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Rune Guide
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Table of Contents
Introduction (3)
Divination Methods (4-5)
Reversals (5)
Predicting The Future (6)
f Fehu, u Uruz, x Thurisaz, a Ansuz (7-10)
r Raidho, c Kenaz, g Gebo, v Wunjo (11-14)
h Hagalaz,n Nauthiz, I Isa, j Jera (15-18)
y Eihwaz, p Pertho, z Algiz, s Sowilo (19-22)
t Teiwaz, b Berkana, e Ehwaz, m Mannaz (23-26)
l Laguz, q Inguz, d Dagaz, o Othala (27-30)

Note: The names used for the runes here are mostly academic reconstructions. There are no “correct”
names for the runes, as the runes are older than any names we’ve given them. If you want historical
names, reference the rune poems from different cultures. Or just call them whatever you want.
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Introduction

The runes are symbols, given to our ancestors by God, that are
each imbued with special properties and representations. Because
of this, they can be used for blessings, and they are also very useful
for divination. Divination can be best understood as utilizing the
chaos of our world, which is truly not chaos at all, but rather divine
orchestration, to receive answers to any questions. These can be
about the past, present, or the future. They can be for guidance,
comfort, warnings, predictions, or just anything you might need to
know.

To perform divination, there are three components that are

essential. First, you need a question. You need to know what you
want to ask, and think carefully about this, as the way you ask a
question can invite lots of knowledge, or it can close you off to
knowledge. Don’t ask a leading question, or load your question with
assumptions. If a fundamental basis of your question is false, then
it will likely be much harder for you to clearly understand the
answer. Second, you need a language. You need some kind of thing
that can be applied to the chaos that you can then read back. In
this case, we will be using runes. Third, you need a method to tap
into the chaos. You can come up with one yourself, or you can use
ones that already are common practice. An extremely simple
method is to simply take a bag of runes, ask your question, shake
the bag, then draw one rune out. The meaning behind the rune can
then serve as an answer to your question. Doing this obviously
leaves very little room for complexity or nuance, though, so keep
that in mind. More complicated methods might take more time to
use, but they will often yield very complex and in depth answers.
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Divination Methods

The first method we’ll discuss is free casting. Free casting is

one of the least complicated methods to understand mechanically,
but one of the most complicated methods to actually interpret. To
get started, free casting follows these steps:

1. Place all your runes into a container.

2. Ask your question, then shake or stir the runes.
3. Blindly reach in, grab a random handful of runes.
4. Cast the runes onto a flat surface in front of you.
5. Remove all runes that fell face down.
6. Begin interpreting the runes, considering their groupings,
relation to one another, reversals, etc.

So, while this method is very simple to execute, the complexity

and nuance of the answers can range drastically. Sometimes you’ll
throw twelve runes, but only one will fall face up, making it a very
brief and simple answer. Sometimes they’ll all fall face up in four or
five different groupings with some strange cryptic formation that
could take you an hour to break down. More than anything, though,
free casting is unique in that it invites any answer with minimal
restrictions.

Next up, we’ll take a look at the historical method from Roman
times. This method will seem familiar to those versed in Tarot:

1. Ask your question, then pour out all your runes onto a cloth.
2. Without looking, draw three.
3. Interpret the three runes as an answer to your question.

So, it’s essentially the classic “draw three” option, except with
a few extra ceremonial steps if you want to go read the account by
Tacitus.
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Divination Methods (Cont.)

For another example, one useful tool in designing any method

is to assign roles to the runes as you draw them. So, when doing a
simple draw of three, you could assign the first rune to represent
the past, the second rune to represent the present, and the third to
represent the future. You can experiment with what roles you give,
how many you draw for each role, or whatever other variables you
might consider.

