Fehu:
(F)ossessions won or earned, earned income, luck. Abundance, financial
strength in the present or near future. Sign of hope and plenty, success
and happiness. Social success. Energy, foresight, fertility,
creation/destruction (becoming).
Fehu Reversed
or Merkstave: Loss of personal property, esteem, or something that you
put in effort to keep. It indicates some sort of failure. Greed,
burnout, atrophy, discord. Cowardice, stupidity, dullness, poverty,
slavery, bondage.
Uruz:
(U: Auroch, a wild ox.) Physical strength
and speed, untamed potential. A time of great energy and health.
Freedom, energy, action, courage, strength, tenacity, understanding,
wisdom. Sudden or unexpected changes (usually for the better). Sexual
desire, masculine potency. The shaping of power and pattern, formulation
of the self.
Uruz Reversed
or Merkstave: Weakness, obsession, misdirected force, domination by
others. Sickness, inconsistency, ignorance. Lust, brutality, rashness,
callousness, violence.
Thurisaz:
(TH: Thorn or a
Giant.) Reactive force, directed
force of destruction and defense, conflict. Instinctual will, vital
eroticism, regenerative catalyst. A tendency toward change. Catharsis,
purging, cleansing fire. Male sexuality, fertilization. (Thorr, the
Thunder god, was of Giant stock.)
Thurisaz
Reversed or Merkstave: Danger,
defenselessness, compulsion, betrayal, dullness. Evil, malice, hatred,
torment, spite, lies. A bad man or woman. Rape?
Ansuz:
(A: The As,
ancestral god, i.e. Odin.) A
revealing message or insight, communication. Signals, inspiration,
enthusiasm, speech, true vision, power of words and naming. Blessings,
the taking of advice. Good health, harmony, truth, wisdom.
Ansuz Reversed
or Merkstave: Misunderstanding, delusion, manipulation by others,
boredom. Vanity and grandiloquence. (Odin is a mighty, but duplicitous
god. He always has his own agenda.)
Raidho:
(R: Wagon or
chariot.) Travel, both in physical
terms and those of lifestyle direction. A journey, vacation, relocation,
evolution, change of place or setting. Seeing a larger perspective.
Seeing the right move for you to make and deciding upon it. Personal
rhythm, world rhythm, dance of life.
Raidho
Reversed or Merkstave: Crisis,
rigidity, stasis, injustice, irrationality. Disruption, dislocation,
demotion, delusion, possibly a death.
Kenaz:
(K: Beacon or
torch.) Vision, revelation,
knowledge, creativity, inspiration, technical ability. Vital fire of
life, harnessed power, fire of transformation and regeneration. Power to
create your own reality, the power of light. Open to new strength,
energy, and power now. Passion, sexual love.
Kenaz Reversed
or Merkstave: Disease, breakup, instability, lack of creativity.
Nakedness, exposure, loss of illusion and false hope.
Gebo:
(G: Gift.)
Gifts, both in the sense of sacrifice and of generosity, indicating
balance. All matters in relation to exchanges, including contracts,
personal relationships and partnerships.
Gebo Merkstave
(Gebo cannot be reversed, but may lie in opposition): Greed, loneliness,
dependence, over-sacrifice. Obligation, toll, privation, bribery.
Wunjo:
(W or V: Joy.) Joy, comfort,
pleasure. Fellowship, harmony, prosperity. Ecstasy, glory, spiritual
reward, but also the possibility of going "over the top". If restrained,
the meaning is general success and recognition of worth.
Wunjo Reversed
or Merkstave: Stultification, sorrow, strife, alienation. Delirium,
intoxication, possession by higher forces, impractical enthusiasm.
Raging frenzy, berzerker.
Hagalaz:
(H: Hail.)
Wrath of nature, destructive, uncontrolled forces, especially the
weather, or within the unconscious. Tempering, testing, trial.
Controlled crisis, leading to completion, inner harmony.
Hagalaz
Merkstave (Hagalaz cannot be
reversed, but may lie in opposition): Natural disaster, catastrophe.
Stagnation, loss of power. Pain, loss, suffering, hardship, sickness,
crisis.
Nauthiz:
(N: Need.)
Delays, restriction. Resistance leading to strength, innovation,
need-fire (self-reliance). Distress, confusion, conflict, and the power
of will to overcome them. Endurance, survival, determination. A time to
exercise patience. Recognition of one's fate. Major self-initiated
change. Face your fears.
Nauthiz
Reversed or Merkstave: Constraint
of freedom, distress, toil, drudgery, laxity. Necessity, extremity,
want, deprivation, starvation, need, poverty, emotional hunger.
Isa:
(I: Ice.)
A challenge or frustration. Psychological blocks to thought or activity,
including grievances. Standstill, or a time to turn inward and wait for
what is to come, or to seek clarity. This rune reinforces runes around
it.
Isa Merkstave
(Isa cannot be reversed, but may lie in opposition): Ego-mania,
dullness, blindness, dissipation. Treachery, illusion, deceit, betrayal,
guile, stealth, ambush, plots.
Jera:
(J or Y: A year, a
good harvest.) The results of
earlier efforts are realized. A time of peace and happiness, fruitful
season. It can break through stagnancy. Hopes and expectations of peace
and prosperity. The promise of success earned. Life cycle, cyclical
pattern of the universe. Everything changes, in its own time.
Jera Merkstave
(Jera cannot be reversed, but may lie in opposition): Sudden setback,
reversals. A major change, repetition, bad timing, poverty, conflict.
Eihwaz:
(EI: Yew tree.)
