THE MEANING OF THE RUNES. HOW TO CHOOSE RUNES?

Runes are letters of the ancient alphabet of the peoples of Northern Europe. The runic alphabet is called Futhark. There are two main runic alphabets: Elder Futhark and Younger Futhark.

In ancient times, the Younger Futhark runes were used for everyday purposes: writing letters and transmitting any textual information. However, the Elder Futhark is much more interesting - the runes of the Elder Futhark have mystical significance. The Elder Futhark consists of 24 runes, each carrying its own unique meaning and energy.

I have recently created a series of runic rings with 24 runes, you can see them here. I decided to combine the runic theme with another inspiring and energetically rich sphere - nature. Therefore, each rune is crafted from real branches that I found in the forest and cast in silver.

The first rune of the Elder Futhark. Fehu is a symbol of wealth, prosperity, abundance, and comfort. It is responsible for preserving what has been acquired and acquiring new things.

Primarily, this rune relates to material success - money, property. But it also addresses inner wealth - experience, spiritual maturity. It helps to be wise and develop internally.

It is believed that a talisman with the Fehu rune opens new financial flows and helps to find and fully exploit all possible ways of earning.

The name of the Uruz rune translates to "strength." It symbolizes uncontrollable forces of change, coming from the outside and the necessity for renewal. Uruz is the flame that burns away all that is old and unnecessary.

It can be best described as a rune of development through stepping out of one's comfort zone. Uruz initiates transformation, both external and internal, cutting away everything that hinders progress and evolution.

This is a powerful rune, and one must handle it carefully, as stepping out of the comfort zone is often a painful and challenging journey, yet absolutely necessary for growth. An amulet with the Uruz rune will help gather courage and make a leap for change. You don't need to wear the rune constantly, only when you feel it's time to move forward but can't bring yourself to do so. The Uruz rune will assist in this.

If you are ready to embrace the power of this rune and seek change, Uruz is for you.

Thurisaz is a complex rune that can work for both good and harm. It needs to be handled with great care. However, for those who are truly strong-willed and determined in their aspirations, this rune will be a faithful ally.

Thurisaz translates as "gateway." It is believed to reside between the material world and higher knowledge. Only those who are willing to persevere to the end and demonstrate resilience in testing situations can attain this knowledge and power.

Thurisaz helps a person find resilience and inner strength, to find the power within. But this happens through trials and stepping out of the comfort zone. It also assists in being cautious in decisions - to pause, plan, carefully consider, and only then make a leap. It will guide you on when to stop and examine the facts before making irreversible decisions.

An amulet with Thurisaz helps to move forward boldly yet wisely, eliminating unnecessary inhibiting factors. It helps to be more attentive, better analyze and understand the surrounding world, people, and situations.

Like all runes, Thurisaz won't work instead of you. It will work with you. Choosing this rune is worth it only if you are ready for bold changes inside and out, which may not be easy but will make you better and stronger.

Ansuz is the rune of wisdom, knowledge, and communication. It protects those whose profession is related to communication. An amulet with Ansuz helps to be sociable, better interact with people, understand them, find common ground, improve intuition, and empathy.

Ansuz has a positive influence on learning and information perception, allowing a person to unleash their full potential, inner abilities, and talents. This especially applies to fields where high intellectual activity is required.

This rune not only helps in better assimilating new information but also in applying it correctly on one's life path.

Raido is the rune of journey and movement. It is ideal for travelers and those whose life or work is associated with roads and journeys. However, its significance doesn't end there, as the journey can be both physical and spiritual. Raido assists in spiritual quests and development, directing one to areas where their potentials will best unfold.

This rune is a signpost. If you feel lost and don't know which direction to move in, it helps to feel the ground beneath your feet and choose the right direction. If you feel stagnant, Raido will set things in motion and promote progress in endeavors.

An amulet with Raido is used as a talisman and protection during journeys.

Kenaz is the rune of creators, artists, musicians, and all those involved in creativity and creation. It symbolizes the creative flow, creativity, "the fire within."

