Norse Runes: Meaning, Viking Cosmology, Alphabet and More!

The Nordic Runes are an alphabetical system used by the Germanic peoples. Initially, each letter was used to record the language of these peoples, but this system has been popularly used in recent decades as a divination method.

The alphabet used by the Germanic peoples is called Futhark, due to the initial letters of the names of the first runes: Fehu, Uruz, Thurisaz, Ansuz, Raido and Kennaz. The runic alphabet has variations, each of which depends on the region or historical moment in which it was used.

As a divinatory instrument, it is common to use a system of 24 runes plus a white rune, recently included with esoteric movements. In addition to serving as an alphabet and oracle, runes are also instruments of magic that refer to the myth of the All Father, Odin.

In this article, we will provide a brief introduction to Norse Mythology and the origins of runes. We’ve also included their meanings so you can use them as a powerful divination method.

The name runas means mystery or secret and its history has two main aspects: the scientific and the mythological. According to the mythological view, the secrets of the runes involve the myth of Odin’s sacrifice on the tree of life, Yggdrasil. Read on to learn more about Norse cosmology.

According to the Prose Edda, in the beginning of everything there was a place of fire called Muspellheim, and another place of mist called Niflheim. In Niflheim there was a spring, Hvergelmir, from which flowed many rivers which became ice due to a substance in them.

This substance evaporated and became frozen dew and the layers of ice solidified and became a void called Ginnungagap. Thus, ice came into contact with fire and created Ymir, a giant, from which a couple of giants emerged, who generated children.

Ymir fed on the river of milk from the udders of the cow Audhumbla who, by licking the salt on the frozen dew, freed Búri, the first human. Búri married a giantess and fathered Odin, Vili and Vé, who created the earth, the skies and the oceans with Ymir’s body at the center of Ginunngagap.

Yggdrasil an ash tree, whose branches reach to the heavens and support various realms, which represent the universe or even the multiverse. Around Yggdrasil there are several creatures that inhabit its trunk, among them an eagle, a dragon and deer.

Yggdrasil is supported by three roots: Urdarbrunnr, a well in the heavens; Hvergelmir, a fountain; and Mímisbrunnr, another well. Yggdrasil has 9 kingdoms attested in the Poetic Edda and Prose Edda:

1) Asgard: kingdom of the Aesir;
2) Alfheim: kingdom of the elves;
3) Hel: realm of the dead by disease or age;
4) Jötunheim: kingdom of the giants;
5) Midgard: kingdom of humans;
6) Muspelheim: kingdom of fire;
7) Nivadavellir / Svartalfheim: kingdom of the dark elves;
8) Niflheim: kingdom of snow, mist and ice;
9) Vanaheim: Kingdom of the Vanir.

In Norse mythology there were two races of gods: the Vanir and the Aesir. The Vanir are considered a lineage of gods related to fertility and the Aesir, gods related to the heavens.

These two races of gods spawned a mythological episode called the War of the Aesir and Vanir, which resulted in the unification of the Aesir and Vanir into a single pantheon. Among the Vanir are the gods Frey, Njörd and the Goddess Freya. The Aesir include Odin, Thor, Frigga and Baldr.

The 24 Futhark runes are not only an alphabet, but also a divine connection code. Through them, you have access to three distinct dimensions: sound, an image and a concept, linked to the spiritual, physical and mental planes, respectively.

The sound is linked to its phonetic value, through which we can chant to connect with the divine through the essence of this rune. The image will help you to anchor the concept, connected to the mental plane, in the physical plane. Therefore, he is a powerful and effective code to connect you with the divine.

The runic alphabet is composed of 24 letters that were used by the Germanic peoples before adopting the Latin alphabet that they still use today. Each rune has a sound value, but they are also named through concepts that each letter represents.

The Scandinavian variants of the runes are known as Futhark, containing the initials of the first six letters of the alphabet. The Anglo-Saxon version of the runic alphabet is called the Futhorc. Currently, the Futhark runes are more widespread for their divinatory use, but there are two versions of it: the Old Futhark and the New Futhark, the first being the most used.

The white rune is an undesigned, optional rune included in the Futhark for divination purposes only, probably by Ralph Blum in 1983. It represents Odin’s secrets that must be withheld. Keep reading to understand your relationship with Odin and its meanings in love, work and its negative side.

