USA $14.

95
The author of the bestselling Futhark has done it
again! Combining historical lore with esoteric inestigation!
Runelore dis"els most of the misconce"tions
fostered b # r ecent boo$s that "ur"ort to e%" lo re the
runic tradition. A rune is a magical word. It is a selfcreated
iew"oint! and it cannot be com m u n ica ted
through "rofane or natural s"eech. It is a r"agical
word that is whis"ered in our ear b # the &dhinn
within. 'unes define "atterns of e%istence and co n sciousness
that are manifested in (iine Co nscio us ness
and in the )orld *eing. The language of the
runes will a""eal to both the occult and a ca demic
worlds because it combines fol$lore! linguistics! the
histor # of religion and magic. Contents include+
, runic histor# from the "re-.i$ing er a to
th e "r esent
, rune magic and diination
, runic codes
, rune "oems
, runic numerolog#
, e%" la n a t ion s of the m#steries
of the /4 r u nes
, runic "s#cholog# and its relationshi" to
0ungian s#m bolism
, r u nelo re of the &dhinic "antheon! and
how the r u nester ca n unloc$ the wa#s of
the diinities within
Th is is a n indis"ens ible te%tboo$ for a ll those who
see$ to unrael the riddle of the runes.
1 S*2 3-455/4 -665-1
) 71 S 7 ' * & &8 S
An Imprim of Re d Wheel/Wei ser
*oston. 9A: ;or$ *each! 97
U27<&'7
~WEISERBoOKS
l!J Boston, MA/York Beach, ME
=irst "ublished in 1945 b#
'ed )heel:)eiser! LLC
;or$ *each!97
)ith offices at
>64 Congress Street
*oston! 9A 3//13
www.redwheelweiser.com
34 35 36 35 34
19 14 15 16 15 14 1> 1/ 11 13
Co"#right ? 1945 7dred Thorsson
All rights resered. 2o "art of this "ublication ma# be re"roduced or transmitted in an#
form or b# an# means! electronic or mechanical! including "hotoco"#ing! recording! or
b# an# information storage and retrieal s#stem! without "ermission in writing from 'ed
@[email protected]. 'eiewers ma# Buote brief "assages.
<ibrar# of Congress Cataloging-in-Cublication (ata
Thorsson! 7dred
'unelore + a handboo$ of esoteric runalog#.
*ibliogra"h#+ ".
1. 'une-9iscellanea. /. 9agic >. 1nscri"tions! 'unic.
4. &ld 2orse "oetr#. I. Title.
*=16/>.'49T49 1945
1>>.>A> 46-/4519
1S*2 3-455/4-665-D
9E
Coer "hotogra"h is of the *ra stone in U""land! Sweden.
Coer "hotogra"h# co"#right 1945 *engt A. <undberg!
'i$santi$arieambetet! Stoc$holm.
Crinted in the United States of America
The "a"er used in thts "ublication meets the minimum reBuirements of the American
2ational Standard for 1nformation Sciences-Cermanence of Ca"er for Crinted <ibrar#
9aterials F>9.44-199/G'1995H.

-
$ -
Contents
About the Cover .i%
List of Abbreviations . _ XI
Ac$nowledgments ! Il1
Preface xiii
Introduction xv
Part I Historical Lore
Cha"ter 1+ 7lder 'unes Gto 433 C.7.H .3
Cha"ter /+ .i$ing Age 'unes G433+1133 C.7.H /9
Cha"ter >+ 9edieal 'unes G1133-1633 C.7.H .45
Cha"ter 4+ 9odern 'unic 'eial G1633-1945H 5>
Cha"ter 5+ Contem"orar# 'unic 'eialGl945-"resentH 65
Cha"ter 6+ Jistorical 'une 9agic and (iination 51
Cha"ter 5+ 'unic Codes 45
Cha"ter 4+ 'une Coems 9>
Part II Hidden Lore
Cha"ter 9+ 1nner 'unelore 11>
Cha"ter 13+ 7soteric Cosmolog# 14>
Cha"ter 11+ 'unic 2umerolog# 159
Cha"ter 1/+ 'unic Cs#cholog# 165
Cha"ter 1>+ 'une <ore of the Eods 155
A""endices /3 1
Elossar# /1/
*ibliogra"h# ./15
1nde% /14
About the Author ///
This book is given
to all those who strive toward the
'U27S
p -
t
About the Coer
The *ro stone is an exaple of a !edieval eorial stone" discussed
in Cha"ter >. &n the surface! its message reads+ KEinnlog! JolmgelAs
daughter! sister of S#grod and of Eot! she had this bridge built and raised this
stone after Assur her husband! son of Ja$on the earl. Je was guardian
against the .i$ings together with Eeter. Eod hel" now his s"irit and soul.K
As #as coon #ith runic eorial stones" it is possible that a deeper
occult eanin$ is encoded into how the runes #ere actuall% carved. &ro a
historical "ers"ectie! this stone gies us a glim"se of the Swedish coastal
defense organiLation that $e"t watch against .i$ing raiders. The *ra stone
"robabl# dates to the late 1133As! and is located in U""sala! the ancient
sacred ca"ital of "agan Sweden.
<ist of Abbreiations
Transliterations of &ld 2orse and Eermanic Terms
All translations from &ld 2orse! &ld 7nglish! and other old languages found
in this boo$ are those of the author. An attem"t has been made to stri$e a
balance between "oetic and literal translations! but often faor is gien to the
literal for the sa$e of correct understanding. 1n such cases notes ma# be
added.
*efore Common 7ra ( *.C.H
Common 7ra ( A.(.H
Eermanic
Eothic
9anuscri"tGsH
&ld 7nglish
&ld Jigh Eerman
&ld 2orse
"lural
singular
*.C.7.
C.7.
Emc.
Eo.
9SGSH
&7
&JE
&2
"1.
sg.
Certain s"ecial Eermanic gra"hics hae been transliterated in this boo$. The
following are in $ee"ing with certain s"elling conentions of the 9iddle
Ages+
Ais dh
C th
M e
'
'
Creface
This boo$ is intended to su""lement the "ractical material found in m#
Futhark: A Handbook ofRune Magic "ublished b# Samuel )eiser! 1nc. 1n
these "ages the more intellectual as"ects of the runes-their histor# aud
deelo"ment and their esoteric lore-will be inestigated. It is ho"ed that
through this wor$ 1 can begin to dis"el most of the miscouce"tions fostered
b% recent boo(s that purport to explore the runic tradition. Runelore incor"orates
into a s#stem of liing "hiloso"h# and "ractice the latest and best
scieutific scholarshi" of runologists from alloer the world. The method
used in the "resent boo$ is essentiall# one of intuition firml# based on hard
scientific data. This is a method that 1 ho"e will continue to find wide
acce"tance. As it stands! Runelore is the basic te%tboo$ for members of the
'une-Eild! but 1 trust it will stri$e a res"onsie cord in all who see$ to
unrael the riddle of the runes.
Those interested in continuin$ runic research are invited to #rite to
The 'une-Eild
C.&. *o% 56//
Austin! TI 5451>
USA
Ac(no#led$ents
Than$s go to 9itchell 7dwin )ade! (aid *ragwin
0ames! 'obert Foller! Alice 'hoades! Anthon# <oo$er!
Adolf and Sigrun Schlei"fer! and 9ichael A. ABuino.
-
so
1ntroduction
<ong hae we dwelt outside the gates of the gard of our indwellingA
gods. )e were not e%"elled from their $nowledge b# some irreersible
transgression-but rather hae onl# turned our bac$s on their troth. )e can
again tum to face their radiant "ower-but oul# b# $nowing the roadwa#s of
that Nourne#. Those gangwa#s are the nmes--them#steries of our "ath-and
the $e#s to their own hidden dimensions.
1n an elder age we made a mista$e. )e reNected-slowl# and incom"letel#
to be sure! but neertheless! we as a "eo"le reNected-the
#isdo of the $ods. )o #ondrous *cure* #ill reverse this re+ection overnight!
no KgraceK is forthcoming from &dhinn! &nl# our own hard efforts
will bring each of us bac$ to the long-lost lore. To this difficult #et noble
tas$! all of the efforts of this boo$ and of the 'une-Eild are dedicated.
Although we lost much through our mista$es in ancieut times! we hae
continued to lose in more recent #ears b# misguided efforts oflimited ision
at the KreialK of the old wa#s of the 2orth. Again and again! would-be
revivalists have re+ected the tielessl% eternal and positive vision of the
9aster of 7cstas# in faor of historical! limited schemes of negatie ideologies.
&ne of our most im"ortant wor$s is to hel" sha"e a "hiloso"hical
foundation for the growth of this "ositie ision of timeless releance! that
we ma# win b# e%am"le and conBuer the world from within our Seles.
The runes! and the ideolog# the# encom"ass! sere a wide ariet# of
ends! through both Kdirect!K or magical! means and more intellectual "ath#a%s.
In the a$ical reals" rune#or( is used for personal transforation"
building wider consciousness! "s#chic deelo"ment! healing! inestigation
of )#rd! and sha"ing the enironment according to the inner will.
)hile in the intellectual realms-to which this boo$ is dedicatedrunelore
and rune wisdom can sere as a mental framewor$ for the deelo"%i
f ,-).L/,.
ment of a new "hiloso"h# based on a timeless "attern and e%"ressed through
a "otent meta-language. 9an# KtraditionsK hae tried and failed to construct
such a successful eta-lan$ua$e" #ith a precise and eanin$full% beautiful
grammar-for e%am"le! 0udaism! Christianit#! 1slam and all of their cultural
ariants. *ut each ma# be called a failnre because of the inherent
#ea(ness in their inor$anic s%stes. If %ou #or( throu$h the runic s%ste
and ma$e it a "art of#onr life! #ou will hae gien #onrself a gift no one else
could hae bestowed+ $nowledge of thine own self-unique #et "art of a
#hole. The runes #ill serve as a lan$ua$e #ith #hich %ou a% *converse*
#ith aspects of%ourself and at the sae tie communicate this (no#led$e to
others! which is a hard #et necessar# test for an# true understanding.
)ot onl% ust #e understand the runes as the ancients understood
them-that is onl# the beginning-but we must come to a new knowledge of
the. As the% have transfored us" so ust our coprehension of them be
transformed. The# were! are! and shall eer be eternall# changing and
eternall# demanding of change. Therefore! those who wish onl# to reinforce
their "ersonal "reNudices and who hae little interest in! or indeed fear of! the
transutin$ po#ers housed in the runes should be #arned no#. The runes
describe a road of etaorphosis" not a to#er of +ustification.
<i$e all things worth $nowing! these m#steries are stubborn secrets
Gand mischieousness is not be#ond themH. &ften the# will wra" themseles
in a riddle! but the# will alwa#s tell more b# their riddle than if the# had
s"o$en with a clear tongue. There is little grace in their characters! and their
9aster has een less. *ut this is as it must be. An#one who sa#s differentl#
must indeed be a "riest of the lie-for he would tell #ou that the onl gain is
b# the gift! whereas we &dians $now well that true wisdom must be won b#
the huan #ill. This #ill and its attendanthuan consciousness is the onl%
true Eift-it is the sword cast before infant humanit# in the cradle. It is b#
this sword alone that our wa#s in the world shall be won.
This boo$ is designed to facilitate an effectie use of the sha"ing and
ia$inative intellect in con+unction #ith the ost recent and best scholarship
in the fields of runic studies and in the histor% of the old 0eranic
religion. It contains a detailed historical account of the deelo"ment of
ancient runic traditions and the #a%s in #hich runestaves #ere used in the
elder a$e. These historical data are cobined #ith esoteric investi$ations
into the natnre of the runes themseles-the wa#s in which the# relate to one
another-and into the reals of esoteric teachin$s of coso$on%" cosolog#!
numerolog#! "s#cholog# Gsoul-loreH! and theolog#. This olnme "roides
the details of much that was onl# hinted at in the "ages ofFuthark. It is
.-
introduction I xvii
ho"ed that the dee"er runelore held in the "ages of this wor$ will o"en the
#a% to a broader understandin$ of the runes and help to a#a(en that $reat
god that lies slee"ing within. 2ow its oice ma# be but a whis"er! but with
will and craft we shall awa$en it! so that its oice becomes a roar-and we
will $now it more trul# than eer before.
'
!art "ne
+JistoricaD <ore
'
!
rrfte t1fcfer ~nes
2to 344 c.t.)
This chapter is intendedto providethe runester #ith a basic outline of runic
histor# and deelo"ment from the oldest times to around 433 C.7. Gor the
beginning of the .i$ing AgeH and includes a section on the &ld 7nglish and
&risian traditions that continue be%ond that tie frae. It is necessar% for
an#one entering u"on the esoteric stud# of the runes to hae a fundamental
notiou of the historical conte%t of the traditiou. Rune#ore will "roide the
fouudation for this tas$O iude"endent readings and studies must build the
larger edifice. The maNorit# of the information contained in this first "art of
the boo$ has been gleaned from scholarl# wor$s on runolog# Gsee *ibliogra"h#H.
The e%oteric facts and iuter"retations contained in these "ages will
serve the runester #ell as an introduction to the #ondrous #orld of rune
wisdom deelo"ed iu the secoud half of the boo$.
The 5ord Rune
Theostcoon definition forthe #ord rune is *oneof theletters of
analphabet used b% ancientEermanic peoples.* This definitionis theresult
of a long historical deelo"ment! the eutiret# of which we must come to
$now before we can see how incom"lete such a definition is. Actuall#! these
4 : J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
*letters* are uch ore than si$ns used to represent the sounds of a
language. The# are in fact actual msteries$ the actual Ksecrets of the
universe"* as one #illiea #ho studies the lon$ and hard enou$h.
Rune as a word is onl# found in the Eermanic and Celtic languages. 1ts
et%olo$% is soe#hat uncertain. There are" ho#ever" t#o possible et%ologies+
G1H from Croto-1ndo-7uro"ean %reu- Gto roar and to whis"erH! which
would connect it with the ocal "erformance of magical incantations! and G/H
from Croto-1ndo-7uro"ean %gwor-w-on-$ which would connect it to the
Eree$ and &ld 1ndic gods "uranos and &aruna$ res"ectiel#! giing the
meaning ofKmagical binding.K This is also an attribute of &dhinn. The word
ma# hae had the essential meaning of Km#ster#K from the beginning.
Inan%case" a 0eranic andCelticroot*runo- canbeestablished" fro
which it deelo"ed in the arious Eermanic dialects. That the word is er#
archaic in its technicalsense is clearfroits universal attribution #itharich
meaning. The root is found in eer# maNor Eermanic dialect Gsee table 1.1H.
5hatis adeclearfrotheevidence ofthis tableis that *rune* is anancient"
indigenous term and that the oldest meaning was in the realm of the abstract
conce"t Gm#ster#H! not as a concrete sign GletterH. The definition KletterK is
strictl# secondar#! and the "rimar# meaning must be Km#ster#.K
This root is also found in the Celtic languages! where we find &ld 1rish
run Gm#ster# or secretH and 9iddle )elsh rhin Gm#ster#H. Some "eo"le hae
ar$ued that the root #as borro#ed fro Celtic into 0eranic6 ho#ever"
ore have ar$ued the reverse because the 0eranic usa$es are ore
igorous and wides"read and richer in meaning. Another "ossihilit# is that it
is a root shared h# the two 1ndo-7uro"ean dialects and that there is no real
Tahle 1. 1. Eermanic 'une (efinition
(ialect )ord 9eaning
&ld 2orse run secret" secret lore" #isdo6
a$ical si$ns6 #ritten
characters
Eothic runa secret" %steriu
&ld 7nglish ran %ster%" secret council
&ld Sa%on riina %ster%" secret
&ld Jigh Eerman runa m#ster#! secret
t.
The 'lder Runes : 5
Buestion of borrowing in the strict sense. Cerha"s the term also was borrowed
into =innish from Eermanic in the form runo Ga song! a canto of the
(alevala)$ but the =innish word ma# actuall# come from another Eermanic
word meaning KrowK or Kseries.K
Although the word is clearl# of common Eermanic stoc$! the actual
word as we hae it in modem 7nglish is not a direct descendant from the &ld
7nglish run but was borrowed from late scholarl# Gseenteenth-centur#H
*atin-runa GadNectie! runicus)-which in tum was borrowed from the
Scandinaian lauguages.
The &diau definition of rune is com"le% and is based on the oldest
underl#ing meaning of the word-a m#ster#! archet#"al secret lore. These
are the im"ersonal "atterns that underlie the substance#nonsubstance of the
multierse and that constitute its being:nonbeing. 7ach of these runes also
ma# be aual#Led on at least three leels+
, =orm Gideogra"h and "honetic alueH
, 1dea Gs#mbolic contentH
, 2umber Gd#namic nature! reealing relationshi"s to the other
runesH
=or a more detailed e%"loration of the content of the runes see cha"ter 9.
)ith the runes! as with their Teacher! &dhinn! all things ma# be identifiedand
ma# be negated. Therefore! an# definition that ma$es use of K"rofaneK
language must remain inadeBuate and incom"lete.
Throughout this boo$! when the word rune is used! it should be
considered in this com"le% lightO whereas the terms runestave$ or sim"le
stave$ will be used in discussions of them as letters or signs.
7arl# 'unic Jistor#
The s#stematic use of runestaes dates from at least 53 C.7. Gthe
a""ro%imate date of the 9eldorf broochH to the "resent. Joweer! the
underl#ing traditional aud hidden framewor$ on which the s#stem was
constructed cannot be discussed in "urel# historical terms-s-it is ahistorical.
"""----
6 : J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
7ssentiall#! the histor# of the runic s#stem s"ans four e"ochs+ G1H the
elder "eriod! from the first centur# C.7. to about 433 C.7.O G/H the #ounger
"eriod! which ta$es us to about 1133 Gthese two "eriods are e%"ressions of
unified runic traditions bound in a coherent s#mbolog#HO G>H the middle
"eriod! which is long and dis"arate and which witnessed the deca# of the
external tradition and its subersion into the unconscious6 andfinall%" G4H
the "eriods of rebirth. Although the use of runes continued in an unbro$en
Gbut badl# damagedH tradition in remote areas of Scandinaia! most of the
dee"-leel runewor$ too$ "lace in reialist schools after about 1633.
1t ma# be argued that a historical stud# is actuall# unnecessar# or een
detrimental for those who wish to "lumb the de"ths of that timeless!
ahistorical! archet#"al realit# of the runes themseles. *ut such an argument
#ould have its dra#bac(s. Accurate historical (no#led$e is necessar%
because conscious tools are needed for the rebirth of the runes fro the
unconsciousreals6 theodern runicinvesti$ator ust(no#theori$insof
the various structures thatcoe into contact#ith the conscious ind. /nl%
in this conte%t can the rebirth occur in a fertile field of growth. )ithout the
roots the branches will wither and die. =or all of this to ta$e "lace! the
runester ust have a fir $rasp on the histor% of the runic tradition. In
addition" the anal%tical observation andrational interpretation of ob+ective
data Gin this case the historical runic traditionH is fundamental to the deelo"ent
of the #hole runeaster and vit(i.
'U21C &'1E12S
As the runes are ahistorical! so also must the# be without ultimate originthe#
are timeless. )hen #e spea( of runic ori$ins" #e areore narro#l%
concerned with the origins of the traditions of the futhar$ stae s#stem. The
Buestions of archet#"al runic origins will be ta$en u" in detail in cha"ter 13.
The runes ma# indeed be said to hae "assed through man# doors on the wa#
to our "erce"tions of them and to hae undergone man# K"oints of originK in
the worlds.
There are seeral theories on the historical origins ofthe futhar$ s#stem
and its use as a #ritin$ s%ste for the 0eranic dialects. These are essentiall#
four in number+ the <atin theor#! the Eree$ theor#! the 2orth-1talic
Gor 7truscanH theor#! and the indigenous theor#. .arious scholars oer the
%ears have subscribed to one or the otherof these theories6 ore recentl% a
reasonable s#nthesis has been a""roached! but it is still an area of academic
controvers%.
-
The Elder Runes : 5
The <atin or 'oman theor# was first stated scientificall# b# L. =. A.
)immer in 1454. Those who adhere to this h#"othesis generall# beliee that
as the 0eranic peoples cae into closer contact #ith ,oan culture
Gbeginning as earl# as the second centur# *.C.7. with the inasion of the
Cimbri and Teutones from 0utlandH! along the (anube Gat CarnuntumH and
the 'hine Gat Cologne! Trier! etc.H! the 'oman al"habet was ada"ted and "ut
to use b# the Eermans. Trade routes would hae been the means b# which
the s#stem Buic$l# s"read from the southern region to Scandinaia and from
there to the east. This latter ste" is necessar# because the oldest eidence for
the futhar$ is not found near the 'oman limes and s"heres of influence but
rather in the distant northern and eastern reaches of Eermania. Tbe idea of
trade routes poses no real proble to this theor% because such routes #ere
#ell established fro even ore reote ties. The !%cenaean tobs in
"resent-da# Ereece Gca. 1433-1153 *.C.7.H contain amber from the *altic
and from 0utland! for e%am"le. 9ore recentl#! 7ri$ 9olt$e has theoriLed
that the futhar$ originated in the (anish region and was based on the 'oman
al"habet.
This theor# still holds a number of adherents! and some as"ects of it!
which we will discuss later! show signs of future im"ortance. 1n an# case!
the influence of the cultural elements brought to the borderlands of the
0eranic peoples b% the ,oans cannot be discounted in an% 7uestion of
influence during the "eriod between a""ro%imatel# /33 *.C.7. and 433 C.7.
It ust be (ept in ind #hen discussin$ these theories that #e are
restricted to 7uestions of the ori$in of the idea of writing with a phonetic
sstem Gal"habetH among the Eermanic "eo"les in connection with the runic
tradition! and not with the genesis of the underl#ing s#stem or tradition
itself.
The Eree$ theor#! first "ut forward b# So"hus *ugge in 1499! loo$s
more to the east for the origins of this writing s#stem. 1n this h#"othesis it is
thought that the Eoths ada"ted a ersion of the Eree$ cursie scri"t during a
"eriod of contact with Jellenic culture along the *lac$ Sea! from where it
was transmitted bac$ to the Scandinaian homeland of the Eoths. There is!
howeer! a maNor "roblem with this theor# because the "eriod of EothicEree$
contact in Buestion could not hae started before about /33 C.7.! and
the oldest runic inscri"tions date from well before that time. =or this reason
most scholars hae long since abandoned this h#"othesis. The onl# wa# to
save it is to prove a uch earlier" as %et undocuented connection bet#een
the t#o cultures in 7uestion. !ore research needs to be done in this area.
Also! it is "robable that Jellenistic ideas! een ifthe# "la#ed no role in runic
4 I J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
origins! ma# hae had a significant "art in the formation of some elements of
the traditional s#stem.
The 2orth-1talic or 7truscan theor# is "erha"s the most interesting! and
it is the one that has attracted ost scholars in recent %ears. This idea #as
first "ro"osed b# C. 0. S. 9arstrander in 19/4 and was subseBuentl#
modified and furthered b# )olfgang 8rause! among others! in 19>5. Jistoricall#!
this h#"othesis su""oses that Eermanic "eo"les liing in the Al"s
ado"ted the 2orth-1talic scri"t at a relatiel# earl# date-"erha"s as earl# as
>33 *.c.7.-when the Cimbri came into contact with it and "assed in on to
the "owerful Suei Gor SuebiH! from whom it Buic$l# s"read u" the 'hine
and along the coast of the 2orth Sea to 0utland and be#ond. There can be no
historical obNections to the "lausibilit# of this scenario! e%ce"t for the fact
that the initial contact came some three to four hundred #ears before we hae
an% record of actual runic inscriptions.
As a atteroffact" there is anexaple of Eermanic lan$ua$e #ritten in
the 2orth-1talic al"habet-the famous lielmet of 2egau Gfrom ca. >33
*.C.7.H. The inscri"tion ma# be read from right to left in figure 1.1.
The inscription a% be read in #ords Harigasti teiwai . _ . and translated
Kto the god Jarigast (~ &dhinnH!K or KJarigastiL DandP TeiwaL!K 1n
an# case the root meanings ofthe first two words of the inscri"tion are clear.
Jari-gastiL Gthe guest of the arm#H and TeiwaL Gthe god T;rH. 1n later times!
it would be normal to e%"ect &dhinn to be identified b# a nic$name of this
t#"e! and we ma# well hae an earl# e%am"le of it here. Also! this would he
an earl# "roof of the ancient "airing of the two Eermanic soereign deities
Gsee cha"ter 1>H.
As can be seen from the 2egau inscri"tion! the scri"ts in Buestion bear
an% close formal correspondences to the runestaves6 ho#ever" soe
"honetic alues would hae to hae been transferred. 2o one 7truscan
al"habet forms a clear model for the entire futhar$. An unfortunate footnote
-1 #I IA ~ I ~,t'! ~ JAt I (I AbI
Q $ i awietitsagi a h
Figure 1.1. Inscription on the helm of Negau
The Elder Runes I 9
to runic histor% has recentl% been added b% a certain occult #riter#ho in t#o
boo(s has represented a version of the .truscan script as *the runic alphabet.*
This has perhaps led to soe confusion aon$ those atteptin$ to
unravel runic %steries.
The idea that the runes are a "urel# indigenous Eermanic scri"t originated
in the late nineteenth centur# and gained great "o"ularit# in 2ational
Socialist Eerman#. This theor# states that the runes are a "rimordial
0eranic invention and that the% are even the basis for the Phoenician and
Eree$ al"habets. This h#"othesis cannot be substantiated because the oldest
runic inscriptions date fro the first centur% C... and the oldest Phoenician
ones date from the thirteenth and twelfth centuries *.<7. )hen this theor#
was first e%"ounded b# '. 9. 9e#er in 1496! the runes were seen as an
originall# ideogra"hic Gthe misnomer used was Khierogl#"hicKH s#stem of
writing that then deelo"ed into an al"habetic s#stem acro"honeticall# (i .e.!
based on the first sound of the names attached to the ideogra"hH. &ne as"ect
of this is "robabl# correct+ the Eermanic "eo"les seem to hae had an
ideogra"hic s#stem! but it does not a""ear to hae been used as a writing
s#stem! and it is here that the indigenous theor# goes astra#. It is "ossible
that the ideo$raphic s%ste influenced the choice of runestave shapes and
sound values.
=rom tbe aailable "h#sical eidence it is most reasonable to conclude
that the runestae s#stem is the result of a com"le% deelo"ment in which
both indigenous ideogra"hs and s#mbol s#stems and the al"hahetic writing
s#stems of the 9editerranean "la#ed significant roles. The ideogra"hs were
"robabl# the forerunners of the runestaes Ghence the uniBue rune namesH!
%& the "rotot#"e of the runic sstem Gorder! numher! etc.H is "robabl# also
13 be found in some natie magical s#mbolog# Gsee cha"ter 9H.
/ne piece of possible evidence #e have for the existence of a pre-runic
s#mbol s#stem is the re"ort of Tacitus in cha"ter 13 of his +ermania Gca. 94
C.7.H! where he mentions certain notae GsignsH cared on stri"s of wood in
+be diinator# rites of the Eermans. Although the recent discoer# of the
!Rleldorf brooch has "ushed bac$ the date of the oldest runic inscri"tion to a
'i%e before Tacitus wrote the +ermania$ these still could hae been some
s#mbol s#stem other than the futhar$ "ro"er. 1n an# case! it is fairl# certain
!batthe idea of usin$ such thin$s as a #ritin$ s%ste" as #ell as the influence
~Yeming the choice of certain si$ns to represent specific sounds" #as an
luence fro the southern cultures.
This suari8es the stor% #ith re$ard to the exoteric sciences. 9ut
#i:lat ore can be said about the esoteric aspects of runic ori$ins; The runes
13 1 J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
theselves" as has beensaid" are#ithout be$innin$ orend6 the%are eternal
"atterns in the snbstance of the mnltierse and are omni"resent in all of the
#orlds. 9ut #e can spea( of the ori$in of the runes in huan consciousness
Gand as a matter offact this is the onl# "oint at which we can begin to s"ea$
about the KoriginsK of an#thingH.
=or this we turn to the 'lder or !oetic 'dda and to the hol# rune song of
the KJaamal!K stanLas 1>4 to 165! the so called K'unatals thattr &dhinsK
Gsee also cha"ter 4H. There! &dhinn reconnts that he hung for nine nights on
the )orld Tree! ;ggdrasi10! in a form of self-sacrifice. This constitntes the
runic initiation of the god &dhinnO he a""roaches and sin$s into the realm of
death in #hich he receives the secrets" the %steries of the ultiverse-the
runes theselves-in a flash of inspiration. He is then able to return fro
that real" and no# it is his function to teach the runes to certain of his
follo#ers in order to brin$ #ider consciousness" #isdo" a$ic" poetr%"
and ins"iration to the world of9idhgardhr-and to all ofthe worlds. This is
the central wor$ of &dhinn! the 9aster of 1ns"iration.
The et#molog# of the name &dhinn gies us the $e# to this Ks"iritualK
meaning. "dhinn is deried from Croto-Eermanic ,-dh-an-a.. ,"dh- is
inspired nuinous activit% or enthusias6 the -an- infix indicates the one
#ho is aster or ruler of soethin$. The -az is sipl% a $raatical endin$.
The name is also something inter"reted as a "ure deification of the s"iritual
"rinci"le of wodh$ See cha"ter 1> for more details of &dhinic theolog#.
The fignre of &dhinn! li$e those of the runestaes! stands at the inner
door of our conscious<unconscious borderland. /dhinn is the counicator
to the conscious of the contents of the unconscious and supraconscious" and
he:it fills the Ks"aceK of all of these faculties. )e! as humans! are conscious
beings but hae a dee" need for communication and illumination from the
hidden sides of the worlds and onrseles. &dhinn is the archet#"e of this
dee"est as"ect of humanit#! that which bridges the worlds together in a
#eb-#or( of %steries-the runes.
Therefore" in an esoteric sense the runes ori$inate in huan consciousness
through the archet#"e of the all-encom"assing GwholeH god hidden
dee"l# in all his fol$. =or us the runes are born simultaneonsl# with
consciousness. 9ut it ust be reebered that the runes theselves are
be#ond his Gand therefore onrH total command. &dhinn can be destro#ed! but
because of his conscious assuption of the basic patterns of the runic
m#steries Gin the ;ggdrasill initiationH the KdestructionK becomes the road to
transformation and rebirth.
The Elder Runes < 11
Age of the .lder &uthar(
As entioned before" the oldest runic inscription %et found is thatof the
9eldorf brooch Gfrom the west coast of 0utlandH! which dates from the
middle of the first centur# C.7. =rom this "oint on! the runes form a
continuous tradition that is to last ore than a thousand %ears" #ith one
a+or foral transformation coin$ at approxiatel% idpoint in the histor#
of the great tradition This is the deelo"ment of the ;ounger =uthar$
from the 7lder! beginning as earl# as the seenth centur#. *ut the elder
s%ste held on in soe conservative enclaves" and its echoes continued to be
heard until around 433 c. E. and in hidden traditions be#ond that time.
The elder s#stem consists of twent#-four staes arranged in a er#
s"ecific order Gsee Table 1 in the A""endi%H. The onl# maNor ariations in
this order a""arentl# were also a "art of the s#stem itself. The thirteenth and
fourteenth staves : ..r : and : ~ : soeties alternated position6 as did the
twent#-third and twent#-fourth staes +2 + and+ HG +. It should be noted that
both of these alternations coe at the exact middle and end of the ro#.
*# the #ear /53 C.7.! inscri"tions are alread# found oer all of the
territories occu"ied b# the Eermanic "eo"les. This indicates that the s"read
was s#stematic throughout hundreds of socio"olitical grou"s Gclans! $indreds!
tribes! etc.H and that it "robabl# too$ "lace along "ree%isting networ$s
of cultic traditions. &nl# about three hundred inscri"tions in the 7lder
=uthar$ surie. This surel# re"resents onl# a tin# fraction of the total
nuber of inscriptions executed durin$ this ancient period. The vast a+orir(
in "erishable materials! such as wood and bone-the most "o"ular
aterials for the runeaster=s craft-have lon$ since deca%ed. !ost of the
oldest inscriptions are in etal" and soe are 7uite elaborate and developed.
In the earliest ties runestaves #ere $enerall% carved on obile obNects.
&or this reason the distribution ofthe locations #here inscriptions have
been found tells us little about where the# actuall# were cared. A good
illustration of this "roblem is "roided b# the bog finds Gmostl# from around
~ C.7.H on the eastern shore of 0utland and from the (anish archi"elago.
The obNects on which the runes were scratched were sacrificed b# the local
"o"ulace after the# had defeated inaders from farther east. It was the
inaders #ho had carved these runes soe#here in present-da% >#eden" not
+he inhabitants of the land where the obNects were found. As the situation
stands! it seems that before about /33 C.7. the runes were $nown onl# in the
regions of the odern areas of ?enar(" >chles#i$-Holstein" southern
I
KK---
1/ 1 J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
Sweden G"erha"s also on the islands of &land and EotlandH! and southeastern
2orwa#. As the 2orth Eermanic and 7ast Eermanic "eo"les s"read
east#ard and south#ard" the% too( the runes #ith the" so that scattered
inscriptions have been found in present-da% Poland" ,ussia" ,uania"
Hun$ar%" and @u$oslavia. The runic tradition reained continuous in
Scandinaia until the end of the 9iddle Ages. &ne of the most remar$able
Scandinaian traditions was that of the bracteates! cared between 453 and
553 C.7. in (enmar$ and southern Sweden Gsee figure 1.6 on "age 16H. Two
other distinct #et organicall# related traditions are re"resented b# the Anglo=risian
runes Gused in 7ngland and =risia from ca. 453 to 1133 C.7.H and the
South Eermanic runes Girtuall# identical to the 2orth Eermanic futhar$H
used in central and southern Eerman# Gsome finds in modem SwitLerland
and AustriaH from a""ro%imatel# 553 to 553 C.7.
=uthar$ Inscriptions
)e hae seen e%am"les of inscri"tions that re"resent the futhar$ row!
com"letel# or in fragments! from the elder "eriod. The# a""ear in
chronological order in figure 1./.
The 8#ler stone Gwhich was "art of the inside of a grae chamberH!
combined with later eidence from manuscri"t runes! shows that the original
order of the final two staes was (-& and that the Erum"an and .adstena
bracteates Gwhich are thin dis$s of gold stam"ed with s#mbolic "ictogra"hs
and used as amuletsH were er# commonl# fashioned with runes as "art of
their designs. The 8#ler stone has! howeer! reersed the thirteenth and
fourteenth staes to read C-71 instead of the usual 71-C order. The *euchte
broochcontainsonl% the firstfive runes scratched into its reverseside in the
futhar$ order! followed b# two ideogra"hic runes-+ r+ elha. and + S+ +
/era-for "rotection and good fortune. /n the column of *reLa G"art of a
ruined *#Lantine church and "robabl# cared b# a EothH we find a futhar$
fragmet bro$en off after the <-stae and with the *-stae left out. The
Charna% brooch also presents a fra$ent" but it sees intentional for
magical "ur"oses. The brooch of ABuincum bears the first tettforthe futhar$
coplete. 2&or discussions of the various aspects of the celt s%ste" see
cha"ters 5 and 9.H
The Elder Runes I 13

Figure 1./. The 'lder Futharklnscri0tions: a) The (lver1tone$ ca. 2334 b)

The &adstenalMotala bracteates$ ca. 253-5534 c) The +rum0an bracteate$
ca. 253-5534 d) The 6euchtefibula$ ca. 253-5534 e) The marble column of
6re.a$ ca. 5534 f) The 7harna fibula$ ca. 553--334 g) The Aquincum
fibula$ ca. 553.
>urve% of the .lder Continental
and >candinavian Inscriptions
The ost convenient #a% to approachexoteric runic histor% is based on
me stud% of the various t%pes of aterials or ob+ects on #hich staves are
cared seen through a chronological "ers"ectie. Eenerall#! there are two
r()es of ohNeets+ G1H loose! "ortable ones GNewelr#! wea"ons! etcH! which
14: J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
ma# hae been cared in one "lace and found hundreds orthousands of miles
awa#O and G/H fi%ed! immobile obNects GstonesH! which cannot be moed at
all! or at least not er# far.
9&*1<7 &*07CTS
'nnes are found cared on a wide ariet# of obNects+ wea"ons Gswords!
s"earheads and shafts! shield bossesH! brooches Galso called fibulae)$
amnlets Gmade of wood! stone! and boneH! tools! combs! rings! drin$ing
horns! statuettes! bo%es! bracteates! buc$les! and arious metal fittings
originall# on leather or wood. 9ost of these had magical functions.
The runic s"earheads belong to one of the oldest magico-religious
traditions among the 1ndo-7uro"eans! and the# are among the oldest $nown
inscri"tions. The blade of 3re-Stabu G2orwa#H was! until the recent 9eldorf
find! the oldest dated runic artifact Gca. 153 C.7.H. &n Eotland! the
s"earhead of 9oos dates from /33 to /53. =arther south and to the east! we
find the blades of 8oel! 'oLado! and (ahmsdorf Gall from ca. /53H.
There is also the blade of )urmlingen! which is much later Gca. 633H.
All but 8oel G"lowed n" b# a farmerH and )urmlingen were found in
creation $raves. The 5unnlin$en blade is fro an inhuation $rave.
Joweer! their "rimar# function was not funerar#O the# "robabl# were
clanic treasures of magical im"ort that were burned andlor buried with the
chieftain. The magical use of the s"ear in the warrior cult is well $nown in
the0eranic tradition. Hurlin$a spearintoorovertheene%beforeabattle
~.rt:
~
S--------#1 0
~i5io)OA! @ II II ,, *
ajnar
Figure !3. 10earhead of 8ahmsdorf
The Elder Runes I 1
#as a #a% of KgiingK the to &dhinn! that is! of sacrificing them to the $od.
&dhinn himself is said to do this in the "rimal battle described in the
K.iilus"aK Gst. /4H+
&dhinn had shot his s"ear
over the host
This practice is also (no#n fro sa$a sources.
As an e%am"le of these "owerful talismanic obNects we will e%amine
the blade of (abmsdorfGfound while digging the foundation of a train station
in 1465H. It is now lost. The blade is made of iron with siler inla# and is
"robabl# of *urgundian origin. It is es"eciall# interesting because it bears
man# other s#mbols besides the runes! as figure 1.> shows. &n the runic side
#e see a lunar crescent" a tamga 2a a$ical si$n probabl% of >aratian
originHO the nonrunic side shows a tris$elion GtrifosH! a sun-wheel Gswasti$aH!
and another crescent. The runic inscri"tion reads from right to left+ Ran/a.
This is the magical name Gin the form of a noun agentH of the s"ear itself. It is
derived fro the verb rinnan 2to runA6 hence" *the runner.* Its function #as"
in a magical sense! Kto run the enem# throughK and destro# them.
