A while back, my ADF grove, Nemos Ognios decided to work out interpretations of the Norse and Anglo-Saxon runes for use in our divinations. To make it interesting, we decided to limit our sources to the Rune Poems, of which there are three: Icelandic, Norwegian, and Anglo-Saxon. The number of runes in each poem differs, but as much as possible we compared all the poems for each rune. We then discussed ways in which the different descriptions revealed the runes' meanings, interpreting them in an Indo-European context. We were sometimes surprised at what we ended up with. For instance, most places you'll find the interpretation of the first rune, fehu ( as being "you're going to get lots of good things," whereas the poems made it clear that it meant "make sure you share the good things you've got; society depends on it."
So here's what we ended up with. Enjoy.
| Rune |
Name |
Translation |
Interpretation |
 |
Fehu |
Cattle |
Wealth in motion; exchange; prosperity through exchange; sharing; society. |
 |
Uruz |
Aurochs |
Raw power, wild power; what has to be tamed. |
 |
Thurisaz |
Giant |
A weapon or a danger; to whom depends on context: to the self or to the other? |
 |
Ansuz |
God |
Odhin, inspiration, authority, advice, speech, pay attention to the runes; what do his stories have to tell us? |
 |
Raidho |
Wagon |
Easier said than done. Help is necessary; don’t forget the horse does a lot of the work, credit where credit is due. |
 |
Kaunaz |
Torch |
Fire, which can warm the hall or burn it down. Protective warrior and destructive warrior. Keep your power and passion under control. |
 |
Gebo |
Gift |
Giving gives honor. Noblesse oblige, charity. |
 |
Wunjo |
Joy |
Contentment in sufficiency, rather than in luxury, but having enough is necessary to happiness. Need is not want. |
 |
Hagalaz |
Hailstone |
Hail is grain, falls destructively, but leads to opportunity for growth and destruction of serpents. |
 |
Naudhiz |
Need |
Oppression with few options; things can be ameliorated if you are prepared, though. |
 |
Isa |
Ice |
Danger is not obvious; it may lurk behind the pretty. Be careful how you pass through it. |
 |
Jera |
Year |
Bounty, harvest, abundance; even for the poor. Equality. Harvest comes through sowing, reward comes from work. Prepare for hard times. |
 |
Eihwaz |
Yew |
The World Tree, gathering of power and knowledge of the runes (hallucination and/or revelation); Long life and immortality; Poison and death; Protection, especially of property, and especially against fire; Claiming of land; Unknowable origin. | ̄
 |
Perdhro |
Gamebox |
Play is the recreation of the warrior. It's good to relax with others and play games. Because of the uncertainty of games, there is mystery, chance, wyrd, and the not yet known. |
 |
Elhaz |
Elk |
Warding, protecting mark, barrier, testing, threshold, sacredness. |
 |
Sowilo |
Sun |
Fixed reference, universal landmark, (divine) guidance to destination. |
 |
Tiwaz |
Týr |
Tyr, stability, order, justice, victory, nobility, doing the right thing (especially for the greater good) even if it requires sacrifice, steadfastness, model for good behavior. |
 |
Berkano |
Birch |
Positive outcomes in unexpected ways. Overcoming obstacles or deficiencies. Regular mention of leaves; growth; reason for fertility association? Green beauty of leaves. Spring. |
 |
Ehwaz |
Horse |
Status of wealth, conspicuous consumption. Envy of one's peers. "I'm on a horse." Harnessing uncontrollable energy to usefulness. |
 |
Mannaz |
Man |
Men are social creatures who benefit from each other. Men are mortal, coming from earth and returning to earth. They make ships (and other things?) pretty and not only useful (cherish the time you have?) |
 |
Laguz |
Water |
Water, ocean, river. Very diverse interpretations in the poems: Water is primordial, dangerous and uncontrolled; water is bountiful; water is everywhere. Anglo-Saxon poem has another rune that seems to reflect "good" water. |
 |
Ingwaz |
Ing |
God Ing, or Frey. Ancestral/progenitor deity, came from the east or went to the east. |
 |
Daggaz |
Day |
Light comes from the gods and shines on all, bringing hope and happiness; it is useful to all. |
 |
Othalaz |
Estate |
A house is not a home unless it lives up to the ørlog, and then things are great. |
(Source of rune images: Wikipedia)
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