This rune is for people who are passionate about their work and deeply immersed in it. Kenaz translates as "torch." It illuminates everything around you, bringing the mind to a state where joy and inspiration can be easily drawn from everything around.

One of its main meanings is the birth of new ideas, making it ideal for anyone whose activity is related to creativity, imagination, and creation.

An amulet with the Kenaz rune enhances creative abilities, making the inner fire of creativity burn brighter and illuminate everything around. It helps to draw life forces from the surrounding world, feel full of energy, and be in harmony with one's creative self.

Gebo is one of the most favorable runes of the Elder Futhark, as it does not have a reversed position. Perhaps it has the most pronounced romantic meaning among others. It's about strong, sincere, and equal relationships, where each partner is free, self-sufficient, and does not limit the other. It's about balanced, honest energy exchange.

However, Gebo is important not only in romantic relationships - the above can be applied to relationships of any type - friendly, business, family.

Gebo helps maintain harmony, balance, and a healthy climate in any relationship.

An amulet with this rune helps strengthen relationships with important people. And if there are no such people - to find them.

The name of this rune translates as "gift," and sincere and warm relationships are indeed a valuable gift, aren't they?

Wunjo is a very bright rune. It always attracts something good and contributes to the onset of a happy period full of joy and harmony. This rune is about the beginning of a white streak in life, about fulfilling long-standing desires, and receiving a well-deserved reward for one's efforts. Typically, people wear an amulet with Wunjo to harmonize their inner mood, become more confident, and shed the restraining chains of fear and anxieties. This rune is well described by the phrase "the darkest hour is just before the dawn" - Wunjo is that dawn, the beginning of positive change.

Hagalaz is a rune of sharp and uncontrollable power. It signifies renewal through destruction. It destroys the old order that hinders development. Hagalaz, like a storm, sweeps through your life, transforming comforts and convenient but restraining comfort zones into ruins, where something new can and should be built. It helps to let go, to discard everything unnecessary. While it can be difficult and painful, the best development often happens in discomfort, hence the popular advice to "step out of your comfort zone." Hagalaz literally takes you out of this zone. All you need to do is maintain balance, allowing outdated things, habits, people, and situations to fall away, cleanse your life, and make space for something new. It's essential to handle this rune carefully and thoroughly consider whether you need Hagalaz with its sharp cleansing action. It's effective and quick but painful, dangerous, and challenging. If you feel resilient and determined enough to make sudden changes right here and now, Hagalaz will assist you.

This is a complex rune. Nauthiz should be used very carefully and only if everything is going really wrong or in combination with other runes; by itself, it doesn't provide much benefit. It contributes to strengthening inner resilience, character tempering, and discipline. It teaches self-control during challenging times and helps maintain composure. It makes you stronger, more patient, and more enduring, but through deprivation, limitation, and discomfort. This rune can throw you into truly Spartan conditions from which you can emerge either as a victor or broken. However, if you endure all the trials of the rune, the main prize is a strong, tempered character that allows you to get everything you want from life.

Isa translates to "ice." It freezes the usual flow of life, forcing a pause, prompting you to look around, accept the enforced stop, and calm down. The usual rhythm remains, but only temporarily. And it's not for nothing. The stop is a moral reset. You don't lose the achievements you've made; everything material remains, all skills are intact. You're just pausing to cool down consciousness, reassess what you're doing and what you're striving for. To re-examine your goals without the haze of routine and hustle, to gain new strength. Isa is a challenging rune, and it should be handled with care. It teaches to take temporary breaks in projects and to use them for your benefit: to clear your mind, learn calmness, find solace in the pause, not fear such moments, and feel their value.