The brooches! which were used to hold together the cloa$s or outer
$arents of both en and #oen" #ere in use fro ver% ancient ties 2see
+ermania$ cha"ter 15H. As such! the# were er# "ersonal items and ideal for
transforation into talisans throu$h the runeaster=s craft. And indeed it
seems that the maNorit# of the twele maNor inscri"tions in this class Gdating
from the end of the second centur# to the si%thH hae an e%"ressl# magical
function. In six cases this includes a Krunemaster forula* in #hich a special
a$ical nae for the runeaster is used. The a$ical function is either as a
bringer of good fortune GactieH or as a "assie amulet for "rotection.
=or an e%am"le ofthis t#"e of inscri"tion we might loo$ at the brooch of
.erlese! #hich #as found in a #oan=s inhuation $rave in BCDD. This
gilded siler rosette fibula dates from about /33 C.7. The s#mbolog# of the
ob+ect also includes a sun-#heel" #hich #as part of the ori$inal desi$n"
whereas the runes were "robabl# cared later+ at least we can tell that the#
#ere carved #ith a different techni7ue. The inscription can be read in fi$ure
134.
a$+ 3 &
Figure 1!"! #cerlese inscription
9- : J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
~ ('/\x ~~
4. /1. /. 5. /4. />.
Figure 1.5. ;umerical analsis of the <cerloseformula
The .rerhAlse runes are difficult to inter"ret linguisticall#. Cerha"s it is
an otherwise un$nown magical formula made u" of the well-$nown alu
2a$ical po#er" inspiration6 #hich canbe understood in aprotectivesenseA"
"lus god GgoodH. The meaning could therefore be Kwell-being through
magical "ower.K It also could be a two-word formulaO for e%am"le! =alu Dis
wished b#P Eod GagaLH!K with the last word being a "ersonal name ma$ing
use of an ideogra"h to com"lete the name. Joweer! the magical formulaic
d%naiscontainedin its nuerical valueis clear" as #e see in fi$ure B.E.
The numerolog# of the .rerl#Nse formula is a "rime e%am"le of how
nubers ofpo#er i$ht have been #or(edinto runicinscriptions. Here#e
see a ninefold increase of the ultiversal po#er of thenuber nine #or(in$
in the real of six. >ee chapter BB for ore details on runic nuerolo$%.
The bracteates were certainl# talismanic in function. )ell oer 433 of
them are $nown! of which a""ro%imatel# 1>3 hae runic inscri"tions. These
were not carved but rather stam0ed into the thin gold dis$s with the rest of the
design! most commonl# an ada"tation of a 'oman coin. The iconogra"h# of
these ,oan coins" #hich often sho# the eperor on a horse" #as co"letel#
reinter"reted in the Eermanic territor#! where it came to s#mboliLe
Figure 1.6. Runic $racteate of %ie&ern
The Elder Runes I 1'
$
tawide
w
hagiradaR
Figure 1.4. +arbelle formula
Figure B.F. 1ievern $racteate inscription
either &dhinn or *aldr. It is Buite "ossible that the bracteates re"resent
religious icons of the &dhinic cult.
The *racteate de"icted in figure 1.6 comes from a Eerman find near
Sieem Ga total of eleen bracteatesH. The iconogra"h# of the Sieem
bracteate is also interestin$. Accordin$ to Garl Hauc(" the curious formation
issuing from the mouth of the head is a re"resentation of the Kmagical
breathK and the "ower of the word "ossessed b# the god &dhinn. This can
also be seen in re"resentations of the god 9ithras. The inscri"tion was badl#
damaged but "robabl# reads as inter"reted in fignre 1.5. This reading can be
mderstood as r>uno.) writu 1 care the runesH! a t#"ical magical formula for
a runeaster to copose.
As an e%am"le of a wooden obNect "resered b# this "rocess we might
ta$e the #ew bo% of Earbelle Gon Fealand! (enmar$H found em"t# in 1945.
11 is designed li$e a modern "encil bo% with a sliding to" and dates from
0roUnd 433 C.7. The inscri"tion can be read in figure 1.4. The runes are
!KKK!rall# inter"reted Hagirada. , tawide: KJagirad DKone s$illful in council"-
wor$ed Dthe staesP in Dthe bo%P.K The fie ertical "oints after the
Ata%es indicate that the reader should count fie staes bac$ from there to
.meoer the "ower behind the runes G+. ~ +H.
There is also a whole range of fairl# uniBue obNects that are difficult to
.+lassif#. 9an# of them are tools and other eer#da# obNects that hae been
+mned into talismans! whereas some! such as the famous horns of Eallehus
d the rin$ of Cietroassa! are interestin$ #or(s of art.
Thering ofCietroass a Gca. >53-433H ma$es a suitable e%am"le for these
miBue obNects. It is Gor wasH a gold neck ring with a diameter of about 6
18 I J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
=1I7( &*07CTS
X111' ~ iI ~ GQP ~ rH~ I ~ ~ .
!"tanl# wihail a$
Figure 1!(! Formula of )ietroassa
7ssentiall#! there are three t#"es of fi%ed obNects in the elder tradition! all of
them in stone but of differing $inds and functions. There are first the roc$
carings! cut directl# into roc$ faces! cliffs! and the li$e. Then there are the
so-called bauta stones. These stones are s"eciall# chosen and dressed and
then moed to some "redetermined "osition. The final grou" is made u" of
bauta stones that also hae "ictogra"hs cared on them.
=our roc$ carings date from between 433 and 553! and all are on the
>candinavian peninsula. The%allseeto haveaa$ico-cultic eanin$ and
often refer to the runeaster" even $ivin$ hints as to the structure of the
7rulian cult.
All of the inscri"tions sere as a $ind of initiator# declaration of "ower
in #hich the runeaster carves one or ore of his a$ical nic(naes or
titles. This t#"e of formula can be used to sanctif# an area! to "rotect it! or
even to cause certain specific odifications in the environent.
inches that would be o"ened and closed with a clas"li$e mechanism. The
ring! along with twent#-two other golden obNects Gsome with NewelsH! was
found in 14>5 under a great limestone bloc$ b# two 'umanian farmers.
Unfortunatel#! almost all of the artifacts hae since disa""eared or hae
been heail# damaged. &f the ring onl# the "ortion with the inscri"tion itself
survives" andthatin t#o pieces. These ob+ects see to have been the sacred
ritual instruments belonging to a "agan Eothic "riest-chieftain G"erha"s een
Athanaric hiself;A. A nec( rin$#as the insi$niaof soverei$n po#ersinthe
"re-Christian Eermanic world. =igure 1.9 gies the runic forms as we can
now read them. The# are to be inter"reted as +utani +HG + wih-hailag$ An
unclear sign between runes seen and eight is "robabl# a tris$elion! and the
eighth rune itself is "robabl# to be read as an ideogra"h (~ othala$ hereditar#
"ro"ert#H. Therefore! the translation of the whole formula would be
something li$e KThe hereditar# "ro"ert# of the Eoths! sacrosanct.K
The Elder Runes I 1(
NIf\If'~rpIP f'~
e$ i I a / 0 I 0 I a
Figure 9.93. &eblungsnes formula
The sim"lest e%am"le is "roided b# the roc$ wall of .eblungsnes in
central 2orwa# Gseefigure 1.13H! which dates from about 553. 1n words! the
.eblungsnes formula would read ek irila. ,iwila: K1 DamP the 7rulian
)iwila.K G2ote that+ !1 ' is a bind rune combination of+ 9+ and+ K +H. The
formula consists of the first person pronoun *I"* the initiator% title irila*
Gdialect ariation of erila.)$ the 7rulian Gwidel# understood sim"l# as
KrunemasterKH! and the personal nae. This nae is" ho#ever" not the
normal $iven nae of the runeasterbut a hol% or initiator% nae. It eans
H*the little sanctified one* or *the little one #ho sanctifies.* It i$ht be
"ointed out that the name ,iwila. is a diminutie form of ,iwa.$ which is
also found on the stone ofTune! and it is related to the god name )ihaL! G&2
.el. 1n this formula the runemaster! or 7rulian! sanctifies an area b# his
a$ical presence. He does this b% first assuming a divine persona and then
acting #ithin that persona b% carvin$ the runes.
+auta stones are the forerunners of the $reat runestones of the Ii(in$
Age. Such stones date from between the middle of the fourth centur# to the
end of the seenth! but the# continue to deelo" be#ond this time.
1nscri"tions of this $ind are almost alwa#s connected with the cult of
the dead and funerar# rites andlor customs. As is well $nown! this is an
im"ortant "art of the general Cult of &dhinn and one with which the runes
were alwa#s dee"l# bound. Sometimes the runes were used to "rotect the
dead fro #ould-be $rave robbers or sorcerers" soeties the% #ere
em"lo#ed to $ee" the dead in their graes Gto "reent the dreaded a0trgongumenn
DKwal$ing deadKP! and sometimes the runes were used to effect a
counication #ith the dead for a$ical or reli$ious purposes.
The stone of 8alleb#! the formula of which can be seen in figure 1.11
on "age /3! is an e%am"le of the runemasterAs craft to cause the dead to sta#
intheir $raves" or at least to returnto the $rave afterhavin$ #andered abroad
for a #hile. These conceptions are coon in an% ancient cultures. In the
Eermanic world! the KundeadK were often reanimated b# the will of a
sorcerer and sent to do his bidding.
I
--
/3 : J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
!"~ f1%flfl1& 2#"~I~~$%"
Figure 1.11. (alleb formula
The 8alleb# formula is to be read from right to left thrawi/an . haitina.
was: Khe Dthe dead manP was ordered to "ine Dfor the graeP.K The use of the
"ast tense is er# often found in magical inscri"tions for a twofold technical
reason+ G1H the basic magical dictum Kdo as if #our will was alread# done!K
and G/H the fact that the ritual that ensured the will of the runemaster had
alread# been "erformed before the actual effect was called u"on. These
conceptions are fundaental to the Eermanic #orld vie# concernin$ the
ultimate realit ofKthe "astK and its "owerto control what lies be#ond it. The
7rulian uses this to effect his will.
The "ictogra"hic stones combine runic s#mbolog# with "ictogra"hic
magic. This is es"eciall# clear in two of the stones! 7ggNum and 'oes! both
of which hae schematic re"resentatious of horses Gsee the 7-runeH. The
tradition of combining runestaes and "ictogra"hs a""ears to be er# old!
~r--'3 .~.
~ ~
Figure 1.1/. 1tone of Roes
The 'lder Runes : /1
since the oldest of the four inscri"tion dates from about 453 and the last
.'oesH from about 553. The techniBue would eentuall# flower into the great
"ictogra"hic runestone tradition of .i$ing Age Scandinaia.
Cerha"s the best e%am"le of the combination of the runes and the horse
nnage is seen on the Eollandic stone of 'oes Gsee figure 1. 1/.H This heft#
talisman Ga sandstone "late // b# >3 b# > inchesH was found under the roots
o, a ha8el bush durin$ the nineteenth centur%. The actualrunic formula can
be read in figure 1.1>. 1ts inter"retation is not without controers#! but the
best solution seems to be one that ma$es the com"le% figure a bind rune ofU
- ( 4 F! so that the whole could be readNu thin ?dd. rak: KUdd droe! or
sent this horse out.K *ut what is this su""osed to meanQ
&ld 2orse literature "roides us with a good clue to the significance of
+his s#mbol com"le%. 13 'gil@s 1aga Gcha"ter 55H we read how 7gil
iashioned a nidhstong or cursing "ole out of ha.el wood and affi%ed a horse@s
wad ato" it. This "ole of insult was intended to drie 7ri$ *lood-A% and his
i"Aen! Eunnhild! out of 2orwa#-and it wor$ed. GSee cha"ter 6 for more
oli'la.ils .5
*efore leaing the inscri"tions of the 7lder =uthar$ it seems "ro"er to
~. something about the language the# em"lo#. 1t was at about the time that
..!runestaes began to be used in writing that the Eermanic languages reall#
eegan to brea$ u" into distinct dialects. The language of the "eriod before the
+.ea0ru" is called Croto-Eermanic Gor EermanicH. There also seems to hae
>eeo an earl# differentiation in the north that can be called Croto-2ordic or
Crimitie 2orse. The Eoths who began migrating to the east Ginto "resenta.
( Coland and 'ussiaH from Scandinaia around the beginning of the
c..A11(1t1on 7ra deelo"ed the 7ast Eermanic dialect Gwhich "la#ed an im"or++
mtrole in the histor# ofthe earl# runic inscri"tionsH. &n the Continent to the
l(1lh a distinctie South Eermanic deelo"ed that eentuall# came to
a+1ude all Eerman! 7nglish! and =risian dialectsO whereas in the north
Filfure 1.1>. Roes formula
AA : J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
Croto-2ordic had eoled into )est 2orse Gin 2orwa#H and 7ast 2orse Gin
(enmar$ and SwedenH. 1n the first few centuries of the elder "eriod all of
these dialects were mutuall# intelligibleO and besides! the runemasters had a
tendenc# to use archaic forms in later inscri"tions because the# were often
ancient and long-standing magical formulas. It has been su""osed that there
was een a "an-Eermanic KsacredK dialect used and maintained 6( runemasters.
Anglo-=risian 'unes
There are as man# reasons for $ee"ing the 7nglish and =risian runic
traditions se"arate as there are for loo$ing at them together. The =risian
tradition is onl# s"arsel# $nown! but it is filled with magical "racticeO the
7nglish is better re"resented #et less oertl# magical in character. Joweer!
there are stri$ing similarities in the forms of indiidual staes! and this fact!
cou"led with the close cultural ties between the 7nglish and =risians
throughout earl# histor#! leads us to the conclusion that there was some lin$
in their runic traditions as well. Unfortunatel#! we hae no com"lete =risian
=uthor$.
=irst let us e%amine the rich 7nglish tradition. The oldest inscri"tion #et
found in the *ritish 1sles is that on the deer astragalus of Caistor-b#2orwich.
It "robabl# dates from the first real wae of Eermanic migration
during the latter "art of the fifth centur#. *ut it is "erha"s in fact a 2orth
Eermanic inscri"tion that was either im"orted or cared b# a KScandinaianK
runemaster. This "ossibilit# must be considered because the northern
form of the J-rune G+ 7 '5 is used and not the 7nglish+ 1+1 +. The dating and
distribution "atterns of 7nglish runic monuments are difficult because the
eidence is so s"arse and the obNects are for the most "art mobile. 1n all! there
are onl# about si%t# 7nglish runic artifacts! mostl# found in the eastern and
southeastern "arts of the countr# before 653 C.7. and mainl# in the 2orth
Countr# after that time. The e"igra"hical tradition Gi.e.! the "ractice of
carving runestaesH! which must hae begun in earnest as earl# as 453 C.7.!
was e%tinct b# the eleenth centur#. The runestaes found another outlet in
the manuscri0t tradition. These are aluable for our stud# but are rarel#
magical in nature.
The histor# of the 7nglish runic tradition can be diided into the two
"eriods mentioned aboe+ G1H "re-653 Gin which a good deal of heathen wa#s
surieH! and G/H 653 to 1133 Gwhich tends to be more ChristianiLed! with
less magical or esoteric "ractice in eidenceH.
The 'lder Runes : AB
The 7nglish =uthorc
The onl# futhorc inscri"tion that remains to us is on the somewhat
fault# Thames scramsa%! which dates from around 533 C.7. It is actuall# a
sam"le offine Anglo-Sa%on metalwor$ in which the craftsman inlaid siler!
co""er! and bronLe into matrices that had been cut into the iron blade. The
on+lerand sha"e ofthe runestaes can be seen in 'unic Table 11 Ga""endi% CH.
This futhorc is followed b# a KdecoratieK "attern! and then comes the
"ersonal name *eagnoth-"robabl# that of the swordsmith! not the
nmemaster. As can be seen! there are a number of what seem to be formal
errors as well as ones of ordering. All of this is due! no doubt! to *eagnothAs
misco"#ing of a model. It is fortunate that we hae more! if later! eidence
!lar shows that in fact the 7nglish runic tradition was both well deelo"ed
J8& er# close to the Continental one. This eidence comes from the
+nanuscri"t tradition. The most informatie document is! of course! the K&ld
7nglish 'une CoemK Gsee cha"ter 4H.
The K&ld 7nglish 'une CoemK contains a futhorc of twent#-eight
,..r9es3 the code% Salisbur# 143 and the St. 0ohnAs College 9S 15 also record
&ld 7nglish futhorcs of twent#-eight and thirt#-three staes! res"ectiel#.
TK-nother manuscri"t! the Cottonian (omitian A 9 een records a futhorc
~i&e& into attir$ Jere! it is significant that the fEU diisions are made in the
o3o%e "laces as those of the 7lder =uthar$. This demonstrates the enduring
S811re of the underl#ing traditions of the Eermanic row.
It seems that the oldest runic tradition in 7ngland was the Common
Eermanic row oftwent#-four runes! which was Buic$l# eC0anded to twent#!
11 Slaes! with a modification of the fourth and twent#-fourth runes+ G4H
+ + DaP became+ fK+ D3PO G/4H+ fQ+ had the "honetic alue DeePand later DeP.
... .0ddition! the staefonn+ ~ + was relocated to "osition /5 and named fESC
.>!!ih treeH. These changes too$ "lace as earl# as the si%th centur#. As the
70r!g1ish language eoled and changed! so did the &ld 7nglish futhorc. This
, +be normal wa#an al"habet deelo"s. As a sound s#stem of a language
ac.--omes more com"le%! so does its writing s#stem.
The use of 7nglish runes can be diided into three main classes+
<oose obNects
=i%ed obNects Ge.g.! stonesH
9anuscri"ts
1rloose obNects re"resent the broadest categor#. The# are generall# the
a8est t#"e of inscri"tion! #et the# "ersist to a late date. Unfortunatel#!
~. of them are fragmentar# or damaged to such an e%tent that e%act
/4 1 mST&'1CA< <&'7
Figure 1.1'. ,aistor-$--Norwich inscription
readings are almost im"ossible. 9ost of the mobile obNects hae the runes
scratched into etal" bone" or #ood6 ho#ever" soe represent the staves b%
ore intricate techni7ues of etal#or( 2see the Thaes scrasaxA or fine
wood:bone caring Ge.g.! the famous =ran$s Cas$etH. The &ld 7nglish
runestones ostl% date fro the Christian period and see to represent a
"seudo-Christian ada"tation of the tradition! but the# ma# still hae magical
iport. !ostof theareactuall%eorial stones orstonecrossesand#ere
cared b# s$illful stonemasons.
There is no &ld 7nglish manuscri"t entirel# written in runestaes! but
the% are nevertheless #idel% represented in the literature" #here the% serve
both cr#"tic and "ragmatic ends. Two runes were ada"ted b# the 7nglish for
writing with "en and "archment in the 'oman al"habetO the# were the U:
' ~ ' [thJ(thorn DthornPH and the , S+ r+[wJ(wynn DNo#PH. =rom there this
orthogra"hic "ractice was ta$en to Eerman# and to Scandinaia.
The Caistor-b#-2orwich inscri"tion mentioned aboe is a good e%am"le
of the loose t#"e of obNect from an earl# "eriod. 1ts runes a""ear in
figure 1.14. This bone was found with twent#-nine other similar ones
Gwithout runesH! along with thitt#-three small c#lindrical "ieces! in a cremation
urn. It is possible that the ob+ects #ere used as lots in divinator% rites.
The inscri"tion itself is difficult to inter"ret! but it ma# mean Kthe colorerK or
Kthe scratcherK and be a hol# name of the runemaster.
~ A ~
KK c 3
Figure 1.15. 7hessel 8own formula
YQ /I
s C7 r
The Elder Runes. /
Figure 1.16. %andwich inscription
An explicit exaple of a$ic used b% the &dhinic neasters is hard
llJ come b# in the 7nglish material! but the scabbard mount of Chessel (own
Asee figure 1.15H is "robabl# one. The inscri"tion was scratched on the bac$
o, the fitting and is thus inisible when in "lace. It might be translated as
KTerrible one! wound Dthe enem#P!K 1f this is so! then aco Gterrible oneH
KAould be the name of the sword! and sceri Gwound D!( its charge.
An interestin$ exaple of a a$ical runestone fro the pa$an period is
"roided b# the seenth-centur# Sandwich stone. It "robabl# re"resents the
l1a11le ofthe runemaster! /ehe6$l, and was originall# "art ofthe interior of a
~'e. The text" as best it can be ade out" can be read in fi$ure B.BJ.
Among the manuscri"t uses of the runes! the one most a""roaching
magical "ractice is the concealment of secret meanings in te%ts through the
.!.! of runes. &ne such te%t is found in 'iddle 19 ofthe 'Ceter 6ook$ 1 which
translated from &7 would read+
1 saw a ~ k;l*9GhorseH with a bold mind and a bright head! gallo"
Buic$l# oer theferrile meadow. It had a i(~9GmanH! "owerful in
battle! on its bac$! he did not ride in studded armor. Je was fast in
his course oer the r%M~ Gwa#sH and carried a strong ~ !"!*!" !",*I
Ghaw$H. The Nourne# was brighter for the "rogress of such as these.
Sa# what 1 am called ...
Jere! the runes s"ell out words! but the# are written backwards in the te%t.
So the runic words read hors GhorseH! mon GmanH! wega Gwa#sH! and haofoc
Vhaw$H. Joweer! and this is a remar$able and m#sterious thing! the
forthe ori$inal text see &rederic( Tupper 2ed.A The Riddles ofthe Exeter +oo0 29oston: 0inn"
:CB4A: BD-BE. The translation here is % o#n. >ee also Paul &. 9au 2trans." ed.A" 1nglo0lan
Riddles of the Exeter +oo0 2?urha" )C: ?u(e -niversit% Press" BCJKA.
/6 : J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
individualrune names #ereto be readin theorderas #ritten so thatthepoe
would hae its "ro"er alliteration.
=risian 'unestaes
2o =risian =uthor$ e%ists! but we do hae a small bod# of interesting
inscriptions. There have been about sixteen $enuine &risian onuents
found so far Gthere are also a number offa$esH. The# date from between the
sixth andninthcenturies. These inscriptions are$enerall%foundon #ooden
or bone obNects that hae been "resered in the moist soil of the =risian
ter"ens Gartificial mounds of earth engineered in the marshes as an earl# form
of land reclamationH.
&risian runic onuents see to havea distinctl% a$ical character"
butan% of them aredifficult to interpret. 5e can be sure thatthe% occur in a
solid pa$ancontext because this conservativere$ion" often under the leadership
of heroic (in$s such as 'adbod! resisted the reli$ious encroachent of
the Christians-along with the "olitical subersion of the Carolingian
epire-until the late seventh centur%.5e can even safel% assue a period
of reluctant religious com"liance until long after that.
&ne of the most interesting! if difficult and com"le% e%am"les of these
&risian pieces is the *a$ic #and* or talisan of 9ritsu 2fi$ure B.BFA"
which was found in 1936 and which dates from between 553 and 653. The
wand is made of #ew and is about 5 inches long. Side A of the inscri"tion
IIl(I % # )l A
Figure 1.15. ,and of 6ritsum
L....++++W
~ B
The Elder Runes I /'
reads from left to right+ thin faber! et uh! side * can be read from right to
left+ birih" #f" The damaged "art of the "iece cannot be read. The whole
formula is translated KAlwa#s carr# this #ew DstaePI There is "ower [uh$
in it. 1 am carried .... K It might be "ointed out that the seen-"oint
diiding sign on side * indicates the seenth rune following the mar$erO that
is. + I ' Gin this inscri"tionH W + 1 + #ew-the "ower contained in the
forula.
/
#i0ilt( Li$e 1\y-nes
2344-BB44 C.'E.)
As with all historical e"ochs! the .i$ing Age was not a sudden deelo"ment
t.+n rather the result of a long! continuous "rocess that had begun in the last
centuries 9.C... #ith the firstoveents of the Cibri andTeutones fro
>candinavia-that *5ob of )ations"* as the 0othic historian Lordanes
calle& it.
1n the #ears around 433 Scandinaia was undergoing a number of
+mernal changes and ta$ing new directions. Sweden Ges"eciall# EotlandH
Sad alread# begun to deelo" the trade routes to the east among the Slas!
routes that would eentuall# reach *#Lantium! *aghdad! and Cersia. 1n
(enmar$ "owerful $ings GEodftid and Jori$H were beginning to sha"e the
?anish *nation* b% usterin$ vast aries and i$ht% retinues. )or#a%"
-Kweer! in its isolated and geogra"hicall# fragmented condition! held to
0(C0re local institutions and conseratie wa#s. Although "arts of Sweden
!U""land and EotlandH and certain areas in the (anish archi"elago had long
lo'en wealth#! the rest of Scandinaia was Nust beginning to accumulate
wealth andto$ro# inne# #a%s at thistie. ThefirstIi(in$raid#ascarried
- b# 2orwegians in 59> on the monaster# at <indesfarne G2orthumbriaH!
ill1owed b# raids on 9on$wearmoth G594H and 1ona G595H! all of which
~&e& the dawn of the .i$ing Age.
>3 : J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
~~p~R~N)I*~tB ~ ,<! ~
0ust as the historical .i$ing Age was the result of a long "rocess! so too
was the eolution of the ;ounger =uthar$ from the older one. An e%amination
of 7lder =uthar$ inscri"tions and alternate forms of elder runes will
sho# that stave fors that #ere to becoe standard in the @oun$er &uthar(
#ere alread% in use fro about J44 *.+. The evolution fro the elder to the
#ounger tradition too$ "lace at a fairl# ra"id "ace during the eighth centur#!
so that b# 433 the new! s#stematicall# formed ;ounger =uthar$! reduced
fro t#ent%-four to sixteen staves" had been copleted" institutionali8ed"
and disseminated throughout all of the Scandinaian lands.
The ;ounger =uthar$ is a "urel# Scandinaian cultural "henomenon!
althou$h an% inscriptions are found outside >candinavia" ainl% in the
*ritish 1sles and in the east. All of these inscri"tions were cared b# 2ordic
runeasters.
It is Buite certain that all of this deelo"ment too$ "lace within a
traditional cuitic frae#or(--other#ise the older alterations and the eventual
reforation of the ro# #ould not have ta(en place in such a uniform
fashion and be s"read with such s"eed and "recision oer such a wide
expanse. In an% #a%s the histor% of the %oun$er reformation runs parallel
to the ori$inal foration of the elder tradition. /ne of the a+or contrasts"
howeer! is the wa# in which staes of the #ounger =uthar$ were Buic$l#
altered Gin some cases drasticall#H in certain regions. This ma# "oint to an
increased fra$entation in the tradition" but the fact that it held onto its
internal s%ste of order 2nuberA" phonetic values" and 2Rtf divisions" as
well as to the traditional modes of use Gi.e.! carving$ not writingH! testifies to
the strength of the dee"-leel tradition.
5e can suppose that the ori$inal" refored *Coon )ordic* rune
row a""eared in the form we see in figure /.1. Joweer! the final and most
standard ersion of the =uthar$ a""eared in the slightl# different form that
we see in figure /./.
The deelo"ment of this futhar$ was de"endent on a combination of
lin$uistic and a$ical criteria. 9ut in discussin$ the role of lin$uistic chan$e
in the evolution of the %oun$er ro#" it ust be noted thatthe evidence sho#s
$ th ark h n A s 6 % -/
Figure /.1. 7ommon ;ordic Futhark
L..
k
s
-/
a
A
th
%
$
n
6
h
+:.~.$.,e /./. 1tandard ;ordic Futhark
&iking Age Runes : B9
this to be strictl# secondar#. The elder row could hae been ada"ted easil#
Aas indeed it has been earlierH to an# sound changes that might hae occurred
in the language. *ut this was not done. 1nstead! as the language deelo"ed a
more com"le% sound s#stem! it sim"lified its writing s#stem-an unheard of
eent in the histor# of orthogra"h#. This is accounted for b# the fact that the
reformation too$ "lace for e%tralinguistic! magico-religious reasons.
*efore we get into the traditional eolution! it is im"ortant to recount
some of the maNor linguistic chauges and how the# were reflected b# the
sraes! so that a KgrammarK of the inscri"tions will be clearer. To begin with!
+he "honetic alue of+ !" ' had alwa#s been uncertain! and it rarel# a""eared
e%ce"t in magical formulaic inscri"tionsK Also! + i= ' alternating with+ t. '
.+hanged its "honetic alue at an earl# date Gca. >??5 in the north because an
original initialN was generall# lost in 2ordic at that time. A neat e%am"le of
iris rule is "roided b# the rune name itself! where Eermanic /era became
Crimitie 2orse /ar$ which deelo"ed into &ld 2orse or + l* '. Jence! the
ORbonetic alue of the stae goes from &0 to DaP. 1n addition! + ~ + went from
:~- to a nasaliLed form @a-. It is also im"ortant to notice the new ambiguit# of
+he whole writing s#stem! where man# staes now hae to re"resent two or
(&Te sounds Gsee Table > in the A""endi%.H
The traditional elements indicate the continuit# of the two s#stems!
",-"*lhelder and #ounger. These elements clearl# show that the transition from
..+me s#stem to the other was carried out within a cu1tic framewor$ and that the
ie;Kelo"ers of the #ounger row had $nowledge of the elder row and its
>/: J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
traditions. This conclusion is bolstered b# the fact that all ofthis too$ "lace in
what was essentiall# a nonliterate societ#. =or although the runes were a
form of writing! the# had not #et been generall# "ut to the tas$ of sim"le and
profaneinterpersonal counication.&orone huanbein$ to be informed
about a com"le% s#stem of an# $ind Ge.g.! runeloreH he had to be told about it
b# another human being. 1n those da#s the would-be runester could not go to
a librar# and "ic$ u" a dust# tome about a long dead tradition and reanimate
it.
The first element in this s#stem is the continuit# in the linear order ofthe
staes! es"eciall# the first si%+ =-U-TJ-A-'-8O otherwise! none of the
staes of the ;ounger =uthar$ is dis"laced from its relatie "osition in the
elder ro#. Certain elder staves aredropped" anda ne# ordereer$es. The
one e%ce"tion to this rule is+ .@. + D-'P! which is moed to the end ofthe whole
row. This is "erha"s due to the fact that it occurred onl# at the ends of words!
but it also a% have soethin$ to do #ith a conscious effort to preserve
certain elements ofthe ancient %ett s#stem. As we saw with regard to the elder
"eriod! the %ett s#stem was an integral "art ofthe elder tradition. GSee cha"ter
C for ore esoteric aspects.A The continuit% of this unusual feature is ore
evidence for the conscious anipulations of a cultic institution. The firstatt
of the %oun$er ro# is ade up of the first six staves of the elder" in an
unaltered order. It is also im"ortant that the second and third ettir begin with
the same two staes as in the elder "eriod! i.e.! J-2 and T-*! res"ectiel#.
This! combined with the necessit# of a s#mmetrical diision following the
mandator# si%fold first %ett& necessitated the moement of+ .1-+ D-'P to the
endO otherwise it would hae caused the third %ett to begin with + ~ +. 1n an#
event" the continuation" andindeed stren$thenin$" ofthe threefold $roupin$
is a trul# remar$able characteristic.
Sim"ler corres"ondences are nonetheless amaLing. The leel of continuit%
of stave forsis note#orth%: eleven forsreained unchan$ed" and
three changed staes actuall# re"resent older alternate forms Gi.e.! + : :9
+ tA +! + i% '(' X+H and the irtuall# interchangeable i ;, '(' t .,which originall#
deelo"ed from a+ %.+ form. That leaes onl# two that "ose an# "roblems
at allO + 11+ became+ r ', and+ 2+ became+ 'A: '. These are e%"licable on
formal grounds. The #ounger row generall# made all double staes into
single ones! so that b# moing the head staes together! the new forms + @<:
and+ A:.. + would emerge. The+ /.: was alread# an old unaltered form! so the
modification+ KA+ was "referred. This latter form is also e%"licable on
esoteric grounds Gsee cha"ter 13H.
Anotherrear(able eleent is that of the continuit% of therunenaes
and hence their "rimar# "honetic alues. Although we do not hae an#
&iking Age Runes : BB
sources for the elder rune naes" a cobination of the coparative stud% of
the languages in which the names do a""ear Gi.e.! &7! Eo.! and &2 and the
stud# of the ideogra0hic use of the elder runes Gsee! for e%am"le! the ring of
Cietroassa! on "age 14H indicate that the later names are indeed a continuation
of an age-old s#stem. The &ld 2orse tradition "reseres the names in
rune "oems Gsee cha"ter 4H. The onl# a""arent diergence is in the D-'P + ..@- +
!T! K#ewK GbowH! from D-'P + AlA+ elha.$ Kel$.K Joweer! the elder alternate
form+ 't' 'has been inter"reted as originall# haing to do with tree s#mbolism
Gsee the four cosmic harts @ el$sQP in the limbs of ;ggdrasillH. Also!
rbe second rune" : BM .! has received a secondar% eanin$" *dri88lin$ rain"*
..rhich is e%"licable on m#thical! cosmogonic grounds Gsee cha"ter 13H.
It seems necessar# to assign an original homeland to the ;ounger
=uthar$ because it would be difficult to account for two simultaneousl#
deelo"ing identical s#stems in both 2orwa#:Sweden and (enmar$. *ased
#Il the evidence" the ost li(el% location for this phenoenon is extree
soethern 2orwa# and the adNacent Swedish region! where runic actiit# had
remained strong through the end of the elder "eriod. The time of this
formanon would hae been the closing decades of the eighth centur#. =rom
!his location it Buic$l# s"read to (enmar$. There it fell on fertile ground and
began to reiif# the runic tradition in the (anish archi"elago. 1n (enmar$ it
~ slightl# modified and became the most influential model for future runic
.ievelopent. This situation spran$ fro the $eneral $ro#th in ?anish
Laltural and "olitical influence in the region at this time.
All of this leads us to a discussion of the ost coon forms of the
fulbar$ actuall# codified in .i$ing Age Scandinaia. (es"ite the ariations
.. the shapes of individual staves" the% aintained a consistent inner struc.-
e and or$ani8ation.
&ro the ori$inal codification in and around southern )or#a% and
SKAeden! the ;ounger =uthar$ s"read to (enmar$! where the codified forms
-.ere generall# those found in figure /.>. This (anish row was to become the
,l-tcommon of all futhar$s. It lasted from the ninth centur# to the eleenth
-.! was the model for een later deelo"ments.
~ h ! C/~ B1- %%i~ t ~ 1T ~ 1
~ $ th a k h n A s t 6 % -/
+~e /.>. 8anish Futhark
-
B2 i J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
,* 1@ ~ ~ ~ rA+ t ~ I r* I 1 ~ t I
$ th a r k h n i A s t 6 % -/
Figure /.4. R-k Futhark
7 @ :
I 5 I 5 I @ ( I "* / "
$ th a r ""k*"* h n i A s t 6 % I -/
Figure /.5. Hiilsinga Futhark
The (anish =uthar$ was! howeer! Buic$l# reformed in some areas on
the Scandinaian "eninsula. *# 453! in southern 2orwa# and in &stergotland"
>#eden" a siplified ro# #as developed" #hich can be seen in fi$ure
C.1
This is $enerall% (no#n as the ,J( ro# after the ost faous inscription
in this futhar$! the '6$ stone. These "articular stae forms lasted onl#
until the latter half of the tenth centur#! when the# were again re"laced b# the
more standard (anish t#"e.
*esides these two main futhar$ st#les in use during the .i$ing Age in
Scandinaia! in Sweden there was the s"oradic use of a radicall# sim"lified
stae s#stem! later called the Jalsinga runes Gafter the "roince in which
the# are foundH. These are generall# formed b# remoing the head stae
from the form. A futhar$ of such staes is shown in figure /.5.
This ro# is rare in inscriptions" and it has been speculated that it #as
actuall% a runic shorthand used in ore profane counications and for
legal affairs. It might hae been in use as earl# as the tenth centur#! but the
most famous inscri"tions date from the middle of the eleenth. Although the
Jalsinga runes #ere never ore than a local convention" it is note#orth%
that the# remained a "art of the ancient tradition.
Ii(in$ Age Inscriptions
5e can" for the ost part" find ever% (indof inscription in the %oun$er
"eriod that we found in the elder one! butthe t#"e that comes to "redominate-inthe
evidence #e have is thatof the eorial stone. This is duein "art-toits
&iking Age Runes : B5
durable character. Joweer! talismans of arious $inds remain an im"ortant
)art of the record as well. To date! around 5!333 #ounger runic monuments
of all t#"es hae been found! but this number continues to grow as .i$ing
Age settlements are e%caated.
'U21C 979&'1A< ST&27S
The tradition of caring! first! graestones Ger# often found within the
grae with a direct magical functionH! and later! memorial stones with
A!ACarent magical im"ort dates bac$ to the elder "eriod. The bauta stones
..-ere! of course! closel# connected to the grae. The #ounger tradition
seiLed on this idea and made it a mainsta# of its wor$. 1n the #ounger "eriod
such stones were not necessaril# so closel# associated with the grae itself!
%&therefore the# are better referred to as memorials. This tradition began in
(enmar$ around 433. It should be noted that this new bursting forth of
reiified runic "ractice coincided with the rece"tion of the reformed futhar$
EDi historicall# in connection with the ideological threat from Christianit# in
the south.
A famous e%am"le of an ancient form of graestone! which actuall#
re"resents the transition between the bauta- and memorial-stone t#"es! is
found on the stone of Snoldele Gsee figure /.6H. This stone! which dates
from between 433 and 4/5! was "robabl# originall# "laced within the grae
1&CJ..md! but its formula bears some resemblances to the later memorials. It is
also interesting to note that the stone )d.S used for cultic "ur"oses as earl# as
Figure /.6. 1noldelev stone
B- : J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
the *ronLe Age Gca. 1533-533 *.C.7.H. )e $now this because a sun-wheel
sign is still barel# isible Gwith "ro"er lightingH on its face Gsee dotted lines
on fi$ure ..6/. Its inscription is to be_ transliterated:
$un uAltstAin suna'
ruhalts thula' asalhau$u GmH DQP
which can be translated+ KEunaidAs stone! the son of 'ohald! the thulr .~
cultic s"ea$er in the cult of &dhinnP at Salhaugen.K
>noldelev is especiall% interestin$ for its testion% concernin$ an
official title within the &dhinic cult Gthe &2 thulr and the &7 thle)$ which
has to do #ith the role of the a$ician<priest as a cu1tic reciter of la#"
incantation! m#thic song! and the li$e-and the "owerful hol# signs! the
three interloc$ed drin$ing horns Ga s#mbol of the &dhinic cultH and the
solar-wheel:swasti$a. G2ote the relationshi" hetween the later solar wheel
and the older sun-wheel sign.H
A more classic e%am"le of the memorial-stone tradition is "roided b#
the great Str6 stone from near the illage of Str6 in southern Sweden
GS$aaneH. The stone dates from about 1333 and was originall# "art of a
$rave-ound coplex of seven stones 2t#o #ith runic inscriptionsA.
Although the mound has since fallen in! this was one of the first runic
monuments to be described b# &le )orm in 16/4.
The staes! which can be read in figure /.5! are e%ecuted within a
LigLag! ser"entine ribbon.