The Rune of Odin is an alternative name for the blank rune found in some rune sets for sale. It is also called the rune of the Wyrd. It means the secrets of the All-Father God and lord of the runes, Odin, which must be kept guarded.

When she appears, she reminds you that there is part of destiny that needs to be guarded and that the querent may not have the answers to all your questions yet. As a consequence, it represents uncertainty, ambiguity, unknown outcome, and secrets.

It can also be interpreted as emptiness, silence and infinite possibility. Therefore, she is the feeling of ambiguity, since she can represent either the darkness of ignorance or the light of knowledge.

The White Rune in love means uncertainty. She can indicate a tense period, which can generate anxiety, fear and bad feelings like jealousy.

However, even with bad feelings, the outcome is uncertain: there is the same probability of having a good result, or a bad result. Odin carries all the wisdom of life and for that, trust him. He tries to live his life to the fullest and is confident that whatever happens is for his good and part of his destiny.

Again, there is a secret surrounding the answer to your question. This rune requires you to have complete confidence and be aware that you have arrived at a point in your life that is intimately connected with your mission in this lifetime. It all depends on your past actions. It indicates changes, but it’s important that you avoid talking about them.

The downside of the Odin rune is uncertainty. When it does come up, there are complications with his question. It may indicate that it was poorly worded or that the answer to it is still being kept secret.

Therefore, it is important to wait. And this is the most negative side of this rune for most people: waiting nowadays generates many negative sensations such as anxiety. Try to meditate on the current situation that is the subject of the question. If necessary, pull another rune out of your bag to understand the root of this issue.

It can also indicate a symbolic death of a part of your life. But fear not: remember that the answer is tied to your destiny.

The runes are divided into groups of eight called aettir which reflect Northern European mysticism. Each aett is named after the first rune that opens the group. The first Aett is ruled by Feoh and, in esotericism, is considered as the group of necessity.

Fehu is the first rune of the first Aett. Its meaning is cattle or wealth. Since in ancient Europe, owning livestock was a sign of ownership and wealth, this rune is closely linked to material goods, especially movable wealth. Furthermore, this rune embodies the basic force of fertility.

In an inverted position, it indicates problems, frustrations and losses related to finances, as well as unfinished projects. The keywords are abundance, creation, energy, fertility, fortune, opportunity, prosperity, wealth and luck.

Uruz is the second rune of the first Aett. It represents the aurochs, a species of wild European cattle that is now extinct. It stands for strength, endurance, dedication, perseverance, motivation and hard work.

It also indicates a positive period for gaining energy, with a prediction of good health and alertness. Since aurochs were strong animals, it also indicates increased virility and power.

When reversed, its meanings are more negative, as it indicates loss of health, submission or even a block. The keywords are courage, strength, organization, perseverance, resistance, health, vitality, vigor and virility.

The third rune of the first Aett is Thorn, also known as Thurisaz. It represents the hammer of Thor, the god of thunder, called Mjöllnir. It means the power to direct your energies towards defense, attack or destruction, so it can indicate conflicts.

Thurisaz also has within itself the masculine and feminine polarities, also containing the energy of life and death. Like lightning, it can indicate regeneration and fertilization. In position, reversed, it indicates vulnerability, compulsion, rancidity or even betrayal. The keywords are attack, conflict, defense, challenge, strength, danger, protection and regeneration.

Ansuz is the fourth rune of the first Aett. She is the rune that represents the mouth and is therefore closely linked to communication. It represents Odin’s staff and his divine wisdom, indicating that an important message is on the way. Ansuz is also the ancestral power.

It can also mean wisdom, inspiration, advice, truth and even indicate enthusiasm. When reversed, it indicates false people, betrayal, misunderstandings, lies, miscommunication and manipulation. The keywords are ancestry, communication, knowledge, inspiration, message, reception, revelation, wisdom.

Rad or Raido is the fifth rune of the first Aett. It is the cosmic law of the universe and its meaning is associated with changes and travel, whether it be a business trip or vacation, or even a spiritual journey, in which you will learn important lessons for your life.

By representing a wheel, it indicates cycles of life, evolution and that things will make sense if analyzed from a new perspective. When reversed, it means injustice, unreasonableness, disturbance, disruption and rigidity. To the…