Strength, reliability, dependability, trustworthiness. Enlightenment,
endurance. Defense, protection. The driving force to acquire, providing
motivation and a sense of purpose. Indicates that you have set your
sights on a reasonable target and can achieve your goals. An honest man
who can be relied upon.
Eihwaz
Reversed or Merkstave: Confusion,
destruction, dissatisfaction, weakness.
Perthro:
(P: Lot cup,
vagina.) Uncertain meaning, a
secret matter, a mystery, hidden things and occult abilities.
Initiation, knowledge of one's destiny, knowledge of future matters,
determining the future or your path. Pertaining to things feminine,
feminine mysteries including female fertility, and vagina. Good lot,
fellowship and joy. Evolutionary change.
Perthro
Reversed or Merkstave: Addiction,
stagnation, loneliness, malaise.
Algiz:
(Z or -R: Elk,
protection.) Protection, a shield.
The protective urge to shelter oneself or others. Defense, warding off
of evil, shield, guardian. Connection with the gods, awakening, higher
life. It can be used to channel energies appropriately. Follow your
instincts. Keep hold of success or maintain a position won or earned.
Algiz Reversed
or Merkstave: Hidden danger, consumption by divine forces, loss of
divine link. Taboo, warning, turning away, that which repels.
Sowilo:
(S: The sun.)
Success, goals achieved, honor. The life-force, health. A time when
power will be available to you for positive changes in your life,
victory, health, and success. Contact between the higher self and the
unconscious. Wholeness, power, elemental force, sword of flame,
cleansing fire.
Sowilo
Merkstave (Sowilo cannot be
reversed, but may lie in opposition): False goals, bad counsel, false
success, gullibility, loss of goals. Destruction, retribution, justice,
casting down of vanity. Wrath of god.
Tiwaz:
(T: Tyr, the sky
god.) Honor, justice, leadership
and authority. Analysis, rationality. Knowing where one's true strengths
lie. Willingness to self-sacrifice. Victory and success in any
competition or in legal matters.
Tiwaz Reversed
or Merkstave: One's energy and creative flow are blocked. Mental
paralysis, over-analysis, over-sacrifice, injustice, imbalance. Strife,
war, conflict, failure in competition. Dwindling passion, difficulties
in communication, and possibly separation.
Berkano:
(B: Berchta, the
birch-goddess.) Birth, general
fertility, both mental and physical and personal growth, liberation.
Regenerative power and light of spring, renewal, promise of new
beginnings, new growth. Arousal of desire. A love affair or new birth.
The prospering of an enterprise or venture.
Berkano
Reversed or Merkstave: Family
problems and or domestic troubles. Anxiety about someone close to you.
Carelessness, abandon, loss of control. Blurring of consciousness,
deceit, sterility, stagnation.
Ehwaz:
(E: Horse, two
horses.) Transportation. May
represent a horse, car, plane, boat or other vehicle. Movement and
change for the better. Gradual development and steady progress are
indicated. Harmony, teamwork, trust, loyalty. An ideal marriage or
partnership. Confirmation beyond doubt the meanings of the runes around
it.
Ehwaz Reversed
or Merkstave: This is not really a
negative rune. A change is perhaps craved. Feeling restless or confined
in a situation. Reckless haste, disharmony, mistrust, betrayal.
Mannaz:
(M: Man, mankind.)
The Self; the individual or the human race. Your attitude toward others
and their attitudes towards you. Friends and enemies, social order.
Intelligence, forethought, create, skill, ability. Divine structure,
intelligence, awareness. Expect to receive some sort of aid or
cooperation now.
Mannaz
Reversed or Merkstave: Depression,
mortality, blindness, self-delusion. Cunning, slyness, manipulation,
craftiness, calculation. Expect no help now.
Laguz:
(L: Water, or a
leek.) Flow, water, sea, a
fertility source, the healing power of renewal. Life energy and organic
growth. Imagination and psychic matters. Dreams, fantasies, mysteries,
the unknown, the hidden, the deep, the underworld. Success in travel or
acquisition, but with the possibility of loss.
Laguz Reversed
or Merkstave: An indication of a period of confusion in your life. You
may be making wrong decisions and poor judgements. Lack of creativity
and feelings of being in a rut. Fear, circular motion, avoidance,
withering. Madness, obsession, despair, perversity, sickness, suicide.
Ingwaz:
(NG: Ing, the earth
god.) Male fertility, gestation,
internal growth. Common virtues, common sense, simple strengths, family
love, caring, human warmth, the home. Rest stage, a time of relief, of
no anxiety. A time when all loose strings are tied and you are free to
move in a new direction. Listen to yourself.
Ingwaz
Merkstave (Ingwaz cannot be
reversed, but may lie in opposition): Impotence, movement without
change. Production, toil, labor, work.
Dagaz:
(D: Day or dawn.)
Breakthrough, awakening, awareness. Daylight clarity as opposed to
nighttime uncertainty. A time to plan or embark upon an enterprise. The
power of change directed by your own will, transformation.
Hope/happiness, the ideal. Security and certainty. Growth and release.
Balance point, the place where opposites meet.
Dagaz
Merkstave (Dagaz cannot be
reversed, but may lie in opposition): A completion, ending, limit,
coming full circle. Blindness, hopelessness.
Othala:
(O: Ancestral
property.) Inherited property or
possessions, a house, a home. What is truly important to one. Group
order, group prosperity. Land of birth, spiritual heritage, experience
and fundamental values. Aid in spiritual and physical journeys. Source
of safety, increase and abundance.
Othala
Reversed or Merkstave: Lack of
customary order, totalitarianism, slavery, poverty, homelessness. Bad
karma, prejudice, clannishness, provincialism. What a man is bound to.
