runes

(Runes)

The Futhark
This form of the runes is known as the Elder, or Germanic Futhark.

A germanic alphabet used since about 3 rd century. It is referred to as FUTHARK, after the first 6 letters. Each rune
was a letter in the alphabet and also stood for a word (its name). The futhark originally
           consisted of 24 letters, beginning with F and ending with O, and was used by
           the northern Germanic tribes of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Northern
           Germany.

The earliest use of runes was for magical purposes .
There were many different.

Futharks. The one used here is the elder Germanic Futhark.

Fehu, F
The rune of Freya and her brother Frey. It stands for fee and gold.
Possessions, Nourishment, Cattle.

Uruz, U
This rune stands for strength and health. It is associated with a horned animal called the aurochs.
Strenght, Manhood, Womanhood, The Wild Ox.

Thurisaz, TH
The third rune is associated with giants (thurs).
Gateway, Place of Non-Action, The God Thor.

Ansuz, A
Ansuz is associated with the Aesir, Odin, and the wind.
Signals, Messenger Rune, The God Loki.

Raido, R
This is the rune of journeying.
Journey, Communication, Union, Reunion.

Kenaz,
(Kano) K
Kenaz represents the torch.
Opening, Fire, Torch.

Gebo, G
Gebo stands for gift.
Partnership, A Gift.

Wunjo, W
Wunjo is the rune of joy and peace.

Hagalaz, H
This rune stands for hail.
Disruption, Elemental Power, Hail.

Nauthiz, N
Nauthiz stands for the strength of need.
Constraint, Necessity, Pain.

Isa, I
Isa is the rune associated with ice.
Standstill, Withdrawal, Ice.

Jera, Y
The rune jera stands for year.
Harvest, Fertile Season, One Year.

Eihwaz, EI
This rune is associated with the yew.
Defence, Avertive Powers, Yew Tree.

Perth, P
Perth means fruit to some;
Initiation, Something Hidden, A secret Matter

Algiz, Z
Algiz is a rune of protection or defense.
Protection, Sedge or Rushes, The Elk.

Sowilo, S
Sowilo is the rune associated with the sun.
Wholeness, Life Force, The Sun's Energy.

Tiwaz, T (Teiwaz)
Tiwaz stands for the war god Tyr. This rune was carved on weapons to bring victory.
The Warrior, Tiw, the Sky God.

Berkano, B
Berkano stands for the birch goddess and is used for fertility and birthing.
Growth, Rebirth, Birch Tree.

Ehwaz, E
This rune means horse.
Movement, Progress.

Mannaz, M
Mannaz stands for man. (The Self)

Laguz, L
Laguz is the rune associated with water.
Flow, Water, that which conducts.

Ingwaz, NG (inguz)
Ingwaz is the rune of the hero god Ing.
(Ingvenonen is the goddess, and all names like Inga, Inge derive from it)
Fertility, New Beginnings,

Dagaz, D
Dagaz means day.
Breakthrough, Transformation.

Othila, O
Othila is the rune associated with inheritance.
Seperation, Retreat.

Sources

           There are several historical runic inscriptions, found on everything from swords to stones to bronze pendants,
           which list the entire runic alphabet in order. One of the oldest and most complete of these is the Kylver stone,
           found in Gotland, Sweden and dating from the fifth century c.e. Others are less complete, but show a remarkable
           continuity in the order in which the runes are listed. The only surviving written accounts of the actual names and
           meanings of the runes, however, were not recorded until the advent of the Christian era. Some of these
           manuscripts, which date from the 9th. century until well into 12th, are known as rune poems. These poems have a
           verse for each rune, each of which begins with the rune itself and its name. Some of these poems are more Pagan
           than others, particularly those from Iceland, where Christianity was not yet as widespread as it was in the
           Anglo-Saxon regions.

History

There is some debate over the origin of the "alphabet" aspect of the runes. Cases have been made for both Latin and Greek derivation, and several scholars are once again arguing in favour of both these theories. However, the strongest evidence still seems to point to a North Italic origin. The parallels between the two alphabets are too close to be ignored, particularly in the
forms of the letters, as well as in the variable direction of the writing, and certain structural and even symbolic characteristics. This would also explain why so many of the runes resemble Roman letters, since both Italic and Latin scripts are derived from the Etruscan alphabet (itself a branch of the Wester Greek family of alphabets). This theory would place the original creation of
the futhark sometime before the 1st. century c.e., when the Italic scripts were absorbed and replaced by the Latin alphabet. Linguistic and phoenetic analysis points to an even earlier inception date, perhaps as far back as 200 b.c.e.

The Anglo-Saxon Futhark

The forms of several of the runes changed,
notably the runes for A/O, C/K, H, J, S, and Ng.
Also, changes in the language led to between five and nine runes being
added to the alphabet to compensate for the extra sounds,
and several runes were given different corresponding letters.

The Younger Futhark

The Younger Futhark (as it is now called)
reduced the number of runes from 24 to 16, and several runes came to represent
multiple sounds. The forms of the runes were also changed and simplified. There are several variations of this
futhark - Danish, long branch, Norwegian, dotted, etc.

           This form of the runic alphabet spread from Denmark north into Sweden and Norway, and was carried into
           Iceland and Greenland by the Vikings. It is possible that they were also brought to North America with the
           Vinland expeditions, but so far no authenticated inscriptions have been found.