This inscri"tion would be rendered in &ld (anish as Fadhir let hoggva
runali thessi DftiR A..ur br-dhur sinn$ es norr vardh dodhr i vikingu and
translated+ K=ather had these runes cut after .~ in memor# ofP his brother
Asser! who died u" in the north while a-i$ing.K
np%~' ~%t*f%/ /!./* ~~)0 ~1'2I: ,!,"t$
~ A1 ~ /' B/h ~ ,*t ~: ~ I-E' l/.; ' if! ~ + h.r r).t f1 )f*' I '
~WW'%
Figure /.5. :nscri0tion of 1tro
#i0ing 1ge Runes < KF
Figure /.4. +ri0sholm stone
The Stro stone clearl# shows the memorial characteristics of these
onuents. A fe# technical observations are in order also. )ote that often
double letters are not indicated b# the staesG *~/~,3'45ogg'67 + A+ can
sand for -ng-$ as well as other ambiguities in the orthogra"h# of the
iascri"tion.
This stone sho#s us ho# these onuents #ere carved in eor% of
.i$ing raiders who died in foreign lands! which a""arentl# was Buite
common. 1t also gies testimon# to the fact that G"rofessionalQH runemasters
...ere engaged for the caring of the staes.
A "ossible m#tho-magical e%am"le of such a memorial stone is rnagni5S+
entl# "roided b# the stone of Eri"sholm. This stone commemorates a
KKbrother of 1ngarrK who fell with the m#thic hero G1ngarrH while in the
east! The outlines of the Eri"sholm stone! which dates from the middle of
the eleenth centur# and measures 6 feet b# 4 feet 6 inches! are gien in
figure /.4 on "age. 1ts inscri"tion! beginning at the head of the ser"ent!
mould be transliterated as follows+
~
>4 : J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
tula: lit: raisa: stain: thinsat: sun: sin: haralt: bruthur: in(vars:
Gthai'H fum+ tri$ila+ fiari+ at+ $uli+ au$+ a+ ustarlar+ ni+ $afu+ tuu+
sunar+ la:
asir(: Ian: ti.
The latter "art of the formula is in erse! and the whole ma# be translated+
Tola had this stone raised for his son Jarald! ;ngarrAs brother.
DThe#P fared boldl#
far awa# after gold
and in the east
the# gae DfoodP to the eagleO
the# died in the south
in Ser$land.
G2ote that the double-"oint diiding signs! which usuall# indicate the
divisions bet#een #ords" are soeties used#ithin #ords. There a% be
some magical encoding at wor$ here.H
9ore than thirt# stones from this region Garound <a$e 9alarH and time
"eriod refer to men d#ing in the east with ;ngarr. Jere we are "robabl#
dealing with a ritualiLed m#thiciLing of the deaths of men who fell in 'ussia
and be#ond during the later .i$ing Age. The ;ngarr to which these stones
refer is su""osed to be a historical figure who launched a great e%"edition
againstthe 1slamic world in the east-c-Ser$land-c-around 1343. GKSer$land!K
#hich eans either*shirt-landK or *sil(-land"*is soeties orenarro#l%
identified with Cersia.H Joweer! there is no eidence to show that this
"articular e%"edition eer too$ "lace. This! cou"led with the fact that this
;ngarrGsometimes s"elled 1arH had the same curious nic$name >vfdhfadhmi
Dfar-traeler! or wide-fathomerPH and the same theater of demise GSer$landH
as a semim#thical ;ngarr Gwho would hae lied in the si%th or
seenth centur#H tend to ma$e us beliee that at one "oint all of those slain in
the east were rituall# said to hae Kfallen with ;ngarr!K a heroic figure from
the m#thiciLed "ast. The m#thical ;ngarr is mentioned in the Heimskringla$
and a whole medieal 1celandic saga is deoted to him.
The poetic lines of the inscriptionareinterestin$ because the% testif% to
an ancient and sacred formula-erni gefa Gto gie DsacrificeP to the eagleHas
a #a% of expressin$ the sacral nature of battle in connection #ith the
&dhinic cult.
#i0ing Age Runes : >9
Talismanic &bNects
A #ide variet% of ob+ect t%pes continued to be transfored into talismans
in the .i$ing Age and be#ond. 9an# were "ure talismans Gsee
8inneb# belowH! whereas others were utilitarian obNects turned into
talisanic ones b% eans of loadin$ the #ith rune i$ht.
The famous shi" burial of &seberg Glate-ninth-centur# 2orwa#H! "erhaps
the $rave of 7ueen Asa! included t#o runic inscriptions--one on a
buc$et and one on a round sta$e Gbeechwood! about 4 feet longH of uncertaiu
function. It was "robabl# "art of the steering mechanism of the shi". The
inscri"tion! which is e%ecuted in 2orwegian:Swedish G'6$H runestaes! can
be read in figure /.9.
This formula reBuires a good deal of runic $nowledge to read. 2eertbelcss
a literal meaning can be e%tracted+
*itililt-vtss m>adhr)
The last stae is used ideogra"hicall# to stand for its name! and the entire te%t
can be translated+ KDtheP man is little wise!K or KDaP man DwhoP $nows little!K
!6e significance of which is to ward off the uninitiated from the dee"er
L?ea.?.in$ of the inscription.
This deeper eanin$ is concealed b) the coon techni7ue of stave
scrambling. 1n this case it hides the famous magical formula mistil$ which
Shares significance with the word mistletoe G&2 mistitteinn)$ the twig of the
lillie mist. 2ote that the latter "art of the mistil formula is re"eated twice! as
.. the other "art of the formula! ii ( &2 +e% DcraftPH.
1 t lU1 S ill -and- 1 t lU1 s m
944565/>1 654495/>1
~%i%%~8 r
i l$i s %
+~re /.9. "seberg formula
,- I J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
Figure A.99. (vinneb bind runes
So the secret inscri"tion would read+
N;O t%~ ~~
mistil-til-vil-il or sipl% misfit-vi!
hI"h7FIY*! n/trr I'f9t~ .Ut
9~08'8'8
Instandard &ld 2orse this would be mistil-vel$ the craft of the little mistthe
magical "owers oer life and death. 'eferences to this magical m#thos
can he found in the stor# of the death of *aldr.
Another talisanic inscription on a utilitarian ob+ect is found on the
weaing tem"le of <und GSwedenH! from about 1333 C.7. This interesting
runictext $ives us a sapleof the curiousixture oflove andcurse a$ic"
and the common blending of the two in 2ordic sources. =or other e%am"les
from the literature! see the KS$frnismalK GstanLas /5->6H in the !oetic 'dda
and the confusion between the two forms found in 'gil@s 1aga$ cha"ter 5/.
The runic te%t of the tem"le can be read in figure /.13.
Inorestandardi8ed form+ %ig&arar Ingimar afa man min grat$ #hich
can safel# be translated KSigorAs 1ngimarr will hae m# sorrow!K is then
followed b# an eight-stae magical formula+ aallatti. The effect of the
inscri"tion is strengthened b# the hidden numerical "attern of twent#-four
staes in the main formula and eight in the au%iliar# rune galdr. The "ur"ose
of the inscri"tion is clear+ it is to cause the husband Gor fianceKH of Sigor
Gwho is named 1ngimarrH to hae the runecarerAs loesic$nessO that is! he
#ill lose Sigor in soe anner so that the runester can have her.
The final e%am"le of a talismanic obNect from the .i$ing Age is the
co""er "late Gabout / inches sBuareH of 8inneb# G&landH! which dates from
the late eleenth centur#. This is trul# remar$able amulet! the com"le%ities
Figure A.93. *und weaving tem0le formula
#i0ing 1ge Runes < '1
o, which we cannot full# e%"lore in this s"ace. 1ts fairl# long te%t G144
staesH is inscribed in nine rows of boustro0hedon Gas one "lows a fieldO i.e.!
from left to right and then bac$ from right to left! etc.H. This was a
continuous practice in runic inscriptions fro the elder period. The text is
!8KCeded b# si% magical bind rune staes Gthe first of which has been
obliteratedH. These bind runes can be seen in figure /.11. These signs are
followed b# the runic te%t itself! which can be translated as follows+
Elor# to thee 1 bear!
*ofi. Jel" me! )ho
is wiser than thouQ And bear all
in eil from *ofi. 9a# Thorr "rotect
him with that hammer that from
the sea came! GitH flew from eil. )it
fares not from *ofi. The gods are
under him and oer hun.
This is followed b# a schematic drawing of a fish.
)hat is im"ortant to notice in the surface meaning of this talisman is the
...! of m#thic imager# to sha"e the magical charge. 1n this case it is the
"rotectie "ower of Th6rr-his hammer! 9Nollnir-s-which alwa#s returns
Xurn the source ofKeilK once it has hit its mar$. Also! the image of the gods
!mT&unding the shielded man! aboe and below! is significant in that it
XAws the gods "resent below as well as aboe. The &ld 2orse word that is
45Uall# translated as KeilK is i%%r& which $ee"s to its original "rimar#
..K.mngs "ill, o""ressie! difficult! mean GthingsH!K and so on! rather than
Its later Christian eanin$ that indicates an absolute oral force.
,unic Technolog#
An often ignored as"ect of runolog# is that of the materials and
a:cti7ues used in the actual production of runic ob+ects. This is one area
where Ke%"erimental archeolog#K can be of great alue! which in tum can
(:ad to a deeper understandin$ ofthe inner reals of the runes. !ost of #hat
Is said here is alid for both the elder and #ounger "eriods.
-
4/ 1 J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
)e $now certain things about the wa# in which the# were e%ecuted b#
the runeasters fro the runic inscriptions theselves. &or exaple" besides
the obvious ph%sical evidence" #e (no# fro the runic terinolo$%
that rune staves #ere car&ed into the surfaces of various substances. The
ost coon ter in re$ard to this is 0eranic writu 2I carveA" #hich
eventuall% becoes Priitive )orse ristan 2to carveA. These ters are
related to the 7nglish Kwrite.K Joweer! the original sense was that of
carvin$ or cuttin$.
The tools with which these carings were made are generall# un$nown
to us" so #e can onl% $uess attheirnature. The faous stone of7ggNum tells
us thatit#as not scored#ithaniron(nife 2ni sa0se st1in s0orin3! Therefore"
we $now that for certain "ur"oses there was "robabl# a "rohibition against
usin$ iron in cuttin$ runes" but #e also (no# that an% ob+ects ust have
been carved #ith iron (nives. Here #e areost certainl% dealin$ #ith the
eleental science of runecraft. The$reatrunestones of the Ii(in$A$e #ere
surel# cared b# means of a hammer and chisel after the# had been dressed
#ith a pic( and<or ax. >oe inscriptions a% have even been executed b%
means of a "ic$ hammer! ta""ing awa# at the surface along the lines of the
staves. The stone of >noldelev sees to have been done in this #a%. /ther
(inds of tools used in a$ical inscriptions #ere (nives 2see Egil4s %aga5
cha"ter 44H and needle-li$e obNects Gwhich must hae been used to cut
inscri"tions such as the 8inneb# amuletH. Some of these needles ma# hae
been craftedfro nonferrous etals 2bron8e" copper" etc.A or frononetallic
substances Ge.g.! bone or stoneH.
The "h#sical eidence also bears am"le witness to the substances into
which runes were cared. =urthermore! the e"igra"hic and literar# terminolog#
of runelore gies us clues to the relatie freBuenc# with which arious
materials were em"lo#ed. )ood was clearl# the medium of choice among
the runeasters. Tenus for the runes theselves $enerall% revolve around
wood and not an# other runic medium. .er# often the word stave$ which
literall%eans*stic(* or *staff"* is used as a s%non%for rune. 5e$et our
7nglish word stave from the "lural form ofstaff>"; staEr). This "oints to the
fact that ori$inall% the fi$ures representin$ the %steries #ere carved onto
small wooden stic$s Gused in magic and diinationH and that a shift in
eanin$too( place in #hich theostpopular odeof representin$ therune
became a s#non#m for the conce"t itself. Although this connection must go
bac( to the era of runic ori$ins" the oldest exaple of *stave* standin$ for
KruneK is on the now lost stone of Eummar" Gca. 633 C.7.H! which reads+
#i0ing 1ge Runes I "3
JAthuwolAfA
sAte
stAbAthria
~ti'~
This can be translated as KJathuwulf set three staes+ ~I:f' ."
2ot onl# did the KstaeK come to stand for the sign of the rune! but it
eentuall# too$ on all the meanings of the word rune itself! so that in &ld
Iorsc we find stafr Gmore usuall# in the "lural! stafir$ meaning not onl#
KstaffA! stic(" post* but also *lore" secret lore" #isdo" a$ical si$n.*
'unic terminolog# was so well entrenched in the languages that in
man# dialects the ocabular# of <atin letters was resha"ed h# it. 1n &ld
~orse, #ritten letters arereferred to as stafir5 and even the coplex a$ical
signs G&2 galdrastafir Dmagical staesPH use this term een though the# are
sometimes drawn with "en and in$. &ld 7nglish staf Gletter! writingH and
&ld Jigh Eerman stab Gstae! letterH are also e%am"les of this. 2ote the
ode Eerman #ord for KletterK +uchsta$e vs. %ta$ 2stic(" stave" #andA.
Another often neglected #et essential as"ect of runic technolog#! which
is nevertheless iportant to odern runecraft" is that of colorin$ the staves
and the obNects on which the# are cared. Again! the elder inscri"tions
tbcmseles tell us that the staes were indeed colored! b# freBuent use of the
sctofahido (I colored! or "aintedH. The later &ld 2orse ocabular# contin$e&
to use the descendant of this Eermanic erb form! fa& in the sarne
context. !oreover" #e (no# that the ost popular color for the runes
1hemseles was red Gmade with red o%ide of lead! minium! or most often!
ochreH. This was generall# a magical snbstitute for blood Gsee 'gil@s 1aga$
cna"tcr 44H. Com"aratie historical linguistics gies us good eidence for
+be magical im"ortance of the color red for the Eermanic "eo"les. The &ld
7nglish teafor is an old term for red ochre! but the word is also found in &ld
Jigh Eerman as .ouber Gmagic! diinationH and in &ld 2orse as taufr
.talismanic a$ic" talisanA. It sees thatone ofthe old #a%s *to do a$ic*
....as Kto ma$e red Dwith ochrePK some s#mbolic obNect in conNunction with a
transference of magical might. This techniBue is made er# clear in the
"assage from 'gil@s 1aga cited aboe.
/ther colors that #ere used" especiall% on later runestones" #ere blac(
+nade with sootH and white Ga lime solutionH! as well as blue and brown.
Traces of some of these hae been found on the stones themseles. The
#ikin+ A$e runestones #ere not ori$inall% the $ra% ob+ects #e i$ht see
-
44 1 J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
toda# but brightl# colored blaLing beacons on the landsca"es of all the
worlds.
The colorin$ #as used in a variet% of #a%s. Its ori$inal function #as
undoubtedl# magical. Joweer! this was multileeled. The runes were
stained a different color from the bac$ground Goften red on white or blac$H!
#hich ade the stave stand out. &urtherore" colors #ere used to a(e
word diisions! with eer# other word Gor "art of s"eechH in a different color.
Thereis also evidence thatsoe runes #erenotactuall%cutinto thestonebut
onl# 0ainted in "lace! This o"ens u" the "ossibilit# of an enormous number
of forever lost runic docuents that #ere +ust painted on the surfaces of
roc(s or #ooden ob+ects-all lon$ since #ashed or blo#n a#a%.
The language of the .i$ing Age inscri"tions is generall# referred to as
&ld 2orwegian! &ld Swedish! or &ld (anish! de"ending on the dialect area
in which it was "roduced. Joweer! those with a $nowledge of the literar#
forms of &ld 2orse! cou"led with some basic runolog#! would hae little
trouble in deci"hering runic te%ts found on .i$ing Age runestones. This is
because the )orse dialect reained 7uite hoo$eneous until around B4446
then 7ast 2orse GSwedish and (anishH and )est 2orse G2orwegian and
1celandicH began to deelo". *ut een then the changes remained relatiel#
minor through the close of the .i$ing Age.
~e;fie'6f 16l.nes
21177-1877 ,!T-!3
lbe .i$ing Age was drawing to a close around 1353! and b# 1133 the "eriod
dmacteriLed b# the igor of the .i$ing raids was oer. Christianit# was
!Reromingthe official cult of the courts and eentuall# of most of the "eo"le.
0"t #e (no# fro historical sources for this coplex period that the
Christianit# the# "racticed was in man# cases not reall# orthodo%! and in fact
a:ir religion re"resented a $ind of mi%ed faith of Asami and Christianit#.
(enmar$ had officiall# become Christian in the late tenth centur#O and
Xbough the 2orwegians maintained a long struggle against the alien creed
-.I "olitical structure! 2orwa# was officiall# secured b# the Christian cam"
~ the earl# eleenth centur#. 1n Sweden the stor# is more com"le%. There
~nt%< had been a number of Christians in Sweden G1rish slaes who did
T abandon their wa#sH from the earl# .i$iug Age! and arious missionar#
e%"editions sent into the countr# during the eleenth centur# e%"osed "agan
JIieas to man# Christian formulas that found their wa# into heathen "ractice.
*ur Sweden did not officiall# become Christian until around 1133.
1n this "eriod of tenuous and irregular beginnings much of the organiLS
d tradition of the runic cult was destro#ed along with its larger religious
be#or(. Ho#ever" a nuber of factors" such as the coparative lac( of
Christian indocttination of the Scandinaian clerg#! a historicall# tolerant
mitude! and the remoteness of the whole region com"ounded b# the in46
: J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
accessible outbac$ districts! combined to ma$e fertile ground for the survival
of runic traditions aon$ the fanners and lesser nobilit%.
?urin$ the Catholic period the runes #ere brou$ht into the service of
the Church itself----or so it #ould see. Ho#ever" this #as soe#hatof an
unhol% alliance because the edieval runeasters #ere still lar$el% in
"ossession of the elderlore! albeit in a fragmented state. 9agic was still their
"rinci"al function! although the# were also increasingl# used in "rofane
counication. 9ut #ithout an or$ani8ed cultus in support of the runic
tradition! it steadil# declined throughout this "eriod. Joweer! the $ernels
of the tradition were "resered through rote formal learning of names and
forms! soeties in the context of profane #ritin$. Thisprocess#ascarried
out unconsciousl% in all parts of #hat had been $reater 0errnania" and #e
#ill see evidence of this throu$hout our discussions. 9esides this disparate
formal surial-s-guided b# the web-wor$ of w#rd-the indwelling runic
patterns survived as the *blood* of the ancient.rulians still coursin$in our
eins. The m#steries are irtuall# encoded in the "atterns of what might be
called our *collective unconscious.*
The 'eformation! which began in Sweden in 15/5 and officiall# a bit
later in 2orwa#l(enmar$ in 15>6! brought both blessings and a terrible
curse. The blessings generall# came about because of the growth in Swedish
nationalisand*racial consciousness*intheiddleof the sixteenthcentur%
that "romoted all as"ects of indigenous culture. The doctrines of storgotic-
X t I , ~ ~
k *" G
+
(
a s
o
%
i ....... e
th
n
$
bK!"
~ ~ ) ~ k
h
t",&
ttg~t ~t5
Figure B.E. 8otted futhark
~
9edie&al Runes I 45
KKA were formulated from wides"read beliefs b# the last Catholic archbisho"
!'&i U""sala! about 1554. The curse came with the wae of intolerance that
followed after the Crotestant wae had been absorbed. This resulted in the
ORersecution of all "ractitioners of the old wa#s! es"eciall# those of the
"easant class and countr# fol$.
The ambiguit# of the si%teen-stae row deelo"ed in the .i$ing Age
"osed little difficult# to the initiated runemaster and sered er# well for
esoteric practices because it reained or$anicall% #ithin the s%steatic
ranic structure. Joweer! as the leel of training sli""ed! the ambiguit# of
=:be sixteen-stave ro# #as soe#hat altered b) the introduction of *dotted
rtmesK G&2 stungnar runars beginning as earl# as the end of the tenth
centur# in ?enar(. At first this #as an occasional addition of a point to
~%e6r u" an# "ossible ambiguit# in the inscri"tion. Although this "ractice
a(es itobvious that *profane* interpretations of the runes #ere assuin$
:Pl/re iportance" for at least t#o hundred %ears ore the sixteen-stave ro#"
sometimes in the KdottedK form! was the rule.
These dots #ere placed on or near the stave to distin$uish it phonetical+H
from its contrasting o""osite in a natural class! for e%am"le! b+"! t.d! $+g
.disringuished from one another b# voicing). The oldest dotted runes with
i1eir "honetic alues a""ear in figure >.1.
This developent becae ore K<atiniLedK until it #as finall% codi5erl
during the reign of .aldemar the ConBueror G1/3/-1/41H! when a true
Krunic al0habet= was formulated. That is! a stae was gien for eer# letter
m the 'oman al"habet as it had been ada"ted for writing the contem"orar#
Scandinaian dialects.
1n 2orwa# the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries saw the runic al"ha+.
etshown in figure >./ in general use. A similar thing ha""ened throughout
Scandinaia! including 1celand! during the 9iddle Ages! where a little after
!133 Ari inn =rodhi and Thoroddur 'unmeistari created an e%"anded
i1a1ldardiLed Futhorkh to com"ete with the <atin scri"t.
~~88PI~n 8~~r9ER=$8~>58#f
A-or-A
a6c d th e f $ h i/j kI% n ? ) r s t "/2 H ( I :B c:0
F9gure >./. A runic al0habet
---
44 : J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
9edieal 1nscri"tions
In this epoch #e be$in to see an% ore different uses and depictions
of runes and rune magic. 9an# of the old traditions continued in some
conservative areas" #hile ne# uses of the runes" often replacin$ Latin
letters"#ere introduced. Also" storiesabout runes andrune a$icabound in
thirteenth- and fourteenth-centur% Iceland" #here #e can be sure the runes
#ere indeed used in arcane arts.
The eorial runic bauta stones continued to be a livel% tradition on
Eotland until after 1533! And although the# were su"erficiall# Christiani8ed"
there reained uch in the" both in their s%bolo$% and in their
dee"er structure! that reminds us ofthe old wa#. 1t is "robable thatthose with
(no#led$e of esotericrunelore #erealso notun#iseconcernin$ theirhidden
eanin$s at this tie.
The Khol# signsK Gideogra"hic s#mbolsH that would a""ear on these
stones often seeed to have a ixed si$nificance. The cross #as usuall%
eBual-armed and soeties appeared #ith a solar #heel in its idst" as
shown in figure >.>.
This motif! and elaborations on it! was continued until the end of the
period in 7uestion. It has been speculated that this (ind of cross #as a
substitute for the tegish/almr Ghelm of aweH sign that had a""eared in similar
conte%ts in the heathen "eriod. A t#"ical e%am"le of the "ost-Christian bauta
stone is "roided h# the U""landic 9orb# stone Gfigure >.4H. It follows a
"eculiar tradition that deelo"ed at this time Gearl# in the Christian "eriod!
ca. 1353-PP53H of building a bridge for the dead relatie and raising a
memorial stone that also ma$es reference to the bridge-all of this being
done for the sa$e of the dead oneAs soul G&2 and or sal). The staes of the
9orb# stone can be transliterated+
Figure 3.3. %olar wheel:cross sign
9edie&al Runes I "(
Figure >.4. Morb stone
$hulu lit $ira bra fGuHrant $ilauDhPa tatur sinDaP u$ sum ati ulfr tlbir
risti
These runes are easil# translated+ KEudhlaug had this bridge built for the soul
Dant ~ an$ of Eillaug her daughter whom Ulfr had married. 3"ir cared
Dthe runesP.K The stone is KsignedK b# 3"ir! one of the most famous
runeasters of histor%.
The practice of a(in$ runic talisans 2taufr3 continued into the
odern era" and the% #ere certainl% popular throu$hout the edieval
"eriod. *ut because the# were often cared in wood Gand usuall# on er#
small "iecesH and increasingl# were being written on "archment! er# few of
the survive. Also" runeasters soeties #ould destro% the talisanic
ob+ects once their #or( #as done" and an% #ere destro%ed because of the
"ost-'eformation persecutions of a$ical runeasters.
An e%am"le of a magical talismanic obNect from the medieal "eriod is
"roided b# a rib bone Gca. >3 inches longH that was found in the old church at
Sar$ind! &stergotland! Sweden! and which dates from the fifteenth centur#.
This bone "robabl# functioned as a gondr Gmagical wandH! and it bears the
com"le% inscri"tion seen in figure >.5 on "age 53.
The first "art of side A is to be transliterated thaet tae refen Gthis is the
rib boneH. The second com"le% is made u" of a manifold bind rune of
uncertain eanin$. It could conceal thenaeof the a$ician" or it could be
acobinationof certainrunes fora$icaleffect. This side of the inscription
is concluded with a bold hagall rune! which in the esoteric school of this
"eriod would hae had well-deelo"ed cosmic significance as the image of
the )orld Tree and the seed ofthe multierse. The three '-staes on side *
are intended to formulate and guide the magical "ower generated b# the
it$i! as is clear fro the esoteric lore surroundin$ the + ~ +.
*esides these archaic and sacred uses of the runes! the# were also being
eplo%ed in ne# andprofane#a%s in cooncounications. 5e (no#
that this was increasingl# the case throughout the thirteenth and fourteenth
centuries as the late sa$a literature often entions the sendin$ of runic
essa$es on runakefli 2runestic(sA.Hdkons saga Hakonarson in theHeims0ringla
entions this several ties. 9ut the $reatest evidence for *runic
correspondence* #asfound intheexcavations of thedoc(district in9er$en"
)or#a%" #here do8ens of these essa$es #ere actuall%found. >oe areas
sim"le as a KnoteK from a wife telling her husband to come home from the
local tavern" and soe are as intri$uin$ as an exaple thatdates fro the
earl# thirteenth centur#! which ma# be translated as follows+
1 want to as$ #ou to leae #our "art#. Care a message to &laf
Hettusveinn=s sister-she is in thenunner% at9er$en-and as(for
advice froherandfroher(insen" #hen %ou #antto coe to
terms. ;ou are surel# less stubborn than the earl. ...
...
53 1 mST&'1CA< <&'7
~f8tKtn~
Ji&e A
?~ ~
Ji&e B
Figure >.5. ,and of 1drkind
~$@
9edie&al Runes < EB
This is followed b# a set of staes that hae not #et been satisfactoril#
inter"reted but ma# be transliterated .atu.$ena.nubaetu. It is "ossible that
the essa$e carries an encoded secret eanin$6 ho#ever" on the surface this
is clearl# an a""eal from a member of one "art# or faction to a member of
another" as(in$ the recipient to leave his side and coe over to that of the
sender! but this is to be done secretl# through a third "art# Gthe woman in the
conentH.
,unestaves #ere also increasin$l% findin$ their #a% onto the #ritten
"age. At first this was "art of an effort b# some Gsuch as Ari and Thoroddur!
mentioned a6o9e5 to deelo" the runes as an alternatie to the 'oman
alphabet. There #ere probabl% an% anuscripts #ritten in runestaes! but
onl# one length# one remains to us! the so-called 7odeC Runicus. The
staves" or runeli(e si$ns" also #ere used ideo$raphicall% in soe anuscripts"
standin$ either for the rune nae or for soe other s%bolic
Bualit#. 1n the 7odeC Regius Gthe 9S that contains the !oetic 'dda) + t* ' is
often nsed as a substitute for the word madhr GmanH. There were also man#
anuscripts that contained lines #ritten in runestaves and several treatises
on runes-for e%am"le! the one b# the Eerman scholar:mon$ Jrabanus
~I6ArAs. Also! the im"ortant eidence of the +aldrab-k cannot be forgotten
because it represents runes and runeli(e *staves"* secret runes" and the li(e"
firml# within a magical conte%t.
The rune poes are prie exaples of the use of runestaves in anuscri"ts!
but we will e%amine them se"aratel# in cha"ter 4.
It is onl# in the manuscri"t of the <aws of S$aane >1kaanske *ovG--HIr
as it is more descri"tiel# $nown! the 7odeC Runicus-that an# suriing
attept at a substitute of runestaves for Latin letters is found. The anuscri"t
"robabl# dates from the fourteenth centur#. <ater attem"ts to KreieK
the runes as a utilitarian script #ere carried out b% anti7uarians" soe of
.-ho #ere 7uite serious and virtuall% Knco-"aganK in their beliefs 2see
0ohannus *ureus! on "age 54H.
9esides these uses" the runes #ere #idel% eplo%ed in the construction
ai K"rim-staesK or Krim-stoc$s!K which wor$ed as "er"etual calendars.
These seem to hae the nominall# Christian function of com"uting festial
da#s! but the fact that runes were almost e%clusiel# used in the construction
ai these obNects from at least the fourteenth centur# all the wa# into the
ei$hteenth sho#s the eternall% livin$ natureof runelore in the >candinavian
lands.
I,
c!ocfe ~ni; Hist!ry
2BJ44-BCDEA
This age is! in the beginning! historicall# closel# connected with the Age of
!4e ,eforation. Ho#ever" there #as also a $ro#in$ and ore formal
differenceevolvin$ bet#een the(no#led$e of the scholar" #ho consciousl%
mem"ted to rebuild the structure of older lore! and that of the fol$! who in
constantl# chan$in$ for preserved the lore unconsciousl%. The distinction
between revival on the one hand and survival on the other #as $ro#in$.
7ach hold their adantages and disadantages.
,evivalists" even in this earl% tie" #ent bac( to aterial fro the
7lder and .i$ing Ages and thus could hae come into contact with the
K"urestK and most traditional formsO whereas the fol$ tradition was Gas the
+aldrabok showsH alwa#s read# and willing to assimilate foreign features
JIl& thus lost sight of the original s#stem Ge.g.! <atiniLation in the runic
Kal"habetKH. *ut the fol$lore was directl# bound! unconsciousl# and im"erfectl#
as it might be! to the seed-forms of the ancient world iew! an
0dantage not enNo#ed b# the reialist scholars. The latter had been educared
in the *classical* tradition" indoctrinated #ith Ludea-Christian ideas"
/(d initiated into a largel# Jermetic school of magic. Therefore! their
mem"ts at reial of the old wa# were ineitabl# sha"ed b# their bac$grcunds
in the ne#l% established traditions. 9ut the potential for $oin$
be#ond this! directl# to the oldest leels! was eentuall# made "ossible b#
rbeir efforts and ground-brea$ing wor$.
~
S4 I J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
The first great homeland of runic reial! after it had been relegated to
the most remote rural regions and dee"est leel of the cultural hoard! is
Sweden. Around 1633 Sweden was an emerging world "ower with great
"ride in her "ast and great "lans for her future. The combination of the
intellectual freedom granted to the Swedish intelligentsia Gbut certainl# not
to the fol$H b# the 'eformation and the growing nationalism led to the
canoni8ation of anideolo$% (no#nas storgoticism GrnegleogothicismH. This
ideolog# is "robabl# rooted in conce"ts that reach all the wa# bac$ to ancient
ties" andit firstraisedits headin the late BQ44E" #ithina centur% afterthe
KChristianiLationK of the Swedes. Storgoticism is wra""ed u" with the
almost m#thic "ro"ortions attained b# the "eo"le called Eoths. This has
continuedin an%#a%s as the #ordandconcept ;oth or;othic have ta(en
on an% different eanin$s. The first docuented referenceto this latterda#
KEothic m#tholog#K in 9iddle Ages occurs in the records of a Church
Council held in *asel in 14>4! where the S"anish claimed "recedence in a
matter oer the 7nglish because the# Gthe S"anishH were identical with the
Eoths and therefore the elder nation. To this the Swedish re"lied that in such
case Sweden held "recedence because the# were the original Eothic "eo"le
and the ain ste of that nation.
Storgoticism was eentuall# codified b# 0ohannes 9agnus! who was
the last Catholic Archbisho" of U""sala! in his boo$ Historia de omnibus
gothorum sveonumque regibus G1554H. As 0ohannes 9agnus formulated it!
storgoticism was firml# bound to Jebraic m#tholog#. It was thought that
Sweden was the first land to be settled after the (eluge b# the descendants of
0a"het! This t#"e of m#tholog# was common in Ereat *ritain at the same
time. 7ssentiall#! 9agnusAs m#thic histor# was a "reconditioned fantas# in
which! for "ur"oses of "restige! he connected the Swedes to the Jebrews
and claimed that all ofthe wisdom of ancient times Gsuch as that "ossessed b#
the Eree$sH was actuall# taught to the world b# the Swedes. Also! it was
belieed that the runic Kal"habetK was the oldest scri"t in the world Gwith the
"ossible e%ce"tion of JebrewH.
This %tholo$% influenced the next $eneration of storgoticists! #hich
was contem"orar# with the 'eformation in Sweden and the deelo"ment of
that nation into a #orld po#er. The $reat reforer of stor$oticis #as
0ohannes *ureus or 0ohan *ure G1564-165/H! who was a tutor and adisor of
8ing Eustaus Adol"hus. Storgoticism had become a irtual religion b# that
time! and the historical as"ects had been refined b# 0ohannes 9essenius in
his %candia Illustrata! 9ut our ain interest is #ith 9ureus.
9ureus #as the first $reat runic revivalist. His scholarship #as considerable"
and one of his ost iportant tas(s #as the collection and
II .. t.i.l
~
"l ~
I
.0
Modern Runic Histor : 55
recording of runic inscri"tions from all oer Sweden. *# the end of his life he
l1>d transliterated about one-fourth of the then $nown inscri"tions. *ureus
131lS made AntiBuar# 'o#al in 16>3! after haing had the chair in histor# at
!be Uniersit# in U""sala. 1n 16/3 it was declared that all future holders of
this chair were bound to learn KrunicK Gi.e.! the old language that the runes
KAere used to re"resentH and how to inter"ret the signs. *etween 1599 and
i6ll *ureus wrote three boo$s on runes! including a small illustrated edition
A5, inscri"tions! his Runarafst$ and a runic "rimer. Although *ureusAs
scrientific wor$ was considerable! it was largel# su"erseded in his own
lifetime b# the (ane &le )orm. *ut this scholarl# wor$ was onl# "art of the
1m"ortance of the runes for *ureus.
Soon after 1633 *ureus began to deelo" a s#stem of what he called
-adulrunes.K 1n this s#stem he began to use the runes for m#sto-magical
"ur"oses. Although it is said that he originall# learned of the runes from the
"easants of remote (alarna! *ureus eidentl# was not content with building
G0GP the fol$ tradition! and he began to a""l# runelore to the magical teachings
..ith which he was alread# familiar-KChristian 8abbalism.K The adulrune
s#stem was sim"l# deelo"ed b# analog# with the Jebrew lore of the 1e0er
<et.iran Gwhich we $now he readH. It is still unclear how much the indigenous
Eermanic traditions Gsuch as runeloreH influenced the sha"e of
KmainstreamK medieal magic! but in an# case b# this time there was a basic
tbeoretical framewor$ that must be described as Christian and that was to a
large e%tent distinct from the fol$ traditions. *ureusAs main sources were
Caracelsus and "seudo-Caracelsian writings Ge.g.! the *iber A.oth and the
Arbatel$ earl# 'osicrucianism! and the wor$s of Agri""a on 2ettesheim.
Jis "rinci"al runic techniBue was a ariation of temura Ga 8abbalistic
"rocedure inoling the "ermutations of letters in a word to gie anew!
KreealedK meaningH. *ureus belieed that all $nowledge had originall#
been one$ and since the lore of the Eoths re"resented b# the runes was the
oldest of all lore! he could gain access to inner $nowledge b# acBuiring the
abilit# to gras" the adulrunes. *ureus did not! howeer! consider himself to
re a neo-"agan. Yuite to the contrar#! he considered himself a KtrueK
Christian! and he belieed that the worshi" of Eod and the master# of the
"ower of "ra#er were essential to success in his s#stem.
1n 161> *ureus became more dee"l# engrossed in the esoteric as"ects
of his studies and was es"eciall# enthralled b# a"ocal#"tic s"eculations. *#
the earl# 16/3s the local church authorities began to loo$ as$ance at
*ureusAs heretical theories! but his ro#al connections "rotected him from
an# "rosecution b# the Church. Je belieed in the a""roaching 0udgment
(a# so strongl# that he diided all of his "ro"ert# among the "oor in
--
56 : J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
l645-the a"ocal#"tic #ear according to his calculations-and lied fie
more #ears su""orted b# ro#al aid.
9ureus=s #or( is iportant in t#o areas: (1/ it #as the be$innin$ of
scientific runolo$%" and 2QA it a$ain used runes in sophisticated a$ical and
"hiloso"hical wor$. *ut the "redictable and unfortunate shortcomings of his
efforts in the latter field are obious.
The whole storgoticism moement had far-reaching "olitical ramifications.
&n its tide of nationalism Eustaus Adol"hus bro$e with the Catholics
andbe$anhis nationalisticpro$ras +ustifiedb)theideasof stor$oticis.In
the areaof reli$ion theresees to have been anelite $athered in hi$h circles
for whom the 'eformation was a coer for the deelo"ment of a KEothic
=aith.K The office of the AntiBuar# 'o#al was the center ofthis new national
religion! headed b# *ureus and su""orted b# the $ing.
The runes "la#ed an im"ortant role in the inner wor$ings of this s#stem!
but the% also #ere bein$ touted for ore practical reasons. 9ureus developed
a cursive runic script #ith #hich he hoped to replace the Latin.
(uring the Thirt# ;ears )ar a Swedish general! 0acob de la Eardie! wrote
counications to his field coanders in runes as a (ind of code.
As the "ower of Sweden waned and the Age of 7nlightenment began!
the doctrines of stor$oticis and the theories of en such as 9ureus lost
favor #ith the establishent" and the% a$ain slubered in dar(er and ore
reote corners.
The ne%t brea$through of runic inestigation began in the 7uro"ean
'omantic "eriod! which began about one hundred #ears later! in the late
ei$hteenth and earl% nineteenth centuries. A$ain its stron$est representative"
as far as $enuine revivalis #as concerned" #as >#eden. There" in B3BB"
the +otiska Forbundet GEothic <eagueH was formed b# the "oets and social
reformers .ri( 0ustave EeiNer and Per Henri( Lin$. Their oveent #as
essentiall# grounded in literature! although it was a serious attem"t to
Buic$en the ancient s"irit.
&n the other side of the coin! there was the continuing fol$ surial of
runelore throu$hout 0ennania and her colonies. This #as especiall%
vi$orous in >candinavia" #here runes andrunic #ritin$ continued to be used
for both eer#da# affairs as well as magical s"ells.
1n Scandinaia and the 2orth Atlantic isles! the runic al"habet suried
as a writing s#stem well into the twentieth centur#. This is es"eciall# true in
remote regions such as (alarna! Sweden! and 1celand. The runic al"habet
remained "urel# runic until the middle of the eighteenth centur#! when <atin
letters be$an replacin$ staves and it becae a ixed script. 9esides this
#ritin$ s%ste" the runes also #ere used in the construction of pri-staves
Modern Runic Histor : 55
0 rim-stoc$s. These are "er"etual calendars introduced into Scandinaia in
!be 9iddle Ages and were alwa#s cared into wood or bone. These calen.
iars were a common form of time rec$oning in the 2orth well into the
llineteenth centur#.
