How to Memorize Rune Meanings

Memorizing Elder Futhark Rune Meanings
fehuuruzthurisazansuzraidhokenazgebowunjo
hagalaznauthizisajeraihwazperthroalgizsowilo
tiwazberkanoehwazmannazlaguzinguzdagazothala
The Elder Futhark Runes: The Aettir.

Here is a list of the Elder Futhark runes, their literal translations, and some keywords I’ve found that best hint at the meanings of these runic mysteries.

I’ve included the ASCII rune symbols for copy and pasting. If you use this on your blog or site, please link back to https://runesecrets.com … thank you!

First Aett

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Fehu – “Fay-Who” – Literally: “Cattle” – Esoteric: Mobile Property, New Beginnings, Wealth

Uruz – “Oo – Ruse” – Literally: “Aurochs” – Esoteric: Endurance, Formation, Manifestation

Thurisaz – “Thor-is-as” – Literally: “Thurses” or “Giants” – Esoteric: Strong one, Conflict, Tool/Weapon

Ansuz – “Anne – suhz” – Literally: “a god” – Esoteric: Breath or Ancestral Sovereign Spirit, poetic inspiration

Raidho – “Ride-ho” – Literally: “Ride” or “Wagon” – Esoteric: Journey, Vehicle, Righteousness

Kenaz – Literally: “Torch” – Esoteric: ‘Ken’ or Knowledge, Craft, Controlled Fire

Gebo – “Gay-boo” – Literally: “Gift” – Esoteric: Fair Exchange, Sacrifice, Sacred Marriage

Wunjo – “Won-joe” – Literally: “Joy” – Esoteric: Hope, Harmony, Perfection

Second Aett

Hagalaz – “Hag-all-az” – Literally: “Hail” or “Hailstone” – Esoteric: Crisis or Radical Change, Opportunity

Nauthiz – “Not-this” – Literally: “Need-fire” or “Necessity” – Esoteric: Constraint, Friction

Isa – “Iss-ah” – Literally: “Ice” – Esoteric: Stasis, Stillness, Self

Jera – “Yehr-ah” – Literally: “Year” – Esoteric: Harvest, Patience, Cycles

Ihwaz (also: eihwaz) – “Yew-was” – Literally: “Yew” – Esoteric: Mysteries of Life and Death, Timeless, Eternity

Perthro – “Per-throw” – Literally: unknown – Esoteric: The Norns, Fate/Chance, Lot-Cup

Algiz (or Elhaz) – “Al-jiz” – Literally: “Elk” – Esoteric: Protection, Higher Self, Divine Connection

Sowilo – “So-iölo” – Literally: “Sun” (Sol) – Esoteric: victory, guidance, goals

Third Aett

Tiwaz – “Tea-waz” – Literally: “The god, Tyr” – Esoteric: Justice, Sacrifice, Sovereign Order

Berkano – “Burr-can-oh” – Literally: “Birch Goddess” – Esoteric: Birth, Sanctuary, Plantlife

Ehwaz – “eh-was” – Literally: “Horse” – Esoteric: Trust, Teamwork, Love, 

Mannaz – “Man-az” – Literally: “Mankind” – Esoteric: Humankind, Mind and Memory, Intelligence

Laguz – “Log-uhz” – Literally: “Water” or Ocean – Esoteric: Unconscious, Collective Memory, Unity of Life

Inguz – “Ing-guz” – Literally: “Seed” or “The god, Ing” – Esoteric: Creation, Replication, Wholeness 

Dagaz – “Day-gahz” – Literally: “Day” or Dawn – Esoteric: Awakening, Enlightenment, Invisibility

Othala – “Oh-thall-ah” – Literally: “Homeland” or “Ancestral Lot” – Esoteric: Inheritance, Estate, Peace on Earth

Thoughts on Fehu

Some More Thoughts on Fehu and Connections with Uruz and the First Aett by Mahryan

Thanks to Tyriel and the thought-provoking comments people contribute to Rune Secrets I have recently spent time pondering Fehu. The following are just some thoughts going through my mind – they are offered to you for consideration, which some of you will hopefully share back again, so we can all learn more together. Some of my thoughts likely reflect things I said in my previous Fehu article or in comments I have posted, but Tyriel encouraged me to write up these latest reflections as an article. Hopefully they are not too rambling!

Photo by Andy Allen

Fehu and Uruz – the Primal Cow and Ox
First of all, some of the commentary on Fehu has raised questions about whether the energy is male or female. I think that, just as each rune contains positive and negative polarities, so both male and female energy is present in each. Runic teachings actually seem to really underline the necessity of combining those energies in order to achieve the spiritual wholeness for which we strive. The deities most associated with Fehu are the male and female twins Freya and Freyja.
Continue reading Thoughts on Fehu