Runes are the letters of the ancient Germanic writing systems used by Norse and other northern European cultures. Each rune is both a phoneme (sound) and a symbol with its own meaning. Similar to any other alphabet.
People carved runes into wood, stone, bone, and metal for everyday writing, marking ownership, memorial stones, and magical purposes. Each rune expresses a concept, not just a sound. Because of this, they are well-suited for introspection and spiritual development.
For example, Fehu speaks of abundance, prosperity, and new beginnings, while Algiz symbolizes protection and connection to divine guidance. These are not just abstract ideas—they are lived experiences that many pagans find helpful when navigating life’s challenges.
Runes hold a special place in Norse spirituality. Many modern pagans feel drawn to the runes because they offer a way to connect with ancestral wisdom, work with meaningful symbols, and deepen spiritual practice.
Understanding the runes begins with knowing where they came from, how people used them in the past, and how we can respectfully use them today. This article covers the history, use, and has a complete list the The Major Runes of the Elder Futhark. I also have a Free Download for you listing the runes and how to make your own!
What the Runes can be used for Today
In modern Heathenry and Norse Paganism, runes are often explored as tools for:
Self-reflection
Divination
Energy work
Spellcasting
Connecting with the gods and ancestors
Personal empowerment and growth
Working with Runes as a Modern Pagan
Approaching runes with respect is essential. They are not a toy or a quick fortune-telling gimmick—they represent a worldview built on responsibility, courage, reciprocity, and connection. Before using runes for divination or magic, I recommend spending time learning their history, reading Old Norse myths, and reflecting on how the runes fit into your spiritual life.
Start with these simple practices:
Drawing a “rune of the day” for guidance
Meditating on one rune per week
Carving or painting runes as devotional art
Using runes in rituals or spellwork
Keeping a rune journal
Creating bind-runes for protection or intention
Runes can also be incorporated into seasonal celebrations—Jera for the harvest, Berkana for spring, Dagaz at the turning of the year. They serve as powerful anchors for intention, reflection, and connection with the gods.
The History of the Runes
The story of the runes begins in northern Europe sometime between 150–200 CE. The earliest known runic inscriptions appear on tools, jewelry, weapons, and stones carved by Germanic peoples long before the Viking Age. Scholars call this earliest alphabet the Elder Futhark, named after its first six letters: Fehu, Uruz, Thurisaz, Ansuz, Raidho, and Kenaz. The word “Futhark” is similar to how we call our alphabet the “ABCs.” It shows that the runes were always more than a simple writing system—they were arranged with intention and meaning.
Although the exact origin of the runes is still debated, most historians agree that Germanic tribes were inspired by contact with Mediterranean alphabets, perhaps the Etruscan, Latin, and/or Greek scripts. These influences provided a framework, but the Germanic peoples adapted the symbols to their own language, culture, and spiritual worldview. Unlike the rounded letters of Latin, runes were composed of straight lines—perfect for carving into wood and stone without splitting the grain.
The early runes were used across a wide area: Runes have been found in Scandinavia (Sweden, Denmark, Norway), the British Isles (especially the Isle of Man, England, Scotland, and Ireland), as well as scattered locations in other parts of Europe like Greece and Eastern Europe. They were also found in Greenland, a location reached by the Norsemen.
The oldest known runic inscriptions come from southern Scandinavia and what is now Denmark. . They appear on spearheads, brooches, combs, memorial stones, and even small wooden sticks. Some inscriptions are simple—names or ownership marks—while others are poetic or magical. Short phrases like “I, Hlewagastiz, made the horn,” or “Gift to my beloved” give us glimpses into everyday life. But other inscriptions hint at deeper practices, including blessings, curses, and invocations of divine or ancestral power.
By the Viking Age (roughly 800–1100 CE), the runes evolved into a new form known as the Younger Futhark. This alphabet had only sixteen symbols, reflecting changes in Scandinavian languages. Despite having fewer runes, Viking Age inscriptions are far more numerous than earlier ones. Runestones from Sweden, Denmark, and Norway commemorate ancestors, celebrate victories, and mark territory. Many of these stones stand in fields, forests, and churchyards to this day, silent witnesses to a long tradition.
In England and Frisia, the runes developed differently. There, Anglo-Saxon scribes expanded the alphabet into the Futhorc, adding new symbols to represent sounds specific to Old English. The Futhorc grew to include between 28 and 33 runes.
Even after Christianity spread through Scandinavia, runes remained a living tradition. In fact, runic writing continued in rural Sweden and Iceland well into the 19th century. Farmers carved messages onto wooden sticks. Fishermen inscribed charms for protection. Runic calendars—called primstaves—were used to mark the passing of the year. This long life of the runes shows that they were not just relics of the Viking Age but a practical and spiritual tool that endured across a millennium.
What Runes Were Historically Used For
The runes perfectly illustrate how Norse culture blended the practical and the magical. From the beginning, runes were used in everyday writing—names, property marks, memorials—but they also carried a sacred dimension.
The Norse concept of magic, called seiðr or galdr, often involved chanting runes, carving them, or drawing them with intent.
One of the most important clues comes from the myth of Odin’s sacrifice. In the Hávamál, Odin hangs on the World Tree for nine nights, wounded, fasting, and alone. Through this ordeal, he gains the knowledge of the runes—not from another god, but directly from the fabric of creation. This story tells us that runes were understood not simply as letters but as mystical forces that revealed the hidden workings of the universe.