8nowledge of the runes was $e"t igorous b# fol$ traditions! and the
i.-.re and craft of the runes was "resered along with their more mundane
Lscs. 1n more remote "arts of the Scandinaian "eninsula there were runesingers
who could "erform magical acts through galdr$ and in 1celand
magical "ractice inoling runes and galdrasta/ir Goften runeli$e magical
SgnsH continued at least into the seenteenth centur#. At this fol$ leel! as
5ell as at the scholarl# leel! as we hae Nust seen! elements of Kestablishnent
magicK Gi.e.! 0udeo-ChristianH Buic$l# s"read throughout the s#stem
%& was ha""il# s#ncretiLed into it. *ut those who hae studied the
...%teenth-centur# +aldrab-k Gwhich was used and added to in the seen-.
enth centur# as wellH will $now that the underl#ing methods remained
muall# the same as in the natie tradition.
In the southern Eermanic areas there is some hard eidence for a similar
tr>dition of runic surial. &ne of the most interesting e%am"les of this is
+i+cnd in the *lac$ =orest region of Eerman# in the so-called Heidenhauser
!iReathenhouses!H. These are er# old farm buildings in which the threshing
~:,r and other "arts of the hose are decorated with magical ideogra"hs.
some of which are of undoubted runic origin. Some of these are single runes!
KKK e%am"le! GH t<:l ,=. @< B t ~ <t . whereas others are bind runes
.K. hol# signs! for e%am"le!OOfG *, Zt!ilt I J!"I. The buildings in
.mch these signs a""ear mostl# date from the late si%teenth to the earl#
eighteenth centuries. It is "robable that the signs were cared b# a certain
!1&&"of KinitiatesK who still $new the s#mbols and how to wor$ their magic.
Similar magical signs hae been found in the JarL region of Eerman#!
%&if we can beliee some inestigators! a wide range of medieal s#mboliK%
had its roots in runic sha"es. *ut not onl# did the mere sha"es surie01+
1 did the essential lore surrounding them. Joweer! as far as Eerman# and
-.stofthe rest ofnorthern 7uro"e are concerned! the eents of 1914 to 1914
%& 19>9 to 1945 destro#ed the remainder through death and the rending of B* social fabric. The dar$est hour is
before the dawn.
2ot onl# do we find surials of this t#"e in 7uro"e but America also is
a% without her runie heritage. Jere we are not s"ea$ing of the highl#
coetroersial KAmerican runestonesK but rather of the liing magical tradi!
l&llS of the Cenns#lania K(utchK GEermansH. 1n the eighteenth centur#
111ese settlers brought a rich magical heritage! the maNor tool of which is the
10e% sign.K This term is "erha"s deried from an earl# misunderstanding of
II
,,
--
.8 I J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
Figure '.1. <ex sign pattern
the Eerman 1echs.eichen Gsi% signH! so called because the earliest and most
coon si$ns #ere desi$ned around the sixfold star or cross in the form
seen in figure 4. 0.
The word heC could be Nust as old because this term comes from the old
Eermanic sacred ocabular# and originall# had to do with the Ksacred
enclosureK and the "eo"le Ges"eciall# womenH who "racticed their arts there.
Such he% signs are irtual Eermanic antras and are used for eer#
"ossible magical "ur"ose. The sign is "ainted in bright colors on a round dis$
Gusuall# of woodH and "laced in locations significant to the wor$ingoutside
onabaorhouse" insideahouse" or een carried ontheperson as an
aulet. A$ain #e see an iportant social aspect to this tradition. Hex si$ns
can be effectivel% ade onl% b% an initiated <exenmeister5 and the #or(
ust be accopanied b% an incantational forula. /ne forula (no#n in
South Carolina een calls on Thorr! There are indeed man# dar$ and little
(no#n coers of this aspect of Aerican histor%that deserveore#or(in
our field.
Practitioners of the fol( tradition reain unconscious of the historical
details of their past and continuall% re-create the s%ste accordin$ to their
needs and conditions. This "rocess is indeed the natural and health# oneO but
#hen the fol( tradition becoes *tainted* #ith an ideolo$% hostile to it" this
9odern Runic <istor- < EC
~(ess becomes less effectie as the life is slowl# drained from it. (ue to
5secircustances it becae necessar% to develop ne# tools to di$ out the
_life and lore of the elder heritage. The s"irit necessar# to this tas$ was
m...66tf7I in the earl% nineteenth centur% in northern .urope under the banners
t::i irterar( 'omanticism and academic "hilolog#.
)hen it was discoered in the late eighteenth centur# that the languages
t::i 1ndia and 7uro"e were somehow organicall# related! a great school of
Jro$ht arose in northern 7uro"e! es"eciall# in Eerman#! that sought to "ut
..stud% of these lan$ua$es and cultures on a scientific basis. This cae in
_ A$e of ,oanticis-#hich in an% respects is a isnoer because in
Rlnbe *,oan-ticis* people $enerall% #ere loo(in$ ore to Eermanic
.roels and awa# from those of classical antiBuit#. Cerha"s a better term
~& be KEerman-ticism.K In an% event" serious interest in thin$s Ler%anII'..
their origins! and their relationshi"s to the greater 1ndo-7uro"ean world
l!/"*. ra"idl#. The greatest contribution to this area was made b# 0acob
[irinnn! who! along with his brother )ilhelm! set about stud#ing a wide
omge of manuscri"ts and collecting fol$ tales. 1n the "rocess the# irtuall#
bnded the disciplines of historical lin$uistics" coparative reli$ion and
~%5o%og<, and fol$lore. *# means of what is now called KErimmAs <awK it
5K> sho#n ho# 0eranic #as re$ularl% derived fro Indo-.uropean" and
KAK relationshi" to other dialects in that grou" Ge.g.! Sans$rit! Eree$! <atinH
>=K:> deonstrated.
Together with linguistics! the religions e%"ressed in the te%ts being
S(died-the 'ddas$ the &edas$ Jomer! 1rish sagas-s-and the names of the
~s were being com"aredO and schools of thought concerning the wa#s to
-er"ret the m#thologies were deelo"ing. As might be e%"ected! man# of
J4se theories see rathernaive toda%" but the road to reconstruction is b% its
-e,5* nature fraught with "itfalls. The details of this historical "rocess are
:?ICh too coplicated to $o into here" but #e ust ention t#o theories held
~( older investi$ators. /ne #as the tendenc% to $o for *naturalistic* interpretations"
to see %tholo$% as a pure reflection of natural phenoena"
-nich we now $now to be onl# a "art of the m#thological function. The
second tendenc%" or controvers%" #as the oscillation bet#een considerin$
lIlAtholo$% to be the creation of an ancient priesthood or soverei$n class and
+be idea that it was essentiall# an outgrowth of the tales of the sim"ler fol$
tradition. The reco$nition of this dichoto% #as astute" and it #as later to
becoe an iportant concept.
The iportance of this pioneer #or( is that it put the investi$ation of
such atters on a scientific basis" #hich has as its foundation the careful
--
63 : J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
stud# of e%isting eidence of all $inds. I, this wor$ is carried out in an
obNectie #et s#m"athetic manner! the eils of negatie GChristianH "s#chological
conditioning are lifted! and the "ossibilit# of "enetrating to the
most archaic leels of ideolog# is offered.
The 9agical 'eial
It #as not until the first %ears of the t#entieth centur% that a a$ical
runic revival be$an" but this revival had anifold roots and #as itself
an%-faceted. The late nineteenth centur% also sa# the eer$ence of
spiritualis andoccultis inpopular culture. The ostinfluential branch of
this "henomenon was Theoso0h$ as formulated b# Jelena Cetrona *laats$#
and "romoted through the Theoso"hical Societ#. Concurrent with
this ne# interest in the occult #as a stron$ revival of 0eranicis" #hich
also might be called 2eo-'omanticism. This was cou"led with the growth of
"olitical Can-Eermanicism following the unification of the Eerman 7m"ire
in 1451.
All of these factors began to wor$ together with the latest theories
concerning m#tholog#! religion! science Ges"eciall# (arwinismH! and
"hiloso"h#. =rom this might# mi% emerged the heterogeneous 8eutsch6ewegung
GTeutonic 9oementH. 1n eer# as"ect the adherents of this
moement had a "ractical bent. The# were not out to "hiloso"hiLe from
ivor% to#ers" butrather it #as theirintention to alterthe #orldin #hichthe%
lied. The# wanted to bring societ# bac$ to its traditional G"re-ChristianH
roots-at least as the# saw them. 7en those who formall# wished to thin$ of
themseles as KChristiansK reNected most of what had traditionall# been
thought of as the Christian heritage and re"laced it with Eermanic m#tholog#
and fol$ tales. This branch of the moement generall# went under the
banner of the 8eutsch-7hristen GTeutonic ChristiansH. *ut other! "erha"s
ore honest ebers of this social revolution re+ected the Christian tradition
and again too$ u" the standard of the All-=ather.
As far as our central purpose of runic revival is concerned" the $reat
figure of the age was der Meister$ Euido on <ist G1444-1919H. <ist was
born into a well-to-do .iennese famil# with business interests. Although
#oung Euido had a dee" interest in the m#stical and natural world from an
earl# age and wanted to be an artist and scholar! he followed in his fatherAs
footsteps. Partl% out of a sense of dut%" it sees" he entered a career in
9odern Runic <istor- /61
Kmess. It is said that when he was a bo# of fourteen! he stood before a
+mned altar in the catacombs of St. Ste"henAs Cathedral in .ienna and
.ileclared" =>enn ich einmal gross $in5 werde ich einen >uotans-Tempel
tJen@= GK)hen 1 get big! 1 will build a Tem"le to )otan!KH.
?urin$ those earl% %ears" in the tie he had free fro his professional
.a#es" List explored the alpine re$ions fro his native Lo#er Austria to
S..itLerland. *ut in 1455 his father died! and he began to "ursue more
..-ensel% his #or( as an artist" %stic" poet" and prophet. The %ears bet#een
1S-5 and 1449 were difficult and obscure ones for <ist! but in the last of
(se %ears his t#o-volue novel ,arnuntum appeared. This is a historical
4I(8..Ael depictin$ the stru$$le bet#een the Eermanic and ,oan cultures
.Iia....**M2S$ the ?anubian frontier-a favorite thee in his #or(s. It #as both a
.++++tical and a "o"ular success.
(uring the ne%t "eriod of his life G1449-1491H <ist a""arentl# deoted
mnselfto stud# and inner wor$! for in the last #ear ofthis "eriod a new "hase
!!egan that shows eidence of initiator# insight. 1n 1491 he "ublished his
KK-olume 8eutsch-Mthologische *andschaftsbilder GTeutonicW~
t5o%ogi;6% Landscape =ormationsH! #hich is a (ind of $eoantic in=
C>li$ation of the e$alithic onuents" tumuli5 earth#or(s" castles" and
ToX:her sacred sites in Lo#er Austria6 and a virtual catechis ofhis philosoph%
..:::5ed ?as @n$esieg$areA Ein ;rund*ug germanischer >eltanschauung
.Tbc 1nincible+ An &utline of Eermanic Chiloso"h#H. *oth of these wor$s
49W si$ns of the ele$ance and in$enuit% of his ore s%steatic thou$ht %et
+8 coe.
1n Eerman-s"ea$ing countries throughout these #ears the ideolog#
es"ressed b# Theoso"h# was Buite influential! and although <istAs own
llAiationshi" to the Theoso"hical Societ# itself is somewhat ague! he does
.eIIl to have been influenced in the direction of its philosoph% and cosolo~B
?er 9eister #as" it sees fair to sa#! at least the e7ual of !adae
Lavats(% in atters of this (ind. It is a fact that an% of the proinent
Theoso"hists of the da# were also followers of <ist.
*etween 1491 and 193/ <istAs literar# career was corning to a close-sk
had bigger things ahead of him-but this was his most successful "eriod
ir. literar% endeavors. He produced several draas and his second a+or
."..-el" the t#o-volue )ipara!
The #ear 193/ was! howeer! the great turning "oint in the eolution of
<Lsts thonght. 1n that #ear he underwent surger# for cataracts on both e#es.
:oreleven onths he #as virtuall% blind. ?urin$ this tie List sees to
luxe under$one an initiator% experience" one thatopened his inner e%e to the
~
6/ 1 J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
secrets of the runes as e%"ressed through the K'tinatals thattr (dhinsK in the
KJaamalK Gsee cha"ter 4H. Je began to inestigate the Eermanic "ast and
its secrets with this newl# won Gor refinedH abilit#. The #ears between 193/
and 1934! when the first boo$ a""eared in what was to become an
enc#clo"edic series of wor$s outlining his elegant s#stem! were filled with
great inner and outer actiit#. <ist was well connected with leading CanEermanic
"olitical fignres and ideologies Ge.g.! (r. 8arl <ueger! the
6iirgermeister of .iennaH as well as with man# wealth# industrialists! all of
whom su""orted his inestigations into and actnaliLation of the ancient
Eermanic m#steries. So in 1935! the Euido on <ist Eesellschaft GSociet#H
#as fored to under#rite the #or(of =Tthe !aster.* Incon+unction #ith this
exoteric branch an esoteric inner $roup called the 1rmanen Brden #as
planned for initiator% #or( and the teachin$ of ore occult practices.
1n 1934 <istAs first boo$ in his inestigation series a""eared! entitled
8as +eheimnis der Runen GThe Secret of the 'unesH! in which he "ostulates
that the "rimal futhor$ was an eighteen-rune row. The original row was
adeup of a series of staves to #hich certainforulaic*(ernel #ords* #ere
attached. These $ernel words! and ariations on them! could then be used to
decode an% other #ord" ancient or odern" to $et bac( to their ori$inal
meaning in the K"rimal languageK >?rs0rache) itself.
Although there was a whole magical s#stem attached to <istAs runic
reelations! it remained largel# secret until after his death-and much of it
reains so toda%.
The runeboo( #as follo#ed in that>ae %earb% a $eneralt#o-volue
work-8ie Armanenschaft der Ario-+ermanen GThe Armanism of the
Ar#o-Eermanic Ceo"leH-that outlined the ancient social structnre and
religion and "ointed the wa# to its rebirth. Also in that #ear 8ie Rita der
Ario-+ermanen GThe Sacred <aw of the Ar#o-Eermanic Ceo"leH a""eared.
2Here" rita is a terborro#edfro >ans(rit rta orrita5 cosic order" la#.A
)ith this wor$ <ist attem"ted to reestablish! on a religio-cosmic foundation!
a 0eranic basis for la# and political structure.
The ne%t #ear! 1939! saw the "ublication of 8ie ;amen der &olkerstiimme
+ermaniens und deren ?eutung 2The )aes of the Tribes of the
Ceo"le of Eermania and Their 1nter"retationH in which <ist a""lied his
theories concernin$ the investi$ation of hidden si$nificance in naes and
words through an anal#sis of the $ernel s#llables.
1n 1913 he "ublished 8ie 6ilderschrift der Ario-+ermanen: Ario+ermanische
Hierogl0hik GThe S#mbol Scri"t of the Ar#o-Eermanic Ceo"1e+
Ar#o-Eerrnanic Jierogl#"hicsH! which concentrated on the inestigaModern
Runic Histor J -B
Lon of the esoteric significance of a wide range of s#mbol forms! including
runes! gl#"hs Ghol# signsH! and es"eciall# coats of arms. This wor$ was
com"ared to *laats$#As 1ecret 8octrine b# the famous theoso"hist Gand
1(ember of <istAs grou"H =ranL Jartmann in his Nournal ;euen *otusbliiten
Kith the words. KThe author has lifted awa# the thic$ eil! which coered the
ilstor# of Eermanic antiBuit#! and has gien us dee" insight into the Secret
(octrine of the ancient Eermans and the meaning of their s#mbolog#.KP
The most com"le% and com"rehensie boo$ in the series was 8ie
*rs0rache der Ario-+ermanen und ihre Msteriens0rache GThe Crimal
<anguage of the Ar#o-Eennanic Ceo"le and Tbeir 9#ster# <anguageH. This
.5d not a""ear in com"leted form until 1915! although sections of it had
..read# been "ublished as earl# as ten #ears before. The huge olume
.+ontains <istAs s#stem of kala$ of decoding words to reeal their hidden
+neanings. This s#stem is a irtual science of fol$ et#molog#! which is er#
O0&1ent in magical "ractice but thoroughl# disregards eer# rule of historical
mguistics. The com"anion to this olume was to hae been Armanismus
..,;(abbala. 1n this boo$ <ist was to show the relationshi" between the two
s#stems. and how the 8abbalah was actuall# Armanen wisdom that had been
l0bsorbedinto 0udeo-Christian thought and esoteric "hiloso"h#. Joweer! in
1919! before the com"leted manuscri"t could be "rinted! <ist died! and the
manuscri"t a""arentl# was stolen-c-or $e"t secret b# members of the
=v-rnanen "rden.
The grandiose ideolog# and religious "hiloso"h# e%"ressed in <istAs
li&r$S is far too com"le% to enter into in an# detail here. *ut some of the
Orinci"al ideas he articulated that hae found their wa# into the runic reial
'II modern .inland are G1H the Ktrifidic-triune triad!K G/H the Kbifidic-biune
L#adK >.weis0iiltig-.weieinigen Kweiheit)$ and G>H the historical conce"t of
concealment of ancient lore and een sacred s#stems in a""arentl# Christian
0 secular literature and s#mbolog#.
The idea of the bifidic-biune d#ad resulted in the conce"t of a balance
between s"irit and matter and the idea that matter was actuall# condensed
s"irit.
Joweer! <istAs formulaic use of three is the most "rominent feature of
iris s#stem. 1n man# wa#s it "refigures the theories of E. (umeLil concerniilg
the 1ndo-7uro"ean tri"artite socioreligious structure Gsee cha"ter 1>H.
The $ernel conce"t of <istAs triadic thought is the archet#"al "attern of
=ranL Jartmann! K'eiew+ Euido on <ist. (ie *ilderschrift der Ario-Eermanen+ ArioCermanische
Jierogl#"hi$.K ;euen *otusbliiten G1913H+ >53.
l
64 1 J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
arising GbirthH! becoming:being GlifeH! and "assing awa# to new arising
Gdeath:rebirthH. This "aradigm is a""lied to a number of conce"ts to form an
elegant religio-magical "hiloso"h#. =irst of all! it is a""lied to cosmological
"rinci"les. *ut "erha"s one of the most interesting a""lications is to a s#stem
oftrileel inter"retation of m#ths or of an# conce"t or s#mbol. 1n this s#stem
a conce"t is seen on G1H a common leel-a "o"ularl# understood fonrn! G/H
the leel of e%oteric s#mbolism! and G>H the esoteric leel. This "uts an#
#ord or concept throu$h a spiral of seantic perutations to reveal inner
truths and hidden relationshi"s.
The Euido on <ist Eesellschaft continued to flourish after the death of
der Meister$ as did doLens of other 2eo-Eenrnanic grou"s Gnot all of them
haing an#thing to do with rune $nowledgeH. 1n the #ears before 19>> other
inestigators! such as =riedrich *ernhard 9arb# and Siegfried Adolf 8umer"
be$an to teach soe of the ore practical aspects of runecraft 2es"eciall#
the use of runic "ostures-so-called Krunic #ogaK-and talismanic
magicH.
In orderto understand the )ational >ocialists= relationshipto runelore!
one must first realiLe the leel of "o"ularit# such things had reached in the
late nineteenthandearl% t#entieth centuries. ,unes andruneli(efors had
a$ain becoe s%bols 2but often ver% *coon* onesA of ?eutschtum!
,unolo$% #as not onl% a beloved topic of acadeicians" it also becae a
to"ic in which the la#man could immerse himself.
The idea of a non-Ludaicreli$ious revival #as also stron$" anditranthe
gamut from the KTeutonic ChristiansK Gwho re"laced the &ld Testament with
Eermanic lore and KAr#aniLedK 0esusH to the largel# "agan organiLations
such.as the Euido on <ist Societ#.
The roots of 2ational >ocialis are anifold" and #e cannot enter into
thein too much depthhere. Ho#ever" #e can pointto soe of the uses and
misuses to which the 2aLis "ut the runes. )e must also "reface these
rear(s #ith the stateent that#hether it is runes or reli$ion of #hich #e
s"ea$! the 0art-line 2aLi doctrine is usuall# anathema to the essence oftrue
Eermanic conce"ts and often the antithesis of $ernel "atterns of &dian
"hiloso"h# aud "ractice. There were! howeer! secret cells within high
leels of the 1chut.staffel GSSH gathered around Jeinrich Jimm0er! es"eciall#
at the Castle of )ewelsburg in )est"halia! in which more o"en
experientation #as practiced.
There can be little doubt that elements within these cells had a genuine
interest in the establishentof a 0eranic reli$ious #orld vie#6 ho#ever"
the part%leadershipsees to have sho#n little real interestin this direction.
9odern Runic <istor- < JE
-t.1. 'unic S#mbols Used b# 2ational Socialists. /*ebensborn GS"ring of <ifeH "rogram for racial eugenics
I!A Hitler Eugend GJitler ;outhH used this sign as a "art of their
badge.
, I. 1n tandem stood for the 1chut.stafEel >11)$ the KCrotection
1 ~ I (etachment.K
... the# were all masters of the magical forms of mass mani"ulation that
~o%\'es the stiulation and activation of popular ia$es and en$ineerin$
111em in such a wa# as to wor$ oneAs will on the mass "o"ulation. GToda# we
ail it adertising! among other things.H &ne of the im"ortant ste"s one must
~ in using this "rocess is the establishment of what might be called a
.K.mng shift Gor semantic shiftH with regard to s#mbols. This is most
effectie when one ta$es an archet#"all# "owerful s#mbol Ge.g.! 4 or
+iiH and fills it with a "ersonaliLed significance G0esus and Jitler! res"ec!-A
el#H. Some of the more common runic s#mbols used in the 2ational
Socialist moement are shown in table 4.1.
Soon after 19>>! when the 2aLis came to "ower! the arious grou"s
K!Aoled in the Eermanic 'enaissance outside the structure ofthe Cart# were
....tlawed. All of the wor$ done b# doLens of organiLations and indiidual
le>ders was either absorbed into official Cart# doctrine! liturg#! and s#mbol~
or was submerged. =. *. 9arb# himself s"ent ninet#-nine months in the
concentration cap at ?achau.
)hat had not been destro#ed in the #ears of consolidation of Cart#
"ower between 19>> and 19>4 was subseBuentl# further damaged b# the war
T1f. 2ot onl# did the war destro# indiiduals of great $nowledge-it also
ri""ed a"art the social fabric all oer 7uro"e. The mass dis"lacement caused
~' the hostilities and the socioeconomic reolutions that followed in )estern
7uro"e were "robabl# the final blow to an# estiges of the fol$ tradition
in the rural areas.
1ndeed! it alwa#s seems that the dar$est hour is before the dawn! and
that holds true for the rebirth of our traditional wa#s! After the willful
destruction of the traditions b# the Church! and the often misguided distortions
of political oveents" the #a% is hard to brin$ the runic secrets
bac$ into the fabric of our culture-but this is a heroic challenge of our time.
,ontemporar- 16--nic ~'6.
2BCDE-PresentA
In the aftermath of )orld )ar 11! interest in Eermanic religion and in the
runes #as fro#ned upon in Eerman#! and to a certain extent even in
\.-ademic circles! which had not gone untouched b# K2S-runolog#.K
Althou$h 0eran esoteric runolog# #ithinthe contextof Eermanic reli$ion
!lad been irtuall# eliminated! it did find a new home in the more eclectic
branches of )estern occultism and in that most "restigious lodge of Eerman
occultis" the 0rate#tta1 %aturni 29rotherhood of >aturnA. ,unic #or(
based on the theories and "ractices of Euido on <ist! =riedrich *ernhard
@larb#! and Siegfried Adolf 8ummer became a "art of the magical currieiliu
of the =raternitns Saturni chiefl# under the guidance of =rater 7ratus
A8arl S"iesbergerH. S"iesbergerAs efforts! largel# outlined in his two boo$s
l,nenfl?lgieG1955H and RuneneCer.itienfiir Eedermann G1954H! led esoteric
nolo$% in the direction of universalis and a#a% fro the volkisch.
Iorerpretations. Thereis also a heav% adixture of Heretic-0nostic ideas"
' trend alread% evident to a lesser extent #ith earlier rune a$icians.
=. *. 9arb#! after his release from (achau at the end of the war! again
became actie. *ut he was neer able to gain the same leel of achieement
M3 he had during the earlier "art of the centur#.
'unolog# in the conte%t of a general Eermanic reial began slowl#. 1n
1969 Adolf and Sigrun Schlei"fer reactiated the Armanen "rden. The#
---
64 : J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
also too$ oer the leadershi" of the Euido on <ist Eesellschaft! which also
had been dormant since the war. The new Erand 9asters set about ma$ing
the 1rmanen Brden a real #or(in$ a$ical order #ith a foundation in
0eranic %sticis. /ther )eo-0eranic $roups activein0eran% donot
show "ractical interest in rune magic. Through the 1953s and 1943s there
developed in 0eran% a sortof dichotoi8eduniversalist or seiuniversalistesoteric
runolog# Gre"resented b# 8arl S"iesberger! )erner 8osbab! and
othersH and a tribalist-nationalist esoteric runolog# Gre"resented b# the
Armanen). All of the grou"s in Eerman# use the eighteen-rune =uthor$.
The runes hae alwa#s held a s"ecial m#stiBue for those interested in
the 0eranic #a%. As a $eneral 0eranic ,enaissance a$ain be$an to
s"read Ga""arentl# almost s"ontaneousl# from around 1953H in 7uro"e and
2orth America! the runes often figured "rominentl# in the imager# and
s#mbolism of the arious grou"sO for e%am"le! the ritual of the (iscoer# of
the 'unes used b# the &dinic 'ite in 7ngland! or the name of the Nournal
"ublished b# the Asatni =ree Assembl#! The Runestone$ with its runic
masthead. Joweer! no in-de"th esoteric runolog# was underta$en in the
earl# #ears b# an# of these organiLations.
In the summer of 1954 1 came across the boo$ Runenmagie b# 8.
S"iesberger! in a uniersit# librar#. This occurred after 1 had receied a flash
of illumination that consisted of one KaudibleK word! R?;A$ Nust a few da#s
before. =rom that da# forward 1 wor$ed in the runes. 9# studies in magic!
after haing begun well in daimonic s"lendor! had ta$en a "hiloso"hicall#
unins"iring tum into the morass of 2eo-8abbalism. The runes! and the )a#
of )oden that is shown through their might! were to set me bac$ on the road
to that great "ower. At the time 1 was ignorant of the Eermanic reial and
remained so until 1954. *# the summer following the discoer# of S"iesbergerAs
boo$! after 1 had wor$ed intensiel# with the "hiloso"h# and "ractice
of the Armanen-Futhork$ 1 "roduced a te%t of m# own that was largel# a
copilation of aterial fro concepts contained in the boo(s of such
authorities as 8. S"iesberger! Euido on <ist! and '. 0. Eorsleben. This is
tbe un"ublished Runic Mugic afthe Armanen finished in August of 1955.
This esoteric activit% siultaneousl% led e to a deep acadeic interest in
0eranic reli$ion and a$ic. 9% the next %ear I #as a $raduate student
learning &ld 2orse and inestigating the )a# of )oden on an intellectual
leel as well.
1 Garl >piesber$er" Runenmagie 29erlin: ,. Schi$ows$i! BCEEA.
,ontemporar- Runic Re&i&al. 8(
This interest in things Eermanic had not begun oernight in 1954!
howeer. The #ear before! the boo$ The 10ear of8estin@ had s"ar$ed m#
ia$ination. It also fired % investi$ative 8eal" and I set out to find the
original te%ts on which its edifice was built. <ater 1 found that man# had been
misused. Still earlier! the words KThe raens of night hae flown forth ...K
had rung in m# mind as well.
1 continued to deelo" m# hidden "ath in solitude until the summer of
1954! when 1 made contact with the Asatrii =ree Assembl# and began a
period of close cooperation #ith )eo-0eranic $roups. At the sae tie I
Nascopletin$ #or( on the restoration of the esoteric s%ste of the .lder
=uthar$ of twent#-four runes! which was to result in the te%t of Futhark: A
Handbook ofRune Magic. > 1ntellectual studies had led me to the realiLation
lilat in order to $now the runes as the# trul# are! one must wor$ with the
ancient archet#"al s#stem as it trul# was.
?urin$ this sae tie" but un(no#n to e" a fello# traveler" ?avid
9ra$#in Laes" #as #or(in$ in siilar directions in a siilar personal
situation in )e# Haven" Connecticut.
It was soon a""arent that no grou" in the 7nglish-s"ea$ing world was
"ri# to an# dee"-leel runelore! and therefore the burden fell to me to
Buic$en the $nowledge of our fol$ m#steries in a coherent and communicoble
fashion-no eas# tas$. This wor$ eentuall# led to the inde"endent
formation of the ,une-0ild for the practice and teachin$ of rune#or( and
necraft. This institution #as ori$inall% conceived of as an or$anic partof
certain )eo-0eranic reli$ious $roups" but this proved 7uite ipossible. It
seems the runemasters are a Eild of &utsiders! and as such the# remain
largel# outside other natural! organic structures. It is the "ur"ose of the
'une-Eild to e%"and the leel of $nowledge and interest in the genuine
0eranic 5a% and to carr% out rune#or( s%steaticall%" providin$ a
reliable stream of basic rune s$ill and rune wisdom to all and giing a wa# of
entr# into the Eild Jall to the few.
Treor 'aenscroft! The 10ear of 8estin 2@or( 9each" !.: >auel 5eiser" BCFK.A
~ .dredThorsson" Futhar0A 1 <and$oo0 ofRune 9agic 2@or( 9each" !.: >auel 5eiser"
1944H.
"-fist!ri#a$ 1\y-ne ~@
and 4?i&ination
Too man# modem rune-magic schools hae been forced! either b# their
~r6n;e of the tieless traditions or b) their inabilit% to $ain access to the
~tion6% %steries" to i$nore or to for$et the true runic sources handed *B"**Il to ns in la"idar# s"lendor b#
our ancestors. 1n this cha"ter we shall
ea"lore the actual runic cor"ns for eidence of rune magic as it was "racticed
~( the ancients.
The hoar# documents cared in stone and metal are but the isible
io5sils of a liing "rocess ofrunecraft. The literar# accounts hel" us flesh out
Xis "rocess to a great e%tent! but to understand it one must ultimatel# "lumb
.. de"ths of runelore.
1nscri"tions
,unic inscriptions represent essa$es-sendin$s---of a %sterious
mtnre. The# are com"le% and s#mbolic communications! which are onl#
sometimes KlegibleK in the sense of natural language. 9ore often their
.e>>a$es are far ore obtuse. Ho#ever" throu$h a careful anal%sis of the
eidence #ea%coetosoeeanin$ful conclusions onsoeof the #a%s
nme magic was "racticed in da#s of #ore.
5/ 1 J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
As faras operative a$ical actsareconcerned"#e candivide thet%pes
of runic formulas into seen categories+ G1H messages in natural language!
G/H s#mbolic word formulas! G>H futhar$ formulas! G4H magical formulaic
words Ge.g.! luwatuwa)$ G5H runic ideogra"hs! Ge.g.! galdrastafir)$ >-)
numerical formulas! and G5H the runemaster formulas.
S72(12ES 12 2ATU'A< <A2EUAE7
9ecause the runes enabled the to counicate directl% #ith that other
GobNectieH realit#! the runemasters could sim"l# write runic messages in
natural language to effect soe alteration in the environent. These #ere
often magico-"oetic ocal formulas s#mbolicall# gien obNectie realit#
through the caring ritual. The most famous of these hae been the curse
formulas Gto "reent the desecration of a grae or hol# siteH and formulas
intended to hold the dead in their graes. KThe wal$ing dead!K or a0trgon%umenn&
#ere a real concern for ancient )orthen. 5hat is soeties
forgotten about this "henomenon is that these cor"ses often were actuall#
reanimated through the will of some magician and sent to do damage to the
counit%.
1n the elder "eriod some of the most noteworth# e%am"les of this $ind
of magical wor$ing are the curse formulas found on the stones of Stentoften
and *Nor$etor" in southern Sweden Gboth from around 653 C.7.H. The te%ts
are closel# related! so here we will gie onl# the clearer *Nor$etor" e%am"le!
which reads+ iitharba-s0al haidk-runo ronufalhk hedra$ 2ina3runa%4" argiu
hearma-:ausR$ uti %Er wela-daude stiR that br/itR. This formula can be
translated+ KCro"hec# of destruction! A row of bright runes hid 1 here!
magicall# loaded runes. Through "erersit#! DandP without rest! on the
outside! there is a deceitful death for the one who brea$s this Dstone
monumentP.K *# means of the runemasterAs will! and b# the "ower of the
runes to communicate that will into obNectie realit#! the legalistic curse
formula sim"l# sa#s that whosoeer brea$s down or disturbs the hol# site is
cursed unto death b# the dece"tie "ower >wela-) of the runemaster. GSee
also the discnssion of the <und talisman on "age 43.H *ecause no Nudge or
executioner is present-and the potential #ron$doer #as certainl% not
literate-the death sentence is carried out "urel# b# magical means. GThe
stone setting of *N6r$etor" is still intact! b# the wa#.H This triangular
arran$eent of stones#asapparentl% aritual and le$islativesite" asno$rave
has been found in the area.
Historical Rune Magic and 8ivination : LB
)&'( =&'9U<A S72(12ES
Another! more terse form of magical communication was effected b# single
iormulaic words "ac$ed with great and multileel s#mbolic "owers. 1n the
elder "eriod some of these words were alu Gale! ecstatic "s#chic forceH! I
lauka. Glee$H!K ehwa. GhorseH! lathu GinocationH! au/a Ggood luc$H! ota
AterrorH! and "erha"s een riino GruneH! secret lore itself.
9an# times those words would be inscribed in isolation on arious
obNects in order to ino$e the "ower of the conce"t the word embodies into
the obNect! or more generall#! into the icinit# of the obNect 7ach of the
words mentioned aboe carries with it enormous "s#cho-magical force and
meanings that were er# close to the surface for our ancestors but now
"erha"s lur$ in the archet#"al de"ths within us. Alu comes from an ancient
1ndo-7uro"ean conce"t of ecstatic "ower and the magic "etformed b# means
of that "ower. 1t is undoubtedl# related to the Jittite term alwan.ahh$ Kto
enchantK This basic meaning was then transferred to the sacred! ecstas#containing
substance of the hol# ale used in the sacrificial and magical rites
of the Eermanic fol$. 1n ancient times lauka. was a general term for man#
"lants belonging to the genus allium Ggarlic! onion! lee$! etc.H. These "lants
bold great health-giing and "resering "owers. Also! the lee$ is es"eciall#
$nown for its fast-growing! straight! green stal$-a magical s#mbol of
increase and growth in force and italit#. The magical "ower of the KhorseK
conce"t in Eermanic lore is well $nown and com"le% Gsee the 7-runeH. As a
runic word formula it is a sign of transfonnatie "ower! a s#mbol of the
borse! Slei"nir! and of the ital strength of the horse in the horse:man
relationshi" G+ /35.
7ach of the foregoing s#mbol words has a "h#sical counter"art in the
natural world. Joweer! there is also a series of conce"ts that are more
abstract It might be best to consider riino and lathu together. *oth ma#
ultimatel# refer to a vocal actiit# on the "art of the magician-that is! the
ocall# "etformed incantations >galdrar) that were intended to call magical
forces into obNectie realit# and that were certainl# secret in nature and $e"t
hidden from the noninitiatc. The word lathu is ultimatel# related to the
7nglish term to load$ and it can be understood in the d#namistic sense of a
loading of magical force into an obNect! or the KinitationK Gsee Eerman
'inladung) of diine beings into the area. As another e%am"le of the fact that
- 7dred Thorsson! Futhark: A Handbook ofRune Magic G;or$ *each! 97+ Samuel )eiser!
O944H+ 1/1-1//.
+ Thorsson! Futhark: A Handbook of Rune Magic$ :ll.
54: J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
nino #as not understood to be s%non%ous #ith letters or #ritten characters!
we can "resent the reading ofthe sim"le runemaster formula on the
&reilaubershei brooch: 6oso wraet runa 29oso carvedthe runeNsin$ularOA.
Thereare otherexaples thatsho# thatthe #ordrune#as used collectivel%
to ean *secretlore* or *a$ical incantation* throu$hout the elder period.
The term au/a refers to a conce"t er# similar to that of hailaga. Ghol#H! as it
generall# means Kto be filled with diine or hol# "owerK and hence the
well-being and good fortune deried from that state. The o""osite side of
magical might is referred to b# the rather obscure formula ota$ which is
deried from the archaic form ohtan Gawe! fear! dreadO related to &2 a2i3 in
the name of the magical tegish/almr Dthe helm of awePH. These terms.
formulated in staes and therefore subNect to ritual mani"ulation! are thought
to be the magical media through which lin$age was made between the
com"le% subNectie realit# of the runemaster and his gild and the obNectie
realit#! thereb# bringing about conditions in accordance with the will of the
*aster of the %steries.*
=UTJA'8 =&'9U<AS
&ne of the most cons"icuous t#"es of rune-magic formulas is that of the
com"lete or abbreiated futhar$ Gsee the e%am"les from the elder tradition in
cha"ter 1H. Such inscri"tions also were common in the .i$ing Age and
es"eciall# in the 9iddle Ages. 1n some rare cases it ma# be that the futhar$
was cared for teaching "ur"oses! or merel# Kfor "ractice.K Joweer! this
certainl% could have been ore readil% accoplished in other" less tieconsuming
wa#s. *ut for the most "art the futhar$ a""ears to hae had a
magical function. The s#mbolism of the rune row is at leasttwofold+ G1H it is
the collection of all essential things$ and G/H it is in a s"ecial! set order. It is
the s#mbol of the order of essential things. *ringing order Gcosmic! natural!
or "s#chicH to a gien enironment GsubNectie or obNectieH is certainl# a
coon enou$h otive for the perforance of a$ic.
'U27 =&'9U<AS A2( 9AE1CA< =&'9U<A1C )&'(S
I, the futhar$ formula is a s#mbol of order! then the so-called nonsense
inscriptions ares%bols of disorder"or of a non-natural orderof soe (ind.
5e call rune forulas those se7uences of staves that see rando and
un"ronounceable or re"etitie. 7%am"les of this $ind of formula are es<istorical
Rune 9agic and ?i&ination I '
"eciall# "lentiful on bracteates. There are also those seBuences that are
pronounceable butthatforno (no#n #ordin the0eranic vocabular% of
natural language. These KwordsK ma# indeed be from the Klanguage of the
$ods"* a non-natural lan$ua$e received directl% fro another #orld. &aousexaples
of such #ordsare" luwatuwa5 suhura-susi5 anoana! salusa%u&
foslau$ and later suf-fus. Some ma# be Kdecoded!K some not. These are
but the few remnants of a non-natural! magical language shared b# &dhinn
and his earthl# 7rulians-s-a language to which access must again be won.
Such words were "robabl# first receied and s"o$en b# magicians >seidhmenn)
in trance states and subseBuentl# "assed on in the tradition as a "art of
thevocabular% of a$ic. Theiruse inrunicforulas is a$ainunderstandable
in terms of the KobNectif#ing "rinci"leK of the runes.
