The first question asked by someone being introduced to a new form of divination is normally “what are the origins of this art?”. Quite an innocent silly question really, innocent but still useless. If you research the net most of the article will point it circa 3rd or 4th century, but what is the point in knowing the origin or the source of the art, the important question to ask is “can I be attuned to this art“. Divinatory arts are like musical instruments, some musician can play several instruments at an advance level, others can dabble with some instruments while reaching advance level on one or two only, some musicians learns the theory of music and can write and read music, other musicians are autodidact. In your experience, who produces the hit songs or inspirational melodies….. I leave the answer to you.
This part of our website will be dedicated to providing the relevant information about Runes stone, we will not dwell in the sources and origins, suffice to say that the attuned student will, during meditation, receive enough vision and guidance to have a pretty good idea of the true origins of this art, and then they will understand why the origin of Divinatory Arts are not a matter to for discussion. Same logic applies to Martial Arts, I have had Martial Arts students who were dumbfounded when they actually met their Guiding Spirits after we attuned them to communicate and receive information. The origins of an art cannot be pinned down to one particular race or place, this is the first thing a novice should understand, leave the source because what may be revealed to you may never have been revealed before, so let it float.
The proper way to commence an initiation to any art, is to grasp the basic and tested principle, meaning start with the accepted names, definition and representation of the symbols therein. The way to do the reading will vary from one person to another, but there is a framework actually that works for most Divinatory arts, if you are on the proper path, it will be revealed to you, else you will just dabble with it. So back to Runes, a set of symbol inscribed on different material with meanings of different depth and level attached to them; they can also be used as Talisman or protection, and there are specific breathing and yoga like exercises which aid to channel the energy of the symbols through the different subtle bodies of the student.
Thus we will start with a list of the names and primary meaning of the symbols
Fehu : Movement, transition, increase, fertility. The accent here is on mobility, transfer, sharing and increase which results from synergies.
Uruz : Primal force, survival force. The energy associated with survival instinct, raw primal energy. Also physical health, stamina, driving force. Also rebirth, breakthrough.
Thurisaz : Raw destructive energy, Masculine energy. Think of it as a male person under a rush of adrenalin, or a storm. The energy source is from below and therefore very difficult to control. The emphasis is on masculine and out of this world energy. Pervasive male sexuality.
Os : Being a recipient for Divine knowledge. Communication, growth through new knowledge, change in perspective, increase awareness and vision, seeing from above, rising above peers. Thus, it is seen as a symbol of Spiritual power. The wise use of speech.
Raido : The keywords here are journey, cycle, the wheel of life, natural laws, justice. The proper way forward, moving in the right direction. Thus it denotes an energy which is in line with the cosmic cycles.
Kenaz : Light and fire are the essence here. Clarity, truth, enlightenment, transformation through complete dissolution of the old. Think of all the intermediate stages between when undergoing a major paradigm shift.
Gebo : Nothing is free, nothing comes from thin air, there is always an exchange process whether there is a transformation or an exchange. Gebo represents that exchange, what has to be given in return. In this case it is a fair exchange. I will emphasise here that the act of being thankful that our basic needs are met, for the life we are living, the air we breathe, and so on, is the primordial exchange; unless a person has that awareness, all other exchange will always be imbalanced.
Wunjo : Contentment and Harmony. Contentment is a challenge nowadays because of consumerism, whereas harmony is difficult to achieve because most individual has to balance several aspects of life like work, family, relatives, neighbour, friends and so on. I would like to add something here : a thief who is never caught is fully contended, but not in harmony, being always alert therefore on tension. Never equate your moral compass to that of everyone else, this is a mistake done by many practitioners. A true medium has no compass, there is no right or wrong, there is only balance and imbalance.
Hagalaz : It is the point of explosion, forces beyond human control, a situation of acute crisis followed by unescapable chaos. It is a time to let go and go with the flow, do not try to salvage anything, do not hold on to anything, let go, the new is coming, better is on its way. Resisting is futile and will bring more loss and resentment. You might think that the Universe is against you, this is not the case, you are the one who has been on the wrong path and is getting prepared to be thrusted onto a new path. Remain calm and positive, nothing can be achieved until the storm is over.
Nauthiz : Friction is the keyword here. Therefore everything will be perceived as hardship; but remember, hardship is just a matter of perspective, if an individual concentrate on the needs rather than the wants, then everything changes.
