Runes are first of all a script. The Germanic peoples carved them for centuries on stones, weapons, jewellery and everyday objects. Alongside their practical use, however, the runic signs carried names charged with meaning, linked to nature, to the gods and to the life of the community. It is this symbolic heritage that has made runes, in modern times, a tool for meditation and divination.
What the Futhark is
The name "Futhark" comes from the first six letters of the runic alphabet: F, U, Th, A, R, K. Just as the word "alphabet" comes from alpha and beta. The oldest version, called the Elder Futhark, has twenty-four signs and was in use in the first centuries of the Christian era. Later, in Scandinavia, the Younger Futhark developed, reduced to sixteen signs, while in England an expanded version took shape, known as the Anglo-Saxon futhorc.
Runes are made of straight lines, suitable for carving into wood or stone. Many shapes recall letters of the Latin alphabet or of the alphabets of ancient Italy, but the precise origin of runic writing is still debated by scholars.
Runes, lots and tradition
An often-quoted testimony is that of the Roman historian Tacitus, who in the Germania describes a method of casting lots: a branch of a fruit-bearing tree was cut into small pieces, marked with signs and scattered on a white cloth. The priest or the head of the family picked up three and interpreted them. Tacitus does not explicitly mention runes, and scholars debate whether those signs were runes; but the account shows that the idea of drawing signs to question fate was familiar to those peoples.
Norse poetry too links runes to a sacred dimension. In the Hávamál, the god Odin tells of hanging on a wind-swept tree for nine nights before seizing the runes. It is an image of knowledge won through ordeal.
The names of the runes and their meanings have come down to us mainly through a few medieval rune poems, in Old English, Norwegian and Icelandic. The names of the Elder Futhark are largely reconstructed by scholars from these sources.
The three families
The twenty-four runes are traditionally divided into three groups of eight, called ættir, "families". Each group takes its name from its first rune or the deity associated with it.
The first family
| Rune | Name | Traditional meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ᚠ | Fehu | Cattle, movable wealth |
| ᚢ | Uruz | Aurochs, wild strength |
| ᚦ | Thurisaz | Giant, thorn, defending force |
| ᚨ | Ansuz | God, inspired word |
| ᚱ | Raidho | Journey, rhythm |
| ᚲ | Kenaz | Torch, knowledge |
| ᚷ | Gebo | Gift, exchange |
| ᚹ | Wunjo | Joy, harmony |
The second family
| Rune | Name | Traditional meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ᚺ | Hagalaz | Hail, sudden crisis |
| ᚾ | Naudhiz | Necessity, need |
| ᛁ | Isa | Ice, standstill |
| ᛃ | Jera | Year, harvest |
| ᛇ | Eihwaz | Yew, endurance |
| ᛈ | Perthro | Mystery, lot |
| ᛉ | Algiz | Protection |
| ᛊ | Sowilo | Sun, victory |
The third family
| Rune | Name | Traditional meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ᛏ | Tiwaz | The god Tyr, justice, sacrifice |
| ᛒ | Berkano | Birch, birth, care |
| ᛖ | Ehwaz | Horse, cooperation |
| ᛗ | Mannaz | Human being, community |
| ᛚ | Laguz | Water, flow |
| ᛜ | Ingwaz | Seed, potential |
| ᛞ | Dagaz | Day, awakening |
| ᛟ | Othala | Inheritance, ancestral home |
The meaning of some runes, such as Perthro, is uncertain even for specialists. It is wise to bear this in mind and not give them overly confident definitions.
A simple method of consultation
Runes for meditative use are carved or painted on small pieces of wood, stones or tiles. A simple method, inspired by Tacitus's account, is as follows.
- Spread a light-coloured cloth on a flat surface.
- Phrase the question in an open way.
- Mix the runes in a bag and draw three without looking.
- Lay them in a row: the first shows the situation, the second the challenge, the third the possible way.
- Observe the signs and their names, letting associations emerge.
An example
Someone asks how to face a period of tiredness. Isa, Jera and Sowilo come up. Ice describes the standstill; the year and the harvest recall that every cycle has its own timing; the sun indicates the return of strength. The reading invites the person to accept a pause as a natural part of the cycle.
A note on modern runes
Some modern sets include a "blank" rune with no sign. This is a recent addition with no basis in the ancient sources. The Officina Ermetica prefers to work with the twenty-four traditional signs, respecting their history.
In short
- Runes are an ancient Germanic script; the Elder Futhark has twenty-four signs.
- Tacitus describes casting lots with marked twigs, and Norse poetry links runes to Odin.
- The signs are divided into three families of eight, each with traditional names and meanings.
- The meaning of some runes is uncertain and should be treated with caution.
- Drawing three runes onto a light cloth is a simple method of symbolic meditation.