1(7&E'ACJ1C 'U27S
In theor# the onl# $ind of character that could Bualif# as an ideogra"hic rune
K a stae of the futhar$ that stands for its name Gi.e.! a logogra"hH or for a
.-ord #ithinits field accordin$ to scaldcraft. Ho#ever" there arealso certain
t#"es of galdrastafir Gmagical signsH that were originall# made u" of bind
runes Gstaes su"erim"osed one on anotherH and often highl# st#liLed. )e
iraKe alread# met with e%am"les of these on the Sieem bracteate! the
Cietroassa ring! the Eummar" stone! and the amulet of 8inneb#. These
1deogra"hic runes actuall# re"resent a $ind of alternate encoding of secret
+neanings to conceal them further. *ut the motie for this concealment! this
iiding5 #as not to a(e the text ore difficult for otherhuans to readb8inscriptions"
especiall% the elder ones" #ere ever eantto be *read* at
0il. Yuite to the contrar#! it was intended to ma$e the te%t more "leasing to
J8& more em"athetic with the hidden realms. The more meaning that could
!Ieconcealedin a terseanner" theorepo#erfull%epathetic thea$ical
?:>sa$e of the runeaster #as fortheob+ective" buthidden"other realit# of
ae eight outer worlds.
!\,~ER =&'9U<AS
l6eto"ic of runic numerolog# will be addressed in great detail in cha"ter 11 .
.6M:: present" let it suffice to sa% thatnuerical patternin$ is another for of
C?:lt...-ealent" #ith thesaeotiveas otherforsof*a$ical hidin$* in the
E+rmanic tradition.
<
56 1 J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
'U279AST7' =&'9U<AS
An% nona$ical interpretation of the an% runeaster formulas sees
absurd. It is clear that when the runemaster cared the staes of the formula
ek erila. fahido riino G1 the 7rulian @ runemasterP colored the runeH he was
not merel# "erforming some elaborate form of grafitti Galthough certain
"s#chological "rocesses ma# be common to both actsH. 'unemaster formulas
represent docuents of transfonnative a$ical acts in #hich the rune
a$icianassuedhis divine aspectfor the"erformance ofsoe #or(in$. It
is Buite "ossible that with runemaster inscri"tions we are dealing with the
reains of butone fraction of a oreelaborate ritual process. A runeaster
formula could gie force to a rite wor$ing together with the formula! or it
could be the whole of an o"erant wor$ing in itself. 1n the latter case one will
usuall# find that the runemaster designates himself with arious magical
names Gwhich are often er# similar to some of the hol# names of &dhinnH.
&ne of the most famous e%am"les of this is "roided b# the 0lirsberg stone in
central>#eden. Itreads: e0 erila* riino. writu. ?bo. haite5 <ra$ana* haite$
K1 the 7rulian care the runes. 1 am called the 9alicious-one ( ?ba.G$ 1 am
called the 'aen.K This stone! not attached to an# grae and "robabl#
originall# "art of a ritual stone arrangement! is then charged b# the force of
the runeaster in this threatenin$ aspect of *the alicious one* and *the
raen.K Through the lin$age of these foreboding as"ects with the site! he is
able both to fill it with magical force and "rotect it from desecrators.
Literature
)ithout the written sources! es"eciall# in &ld 2orse and <atin! we
would hae a difficult time scientificall# determining the nature of historical
rune magic as "racticed from about 133 C.7. onward. These accounts! and
certain #ordsused in the" $ive us a (e% to the structure of runicritual and
provide contexts for certain t%pes of a$ical acts #ith runes. There are"
howeer! limits to this eidence. =irst of all! the te%ts in Buestion begin to be
common onl# in the 9iddle Ages! and although the# surel# re"resent much
older material and reflect archaic "ractices! we should be aware of this time
discrepanc%. >econd" the sa$a accounts are" after all" inte$rated into narratie
tales and ma# hae some degree of literar# conention built into them.
9ut both of these points are inor #hen vie#ed in the broad scope of the
Historical Rune Magic and 8ivination : 55
tradition. 'une-magic acts a""arentl# were common enough in the .i$ing
%& 9iddle Ages that the# form natural "arts of the sagas! and the# are
"resented in what might be for some a sur"risingl# matter-of-fact wa#.
'U27CAST12E
There are no clear e%am"les of runestaes cared for diinator# "ur"oses!
but this is no doubt due to the fact that the# were scratched on "erishable
materials. Also! the# were "erha"s rituall# destro#ed after use as a matter of
normal "rocedure. It is another odd fact that there is no direct!
oonm#thological reference to the act of runecasting in &ld 2orse literature.
(es"ite all of this! which is chiefl# based on indirect linguistic eidence and
"arallel accounts in historical te%ts! we can be fairl# certain that the "ractice
was $nown.
<inguistic eidence is of two $inds+ words for the tools of runecasting
and terms that originall# must hae been characteriLations of the results of
runecastings.
Actual "ieces ofwood on which indiidual runes or runic combinations
were cared Gand usuall# colored with blood or red d#eH were $nown in &ld
2orse as hlaut-teinar Gsg.! hlaut-teinn4 lot twigH Galso $nown b# Snorri
Struluson as blood twigsH! and hlaut-vidhar Glot woodsH. The original use of
the Eermanic term staba. Gstae! stic$H "erha"s had to do with the fact that
runes were cared on "ieces of wood that were most "robabl# used in
diinator# "ractices. The terms nino and staba. were so intertwined b# this
"ractice that the words became s#non#mous. An interesting "iece of
corroborating eidence is found in the &ld 7nglish word wrd-suef>stave of
w#rd or weirdH-an obious reference to diinator# use.
&ld Eermanic dialects are full of com"ound words that refer to arious
t#"es of runes:staes. Some are technical descri"tions G&2 malrunar
Ds"eech runesP! &2 bl-dhgar runar Mblood runesN$ &ld Jigh Eerman
:eod-runaDsong runeP! etc.HO whereas others gie an indication of the reason
for which the# are to be wor$ed G&2 brim-runar Dsea runes-to calm itP!
b/arg-runar Dbirth runes-to hel" in itP! etc.H. Joweer! among these there
are some designations that seem to classif# the results of a runecasting.
Some are aus"icious G&2 likn-stafir Dhealth staesP! &2 gaman-runar !.io#
runesP! &2 audh-staftr Dstaes of richesP! &2 sig-runar Dictor# runesPHO
whereas others seem inaus"icious G&2 mrkir staftr Ddar$ staesPO &2
54 I J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
bol-stafir Deil staesPO &7 beadu-riin conflict runePO &2 flardh-stafir
Ddece"tion staesPH. &f course! in man# cases the "assie readings of these
terms could be turned around to actie wor$ings.
As far as the actual "ractice of runecasting is concerned! the best
descri"tion is "roided b# Tacitus writing in cha"ter 13 ofthe +ermania Gca.
94 C.7.H. =ormerl#! there might hae been a debate as to whether the notae
GsignsH mentioned b# him could actuall# hae been runes because the oldest
inscri"tion was thought to date from about 153 C.7. *ut with the discoer# of
the 9eldorfbrooch Gca. 53 C.7.H! we now hae hard eidence that the runes
were $nown from before the time of the +ermania. The account b# TacitusK
ma# be translated+
To the ta$ing of aus"ices and drawing of lots the# "a# as much
attention as an#one+ the wa# the# draw lots is uniform. A branch
is cut from a nut-bearing tree and cut into sli"s+ these are designated
b# certain signs G<atin notae) and thrown randoml# oer a
white cloth. Afterwards! the "riest of state! ifthe consultation is a
"ublic one! or the father of the famil# if it is "riate! offers a "ra#er
to the gods! and while loo$ing u" in the s$#! ta$es u" three sli"s!
one at a time! and inter"rets their meaning from the signs cared
on them. 1f the message forbids something! no further inBuir# is
made on the Bnestion that da#O but if it allows something! then
further confirmation is reBuired through the ta$ing of aus"ices.
1n the +allic ,ar$2 Caesar! writing in about 55 *.C.7.! also mentions
Kconsulting the lots three timesK (fer 1ortibu1 4on1u%tu#5& so this must hae
been an im"ortant as"ect of Eermanic diination.
Three 7ddie "assages also gie significant magical-and rather
cr#"tic-insight into runic diinator# "ractices. All occur in m#thic conte%ts.
1n the K.olus"a!K stanLa /3+ KDthe 2omsP scored on wood! the# laid
laws the# chose lies! the# s"o$e the KfatesK D&2 DrliigN.= 1n the KJaamal!K
stanLa lll, there is the instructie "assage+ K&n the chair of the theal
D&2 thulr$ cultie s"ea$erP! at the well of)#rd D&2 ?rdhrN ... ofthe runes
> =or original te%t see 'udolf 9uch! 8ie +ermanic des Tacitus$ >rd ed. GJeidelberg+ Carl
)inter! 1965H+ 149. The translation here is m# own. 1nterested readers ma# also wantto "ic$ u"
the "ublished translation 6( J. 9attingl#+ Cornelius Tacitus! The Agricola and the +ermania
G9iddlese%! U8+ Cenguin! 1953.H
4 0ulius Caesar! The 7onquest of +aul Gtrans. 6( S. A. JandfordH GJarmondsworth! U8+
Cenguin! 1951H+ *oo$ 1!5>.
<istorical Rune 9agic and ?i&ination < FC
1 heard it s"o$en.K 7arlier in the KJaamalK Gst. 43H man is told that Kit is
proven #hen %ou as( of the runes" #hich are sprun$ fro the =divine
adisorsA @ gods! &2 reginN.=
There are other historical accounts fro the vie#point of Christian
obserers that tell us little other than that the role of the number three was of
great im"ortance.
9AE1C
The runes #ere of course also #idel% used for operative a$ical purposes. A
erbal deriatie! &ld 2orse ryna Gto wor$ magic with runes! or to inBuireH!
sho#s the close lin( bet#een illuinative and operative acts. Also" ters
that often a% see to indicate the coin$ to pass of certain events Ge.g..
sigrunar Dictorious outcomePH also can be used to bring about this state
throu$hoperative action. *Iictor% runes* are carved and'!r spo(en to in+ect
obNectie realit# with their "ower.
At this time "erha"s a word should be said about the true and e%act
eanin$ of such ters as *victor% runes"* *ale runes6= *birth runes"* *sea
runes!K and the li$e found in abundance in &ld 2orse! &ld 7nglish! and &ld
Jigh Eerman. 9an# la# inestigators Gand some scholarsH hae generall#
sou$ht to identif% such ters #ith specific runesta&es for exaple" victor%
runes+ 1A1A+ and:or + ~I.,:, the former based on the famous 7ddie "assage in the
KSigrdrffumal!K stanLa 5 Gwhere Sigurdhr is told to Kcall twice on T#r for
ictor#KH! and the latter on the Ks$aldic lin$K between &ld 2orse sig Gictor#O
31A modem Eerman 1ieg for that matterH---and the S-rune. *oth su""ositions
hae some merit! and their a""eal is not to be denied. Joweer! the# do not
dele dee"l# enough into the com"le% lore surrounding the word rune to be
able to e%"lain the wa#s these terms were used. 1fwe alwa#s $ee" it in mind
that the old 0eranic #ord riino priaril% eans %ster% and that it is
deried from a ocal conce"t Gwhis"er! roar! etc.H! the "ossible breadth of
such ters becoes clearer. 1ig-runar are not onl- runestaves that either
signif# or bring about ictor# but also the galdrar$ or whole "oetic stanLas!
that wor$ to the same ends. =rom this deelo"ed the use of these terms to
indicate normal s"eech that might hae the same effectsO for e%am"le! &ld
2orse gaman-runar 2+o% runesA becae an expression for err% tal(" and
&ld ;orsefl=rdh-stafir Gdece"tion staesH became a wa# of sa#ing seductie
words. That into late times the ideas of run GruneH! stKNGstaeH! and galdr
I incantationA #ere soeties virtuall% s%non%ous is sho#n b% the /ld
43: mST&'1CA< <&'7
2orse "airs of com"ounds likn-stafir Ghealing staeH! likn-galdr Ghealing
s"ellH! and val-runar Gdeath runes)#val-galdr Gdeath dirgeH.
Actual runic carvin$ rituals are depicted several ties in /ld )orse
te%ts. The saga accounts hae the adantage of showing us how the runes
#ere used b% a$icians in ever%da% situations" and soe cr%ptic .ddie
"assages gie clear indications of the m#tho-magical "atterns on which these
rites #ere based.
The KJaamal!K stanLa 14/! "roides a re"resentation of the "rocess of
a runic risting GcaringH rite as archet#"all# "erformed b# the Ereat
'unemaster! &dhinn+
'unes wilt thou find
and read the staes!
ver% stron$ staves"
ver% stout staves"
that =imbulthulr @ &dhinnP colored
and made b# the might# gods
and risted b# the god Jro"tr @ &dhinnP
The $reatestaccountof ahuanruneaster #hich has survivedis that
of 7gill S$allagrimsson >'gil@s 1aga). &nce 7gill detects "oison in his
drin$ing hom Gcha"ter 44H+
7gill drew out his $nife and stabbed the "alm of his hand! then
he too$ the hom! cared runes on it and rubbed blood on them.
Je said+
1 care a rune @s+.I- on the hom
1 redden the s"ell in blood
these #ords I choose for %our ears.
The hom burst asunder! and the drin$ went down into the
stra#.
<ater in the same saga Gcha"ter 5/H 7gill heals a girl of sic$ness caused
b# ill-wrought runes. The laun-stafir Gsecret staes! i.e.! coded runesH were
cared b# a "easant bo# tr#ing to cure her! but it onl# made her sic$ness
worse. The whalebone on which the characters were cared was found l#ing
in the bed!
<istorical Rune 9agic and ?i&ination < ;1
7gill read them and then he whittled the runes off and scra"ed
them down into the fire and burned the whale bone and had all the
bedclothes that she had thrown to the winds. Then 7gill said+
*A an should not carve runes
unless he $nows well how to read+
it befalls man# a man
who are led astra# b# a dar$ staeO
1 saw whittled on the whalebone
ten secret staves carved"
that hae gien the slender girl
her grinding "ain so long.K
7gill cared runes and laid them underneath the "illow of the
bed! where she was restingO it seemed to her that she was well
a$a....
The possible nature and identit% of the laun-stafir are discussed in chapter F.
&ne of the most remar$able uses of runes is in the "re"aration of the
nidhstong Gcursing "oleH. (etails on its "re"aration are gien in at least two
sagas. Again 'gil@s 1aga Gcha"ter 55H gies one e%am"le+
...7gill DcameP u" onto the island. Je "ic$ed u" a haLel "ole D&2
1ton2$ in his hand and Awent to a certain roc$ cliff that faced in
toward the landO then he too$ a horse head and set it u"on the "ole.
Then he "erformed an incantation M";/armaliN and said+ KJere 1
set u" the niding-"ole! and 1 direct this insulting curse D&2 nfh$
against $ing Eir,kr D*looda%P and Eunnhild the BueenK-then he
turned the horse head in toward the land-K1 tum this insulting
curse to those land-s"irits D&2 land-vcettiri that inhabit this land
so that all of them go astra#! the# will not figure nor find their
abode until the# drie $ing 7irf$r and Eunnhildr from the land.K
Then he shoed the "ole down into a roc$ creice and let it stand
thereO he also turned the horse head toward the land and then he
cared runes on the "ole! and the# said all the incantation MfarmaliN.
This ma# be com"ared to the descri"tion of the nidhstong gien in the
<amsdcela 1aga Gcha"ter >4H+
,L
4/ I J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
The brothers #aiteduntilthree4=cloc( inthe afternoon" and#hen
it had come to that time! then 0o$ull and =a%a-*randr went to
=innbogiAs shee" stall! which was there beside the fence! and the#
too$ a "ole D&2 1u%$ and carried it down below the fence. There
#ere also horses that had coe for protection fro the stor.
0o$ull cared a manAs head on the end of the "ole and cared runes
in the "ole with all those incantations MformdliN that had been said
before. Then 0o$ull $illed a mare and the# o"ened it u" at the
breast and "ut in on the "ole! and the# had it tum homeward
toward *org. . . .
Another faous account the rune a$ic is found in the ;rettir4s %aga
Gcha"ter 59H where we read+
DThuridhrP hobbled ... as if guided to a s"ot where there la# a
lar$e stupof a tree as bi$ as a an could carr% on his shoulder.
She loo$ed at it and as$ed them to tum it oer in front of her. The
other side loo$ed as ifit had been burned and smoothed. She had a
small flat surface whittled on its smooth sideO then she too$ her
$nife and cared runes on the root and reddened them in her blood!
and s"o$e s"ells oer it. She went bac$wards and widdershins
around the#ood andspo(e ver%po#erfulutterances over it.Then
she had them "ush the wood out into the sea! and said it is to go to
&range# and Erettir should suffer harm from it.
&ne clear e%am"le of rune magic "erformed b# a god is also "resent in
the !oetic 'dda GKS$fmismal!K or K=or S$frnis!K st. >6H+
A thurs-rune 1 for thee!
and three of them 1 scratch
lecher#! and loathing! and lustO
off 1 shall scratch them
as on 1 did scratch them
if of none there be need.
Here" of course" the divine essen$erof &re%r" >(frnir 2the >hinin$-oneA" is
threatenin$ 0erdhr the etin-#ife #ith a curse if she #ill not a$ree to becoe
<istorical Rune 9agic and ?i&ination : 4>
a bride of his lord. This whole "oem has man# &dhinic elements in itO for
e%am"le! the iewing of the worlds from Hlidhsk/alfr$ &dhinnAs high seat!
~ =re#r and the traersing of the worlds on a horse b# S$fmir. Certain
aerrelationshi"s between =re#r and &dhinn are e%"lored in cha"ter 1>.
&ro the historical exaples $iven thus far it is clear that runes could
lle used to heal as well as to harm. *ut aside from the m#sterious and
r.aanistic initiator% ritual" #ere there an% other forms of #isdo a$ic or
++imalsfor self-transformationQ The answer is #es. *ut because ofthe natural
&1//Ccupation #ith conflict in the sagas-i-the# are" after all" stories intended
asuch to entertain as to recount *historical* eents-s-such rituals are rarel%
n:ntioned. 5hen loo(in$ at this 7uestion" one ust reeber that the
Orimar# "ur"ose of illnminatie runecasting was such a transformational
6rocess. The runecaster is literall% ui-formed b% the counication and is
II#t erel% a passive and ob+ectified receiver. That is #h% true runecastin$
!bSmldnot be treated as a "rofane KgameK or done casnall# b# noninitiates.
lbe most remar$able runic ritual of wisdom wor$ing is found in the KSigrarifuil"*
#hich afterrecountin$ the t#ent%-four %thic locations for runes
II'< be cared Gsts. 15-15H! gies ns this inaluable formula in stanLa 14+
All Dthe runesP were scra"ed off!
that #ere scratched on"
and blended into the hol# mead!
and sent out upon #ide #a%s.
This gies the actual ritual formula for the draught of wisdom! which can be
"erformed imitatiel# or s#mbolicall#.
Although we could wish for more details and e%am"les of the "erformance
of rune #or(in$s in the old Eermanic literatures" #e ust ta(e heart in
!be fact that so much e%act information has been left in the fragments we do
>ave. There is enou$h to enable us to reconstruct #ith $reat historical
accurac% the ph%sical circustances of operative rune #or(in$s and to soe
e%tent illuminatie Gdiinator#H ones.
The o"eratie formula was a threefold "rocess ofGlH carving the staes!
.A) coloring them Gwith blood or d#eH! and G>H s0eaking the vocei formali
that accom"anies the gra"hic forms. This latter ste" ma# ta$e man# forms!
for exaple" the intonin$ of rune naes" #ords of po#er related to the
...or$ing! the actual #ords represented b% the inscribed staves" or siilar
"oetic forms. The fourth as"ect of the o"eratie "rocess is the scra0ing offof
---
44 1 J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
the staves fro their aterial ediu in orderto destro% or transfer their
force. This is the sim"lest form of the ritual we hae in e%"licit re"resentations.
Ho#ever" thatorecoplex ritual f#7I7I- #ere soetiesinvolved in
rune wor$ings is strongl# suggested b# the KJaamal!K stanLa 144+
8nowest thou how to care [rf1ta$*
8nowest thou how to read [rha$*
8nowest thou how to color [fa$*
8nowest thou how to test [frei1(a$*
8nowest thou how to as$ [bih6a$*
8nowest thou how to offer [biota$*
8nowest thou how to send [1ena$*
8nowest thou how to sacrifice [1oa$*
The terminolog# of this stanLa is clearl# connected to rune wor$ings! but
onl% the first threetechnical tersarepurel%runic-to carve" to color" and
to read2i.e." to interpret runestaves in divinator% #or(in$sA. The otherfive
terms areore usuall% desi$nationsfor processes in sacrificialrites. In /ld
7or1e&6rei1ta means to test! to "utto the test! or to "erform. This testing ma#
be the search for si$ns or oens to corroborate or confir the results of
illuinative #or(in$s coon to the practice of Eermanic divination.
6idh/a indicates the mode of correctl# reBuesting diine action or Kfeedbac$!K
and the last three terms refer more directl# to the modes of actuall#
1enin2 sacrifice to the godGsH. All of this leads us to beliee that sacrificial
rites #ere soeties perfored as an inte$ral part of a rune #or(in$.
As far as the ritual form of runecasting is concerned! the &ld 2orse
te%ts are rather silent. The 2orthmen! of course! $new a ariet# of illuminatie
techniBues! man# of which are classed as seidhr Gshamanic! i.e.!
trance-inducing ritesH. 'unecasting is more anal#tical and 2a%r3oriente"
9ecause it is (no#nthatrunes#ere in evidence in the 0ennanies durin$ the
first centur# C.7. and because the account gien b# Tacitus in cha"ter 13 of
the ;ermania is so detailed andcontainseleents confirmed b% later"ore
fra$entar% descriptions" #e can be virtuall%certain that in thatpassa$e#e
"ossess an authentic formula for runecasting. The basic structure of the
wor$ing would hae been+
B. Cuttin$ and scorin$ of staves.
/. Calling on the 2oms Gor other godsH.
<istorical Rune 9agic and ?i&ination I C
>. Casting the staes Gonto a white clothH.
4. Calling on the gods.
5. Choosing of GthreeH staes.
6. Sitting on the thealAs chair.
5. 'eading of the staes.
4. Confirmation 6( omens! etc.
~ni; Codes
&ne of the most remar$able as"ects of the com"le% Krunic s#stemK Gsee
dla"ter 9H is the "ossibilit# of creating arious runic codes. The cetts#stem
il+selfma$es this com"le%it# "ossible. This s#stem essentiall# consists of
diiding the entire futhar$ into three sections or rows. 1n the elder "eriod
d0ere were three rows of eight! as seen in figure 5.1 on "age 44.
It is also $nown from eidence found in fie manuscri"ts that the &ld
7nglish =uthorc conld be diided into these grou"s! "lus a fourth grou" of
four staes! as shown in figure 5./. The &ld 7nglish s#stem clearl# shows
that the first t#ent%-four runes in the ro#s #ere considered an or$ani8ed
...-hole to #hich the extrafour 2five ororein latertiesA #ere*e(edout.*
There is also the later )orse s%ste of crt. divisions. Here thin$s $et
7uite curious. The reduction of the rune ro# fro t#ent%-four to sixteen
made an eBual diision into three grou"s im"ossible. So two rows had fie
and another hadsix. Thero# #as initiall%dividedin theanner indicated in
fi$ure <.3 on pa$e ;$. Ho#ever" for the construction of runic codes in the
.i$ing Age! this order was usuall# altered to that shown in figure 5.4. Such
reorderin$ also a% have been an archaic practice.
The basic idea behind ost runic codes founded on the au s%ste is a
binar# number set! one of which re"resents the number ofthe au Gin the case
44 I J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
~ ,A ~ ~ ,A :Xp:
2 ~ I =>98h 8?-:
l* ~ @A ~ c rCD~:
Figure 5.1. #'tt divisions of the 'lder Futhark
of the elder s#stem a number between one and threeH! and the other
re"resents the number of the runestae counted from the left Gfor the elder
"eriod a number between one and eightH. Asim"le e%am"le would be /+4 W +R+Gsecond am$ eighth staeH.
There are man# methods for re"resenting
this binar# codeO in later times the onl# bounds seemed to hae been those in
the imagination of the runemaster. Although it was in the .i$ing and 9iddle
Ages that the art of runic cr#"tolog# seems to hae reached its "ea$! the
s#stem was certainl# $nown from the beginning of the tradition. The
.adstenai9otala bracteates are the oldest re"resentations of the 7lder
=uthar$ diided into tettir$ but there are also "erha"s as man# as si% elder
inscriptions that see to have soe (ind of runic code in the.
The ring of 8arlin bears the s#mbol+ Of+ along with the inscri"tion
+>99 ~ +. The latter is clearl# a reersed alu formula! while the former could
be a runic code for /+ 1 Gi.e.! secondruneofthefirstcett W + tA'5. The stae as
it stands is! howeer! also a bind rune of A 4 L. This combined with
encoded form renders another alu formula. This gold ring dates from 633
C...
~8\~~~5E~:
~8(IF$'~t~:
t 0@A ~~%CD~:
~ ~ rrr
Figure 5./. #'tt divisions of the "ld 'nglish Futhorc
Runic ,odes I C(
Figure 5.>. r'tt divisions of the <ounger Futhark
So an# method of gra"hicall# re"resenting two numbers could be used
8Ii/ #ritecr%ptic runic essa$es. 9utof course"the*reader* ustbefailiar
with the a# s#stem and all of its intricacies to be able to inter"ret the
message. &ther "ossible runic codes of this $ind in the older "eriod are seen
on the stone of 8rogsta Gca. 553 C.7.H! "art of which a""ears . r !O /! t J', to be read from right to left as
S1A12AF. This ma$es no
linguistic sense. *ut if we read the+ 0+ rune as a code stae for 1+ 1 ~ + t '
llllith reordered cettir)$ thenit a(es senseas staina. 2stoneA. Thisidentifies
me obNect! or it could be the name of the runemaster.
In the inscri"tions! code runes are also rare in the 7nglish tradition. )e
do (no# of the special aft divisions and one inscription" the stone of
Jac$ness Gcared sometime between 533 and 933 C.7.H. The formula resultlo$
fro its decipherent" ho#ever" a(es no lin$uistic sense.
Among the most widel# "racticed of the doLens of $nown forms of
cr#"tic runes are the isruna$ is-runes! These are (no#n fro a edieval
Eerman manuscri"t written in <atin! called the =:sruna-Tract.K An e%am"le
I figure 5.5 on "age 93H of this runic code s#stem! which s"ells out the name
7iri$r! is found on the Swedish stone of 'otbrunna in U""land.
Figure 5.4. 7r0tic reordering of the au division of the <ounger Futhark
93 I J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
Figure 5.6+ a) reconstructed healing formula in is-runes >a total of nine
staves)4 b) farm bo@s is-rune formula >a total of ten staves)
B AlriCr8B +iriCr
>+5
>+1 ! >+>
, th
111
1111 111
>+1 ! >+/
, $
/11 1 111
BB
A:2 : /+> : >+5 : /+> : >+6!
a Irk
BABBBBBB*BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB<* 111111 jllll!
This latter s#stem ma# be the $e# to the "assage on rune magic Buoted
from 'gil@s 1aga Gcha"ter 5/H on "age 41. There 7gill s"ea$s of Kten secret
staes cared!K which were su""osed to be scratched in an attem"t at a
healing wor$ing. A good ideogra"hic formula for such a wor$ing would be
or!H+! /e and urr$ for energ# and ital force. A wa# of "utting these into
cr%ptic" and therefore ore a$icall% potent" for in is-runes is sho#n in
figure 5.6a. *ut the uns$illed farm bo# cared one too man# staes! and the
resulting formula Gfigure 5.6bH was hurtful. =igure 5.6b givesflO Generg#!
heatH to thurs Ggigantic! destructie forceH-a formula ina""ro"riate for a
healing rite! to sa# the least. 2ote also the traditional effect of the TJ-rune
on women alluded to in the &ld 2orwegian 'une Coem and &ld 1celandic
'une 'h#me! *# caring one too man# staes in this cr#"tic formula! the
uninitiated rune carer caused the o""osite of the willed effect+ 1kal-at
madhr runar rista$ nema rddha &el 0unni! . . .
*esides the leu-based cr#"tograms! there are a ariet# of wa#s to
conceal the natural lan$ua$e essa$e of a runic forula. Phonetic values
could be shifted along thefuthar$ order! so that t@+ ~ =! + ~ + ~ U! + ~ + ~
TJ! and so on. Single runes could be used logegra"hicall# for their names+
for exaple" in the )oetic Edda the stave: r is soeties #ritten as a
substitute for &2 madhr GmanH. Single $e# words also can be abbreiated in
Figure 5.5. :s-runes of Rotbrunna
Runic ,odes < $1
arious #a%s. 5hen a sin$le rune stands for a #ord other than the rune
name! we get a glim"se of the hidden lore of the esoteric s#stem of alternate
rune names! a subNect of ongoing research in the 'une-Eild.
&ther common wa#s to obscure or alter the natural language message
are (I5 leaing out certain runes Ge.g.! all of the owelsH! G/H scrambling
indiidual words! G>H inscribing the whole te%t! or Nust "arts of it! from right
13 left Galthough this is sometimes so common that it seems to be a regular
o"tionH! G4H substitution of s"ecial nonrunic signs for certain staes! and G5H
"se of elder runes in %oun$er inscriptions.
The magical Go"eratieH effect of these runic codes is clear. The# were
not meant Goriginall#! at leastH to confuse human Kreaders.K The# were
intended to hide the runes$ and what is hidden has effect in the hidden!
sub+ective reals. Thus" an operative lin( is ade bet#een the sub+ective
and ob+ective realities" #ithin the $od-sprun$ frae#or( of the lore of the
runes.
~ne )oems
9esides the priar% lore of the runenaes" shapes" order" andam diisions!
me oldest s#stematic lore attached to the staes is embodied in the rune
"oems. There originall# were "erha"s seeral of these "oems in the tradition!
but there can be little doubt that the# all belonged to the same sacred
bod# of lore. 1n this cha"ter we will "resent the three maNor rune "oems!
along with a little-studied "iece of a""arent doggerel that ma# teach us
something. All of the "oems are translated with a minimum of commentar#
U1 internal interpretation. In addition to the rune poes proper-#hich are
essentiall%series of explanator% poetic stan8as"eachbe$innin$#ith therune
lIKIIBe<stave of a runero#-there area nuberof stan8as in the )oetic Edda
directl% relevant to runelore" and #e #ill provide soe esoteric coentar%
&1l the significance of these sections of the 'dda. The original "ur"ose of
mese wor$s ma# hae been to hel" the runemasters hold certain $e# conce"ts
inind#hile perforin$ runecastin$s" orthe%a%have+ustbeen traditional
formulations of the general lore of the runes.
The /ld .n$lish ,une Poe
KThe &ld 7nglish 'une CoemK records stanLas for the twent#-ninesae
&ld 7nglish =uthorc. This is es"eciall# aluable because it is a source
for the lore of the staes of the 7lder =uthar$ not "resent in the #ounger row.
"
L
94 : J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
The dra#bac( is that soe of its stan8as see to have been altered for a
Christian audience. 9utit is wise to remember that the KChristianit#K of the
7nglish court societ# of the earl# 9iddle Ages was hardl# an orthodo% one.
and it certainl# "resered much of the old heathen culture.
&or the text of this poe #e are dependent on a transcription ade b)
Jumfre# )anle# that was subseBuentl# "rinted in the Thesaurus of Eeorge
Jic$es in 1535. The manuscri"t of the "oem was destro#ed in the fire that
raaged the Cottonian librar# in 15>1. Although the manuscri"t from which
the transcri"tion was ta$en dated from around the end of the tenth centur#! it
is "robable thatthe original ersion of the "oem dates from as earl# as the late
eighth or earl# ninth centur#+
, D9one#P is a comfort
to eer#bod#
although eer# man ought
to deal it out freel#
if he wants to get a""roal
from the lord.
~ DAurochsP is fearless
and greatl# horned a
ver% ~beast"
it fights with its horns!
a faous~of the oor
it is a c_oura$eous anial.
DThornP is er# ~6$I%i
for eer# thane
who gras"s itO it is harmful!
and e%ceedingl# S!+!!!+1
to ever% an
who ~u"on them.
,''i DEod:9outhP is the chieftain
of all s"eech!
the ainsta% of #isdo
and a cofort to the #ise ones" -------
for eer# 7MM!e warrior
ho"e and ha""iness.
~
' D'idingP is in the hall
to eer#~ .-.
eas#! bnt er# 0!ill+d
for the one whoA ]its u"
on a poGerfA~
oer miles of~.
hDTorchP is to eer# liing "erson
@On.own b# its fire! -
it is clear and bright
it usuall# b.!!!!!]
when the athlin:Qs
rest inside the hall .
.-
IDEiftP is for..e!....e..r..#. man
a P.tiE~ and"raise!
~ and worthinessO
and of eer# homeless adenturer
it is the~ and substance
for those who hae nothing else.
C D0o#P is had
b# the one who !ill/;++s few troubles
~s and sorrows!
and to him who himself has
~r a33ct blessedness!
and a good enough house.
PDJailP is the whitest of grains.
it comes from high in ~
showers of wind hurl it!
menK&it t-urns to water.
Rune !oemsO P5
~
lIIo....-
96 : J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
t D2eedP is constricting on the chest
although to the children of men it often becomes
a hel" and G'6~'ert5e%ess,
if the# ~it in time.
D1ceP is er# c.o.-ldand
e%ceedingl# sli""er#O
it glistens! clear as slass!
er# much %i@e~,
a floor made of frost
is:fiP2to see.
t DJarestP is the ho"e of men!
when @lad lets! -
hol# lflng of heaen!
the ~ gies
her bright fruits
to the n-o-bl-e ones and the need#.
J* D;ewP is on the o-u-ts-id-e a @ough tree
and hard! finn in the earth!
$ee"er of ~ire,
su""orted b# 0+YYll!
Dit is aP No# on the e~
D<ot bo%P is alw!a#s
~ and laughter
among bold men!
where the warriYfs sit
in the =~ hall!
ha""il# together.
~
I D7l$AsP sedge has its home
ost often in the fen" it
#axes in the #ater -
and griml# ~s
and r-eddens DKbumsKP with b-lood an% an
who! in an% #a%"
tries to ~p it.
~ DSunP is b# seamen
alwa#s ho"ed for
when the# fare far awa#
oer the fishesA hath
until the bnOOOO.stallinn
the# bring to land.
t DTirP is a star!
it $ee"s faith wcll
with athlings!
al#a%s on its~
oer the mis~ of night
it never fails.
D*irchP is without .f.r.u-i.t.
but Nust the same it bearsA
limbs without fertile seedO
it has beautiful branches+
hi$h on its cro#n
it is finel# wered!
loaded with ~,
touching the -s$-#..
9DJorseP is! in front of the ~
the No# of athlings!
a charger "roud on its hooesO
#hen concernin$ it" ~s#ealth%
men-s-on #arhorses
e%change s"eech!
and it is alwa#s a comfort
to the restless. ~
Rune )oems < CF
98 I J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
f4 D9anP is in his mirth
dear to his $insmanO although
each shalf
SO!.e"a0! fr.OOOOA the otherO
for the lord #ants to coit"
b# his decree! ---
that \.!:H~5
to the earth.
@A D)aterP is to ~e
seemingl # unend!ciO
if the# should M!!!l!1e out
on an unstead# shi"
and the sea wa2es
frighten them er# much!
and the brine-stallion
does not heed its lHridle.
ID1ngP was f.i).!
among the E6st(~,
seen b) en
.'iiitiI he again 1astward Dor Kbac$KP
#ent over the #-ave6 the ~ followed onO
this is #hat the #arriors
called the hero.
2D(a#P is the lordAs 1Hlessenger!
~to men%
the r.@!!t<.s famous lightO
Dit isP ~ and ho"e
to 1iY1 and "oor
DandP is ~% for al<
<: D7stateP is er# dear
to ever% m6n,.~
if he can enNo# what is right
and accor=d.Ui$ to custo
in his ~%%W'
ost often in prosperi..PX.
~ D&a$P is on the~
for the children of men
~ the nounshent of eat6
it often fares
oer the gannetAs bath .~ seaP+
The sea finds out-whether
the oa$ $ee"s
noble troth ..-
~
~ DAshP is er#-tall!
DandP er# dear to men
finn on its 6aJe
it holds its "lace rightl#
although it is atlac$ed
b# man# men.~
,3A D;ew bowl is for athlings
and noble ali$e
a No# and ~~ of worth!
it is e%cellent on a @N!Y0+se!
steadfast on an expedition.~
pie;eof wargear.
t DSer"entP is a rier fish
~it alwa#s t~es ,CC!!
on land!
it has a fair ~
-Il!:!II@6d b) water%
where it ~ in No#.
I DEraeP is hateful
to eer# noble when
steadil;
the N0g0t beginsthe
cY!7!le-to become cold
to ;~ the earth -
"alel# as a bedmateO
,i'!!i.ts fall ~
0&;s "ass awa#!
b-onds of faith dissole.
Rune )oems I ((
133 : mST&'1CA< <&'7
liceP! we call the broad bridgeO
the blind need to be led.
DJailP is the coldest of grainsO
ChristA sha"ed the world in ancient times
DSoreP is the curse of childrenO
grief ma$es a man "ale.
D'idingP! it is said! is the worst for horsesO
'eginn forged the best sword.
D7stuar#P is the wa of most Nourne#sO
but the sheath is Dthat forP swords.
DThursP causes the sic$ness of womenO
few are cheerful from misfortune.
DSlagP is from bad ironO
oft runs the reindeer on the hard sno#.
1- D2eedP ma$es for a difficult situationO
the na$ed freeLe in the frost.
I
~ D9one#P causes strife among $insmenO
the wolf grows u" in the woods.
~
~
C
D(
t
The /ld 2orwegian ,une ,h%e
KThe &ld 2orwegian 'une 'h#meK dates from between the end of the
twelfth centur# and the beginning of the thirteenth. It is clearl# "art of the
same tradition as KThe 1celandic 'une Coem!K although it is contaminated
b% soe Christian eleents. The structure of each stan8a is copact and
actuall# twofold+ a half-line with two alliterating staes! followed b# a
half-line containing a single alliteratie stae. 1n the original the two halflines
rh#me. The ideological content of the two half-lines is seemingl
unrelatedO ho#ever" the second is actuall%anesotericcoenton an aspect
of the first! which is em"hasiLed in the whole. These stanLas! in an illuminative
sense" #or( uch li(e Ven 0oansA
K&riginall#! <roptr 2theHidden/ne NW &dhinnlH. Thecobination hr #as pronounced "kr*
in /)6 thus" the alliteration is preserved.
Rune )oems < 1D1
DEood harestP is the "rofit of menO
1 sa# that =r6dhi was generous.
DSunP is the light of the landsO
I bow to the holiness.
@Q(r- is the one-handed among the l7sirO
the smith has to blow often.
D*irch twigP is the limb greenest with leaesO
<o$i brought the luc$ of deceit.
D9anP is the increase of dustO
might# is the talon-s"an of the haw$.
