Rune Guide
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.
The 24 runes
Freyr & Freyja's Aett
The material world and daily life
FehuCattle
UruzAurochs
ThurisazGiant
AnsuzMouth
RaidhoWagon
KenazTorch
GeboGift
WunjoJoyHeimdall's Aett
Trials and transformation
HagalazHail
NauthizNeed
IsaIce
JeraYear
EihwazYew Tree
PerthroDice Cup
AlgizElk
SowiloSunTyr's Aett
Justice and spiritual maturity
TiwazThe God Tyr
BerkanoBirch Tree
EhwazHorse
MannazHumankind
LaguzWater
IngwazSeed
DagazDay
OthalaAncestral LandThis 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.