The Secret Meaning of the Futhark Runes |
Copyright Audrey Fletcher Adelaide, South Australia 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 |
Inherent in the "Runic" Alphabet are "Secret Meanings" ... the word "Rune" being derived from "Run" (pronounced roon), an Anglo-Saxon word meaning "Secret" or "Mystery". |
And Now ... The Sacred Meaning of the Futhark Runes is Revealed |
Start Here |
It is important that we remember to read the hieroglyphs of the Futhark Alphabet a) from bottom to top and b) from right to left. |
F Fehu |
Third Aett begins with Wunjo, the Standard of the Gods |
O Othala |
D Dagaz |
Ing Ingwaz |
L Laguz |
M Mannaz |
E Ehwaz |
B Berkano |
T Tiwaz |
First Aett begins with Othala/Odin, the Father of the Gods. |
S Sowilo |
Z Algiz |
P Perthro |
Ei/ae Eihwaz |
J/Y Jera |
I Isa |
N Nauthiz |
H Hagalaz |
Second Aett begins with Sowilo, the Sun |
W/V Wunjo |
G Gebo |
K Kenaz |
R Raidho |
A Ansuz |
Th Thurisaz |
U Uruz |
Start Here |
F Fehu |
Third Aett begins with Wunjo, the Standard of the Gods |
O Othala |
D Dagaz |
Ing Ingwaz |
L Laguz |
M Mannaz |
E Ehwaz |
B Berkano |
T Tiwaz |
First Aett begins with Othala/Odin, the Father of the Gods. |
S Sowilo |
Z Algiz |
P Perthro |
Ei/ae Eihwaz |
J/Y Jera |
I Isa |
N Nauthiz |
H Hagalaz |
Second Aett begins with Sowilo, the Sun |
W/V Wunjo |
G Gebo |
K Kenaz |
R Raidho |
A Ansuz |
Th Thurisaz |
U Uruz |
The first Glyph Rune of the First Aett is the name of Odin. |
O Othala |
D Dagaz |
Ing Ingwaz |
The first three Glyph Runes also spell out the name of ODIN. |
Remember to read from right to left. |
The Three Aetts cover three different topics but are nevertheless interconnected. Each of the Three Aetts contain Sacred Knowledge which was known only to the priviledged few ... for example the Priests. |
The Third Aett: The Gods ... Wunjo's Aett The Second Aett: Precession ... Sowilo's Aett The First Aett: Creation ... Odin's Aett |
The Third Aett: The Gods |
The Second Aett: Precession |
The First Aett: Creation |
An Explanation of the First Aett: Creation ... Odin's Aett |
Start Here |
O Othala |
D Dagaz |
Ing Ingwaz |
L Laguz |
M Mannaz |
E Ehwaz |
B Berkano |
T Tiwaz |
First Aett begins with Othala/Odin, the Father of the Gods. |
The First Aett: Creation |
Remember to read from right to left. |
In the beginning there was God ... Odin. |
And then there was Light ... Dagaz ... Day. |
O Othala |
D Dagaz |
Ing Ingwaz |
The Seed of Life was implanted. Ingwaz was a goddess of Fertility. |
L Laguz |
Water appeared on the land ... Laguz ... Lake |
M Mannaz |
People began to populate the land ... Mannaz ... Mankind |
E Ehwaz |
Animals were created after the people ... Ehwaz ... Horse |
B Berkano |
Vegetation appeared ... Berkano ... Birch |
T Tiwaz |
When Creation was complete the god Tiwaz was placed in the sky to administer Justice, Law and Order. |
The Creation Story according to the Futhark Runes In the beginning there was God, Odin. And then there was Light. Next the Seed of Life was implanted and the Earth became fertile, with the result that water, people, animals and vegetation appeared on the land. Finally when Creation was complete the god Tiwaz was placed in the sky to administer Justice, Law and Order. |
An Explanation of the Second Aett: Precession ... Sowilo's Aett |
S Sowilo |
Z Algiz |
P Perthro |
Ei/ae Eihwaz |
J/Y Jera |
I Isa |
N Nauthiz |
H Hagalaz |
Second Aett begins with Sowilo, the Sun |
The Second Aett: Precession |
Start Here |
Important Background Information |