D)aterP is DthatP which falls from the mountainO
as a forceO but gold DobNectsP are costl# things.
D;ewP is the greenest wood in the winterO
there is usuall%" #hen it bus" sin$ein$ Ni.e." it a(es a hot
fireP.
The /ld Icelandic ,une Poe
KThe &ld 1celandic 'une CoemK dates from as late as the fifteenth
centur# but "reseres lore from a much older time! as do all the rune "oems.
Tbe rh#me gies a com"le% bod# of information about each alliterating
$11f-line! followed b# an inde"endent internall# alliterating single half-line!
..a of which is followed b# two words+ !5 a <atin KtranslationK of the rune
lIIIIle% which is often an esoteric commentar#! and C5 an alliterating &ld
+sorse word for Kchieftain!K which also acts as a further $e# to dee"er
.eaning. Jere the &ld 2orse word is Ket#mologicall#K translated into
7nglish+
D9one#P is the Dcause ofP strife among $insmen!
and the fire of the flood-tide!
and the "ath of the ser"ent.
gold =leader of the war-band=
D(riLLleP is the wee"ing of clouds!
and the diinisher of the ri of ice"
AK DJailP is a cold grain!
l* and a shower of sleet!
and the sic$ness Ddestro#erP of sna$es.
hail =battle-leader=
13/ 1 J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
DEood harestP is the "rofit of all men!
and a good s"mmer%
=leader=
=worth- man=
=point-leader=
D1ceP is the rind of the rier!
and the roof of the waes!
and a danger for fe# men.
ice =one who wears the $oar-helm=
D2eedP is the grief of the bondmaid!
and a hard condition to be in!
and toilsome wor$.
trouble &2 nfflungr! =descendant of the deadQ=
DSoreP is the bale of children!
and a scour$e"
and the house ofrotten flesh.
whi0 =king= ~ descendant of good kin
DAse &dhinnP is the olden-father!
and AsgardhrAs chieftain!
and the leader of .alholl!
Eu0iter
DThursP is the torment of women!
and the dweller in the roc$s!
and the husband of .ardh-nina Da giantessQP
1aturn =ruler of the thingK
and Dan obNect forP the herdsmanAs hate.
shadow Dshould read imber$ showerQP
D'idingP is a blessed sitting!
and a swift Nourne#!
and the toil of the horse.
Dourne-
~
)
)
8
y
t
The Abecedarium ;ordmanicum
Rune )oems < B4K
=all-ruler=
=director=
=protector=
=generous one=
=praise-worth- one=
and a ri"ened field.
-ear
t DT#rP is the one-handed god!
and the leaings of the wolf!
and the ruler of the tem"le.
9ars
!< D*irch twigP is a leaf# limb!
i< and a little tree!
and a #outhful wood.
sil&er fir
D;ewP is a strung bow!
and brittle iron!
and =arbauti .~ a giantP of the arrow
bow$ rainbow =descendant of <ngvi=
~ DSunP is the shield of the clouds!
and a shining glor#!
and the life-long Sorrow @ destro#erP of ice.
wheel =descendant of the &ictorious one=
~ D)etnessP is churning water!
! and a wide $ettle!
and the land of fish.
lake
^ D9anP is the No# of man!
and the increase of dust"
and the adornment of shi"s.
human
9ecause the 1$ecedarium Nordmanicum is such a curious piece and is
ti(a.lI) not treated in texts on rune poes" #e #iIl $ive it soe special
mention here. The "oem is found in a St. Eall GSwitLerland.H manuscri"t! the
uldest manuscri"t of an# rune "oem! dating from the earl# 433s. Joweer!
the Ase is above hi.
134 : J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
This *poe* represents the%oun$er)orse runes" butit#as coposedin the
social conte%t of those with $nowledge of the &ld 7nglish =uthorc and its
traditions. This is clear from the &ld 7nglish glosses made in the manuscri"t
Gnot shownH. =or the most "art! and at first glance! it seems that the words of
this "oem merel# sere to $nit the rune names together in "ro"er order Gas a
neonicA. 9ut in at least four instances the phrases are esotericall%
meaningful+ G1H Kthe Ase is aboe himK ( the thursH--a""arentl# a theoand
man in the middle
~ and sun.
birch Q
)ear%
#heel is #ritten last"
then cleaves cancreO
water the bright.
Ice% E
7i"% ~
hail has i- need
#ew holds all.
aurochs after"
thurs the third stae!
r fee first!
~
~
C
'
r
BI
r
~
t
its contentsdo not see to belon$ to anancientheathentradition. It is #ritten
in a mi%ture of Jigh and <ow Eerman! with some 2orse characteristics. The
manuscri"t "robabl# was "ut together b# )alafrid Strabo! who studied
under Jrabanus 9aurus in =ulda from 4/5 to 4/9. Jrabanus! who was in
turn the student of the Sa%on Aleuin! was the greatest single collector of
runelore in the 9iddle Ages. Although all three men were Christian clerics.
and their rationale for collecting this material might hae been intelligence
gathering for missionar# wor$ among Asatni 2orsemen! the# inadertentl#
gathered a great deal of genuine lore of Eermanic troth.
Rune !oems : 135
logical commentO G/H Kand man DisP in the middleK-dearl# is not a s"atial
but cosmo-"s#chological statement-man is in 9idhgardhrO G>H Kwater DisP
the bright oneK-this is the shining water of life Gsee reference to gold in the
K&ld 2orwegian 'une 'h#meKHO and G4H Kthe #ew holds eer#thingK-the
)orld-;ew contains the essence of the multierse.
Comments on 'unic StanLas from the
!oetic 'dda
*esides the rune "oems aboe! there are three la#s of the !oetic 'dda
.meetl# releant to the runic tradition. These are! howeer! different from
8e futhar$ "oems. The 7ddie "oems ma# delineate! in order! a series of
~r6r clearl# attached to runes! but the e%act runic formula ma# remain
t(dden. 7ach stanLa is not necessaril# attached to a single runestae!
Ithough it is usuall# illuminating to classif# the meanings in futhar$ order.
Some of these stanLas are clearl# meaot to be teaching tools. The three la#s
aithe!oetic 'dda in Buestion are the K'unatals thattr &dhinsK ( KJaamil"
1>4-165H! the KSigrdrffumal!K and the KErogaldrK GW first half of the
KSi"dagsmalKH .
-rus 'U2ATA<S TJAT1' &(J12SK
The K'unatals thattrK is a $e# document in the &dian tradition. It should be
read and studied in detail b# all runesters. The la# is essentiall# made u" of
llnee "arts+ (I5 the rune-winning initiation G1>4-141H! G/H the teaching of
Nechnical runelore G14/-145H! aud G>H a catalog of eighteen rune-magic
songs G146-164H. 1n the first "art &dhinn is initiated Gor initiates himselfH
irJto the wisdom of the runes b# hanging himself in the branches of the
Korld-Tree! ;ggdrasill GKthe steed of ;ggrK@ &dhinnP! or Kthe #ew
columnKH with its nine worlds! where he is Kwounded b# the s"ear.K This is
0. t#"ical shamanistic initiator# theme in which the initiate is subNected to
i&11le sort of torture or moc$ e%ecution Gin a cosmologicall# significant
conte%tH in order that he might come face to face with death. To hang the
Ari..Ktim in a tree and stab him with s"ears in the traditional wa# of ma$iug
1mmansacrifice to &dhinn! $nowo from earl# 'oman re"orts to .i$ing Age
soga accounts. Jere &dhinn gies GsacrificesH his Self to himself-Kgien to
93- : J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
&dhinn! m#self to m#self.K These words contain the great &dhinic rune of
gebo$ the true nature of &dian Self-sacrifice. The &dian does not gie his
Self to &dhinn! but rather he learns the &dian "ath and gies his Self to
himself.
1n this "rocess &dhinn descends into the realm of Jel G(eathHO and in
that twilight between life and death! in the orte% of intensified o""osites
G+ 1RSl .H! he receies the flash of runic initiation! in which tbe runes are shown
to hi" and he becoes #hole #ith the essence of the universal %steries.
=rom this realm he returns to the world of consciousness-the worlds of
$ods and en-in order to counicate these %steries to the essences of
these reals and to certain bein$s #ithin the. That the substance of these
runes is also contained in the poetic ead is ephasi8ed in stan8a BD4.
This initiator# m#th actuall# describes not a historical KeentK but a
tieless process in #hich *inspired consciousness* >wodh-an-a.) elds
with the Kuniersal m#steriesK-not to be controlled b# them but to gain
master# oer their use. 1ts technical as"ects gie a ritual "attern Gone among
man#H for human wor$ings.
In stan8a BDB /dhinn declares the effect of this on consciousness6 it
causes it to $ecome-to evolve" $ro# and thrive. The last t#o lines sho# the
coplex" transforationall% lin$uistic nature of /dhinn= s #or( #ithin
hiself and aon$ the $ods and en. In the *oent* of runic initiation he
Kta$es u" the runes screamingK-that is! the melding with the uniersal
%steries is accopanied b% a vibrator% eanation" the vocali8ed sound!
Jence! the "rimallin$ of Km#ster#K and Ksound.K 1n this orte% natural
language fails to e%"ress the essential totalit# ofthe e%"erience! but it is from
this orte% that magical scaldcraft is born.
The second part of the K'unatals thattrK contains essential technical
runelore! in albeit cr#"tic form. StanLa 14/ instructs us first to KfindK and
KreadK the m#steries! that is! master "assie $nowledge of them. <earn to
understand and inter"ret the great and might# staes. Then we are to use
them actiel#+ to C&1&f! fashion! and care! to do actie wor$ings with them.
The ne%t stanLa! which has alread# been discussed in detail G"age 44H! is a
list of technical terms! each a s$ill to be mastered b# the would-be runester.
This section is concluded #ith the in+unction not to *oversacrifice*-best
results are derived fro correct proportion. The last t#o lines frae the
whole+
Thus did Thundr @ &dhinnP care
before the doo of an6
there he rose up"
#hen he cae bac(.
Rune )oems < B4F
This ma$es the "rimordial! nonhistorical nature of the te%t clear! and tells us
that his Kfalling bac$K from the )orld-Tree was trul# a rising u0. The
s#mbolism of this formula alludes to the &dhinic transformational "ath!
which is an oscillation between e%tremes! and to the idea that the )orldTree
has not onl# branches but roots through which &dhinn wends his wa#.
Individual runestaves can be ascribed to each of the stan8as. This
illuinates their essence. The rune ro# in 7uestion #ould be the @oun$er
=uthar$ ofsi%teen staes! to which would be added Gfor esoteric reasonsH the
old 7-rune and E-rune. The magical aim of each erse is usuall# selfeident+
G1H hel" in remoing distress and conflict of all $inds Gthrough
KwealthK + ~ .HO G/H remoal of disease! healing Gthrough Kital forceK + 1@ .HO
-35 dulling of enemiesA wea"ons Gthrough Kdestructie forceK + I< .53 G4H
remoal of bonds and fetters Gthrough Kecstatic magical forceK + @A .HO G5H
deflection of enem# wea"ons through direct magical gaLe Gb# the magical
directing+ 8 .HO G6H reflection of a magical curse to its source Gthrough
redirection of energ#+ <.HO G5H control of wild combustion GfireH Gthrough
cold ordering force+ B'53 G4H remoal of conflict Gthough willed reersal of
the effect of stress factors+ i- .53 G9H calming of wild seas Gthrough constricting
force+ I .53 G13H confusion of destructie agents Gthrough oerloading of
magical stream in willed direction+ !@ .HO G11H "rotection of warriors Gthrough
loading with the shield of Kgood s"eed @ luc$PK + ~ +HO G1/H learning of the
secrets of the dead Gthrough caring of helrunar-raising the dead along the
aCis mundi + t .53G1>H "rotectiou of a warrior at birth Gb# an endowment of
inulnerabilit# through magical enclosure + ~ .HO G14H illustratie wisdom
magic for $nowledge of gods and other worlds Gthrough calling u" of the
diine and cosmic heritage in man+ r .53 G15H sending of "ower to the other
,rorlds Gthrough increase in ital "ower + ~ +HO G16H erotic loe magic of
attraction Gthrough filling with "owers of lust toward blending with the
o""osite+ 8"'5! G15H erotic loe magic of binding Gthrough the force of
combination of "aired o""osites+ M'53 G14H d#namicall# erotic magic of
e%change Gthrough se% magical initiation+ *,.- '5.
It is to be noted that the eighteen magical songs seem to be diided into
t#o $roups of nine" #ith the first nine bein$ son$s of a$ical dra#in$ a#a%
of ener$% and the latter nine bein$ son$s of a$ical increase of ener$%.
Thus! is it alwa#s in the magical ebb and flow of the bi"olar &dhinic world
iew!
-AS1E'('f=U9A<K
As a runic docuent" the KSigrdrffurnalK is the ost coplex in /ld )orse
literature. It is made u" of man# sections! each a whole but "erha"s
134 : J1ST&'1CA< <&'7
artificiall# lin$ed together. There are three sections in the la# in which
Sigrdrffai*r#nhildr! the valkr/a and Khigher selfA of Sigurdhr! gies
s%steatic rune-rede to the hero. The first is in stan8as J to BD. Here she
catalo$s various runic $enres: stan8a @l-s-sigrunar$ victor% runes" b% #hich
one $ains victor%6 stan8as 3 and (---81runar5 ale runes" b% #hich one $ains
"rotection through higher consciousness and "owerO stanLa 13b/argrunar$
hel"-in-birth runes! b# which one brings things forth into being+
stan8a Il-$rimrunar5 searunes" b% #hichonecalsnatural disturbances:
stanLa 9A-limrunar$ limb runes! b# which one heals sic$nessO stanLa
13-mdlrunar5 speech runes" b% #hich one $ains elo7uence6 and stan8a
92--hugrunar$ mind runes! b# which one gains intelligence.
Inthe second rune-rede section Gsts. 15-19H Sigrdrifa indicates twent#four
things on which &dhinn Kcares runes.K The m#thological nature of
these obNects Gand the number oftheml_ shows this to be a wor$ing of cosmic
sha"ing through the m#steries of idea-form-ibration on the "art of the
"rimal world consciousness---,odh-an-a.. The three stanLas are actuall#
attributed to the !iir aspect" #hich counicates prial #isdo 2see
cha"ter 1>.H The first lesson to be learned from these three stanLas is that
twent#-four is the cosmological K$e# numberK of wholeness! and that this
whole s#stem is consciousl# KiifiedK b# the will of &dhinn e%"ressed
through the runes.
The third section GstanLas /4->9H consists of a list similar to what we
met in the KJaamalK and will find again in the KErogaldr.K *ut this one is
more didactic in the st#le of the earlier stanLas of the KJaamalAA and less
Kmagical.K The numberof conce"ts s#stematicall# categoriLed is eleen Gthe
number of sol in the #ounger row-ethical forceH.
As a whole! the three runic sections of the KSigrdrffumalK hae the
function of im"arting to the hero o"eratie magical! cosmological! and
ethical wisdom. These are de"icted as haing their source in the Khigherflg/a-
valkr/a self.
KE'&EA<('K
The KS"ell of EroaK is a "oem of a t#"e similar to the K.olus"aK in that a
dead seeress is summoned from her slumber in Jel to gie needful wisdom.
The seeress Eroa Gfrom )elsh groach DwitchPH sings nine magical songs to
her son! Si"dagr! who called u"on her to gie him magical aid in his BueK!
for the etin-#ife !en$lodh. The a$ical intent of the nine son$s are as
Rune )oems I 17(
follows+ G1H to stead# oneAs true will G+ ~ +HO G/H to "rotect one from malicious
s"ells G+ ~ +HO G>H to "roide safe "assage through dangerous water! and
maintenance of consciousness in the dar$ realms G+ C+HO G4H to gie control
oer enemiesA actions G+ ~ +HO G5H to liberate from bonds G+ ~ +HO G6H to still
storm# seas G+ @ +HO G5H to "roide the life-heat of fire G+ < +HO G4H "rotection
from malicious undead G+ 8'5! G9H to ma$e conscious lin$ with the creatie
realm of eloBuence G+ ~ +H.
Two things should be noted when reading the catalog stanLas of the
K'unatals thattr!K KSigrdnfumal!K and KErogaldrK+ (!5 the# do not necessaril#
follow in the futhar$ order! and G/H it seems that the magical songs
themsel&es are often not overtl% recorded 2but rather descriptions of their
"ur"oses and effectsH. The $e#s to these encoded forms are gien in 'uneEild
wor$.
!art @Two
ERidcfen Lore
"nner ~nefore
In "art 1 we ho"ed to establish the finn traditional basis in e%oteric as"ects of
runelore with insights into hidden and timeless lore. 1n "art / we will
continue to base ourselves as uch as possible in the solid traditional
framewor$. This em"hasis that the Eild alwa#s "laces on bases in erifiable
tradition 2i.e." historical runic s%stes" old Eermanic literatures" ancient
historiesH is im"ortant if we are to aoid being forced to acce"t one manAs Gor
one $roup=sA *revelation.*
*ut of course! the Eild is an instrument for the "ractical a""lication of
dris tradition" so #e #ill $o #ell be%ond the liited acadeic<scientific
Ls"ect. )e Buic$en the wooden forms of academic findings with the ins"iration
of &dhinn! but#e reain foreveropento ne# findin$s andconclusions
reached through "urel# intellectual means as well. 1deall#! the s#stematic
.+ollection of data and the logical anal#sis of those data to form rational
conclusions! theintuitiveunderstandin$ of the ultiversal %steriesandthe
ms"ired nse of those m#steries to transform or sha"e realit# should wor$ in
l+*ldem! each feeding the other. Jidden doors are thereh# o"ened in both
ofuections. This is the wor$ of the 'une-Eild on all its leels.
K'uneK is the K)ord of the Eild.K It is in and of itself a magical
ixula. Paradoxicall%" as a #ord" theore#e refinethedefinitionof rune& B*broader its meaning
becomes. This is wh# the ambiguous KtranslationK
114: J1((72 <&'7
as KsecretK or Km#ster#K is suitable. (It is "erha"s worth re"eating that the
term rune onl# secondaril# refers to the letter forms DstaesP commonl#
called runes.H
As a a$ical word5 rune ust be understood fro self-created vie#points"
and as such its true *eanin$* cannot be counicated throu$h
profane" natural speech. As a a$ical #ord it is *#hispered in our ear* b%
the &dhinn within.
>tartin$ points on this road are the reali8ations that on a cosolo$ical
leel runes are focal "oints of energ#:substance in a com"le% im"licit cosmic
frae#or(" andon a *ps%cholo$ical* level the% are*pointsof reference* at
#hich cosic intelli$ence interacts #ith huan intelli$ence. Gno#led$e of
this level concernin$ the character of the runes ust be allo#ed to $o #ith
#ou in all runic inestigationsO onl# so armed will the athling be able to find
his #a% in the coplex reals of runelore.
'unelore Tables of the 7lder =uthar$
The following tables su""lement the lore in Futhark. I,an#thing! these
associations are ore traditional 2i.e." based on inforation $leaned fro
ancient 0eranic sourcesA than the ore operative<a$ical slant of the
tables in Futhark. The surest wa# for runesters to e%"and their own fields of
eanin$ for the runes is to editate on their shapes" sounds" and naes" but
most of all on their corres"onding rune "oem stanLa Gif an#H. It must be
constantl# $e"t in mind that the lore of each indiidual runestae is onl# "an
of the %ster%6 the rest is in the hidden #a%s in #hich the runes are #oven
together in a multidimensional web-wor$ of being. Therefore! the lore of
these twent#-four tables must be read within the conte%t of sections on the
runic s#stem and rune worlds Gcha"ter 13H. It is of the utmost im"ortance for
true runic understanding that the it$i $now not onl# what makesEehuEehu
but also howEehu is bound to other runes in the s#stem and how hidden lines
of connection a% be discovered. .ach stave is internall% su$$estive of
#ider vistas" and each points out#ard fro its center to interconnections
#ith the essences of other runes. The #ould-be runesterAs ain tas( #ith
these tables is the ac7uisition of a basic and instinctual *feel* for the eanin$
ofeach rune as a categor# but a categor# surrounded b# a $ind of semi"erme/ehu
GfeeH
:nner Runelore : 11(
able membrane that allows interchange with s#m"athetic energies and
essences but acts as insulation a$ainst antipodal concepts.
Jere we will es"eciall# concentrate on what might be called in our
modern language the m#thological! cosmological! and "s#chological
aspects of each %ster%. .ach of the sections can be seen as esoteric
coentaries on the relevant rune poe stan8as as #ell.
9#thologicall#! the =-rnne is bound to the three great
deities whose names begin with its sound-=rigg!
=re#Na! and =re#r. These diinities derie some of their
"ower from the m#ster# of /ehu. =rom the numinous
fire of /ehu =rigg and =re#Na receie their gifts as
seeresses. &ro this coon source runecasters derie
their abilit# to Kread the rnnes arightK in diinator#
wor$.
Fehu is the m#ster# of gold. That is! it is the numinous "ower of that
which is called mone# or wealth in our societ# Gwhich is now dominated b#
these *pecuniar% %steries*A. This runeexists in a $reatecolo$ical s%ste of
po#er or ener$%. The rune ust be -ielded into receptive fields-: T:A :-in
order to be increased. It increases in po#er throu$h circulation" and it is
transformed from one sha"e to another. This must not! howeer! be done
blindl# but rather with foresight and wisdom.
The /ehu "ower naturall# belongs in the hands of the true athlings! and
it is theirres"onsibilit# to see that it is "ro"erl# used. Those who do not do so
face the natural#itherin$ process ruled b% *the lord*as a representative of
the gods. Abrogation of such res"onsibilities leads to strife.
In the cosmolog# this is the true outward force of the "rimal cosmic
fire-the expansive force thatans#ers to contractionandsolidification in ice
1+ I '5. This is a fire generated ont of water and in the dar$ de"ths of the
multierse-and in the dar$ corners of the self.
lt is within the self that the "ower of the /ehu is most im"ortant to.the
runester. The &-rune is a force that lies hidden in ost souls-li(e a #olf in
the woods-#et can be raised along the "ath of the grae-fish Gser"entH.
=rom death shall come lifeO from dar$ness! light.
uru*
GaurochsH
thurisa.
(th$rs5
~
~
116: J1((72 <&'7
1n the m#tholog# uru. is to be identified with the
original cosmic boine Audhumla Gsee cha"ter 6H. This
is the undoesticated *#ild* force of formation! the
concentrated will-to-form. As such" uruz is the other
of anifestation. It is theprocessof orderin$ substance
G;mirH! which leads to the sha"ing of the world in its
mauifold multidimensional form.
@ru* is the ost vital of ener$ies. It is a fire
blended with the waters oflife! a ital fire that can remoe all wea$ness-all
the dross Gsuch as AudhumlaAs tongue!H-and transform the wea$ into the
stron$. If" ho#ever" this vital ener$% is spent in the #ron$ direction.
un$uided b% #isdo" it can becoe destructive to the individual or to
societ%.
The will-to-form is a po#erfuldee"-seated instinct in an2hence" it is
*on the oors*A-as is the instinct to transf!nn #ith #hich it ust #or( in
tandem. Cart of the will-to-form is the desire to defend the form! "racticall#
at an# cost-to defend the securit# of the KhomelandK G+ 9"'5 of the soul.
The horns of the KbeastK mentioned in AThe &ld 7nglish 'une CoemK
are of e%treme im"ortance. *oth of them "oint u"ward naturall# but down#ard
in the runestave. This t#ofoldness indicates anifestation in the
obNectie unierse and the abilit# to "enetrate into other dimensions b# the
force of will.
The + C+ is the sign of "ure action! "otenc#! a&C
instinctual KwillK deoid of self-consciousness. It is the
embodiment of directed cosmic force in the multierse
as a cobination of polar ener$ies pro+ected in a
straight line.
This for of ra# po#er is held" on the one hand!
b# the thnrses GgiantsH and is directed against the consciousness
ebodied in the t.sir. Ho#ever" the .t.sir
are able to combat this "ower! and match might with might! through their
defender! the warder of Asgardhr-Th6rr.
The TJ-rune is therefore not onl# that of the thurses but also of the
thunder and its god! Th6rr. This is due to their common origins as the result
of the clash of "olariLed forces Gsee cha"ter 13H and also shows their
Inner Runelore I 11<
coon ethods and otivations. .ach is a reacti&e force. The thurses
respond to the expansion of consciousness in the L.sir" and ThJrrresponds
with 9N61lnirto the resistance of the thurses. Thus! a balance is achieed but
a "recarious balance.
Thurisa. G>H is an assimilation of the "otential energ# contained in an#
two "olariLed e%tremes and the $inetic e%"ression of them. Through this
m#ster# the TJ-rune is also the "ower of regeneration and fertilit#. As the
thunder heralds the cro"-bringing rains! so thurisa. brea$s down o""osition
and releases energ# so that new beginnings can be made. Jere it is closel#
related to one of its formal corres"ondences + ~ +! but + ~ + is the KreleaserK
and + o + the Kcontainer.K
This tension is perceived b% ost individuals as a source of stress" but
.! the few Gathlings or 7ruliansH it is a source of strength.
The KthornK is not onl# a s#mbol of the "hallus but also of the whole
"s#chose%ual im"ulse used b# athlings to transform the self.
It is rather clear that on one leel the TJ-rune is an e%"ression of the
combination of the =- and U-runes+ fier# energ# organiLed and directed!
bee and formation comhined and directed.
ansu*
GaseH
raidho
GridingH
:
114 : J1((72 <&'7
/n a cosmological leel ansu* describes anecolo$% of ener$%. It is the
medium through which "ower is receied! the rece"tacle of that "ower! and
thepo#er itself #hen expressed throu$h the inspiredentalstate. This is the
rune of the magical word and breath! of the s#nthesis of linguistic thought
with nonlinguistic! image forming "ower in the "oetr# of the 7rulians and
s$alds.
Raidho is the s#mbol of the cosmic law of right ordering
in the multierse! in man$ind! and in the soul. It is a
%ster% theout#ard faceof #hich #e experience each
da# in the rising and setting of the sun and in the c#cles
of actiit# and slee". All rh#thmic action is ascribed to
raidho---dance5 usic" and poetic forms!
It is b# the might of this rune that institutions of all
t%pes are or$ani8ed: states" reli$ious bodies" $uilds.
and so on. 5hen those natural la#s are bro(en" the po#er of raidho
rebalances the-soeties violentl%.
The '-rune is the ehicle GKwagonKH for and the "athwa# Gthe whole
KrideKH along the Nourne# of becoming in the rune worlds. This "ath is hard
anddifficult attimes-s-often in hostile social or natural environents-and a
strong ehicle ( mental "owersH and horse ( s"iritual substanceO see
ehwa.) are needed in order to be successfuL
This is the "ath of rightl# ordered action-ritual wor$ing. It is the
networ$ of roadwa#s between the worlds and an im"ortant "art of the
eBui"ment needed to traerse these "aths.
Raidho rules mathematical GgeometricalH "ro"ortion! interal! and
logical rec$oning of all $inds. It is the rune of cognition. This is the might b#
which tall#-lore wor$s-actie harmoniLation of forces a""ro"riate to a
willed end.
&ne of the great m#steries ofthe '-stae is its relationshi" to the idea of
KwheelsK within the "s#cho"h#sical com"le% of man Gsee the <atin gloss iter
DwheelP in KThe &ld 1celandic 'une CoemKH. It is on these KwheelsK that the
a$ical +ourne% of initiation is ade.
The flow "attern of force in raidho is alwa#s directed! but it has a
spiralin$ effect as #ell" #hich actuall% concentrates the force to a $iven ai.
Its usefulness as a #or(in$ tool should not be overloo(ed.
gebo
GgiftH
Inner Runetore < 11$
kena.
GtorchH
:
H
- .dred Thorsson! Futhar0A 1 <and$oo0 of Rune 9agic 2@or( 9each" !.: >auel 5eiser"
1944H! 56.
This is the rune that signifies the Eift of &dhinn in his
triadic forms Gsee cha"ter @>H-the gifts of consciousness!
life-breath! and form.A Jere the em"hasis is on
the e%change of "ower-the flow of force from one
s%ste into another to be transfonnedandreturned to
its source.
5ithinhuansociet% this is ost evident in the
TTTTTT----A econoic field-the process of $ivin$ and receivin$"
the obNect of which is Eehu and:or othala. Such an e%change builds strong
bonds#ithin societ%" andthe sae process is carried out bet#een $ods and
~
wun/o
Uo#H
The )-rune is the harmoniLation of elements or beings
ofcoonori$in2nations" tribes" clans" failiesA and
the a$ical po#er to reco$ni8e hidden affinities between
s#m"athetic entities. The wun/o describes the
inner" sub+ective feelin$ one attains #hen in a state of
inner<outer haron%-#ith self andenvironent. This
is an acti&e #illed haron% to#ard specific evolutionI
I ar# goals. The wun/o marshals dierse but s#m"athetic
forces and:or beings to a common "ur"ose. This is wh# it is the m#ster# that
rules the bind-rune-ma$ing process.
KThe &ld 7nglish 'une CoemK gies s"ecific guidelines for the winning
of such wun/o. There we learn that the runester should se"arate the self
from most woe of all $inds Gbut $ee" a littleH! and further hae three things+
GlH &7 bleed GK"ros"erit#K+ the inflow and outflow of energ#HO G/H blss
GKblissK+ to be filled with a sense of meaningfulness and No#HO and G>H brg
geniht GKa good enough enclosureK+ a good house of the soulH. &ne needs
ital breath! a "s#chological sense of meaningfulness! and a health# bod#men
to build strong bridges between the worlds. +ebo is the rune of
sacri-fice Gor Kma$ing sacredKH---(f giing to the gods and their obligator#
return gifts to man. This is the m#ster# of the interde"endence of gods and
men. The "ower of this m#ster# is e%halted and internaliLed within the
runester in the .-rune.
The+ I+ is the sign of the Kmagical Gor alchemicalH marriage.K This
again finds e%"ression in 1HG @>manna.)$ where the "rocess is brought into full
manifestation! and inlI1 >daga.)$ where the "rocess is absolutel# internal
and eternal. The most "owerful e%am"le of this magical union is found in the
volsunga 1aga where Sigurdhr! mounted on his otherworldl# steed! Erani
Gsee + 9+H! "ierces the ring of flames and ascends the mountain JindarfNell
G'oc$ ofthe JindH to awa$en the slee"ing valkr/a$ Sigrdrffa Gor *r#nhildrH.
Here #e have #hat is perhaps the ost archaic version of the *>leepin$
*eaut#K tale. &n this mountainto" he rituall# e%changes ows with her and
receives runic #isdo fro her. This process describes the attainent of
counion #ith the *hi$her* or *divine self= of the runester.
The ecstas# of+ . ' is of a serene t#"e-the Buiet balance of "erfectl#
haroni8ed inner concentration of flo#in$ vital forces.
1;- 6 J1((72 <&'7
hagala.
GhailstoneH
P
:nner Runelore : 1.1
This is the sign of the "rimal reunion of cosmic fire and
ice-the poles of the multierse-in the ener$i8ed"
~e6st~ seed-form+ the cosmic hailstone! or Khail-egg!K
that gies rise to ;mir Gsee cha"ter 13H.
Hagala. is the framewor$ of the world! the "attern
u"on which the multierse is fitted out b# the
triadic root of consciousness-6dhinn-.ili-.e. The
RRRRRR--.J J-rune contains the com"lete model of absolute "otential
energ#! as it holds the full d#namism offire and ice in its form. =rom this
harmonious balance of all-"otential! an internal eolution can ta$e "lace
within its space.
2umerical s#mbolism is er# im"ortant for hagala.. 2ine is the number
of com"letion! fruition! and d#namic wholeness in the Eermanic s#stem.
All of this comes together in+ P' G9H. 2ine is the number of worlds in
the branches and roots of the )orld-Tree! ;ggdrasill! which is the innate
"attern "resent in both the seed and the full grown tree.
The 1l-rune is the "attern of com"letion im"licit in the seed of eer#
evolvin$ or $ro#in$ thin$. As the #hole #ew is contained in a hidden
!!Cnetic code in the berr#! so too is the com"leted! transformed cosmos held
in the world-seed. Hagala. is the code-the "attern of becoming and
com"letion. This is the hidden form of "erfection toward which all conscious
sha"ing GcreationH is directed.
The KhailstoneK is the rune motherO all runes are held! and can be read!
within its form when contained in a solid Gsee figure 9.1 on "age 1//H. This is
l1itimatel#a multidimensional model! also "resent in the ;ggdrasill "attern
hussed in Cha"ter 13! "age 154.
Hagala. is the unification of all o""osites into all-"otential. )ithin its
:~'ster< is contained the "ower of transformation! of the eolution from
,or% to form along a consciousl# or m#thicall# determined "attern.
Jail also has its destructie as"ects! which can be turned to the
\!antage of the runester if the# are directed outward in a "rotectie wa#.
after cleavin$ a#a% ne$ative influences detriental to the concentrated
#or(.
>unDo also coes #hen the runesteris able to a(e such a blend-#or(
in the obNectie world-to bind and marshall forces to do his will.
1// : ffi((72 <&'7
Figure $.1. 9other rune a:the hailstone
tnauthi.
(nee&5
isa I
GiceH
effect and ofthe 2omir G2omsH. The three 2oms Gsee theC-runeH carne forth
out of 0otunheimr and thereb# established the law of cause and effect and its
resistance to the will ofthe l7sir. This brought aboutthe laws ofentro"#! and
thus the seeds of cosic destruction #ere so#n. 5henever an%thin$ is
brought forth out of becoming into being! the laws of the 2oms and those of
the 2-rune are actiated. This "articular law must be $e"t in mind in all
o"erant forms of runewor$. It is the rune of Kcoming forth into being.K
Inner Rune:ore I 1/3
The KiceK in the l-rune is not to be identified with that
of )iflheir but rather #ith the ice strea that flo#s
out of that cold world toward the fire of 9us"ellsheir.
It is an extension of a concentrated force of
absolute contraction or an absolute stillness or lac( of
vibration. The po#er of isa attracts the fire to#ard the
*center*and a(es #hat #e call *atter* possible b%
TTTTTT--A formulatingthehailstoneG+ B'5.The l-rune is a $ind of
prima materia 2or the force of densit% thata(es such a substance possibleA.
$ is the absolute "ower of inward-turning force that is as destructie as fire
.e%"ressed in + <'5, but each balancing the other is the state sought b# the
conscious forces in the multi erse. 5hen nonconscious forces $ain supl++
111ac#! tbe "attern goes out of balance! and the destructie as"ects of fire
ad ice are unleashed. It ust be reebered" ho#ever" that this ebb and
\w is to be e%"ected in an eoling unierse. The "eriodic release of the
iiestructive forces is necessar% to real chan$e.
1n the indiidual isa ma$es "ossible the manifold! "ol#"s#chic om~
go Gall-1H! that is! ego awareness of all as"ects of the whole "s#cho"h#sic+
a.l com"le% Gsee cha"ter 1/H. It holds these as"ects together in a
7monious! "reset "attern and is most eident when the mind is totall#
silled and concentrated. The I-rune acts as a sort of ps%chic bondin$
-.rerial that can hold the self together through the stressful initiator#
G11&Cess. Unbalanced b# the d#namic m#steries! this static bonding material
lea&s to dullness and stu"idit#.
The + I ' is the m#ster# of the concentrated "oint and of its first
cuension-the line. These t#o ia$es are used as brid$in$ tools in $ainin$
C??>Cious access to other diensions outside !idh$ardhr. Isa is the solid
tb9r on #hich the consciousness can a(e transitions" but it is soeties
.. as #ide as a hair and does not a(e for an eas% +ourne%.
G#ewH
eihwa* J
Dera
G#earH
SQ
The 7l-rune is the onipresent center axis of the
cosmos-the om0hallos of the world-and is the
second in the core d#ad of the rune row.
This is the ertical a%is of the )orld-Tree.
;ggdrasill! the channel along which the cosmic sBuirrel!
'atatos$r! li$e an electric arc! s"reads discord
between the eagle at the summit of the tree and the
great ser"ent! 2idhhoggr! at its roots.
The 71-rune s#nthesiLes e%treme o""osites-life:death! da#:night!
suer<#inter-in a d%naic #a% 2see the TH- and ?-runes and note the
numerical corres"ondences+ >-1>-/>H. This rune "enetrates through the
three realms+ the heaens! middle-earth! and underworld-Asgardhr:
9idhgardhrlJel. It is the "ath of transformation of essences in an# of these
realms into essences of an# of the others. K9aterialK obNects can be made
Ks"iritualK b# this m#ster#.
1;, I J1((72 <&'7
0erthro
Glot cu"H
The 71-rune is the latent! self-contained! transformational fire from
within Gactiated b# the 2-rune and manifest in the 8-runeH. This is the
hidden and immortal fire of the will that can remain italin death GwinterH-the
hard s"irit of "erseerance.
It is along the Kcolumn of the #ewK within the indiidual that the
transformatie magical fire is to be generated! rising and descending
through the KwheelsK of the bod# Gsee the S-runeH. It is to this great m#ster#
that the rune "oems refer.
Inner Runelore < 1.F
This is the most guarded of the runes. It is the cultic
s#mbol of the secret of Drl"g-the m#ster# of w#rd.
This is the po#er of the )ornir and one that copleents
the force of consciousness present in the
L.sir. The runesterust learnto investi$ate the #a% of
w#rd that he ma# understand it and! when need be!
oercome it. GThis is the great &dhinic accom"lishment
at Ragnarok.i
The C-rune is a sign of the "ath of the inestigation of eriog through the
ethodsofrunecastin$. )erthro is the cup or frae#or(fro#hich" or into
which! the runestaes are cast in diinator# wor$ings. This is a s#mbol ofthe
)ell of )#rd-the ?rdharbrunnr G)ell of Urdhr! the first and eldest
Po%5.
1n0erthro we find a s#nthesis ofthe laws of cause and effect >C causes$
which sets L in motionH and the laws of s#nchronicit# (=& $ and L occur
Dsignificantl#P togetherH. Causalit# is a law of the horiLontal GmechanicalH
plane" s%nchronicit% of the vertical axis of consciousness. The s%nthetic
eleent is the ps%chic diension of tie. This force" in con+unction #ith
that of the 2-rune and the *-rune! is the "rinci"al agent of change$ or
becoin$" in the ultiverse.
The idea of w#rd Gand of >r%o25 also "arta$es of this s#nthesis of
horiLontal and ertical realit#. )#rd actuall# means Kthat which has AbecomeA
or Aturned.K So it! li$e orlog$ which means K"rimal la#ers Gof
actionH!K has the m#ster# of "ast time bound u" with it. This K"astnessAA is of
Ktal im"ortance in the Eermanic wa# of thin$ing. &nl# the K"astK and the
K"resentK hae an# obNectie realit#. The KfutureK is a mass of undifferentiated
all-"otential for becoming. It is to be sha"ed b# a combination
of forces-i-c#clical laws! organic streams of life-force and tradition! the
elha.
Gel$H
t
1;? I J1((72 <&'7
patterns ofconsciousness existin$ in the$ods andotherentities. andthe #ill
of man Ges"eciall# that of runestersH. 2owhere is this more a""arent than in
the names of the three great 2orns-Urdhr Gthat which has becomeH.