Reversals

For the most part, when explaining the meanings of the runes
throughout this guide, it does not go into detail as to what their
reversed meanings could be. The reason for this is that I find it to
be much more effective to simply understand the core meaning of
the rune, and then understand how reversals work across the
board. In some divination methods, a reversal of a symbol is just
the opposite of a thing. With runes, reversals can be any negative
iteration of a thing. In some cases, it will just be the opposite,
especially for the runes with more directly positive meanings. Algiz,
for example, when reversed, becomes essentially just the opposite
of its aspects. It isn’t always that simple, though. In general, a
reversal could indicate the excess of a thing, the lack of a thing,
the falsification of a thing, or the opposite of a thing, specifically
when the opposite is something negative. Whichever one of these
aspects of the reversal comes into play will rely on context, and the
interpreter will have to exercise discretion.
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Predicting The Future (Forecasting)

One of the first things you should be fully aware of when you
begin using the runes is that they will show you the future. You
will hear people tell you that they can’t do this. Those people know
nothing, and they are stupid.

The runes will show you the future, and you need to
understand how to use that access responsibly and effectively. To
start, there are certain principles that you have to understand
about causation. A lot of people will ask a question about the
future, specifically their own futures, wanting a fixed answer. The
problem is that there are some basic time travel rules to consider,
the primary one being that knowing what the future would have
been can alter what it will actually be.

To best illustrate this, here’s an example. Imagine that you’re

a university student, and you have a big exam coming up. Like an
idiot, you think, “Oh, I should ask the runes how I will do on the
test, that will surely calm my nerves!” The problem here is that you
are casting with the expectation of the runes to tell you a certain
future, you either passing or failing the test. However, if you would
have otherwise passed the test, actually knowing that information
could play a role is making it not true. If the runes simply say
“you’re gonna do great!” because you were going to do great had
you not asked, then you may take it for granted, go in unprepared,
and then fail miserably. Because of this, you have to approach the
future with the knowledge of your own role in its fulfillment.

The only times that the runes can freely tell you fixed futures
are essentially when there is nothing you either can or will do
about it to alter the chain of events. Everything else is best taken
as advice, warnings, directions, etc.
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f
Fehu is a rune of material. The name generally translates as
“Cattle” or “Wealth”. It represents material possession, acquisition,
fulfillment, satisfaction, or wholeness.

While it’s easy for one to glance at a Fehu and think “Money”,
it can be much more encompassing than just that. In essence, Fehu
represents what is materially held. This can take the form of simple
wealth, as wealth broadly covers many of our material holdings. It
can always represent things that money can’t always buy, but are
still within the realm of material holding, such as health or
intellect. The health of your body is a material possession. The
cognitive capacity of your brain, as an organ, is a material
possession. These are material things that we have as tools at our
disposal in life.

Cleverness, art, good food, beautiful architecture, wild grass

in a field, a healthy body, healthy family, and a warm home are all
examples of material things that we want to have in our lives to
give us a sense of fulfillment and completion to our life
experiences.
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u
Uruz is a rune of natural condition. The name refers to the
aurochs, an ancient wild ox. It represents strength, impulsiveness,
passion, desire, vitality, lust, freedom, determination, and any other
aspect of the natural condition.

Uruz can be understood as the primary, unfiltered essence of a

thing. When applied to a person, Uruz represents what that person
truly is with all conditioning stripped away. It is the primary natural
condition of the individual. Because of this, its meaning can be
highly contextual when used in divination, because people have
different natural states. Some people are naturally wired for
negotiation, some for confrontation, some for intuition, and some
for doing absolutely nothing at all. In any case, whatever a person’s
default condition in from their genetic makeup, the Uruz can
represent it within a broader message.

Outside of individual context, the Uruz can more generally

refer to things that would be considered natural or wild.
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x
Thurisaz is a rune of reaction. The name roughly refers to
giants or monsters, but I find the Saxon name of it, “thorn”, to be
more helpful in understanding its symbolic representation.