About Precession The reason that Precession occurs is that the Earth not only rotates on its axis ... otherwise known as Axis Mundi or World Pillar ... it also wobbles. This wobble effect is a phenomenon caused by forces exerted by the Sun on the bulges of the Earth at the Equator. The wobble effect is best explained in terms of a spinning top. As the top begins to lose momentum it begins to wobble. It is this same kind of circular movement, or wobble, of the Earth, which moving at a constant speed over long periods of Time alters the direction of the Polar Axis. One revolution is completed every 25,920 years. The central point of revolution is called the "pole of the ecliptic". |
To learn more about Precession Click Here |
About the Tree of Life In Ancient Egyptian texts it is written of the Tree of Life, "I am the plant which comes from Nu." The Tree of Life grew out of the Sacred Mound, its branches reaching out and supporting the star and planet studded sky, while its roots reached down into the watery abyss of the Netherworld. The trunk of the Tree of Life represented the World Pillar or Axis Mundi (literally "Axis of the Mound") around which the heavens appeared to revolve. The World Pillar was considered to be the centre of the universe. The Ancient Egyptian symbol for "plant" meaning "Tree of Life" was three sacred lotus lilies. The glyph which denotes the Sacred Knowledge of Hu is derived from the sacred lotus glyph. |
Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyph for the Tree of Life. |
The glyph which denotes the Sacred Knowledge of Hu (Druid) |
The trunk of the Tree of Life represents the Axis Munde, around which the heavens appear to revolve. |
To learn more about the Tree of Life Click Here |
About the Great Conjunction There are twelve Zodiacal Constellations, each spanning 30 degrees of the night sky. As part of the process of Precession these constellations appear to move their postion across the heavens nightly, annually and every 2160 years. Nightly you may watch them very slowly move across the sky. Annually your birth sign comes around but once. Every 2160 years we move into a new Age of the Zodiac. For example, we are currently living in the Age of Pisces. Hence the "Fish" symbol for the Christian religion. The previous Age was the Age of Aries. Hence the "Ram" symbol of the Old Testament. Before that was the Age of Taurus. Hence the "Bull" imagery in Minoan Crete. On December 21st 2012 we move into the Age of Aquarius. At sunrise on that morning the Sun will move through an Opening, Gate or Portal, out of the Age of Pisces and into the Age of Aquarius. |
The Great Conjunction marking the Dawn of The Age of Aquarius at 6:48am 21st December 2012. |
To learn more about The Great Conjunction Click Here |
Armed with the knowledge of this important background information the Second Aett: Precession can now be decoded. |
S Sowilo |
Z Algiz |
P Perthro |
Ei/ae Eihwaz |
J/Y Jera |
I Isa |
N Nauthiz |
H Hagalaz |
Second Aett begins with Sowilo, the Sun |
The Second Aett: Precession |
Start Here |
S Sowilo |
Sowilo, the Sun is the key player in the Precession of the Ages of the Zodiac. It is the Sun which signals a new Age of the Zodiac by moving through an "Opening" from one Age to the next every 2160 years. |
Z Algiz |
Algiz is also known as "Elhaz". In ancient times the word "El" meant "Lord". The word "Haz" is a diminutive form of the ancient Egyptian god "Osiris". The Lord referred to in this instance is the Lord Osiris . His was the earliest recorded form of the Tree of Life, the trunk of which represented the Axis Mundi around which the heavens appeared to revolve. |
P Perthro |
Perthro represents the "Opening" through which the Sun moves to signal the Dawn of a New Age of the Zodiac. The word "Perthro" is derived from the Hebrew word "Pharaoh", meaning "Sun". The Hebrew word "Peor" on its own means "Opening". |
Ei/ae Eihwaz |
