Runes 101

What Are Runes?

Runes are the letters of an ancient Germanic alphabet used by Norse, Anglo-Saxon, and other northern European peoples from roughly the 2nd century CE onward. Unlike modern alphabets, each rune represented not just a sound but a concept, a force of nature, or a cosmic principle.

The word rune derives from the Proto-Germanic *rūnō, meaning “secret” or “whisper.” According to the Eddic poem Hávamál, Odin hung from Yggdrasil for nine days and nights until the runes were revealed to him from the depths below.

The Elder Futhark

The Elder Futhark consists of 24 characters organized into three groups of eight called ættir. Used from approximately 150 CE to 800 CE across Scandinavia, the British Isles, and continental Europe. Click any rune below to expand its meaning.

Ready to put this knowledge to use? Learn how to cast runes and how to read a cast, or try the virtual rune casting tool.