduation – all these events
are INGUZ. The distinctive feature of an INGUZ event is a feeling of joy. This is the moment of
getting the opportunity to move forward. Although difficulties and troubles are inevitable, they
seem so small and easily surmountable that they cannot overshadow the joy you're feeling.

INGUZ tends to underestimate difficulties – and indeed, when you feel the vibes of this rune, you
can do something that may seem impossible to accomplish. INGUZ is action.
Of course, as a symbol of fertility, INGUZ is also associated with the joy of sexual relationships.
This is something like a fertility rite: when all the rules, usually unshakable, are removed, you
become a part of nature. INGUZ is the unclouded joy of being.
 DAGAZ /DAH-gaz/

Old Norse: absent

Old English: Day – day
Gothic: Dags – day

DAGAZ is a rune that is generally considered one of the most positive and unshadowed ones. It
solves problems, dispels darkness, and brings the Sun back after a long and cold night… This
seems to be a perfect explanation, and the etymology of the word proves the fact, too. However,
the whole thing is not that simple. DAGAZ is a metaphorical butterfly. Just like in the case with
this insect, the narrowest part of the rune is in its center. When you use the rune to find a way out
of a situation, this situation can at first become even more complicated. To cope with the
situation, you will have to balance on this thin bridge. Only after it will the situation change for the
better. DAGAZ is the rune of catharsis – things will get better soon, but you’ll have to suffer a bit
before.

However, the day is not only the period of daylight; it’s, actually, the day and night period, too.
And this period includes the transition from light to darkness and back. In fortune telling, DAGAZ
stands for significant changes and resolving a situation.
 OTHALA
/AWE-thah-lah/

Old Norse: undetermined

Old English: Ēðel – estate
Gothic: Utal – ancestral land

The ancestral component of the rune's meaning draws our attention to the concept of division. A
group is divided because one of its members has passed away. Something that has remained
after the deceased person needs to be divided between several members of the group.

So, the nuclear concept rendered by OTHALA is the concept of the group. One can belong to a
group by right of birth or for any other reason; one also has certain rights within the group.
Moreover, the emphasis is placed on the dubiousness of the rune. For every "yes," there is a
"no," and sometimes even more than one. The joy of inheriting, i.e., getting material goods, is
spoiled by the grief of losing a part of one's life. The group members are perceived as something
very personal, an irreplaceable part of a single organism. This is a contrast to the essence of
MANNAZ. The situation characterized by OTHALA is often marred by a discord in the clan, as the
whole structure of the group is changing, starting from the level the deceased member belonged
to. Dividing the material part of the inheritance is only a pale shadow of the intensive
redistribution of roles and forces that is going on in the subtle plane.

The key features of OTHALA are ownership and belonging. But, unlike FEHU, belonging here is
two-way. Of course, FEHU also stands for the same, but you are seldom aware that your couch
imposes certain obligations on you. Meanwhile, you clearly realize the obligations imposed on
you by your family members. We accept that we owe something to the members of our clan, as
well as that they owe certain things to you. OTHALA describes the feelings that imply that "You
are my (wife, husband, daughter, son, mother, etc.) and thus you have to…"

At the same time, OTHALA gives a sense of confidence (the flock does not abandon its sheep,
no matter how weak they are), a sense of irreplaceability and purpose.
OTHALA stands for even more. It is linked to the concept of kindred and ancestry. It can
sometimes foretell death, too, because inheritance always comes after someone dies - however,
OTHALA does not necessarily stand for physical death.
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