Thurisaz is one of the protection runes, but like a thorn on a

rose, the style of protection represented by Thurisaz is that of
aggression. It protects the fragile flower by causing harm to those
that come into contact with it.

So, while it represents protection, it also carries an implied

vulnerability in the form of that protection. It is hostile in nature,
and that hostility stems from some vulnerability. That idea of
hostility stemming from vulnerability can bleed into multiple other
forms of behaviour. It can manifest itself as any sort of conflict,
contention, violence, aggression, reclusion, or rejection.
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a
Ansuz is a rune of spirit. The name literally just means “God”,
and it represents many aspects of divinity, the soul, our essential
consciousness, and our sense of self.

A major aspect of Ansuz is understanding. In broadest terms,

this can be viewed as wisdom and awareness. Many runes can
pertain to wisdom or knowledge, but Ansuz focuses on the sort of
wisdom that comes from the divine aspect of the individual, the
spirit speaking through you.

In terms of personal relationships, Ansuz can represent a

deeper, more profound connection that people form. It represents
an understanding between souls of their true selves, true feelings,
and true desires. It’s a revelation of what is underneath. Ansuz is
often given the attribute of communication, and this is largely
where it originates. The kind of understanding represented by
Ansuz is one that speaks from one soul to another, the most sincere
form of communication that can be both clearer than any other
while also being simultaneously ambiguous.

Ansuz also represents higher forms of inspiration. The aspects

of the soul that can be thought to be above basic evolutionary
function are commonly attributed to Ansuz. It encompasses
everything that can be thought of as the “higher self”, as well as
the motivational aspects for purpose in life.
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r
Raidho is a rune of the road, or the ride, as the name
suggests. It represents journeys, transitions, and processes.

The meaning can sometimes be taken very literally. It could

mean exactly what it says, a literal journey from one place to
another. Taking it up a notch in complexity, it could represent an
emotional journey or a development of character. All in all, it
represents a transition of some kind, or a path forward.

The Ehwaz rune (literally the “Horse”) often shows up with the
Raidho. They both represent change, but Raidho more so represent
the path of change, while Ehwaz represents the initiation and drive
behind that change, hence the “Horse” and the “Road”. For
example, a reversed Ehwaz with an upright Raidho could be used
to tell the diviner that a way forward out of a situation is available,
but that the person involves needs to seize the opportunity and
move forward on that path. Or, in other words, fix up the horse and
get on the road.

Raidho can also play into causation and chains of events. As

the representation of the path itself, it contains within it the ways
in which the different parts of the path connect to one another. This
is an aspect it shares in part with the Jera rune.
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c
Kenaz is a rune of illumination, knowledge, and warmth. With
the literal meaning of “Torch”, while it is not the only rune with
symbolism of light, it specifically focuses on the aspects of manual
illumination and warmth.

To understand its uses, think to how primitive man used fire. A

torch lit in a dark cave allowed one to see what was otherwise
concealed by darkness. It allowed for the intentional and directed
acquisition of knowledge and information. It allowed for discovery.
Kenaz builds on this idea of learning and expands it to many
different aspects. It can represent skills that one acquires,
ingenuity, invention, technology, advancement, and thought.

As a symbol of fire, it also represents warmth and comfort. In

both aspects, of warmth and discovery, it represents bonding,
connection, and intimacy.
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g
Gebo is a rune of exchange. Literally meaning “gift” or “give”,
it represents giving, receiving, trading, agreements, contracts, and
essentially any sort of exchange between parties.

Gebo also represents balance, which can be seen in the nature

of people when receiving something. They feel an obligation within
them to make some sort of return to the giver in order to balance
the exchange.

Gebo can also refer generally to any sort of blessing or thing

that has been given to us, sometimes in a manner that we cannot
repay or reciprocate with anything other than gratitude.
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v
Wunjo is a rune of joy, pleasure, prosperity, and company.
Wunjo is the essence of being at peace in the moment with the
things that give us true happiness. Whatever that might be for you,
that is what Wunjo represents.
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h
Hagalaz is a rune of power. Literally meaning “Hail”, it
carries symbolism of a storm, the destruction it yields, and the
irresistibly transformative authority it commands.