The Jera rune symbolizes the completion of a cycle and the moment of harvesting. It applies to all areas of life. If you've worked hard and long on something, Jera speaks of the time to reap the rewards of your labor. However, Jera does NOT symbolize a "gift of fate"; its rune's meaning is a fair reward and a result of your diligent work. Since the main meaning of this rune is "harvest," it's often used as a talisman to connect with nature and live in harmony with natural cycles. A talisman with this rune is worn to ensure that all endeavors end favorably. If you're about to start an important task, make investments, or try new work formats, Jera will help you do it most effectively and favorably.

If you're going through a dark period of self-doubt and your plans seem too complex and unattainable, the Ehwaz rune will give you the strength to overcome it. It stimulates creative thinking and helps to see issues clearly and accurately to find the right solution. As a talisman, Ehwaz is used for protection from difficulties. It helps navigate sharp corners, maintain inner balance, and smoothly but confidently find your way to your goals.

Perthro is one of the most challenging runes to understand. Its direct meaning is mystery. Perthro represents all that is secret, unknown, and hidden. The key word of this rune is search. It symbolizes the transformation of consciousness, the rebirth of the mind. We grow and develop, and our perception of the world changes with us. Throughout life, we evolve and search for our inner "self." This search and change symbolize Perthro. This rune is about the awareness of existence, about transitioning to a new level of consciousness through the rebirth of your old "self" into something new and more developed. It's also the most mystical rune of the Elder Futhark. Amulets with Perthro are used by people involved in various magical practices. It's believed to enhance intuition and help uncover and bring forth abilities hidden within.

Algiz is a rune of powerful protection. An amulet with Algiz is often worn as a talisman. It's believed that the Algiz rune will protect its owner from all troubles and misfortunes, even if they occur very close by. Algiz helps find the strength within to solve problems and develop moral resilience and determination. This rune symbolizes high spirituality, the attainment of unity with higher consciousness, creativity, and luck, which are activated when a person begins to hear and understand their inner voice. Algiz not only wards off everything negative but also strengthens the inner spirit so that things that could previously disturb inner balance no longer carry any weight.

Sowilo has no reverse position; it's one of the most favorable symbols of the Elder Futhark. It's a rune of internal energy flow, fullness of strength, and a desire for victory. It represents triumph, leadership, confidence, perseverance, achievement, and self-realization. A talisman with Sowilo helps mobilize your inner resources, absorb new energy, recharge and be inspired by it to use it on your path. It's a strong and bright rune that leads its master to achievements and success, helping them always be resourceful and full of energy.

Tiwaz is the rune of the warrior. It's about moving forward and only forward, as seen in its very shape. This rune is a symbol of struggle and victory. A talisman with Tiwaz helps develop and strengthen qualities such as courage, bravery, determination, fearlessness in the face of obstacles, focus, and self-confidence. However, this rune should only be worn by those who are ready to overcome obstacles and fight for their goals because Tiwaz doesn't bring victory on its own; it only helps to be resilient and brave on the path to it, and victory is achieved through struggle. This rune isn't suitable for those who want to get something without effort, but if you're willing to make an effort and work diligently on yourself, it's your perfect ally.

Berkana is the rune of feminine energy. It embodies femininity and symbolizes the hearth, pregnancy, childbirth, maternal qualities. Berkana helps women in their development, whether it's the path of a housewife and motherhood or career growth—what matters is that these intentions are sincere, pure, and do not harm others. It's a symbol not only of childbirth but also of the birthing process in general. It can be the birth of a new idea, project, plan. Most often, women use an amulet with the Berkana rune to strengthen feminine health, enhance feminine energy, and attractiveness. It helps harmonize relationships within the family, making them more gentle, warm, and trusting. Despite being considered a rune of feminine energy, it's suitable for both mothers and fathers who want to improve, strengthen, and bring harmony into their relationships with their children. People engaged in gardening, farming, and similar activities wear this rune because it symbolizes growth and fertility, promoting a good harvest. If you want to add love, care, harmony, and understanding to your family relationships, strengthen the home, then Berkana will help you with that.

