Runes and Their Meanings
So what are runes, exactly? Letters of an ancient alphabet? Or magical symbols? In some ways they are both, but much much more.
Runes are a hieroglyphic alphabet that was used by the Nordic and Germanic tribes in northern Europe, and represented forces and objects of nature. Although this alphabet progressed on to a form of writing, the symbols were first used for their magical powers.
Origianally the runes were more pictorial, but later developed into the sharper more defined lines that we are used to seeing today, this was probably because it made carving the runes so much easier.
Although there are three rune alphabets (Teutonic, Anglo Saxon and Scandinavian), it is the Teutonic that is mainly used today. It is known as the Elder Futhark, and gets this name from the first six letters of its "alphabet".
The Elder Futhark is divided up into three groups of eight, or Aettir, and each Aett is named after a Norse God : Freya, Hagal and Tyr. Each rune posesses the power and strength of the element it represents and was carved into tools etc, or worn as amulets in order for the user to be able to tap into this power.
Runes were also used as a form of divination, and still are today. On the next page is a list of the Elder Futhark runes and their meanings.
Rune Chart