Tag: Runic Symbols

#TuesdayRunes – Dagaz

Published on by Jan Sikes34 Comments

It’s time for another rune exploration!

Photo by Jan Sikes

We are just two away from finishing the study of each rune in The Elder Futhark Script. This rune, Dagaz (dah-gahz) symbolizes daylight, success, hope, breakthrough, transformation, and balance.

Photo by Jan Sikes

Dagaz is considered to be a very beneficial sign in any reading. It is associated with the contrasting blessing of midsummer when days are long and the sun is at its height of power.

Increase, growth, prosperity, strength, good health, and general well-being are indicated by this rune. You may experience an unexpected successful outcome concerning a problem or project you’ve been working on. You are encouraged to remain optimistic and to keep your focus on the light as positive new developments unfold.

Dagaz is also known as the “dawn” rune and as such represents new hope and an emerging from darkness into light. There is a related aspect of protection to Dagaz, as daylight is considered a protective force, guiding us out of danger and onto the right path. In a reading, the message from this rune can be that you are out of harm’s way now, so you can rejoice in safety and look forward to new openings and opportunities.

As the first light of dawn breaks through the dark of night, this rune also represents a breakthrough of insight or inspiration, whether on an artistic, creative level or in terms of spiritual enlightenment. Divine light is guiding you along your path and you are making steady progress.

The symmetrical shape of Dagaz represents a balance between opposing energies – light and dark, up and down, movement and stagnation. Depending on how it is placed in a reading, it can be a reminder to seek more balance in life in general.

Alternatively, Dagaz can point to a major transformation or fundamental change in your life. Some have compared the rune’s shape to the wings of a butterfly. The rune can be a reminder of the positive results of necessary transformation.

Dagaz has no reversed meaning.

The birthdates associated with Dagaz are June 14th to June 29th.

#TuesdayRunes – Ingwaz

Published on by Jan Sikes31 Comments

Welcome to another segment of our journey through the ElderFuthark Runes!

Today’s rune is Ingwaz (eeng-wahz). Ingwaz is the rune of the fertility god, Ing, and is associated with masculine sexuality and male potency.

Photo by Jan Sikes

This rune is the springtime energy of plant life emerging after the depths of winter, and the procreation of all life on Earth. Depending on the context of a reading, drawing Ingwaz may indicate a healthy and hearty sexual relationship.

However, it can also refer more generally to a procreative energy being channeled through specific means, such as a project, a business endeavor, or a journey. Whatever is propelling you forward in a positive way at the moment, Ingwaz is acknowledging and confirming that the energy behind it is potent and heading for substantial results.

As a related meaning, Ingwaz also symbolizes completion. An old phase of your life is coming to an end, freeing up the energy for the new phenomena to enter your experience. Problems are resolved or about to be solved and great relief follows.

It may also be signaling that you are reaching your full potential in the matter at hand and that it’s time to let go and let the situation play itself out. Trust that you have done the necessary work – the energy you’re feeling around this is ultimately positive and relief is in sight.

Ingwaz is widely considered a highly auspicious rune, signaling a major event or turning point in your life that leads to satisfying results. A dream may very well be coming true.

Ingwaz indicates safety and a loving family environment. Your home and everyone in it are protected.

Ingwaz has no reverse meaning.

The birthdates related to this rune are May 14 to May 29.

#TuesdayRunes – Perthro

Published on by Jan Sikes35 Comments

Welcome to another segment of our study of the Elder Futhark Runes!

Photo by Jan Sikes

Today’s rune is Perthro (pair-throh).

Photo by Jan Sikes

Of all the runes, Perthro is the most mysterious. Its meaning has never been agreed upon by scholars but the symbol is often interpreted as a receptacle used for casting lots, such as a modern-day dice cup. It is most commonly used as a means of discovering hidden knowledge.

Perthro can indicate that things are not quite as they seem, and that something previously unknown is about to be revealed. This could be a secret someone has been keeping, or it could be a spiritual truth that has been hidden from you until now. If this rune appears in a reading, you are advised to pay attention to the signs and signals that your intuition is picking up on.

If you’ve been wrestling with a stubborn conundrum, Perthro can be signaling a need to go within to find the answers you seek. Clearing your mind allows the enlightenment you need to arise naturally, without effort. This rune encourages you to trust in the mysteries of the unknown, and rest assured all will be revealed in due time.

Perthro can also be interpreted as “chance,” in the sense of a surprise or unexpected development. Depending on the other runes around it in a reading, it can also indicate a pregnancy and/or birth, as the receptive shape of the symbol has been associated with the womb.

It can offer good luck in gambling, protect business investments, health and healing as well as foster spiritual clarity.

