Symbology of runes: what do they mean in Norse mythology?

Here you will find a summary of the sacred meaning of the runes of the Nordic culture.

The runes have aroused some interest lately especially among the more mystical sectors.

These symbols were originally the main writing system of the Old Norse and, in addition to transmitting words on paper or stone, they also had a mystical meaning.

The symbolism of the runes is complex and rich, closely related to the myth of the creation of this alphabet and the god Odin. and the god Odin. Let's see it below.

What is the symbolism of the runes?

The runes are the most distinctive symbols of the ancient Norse peoples, including the Vikings.. These symbols were the writing system used by the ancient Norse, used to immortalize in the rocks teachings, stories and values of these cultures. Today, we can find many archaeological remains with runes throughout Scandinavia, such as the stone of Rök (Sweden) or the stones of Jelling (Denmark) and also on paper, as is the "Codex runicus".

These symbols have aroused the interest of many people related to New Age, mysticism and spirituality. It is not surprising, since these symbols are shrouded in a halo of mystery, especially because despite being the ancient Norse ancestors of the Norwegians, Swedes, Danes and Icelanders, it seems that their way of life has been annulled by Christianity and the Greco-Roman world. To make matters worse, the very name of the runes, "rūn", means "secret", which arouses even more curiosity and mysticism.

In the original Norse culture the runes were not only a form of written expression, but also sacred symbols through which the Vikings established contact with their gods, especially the god Odin. through which the Vikings established contact with their gods, especially the god Odin. It was this god who is credited with having unmasked the meaning of these symbols, revealing them to the people and using them in written poetry in the numerous Norse sagas.

Legend has it that the god Odin hung on the legendary Yggdrasil, the tree of life whose roots and branches hold together different worlds. Odin hung for nine days and nine nights, penitent because his own spear was piercing him. It was thanks to his sacrifice and suffering that the meaning of the symbols was revealed to him and he was able to share them with mortals.

This legend is told in the "Rúnatáls þáttr Óðins" ("Odin's Runic Song"), a section of the "Hávamál" ("Speech of the Most High"), one of the poems of the poetic Edda which goes like this:

I know that I hung on a tree swaying in the wind nine long nights wounded by a spear and consecrated to Odin, myself consecrated to myself, in that tree of which no one knows the origin of its roots.

They gave me no bread, nor to drink from a horn, I bowed down, leaning out, with a cry of lamentation the runes were made known to me, till I fell from the tree.

The runic alphabet

Although the runic alphabet has been recovered in modern times by occultists and followers of the New Age movements, we must not forget what it was originally used for: to transmit written knowledge.

Runes are nothing more than a writing system a writing system whose name is "fuþark" or "futhark". (pronounced as "fúzarc"), which is composed of some 17 basic original runes.

Also, there were different varieties of this alphabet, and several interpretations have arisen throughout history. various interpretations have arisen throughout history..

One of the most interesting interpretations is the one made by the occultist Guido von List. This German-Austrian journalist was one of the most important figures in the revival of Germanic neo-paganism and runic magic in the late 19th century. He is also known for his anti-Semitic ideas and his essays on the white race, giving rise to the first postulates on Aryan philosophy. In fact, in his work "The Secret of the Runes" he introduces the gibor rune, a symbol that would later serve as inspiration for the Nazi swastika.

The 17 runes and their meaning in the Nordic culture

Each of these runes has a different meaning in the Norse religion.. Here we are going to see what each one means, said with the name they received in the three main variants of futhark: old, Anglo-Saxon and young.

1. Fehu

Fehu, feoh or faith. This rune is associated with the generative and penetrating fire. It is also associated with true wisdom.

2. Uruz

Uruz, ur or úr. It represents eternity, the primordial and the resurrection, as well as the primordial fire.as well as the primordial fire.

3. Thurisaz

Thurisaz, thorn or Þurs. Represents everything related to a storm, such as thunder, lightning and lightning.. It has an ambivalent meaning, since it represents both the thunder of death and the thunder of life, since after death comes rebirth.

4. Anssuz

Anssuz, os or óss. It is related to the mouth, to the emergence and the ashes. It can also mean the power of the word, which allows us to mediate without the need to make use of physical violence.. With the word, with the mouth you can convince others.

5. Raido

Raido, rad or ræið. Its name is related to the etymological roots of many words in current Scandinavian languages, among them red (Swedish "röd"), right (Norwegian "rettighet") or right (Danish "ret")..

Kaunan

Kaunan, cen or kaun. This rune has different versions, but it comes to mean audacity and is related to the feminine character. is related to the feminine character of sexual purity, the people, the tribe, the idea that a culture must be preserved without allowing foreign influences. without allowing foreign influences. It is also synonymous with lineage, Blood union.

7. Gebo

Gebo, gyfu or hagall. This rune also has different versions but in all of them it represents the center of everything, suggesting it with its cross shape. represents the center of everything, suggesting it with its cross shape.. It also means to destroy and this second meaning relates it to hail, a phenomenon that destroys crops. In fact, in modern Nordic languages "hagl" or "hagel" means hail.

8. Naudiz

Naudiz, nyth or nauðr. It represents the necessity and the compulsion of destiny, which according to the religion of l leads entities to behave according to their nature according to Norse mythology.

9. Isaz

Isaz, is or ís. It represents the hard tenacity of the iron and the inflexibility of a constant spirit and committed to its mission. and committed to its mission. It also represents the personal and spiritual power, the will to achieve what we propose.

10. Ar

This rune present in the young futhark is synonymous with the Sun, the primordial fire that warms the most.. It also symbolizes the deity, the power of the gods, the light and the power to reveal knowledge within the dark ignorance. It would come to represent the modern idea that we light a light bulb when we have doubts, uncertainty or we find it difficult to understand something.

11. Sól

Sigel or sól. the mystical rune of salvation and victory.

12. Tiwaz

Tiwuz, tir or týr. It is attributed to the spirit of the Sun and the sword..

13. Berkanan

Berkanan, beorc or bjarkan. Its symbolism is that of the birth and the sweet melody of a song..

14. Laguz

Laguz, lagu or lögr. It is the primeval law, life, the sea and also the fall..

15. Mannaz

Mannaz, man or maðr. In its most primordial meaning means moon (mån) and mother (sea), two words representing femininity.two words representing femininity.

16. Ýr

Ýr is a rune that is considered that in the most archaic versions of Norse it was written turned, called algiz. Be that as it may, the certain thing is that it is related with the rainbow and the wood of the yew tree, besides emotions of violence as the anger and, also, with the commission of errors.

17. Ehwaz

Ehwaz or eh. It has symbolism related to the world of laws and courts.. It is also associated with weddings and the animal spirit of the horse. Marriage was very important in the ancient Norse world, being considered that which allowed people to continue since it was the beginning of the formation of new generations.