Hagalaz is often presented as just destruction, and it very

much can and will represent destruction, but it’s much more than
just that. Hagalaz can represent change. It can represent
everything being broken down and washed away to make way for
something new. Hagalaz can represent power beyond us. It can
represent circumstances that we sometimes just have to accept for
what they are, accepting that we can’t stop them from happening,
and then allowing them to shape us. In this, it can also represent
faith. It can represent a humility and acknowledgment of our lack
of control in circumstances and need for higher power to help us,
guide us, and mold us into something stronger.
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n
Nauthiz is a rune of struggle. Literally meaning “Need” or
“Constraint”, it represents a very primal idea of not just needing
something in the sense of how we think of it today, but something
being imposed on you as a challenge that you must overcome to
survive, a true necessity.

For this reason, Nauthiz is very conflict oriented. It isn’t just a

negative message about a struggle, though. It also carries the
products of the struggle, such as resilience, will power, and the
drive to overcome the obstacles presented. Ultimately, need is the
primary initiating force behind greatness and advancement. We
find that in the grand scheme of things, a life with minimal struggle
is a life with minimal value in its experience.
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I
Isa is a multifaceted rune. Its name, which just means “Ice”,
points us in the direction of many of its different aspects.

To start, it can represent stillness, things slowing down, or a

moment of pause. This can be both beneficial and harmful. On one
hand, sometimes stillness is exactly what’s needed for a situation.
Sometimes people need to cool down and take a moment to reflect
on things. On the other hand, sometimes too much stillness is
simply stagnation. Then, of course, the ultimate stillness is death.

Isa also carries an idea of clarity. This is found both in the

symbolism of ice itself, described like clear glass in the Saxon rune
poem, but also in the clarity that one gains from that reflection
found in the moment of pause.

Of course, as a symbol of coldness, it can also present ideas

like apathy, disinterest, numbness, or just a general lack of traits
tied to warmth.
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j
Jera is a rune of process. We can deduce many of its meanings
from the name itself, which means both “Year” and “Harvest”. It
represents cycles, repetition, time, waiting, investment, labour, pay
off, and blessings.

Like each year that passes, Jera represents things going

through the motions of time. Sometimes, this means waiting on
something. Sometimes it means waiting while working towards it
simultaneously. Understanding the stages of a harvest is
fundamental to understanding the meaning of Jera. A harvest may
be a provision and a blessing, but it’s not one that just happens
spontaneously or overnight. You can pray for rain and rich soil, but
if you don’t plant seeds, then it’s good for nothing to you. A harvest
requires commitment, labour, and then finally patience. It requires
you to give the seeds time to grow into something beneficial.
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y
Eihwaz is a rune of reliability and transcendence. It
represents Yggdrasil, the “world tree”, which can be better thought
of as a sort of spine connecting the different overlaying planes.

It carries an idea of ascension, or literally moving upwards or

closer to God. Because of this, it shares many aspects with Ansuz,
such as enlightenment, understanding, awareness, and spiritual
awakening.

Its basis of reliability, trust, strength, and resilience comes

from its role as a permanent, immovable fixture crossing the
planes. To put it this way, you cannot uproot something in one plane
that doesn’t even exclusively exist in that plane. In either case, it’s
not so much a “thing” anyway, as much as it is a way or a path.
Because of this, it joins Raidho and Ehwaz as one of the runes of
change and transition. Though, unlike Raidho and Ehwaz, which
might refer to change more generally, Eihwaz would refer more
specifically to positive change. More importantly, though, the
immovable nature of Eihwaz combined with its role as the
connecting tissue between the planes stands as a reminder that
there is always a way from one place to another. Even if you’re as
low as you can possibly go, that tree reaches as far down as it does
up, and you can always climb back out.
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p
Pertho is a rune of chance, choices, and possibility. Its name
refers literally to games of chance, or gambling with dice cups.