In a reading, this rune can either be upright or reversed. If it is reversed, it can point to a secret you are holding onto, which is becoming harder to keep, or an unhealthy focus on something from the past. It also could indicate a disappointment in which case you would be well-advised to avoid taking risks at this time.

The birthdates associated with this rune are January 13 – January 28.

Thanks for stopping by!

#TuesdayRunes – Eihwaz

Published on by Jan Sikes30 Comments

Welcome to another segment of our study of the runes! Today we take a look at Eihwaz (eeh-wahz).

Eihwaz Rune photo by Jan Sikes

The keywords for this rune are death, regeneration, rebirth, changes, and magic. While those words may not sound like they have much in common, they truly do. This rune represents the Yew tree, making it symbolic of both death and regeneration. The Yew is a highly toxic plant to humans and livestock. In ancient times, poisons from the tree were used for murder and suicide. However, on the other hand, the yew tree is also considered a tree of life, due to its evergreen nature and extreme longevity. A wild Yew can live for thousands of years and when they do begin to die, they can be regenerated by their own daughter trees that grow inside their decaying trunks.

Yew Tree courtesy of geograph.ore.uk

Eihwaz is an extremely powerful symbol of the cycle of death and life.

Eihwaz does not indicate literal death, but much like the Death card in the Tarot deck, indicates an ending that will lead to a new beginning. If things seem to be at a halt (Wow! That makes me think of the Hangman card we got in yesterday’s tarot reading), be patient. You are being asked to allow an old situation to fall away so that new developments can enter your life.

It can also symbolize leaving behind old ways, allowing old aspects of yourself to die away now that they are no longer serving you. Don’t resist the changes that are underway. Instead, learn to go with the flow and be flexible. You may not be able to see it now, but what you are currently dealing with is paving the way for a new and improved situation.

Another interesting comparison of this rune and the Death card in the Tarot deck is that even though runes precede tarot cards by at least a thousand years, both carry the number 13. The Death card is the thirteenth card in the Major Arcana, and Eihwaz is the thirteenth rune in the Elder Futhark.

My take away from this rune, if it were to show up in a reading would be: Death is only the end of a cycle and NEVER the end of the story!

Other meanings of this rune include an association with magical work, particularly of a protective nature in dealing with transformation. It has been called a symbol of the gateway to the underworld and of deliberate journeys to the non-physical realm in search of knowledge or understanding. This rune can offer protection, overcoming obstacles, spiritual development, strengthening of physical and magical powers.

Again, I want to remind you this is not a reading, simply a study of this rune.

The birthdates associated with this rune are December 28th to January 13th.

#Tuesday Runes – Nauthiz

Published on by Jan Sikes43 Comments

Welcome to another segment of the study of The Elder Futhark Runes!

Today’s Runic Symbol is Nauthiz (Now-theez).

The keywords associated with this rune are: Need, necessity, scarcity, absence, restriction and have patience.

Nauthiz signifies hardship in the form of one’s needs not being met. This could indicate poverty, hunger, unemployment, lack of good health or lack of emotional support.

The rune stave represents the “need-fire” ritual fire lit from two large beams of wood that ancient Northern Europeans would light in times of extreme hardship or disaster, such as a famine or outbreak of fatal disease.

When this rune shows up in a reading, it can indicate that you may be experiencing a hardship that limits your ability to move forward or live comfortably, or a strong desire that appears impossible to fulfill. It could be that the possibilities are restricted due to your lack of resources and you are likely chafing at the constraints and/or becoming disheartened

The advice of this rune is to treat the situation as a period of learning. and an opportunity to strengthen your resilience. No one enjoys a hardship while it’s happening but when we look back on the experiences that made us who we are, generally at least a few of them were unpleasant.

Never allow bitterness, worry or despair to get the best of you, but rather use your gifts and talents to find ways to get your needs met. Remember that needs and limitations are necessary for growth, as we would never learn or accomplish anything significant if we always had everything we needed or wanted all the time.

Nauthiz may also be a warning not to get too greedy or obsessed with an unhealthy desire, which can lead to destructive behaviors and negative consequences. If you have been focusing too heavily on the material world, this is a sign to go within and tend to your spiritual development.

This rune can serve as a protection symbol. It can also help you maintain equanimity in difficult circumstances or activate magical workings focused on attraction or increase.

Again, this rune can be viewed in a positive light in that it can serve as a warning and offer protection.

The birthdates associated with this rune are November 13th to November 28th.

#TuesdayRunes – Hagalaz

Published on by Jan Sikes37 Comments

Welcome to another segment of our journey through the Elder Futhark Script runes!

Today we take a detailed look into the rune, Hagalaz ((hah-gah-laz).

The runes are actually divided into three sections, with our symbol from last week completing the Freya Aett.