Ehwaz is a catalyst for change, a shift from a standstill, active forward movement, and transformation both externally—in your affairs, education, work, and internally—in consciousness and thinking style. It should be worn when you are ready to immerse yourself in a series of changes that lead to growth. Ehwaz attracts new opportunities. It helps effectively implement plans, be resilient in crucial moments, and adapt flexibly to new conditions. Additionally, the rune helps see and cut off unnecessary things, decisively parting with what hinders progress, and transitioning to a new level of development both externally and internally.

Mannaz is the rune of self-discovery. Its meaning and effect are unique to each individual because this rune represents human individuality. It teaches you to feel your inner world, analyze it, and how the surrounding reality is refracted through the prism of your personality. It teaches listening to your inner voice, understanding, and accepting yourself. Mannaz fosters awareness and helps you uncover your best qualities, understand who you are, why you live, and feel harmony with yourself and the world. A talisman with Mannaz will help you understand yourself if you're confused and choose the right course. It will help you soberly analyze everything and set priorities, understand what is truly important to you, and gather the courage to start the journey toward your goals.

Laguz has mystical significance. This rune is closely related to magic, mysticism, and intuition. Laguz translates as "water, lake." It symbolizes the flow of life. The rune helps you "float through life"—smoothly navigate sharp corners, stay in the flow, gently but firmly follow your path. This rune is considered feminine. It sharpens intuition, personal strengths, and helps its owner unlock her power and inner potential, develop the character traits she desires: whether it's femininity, lightness, tenderness, or leadership, courage, determination. The power of runes is free from stereotypes; runes represent pure, free energy. Therefore, Laguz will help its owner become the woman she dreams of being. It's believed that Laguz helps develop not only intuition but also imagination and creativity because all these processes are closely related—they all belong to the inner world and soul. Laguz is suitable for men if they are connected with the water element (work at sea, etc.). It's believed that taking the Laguz rune on a journey to the ocean or sea will help better feel the element and be in touch with it.

Inguz symbolizes a period of progress. A period when everything works out. With Inguz, you'll be able to fully realize your plans; it speaks of the need to spread your wings and boldly pursue your dreams because now is a very favorable time. This rune tells you "time to act, now or never!" Don't be afraid to delve into something new, don't be afraid of change. Inguz helps strengthen qualities such as decisiveness, confidence, courage, self-belief, a positive outlook on the world. It helps look boldly at what awaits you ahead and follow your path with dignity. Start your journey, and Inguz will be a faithful helper and support.

Dagaz is the rune of willpower and dream realization. It's one of the most vivid and powerful symbols of the Elder Futhark. This rune is believed to catalyze a series of desired changes, helping transform reality and create the dream reality for oneself. However, Dagaz will only help active individuals because its interpretation is closely linked to the strength of will. It doesn't give anything away easily, and Dagaz will show its power only to those who try, exert effort, show activity, and know what they want. This rune leads to self-realization, helping to improve oneself. For those willing to work for their dream, Dagaz will show the most effective path to its attainment and help accumulate energy for this journey.

Odal represents the connection with the Ancestors. It's the rune of home and property. Unlike Fehu, Odal symbolizes immaterial property—your entire life experience. All knowledge, skills, habits you've acquired throughout your life. Odal is often used in matters related to home and property as a protective amulet. It helps protect the Home from household incidents: fires, thefts, and so on. This rune is recommended to have when buying real estate. Since Odal is a rune of connection with the Ancestors, it helps improve relationships with family, strengthen them, and will be especially useful to those people who have joint property or business with relatives. It helps harmonize communication, maintain balance and fair relations within the family, develop hereditary abilities.

All you need to do is carefully analyze your goals, aspirations, expectations, and compare them with the meanings of the runes. Runes are chosen intuitively according to your inner feelings. When you read the meaning of the rune and feel that it resonates with you, it's yours. However, if you want to delve deeper into the question of rune selection, you can consult with a runologist. Just a heads up: I'm a jeweler, not a runologist. I don't provide consultations. I can help you choose runes based solely on my experience. I hope this article was helpful to you, and the runes will become your faithful helpers on the path to your goals!