Historically, runes were used for:
Blessings and protection – carved on tools, weapons, or buildings
Healing – referenced in the Sigrdrífumál, where the valkyrie Sigrdrífa teaches magical runes for medicine
Love magic – as shown in sagas where runes influence attraction or relationships
Divination – indicated in medieval writings that describe “lot casting” and rune-reading practices
Cursing and binding – certain inscriptions appear to invoke harm or restrain enemies
Claiming ownership or authorship – one of the most common uses
Honoring gods and ancestors – runes were carved on memorial stones as acts of devotion
Communicating across distances – rune sticks sometimes served as messages or talismans
Runes often have energy from the materials they are carved on. Runes on crystals often have great protection energy.
The Major Runes of the Elder Futhark
While several rune systems exist, most modern practitioners use the Elder Futhark, the original 24-rune alphabet. Each rune represents both a phonetic sound and a symbolic meaning. These runes are divided into three groups called ættir (or “families”) and each is associated with different themes. The name "Futhark" comes from the first six runes sounds. Here is a overview of the major Elder Futhark runes, their modern phoneme (sounds like) and general meanings:
First Aettir (Frey's Ætt):
Fehu (ᚠ) Phoneme f
Wealth, new beginnings, prosperity, nourishment.
Uruz (ᚢ) Phoneme u
Strength, vitality, endurance, wild power.
Thurisaz aka Þurisaz (ᚦ) Phoneme th in English
Conflict, protection, challenge, powerful forces.
Ansuz (ᚨ) Phoneme a
Communication, wisdom, divine inspiration, Odin’s rune.
Raido (ᚱ) Phoneme r
Journeys, movement, rhythm, order, right action.
Kenaz (ᚲ) Phoneme k
Fire, knowledge, creativity, illumination.
Gebo (ᚷ) Phoneme g
Gifts, partnership, reciprocity, sacred exchange.
Wunjo (ᚹ) Phoneme w
Joy, harmony, fulfillment, community.
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Second Aettir (Hagal's Ætt):
Hagalaz (ᚺ) Phoneme h
Disruption, natural forces, necessary change.
Naudiz (ᚾ) Phoneme n
Need, scarcity, resilience, learning through difficulty.
Isaz (ᛁ) Phoneme i
Stillness, ice, inward focus, waiting.
Jera (ᛃ) Phoneme j
Cycles, harvest, reward for effort.
Eihwaz (ᛇ) Phoneme æ, short a
Endurance, transformation, the World Tree.
Perthro or Peorð (ᛈ) Phoneme p
Mystery, fate, the unknown, hidden workings.
Algiz (ᛉ) Phoneme z or r
Protection, higher guidance, spiritual guardianship.
Sowilo (ᛋ) Phoneme s
Sunlight, success, clarity, vitality.
FREE DOWNLOAD with all the runes plus directions on making your own.
Third Aettir (Tyr's Ætt)
Tiwaz (ᛏ) Phoneme t
Justice, honor, sacrifice, the god Tyr.
Berkanan (ᛒ) Phoneme b
Growth, birth, feminine power, nurturing.
Ehwaz (ᛖ) Phoneme e
Partnership, cooperation, steady progress.
Mannaz (ᛗ) Phoneme m
Humanity, community, the self.
Laguz (ᛚ) Phoneme l
Water, intuition, emotion, flow.
Ingwaz (ᛜ) Phoneme ng
Fertility, potential, inner growth.
Dagaz (ᛞ) Phoneme d
Breakthrough, transformation, dawn.
Othala (ᛟ) Phoneme o
Ancestry, heritage, homeland, sacred tradition
Ways to Get Close To Your Runes
Meditation with a Rune
Choose one rune, hold it or look at it, and spend a few minutes focusing on its shape, meaning, and energy. Let your mind wander through the images or ideas it brings up.
Study Their Historical Use
Read translations of rune poems (Old Norse, Old English, Icelandic). These short verses explain how people in the past understood each rune.
Daily Rune Practice
Draw one rune each morning. Spend the day noticing where its meaning appears in your life—its themes, challenges, or lessons.
Carve or Create Your Own Rune Set
Working with natural materials—wood, stone, bone—helps build a hands-on relationship. The act of carving or painting them teaches the shapes and stances of each symbol.
Rune Journaling
Keep a notebook for meanings, impressions, personal experiences, dreams, or patterns that appear when you work with a rune.
Use Runes in Nature Walks
Notice where rune shapes appear in branches, shadows, icicles, or animal tracks. Connecting the symbols with the natural world mirrors how early people saw them.
Incorporate Runes in Rituals
Use a rune in simple rituals—protection at the doorway, strength during hard times, wisdom when making decisions. Experience strengthens understanding.
Learn Pronunciation & Sound
Speak the name of each rune out loud. The sound of a rune is part of its identity, and saying it helps anchor its meaning.
Author Erik has a degree in Anthropology with a minor in Scandinavian Studies. He did a study abroad in Norway which allowed him to explore his heritage and immerse himself in some great living history. Erik is passionate about outdoor adventures and loves mountain climbing and white water rafting. Learn more about Who We Are here.
