Rune Symbology: What Do They Mean In Norse Mythology?
Runes have sparked some interest lately, especially among the more mystical sectors.
These symbols were originally the main writing system of Old Norse and, in addition to transmitting words on paper or stone, they also had a mystical meaning.
The symbology of the runes is complex and rich, closely related to the myth of the creation of this alphabet and the god Odin. Let’s see it below.
The runes are the most distinctive symbols of the ancient Nordic peoples, including the Vikings These symbols were the writing system used by the Old Norse, used to immortalize the teachings, stories and values of these cultures in rocks. Today, we can find many archaeological remains with runes throughout Scandinavia, such as the Rök stone (Sweden) or the Jelling stones (Denmark) and also on paper, such as the “Codex runicus”.
These symbols have aroused the interest of many people related to New Age, the mystical and spiritual. It is not surprising, since these symbols are shrouded in a halo of mystery, especially because despite the ancient Norse being the ancestors of the Norwegians, Swedes, Danes and Icelanders, it seems that their way of life has been annulled by Christianity. and the Greco-Roman world. To make matters worse, the very name of the runes, “rūn”, means “secret”, which arouses even more curiosity and mysticism.
In the original Norse culture, runes were not only a form of written expression, but they were also sacred symbols through which the Vikings established contact with their gods, especially the god Odin. It was this god who is credited with unmasking the meaning of these symbols, revealing it to the people and using it in poetry written in the numerous Norse sagas.
Legend has it that the god Odin hung himself from the legendary Yggdrasil, the tree of life whose roots and branches hold different worlds together. Odin remained hanging for nine days and nine nights, penitent since his own spear was piercing him. It was thanks to his sacrifice and suffering that the meaning of the symbols was revealed to him and he was able to share them with mortals.
This legend is told in the “Rúnatáls þáttr Óðins” (“Rune Song of Odin”), a section of the “Hávamál” (“Speech of the Most High”), one of the poems of the Poetic Edda That says so:
I know that I hung on a tree swayed by the wind for nine long nights, wounded by a spear and consecrated to Odin, myself consecrated to myself, in that tree of which no one knows the origin of its roots.
They gave me no bread, nor anything to drink from a horn, I bowed and looked out, with a cry of lamentation the runes made themselves known to me, until I fell from the tree.
The runic alphabet
Although the runic alphabet has been recovered in modern times by occultists and followers of the New Age movements, we must not forget what it originally served: to transmit written knowledge.
The runes do not cease to be a writing system whose name is “fuþark” or “futhark” (pronounced like “fúzarc”) which is made up of about 17 basic original runes.
Likewise, there were different varieties of this alphabet, in addition to Various interpretations have emerged throughout history
One of the most interesting interpretations is that made by the occultist Guido von List. This German-Austrian journalist was one of the most important figures in the revival of Germanic neo-paganism and runic magic in the late 19th century. He is also known for his anti-Semitic ideas and his essays on the white race, giving rise to the first postulates on Ariosophy. In fact, in his work “The Secret of the Runes” he introduces the gibor rune, a symbol that would later serve as inspiration for the Nazi swastika.
Each of these runes has a different meaning in the Norse religion Next we are going to see what each one means, said with the name they received in the three main variants of the futhark: ancient, Anglo-Saxon and young.
1. Fehu
Fehu, feoh or faith. This rune It is associated with generating and penetrating fire It is also associated with true wisdom.
2. Uruz
Uruz, ur or úr. Represents eternity, the primordial and the resurrection in addition to the primal fire.
3. Thurisaz
Thurisaz, thorn or Þurs. Represents everything related to a storm, such as thunder, lightning and lightning It has an ambivalent meaning, since it represents both the thunder of death and the thunder of life, since after death comes rebirth.
4. Anssuz
Anssuz, os or óss. It is related to the mouth, the emergence and the ash. It can also mean the power of the word, which allows us to mediate without the need to use physical violence With words, with his mouth, you can convince others.
5. Raido
Raido, rad or ræið. Its name is related to the etymological roots of many words in current Scandinavian languages, among them red (Swedish “röd”), straight (Norwegian “rettighet”) or correct (Danish “ret”)
6. Kaunan
Kaunan, cen or kaun. This rune has different versions, but it means boldness and It is related to the feminine character of sexual purity, the people, the tribe, the idea that a culture must be preserved without allowing foreign influences. It is also synonymous with lineage, with blood union.
7. Gebo
Gebo, gyfu or Hacell. This rune also has different versions but in all of them represents the center of everything, suggesting it with its cross shape It also means to destroy and this second meaning relates it to hail, a phenomenon that destroys crops. In fact, in modern Nordic languages “hagl” or “hagel” means, precisely, hail.
8. Naudiz
Naudiz, nyth or nauðr. represents the need and the compulsion of destiny, which according to the religion of l leads entities to behave according to their nature according to Norse mythology.
Isaz, is or is. It represents the hard tenacity of iron and the inflexibility of a constant spirit and committed to its mission. It also represents personal and spiritual power, the will to achieve what we set out to do.
10. Ar
This rune present in the young futhark is synonymous with the Sun, the primordial fire that warms the most It also symbolizes deity, the power of the gods, light and the power to reveal knowledge within dark ignorance. It would represent the modern idea of a light bulb turning on when we have doubts, uncertainty or find it difficult to understand something.
11. Sun
Sigel or sol. Is the mystical rune of salvation and victory
12. Tiwaz
Tiwuz, tir or týr. The spirit of the Sun and the sword is attributed to him
13. Berkanan
Berkanan, beorc or bjarkan. Its symbology is that of birth and the sweet melody of a song
14. Laguz
Laguz, lagu or lögr. Is the primal law, life, the sea and, also, the fall
15. Mannaz
Mannaz, man or maðr. In its most primitive meaning means Moon (mån) and mother (sea) two words that represent femininity.
16. Ýr
Ýr is a rune that is considered to have been written upside down in the most archaic versions of Norse, called algiz. Be that as it may, the truth is that It is related to the rainbow and the wood of the yew, as well as violent emotions such as anger and, also, with the commission of errors.
17. Ehwaz
Ehwaz or huh. It has symbols related to the world of laws and courts It is also associated with weddings and with the animal spirit of the horse. Marriage was very important in the ancient Nordic world, being considered what allowed people to continue since it was the beginning of the formation of new generations.
