| Viking Runes |
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| Mannaz--The Self--Man, Woman, the human race |
| Gebo--Partnership--A gift, offerings from the gods or from chiefs to loyal followers |
| Ansuz--Signals--The Norse god Loki, mouth (source of Divine utterances), river mouth |
| Othila--Separation--Inherited property or possessions, also native land, home |
| Uriz--Strength--Strength, sacrifical animal, the aurochs (bos primigenius), species of wild ox |
| Perth--Initiation--Uncertain meaning, a secret matter |
| Nauthiz--Constraint--Need, necessity, constraint, cause of human sorrow, lessons, hardship |
| Inguz--Fertility--Ing, lengendary, hero later a god |
| Eihwaz--Defense--Yew tree, a bow made of yew, avertive powers, runic calendars or "primstaves" |
| Algiz--Protection--Protection, the elk, sedge or eelgrass |
| Fehu--Possessions--Cattle, goods, vital community wealth |
| Wunjo--Joy--Joy, absense of suffering and sorrow, (see Cynewulf's runic passages) |
| Jera--Harvest--Year, harvest, a fruitful part of the year |
| Kano--Opening--Torch, skiff, associated with the goddess Nerthus |
| Teiwaz--Warrior--Victory in battle, a guiding planet or star, the Norse god Tiw (whose name survives in Tuesday) |
| Berkana--Growth--Birch tree, associated with fertility rites, rebirth, new life |
| Ehwaz--Movement--Horse, associated with the course of the sun |
| Laguz--Flow--Water, sea, a fertility source (see Grendel's Mere in Beowulf) |
| Hagalz--Disruption--Hail, sleet, natural forces that damage |
| Raido--Journey--A journey, riding, carriage, refers to the soul after death; a journey charm |
| Thurisa--Gateway--Giant, demon, a thorn, the Norse god Thor |
| Dagaz--Breakthrough--Day, God's light, prosperity and fruitfulness |
| Isa--Standstill--Ice, freezing, (in the Prose Edda, the frost-giat Ymir is born of ice) |
| Sowelu--Wholeness--The sun |
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| Odin--Unknowable--The Divine in all human transactions |
| THE SPEECH OF THE HIGH ONE I know I hung on that windswept tree, Swung there for nine long nights, Wounded by my own blade, Bloodied for Odin, Myself and offering to myself: Bound to the tree That no man knows, Whither the roots of it run. None gave me bread, None gave me drink. Down to the deepest depths I peered Until I spied the Runes. With a roaring cry I seized them up, Then dizzy and fainting, I fell. Well-being I won And wisdom too. I grew and took joy in my growth: From a word to a word I was led to a word, From a deed to another deed. The Poetic Edda (ca. A.D. 1200) |
| INVOCATION God within me, God without, How shall I ever be in doubt? There is no place where I may go And not there see God's face, not know I am God's vision and God's ears. So through the harvest of my years I am the Sower and the Sown, God's Self unfolding and God's own. |