Plurality could be seen as a broad category to summarize most

of Pertho’s aspects. Pertho brings a sense of multiple options being
on the table. This can be both good and mad. Where there are
multiple paths to be found, there are decisions that must be made,
and those decisions have consequences. In this, there is an
inherent risk, as well as a need for heightened responsibility.
However, while chance brings risk, it also brings freedom. A fixed
lane with no variety or opportunity to go astray might be safer or
surer, but it is certainly also less free and more constraining to the
spirit.
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z
Algiz is a rune of preservation. Its name refers to the elk,
whose antlers serve as tools for both protecting itself as well as
keeping its territory and dominance.

The Algiz can represent both a supportive and a possessive

style of protection. As support, Algiz has the idea of not just
warding off immediate threats and imminent danger, but also
providing help in more subtle ways, or offering assistance in a
challenge or conflict. As a possessive protection, Algiz has the idea
of trying to hold onto something. It can show that something is very
dear to a person, and they’d do anything to not lose it.
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s
Sowilo is a rune of blessing. Literally meaning “Sun”, it has a
lot of symbolism packed into it.

To begin, above everything, it is a rune of light. It’s not just

any light, though. It’s sunlight, the primary energy source for life
on Earth. For this, it can represent life and vitality.

Like Kenaz, another rune with symbolism of light, it can

represent illumination and bringing things out of the darkness.
Light is synonymous with truth and revelation.

Unlike Dagaz, which represents the balance between the light

and dark, and the hope for the light in the rising day, Sowilo
represents the sun in its already risen state, victorious over the
darkness of the night. So, Sowilo takes on aspects of victory,
success, and overcoming trials.
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t
Teiwaz is a rune of conviction. Much of the symbolism tied to
is summarized in the Norse story of Tyr’s sacrifice, and the
character of Tyr, for whom the rune is now named. In summary, Tyr
sacrificed his right hand in a scheme to trap the world devouring
wolf, Fenrir.

Teiwaz stands as a representation of sacrifice, duty, honour,

commitment, morality, justice, and law. It represents just cause
against evil. In the face of insidious crime, it can represent the
state’s retribution. In the face of tyranny, it can represent
insurrection. It can be multifaceted and complex, just as moral duty
often is. It can represent war and victory against a necessary foe, a
struggle for peace, or both simultaneously.
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b
Berkana is a rune of proliferation. The name refers to the
birch tree, which was associated with growth and health.

In terms of growth, Berkana represents new things, new

opportunities, recovery, healing, and transformation.

Berkana also serves as one of the fertility runes, focusing on

the feminine aspect. It is associated with any aspect of feminine
sexuality, maternity, care, family, familial units, and close bonding.
It can encompass both literal family and relationships that serve
the role of one’s family.
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e
Ehwaz is a rune of movement and initiation. With the literal
meaning of “Horse”, it serves as one of the runes that represent
change. As is discussed in the section on Raidho, though, Ehwaz
represents more specifically the driving force behind a change.

Just like Raidho, Ehwaz can represent change, movement,

transition, getting from one point to the next, but Ehwaz is more
freely forming than Raidho. Ehwaz is haste. It’s action. It’s getting
something done. Sometimes it might not be the right direction or
the right course of action, but regardless, it’s put into motion.

Ehwaz also has an element of confidence and reassurance,

essentially the aspects that are necessary to move forward. Things
like fear, shame, uncertainty are all inhibitors to one’s ability to
move, and as such, Ehwaz takes on their opposite aspects. Ehwaz
can represent certainty, bravery, boldness. It bares similarities to
Uruz in some of these respects.
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m
Mannaz is a rune of humanity, which is what the name means.
It represents co-operation, collaboration, fellowship, education,
community, communication, compassion, and all the essential
components that bring people together.