.erdhandi Gthat which is becomingH! and S$uld Gthat which should becomeH.
<inguisticall#! the words urdhr G&2H and 7nglish w#rd GweirdH are identical
Gthe loss of the initial w is the result of the same regular rule that turns
,odhana. into "dhinm$
'lha. is the diine lin$ between a man and his fetch
Gsee cha"ter 1/H. The F-rune describes the "ower of
attraction between the mind of man and its "s#chic
counterpart" the *divine self.* This force of attraction
wor$s together with the m#ster# of sowilo to generate
the magical will. It is a s#mbol of the valkr/a$ the
"rotectie as"ect of the fetch-wife! which is often
magicall# attached to a sword or other s#mbolic
wea"on. GThis is the hidden meaning of KThe &ld 7nglish 'une Coem.K
stanLa 15+ el$-sedge ~ sword.H This s#mbolic lin$ between horn and sword
is no#here ore evident than in the %th of &re%r. After surrenderin$ his
sword in e%change for the etin-wife Eerdhr! it is said that he had onl# a hom
with which to do battle.
The+ t ' also descrihes the rainbow bridge! *ifrost! again a s#mbol oi
the lin$ between 9idhgardhr and the realms aboe and below.
In the V-rune#e see the force of protection thatcan coe onl% #itha
lin$age with the K"ersonal diinit#.K This is the entit# that the Eree$s $ne..
as the daimon and the 'omans called the genius. In runelore the fetch or
valkr/a is the source of this ins"iration as the most direct lin$ between the
individual and the ultiate soAr~e of inspiration" /dhinn.
The image of the stae + t ' is one of the most "otent in Eermanic
s#mbolog#. It indicates the s"la#ed hand (~ "rotection! humanit#H! the
horns of the solar hart lifted to the heaens in "ride and "otenc#! the swan in
flight Ga reference to the valkr/a)$ and the Eermanic arm "osture for "ra#er
and inocation. Some of this ma$es clear wh# this form was eentuall# used
for the %oun$er KmanAl-stae.
The loadin$ #ith a$ical" nuinous" or spiritual force effected
through this rune im"lies a "erson or "lace with so much force that it
becoes sacred" set apart and protected b% divine po#er.
Also" there is a natural" underl%in$ connection bet#een this rune and
the+ 0 +-the #ew-stae. This is e%"ressed in man# wa#sO most gra"hic.
ho#ever" is the foral relationship. The probable ori$inal stae-form #as
sowilo
GsunH
s
tiwa*
(Q(r5
The sun is the guiding beacon on the roads of becomin$.
It is the li$ht of consciousness-and its pattern"
which stands in the obNectie unierse for all of those
#ho see( to transfor theselves to see. The archet#"al
sun! and its counter"art the Knight sunK ( the
CleiadesH! guide the KseafarerK from one Lone of consciousness
to another" froone *land* to another. This
is the goal that gies motiation to the will. 1n s$#!ore
this is Kthe starK of the elli"tic Gthe CleiadesH! which at night traels the same
"ath as the sun does b# da#.
In ancient )ordic s%bolis the sun is seen as a #heel or as a shield.
That is" it has transfonnative and protective" nurturin$ aspects. As a #heel"
sowilo is a sign of the wheels along the "ath of the #ew column! ;ggdrasill!
6( which the runester consciousl# eoles. 1owilo is the shield of the
consciousness and provides it #ith $reater si$nificance to#ard #hich to
strie. &ne who has deelo"ed the will b# the light of the S-rune Gin all of its
as"ectsH is blessed with honor and success.
The sun describes a counterbalance to the po#er of: I :. In the ro#"
ioweer! both are necessar# to a stable whole deelo"ment of the world and
of the runester. The S-rune also has been connected with the ser"entine
m#steries of the north" #hich involve the centers at #hich flo#s of heaenl#
md chthonic forces conerge at a "oint on the surface of the earth. The
"ower of the+ $ + brea$s down "s#chological or cosmic inertia and transbs
it into a vital" d%naic force.
+1 .! and in time+ AK + became the #ounger #ew-stae Gwhich is an alternate
form of the elder elha. as wellH.
Inner Rune:ore " 1/'
1/4 I J1((72 <&'7
The coso$onic force of T#r is expressed in the initial process necessar#
to the sha"ing of the multierse+ the se"aration or "olariLation of !be
cosic substances that allo#s for the vital $lories of anifestation betwees
the "oles of fire and ice. The Trune describes the as"ect of the cosmic
column that $ee"s these se"arate! holding cosmic order.
This is the essence ofthe god T9r G7nglish TiwH. GSignificant as"ects ~
the Al-rune are discussed iu cha"ter 1>.H It is the "ower of detached..
transcendent wisdom at the center of things. This contrasts with the wideranging
multiformed essence of the A-rune.
In the human realm! with this rune the god T#r rules oer the thinO
Glegal assembl#H of the Eermanic "eo"les. Je measures out Nustice iJI
accordance with the %aw Gsee also er%o2! Kor-law!K in this regardH.
The T-stae is a sign of Klaw and orderK iu both the cosmos and the
world of men.
~
berkano
GbirchH
Inner Runelore I 1/(
Cosmologicall#!+ ~ + is a Kunit of becoming.K It is that momentofbeing
2a sin$le *icro-c%cle* of arisin$-becoin$-passin$ a#a%A on #hich all
becoming is based-the eternal now. The *-rone also describes the "rinci"le
of phenoenolo$ical randoness in the ultiverse-ehance in the evolutionar%
process.
+er0ano is a conservin$" protective force and rules over concealin$
enclosures Ges"eciall# those used in transformational ritesH.
The *-rune also conceals the great m#ster# of the Kalchem# of the
word!K the "ower b# which words are woen into meanings be#ond their
concrete definitions. In this" $er0ano is closel% allied #ith ansu*! This is
understandable because of all goddesses! =re#Na is mistress to all as"ects of
the *-rone.
Mehwa*
GhorseH
5ho are those t#o"
that hae ten feet!
three e#es
and one tail;
GmanH
manna* ,1
GAnswer+ &dhinn riding on Slei"nirH
Ehwa* is the force on #hich the runester *slips* fro one #orld to
another. It is a sign of great lo#alt# ! es"eciall# between men and women.
and it is a s#mbol of lawful marriage.
The archet#"al force of this rune is still ibrant around us een in
popularculture" especiall% once 4oereali8es thatunconsciousl% theKhorseK
hasbecoe motori*ed! The an<horse<#oan *trian$le* is virtuall% cliche.
This is thestructure of 2divineA consciousness in man$ind!
im"arted there through a genetic lin$ with the
unified god of consciousness. This is "ossessed in
var%in$ de$rees b% huans as described in the K'igsthulaK
in the !oetic 'dda. The lin$ is there because
ultiatel%huansaredescendants of the $ods6 that is.
the relationship is genetic not contractual! Hence" it is
actuall# unbrea$able.
A god with the name Mannus was worshi""ed in the time of Tacitus
Gfirst centur# C.7.H! as there we hae the earliest "arallel to the 'fgr
Jeimdallr ersion of the origin of human societ# recorded in the K'igsthu1a.K
GSee the +ermania$ cha"ter /.H
9anna* is a $od ade flesh" not as a uni7ue historical event" as
Christians #ould have us believe" but as a $reat biolo$ical" sociolo$ical.
"s#chological "rocess of consciousness becoming manifest. This is the
m#ster# underl#ing the rune "oem stanLas haing to do with this stae.
The !-runeis the haronious cobination of the *ind* and*eor#.K
1n the 9-rune Juginn and 9uninn s"ea$ freel# to one another and
inform the whole-self of the god &dhinn Gsee cha"ter 1/H. This is the man
made whole! the initiate of the &dhinic cult G7rulianH. 1n 0ungian terms it is
the indiiduated self.
Manna. is the rune of the moon! and of its tri"artite nature+ dar$
, -becoming t5 -light S. 1n Eermanic lore the moon is masculine Gthe
man in the oonA and a transformational essence. It is the s%nthesis of the
intuitive and rational 2easurin$" anal%8in$A intelli$ences in an. Its 9er(
1@- I J1((72 <&'7
:nner Runelore : 9B9
name means Kthe measurerK Gof timeH. As with &dhinn! his face is alwa#s
changing! #et it remains alwa#s the same.
lagu.
Gwater-la$eH
Ret"rn
ingwa*
G1ngH
7ransformation
Withdrawal
o
Figure G.C. !rocess of transformation
unsuitable ehicle Gshi"H! he will fear the ebb and flow of this force. The
Kbrine-steedK must be controlled in order to fare well.
1>/ I J1((72 <&'7
" f ,
I
,
A
I @
@ I,
@ I
@ ,I
daga.
Gda#H
Figure 9.>. Toroidal vorteC: 8aga.
Inner Runelore I 133
Kh#"erconsciousKH to be brought forth as a com"leted and "erfected conce"t.
Theaspectof subersion intohiddenreals is ade7uiteclearin *The /ld
7nglish 'une Coem.K KEoing to the eastK is alwa#s a code for faring into the
realm of the etins! the dar$ "reconscious forces of the cosmos.
The (-rune is the "rocess that ta$es "lace at the edges
of e%tremes. As the da# and dar$ness merge in the
twilight and the beacons of that tide! the morning and
eening stars Gfor which 8aga. D&2 8agrN is a nameH
shine into the realm of 9idhgardhr. It is a sign of the
light of consciousness borne b# &dhinn- .i1i-.eto
man$ind b# their gift.
1n KThe &ld 7nglish 'une CoemK a s#nthesis
between the "owers of the drighten Glord )oden or &dhinnH and the
metod Gmeasurer Tiw or T#rH is indicated! a s#nthesis between the right
%& left brain thin$ing that is the hallmar$ of ins"iration.
8aga. is the K&dhinic Carado%K-the sudden realiLation Gafter concerted
conscious effort of the willH that "erceied o""osites are as"ects of a
third idea that contains them both. This is the m#ster# of h#"erconsciousness
central to the /dhiniccult" the Eermanic cult of consciousness. In the li$ht
of the (-rune the "athwa#s between e%tremes are seen clearl#. An &dian
does not see$ the m#ster# of daga. at the center but rather at the e%treme
borders. This is the siultaneous" bidirectional #ill that is alostuni7ueto
Eermanic magical lore. The search ends when the contents of the e%treme
borderlands fan into a orte% of single "ointed wholeness in the KcenterK
lactuall% an extradiensional conceptA.
In : <AU : #e see the extradiensional odels such as the !oebius strip
aH! the toroidal orte% Gsee figure 9.>H! where in becomes out and out
1>4: J1((72 <&'7
becoes in. This is of ultiate iportance #hen considerin$ the nature of
the &dian mission in the world.
~
othala
Godal-landH
Inner Runelore < BKE
it celebrates the state of balance obtained #hen forces of consciousness have
established their enclosures GAsgardhr and 9idhgardhrH interacting with the
"owers of the e%terior dar$ness GUtgardhrH. &dhinn and his 7rulians see$ to
maintain this balance. All-father is wise enough to $now the ultimate
outcoe-but sl% enou$h to (no# ho# to overcoe it.
The ,unic S#stem
After stud#ing the foregoing ruue tables! the reader will be im"ressed
.ith the de$ree to #hich the runes see to interrelate. ,unes #eave in and
out of one another in a $reat serpentine interlace of eanin$. Indeed" their
beritage is as much oue of "oetr# Gs$aldcraftH as of Kscience. K As in "oetr#!
lin$ages are made between KwordsK Ghere! ideasH through associations on
arious levels: sounds 2rh%e" alliteration" etc.H! spatial arran$eents
AmeterH! and m#thic allusion. S$aldcraft s"rang from ruuecraft! so the
siilarit% in practice is not surprisin$. It is the intention of the runic s%ste
aL brea( do#n barriers in the consciousness and to reveal the hidden
meanings within the worlds. It does this through a sometimes tangled
Keb-wor$ of words and images! each reerberatiug off the other. 7ach rune
is bound to the other as surel% as it has its o#n uni7ue identit%. Certain
obscure as"ects of the wa#s the runes relate to each other are e%"lored in the
section K'unesK in cha"ter 13O howeer! here we will deal with the secrets
contained in the ost traditional %et %sterious arran$eent of the runes in
!6e three attir GKfamiliesK or KeightsKH.
There is no *lo$ical* or lin$uistic reason #h% the runestaves should be
ommged in three grou"s of eight. This is a feature the 7lder =uthar$ shares
Nlth ancient Eree$! and there ma# be some 1ndo-7uro"ean m#ster# of
Ktwent#-tour-foldednessAA shared from the remote "ast at wor$ here. Also!
een aon$ scholars there is no coonl% a$reed on reason as to #h% the
mnes hae actnal meaningful names. The Eree$ and 'oman al"habets hae
-u% nonsensical naes" li(e our letter *naes.* The idea of havin$
~ngfA% #ords as letter naes is a feature shared #ith the celtic ogham
a%! the Jebrew al"habet.
)hat is $nown is that the runes remained an organiLed bod# oflore that
=5ent far be%ond the aount of information necessar% to (eep a siple
Inner Runelore < 13<
al"habet s#stem intact for more than a thousand #ears. )hen all is said and
done! the whole of runelore is summed n" in table 9.1.
To unloc$ this table! we are faced with a double "roblem. =irst we must
dele into the innate m#steries themseles! but before we can do that we
mnst $now a good deal about the basic meanings of these names and
confi$urations. Throu$h coprehension of the ancient lore" (no#led$e of
the timeless m#steries will grow.
The dee"-leel structure of the multiersal m#steries GrunesH is "recisel#
reflected in the outer form of the s#stem of the staes ( runesH. This
runic s%ste is a coplex" soeties extralin$uistic frae#or( of lore that
includes
1. indiidual stae sha"e
/. "honetic alues of staes
K. naes of staves
4. e%"lanator# "oetic stanLa
5. order of staes ( numberH
6. tri"artite diision of staes (rettir5
&nl# the second element of this s#stem is trul# necessar# for a sim"le!
linguisticall# functioning al"habet s#stem. All of the rest is there for some
other" ore m#tho-magical reason. In this section #e hope to be$in to instill
in the as"iring runester some of the de"th of this s#stem! which underlies all
formations and transformations of the runic tradition throughout histor#.
STA.7 SJAC7S
As far as the actual shape of individual runestaves is concerned" there see
to hae been some ariations. Joweer! onl# rarel# did these go be#ond
what might be called Kt#"ologicalK ariants. =or e%am"le! in the elder
"eriod! the S-rune could be re"resented b# forms such as
+ $ G ~ rJ ~ ~ 0 1-butthe# all belong to the Lig-Lag or ser"entine t#"e.
These "rinci"les should be $e"t in mind when intnitiel# e%"loring the inner
eanin$ of the stave shapes. Throu$h histor%" soe never chan$e" #hereas
others do. There is a hidden significance in this deelo"ment or lac$ of it.
1>4 : J1((72 <&'7
CJ&27T1C .A<.7S
The soundvalue of each stave shapeis also relativel%fixed" #ithonl% certain
s%steatic shifts. This second eleent in the s%ste is actuall% totall%
de"endent on the third.
STA.7 2A97S
These ideologicall# and culturall# loaded names are acro"honicO that is! the#
indicatethesoundvalueofa stavethrou$h theinitialsoundin thenaeof the
stae! for eCam0le$/-ehu @I-. The names themseles! howeer! are to be
interpreted on three levels. As the runester #ill coe to understand" this
ultilevel approach is basic to all illustrative runic#or(. These threelevels
are Gusing uru. as our e%am"leH+ (I5 the KfundamentalK or literal Gaurochs-s-a
large and "owerful! wild four-legged heastH! G/H the esoteric or meta"horical"
often socio-%tholo$ical Gaurochs-i-the prieval bovine of formationH+
G>H the runo-7rulian! often runo-"s#chological Gaurochs-s-the circulation of
vital forces in consciousness and the capacit% to understandA;
The name contains the idea and the sound. It is highl# "robable that
thereexisted in ancientties a coplex s-stem of naes" andthateachrune
had a grou" of words G"ossihl# threeH that could be used as its names. The
'une-Eild is slowl# recoering these! but here we deal with the "rimar#
naes and their eanin$s" sho#n in Table C.Q.
An%one #ith an active interestin the runes#ill #antto be$in to a(e
certainassociations aon$andbet#eenruneson all leels. 5hatshapesare
related to what other sha"es and howQ )hat names are related to what other
names and on what leelsQ &n this last "oint it will be noticed! for e%am"le!
that these "rimar# rune names are drawn from certain areas of life+ (I5 the
superhuan reals: ansu*5 thurisa*5 tiwa*5 ingwa. 4 and perhaps $er0anoE
G/H organic nature+ Eehu$ uru.$ eihwa.$ elha.$ and manna.4 G>H inorganic
nature+ hagala.$ isa$/era$ sawila$ lagu.$ and daga.4 G4H technolog#+ raidho$
kena.$ 0erthro$ and "ossibl# nauthi.4 and G5H cultural realms+ gebo$ wun/o$
and athala. These categories can be further anal#Led and recombined to gie
deeper eanin$s.
Q Thorsson" Futhar0A 1 <and$oo0 of Rune 9agic5 chap. Q.
Eehu (,5
Inner Runelore < BKC
Table 9./. Stae 2ames and 9eaningsK
doesticated cattle" livestoc(" unit of onetar% value"
=77
uru. GuH AU'&CJS! wild horned beast
thurisa. GthH TJU'S G"rimal giantH! thing of great strength
ansu. GaH an ancestral soereign god Gthe Ase! &dhinnH
raidho GrH wagon! '1(7
kena. (k5 torch Gsecondar# name! kauna. DsorePH
gebo GgH LITQ, hos"italit#
wun/o GwH No#! ecstas#
hagala. GhH JA1<GstoneH
nauthi. GnH 277(! necessit#O need-fire
isa GiH 1C7
/era (;5 Gthe goodH #earO harest
eihwa. Gei:iH ;7)
0erthro G"H lot cu"
elha. G-LH 7<8 Gsecondar# name! algi. D"rotectionPH
$ sowilo GsH sun
tiwa. GtH Gthe godH T#r G&7 TiwH
berkano GbH the *1'CJ GgoddessH
ehwa. GeH horse Gsee <atin equus)
manna. GmH 9A2
lagu. (I5 water G<A87H
ingwa. GngH Gthe godH lng
daga. GdH (A;
othala G3H ancestral G&(A<H "ro"ert#
-lIIt=ords in capitalsindicateodern.n$lishcognates5 i.e.. #ordsthataredirectl%derivedfro
_ ancient tenus.
143 : J1((72 <&'7
'unic Arrangements
The ordering of the twent#-four runes gies each stae a numerical
"osition in the series 1 to /4! and the diision of these twent#-four into three
segments results in grou"ings of eight. These numerical formulas are innate
in the runic s#stem. )hen the s#stem was reformed in the .i$ing Age! it was
done b# a s#stematic reduction of these numerical formulas.K
All runes came into being simultaneousl#! and each is lin$ed to the
other on different leels. The most obious lin$ages are seen in the ordering
and att diisions CairtsKH. 1ndeed! on one leel! Eehu is related to uru..
which is lin$ed to thurisa.$ and so forth in a straight line 1 to /4. This line is
diided into three in such a wa# that each grou" of eight GLerrH also shares
certain characteristics! and in addition this results in eight grou"s of three
runes erticall# arranged Ge.g.! + I" '/' 2+:+ t '5 that are also bonded in a
s"ecial wa#. It should also be noted that een on the horiLontal 1 to /4 series.
grou"s of three G1->! 4--6! etc.H are significant. =or the actie runesterthese
can sere as e%cellent subNects of meditation and contem"lation.
The underl#ing meanings of the three airts are clear. The first airt
delineates the m#steries the runester must learn and master before setting out
on the difficult "ath of the &dian. This airt shows the establishment of the
basic talents and characteristics of the runester+ energ#! understanding!
action! ins"iration! ritual! controlled will! generosit#! and fellowshi". 1t
corres"onds to the dreng. The second airt is twofold and full of trial and
tribulation. J to 0 outline the "rocess of oercoming obNectie confrontations
and gaining the good harest from them! and 71 to S describe the
subNectie conflicts and the "athwa# to success. This corres"onds to the
wor$ of the thegn. The third airt Gof T;rH describes the realm in which the
7rulian! or runemaster! wor$s. 7stablished at the summit of the world
column G+ l* '5 and able to generate his own "ower internall# along the
"athwa#s of the tree G+ ~ +H! the runemaster! in tandem with his self-created
and integrated diine KegoK G+ 1A@ .H! is able to "ass through all la#ers of
e%istence G+ ~ +H to become the! inde"endent! self-contained! and eereoling
7rulian god-man G+ o +H enlightened b# the KlightK of da# G+ A5:3 '5, eer
interacting with the world KoutsideK while remaining aboe and be#ond the
fra# G+ ~ +H. This is the wor$ of the drighten.
> =or the further cosmological significance of these orderings see cha". 13 of this olumeO see
also 7dred Thorsson! Futhark: A Handbook ofRune Magic G;or$ *each! 97+ Samuel )eiser.
1944H+ cha". >.
Inner Runelore < 1'1
As the ne%t cha"ter will ma$e clearer! the runes actuall# belong to a
fourth-diensional realit%" andtherefore all attepts to represent the or
their relationshi"s must fall short. Ultimatel#! the runes can be seen clearl#
onl# in the KlightK of daga.. Through weaing the great web-wor$ of
%steries"andthereb%KwormingK alon$the#a%s to#ard conscious reali8ation
ofhidden realities! the runester will emerge and wing his wa# toward the
Eard of the Eods.
A7soteric ,osmoFBg-
2BKirtfi !f the 4>orlds3
Under the heading of cosmogon we will also discuss theogon# Gbirth of the
godsH and anthro"ogon# Gbirth of manH! each in its turn. 1n the +lfaginning
Gcha"ters 5-9H we read in great detail how the world was wrought. The
descri"tion gien there tells of the water# realm of 2iflheimr G9ist-)orldH
in the north" out of #hich flo#ed the ice streas loaded#ith %east% veno"
and of 9us"ellsheimr G=ire-)orldH in the south! out of which flew fire and
s"ar$s. These two e%tremes of energ# flowed toward each other through
+innunga-ga0 G9agicall# Charged S"aceH. The e%tremes on either side
brou$ht about a haronious condition in the centerof 0innun$a$ap6 andas
the s"ar$s and hot air of 9us"ellsheimr hit the ice! it Buic$ened the #east
#ithin it" and a form #as shaped fro the union of these ener$ies-@ir
Gthe 'oarerH.
&ro@iraredescended the rime-thurscs. As a bisexual bein$" @ir
engendered a male and female thurs under his left hand! and one of his feet
engendered a son with the other foot.
As a "art of the same "rocess in which ;mir came about! Audhumla!
the cosic bovine" #as shaped as a coa$ulation of the drippin$ rie. >he
$ave nourishent to@ir#iththeil(that flo#ed froher udders. >he" in
turn! was fed directl# from the froLen driLLle! b# lic$ing a salt# ice bloc$
Figure 17!1! ,osmogonic process
Bestla~Borr
#dhinnGiliGe
@
-"ri
LIPPFPLALAU
0olthorn
Aiflheimr @"spellsheimr
:~ ri%e ,ire $nion 8
I I I I I '
I I I I I I
I I I )roto-li,e ' I I
I I Iii I I I
I I I I I I
.. t I *'' Itt >S(i,(54--n'o'-$riI3sh%-
Ie'nt-6(GD
matternice6 I %I I / / UX formati2e energ) tI .I A1 : .~ t t =< O+OK!R!3A
n%etn$rses ?2
t
:
!11 I 7I88EP LS/E
7soteric Cosmolog# 1 145
formed b# it. =rom this bloc$! she lic$ed the form of a being named *uri.
*url! an androg#nous entit#! engendered a son called *&1T! who subseBuentl#
married an etin-wife named *estla! the daughter of an etin named
*olthorn G7il-thornH. =rom the union of the "roto-god *orr and the etinwife
*estla! the diine triad &dhinn-.ili-.e was born.
This godl# triad then set about to $ill GsacrificeH ;mir. This the# did and
too$ his form to the middle of Einnungaga"! and from this substance the#
fitted out the framewor$ of the multierse. The# gae sha"e to the world and
set the mechanisms of the world in motion within the conte%t of the four
Buarters. The heaens were sha"ed from ;rnirAs s$ull! at the four comers of
which the gods set four dwares--2ordhri! Austri! Sudhri! and .estri. At
the er# center the# built a stonghold from the brows of ;mir! which was
called 9idhgardhr Gthe 9iddle-;ardH.
2ow the diine triad set about sha"ing man$ind. This was done as
&dhinn-.ili-.e were in 9idhgardhr near the sea! where the# found two
trees. To these alread# liing beings &dhinn gae and Gs"irit! the breath of
lifeH! .ili gae odhr ins"ired mental actiit#H! and .e gae form! s"eech!
and the senses. This "rocess is also described with the diine triad&dhinnJcenir-
<odhurr in the K.olus"aK Gsts. 15-14H in the Coetic 7dda. The male
being was called As$r GashH and the female 7mbla GelmH.
This te%t should be read b# all students and meditated u"on dee"l#. 1t
contains man# runic m#steries.
The whole cosmogonic:theogonic "roto-"rocess is schematiLed in figure
13.1! which conce"tualiLes the entire "rimordial eolutionar# com"le%
as seen b# the ancient Eermanic "eo"les. This can be onl# an a""ro%imation!
howeer! because the actual "rCQcess is multidimensional.
Einnungaga" is a s"ace charged with a field of "roto-energ#. 2iflheimr
and 9us"ellsheimr constitute that energ# in a highl# "olariLed and intensified
state! which then interacts with itself in the center! where a new
formation modeled on innate multiersal "atterning is manifested. This is
s#mboliLed b#+ X+! which is the "attern of the )orld-Tree as an ultimate
cr#stalliLation of this seed "attern. 1t is also the snowfla$e "attern! which
demonstrates the nature of these unmanifested images to become isible
once the# are fed with the "ro"er energies and substances. The fier# realm is
a manifestation of the light energ# of ma%imal ibration! whereas the ic#
realm is a solidification ofthe dar$ energ# containing the elemental $ernel of
the m#steries of life and death-#east! salt! and enom.
&nce this "roto-seed form is sha"ed! it s"lits into another "olariLation
of "roto-matter G;mirH and "roto-energ# GAudhumlaH! but some of the
energ# from the "roto-seed falls into Einnungaga" and is recr#stalliLed as
the ice bloc$ from which the "roto-energ# e%ercises its sha"ing "ower to
146 1 J1((72 <&'7
form the androg#nous "roto-god0etin! *uti. *uri contains the "ure "attern
from the direct union of fire and ice but is sha"ed b# the forces of "rotoenerg#
itself Gand gies of itself in a form of self-sacrifice to the cosmic
boineH. ;mir! themass of raw cosmic material and the innate cosmic form
or "attern contained in the Kseed of iceK-the hailstone Ghagall +X+H-is
ultimatel# sacrificed b# a triad of diine beings Gi.e.! the fomas of "rimal
consciousnessH. These threebeings-trul# a whole-are the first conscious.
and therefore diine! beings because the# can com"rehend dualities and
sha"e their enironment due to the innate s#nthetic consciousness that
results from their descent from a tri"le source+ G1H the "rimal seed union! G/H
;mir! and G>H Audhumla. The triad of consciousness dissoles ;mir! and
out of its matter resha"es the static cosmos into a d#namic! liing! and
conscious organiLation!accordingto the right Gi.e.! innateH"atterns alread#
contained in the matter itself G;mirH and in the "rimal seed.
Jumanit# is a further sha"ing b# the conscious diinities. *ut again!
humanit# is a "art of the whole of the cosmos! not something created Ge%
nihiloH b# the Kgods.K As$r and 7mbla were alread# liing beings Gorganic+
here s#mboliLed as "lantsH! and the com"le% artificiall# e%"anded consciousness
was im"arted to them Gco-eBuall# and simultaneousl#H as a "art of
the non-natural eolution of consciousness in 9idhgardhr.
'unes
The runes themseles define the "atterns of e%istence and of consc@
Y@lsue+\sV! tb.etefme! tb.eAN are at )Et8 thtowt!hout the cosmogoaic @Hrocess.
*efore the sacrifice of ;mir! those "atterns are unmanifested! and onl# in a
rudimentall# differentiated state. &nl# the biune dualit# between the mur$
runes G&2 m#r$runari and the shining runes G&2 heidhrunarH was manifest.
The runes bloom forth into an inde"endent and isolated state u"on the birth
of &dhinn-.ili-.e Gwhen the mur$ and shining runes are entirel# res#nthesiLed
into a whole coherent s#stemH. The runes! as we can begin to $now
them! are manifested in diine consciousness and in world being. )hen the
triad of consciousness sacrificed ;mir Gthe cr#stalliLed seed of runic "atternH!
the# sha"ed this "rimal substance according to the inherent runic
structure. The# arranged it in the sha"e ofthe 2ine )orlds of;ggdrasill Gsee
figure 13.5 on "age 154H.
1t must be borne in mind that these KeentsK ta$e "lace in dimensionGsH
be#ond our three! and as such! "rocesses thatwe must discuss in a seBuence
ma# be Ks#nchronistic.K So it is with KeentsK of the birth of &dhinn- .ili7soteric
Cosmolog#! 145
=igure 13./. (iagram of the futhar$ "attern of manifestation
a
=igure 13.>. 7ightfold diision of the futhar$
144: J1((72 <&'7
;e! the sacrifice of ;mir! the manifestation of the runes and the world
G;ggdrasillH! and the rune-winning initiation of&dhinn Gsee 'unelore of the
Eods! cha"ter 1>H. &n different leels these eents all describe one face+
consciousness enters the organic order from outside that order.
As far as the GreHbirth of the runic s#stem is concerned! this manifests
itself through the "rocesses of G1H the blooming forth of the runes from a
central "oint in a bidirectional or twofold s"herical "attern Gsee figure 13./
on "age 145H and G/H the wra""ing of the resulting seBuence around an
eightfold "lane Gsee figure 13.>H. This gies the runes an organiLation that is
com"rehensible and communicable. 1t "roides order and orientation.
The first unfolding from a central "oint begins with the two $ernel! or
Kcore!K rune forms of c#clical G+ GR +H and ertical G+ 0+H force-the c#cles of
becoming and the a%is of being. Thus! according to the "atterns of the
m#ster# of twent#-four! the runes manifest within a twelefold s"hereO each
rune aligns with another according to a KlawK of s#m"ath#:anti"ath# as the
s"heres e%"and. The numerical seBuence 1 to /4 is cr#stalliLed u"on the
a""lication of the ordering force of consciousness that organiLes the runes
from left to right Gin the natural order! i.e.! along the "athwa# ofthe sunH. 1t
Table 13.1. 'unic (#ads
S"here 2umber 'une =orms Cosmogonic Characteristics
1 FRA 0A orbit:a%is
/ 1 A$ contraction:eolution
> -N.!t resistance!attraction
4 2 S seed form:light cr#stal
5 `! t harmon#:order
6 IA t e%change:retention
5 e9 abilit#:trust
4 'o!A1 cosmic order:human order
9 K ` transformation:growth
13 " !3 brea$er:container
11 ` A) formation:"arado%
1/ f A!S mobile "owerlimmobile "ower
7soteric Cosmolog#! 149
must be remembered! howeer! that runes could be cared in an#
direction-left to right! right to left! or bac$ and forth. These facts show the
wa# to a dee"er understanding of the hidden meanings behind this "ractice.
The s"herical ordering of the futhar$ is gra"hicall# re"resented in figure
13./. The significance of the d#adic "arings ofthe runes that result ftom this
"attern of Kblooming forthK shown in figure 13./ is indicated in table 13.1.
=rom the "reious cha"ter it is $nown that the harmonious arrangement
of the runes in cettir is a significant m#ster# in and of itself. As the runes are
ordered in their seBuence 1 to /4! the# emerge into the horiLontal "lane of
e%istence from the KnorthK Gthat is! out of the doorwa# to other worldsH and!
li$e a ser"ent! wra" themseles three times about the circular "lane around
9idhgardhr. 1n the Eermanic tradition! "lanes are diided into eight segments
in order to gain a "osition or orientation on that "lane. These eight
segments or diisions are called cettirGwhich can mean both KfamiliesK and
Keights!K i.e.! the Keight directionsKH. GAn archaic Scots dialect word airt
suries in this meaning.H 1t is "robabl# from this cosmological "attern Gsee
figure 13.>H that the "rimar# significance of the airt diisions of the futhar$
was deried.
;et a thirdbasic KarrangementK of the runes! one which em"hasiLes the
multidimensional realit# of the m#steries in the branches of;ggdrasill! will
be discussed later.
'unic 7lements
The subNect of elements in the runic conte%t has been one of the most
$0tl# "ursued areas of s"eculation and innerwor$ among those dedicated to
...! 9inie "ath. This in large measure is due to the "rominent role "la#ed
` the four elements of air! fire! water! and earth in the Jerrnetic:2eoftatonic
school of occult "hiloso"h# to which the runic is often com"ared! or
- of which it loosened itself in more recent times. These 2eo-Clatonic
clements ma# er# well derie from some formaliLation of 1ndo-7uro"ean
01l1ems! and these ma# indeed hae been shared b# the Eermanic "eo"les.
elements are essentiall# basic classes of substances occuning in nature
eo$e certain subNectie "s#chic res"onses when meditated on. The# are
153 i J1((72 <&'7
classificator# tools for the "s#cho"h#sical com"le%. As such! it seems most
beneficial to e%"lore the runic ideolog# to e%tract from it directl#! through
runic inestigation Ga combination of lore learning and KwiLardr#KH! the
nature of the m#steries of runic elements. Jere a note must be interNected+
although what follows is based on traditional sources! it is not intended as a
dogmatic rule. &ther inter"retations ma# be "ossible. 1t is ho"ed that this
wor$ will o"en some doors and at least broaden somewhat those doors that
hae long stood wide.
As far as the lore is concerned! the secrets ofthe7ddas hae for too long
been ignored. 1n them is housed a great wealth of hidden $nowledge if one
will onl# o"en oneAs e#es to it. The cosmogonic m#th e%"lored at the
beginning of this cha"ter holds the $e#s to the secrets of the ancient and
com"le% science of runic elements.
The "olariLed "rimar# elements are two in number+ G1H fire and G/H ice.
and the secondar# ones are G>H water and G4H air. =urther elemental building
bloc$s of life are also described in the E#lfaginning in the Crose 7dda+ G51
iron Gslag and the Ks"ar$sK from 9us"ellsheimr as its heat reaches the
centerH! G6H salt! G5H #east! G4H enom. These are all s#nthesiLed in the final
element-G9H earth. All of these elements wor$ on the K"lane of
manifestationK-the horiLontal "lane-not on the ertical a%is of consciousness.
These elements are meaningfull# diagrammed in figure l&A. A short
descri"tion of the nature of each element! read in conNunction with the
cosmogonic m#th! and with com"rehension of the runic s#stem will hel" in
the understanding of this com"le%+
=ire+ Total e%"ansion! all-ibration! heat! light! dr#ness! "rotoenerg#-
d#namic.
1ce+ Total contraction! nonibration! coldness! dar$ness! "rotomatter--
d#namic.
)aterO Stillness! eolutionar# being! wetness! matri% for form-static.
Air+ All "erasieness! formless s"ace! warm! matri% for
consciousness-static.
1ron+ Crimar# s#nthesis! hot:cold! hard! d#namicall# "enetrating! inert
matter.
Salt+ KStuff of lifeK and substance of organic life! maintainer of form.
;east+ (#namic Kliingness!K organic moement! growth! health.
.enom+ <atent dissolution! corrosieness! organic d#namism Gnegatie
eolutionar# factor-s-destruction necessar# to resha"ingH.
7arth+ All-"otential! manifestation! final elemental s#nthesis.
7ast
7soteric Cosmolog# : 151
iron
fire
salt
7arth :----1
South
2orth
)est
=igure l&A. 'unic elements on the horiLontal "lane
ice
These must not be inter"reted as KemanationsK of one another. All
elements are real and latent in the whole! in the unierse GomnierseH! before
the# are manifested in the multierse.
The "rimar# d#ad fire+ice interacts across the e%"anse of the ga" Gfilled
with ginnung! "roto-consciousness! which will Ksolidif#K in the ertical
a%isH! and those d#namic all-e%tremes call forth the balancing! mediating
factors of the secondar# d#ad water+air. The interaction of these elements
gies rise to the whole of the organic "rocesses. At the most direct! least
mediated contact "oint between fire and ice! "rimal iron is forged in the
cosmic crucible! and its "rimar# and most "urel# KelementalK s#nthesis of
fire+ice interacts li$e a lightning bolt with the latent organic mi%ture of
#east:salt:enom within the matri% of fire+ice:water+air. This s"ar$ of life
first Buic$ens the #east! causing the organic birth "rocess to be set in motion.
This is eternall# maintained b# the salt of life! which holds the "rocess
1&gether. Joweer! the latent enom ensures the continued d#namism and
eolutionar# nature of the "rocess because it is continuall# dissoling life so
that it ma# be resha"ed in eer more com"le% f&nT1S b# consciousness. Jere
15/ : ffi((72 <&'7
salt-life
#east-birth enom-death :@
@ iron
1 fire ice 1
air water
#east salt enom
earth
=igure 13.6. Table of runic elements
we see the origins of the material as"ects of the Khigh-hol#-threeK Gtrifidictruine
d#adH-birth-life-death to rebirth Gas in figure 13.5H.
All of these factors go into the formation and Buic$ening of the center of
the horiLontal "lane! the middle of the ga" where all conditions are ideal for
ultimate deelo"ment and re"roduction of the whole-the earth. This is also
the center "oint of the numinous ertical a%is of the world! which com"letes
its "otential for the realiLation of the whole.
These seem onl# to constitute a first leel of runic elemental wisdom.
Actuall#! the elemental factors could "robabl# be multi"lied and refined
more and more Gas the# hae been b# the "h#sical sciencesH to construct a
eritable K"eriodic tableK of runic elements. The roots of such a s#stem are
shown in figure 13.6.
=igure 13.5. 7lemental c#cle of becoming
7soteric Cosmolog# 1 15>
The em"lo#ment of Kelemental thin$ingK in the deelo"ment of a true
"hiloso"h#-which ta$es into account not onl# consciousness but also the
natural world and the building of s#mbolic and "s#chological bridges
between the twG_-is of inaluable aid. This is because the conscious
anal#sis! categoriLation! and e%"erience of readil# a""arent "h#sical "henomena
leads to an internaliLation "rocess with regard to the enironment!
so that nature can indeed become a loremaster in a liing wa# and the "ath
toward the whole will become clearer.
;ggdrasill
&nce the gods hae sha"ed the cosmos from the "rimal substance
according to its "attern and set the whole in motion! so that it becomes a
liing! organic! eoling thing! the whole is iewed as a cosmic tree;ggdrasill.