Isa : The accent is on stillness, cold, trapped here, meaning, tranquility, holding the space, focus, unmoved, self-controlled. It compels you to hold your cards, or it indicates that much is hidden from sight.
Jera : The time between sowing and harvesting, patience. Patience is a word which is often misunderstood or not completely understood. It means that you are living in the future and not in the present, this is a fundamental mistake. Understanding the true meaning of Patience is an attunement in itself.
Eihwaz : It represent the understanding of the phrase “as above so below“. Divine understanding of the intricate relationships between the three worlds. Moving away from contemporary esoteric knowledge and moving into the oneness. Understanding the nature of Kundalini.
Perthro : Fate. That which cannot be predicted, luck, happenstance, prophecy. It also shows that direct action is futile in the situation, nothing more can be added, what is to come can only be guessed by strong gut feelings or deep intuition. Also, taking a risk. Hence, it also denotes an absence of information, acting blindly under either the influence of rage or tranquility.
Algiz : The rune of protection from Spirits. Being inspired by the Higher Self due to a clear connection between the subtle bodies. Receiving Divine guidance, oracles and visions. The state of being receptive to our Spirit Guides.
Sowilo : Literally meaning the Sun. The center of all things, the source of power and light, the giver of life to other planets, the point from which other objects are mapped. That to which everything else is attached. A star shines permanently until its death, therefore it also represents the state of everlasting light. Think of all the aspect of our lovely Sun and you will understand the different meanings of this rune.
Teiwaz : Divine Justice. Joan of Arc (the Maid of Lorraine), hence Sacrifice. It is when an object, be it a living being, is propelled on a path by Higher forcer or Divine convictions, having gone through an epiphany of some kind. An unalterable will, that drives someone to a point of self-sacrifice or martyrdom. Being driven by something much more powerful and important than our own self preservation instinct. What has to be sacrificed to obtain the desired outcome. It is important to note the element of sacrifice required in obtaining a just outcome.
Berkano : The womb, the place of nurturing, safety and complete surrender. Female fertility, secrecy, maturity, silent knowledge. The first to understand, the first to awake to the secret knowledge of manifestation. Listening closely, assimilating, learning, growing while being protected from external forces. Being relieved of mundane tension, and undergoing magical transformation. The womb also represents rebirth, as we reincarnate into this world through the womb of our mother.
Ehwaz : literally meaning horse, keyword trust. The rune represents cooperation, synergy, teamwork; also a competitive advantage from working with other group that can be tamed.
Mannaz : Literally meaning mankind. The rune of human collective synchronic energies, contemporary energy of humanity. In other words it signifies the current trend in human development and nature. It is also the projected future of the now, and can be tapped into for intuitive revelations and to acquire pioneer knowledge.
Laguz : Literally meaning water or ocean. The unconscious mind, emotions. It is that which affects us indirectly, we do not see it, the energy is simply present in the collective mind and acts like a current that can either work for or against our goal depending on the path chosen. It also carries the energy of past lives and projected futures. Being associated to collective consciousness, it can also represents psychic abilities.
Inguz : Literally meaning seed. The rune represents the conditions necessary for gestation, be it of the self or anything else. The need to fall back, being detached, isolated from the outer world. It does not necessarily mean literal isolation, you can create your space within a space. Male sexual energy.
Othila : Literally homeland or ancestral property. It is the energy represented by the cumulative actions of our ancestors till date, the force existing in our lineage, be it material or spiritual. In a sense it can be associated with nobility, but I would be careful about this association. It is living up to what your lineage has been striving for, the culmination or furtherance of the goals once set by your ancestors, the revival of something that was dead in your lineage.
Dagaz : Literally meaning day or dawn. Completion of a cycle, and beginning of a nwe one. Awakening after an epiphany; I do not like the term enlightenment, because it carries much deeper meaning, and we believe that when an individual reaches enlightenment the body can no longer hold such a soul and the mundane has to be dropped; as such, enlightenment as it is understood nowadays would nave no runic representation, nor in other divinatory tools. The awakening that follows an epiphany best describe this runes. Therefore it will represents every aspects of a paradigm shift for the better, with the main emphasis of liberation of the self and getting the Ego in the service of the Soul.