While Berkana can be appropriate to represent very familial

bonds, Mannaz can be used to represent the kinds of friendships
that one might foster with co-workers, class mates, and neighbours.
This doesn’t necessarily exclude Mannaz from also representing
very close and meaningful relationships, but its focus is more social
and less intimate.

Mannaz still represents very profound parts of our connection

to one another, though. It can represent our passion for one
another, our charitable nature, our desire to see our communities
succeed and be healthy.
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l
Laguz is a rune of serenity. It means “Water” or “Lake”, and
its symbolism breaks down into several veins based off of that.

To start, it can represent a sort of calmness and flexibility. Like

water resting in a lake, or conforming on the spot to adapt to
whatever physical environment it enters, Laguz can represent a
level of relaxation and adaptation. It’s an energy that isn’t bothered
by its circumstances, choosing rather to freely flow along with
them.

Another aspect of Laguz is obscurity and mystery. Like the

ocean and large bodies of water, it can represent great unknowns.
It can represent secrets and concealment, like something hidden
beneath the water, never to be seen again.

As water is a source of life and growth, it can also take on

many of these aspects, similarly to Berkana.
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q
Inguz is a rune of masculinity. While Berkana is thought of as
the rune of feminine fertility, Inguz is considered the rune of
masculine fertility. It can also be used for fertility in any sense.

Many of the attributes of Inguz are tied to what can be

thought of as traditionally masculine traits. This includes paternity,
family, authority, confidence, labour, productivity, strength,
independence, and really anything along that train of thought.

Another important aspect of Inguz is nature itself. The aspect

of fertility in Inguz was a major focus of importance for ancient
people, many of whom would seek aid from Yngvi, for whom the
rune is now named, to make their soil fertile. For agricultural
communities, fertile soil was the difference between life and death.
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d
Dagaz is a rune of hope. Literally meaning “Day”, Dagaz
shares representation of the sun with Sowilo, but it does so in
contrast to the night before the sunrise.

The aspect of hope in Dagaz comes from the contrast between

the light and dark. It’s the hope in the night that the morning will
come to relieve them. This may sound symbolic, but it was a very
real point of consideration for northern cultures where exposure to
the sun varied greatly throughout the year, with some places
experiencing absolutely no sunlight for weeks at a time.

Dagaz can also represent balance and moderation. The day

comes to balance out the night, and the night comes to balance out
the day.

As the new day, Dagaz can also represent new initiatives and
productivity. In the ancient world, before we had enough lighting
shoved in every corner of the Earth to blind out the stars, the day
was the time of productivity and work, and so this aspect resides in
Dagaz now.
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o
Othala is a rune of foundations. The name means a “Home” or
an “Estate”, and these serve as some basic imagery to understand
its larger meaning. If Uruz can be thought of as a rune of what is
inherent to you, Othala can be thought of as a rune of what is built
onto you. Othala is the nurture to contrast the nature.

In common practice, Othala has been simplified to a few

examples of these foundations, such as heritage. Heritage is
certainly a good example of what Othala embodies, but it’s not its
entire focus. Heritage, like other things, is a foundation that builds
up over the generations. One generation learns a lesson, passes it
on to the next, and then that generation learns more lessons to add
onto it, and the cycle continues, and ideally it develops a refined
heritage and culture where people have a large wealth of the
lessons learned over the ages. Again, though, Othala can represent
these aspects in any regard, not just heritage.

It can represent lessons acquired in any instance, any sort of

circumstance or situation that adds to one’s own personal
foundation, that aspect is embodied in Othala. It isn’t necessarily
good or bad, either. It just is whatever has been rooted into
someone. Ultimately, though, Othala represents all of the external
variables that contribute to making you who or what you become
and shaping the ways you think and behave.

Othala can also represent institutions and the foundations

underlying them, such nations, governments, businesses, schools,
collectives, or anything of that form factor.