# Rune Guide

Source: https://askrune.app/guide/ · Türkçe: https://askrune.app/tr/rehber.md

> Every rune of the Elder Futhark, upright and reversed: what it means in general, in love and at work, its rune poem, its history and its shadow.

## What are rune stones?

The Elder Futhark is the oldest known runic alphabet, used by Germanic peoples of northern and central Europe from about AD 150 to 800. Each of its 24 signs carries both a sound and a meaning, and they fall into three families of eight (aettir).

Freyr & Freyja's aett speaks of the material world and daily life, Heimdall's of trials and transformation, and Tyr's of justice and spiritual maturity.

Nine runes (Gebo, Hagalaz, Nauthiz, Isa, Jera, Eihwaz, Sowilo, Ingwaz, Dagaz) are symmetrical and never appear reversed. Each rune is also linked to one of the four classical elements (Fire, Earth, Air, Water), which helps when choosing runes that complement each other in a talisman.

Some modern sets add a 25th, blank rune. It appears in no ancient inscription or rune poem; it is a 1982 invention by Ralph Blum. The Elder Futhark has 24 signs, and AskRune stays true to that.

- [History of the Runes](https://askrune.app/guide/history.md): Inscriptions, the aettir, Tacitus and how modern reading began
- [Spreads](https://askrune.app/guide/spreads.md): Where each spread comes from, how it is laid out and read

## The 24 runes

### Freyr & Freyja's Aett: The material world and daily life

- [Fehu](https://askrune.app/guide/fehu.md) (ᚠ, F): Cattle / Wealth. abundance, wealth, earned reward.
- [Uruz](https://askrune.app/guide/uruz.md) (ᚢ, U): Aurochs (wild ox). strength, endurance, courage.
- [Thurisaz](https://askrune.app/guide/thurisaz.md) (ᚦ, TH): Giant / Thorn / Thor's Hammer. protection, defence, sudden luck.
- [Ansuz](https://askrune.app/guide/ansuz.md) (ᚨ, A): Mouth / Odin / Divine Breath. wisdom, communication, inspiration.
- [Raidho](https://askrune.app/guide/raidho.md) (ᚱ, R): Wagon / Journey. journey, movement, right action.
- [Kenaz](https://askrune.app/guide/kenaz.md) (ᚲ, K): Torch / Controlled Fire. illumination, creativity, craft.
- [Gebo](https://askrune.app/guide/gebo.md) (ᚷ, G): Gift / Partnership. gift, partnership, balance.
- [Wunjo](https://askrune.app/guide/wunjo.md) (ᚹ, W/V): Joy / Harmony. joy, harmony, fulfilment.

### Heimdall's Aett: Trials and transformation

- [Hagalaz](https://askrune.app/guide/hagalaz.md) (ᚺ, H): Hail. disruption, trial, force of nature.
- [Nauthiz](https://askrune.app/guide/nauthiz.md) (ᚾ, N): Need / Constraint. need, constraint, patience.
- [Isa](https://askrune.app/guide/isa.md) (ᛁ, I): Ice. stillness, ice, reflection.
- [Jera](https://askrune.app/guide/jera.md) (ᛃ, J/Y): Year / Harvest. harvest, cycle, reward.
- [Eihwaz](https://askrune.app/guide/eihwaz.md) (ᛇ, EI): Yew Tree. endurance, transformation, tree of life.
- [Perthro](https://askrune.app/guide/perthro.md) (ᛈ, P): Dice Cup / Secret / Fate. mystery, chance, intuition.
- [Algiz](https://askrune.app/guide/algiz.md) (ᛉ, Z): Elk / Protective Shield. protection, intuition, boundaries.
- [Sowilo](https://askrune.app/guide/sowilo.md) (ᛋ, S): Sun. sun, success, wholeness.

### Tyr's Aett: Justice and spiritual maturity

- [Tiwaz](https://askrune.app/guide/tiwaz.md) (ᛏ, T): The God Tyr / Justice. justice, sacrifice, courage.
- [Berkano](https://askrune.app/guide/berkano.md) (ᛒ, B): Birch Tree / Birth. growth, fertility, new beginning.
- [Ehwaz](https://askrune.app/guide/ehwaz.md) (ᛖ, E): Horse / Partnership. movement, trust, partnership.
- [Mannaz](https://askrune.app/guide/mannaz.md) (ᛗ, M): Humankind / Self-awareness. self, humanity, community.
- [Laguz](https://askrune.app/guide/laguz.md) (ᛚ, L): Water / Flow. flow, intuition, the unconscious.
- [Ingwaz](https://askrune.app/guide/ingwaz.md) (ᛜ, NG): Seed / Potential. fertility, potential, inner peace.
- [Dagaz](https://askrune.app/guide/dagaz.md) (ᛞ, D): Day / Dawn. awakening, transformation, daylight.
- [Othala](https://askrune.app/guide/othala.md) (ᛟ, O): Ancestral Land / Inheritance. inheritance, home, roots.

This guide draws on historical sources and modern rune literature, written in our own words. What is attested and what is modern interpretation are kept apart.