Ak : Meaning Oak tree. The power of perseverance, focus and hard work, strong continuous growth. The climax of great efforts, but on the mundane world, the satisfaction of seeing something to completion, the energy of having established a presence or force to be recon with.
Ansuz : Literally meaning Odin. In Norse mythology, Odin is associated with wisdom, healing, death, royalty, the gallows, knowledge, war, battle, victory, sorcery, poetry, frenzy, and the runic alphabet, and projects him as the husband of the goddess Frigg. The protector of heroes, fallen warriors joined him in Valhalla. This rune indicates that the energy is aligned with Gods will and thus the Universe will have its way, if it is for you then you are in for a treat, else you should back off. Of course there are other esoteric and deeper meanings, but as I said earlier, you only need the basics when using divinatory tools, you want to make use of your psychic abilities and your intuitive aptitudes, therefore you want the least pollution as possible from other sources.
Yr : Stands for bow made from a Yew tree. The Yew tree carries a lot of symbolism, In Norse mythology, the yew tree was seen as the World Tree known as Yggdrasil, or “Odin’s Horse.” Odin, who sacrificed himself by hanging on Yggdrasil, (an evergreen tree) for nine nights and nine days. During this time, he traveled through the nine worlds of existence to learn the secrets of life and death. The Yew tree is also associated with longevity or immortality as it can live up to 3000 years old. Arrows made from Yew tree were known to be toxic. So, we have death, longevity, toxicity. The energy required to descend to the underworld and the costs thereof. The path to the underworld.
Ea : It represents the end of a cycle. As this body is returned to Gaia, everything it has accumulated on this earth is forfeited, only the energies are carried forward and will dictate our next vessel. That transit where certain things cannot be carried forward into the next level. It is not death, it reminds us that death is inevitable; but rather than placing the emphasis o”2n natural death, place it on inevitable and abandonment. Again, I strongly recommend that you do not try to predict the death of someone, death has many forms, although physical death is associated with this rune, I do not believe it to actually mean that. It does represent the grave, where we all end up one day, the emphasis is on the representation, “that which is under query will have no furtherance”.
Ior : Meaning Serpent, binding, or encircling. Allow yourself to be free, you can do nothing about the situation, but all will be well, let go of what is no longer useful, allow the rebirth, the new comes when the old is released. the energy here is stagnation that allows release of the old so that the new can enter. This moment might be felt as hardship, but it is a necessary step to move forward unfettered. Change is precipitated when this energy is around, it precipitates the death of what has to die (hence it association with hardships) to allow emergence of the new.
Calc : Represent the energy of endings, Calc meaning chalice will represent that what has to be offered or sacrificed in order to obtain thy desire.
Khalc : Again representing a chalice, with same meaning energy of endings. Here the energy of offering is accentuated, meaning commitment to the cause, absolve of regrets for what has died.
Gar : Keywords here are spear, sacrifice, dignity. Gar, the spear wielded by Odinwhich pierced him as he hung in the tree Yggdrasil for nine nights in order to find the runes and bring them back from beyond all realities. Gungnir was a Dwarves magical weapon given to Odin by Loki, which never misses its mark and always returns to Odin’s hand. At the end, at Ragnarok, Odin again rides into battle with Gungir at his side. Gar holds the power of all runes. This rune is said to contain all the other runes in the Northumbrian set of runes. The energy here is that of mystical power, beyond our comprehension, but one that we can yield because of who we are. Therefore, there is a strong resonance with the energy we can attract when we are living our truth 100%, that which will enable us to undertake roads that would otherwise be impossible to fathom.
Cweorth : Representing the flames of a fire, the association of fire with rituals, cleansing, purification, transformation. Remember that Norse would burn their dead, therefore also signifies the transformation from mundane to spiritual through the flames. Letting go of something using fire rituals. The flame here will consume the flesh and return to Gaia what is Her’s whilst liberating the spirit from the attachment it has developed for this body. These runes are like gateways to other dimensions or state of awareness.
Stan : Meaning Stone. The stone has many representations, namely, as an obstacle, a mean to display one’s might, playing pieces in board games, a landmark, a link between heavenly bodies and earthly beings. Note the saying “set in stone”, which signify permanence. It carries the energy of grounding, adding weight to something, the energy which demarks from others.