Runelore- part one

In folklore, the runes were given to humankind by the central God of Norse 
mythology Odin, who hung himself upside down on the World Tree - or Yggdrasil - in a 
ritual of self-sacrifice. After nine nights of suffering upon the tree, Odin died and passed 
on to the realm of the afterlife where he gained wisdom and was then reborn. Odin passed 
on his newly acquired wisdom to his people in the form of Runes.
   
Runes are an alphabetic script used by the people of Northern Europe from the 
first century c.e. until well into the Middle Ages when they fell into disuse as the Roman 
alphabet became the preferred script of most of Europe, however their forms and clues to 
their meanings have been preserved in inscriptions and manuscripts. 
   
The word 'Rune' means 'mystery' or 'secret wisdom' and had magical significance 
serving as a system of symbols used to create magical spells and foretell the future. Today 
runes have been rediscovered as a symbolic system gaining immense popularity as a 
means of divination, however, much more than a curious alternative to Tarot cards for 
telling fortunes they provide a key to understanding the lives and beliefs of the ancient 
people who created them, and have much to teach us about a way of life that was perhaps 
more intimately connected to the natural world, and to the realm of spirit, than our own. 
 
What we now know as the runic alphabet seems to have developed from two 
distinct sources - one magical, one literate. Pre-runic symbols or hällristningar have been 
found in various Bronze Age and Paleolithic rock carvings, primarily in Sweden. Some of 
these symbols are readily identifiable in the later alphabets, while others represent ideas 
and concepts which were incorporated into the names of runes (sun, horse, etc.). The 
exact meanings of these sigils are now lost to us, as is their original purpose, but they are 
believed have been used for divination or lot casting, and it is fairly certain that they 
contributed to the magical function of the later runic alphabets. 
   
The name "futhark", like the word "alphabet", is derived from the first few letters in 
the runic sequence. The futhark originally consisted of 24 letters, beginning with F and 
ending with O, and was used by the northern Germanic tribes of Sweden, Norway, 
Denmark, and Northern Germany. This form of the runes is known as the Elder, or 
Germanic Futhark. There were other rune rows in different places and times. 
   
 
 
 
Runes remained in common use until well into the 17th Century. Even the 
common people knew simple runic spells, and the runes were frequently consulted on 
matters of both public and private interest. Unfortunately, along with the magical arts, 
they were officially banned in 1639 as part of the Church's efforts to "drive the devil out of 
Europe". The rune masters were either executed or went underground, and the 
knowledge of the runes may well have died with them. Some had the knowledge passed 
on in secret, but it is almost impossible to separate ancient traditions from more modern 
esoteric philosophies in such cases. 
 
Perhaps the darkest period in the history of runic studies was their revival by 
German scholars connected with the Nazi movement in the 20's and 30's. What began as 
a legitimate folkloric resurgence unfortunately became so tainted by Nazi ideology and 
racism that the research from this period was rendered all but useless to any serious 
student of runic lore. 
   
After the Second World War, the runes fell into disfavor as a result of their 
association with Nazism, and very little was written about them until the fifties and 
sixties. It was not until the mid-eighties, with the widespread appeal of the "New Age" 
movement and revival of Pagan religions (especially the Asatru movement) that the runes 
regained their popularity as both a divinatory system and a tool for self-awareness. 
   
There are several historical runic inscriptions, found on everything from swords 
to stones to bronze pendants, which list the entire runic alphabet in order. One of the 
oldest and most complete of these is the Kylver stone, found in Gotland, Sweden and 
dating from the fifth century c.e. Others are less complete, but show a remarkable 
continuity in the order in which the runes until are listed. The only surviving written 
accounts of the actual names and meanings of the runes, however, were not recorded 
until the advent of the Christian era. Some of these manuscripts, which date from the 9th 
Century until well into 12th, are known as rune poems. These poems have a verse for each 
rune, each of which begins with the rune itself and its name. Some of these poems are 
more Pagan than others, particularly those from Iceland, where Christianity was not yet 
as widespread as it was in the Anglo-Saxon regions. 
 
We will examine the two primary texts of lore from this period, the Poetic Edda 
and Snorri Sturlsons Prose Edda. 
   
The rune names themselves appear to have been passed down relatively intact, 
and although no manuscript exists listing the names of the older, Germanic runes, the 
Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian rune poems agree to such an extent that their common 
origin can be deduced. These names are probably our best clue as to what the individual 
runes actually meant to the people that used them. 
   
The unique order of the fuþark and its traditional division into three 'aetts' (a word 
meaning 'families' or 'groups') may be of significance in deciphering the complex 
interrelationships between the runes. Several authors have noted certain pairings and 
groupings within the order but so far the meaning of the overall pattern has remained a 
mystery, but has been reconstructed in many forms based on educated guesses and the 
resurgence of magical and meditative use of the runes. 
  
 
  
 ​Fa, Fehu​- F, wealth, cattle 
 

U
​ r, Uruz-​ U, Auroch, strength 

Thorn, Thurisaz-​ Th, a thorn, aggression 

Os, Ansuz​- A, Speech, wind 

Rad, Raidho​- R, Chariot wheel, journey 

Ken, Kenaz​- K, a torch, knowing 

Gyfu, Gebo-​ G, Gift, sacrifice, union 

Wyn, Wunjo-​ W, Wish, joy 

Hagal, Hagalaz​- H, Hail, fate 

Nyd, Nauthiz-​ N, need, bondage 

Isa-​ I, Ice, stasis 

Jera-​ J, year, time 

Eoh, Eihwaz​- Y, Tool, tree 

Peord, Perthro​- P, Mystery, chance 

Algiz, Eloh-​ Z, elk sedge, protection 

Sig, Sowilo-​ S, sunray, lightning bolt 

Tyr, Teiwaz​- T, man, Justice, law, sacredness 

Beorc, Berkano- ​B, woman, Natural law, 

Eh, Ehwaz- E
​ , Horse, friend 

Man, Mannaz​- M, Higher self, mankind 

Lagu, Laguz-​ L, flowing water, bent reed 

Ing, Inguz-​ Ing, seed, gestation 

Daeg, Dagaz​- D, Day, newness 

Othil, Othala-​ O, inheritance, odin, old things 

 
 ​RECOMMENDED READING LIST 
 
● Poetic Edda- Lee m. Hollander Translation 

● The Prose Edda: Norse Mythology- snorri sturluson 

● Northern Mysteries and Magick (​leaves of yggdrasil​)- Freya Aswyn 

● Futhark, A Handbook of Rune Magick-​Ed