Our symbol this week begins the Hagal’s Aett and basically speaks to unavoidable experiences.

The keywords associated with this rune are: Destruction, chaos, interference, misfortune, or transformation.

While none of that sounds good, I can see a positive aspect from the perspectiive of transformation.

It is said that before change comes great chaos, and is that not true? So, while we don’t always like it, the end result is most always for the better. Think of the Butterfly. 🙂

This rune indicates that we cannot always control our circumstances. Even with all the technology we possess in modern times, Nature can step in at any moment with destructive forces that flatten cities and even countries.

The translation of this symbol is “Hail.” Hailstorms may be brief and localized compared to larger natural disasters, but the balls of ice that pelt the ground can often leave behind destruction, injuring people and animals and destroying entire crops. This certainly would have spelled disaster for any ancient community living off of the land.

Hagalaz signifies these forces of chaos that cannot be controlled. You simply cannot fix this interference. While this may be a frustrating time, know that your course is being corrected for reasons beyond your understanding. (Wow! How I love this. The most recent disaster we’ve all dealt with is COVID. So, we can hope that the course is being corrected and soon!)

If the reading surrounding this rune is generally positive, then the chaos may be on the lower of the spectrum – a temporary interruption. While if the runes close to Hagalaz are negative, then the trouble may be more severe or have longer lasting implications.

Please keep in mind this is NOT a reading. I will get into Rune readings once we finish examining each rune separately.

The birthdates associated with this rune are October 28th – November 13th.

#TuesdayRunes – Gebo

Published on by Jan Sikes44 Comments

Welcome to another segment of our journey through The Runes! As a reminder, we are using the Elder Futhark Script as our guide.

Today’s rune is Gebo (gay-boo). It is also known as Gifu (gee-foo).

This is a rune I often see in the sky through cloud formations, so I’m excited to learn more about it.

The keywords are: Gift, hospitality, or generosity.

Primarily this rune signifies an exchange between people that necessarily results in a connection between the giver and the receiver. It may be material in nature, or something intangible, such as emotional support.

In centuries past, when contracts were signed by people who couldn’t read or write, they made an “x” mark to signify their agreement to the transaction. This concept of agreement between the two parties are the core part of Gebo’s meaning. If you are the recipient of a gift, you choose to either accept or decline it.

This rune may be advising you to accept wholeheartedly with gratitude, or to be wary of the motivations behind the gift. Alternatively, you may be asked to consider your own giving – are you reciprocating sufficiently to honor what you’ve received? Are you giving away too much to too many, or the wrong people?

A related interpretation for Gebo is success and harmony in partnerships. All relationships, whether personal or professional involve reciprocity to some degree. This rune can indicate that a relationship in your life is blessed with good fortune. With business partners or coworkers, this may mean that a synergy between you leads to productive, enjoyable work. In romance, you may experience a deepening of commitment and passion with your partner.

Just be sure, in all relationships, to pay attention to balance and harmony. Show compassion to people in your life, and be able to forgive (another aspect of giving) when forgiveness is needed.

Often this rune will appear in a reading when there is about to be relief from your troubles, and it usually betokens a time of peace and contentment in your life.

The birthdates related to this rune are September 28 – October 13.

Thank you for joining me. I hope you enjoyed this rune post!

#TuesdayRunes – Raidho

Published on by Jan Sikes33 Comments

Welcome to another installment of our journey through the runes, based on The Elder Futhark Script.

Today we explore Raidho (rye-though).

Raidho is the rune of travel. This rune indicates you are setting off (or will soon set off) on a journey, whether in the external world or on an emotional or spiritual level.

If your travel is physical, it signals a pleasant experience with few or no mishaps. If you are on a spiritual quest, the going may require significant flexibility on your part, but the rewards of reaching your destination will be well worth it, as you are following your soul’s chosen path. Either way, you are advised to keep your focus on the experience of the journey itself, rather than on your arrival. This is because Raidho signifies not just the vehicle you ride in, but also the road you travel on. You will be best served by making the most of every moment along the way.

You may have to travel for unpleasant reasons or to a place you’d rather not visit. If this is the case, now is a good time to remember that all journeys yield lessons, and you will have an easier time of it if you can be in acceptance as much as possible, rather than resistance.

A related interpretation of Raidho is “reunion” – specifically the return of old friends in your life or the arrival of new people with whom you made a soul agreement before incarnating into this life. It is possible that you may be presented with a chance to resolve a disagreement or conflict with someone else or with yourself.

Some runic systems also view Raidho as an indicator that now is a good time for negotiations or deliberations related to agreements with others. Financially speaking, this rune can indicate that the time is right to buy or sell.