Eihwaz, literally referring to a Yew Tree and thereby reminding us of the Tree of Life, represents the Cycle of Life and Death. The Death of the Old Age of the Zodiac, and the Birth of the New Age. |
J/Y Jera |
Jera can represent either a Year or an Era. Both are indicative of Precession. For example, your birth sign eg Scorpio occurs once a year, while a New Age or Era comes around every 2160 years. Jera represents the repeated cycles of Precession into Eternity. |
I Isa |
Isa is a reference to Isis, the sister/wife of the Ancient Egypian god Osiris ... Algiz or Elhaz defined above as the Tree of Life and the Axis Mundi. Clearly Isa is also an axis, but in this instance the reference is to the Axis connecting the Magnetic North Pole to the Central Point of Revolution. (See first diagram above.) The point of intersection (marriage) of these two Axis defines the Centre of the Earth. |
N Nauthiz |
Nauthiz represents the marriage of Osiris and Isis (Algiz and Isa), the intersection of the Axis Mundi with the Axis connecting the Magnetic North Pole with the Central Point of Revolution. (See first diagram above.) The Axis Munde points to the Celestial North Pole Star while the Isa Axis ( my own terminology) points to the Celestial Magnetic North Pole. |
H Hagalaz |
Hagalaz refers to the god and goddess Heimdall and Mordgud, the latter guarding the Gjoell Bridge across to Hel, the Land of the Dead. In this connection they are a later version of Osiris and Isis. Osiris presided over the Hall of Judgement through which the deceased had to pass in order to reach the Land of the Dead, which was among the stars. Hagalaz is sometimes referred to as a Grain of Corn, which suggests the Pole Star was considered the Land of the Dead. Hagalaz = Hel = Land of the Dead = Pole Star. |
Sowilo, the Sun is the key player in the Precession of the Ages of the Zodiac. It is the Sun which signals a new Age of the Zodiac by moving through an "Opening" from one Age to the next every 2160 years. Algiz represents the Axis Munde around which the heavens appear to revolve. Perthro represents the "Openeing" through which the Sun moves to signal the Dawn of a New Age of the Zodiac. Eihwaz represents the Cycle of Life and Death. The Death of the Old Age of the Zodiac and the Birth of the New Age. Jera represents the repeated cycles of Precession into Eternity. Isa represents the axis connecting the Magnetic North Pole to the central Point of Revolution. (I have termed this axis the "Isa Axis".) Nauthiz represents the intersection of the Axis Mundi with the Isa Axis. The Axis Mundi points to the Celestial North Pole Star, while the Isa Axis points to the Celestial Magnetic North Pole. Hagalaz represents the Pole Star, which at the present time is Polaris. In 2800BC the Pole Star was Alpha Draconis ... due to Precession. |
Isa Axis |
An Explanation of the Third Aett: Gods and Astronomy... Wunjo's Aett |
F Fehu |
Third Aett begins with Wunjo, the Standard of the Gods |
W/V Wunjo |
G Gebo |
K Kenaz |
R Raidho |
A Ansuz |
Th Thurisaz |
U Uruz |
The Third Aett: The Gods |
Start Here |
W/V Wunjo |
Wunjo is the Standard of the Gods, at the head of the procession. |
G Gebo |
Gebo represents the goddess Gefn/Frayr who was the mistress of the gods. In this capacity Gebo/X ironically symbolizes the Constellation of Virgo. |
K Kenaz |
Kenaz originates from the Ancient Egyptian hieroglyph for an oil lamp, which in turn suggests Light. This could be in the form of fire or a light in the darkness. Kenaz can therefore symbolize either the Sun or the Moon. However since Sowilo represents the Sun, and the kenaz symbol is a segment of the Sowilo symbol, the celestial body Kenaz represents would not be as significantly bright as the Sun. Kenaz would therefore symbolize the Moon. In support of this, notice the crescent shape of Kenaz. (See also Thuriaz below.) |
