Runes

Tarot: Magician, Strength Aurochs (wild ox) / Life force, strength, and a period of good health. Uruz is the mother of manifestation – a shaping power that defines the origin and destiny of all things. It represents both mental and physical health. It can mean a challenge to your strength or the results of past actions coming to light (health-wise).

Tarot: Magician, Strength Aurochs (wild ox) / Life force, strength, and a period of good health. Uruz is the mother of manifestation – a shaping power that defines the origin and destiny of all things. It represents both mental and physical health. It can mean a challenge to your strength or the results of past actions coming to light (health-wise).

Tarot: Magician, Strength Aurochs (wild ox) / Life force, strength, and a period of good health. Uruz is the mother of manifestation – a shaping power that defines the origin and destiny of all things. It represents both mental and physical health. It can mean a challenge to your strength or the results of past actions coming to light (health-wise).

Tarot:Hierophant, Hermit Odin/ Ancestral Gods /Mouth / Breath/ Communication Ansuz is linked to Odin and the ancestral gods. It represents two of the gifts given to primal man by the gods: önd (breath), and ódhr (mental activity). It is the rune of communication and the spoken word. A reminder to take a deep breath before speaking and to listen as much as we talk.

Tarot: Magician, Chariot, Judgement Wagon/Travel by land/momentum/rhythm, and a journey Raidho is a journey and the power that keeps us moving forward towards our chosen destination. According to Thorsson, Raidho is the “channeling of force according to natural laws along the right road leading to the right result.”

Tarot: Death, Tower, Star Torch/Controlled energy / Passion / Creation and Transformation Kenaz is the torch: a fire lighting the way in the darkness. It is this same controlled fire used by the artisan to create, the cook to provide food, or that we gather around for warmth. This can also represent a metaphorical torch: a passion burning within, an inner light. Kenaz is the fire of creation and transformation. It is a guiding light to expel outside influences and keep your inner passion aflame

Tarot: Lovers, Justice, Temperance Gift/Gratitude/exchange/receiving through sacrifice/offering Gebo represents a gift or an exchange. It is “the giver, the giving, the given, and that which is given to.” (Thorrson). Giving is an energy that joins people together. Just as fire kindles fire, the act of giving breeds gratitude, which in turn creates more giving. It’s a cycle, as important as it is to learn to give without expectations, so we must learn to receive graciously.

Tarot: Fool, Star, Sun Joy/Fulfillment, well-being, a period of happiness. Wunjo represents joy and harmonious action. When all aspects of our being are working together and in alignment with our goals, we will grow and prosper. If something is out of alignment, it creates a blockage that prevents us from fulfilling our desires.

Tarot: Hermit, Tower, Moon Hail/Temporary difficulties/changing of plans/delay Hagalaz represents hail – a temporary difficulty or delay. Disruption is a necessary part of life, it creates change and evolution. It’s easy to get frustrated at a delay or lack of progress, but you’re better off using this time for rest and contemplation rather than to try to rush headlong through the storm.

Tarot: Devil Need/Coming through challenge, stepping forth into manifestation Naudhiz represents need – distress and struggle but also coming through it. Thorsson describes it as the “stepping-forth-into-manifestation” It is a prompt to face issues we may be ignoring.

Tarot: High Priestess, Hermit, Hanged Man Ice /Inertia/ Forced period of pause before renewal Isa represents ice. A frozen stillness that descends upon the world, preventing change and growth. Isa can be both external and internal – representing our own resistance to change: our ingrained patterns and old habits running deep within.

Tarot:Wheel of Fortune,Sun,World Harvest/Cycle/Rewards for past efforts/Reap what you have sown Jera represents the cycle of the year, or more specifically, the turning over of a new cycle. The end of the longest night and the slow returning of the light. A more gentle change than Dagaz (which represents the daily cycle), Jera signals a reward for past actions. It is time to reap what we have sown.

Tarot: Magician, Hanged Man, Death Yew/Wisdom/the mystery of life & death/passing through a gateway Eihwaz represents the yew – a tree of life and death. Yet this death is not final, it is a transition. A gateway through which we must pass to birth something new. As with any new life, it requires sacrifice. The leaving behind of something old to make space for what is to come.

Tarot: Fool, Wheel of Fortune, Moon Divination/Casting of lots/quest for self-knowledge/fate Perthro represents fate – but not in the modern sense of predetermination. The Norse idea of fate is more akin to what you’d think of as Karma. The sum of our past actions has created our current situation. Perthro reminds us that where we are is a direct result of the choices we have made, which means that where we go from here is also in our own hands.

Tarot: Emperor,Strength,Devil Elk,Luck & protection, connection to the higher self, sanctuary. Algiz is a protective and guardian force – but also a warning of something against which you should be guarded. It can be a call to seek sanctuary and raise your higher consciousness to be aware of any threats that may be on the horizon. While Algiz is a call to action, it is also an omen of luck. Allow it to heighten your awareness and keep you safe from harm.

Tarot: Sun,Judgement Sun/Spiritual power & enlightenment/success/personal growth Sowilo is the sun. An illuminating force that breaks through darkness and doubt, creating growth and expansion. It is both the goal and the active willed action towards it – our purpose and inner self.

Tarot: Chariot,Justice Tyr, Bravery, a fight for justice & honour, sacrifice for greater good. Tiwaz represents the god Tyr who sacrificed his hand to the great wolf Fenrir in order to save the Aesir. The story teaches us that “opposition must be faced squarely and with courage” (Mountfort).

Tarot: Fool,Empress,Hanged Man Birch/Rebirth/a new phase/relationship, or project Berkano is the birch goddess, reigning over life’s important transitions: birth, adolescence, marriage, and death. Each of these phases is unique and brings its own challenges and celebrations. Berkano is a reminder that every ending brings a new beginning. New growth must be nurtured so that it will grow strong.

Tarot: Lovers,Chariot,Temperance Horse/Partnership and cooperation/forward progress Ehwaz represents two horses, or a horse and rider: multiple forces working in partnership to create movement and forward progress. There must be trust and loyalty between two partners – or two parts of oneself – in order to succeed.

Tarot: Emperor,Hierophant, World Humanity / Balance / Development of talents / Divine potential Mannaz represents mankind in its most perfect form - a descendant of the gods inextricable linked with the divine. Mannaz is the power of intelligence, rational thought, and tradition. It is the quest of self-development towards a perfectly balanced life.

Tarot: High Priestess,Star,Moon Water/Flow / Journey inward / Depth of the Self Laguz represents water and the source of all life. Water flows through the earth as it flows through each living creature. It is linked to emotions, flow, and a journey inward to the depths of the self.

Tarot: Magician, Strength, World Fertility/Sexuality/Potential energy/Ancestral lines Ingwaz represents potential energy. A seed tucked away in fertile soil, waiting for the right time to sprout. It is a reminder that some things take longer than others and growth can’t be forced.

Tarot: Fool, Sun,Judgement Day/Light of the gods/awakening to enlightenment/ inspiration. Dagaz is the day, specifically the cataclysmic change that occurs at dawn and twilight. When two extremes (the darkness and the light) become one. This represents the end of an era and the beginning of the next cycle.

Tarot: High Priestess, Empress Ancestral property/Wisdom/ inherent talent/ homecoming. Othala is our birthright. It represents all the material and spiritual goods that we were each born into. These are the building blocks that we have to work with in life. Othala is also a connection to the past, an inheritance. Our home, sense of belonging, and community.