Elder Futhark runes: meanings and how to read them

The runes feel different from tarot in a way that's hard to describe until you hold a set. There's a weight to them, both physical and symbolic. The Elder Futhark's 24 symbols carry meanings that have been layered over centuries.

If you've been curious about runes, here's where to start.

What the Elder Futhark is

The Elder Futhark is the oldest form of the runic alphabet, developed between the 2nd and 8th centuries CE among Germanic peoples. The 24 runes were used for writing, but also for divination, carving, and ritual.

Each rune has a name, a phonetic value, and a set of associated meanings. Fehu relates to wealth, cattle, and resources. Uruz to strength and primal force. Thurisaz to challenge and the disruptive power of change. And so on through all 24.

How runic reading works

Rune reading is intuitive rather than positional in the way tarot spreads are. You typically draw one, three, or more runes and read them in relationship to each other and to your question.

A single rune draw is good for daily focus or a simple question. Three runes work well for past, present, and future, or for situation, action, and outcome.

Merkstave and reversed runes

Like tarot, runes can appear in a reversed or "merkstave" position, which shifts their meaning. Fehu upright suggests incoming abundance. Fehu merkstave might point to loss or resources blocked.

Not all readers use reversed runes. Some work only with upright meanings. This is a personal choice, and either approach is valid.

Journaling your rune draws

Rune journaling works particularly well because the meanings are concentrated. A single rune carries a lot, and writing about what it brings up for you, in your specific situation, is one of the best ways to develop a real relationship with each symbol.

Write the rune, its name, your immediate impression, and what you think it's pointing to in your life right now. Come back later and see what unfolded.