Finally, sometimes Raidho is simply a reminder to align yourself with the “wheel of life” Know that life has its ups and downs, ebbs and flows and constant seasonal changes. The contrast between opposites is part of the journey of life. If things are not going your way, take heart and know that nothing is permanent.

The birthdates Raidho is associated with is August 29th – September 13th.

Thank you for joining me for another in depth look into the magic of the runes!

#TuesdayRunes – Fehu

Published on by Jan Sikes38 Comments

Come with me as we take a journey through the Runes!

I couldn’t decide whether to start at the beginning and go through the set of Runes methodically or choose randomly. However, since this is an educational series, it made more sense to me, to start at the beginning.

The first Rune in the Elder Futhark set is FEHU (fey-who).

Fehu

This symbol, as with each Rune, represents both tangible and intangible aspects. But when it comes to magic, we take this concept deeper in that each Runic symbol embodies a specific natural force, or type of energy.

As we saw with tarot cards, there are keywords associated with each symbol.

The keywords for Fehu are: Wealth, prosperity, abundance, reward, good health and new beginnings.

I think of it in relation to tarot cards, as an equivalent to the Aces, but specifically Pentacles.

Modern interpretations of Fehu tend to focus on money and credit, as these are the primary sources of “moveable” wealth that we deal with us today.

However, a broader meaning concerns prosperity and abundance in general, which includes non-monetary forms of well-being. Fehu can serve as a reminder to appreciate what is going well in our lives, in whatever form it takes.

It can also indeed, indicate that good fortune, in the form of wealth is coming your way. Along with that comes the admonition that you would do well to share that wealth with others. It is important to avoid greed or selfishness in order to maintain positive relationships with others.

Also, as I mentioned earlier, as the first character in the Runes of the Elder Futhark, Fehu also symbolizes beginnings.

All of the Runes that surround this symbol complete any interpretation and I am going to do some readings once we’ve completed our journey through each symbol and understanding each one.

But because Fehu is associated with the Moon and Venus, it is sometimes associated with romantic love, such as the beginning of a new relationship.

The magical uses of Fehu is to increase wealth, strengthen psychic abilities, attract and improve social relationships, sending a magical working into the invisible world to manifest (Law of Attraction).

Join us again next week as we explore the next Runic Symbol!

#TuesdayRunes – Introduction

Published on by Jan Sikes52 Comments

Welcome to a brand new series where we will explore the mysteries and magic of the runes!

I want to start with a brief history of and introduction to the runes.

To most, the various symbols that make up what we call “the runes” may be seen simply as archaic remnants of a primitive and long-abandoned alphabet. While this is true to some degree, those who work with these mystical symbols in divination know they are far more.

Although the runes have not been in widespread use for several centuries, the past few decades have seen quite a revival of interest in runic magic and divination. If you are a fan of J.R.R. Tolkein, you’re bound to be familiar with some of these symbols, which appeared in The Hobbitt, and inspired the invented “runic” alphabet in The Lord of the Rings.

In the academic sense, the runes are known as the characters in a group of alphabets used to write in various languages spoken by the Germanic peoples of Europe during a period starting roughly in the first century B.C.E. (before The Common Era) and ending several hundred years later.

However, unlike our modern letters, the runic symbols had been in use for magical purposes long before they were fashioned into a writing system. The runes carried deep meanings for the people who used them, and for this reason they never disappeared completely, even though they were once banned by the Christian church.

The English word rune, comes from the Norse word runa, which means “a secret” or “to whisper.” The Norse runa is also the root for the English word we use to identify a very magical tree, the rowan. Found throughout Northern Europe, the rowan tree has long been sacred to various magical traditions and is used widely for protection. It is known by many folk names, including “rune tree” and “whisper tree.”

The oldest written record of the runes comes from the Nordic region. Throughout Nordic literature, the runes are portrayed as powerful and even potentially dangerous magical tools

The runes most widely used today in divination and magic practices are known as the Elder Futhark (footh-ark), the oldest known runic script.

And that is the script that we will be exploring throughout this series.

There is a total of 24 runic symbols and one blank in each set.

Another important aspect of a rune set is the pouch in which you keep them. When I was studying them as part of a psychic development class in Denver, many years ago, we were instructed to make our own set of runes plus a personal pouch. The bag I made is the one on the left below and I keep my wooden set of runes inside it. On the right is a silk bag in which I store a set of opalescent rune stones which I purchased.

The runes I made at that time, are the runes I will mostly be using throughout this series. There was something magical in that process. I found myself often in a meditative state.

I will do much like I did with the #TarotTuesday series in that we will explore each rune symbol, then I will do some three rune and five rune readings. So, settle in and I hope you will enjoy this journey with me as together, we learn more about this ancient method of divination!

**Also, on a side note: If you are interested in making your own set of runes, this is the guide I highly recommend.**

PURCHASE LINK