RUNES - The Viking Oracle 

For as long as anyone can tell, runes have been around helping people in the northern European area and now they are making quite a comeback on a worldwide basis due partly to commercialism and partly due to the unknown uprooting of many occult practices. People are looking for a better way to live and people are looking towards oracles for answers and guidance to their troubles. This is where the runes come into play. In this area, we will be looking at the meanings of runes and how they can help you.

At this point, we will give only a brief overview of what they are and where they came from. This is only a survey.

Runes come from the Nordic area where the ancient Vikings once lived, worked, and fought. Though they were relatively savage in their outings, the Vikings were people in touch with Earth and the many forces that coexisted with them. They have a whole lore that includes many popular god figures such as Thor, the son of Odin. Thor carried a mighty hammer and many of us know him from comic books. The father of Thor, Odin, was the creator of the Runes and is the most important holy figure of the Viking people. Odin hung upside down from a tree limb for a chance of higher knowledge and right before he came down from the tree limb, he was bestowed with the new system called the Runes. These symbols were used for writing and magic by the high priests. On this page, we will discuss the 25 runes most used today and their meanings.

ALGIZ - Protective Sanctuary
This is the place to stay when you are in need of a safety zone. As a mirror to teiwaz, the warrior goes to the sanctuary to reflect and heal the wounds of the battle. This is a place to feel the full pain and not to shy away, for there is a lesson here. Meditation on this rune should involve the painful things in life and what is to be learned from the anguish. Facing the pain will make you stronger and wiser for the next battle.

ANSUZ - Messages and Signals
Noting marks tell us where we are and what action we should take from this point. The Ash tree is represented here and this is a strong tree, usually weathering storms and leaving clues of its battles. We grow as we weather our own storms and the perceptive person can read the marks of our environment. The meditation here is to focus on the marks on our past to direct us in our future plans.

BERKANA - Growth
A spring-like perpetual growing is the meaning of this rune. The Birch tree is highly associated with berkana and the "b" is with smooth lips, not like saying "bird". The meditations associated would concentrate on the rapid growth of a new situation or fertility, although inguz is also used. Problems that are treated with berkana usually come to pass with fruitful outcomes.

DAGAZ - Daylight and G-d's Light
This is the time of the light, the time to work and the period of the normal day. Christian faith had some influence on the meaning. G-d's light is given to save man from the chaos of darkness. The meditation here is to concentrate on performing well in the days' working hours. This is the time for labor to bring about "fruit". Use this time to do your part to make the things around you better for the people in the community.

EHWAZ - The Sacred Horse
Where would the viking be without their horses to take them on the long journeys. The goddess Frey had special appreciation for these animals. The message here is to not forget the useful beast given to us for us to train to take us to a higher level of civilization. In meditation, we focus on the tools that take us to higher levels in our lives. We thank those responsible for making these things accessible and then we learn the use of these items to their full potential, as if it were not for our tools, we would make little progress.

EIHWAZ - Yew Tree
Weapons decided if you would keep your land and resources. To defend themselves, the Vikings found the use of the Yew tree and made bows. This tree gave them the ability to defend themselves. The characteristic crackle of the wood soothed them during the cold winter nights. Meditate on the actions necessary to defend our position in our lives and to enjoy the things we have worked for in our "down" time. Keep learning the best ways to defend against the malicious actions of others and strive to never be caught off-guard.

FEHU - Cattle
This is what the community considers wealth. The commodity of the norse peoples before a currency was established, and you better believe that they sacrificed one of the herd now and then to keep the gods happy. The important reminder is to always be thankful and humble when things are well in the economy. Meditation focuses on a type of thanksgiving for what has been acquired and not to squander when things are plentiful. Appreciate that there will be a rainy day by the rules of cycles and to prepare for it.

HAGALAZ - Destructive Forces
This is an acknowledgement of the force of nature at its worst. The Vikings had many a harsh winter and year-round poor weather. Months of work could be ruined by an act of nature. This also represents those things that are out of our control. We should meditate on the acceptance of the tough times brought on by the seasons. We cannot control everything that goes on around, so we should to learn to "let go and let G-d" as the saying goes.

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