R Raidho |
Raidho is often translated as "Chariot". Not surprisingly there is a constellation referred to as "The Chariot" but it is more commonly called "The Little Dipper" or "Ursa Minor". Ursa Minor is currently the Polar Constellation of which the Pole Star Polaris forms the tip. |
A Ansuz |
Ansuz is the name given to the gods Odin and Oss and as such he is a later version of the Ancient Egyptian god Osiris. The constellation which represented the soul of Osiris is the Constellation of Orion. |
Th Thurisaz |
Thurisaz is considered to represent the god Thor, who was a later version of the Ancient Egyptian god Osiris. However this representation of Thurisaz as Thor is a misconception. In reality Thurisaz represents the Ancient Egyptian god Thoth, who is pictured to the left of the screen. Thoth was credited with introducing the arts and sciences, including astronomy and hieroglyphs, to the Ancient Egyptians. Thoth was the scribe of the Gods. The Ancient Egyptian hieroglyph for "Scribe" is not unlike the Runic hieroglyph for "Thurisaz". Thoth was also the Ancient Egyptian god of the Moon. At this point the esoteric meaning of Kenaz becomes evident. Kenaz, the letter K, and meaning "Knowledge" is derived from the Ancient Egyptian hieroglyph for "Scribe". In this sense Kenaz can also be considered as representing Thoth. Kenaz has already been determined as representing the Moon. |
Thoth |
Thoth Scribe |
K Kenaz |
U Uruz |
Uruz is generally translated as "Aurochs" which is an extinct Central European Wild Ox. Originally however this pair of horns, shown today in the upright position of the letter "U", would have been the symbol of a Ram. The Constellation of the Ram is Aries. |
Fehu translates as "Cattle". However because there are two horns on the Runic Hieroglyph a more accurate translation is "Bull". The Constellation of the Bull is Taurus. |
F Fehu |
The principle players in the Third Aett: Gods and Astronomy are VIRGO, MOON, URSA MINOR, ORION, ARIES and TAURUS. Taurus and Aries are the two Ages of the Zodiac which preceed the Age of Pisces, the Fish. Orion and Virgo represent the Ancient Egyptian gods of Osiris and his sister/wife Isis. The Moon represents the Ancient Egyptian god Thoth and a nightly reminder of Precession. Ursa Minor represents Precession: the movement of the new Polar Constellation towards the Celestial North Pole, and eventually a new Polar Star ... Polaris. The absence of Pisces among these key players would suggest that the Runic Hieroglyphs pre-date the Age of Pisces. However the Constellation of Pisces is to be found in the First Aett: Creation. The Runic Glyph "Dagaz" was originally an Ancient Egyptian hieroglyph of the Abtu Fish. Pisces appearing in the First Aett: Creation, instead of in the Third Aett: Gods and Constellations, indicates that the Futhark Runes are a record of the astronomical event "The Dawn of the Age of Pisces", rather than Creation in general. The Futhark Runes celebrate the movement of the Sun out of the Age of Aries and into the Age of Pisces. The Birth of the New Age was a Virgin Birth: Osiris/Orion being the Father and Isis/Virgo being the Virgin Mother. |
The Dawn of the Age of Pisces |
The First Aett: Creation (Version Two) The Dawn of the Age of Pisces according to the Futhark Runes In the beginning there was God, Odin. And then there was the Dawn of the Age of Pisces. The Seed of Life had been implanted and became fertile. A Golden Age dawned, with an abundance of water, people, animals and vegetation. As the Sun rose on a new day, on a New Age, the god Tiwaz was placed in the sky to administer Justice, Law and Order. |
The Sacred Knowledge of Precession according to the Futhark Runes |