RUNE BASICS

BASIC RUNE MEANINGS:

Fehu -- Tangible representation of energy, often used in commerce

Uruz -- Test of endurance, skill, independent strength

Thurisaz -- A conflict of wills

Ansuz -- Speech

Raidho -- Right action, rhythm

Kenaz -- vitality, comprehension

Gebo -- Union, gift

Wunjo -- Contentment, tribe

Hagalaz -- Pulled in two directions

Nauthiz -- Self reliance born of necessity

Isa -- Stillness, inactivity

Jera -- cycles (a year)

Eihwaz -- life/death

Perthro -- secret, purse

Elhaz/Algiz -- connection to the Gods, protection

Sowilo -- power, purpose

Tiewaz -- justice, man, warrior

Berkana -- healing, woman, birth

Ehwaz -- connection, horse (also car)

Mannaz -- collective mindset

Laguz -- ebb and flow

Ingwaz -- potential,

Dagaz -- transformative stress and new light from same

Othala -- inheritance, ancestral lands, house

Note: this is a starter set of meanings, collect your own by drawing one rune a day and at the end of the day, write how that rune has shown its meaning. After awhile, you will have quite a collection of communications between yourself and Spirit or your own High Self. Communication is what we are doing in Divination.

RUNE CIRCLE

CLOCKWISE the runes encircle a Ve' -- In the North, FEHU, NE:ANSUZ, in the East, GEBO, SE: NAUTHIZ, in the South, EIHWAZ, SW: SOWILO, In the west, EHWAZ, NW: INGWAZ.

That will give you a bit of a guideline as you're learning to sing the runes around you -- there are two runes between each of those settings you see above.

Work also with the pairs of opposites and the runes that are "square" to other runes. How does a square react, when speaking of runes?

For instance, Fehu, Gebo, and Ingwaz -- a flowing energy, an exchange, and a holding of energy. If you think in one of energy's simplest terms -- currency -- you can see moveable wealth as something you can buy and sell. What is the difference between this and Gebo's form of exchange? and how does Gebo's exchange oppose Ingwaz' holding (as in a bank). Fehu squares Ingwaz in that Ingwaz holds to build the energy, but Fehu allows the energy to flow and with the flow generates a space whereby other energy may flow in to replace it. Gebo, the opposing rune to Ingwaz, actually builds capital "behind the scenes" in goodwill -- which, in turn, pay forward into Ingwaz (so that it works as a "seesaw", this pair of opposites.

Fehu opposes Eihwaz as one is the movement of energy and one turns the energy inward until it bursts forth renewed (Eihwaz is a bit like a spring with its coils pressed tightly together until such a moment as it springs forth again. In spring forth, it can only go so far, with a great burst of movement, not the freeflowing movement of Eihwaz.

RUNE PRONUNCIATION:

There are several different pronunciations for many of the runes. For instance, Rune 2/7 -- the seventh rune of the second aett is Elhaz (Ale-haaz) or Algiz (all-geez). I have used the (I suppose) Americanized pronunciation for quite some time. SO-WEE-LO (with long O), Ing-waz, not Ing-vaz. Give this pronunciation a try:

fay-who

ooh-rooz

thuh-ree-sahz

ahn-suz (long u, as in school)

rye-thoh

kay-nahz

gay-boh

vuhn-yoh

hah-gah-lahz

now-theez

ees-uh

yair-uh

eye-vahz

pear-throw

ahl-gahz or ahl-hahz

so-vay-lo

tea-vahz

bear-can-oh

a-vahz

mahn-nahz

lah-gooz

ing-vahz

dah-gahz

ohth-ah-lah