I recently got my Amethyst Runes and started getting more into it. It was pretty hard to find some good information online, so I thought I’d share with you guys what I found! I just write down what I have in my book of shadows, and this is just what I found, so there may be things that I wrote wrong or that doesn’t fit your believes. I request you look up on this subject yourself too, but this right here might give you a head start.
Runes are symbols which may be used in divination. They are very old and there are many theories as to how or when they originiated, but it’s well known that they were used in Europe.
The word itself comes from the old norse word “Run”, and the old german word “Runa”, which translates to “whisper” or “secret”. Runes are closely tied to Odin and according to ancient germanic people they were created by him.
The runic alphabets are called “Futhark”, after the first six runes, which are Fehu, Uruz, Thurisaz, Ansuz, Raido and Kenaz. While the elder furthark has 24 characters, just like our alphabet, there are also other versions of the Futhark which range from 16 to 33 characters.
I have to say, I had a really hard time looking up the meanings of every rune. While some runes have the same meaning everywhere, others seems to have a different meaning every time. I chose what was either mostly named or felt right for me. Feel free to share what you found out about them, or how you use them in the comments below!
Every rune is associated with a letter of our alphabet, so I decided to include them and write them right beside the name. I don’t have the sources to post pictures of every rune (nor the space), but you can easily look them up youself online and get in touch with them.
Fehu - F
“Fay-who”
The Cattle - Wealth, Prosperty, Financial Matters
Uruz - U
“Oo-rooze”
The Aurochs - Strength, Courage, Vitality, for that matter also Health and Recovery
Thurisaz - TH
“Thoo-re-saws”
The Thorn or The Hammer - Destruction, Anger, Violence, sometimes a Warning or Protection
Ansuz - A
“Awn-sooze”
The Deity or The Antenna - Wisdom, Communication, Thoughts, Words, Signals, Learning, but also Truth or a Leader
Raido - R
“Rye-tho”
The Wagon - Travels and Journeys, maybe even an inner journey
Kenaz - K
“Kee-naws”
The Torch - Light, Inspiration, Creativity and Knowledge, but for other also Hard Work
Gebo - G
“Gay-bo”
The Gift - A Gift or Generosity, but for another matter also Love, Marriage or Partnership, by seeing the love of another person as a gift
Wunjo - W
“Woon-yo”
Joy - Happiness, Harmony, Comfort, as well as Victory o Productivity
Hagalaz - H
“Haw-gaw-laws”
The Hail - Destruction, Force, Disruption, Chaos, Drama, Hazard, Fury, Anger, can be associated with The Tower from the Tarots Major Arcana
Nauthiz - N
“Now-teese”
Need - Constraint, Neccessities, Distress, Delay, Patience
Isa - I
“Ee-saw”
Ice - Stagnation, Standstill, Frozen, Stuck
Jera - J/Y
“Yare-awe”
Harvest - Rewards, Success, Accomplishments, also associated with Earth
Eihwaz - EI
“Eye-waws”
Yew - Either Reliability, Stability and Trustworthy, or Constricted, Protection, Pain, Perseverence (by looking at it like a bow). The meanings are pretty split with this one.
Perth - P
“Per-th”
The Cup - Destiny, Fate, Magic, Mystery, The Unknowable
Algiz - Z
“All-geese”
The Elk - Protection, Self Defense, Shield, Standing Up For Something
Sowelu - S
“Soe-wee-loo”
The Sun - Good Fortune, Power, Energy, Health
Teiwaz - T
“Tea-waws”
Týr - Victory, Justice, Honor, Higher Spiritual Power, or Focus and Responsibility
Berkana - B
“Bear-kaw-nah”
The Birch - Birth, Beginnings, Fertility, (Personal) Growth, Nurture, Family
Ehwaz - E
“Ay-waws”
The Horse - Transportation, Movement, Travel, maybe also Trust or Loyalty
Mannaz - M
“Mawn-naws”
The Self - Person, Human, Man, Identity, Culture, Individual
Laguz - L
“Law-goose”
The Water - Lake, Sea, Ocean, mostly the Flow, also Intuition, Proohetic Dreams and Feminity
Inguz - NG
“Een-goose”
Seed or The God, Ing - Common Sense, Internal Growth, Potential, Fertility, Success, Masculinity
Dagaz - D
“Thaw-gause”
The Day - Awareness, Breathrough, Transformation, Evolving, Growth, Changes
Othila - O
“Oa-thee-law”
Ancestral Property or Homeland - Property, Home, Family, Legacy, Possessions, Inheritance
The Blank Rune
No one really knows how or when it came into the set, but at somd point, the blank rune has been occasionally beed added and used in a reading. Using the blank rune or not is personal preference. It can be useless to you or help you, it’s your choice whether you keep it or not. If you do, it should be read and used based on intuition. Consider it’s placement and the relation and connection to other runes. Some runes sets doesn’t even include the blank rune.
It may represent Odin or Fate.
Please note that these are just the names of the runes that I prefer, there are a lot, lot, LOT more other pronounciations or names for each rune, but adding them in here too would be too much.
Runes also have reversed meanings, but that is sonething I haven’t got into by now. Just research for yourself a little bit, learn some more and stick to what feels right to you.
Now to casting them. There are many different ways to cast runes. You may simply pull runes out of a bag with your eyes closed, or you dump some or all of them on the ground. You can do simple Tarot Spreads with your runes or look up different ways to use them.
You can use the runes in magic as well! You may use fitting runes in a spell, or write with then in your book of shadows, or draw them on your altar, wand, etc. There are many things you can do with runes, just take your time and get closer with them!
I hope you liked this little lesson and that it may help you an your way.
Lot’s of love your way, Laura 💕
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