The descri"tions of the world structure gien in the 7ddas does
(ot alwa#s "roide a totall# consistent "icture! but we do not e%"ect one in a
multiersal s#stem. The enigma and m#ster# housed in meta"hors show us
that these are obserations of the traelers in the su"raconscious! the true
shamans! and not the dogmatic constructs of rationalistic "hiloso"hers.
Joweer! at "resent we hae need and use for these schematiLations to hel"
us unwra"some of the enigma enshrouding the cosmos. Therefore! we must
now e%"lore the esoteric anal#ticall# before deling into the uncharted
waters of 2iflheimr. The a""ro%imations of such schemata must alwa#s be
borne in mind.
=rom the Crose 7dda and our $nowledge of the 2ine )orlds of
;ggdrasill! we can build a "rimar# structure of the cosmos. *ut in and
around these worlds G&2 heimarO sg.! helmrH there are man# dwellings! and
the 7ddas s"ea$ of them in man# "assages.
)e $now that 9idhgardhr Gthe manifested KmaterialK worldH is in the
llfiddle of Einnungaga"O that is! it is not! as some occult "hiloso"hies would
hae us beliee! at the bottom of the unierse. To the north is 2iflheimr! to
the south! 9us"ellsheimrO to the east lies 0otunheimr G7tin-)orldH! and to
the west is .anaheimr G.anir-)orldH. Along a central Gbut omni"resentH
=igure 13.5. ;ggdrasill
7soteric Cosmolog#! 155
a%is--the 1rminsiil-running through the center of 9idhgardhr! the realms
KaboeK and KbelowK 9idhgardhr are arranged. 1t must be remembered that
these directions are s#mbolic of eternal and omni"resent m#steries. *elow
9idhgardhr is Sartalfheimr G*lac$-7lfP W dwarfN-)orldH! and below that
is Jel G` enclosure of death! the hidden "lace! the stead of stillnessH. Aboe
9idhgardhr is <Nossalfheimr G<ight-7lf-)orld! or sim"l# 7lf-)orldH! and
aboe that is Asgardhr itself Gthe enclosure of the 07sirH. These 2ine )orlds
are thus arranged along the "lan of ;ggdrasill and the three-dimensional
snowfla$e "attern. =igure 13.5 gies a detailed descri"tion of the m#steries
the m#steries of ;ggdrasill. This "attern consists of a horiLontal "lane!
described b# 9us"ellsheimr-2iflheimr-.anaheimr-0iitunheimr9idhgardhr!
and a ertical a%is described b# 9idhgardhr-<N6ssalfheimrSartalfheirnr-
Asgardhr-Jel. Actuall#! the center "lane should be tilted in
the imagination so that 2iflheimr is on the nether edge and 9us"ellsheimr is
on the higher one. )e $now that this is an old conce"tion because linguistic
eidence shows that the root word from which KnorthK is deried GXner-H
originall# meant Kunder.K Aboe 9idhgardhr is the realm of light-Kthe
heaensKO below is the world of dar$ness--Kthe nether world.K And the
1rminsiil! the cosmic "illar of ;ggdrasill connects them all. 9. 7liadeAs
boo$! 9#th ofthe 7ternal 'eturn! s"ea$s most eloBuentl# of this m#ster#.
The ertical column or a%is defines the "s#chocosmic bisection between the
conscious and unconscious! between light and dar$! Nust as the horiLontal
"lane defines the bisection between the e%"ansie! electric energies of fire
and the constrictie! magnetic energies of ice. The horiLontal is energ# and
the "lane in which K"h#sicalK energ# is foundO the ertical is the "s#chic
"attern of consciousness and being. All meet in "otential harmon# in
9idhgardhr. This "otential can be actiated b# the runester.
1t will be noted that between these 2ine )orlds there are twent#-four
"athwa#s. This has two meanings. 1t indicates that the m#ster# of twent#four
hel"s sha"e and hold the entire cosmos together Gas it formulates the
structure of the runic s#stem itselfH! and on a certain leel it indicates that
runestaes could be ascribed to the arious roads as $e#s to unloc$ conscious
access to them. 7%"erience has shown that there ma# be no obNectie
one-to-one corres"ondence between a runestae and a roadwa#! although
s"eculatie e%ercises in this direction hae alwa#s "roed meaningful. The
uniersal truth seems to be that the structure of ;ggdrasill and that of the
runic s#stem are sha"ed b# the same twent#-four-fold force and that each
"athwa# contains an entire "otential futhar$ within it. 1n the ebb and flow of
energies within the s#stem one rune ma# dominate a certain roadwa#! but
thatdoes not mean other runes are not to be found there. As is usual with the
156 : J1((72 <&'7
Table 13./. 8e#s to the )orlds of ;ggdrasill
Asgardhr 'ealm of consciousness that is in and of itself com"le%!
with man# enclosures and halls within it! among them
.alh&ll G)alhallaH! Jall of the =allen. The abode of
the fetch! and the house of the s"irit G&2 iindH.
<N6ssalfheimr *road e%"anses of light Gwhich also contain other sub"lanesH.
The abode of mind and memor#-the intellect.
9idhgardhr 9iddle-7arth. 1n the Cosmos this is material
manifestation-earth. 1n the ma$eu" ofman this is the
bod#! but also the all-"otential of the self. 1n 9idhgardhr
all the worlds meet.
Sartalfheimr Abode of the hamr Gsha"e or hideH. A KsubterraneanK
world of dar$ness where sha"es are forged. 'ealm of
the emotions.
Jel 'ealm of the instincts. Abode of stillness and inertiaunconsciousness.
The final resting "lace of the soul of
the non-7rulian.
2iflheimr 'ealm of mist becoming ice! abode of contraction and
magnetism. The force of antimatter! a "ointconstantl#
"ulling in on itself! li$e a Kblac$ hole.K
9us"ellsheimr 'ealm offier# s"ar$s! abode of e%"ansion and electricit#.
The force of "ure energ# constantl# e%"anding
awa# from itself.
.anaheimr 'ealm of organic"atterning andcoalescence-water.
Abode of forces in fruitful and static balance.
0otunheimr Arealmin constantmotion! see$ingtoo""oseandgie
resistance to whateer it meets. =orce of dissolution
and dece"tiou. 'eactie "ower of destruction Gnecessar#
to eolutionar# changeH.
7soteric Cosmolog# G 155
runes! much is de"endent on the state of being of the runester-the obserer
of the m#steries.
As far as anal#Ling the essences of the worlds is concerned! table 13./
"roides the fundamental esoteric lore necessar# to the runic com"rehension
of the realms of ;ggdrasill.
These worlds and enclosures interact with one another in a cosmic
ecolog# of energ# and essence. The eight realms outside 9idhgardhr each
o""ose and balance a counter realm+ Asgardhr balances Jel! <N6ssalfheimr
balances Sartalfheimr! 9us"ellsheimr GfireH counters 2iflheimr Gice! and
.anabeimr counters 0otunheimr. The Kmaterial world!K 9idhgardhr! stands
in the midst of all-the realm of all-"otential. =rom it the runester can reach
outin all directions andascend to the realms aboe orridedown to theworlds
below. Joweer! it should be noted tbat there is a s"ecial relationshi"
between Asgardhr! 9idhgardhr! and Jel! which are "ro"erl# called Kthe
three realmsK-heaenl#! earthl#! and chthonic. There is a similar bond
among those si% realms "ro"erl# called heimar! which KsurroundK 9idhgardhr.
Access to realms be#ond these si% into the outermost two is
difficult! to sa# the least.
Collectiel#! the "athwa#s between the worlds are $nown as *ifrost!
the 'ainbow *ridge. The structure is a model of the world! but it also the
"attern of the Kworld withinK-the microcosm of man if #ou will. This is
made abundantl# clear in the s$aldic language of the north in which humans
are often "ara"hrased in terms of treesO for e%am"le! a warrior will be called
Kthe oa$ of battle.K These K$enningsK are deried from the m#thic fact that
humans were Ksha"edK from trees Gi.e.! alread# liing! organic substanceH
b# the triad of diine consciousness. GCom"are this to other m#thologies in
which humans are fashioned from inert matter.H 1n the ;ggdrasill "attern we
hae the ancient Eermanic Gand "erha"s een 1ndo-7uro"eanH model of the
subNectie unierse and a model for its lin$ages to the obNectie unierse.
Jere continues to be hidden a rune of great "ower.
1fone has access to the oluminous scholarl# wor$s on rune magic! one is at
once struc$ b# the abundance of numerological inter"retations. Underl#ing
these studies seems to be the assum"tion that mere numerical "atterns Greal
or imaginedH are enough to indicate the KmagicalK nature of an inscri"tion.
The wea$ness ofthese wor$s lies in the fact that the authors neertell us how
these "atterns are magicall# effectie! nor do the# tell us much of the
indigenous Eermanic number lore that would be necessar# to understand
these inscri"tions in this wa#. =rom a "urel# historical "oint of iew! it een
seems doubtful that runes were eer used as numerals at all. 2o clear
e%am"le of such usage e%ists! and when numbers are e%"ressed in the
inscri"tions! the# are alwa#s s"elled out in words. GThis is not to sa# that
there was no sacred or magical tradition of number lore that was a thing
altogether se"arate from the use of K"rofaneK numbers.H The runonumerological
scholars beliee that the runemasters of old used both rune
counts Gcounting the total number ofstaes in an inscri"tion! line! or "hraseO
e.g.! + C` @A@ +W >H or rune totals Gcounting the total of the numerical alues
assigned to the staes b# irtue of their "ositions in the rowO e.g.! + C1DA!+ W
-t a /1 a / W /5H.
The Buestion arises+ are these "ractices legitimate in iew of the general
lac$ of historical eidence for themQ The answer is #es on two grounds+ G1H
11T
-A-A-Kci
163: J1((72 <&'7
the historical eidence generall# has been handled badl#! and the scientific
case Ges"eciall# for rune countsH needs to be $e"t o"enO and G/H in the s"iritAK
liing innoation consistentl# e%"ressed b# the elder runernasters! we 1Ale)
runesters should feel free to incor"orate and deelo" tall# lore in our s#stem
regardless of its historical "osition. 1t is not our aim merel# to co"# older
"racticesbut rather to e%tend them in wa#s harmonious with the tradition.
&ur treatment of runic numerolog#! or tall# lore! is informed b# dee"
$nowledge of the uniBuel# Eermanic number lore Gusuall# ignored b# earlier
scholars in faor offoreign s#stemsH and b# the s"irit of intuitie innoation.
Tall# <ore
2umerical"atterning ma$esaninscri"tion moreeffectie in therealms
corres"onding to those indicated b# the $e# number. This is sim"l# a "art of
the laws of s#stemic em"ath# necessar# to magical wor$ing in general. The
willed act of consciousl# sha"ing o"eratie communications on eer more
subtle leels has a "owerful intrinsic effect for magical wor$. 1n other
words! for a magical wor$ing to be effectie it must be in a form-a code if
#ou will-that the obNect of the wor$ing will be able to KunderstandK and
res"ond to. 2umerical "atterning is a subtle leel of this encoding "rocess.
This is one of the more obscure "arts of the answer to the &dian Buestion
K8nowest how to careQK
&n the other hand! there is an im"ortant "assie side to this actie
as"ect. &ne must also be able to answer the Buestion K8nowest how to
readQK That is! the runester must be able to understand the runes when the#
are "resented to him-to the mindAs e#e! as well as to the bod#As e#e.
Therefore! s$ill at tall# lore is also a tool for subtle! illuminatie magical
wor$ GrunecastingH.
&ne thing that has alwa#s $e"t rune tall# lore from becoming full#
effectie has been the general effort to tr# to ma$e it fit into 9editerranean
numerolog# as "racticed b# the Eree$s! Jebrews! and others. Although the
Eermanic nnmber s#stem is similar to that used b# the Eree$s Gboth being
ultimatel# deried from 1ndo-7uro"eanH! there is an im"ortant shift of
'unic 2umerolog# 1 161
em"hasis from two to three and its multi"les that results in a Buasiduodecimal
s#stem for the Eermanic "eo"les. This is wh# we hae KeleenK
and KtweleK and not! as we would e%"ect! something li$e KonteenK and
Ktwenteen.K There is an underl#ing s#stem with an em"hasis on twele and
its multi"les in the ancient Eermanic number s#stem! one thatalso underlies
the tall# lore of the runes. )hen an ancient Sa%on in 7ngland heard hundred!
he thought of! in our terms! 1/3 KthingsK-teont:g Gten-t# ` 133H! endleofaruigO
Geleen-t# ` 113H! and so on. This latter term een suries in
some southern American dialects as Kelebent#.K
That number alues were in some measure a "artof the ancient runic
tradition is obious from tbe nature of the s#stems of runic codes Gsee cha"ter
5H. The runic s#stem! as discussed in cha"ter 9! and the whole of runic
cosmolog# hae a strong numerical basis. )ithin the runic s#stem certain
$e# numbers stand out. Three and its multi"les are obious-s-the three airts
Gam:rH of the runestae! for e%am"le. Three is an essential cosmic binding
(umber on the ertical numinous a%is! a formula that connects what is
KaboeK and KbelowK with the here and now. Three and all of its multi"les
contain this root alue.
=our and eight hae a similar effect on the horiLontal "lane of nature.
The s#mbolism of these number grou"s is alread# clear when one loo$s at
the airt arrangement of the runestaes.
1n a s"herical and multidimensional sense! the numbers twele and
thirteen are of central im"ortance Gsee cha"ter 13H. These are at the core of
the runic s#stem! and each contains a uniBue and distinct m#ster#. 1n other
,rords! thirteen is not merel# twele "lus one. The essence of thirteen is
something inde"endent of twele Gthis is the central Kbrea$ing "ointK in both
!he runic s#stem and in the Eermanic number s#stemH.
The ultimate numberof wholeness is twent#-four. 1t contains a sense of
entiret#! although it is also subNect to significant multi"lications. 1n this
regard! the formula /4 I > W 5/ seems to be of "articular im"ortance. This
alue of wholeness for twent#-four was een retained once the s#stem had
been reformed. &ne of the greatest testaments to this fact is the m#sterious
Ktwent#-four thingsK on which runes are to be cared in SigrdrffaAs in..+
ructions to Sigurdhr Gsee the KSigrdffumalK in the Coetic 7ddaH.
7ssentiall#! there are four s#stemic $e# numbers+ thirteen! si%teen!
eighteen! and twent#-four. 7ach e%"resses an as"ect of totalit#. 1n addition!
.n "rime numbers-those that are inde"endent! free! and isolated unto
`seles--e%"ress an as"ect of the magical will of the runester.
16/: J1((72 <&'7
2ordic 2umber <ore
To some e%tent the runic tables of inter"retation 1 reeal a good deal
lore concerning the meanings of number and numerical relationshi"s`
the runes. Joweer! as a detailed reading of the oldest te%ts of Eermanic 0S.+
shows! there are certain s"ecific "owers of characteristics of numbers .the
as"iring runester should $now. These characteristics are Buite ofKr.ml
different from those of 9editerranean numerolog#.
&ne G1H is the number of beginnings of root causes and solitar# force.
rare in o"eratie runecraft and in m#thological references.
Two G/H is the number of coo"eration of the redoubled wor$ing of tandess
forces. 1n o"eratie wor$ it is sometimes used to strengthen! es"eciall#
"h#sicall#. 1n m#thological lore it shows the "ower of teamwor$ betwees
com"lementar# "airs+ Juginn:9uninn! Eeri:=re$i G&dhinriAs woleK
Ara$r:Alsidhr Gteam of horses that "ulls the SunAs wainH! or the diiee
tandem &dhinn:<o$i.
Three G>H is a Khol# numberK that is astl# re"resented in lore. 1t indicateO \
com"lete functioning "rocess "rocess and is the root force of d#namism. b.
runecraft! three is used to com"lete and to Buic$en things-to moe things tc
action. 1n the m#thic lore threeAs aboundO for e%am"le! Urdhr-.erdhand0S$uld!
&dhinn-.ili-.e! the three KrootsK of ;ggdrasi0l! and the three
containers of the "oetic mead! &dhrcerir-Son-*odhn.
=our G4H is a number of stasis! of solidit# and waiting. 1t contains "ower! and
this is one of its chief o"eratie uses. 1n m#th we learn of the four harts thai+
chew the leaes of ;ggdrasill and of four dwares 2ordhri-Austri-Sudhri-.
.estri at the four cardinal directions.
=ie G5H is the number of ordered time and s"ace. The ancient Eermanic
wee$ was fie nights long-s-called in &ld 2orse afimmt-which was also
the interal of time one had to res"ond to a legal summons. 1t is rarel# found
in m#thological lore! but for o"eratie "ur"oses it is a "owerful inocator#
formula.
1 See cha". 9 of this olumeO see also 7dred Thorsson! =uthar$+A Jandboo$of 'une 9agic
G;or$ *each! 97+ Samuel )eiser! 1944H+ cha". /.
'unic 2umerolog# 1 16>
Si% G6H is the number of ibrant life and strength. This can be used to create or
destro#. 1t is rarel# found in m#thic conte%ts.
Seen G5H is the number of death and "assie contact with the Kother
worlds.K A seen-night interal G&2 sNaundH is traditional between death
and the "erformance of funeral rites. 2ot often seen in m#tholog#. Some
m#thic occurrences seem to hae been influenced b# astrological lore.
7ight G4H is the number of com"lete manifestation of wholeness and "erfect
s#mmetr#. 1ts chief significance can be fonnd in the eightfold diision of the
heaens Gsee cha"ter 6H. 1t is the number of s"atial ordering. 7ight is
abundant in m#tho-magical lore! mainl# as a wa# to listthings! for e%am"le!
the eight woes and their remedies. GtA1laamal!K 1>5H! the eight runic
o"erations GKJaamal!K 144H! and the eight Kbest thingsK GKErfminismal!K
AO5H. All of these te%ts are to be found in the Coetic 7dda.
KAine G9H is the Kholiest ofnumbersK and the root of "s#cho-cosmic "owers. 1t
lends its force to an# "ur"ose. 1t is the number of life eternal and death
unending. 2ine transforms what it touches! #et it remains eternal within
itself. 1ts use abounds in m#th and magic. 0ust to name a few of man#
e%am"les of the use of nine+ nine are the worlds of ;ggdrasill! nine are the
nights &dhinn hangs u"on it and is thereafter taught nine might# songs! nine
is the number in which the al$#rNur often a""ear to the 7rulian.
The two main wa#s in which runes ma# be mani"ulated as numbers are
outlined in an o"eratie conte%t in =uthar$ Ges"eciall# on "". 13/-134H.
These two methods inole com"uting the rune count Gb# adding the number
of runestaesH and the rune total Gb# adding the numerical alues of each of
rbe runestaesH. =or e%am"le! one side of a famous and com"le% runic
formula from around 533 C.7. Gthe <indholm amuletH ma# be seen in figure
1<<
=igure 11.1. Side * of the <indholm amulet
164: ffi((72 <&'7
The rune count usuall# indicates the realm in which the formula is to
wor$! and the rune total shows the subtle aim or final willed outcome of the
fonnula. These two numbers are further anal#Led b# adding their digits to
come u" with a Ktall#K $e# number Greduced to a number between one and
twent#-fourH and b# finding multi"le alues to arrie at Kmulti"leK $eN
numbers. These numbers refine the alues alread# demonstrated b# the rune
count and total! and show the Kmagical instrumentsK b# which the# wor$.
=or e%am"le! an anal#tical table for side * of the <indholm amulet a""ealA
in table 11.1.
*# using these subtle wa#s to Kread the runes aright!K we see that in the
most esoteric tenus the inscri"tion in figure 11.1 e%"ressesthe"ure ordered
G5H will of an 7rulian it$i G45H wor$ing with craft G6H within the whole
obNectie unierse G/4H toward manifestation G13H.
To conclude this cha"ter on number we must s"ea$ to the most
m#sterious e%am"le of numerical s#mbolism in Eermanic literature+ stanLa
/4 of the KEnmnismalK in the Coetic 7dda! which reads+
=ie hundred doors
and fort# withall!
1 $now to be in .alholl+
eight hundred lone-warriors D&2 einherNarP
go through a lone door
when the# fare forth to fight the wolf D` =enrirP!
9an# scholars and m#stics ali$e hae been struc$ b# this stanLa. &ne one
leel the numerical anal#sis would seem to be 543 % 433 W 4>/!333which
Nust ha""ens to be the number of #ears in the 8ali ;uga in the scheme
of Jindu cosmolog#. This has led historians to conclude that there ma# hae
Table 11.1. 2umerical Anal#sis of <indholm Amulet G*H
'une count /4 realm of wor$ing
tall# $e# 6
multi"le $e# 4 I 6 wa# it wor$s in realm
'une total />5 aim of wor$ing
tall# $e# 13
multi"le $e# 5 I 45 wa# it reaches its aim
'unic 2umerolog# : 165
been a good deal of borrowing of ideas from 1ndo-1ranian culture iu the
2orth! or that we are faced with an e%am"le of ancient 1ndo-7uro"ean lore
common to both cultures from "rehistoric times.
Joweer! from an indigenous "oint of iew! it must be remembered
that when a 2orsemau said Kone hundredK he had iu miud 1/3 in our
terms-therefore the formula from the KErimnismalK would a""ear+
fie hundred G ` 633H aud fort# G43H ` 643 G W 16 % 43H
eight hundred G ` 963H G W /4 % 43H
and the multi"lication ofthe two numbers would result in 614!433 G W 43 %
15!>63H. That two s#stemic $e# numbers G16 and /4H are "resent! aud that
there is an a""arent instance of intentional multi"les of fort#! all seem to
"oint to an inde"endent and internall# coherent Eermanic number s#mbolog#.
The final unloc$ing of this m#ster# is #et to come.
l
`nic Cs#c=wfo9;
The lore of the soul-"s#cho-1og#-is a com"le% but fundamental as"ect of
runic GesotericH studies. The ancient Eermanic "eo"les "ossessed a soul-lore
as intricate and"recise as an# in histor#andfarmorecom"le% than whatwe
commonl# hae toda#. 9uch of this wondrous world can be recoered
through the stud# of the words the ancients nsed to describe arious soul
conce"tions and "s#cho"h#sical "rocesses. 1t is eas# to see that when a
grou" has a highl# s"ecialiLed or technical ocabular# in a gien field it is
because G1H the# understand its intimate wor$ings and need terms to distinguish
arious as"ects of which the# hae $nowledge! and G/H it is an area of
life to which the# attach a high leel of im"ortance. *esides the Ksouls!K
11113ther idea that dominates Eermanic thought is that of KfateK-w#rd. 1t
cannot be full# understood a"art from the lore of souls! and it hel"s to e%"lain
e%actl# how these souls are at wor$ within us.
=orms of the Soul
1t is somewhat of a misconce"tion to se"arate adiscussion of the KsoulK
1romthe Kbod#K in runelore. The# are intimatel# tied together! but! "arado%i1+
a1l#! the# ma# be consciousl# diided from one another through rune)S
0r$. )ithout such wor$ this would naturall# ha""en onl# at death. )hen
164 1 J1((72 <&'7
s"ea$ing of the Kwhole "erson!K it is "erha"s most accurate to use the
somewhat cumbersome terms "s#cho"h#sical or "s#chosomatic Gsoul:bod# 1
com"le%. 1n an# eent! the soul is made u" of arious as"ects-i-essences
and:orsubstances thatma# lie more or less dormant in some indiidualsbut
inthe runesterareawa$enedto itale%istence. 1tis hardl# a wonderthat once
a "eo"le loses the terminolog# for an e%"erience it soon fades from memor#.
'unelore and runewor$ reawa$en that memor#.
*ecause the 2orse were the last of the Eermanic "eo"les to be KconertedK
to Christianit# and because in 1celand the earl# "hase of the conersion
was of a tolerantnature! the 2orse languageandlore "resereintactthe
most com"lete runic "s#cbolog#. 1t is on this lore that the following anal#sis
is based. Joweer! it a""ears most li$el# that all of the other Eermanic
"eo"les-Anglo-Sa%ons G7nglishH! Eermans! Eoths! and so on-c-had eBuialent
s#stems.
There are nine "s#chological constructs Geach more or less com"le% 1
that go to ma$e u" the Kwhole manKO
1. The "h#sical ehicle is made u" of seeral elements. The bod# itself G&8
li$H is a com"le% of arious substauces G&2 efniH such as Ka""earanceK Ga
s"ecial &2 term 1ii that ma# refer to the hairO also &2 sNon! see hamingNa
belowH! moement G&2 lcetiH! health or good com"le%ion G&2 litrH. These
are the original gifts of the god <6dhurr. The KsubstancesK of the bod# are
gatewa#s to other as"ects of the self! and the# are the ultimate rece"tacles of
magical wor$. Therefore! certain snbtle substances in the bod# become focal
"oints for the deelo"ment of the self or the "erson of whole consciousness.
aware of all as"ects in an e%halted ego state.
/. The Ksha"e-substanceK G&2 hamrH is closel# associated with the Kbod#K
1t gies the "lastic fonndation or subtle matri% to "h#sical realit#. Joweer.
it can be bronght under the control of the will Gin the mindO &2 hugrH and
cause first subtle! then more substantial forms to ta$e sha"e in accordance
with the will. This is the "ower of imagination. Ta$ento its e%tremef&nT1S it
can cause KmaterialiLationsK of imaginar# beings Gnatural or non-natural!
into which the consciousness can be "roNected. &ld 2orse literature is full of
such descri"tious. 9ost t#"icall#! the it$i lies as if aslee" or dead! and in
anotherlocation he is able to materialiLe an animal sha"e in which he can
fight or stal$ his enem#. 1f this sha"e is inNured! the it$i will receie the
wounds as well.
>. The facult# of ecstas# G&2 6dhrH is the gift of the god Jcenir. This is as
much an e%"erience! a state of mind! as an#thing else. 1t is the facult#'unic
Cs#cholog# 1 169
emotionall# almost "h#sicall# e%"erienced-s-of rising u" and out of the
normal state of consciousness into a high leel of energ# and enthusiasm.
&dhr is the same root "resent in the name &dh-inn! and it is b# this "ower
that magical force is mani"ulated. This is the actie agent directed b# the
will. 1t is this "ower oer which &dhinn rules.
4. Closel# lin$ed with the ecstatic facult# is the ital breath G&2 andH! which
is the gift of &dhinn. G1t must be remembered that the triad &dhinn-Jcenir<6dhu1T
actuall# re"resents a triform &dhinn.H The and is the Kdiine
s"ar$!K the all-"erasie ital energ# on which all life is based and which is
the foundation of all rune wor$. The conce"t is similar to the 1ndian "rana!
and een the word itself is related to Sans$rit dtman. Gs"irit! selfH. 1t is the
bridge to higher leels of being.
5. The KmindK G&2 hugrH is a com"le% entit# indeed. 1t is actuall# made u"
of three faculties+ G1H olition! G/H "erce"tion! and G>H cognition. This is the
seat ofthe will! and as such it has the "ower to assimilate other as"ects of the
"s#cho"h#sical com"le% to itself. This is wh# the term hugr is often used in
&ld 2orse literature when other as"ects might hae been e%"ected. 1t seems
to Kta$e oerK the "ersonalities of adanced runesters because their eolution
comes more and more under conscious control. *# this facult#! "ersons
do anal#tical thin$ing of a conscious sort. 1t is s#non#mous with the left
brain functions.
6. 1ntimatel# lin$ed to the KmindK is the Kmemor#K G&2 minniH. These are
the two "s#chic as"ects re"resented b# &dhinnAs raens+ Juginn and
9nninn G9ind and 9emor#H. This facult# is indeed memor#! but it is much
more than what #e commonl# associate with this term. 1t is more than the
sim"le recall of "ast eentsO it is the storehouse of all m#steries! the great
rune-hoard. This is wh#! in the KErlmnismalK Gst. /3H! &dhinn sa#s of the
relatie alues of Juginn and 9uninn+
The whole earth oer!
eer# da#
hoer Juginn and 9uninnO
1 dread lest Juginn
droo" in his flight!
#et 1 fear me still more for 9uninn.
A coordination of the mind and the memor# faculties is what gies Kintelligence.K
The mind "rocesses e%ternal stimuli Gincluding that receied
153 : J1((72 <&'7
frommemor#H! whereasmemor#GminniH reflects on its own infinite material.
9inni is analogous to the right brain.
5. The KsoulK G&2 salH usuall# C&mes into "la# onl# after death. This is the
shade-a subtle bod# in which the "s#chic as"ects Gor some of themH are
focused after the death of the "h#sical as"ects. 1n life this is the "art of the
"s#che that "assiel# receies the record of oneAs actions andremains the
negatie s"ace into which one eoles. 1t is analogous to lungAs KshadowK
conce"t of the unmanifested as"ects of the "s#che! discussed in the ne%t
section.
4. The KfetchK G&2f#lgNaH is in man# res"ects the bright side ofthe shade. 1n
menthe fetch is seen as female! andin women it is male. Actuall#! there are
threefetches! or Kfollowing s"iritsK+ in human form! in animal form! andin
geometrical form. 7ach image has its own function. The one in human form
is attached for the duration of life and can be "assed on from generation to
generation! either along genetic lines or according to willed "roNection. The
animal-sha"ed fetch is usuall# in a form that corres"onds to the character of
the "ersonto whomit is attached-a wolf! aneagle! a horse! afo%! a mouse.
and so on. 1t can be se"arated from the it$i as a magical act. The it$i also
ma# "roNect his conscious will into the fetch in order to carr# out magical
wor$ings. A geometrical sha"e is often seen b# those with Ksecond sightK
going out infront af"ersons ofgreat "ower. Thef#lgNa is the re"ositor# of all
of the actions of the "ersons to whom the entit# was "reiousl# attached. 1t
can be the source of great"ower butalso of tremendous res"onsibilities and
een hardshi"s. This entit# is the storehouse of brliig-it can "rotect and it
can doom. The fetch is closel# related to! and in some cases identical to! the
al$#rNa or dis entit#.
9. The Kluc$K G&2 hamingNaH of a "erson is e%tremel# com"le% and in man#
wa#s closel# lin$ed to the fetch. JamingNa! which is linguisticall# deried
from hamr Gi.e.! ham-gengNa! one who can go about in another sha"eH is
essentiall# a "ower conce"t analogous to Col#nesian mana! 1roBuois orenda!
andso on. 1ttoo has some anthro"omor"hic s#mbols andis conceied of
as G1H Kluc$K G"ersonal "owerH! G/H guardian s"irit Gs#mbolicall# deried
from that luc$H! and G>H sha"e-shifting abilit# Gwhich is its original meaningH.
A wide ariet# of consciousl# willed actions deelo" this magical
"ower. 1t can be transferred from one "erson to another Galthough its effects
are onl# tem"orar# unless it is attached to the fetch-wifeH. The hamingNa is
the collectie might and main of the indiidual. 1t is fed b# and feeds the
fetch-wife with "ower so that during a manAs lifetime we can s"ea$ of a
hamin"a-f#lgNa com"le% that wor$s in harmon#.
luc$:hamingNa
e$!!-TT
memor#:minni
A schematic re"resentation of the "s#cho"h#sical com"le% Gfigure
1/.1H "erha"s gies a clearer image of Nust how these arious conce"ts relate
to and interact with one another. Joweer! since the realit# of this model!
li$e that of ;ggdrasill Gfigure 13.5 on "age 154H is actuall# multi- or
e%tradimensional! a two- or een three-dimensional model is somewhat
inadeBuate.
&ther structures that a""earin the figure include the ego! or K1K conce"t
and the magical KegoK Gor "ersonaH. The K1K G&2 e$H is lin$ed to! or identical
with! the name or names of the indiidual. &n the &dhinic "ath the
runester-as he or she deelo"s stronger lin$s with the fetch and strengthens
the "owers of the other "s#chic as"ects-forms magical K1AA conce"ts allied
with the fetch. These alternate "ersonae are usuall# of the same gender as the
Knatural bod#.K 7ach of the "ersonae has a name and can be eo$ed with the
right formnla. 1t is in these self-sha"ed magical forms that the runester
carries out rune wor$ings. The magical "ersonae can be Buite numerous! but
each embodies a "art of the whole "s#cho"h#sical com"le%O each is a
h#"er-aware entit#. Ultimatel#! it is in these conce"ts that the essence of
shade:sal
`
'unic Cs#cholog# 1151
=igure 0/.0. Eermanic structure of the "s#cho"h#sical com"le%
fetch:f#lgNa
15/ 1 J1((72 <&'7
Consciousness
Cersona
:`. Consciousness
Self
Cersonal 0 ` 1 Unconscious
Collectie ! AK : @ Unconscious
Shadow
'unic and 0ungian Cs#cholog#
Animus:Anima
=igure 1/./. 0ungian structure of the soul
&dianism is to be understood. This also gies a $e# to the understanding of
Eermanic heroic m#tholog#! and each of the runestaes s"ea$ to at least one
as"ect of this realm.
The onl# modern theoretical "s#chological structure that comes close
to encom"assing the "ower of the ancient Eermanic "ractical soul-lore is
that deelo"ed b# the Swiss "s#chiatrist C. E. 0ung. 0ungAs "s#cholog# has
been the subNect of KoccultK inestigations before! but the Eermanic s#stem
seems unusuall# well suited to his structure because it is "articularl# understandable
in 0ungian terms. 0ung himself deoted some s"ace to the )otan
archet#"e in an article in which he com"ared the half-forgotten archet#"e to
a dr# rierbed that awaited onl# the release of the waters of life to renew it!
'unic Cs#cholog# 1 15>
along its old "atterns. 1 So too it is with conce"ts of the soul. As a culture! we
hae been im"oerished with regard to the soul-s-cut off from our ancestral
ideas about it Gor themH-and gien onl# haL#! often contradictor# doctrines
as re"lacements. The time has now come that the waters of life be restored to
their ancestral beds! and the souls will again come alie.
lungAs "s#chological scheme is characteriLed b# certain structures! as
figure 1/./ indicates. 0ungAs scheme! of course! lac$s the oertl# magical
G"racticalH functions of the hamingNa-f#lgNa! but their reflections remain in
the "rocess of the Kalchemical marriageK between the animus and anima Gthe
masculine and feminine sides of the soulH. 1t is in the common "rocess of a
union between contrase%ual as"ects of the soul thatthe two s#stems aremost
ali$e on a "ractical leel. Also! 0ungian techniBues designed to actiate the
Ktranscendent functionK are of benefit in an# effort to gain access to the
fetch-wife or fetch of toda#.
1n addition! the shadow bears a close resemblance to the KshadeK
function ofthe soul. 7en gods hae their shadows! for this is what <o$i is to
&dhinn. Cerha"s the most "rominent feature of 0ungian "s#cholog# is the
structure of the collectie unconscious. This comes as close as an#thing"erha"s
with the addition of theories concerning the bihemis"herical brainto
defining the true nature of minni and the m#steries taught b# the raen
9uninn.
+ See C. E. lung! K)otan!K in Col!ected)or$s! ol. 13 Gtr. b#'.=.C. JullH! GCrinceton! 20+
Crinceton Uniersit# CressH+ 159-19>.
`neCore of the Eods
GiMsoteric rr11eoCog#H
'unelore is dominated b# the figure of &dhinn. 1t is the "ath e%em"lified b#
him thatthe runester see$s to trael. Joweer! as &dhinn has shown! other
gods are also essential for the health#wor$ingsof the cosmological! sociological!
and "s#chological orders. )e $now-from a tale told b# the mon$
Sa%o Erammaticus in *oo$ 1 of his Jistor# ofthe (anes-that it is the will of
&dhinn to "resere and to "romote the whole structure of the gods-the
entire "antheon. 1n this tale! we read that &dhinn left his $ingdom! and his
"lace was ta$en b# one called 9it6dhinn. The name 9it6dhinn ma# mean
either Kthe one beside &dhinnK G9it-&dhinnH! or Kthe one who measures
outK G9it6dh-innH. 1neither case! it a""ears to be a name for T#r. 9it6dhinn
tried to institute a se"arate cult for each ofthe gods. )hen &dhinn returned!
he oerthrew 9it6dhinn and restored the common cult in which sacrifices
were made Gthree times a #earH to all of the gods and goddesses of the
"antheon together. 9it6dhinnAs "lan would certainl# hae led to fragmentation
of the societ#! whereas&dhinnA s restoration was aimedatmaintaining a
cohesie whole. As we will see! those two tendencies are what we should
e%"ect of &dhinn and T0Ar.
*efore deling into the &dhinic archet#"e we should! being true to the
&dian "ath! delineate the structure of the whole of the Eermanic "antheon
from a runic or esoteric iew"oint. 1n the twentieth centur# two in156
: J1((72 <&'7
estigators! wor$ing from two different "ers"ecties. hae again "roided
$e#s with which to unloc$ the wa#s the diinities relate to each other. C. E.
0ung ! with his theor# of archet#"es within the collectie unconscious Gsee
cha"ter 1/H! has gien a wor$able basis on which to understand the lin$age
between the human "s#che and the gods and goddesses of our ancestors.
Eeorges (umeLil! a =rench historian of religion and an 1ndo-7uro"eanist.
has added the $e# to the structure of the "antheon. 1
The gods and goddesses hae both subNectie Gi.e.! within the "s#che of
the indiidualH realit# and a multiersal obNectie Gi.e.! outside the "s#che of
the indiidualH realities. These obNectie realities are essentiall# three+ G1H
within the national grou" Gan inherited KmetageneticK diine "atternH! G/H
within the s"ecies homo sa"iens! and G>H inde"endent of humanit#. 2ot all
gods "arta$e of all three obNectie realities. The first realit# is the strongest
obNectie lin$ man can hae with the diine. This metagenetic lin$ is most
"owerful within close national!linguistic relationshi"s! that is! ones that
corres"ond to oneAs heritage Galthough all natie 7nglish s"ea$ers will hae
absorbed a good deal of that nationAs indigenous structures regardless of
ethnic heritageH. *ut Kmega-nationsK or linguistic grou"ings Ge.g.! 1ndo7uro"ean!
Semitic! Sino-TibetanH will hae significant im"act as well. &nl#
&dhinn! as the sha"er of humanit#! is inde"endent of it.
)hat is a god or goddessQ 1n runic terms a god is a liing entit# with
some sort of e%istence inde"endent of the indiidual "s#che! although most
gods ma# hae had their ultimate origin there. 1t ma# be incor"orated
an#where within the "s#cho"h#sical com"le%O that is! it ma# hae its origin
in an instinctual! emotional! "h#sical! mental! or s"iritual "attern. A god! as
most first "erceie it! is a subtle tendenc# within the self! which then can be
0ed with "s#chic energ# b# means of m#th! ritual! runewor$! and the li$e.
The anthro"omor"hic sha"e of a god is a s#mbo< This is the sim"lest wa# for
most "eo"le to gras" entities that hae certain roles and com"le% interrelationshi"s.
The anthro"omor"hic s#mbol is not altogether arbitrar# because
the gods are essentiall# creatures of the great force of consciousness
gien b# the All-=ather to man$ind alone. A "art of the god is housed within
the minni of an indiidual and is inherited metageneticall# from the ancestors.
1n the final anal#sis! there are as man# conce"tions of the diine as
there are indiiduals. 2o two "ersons com"rehend a deit# or theolog# in
1 See 7dred Thorsson! =uthar$+ A Jandboo$ of 'une 9agic G;or$ *each! 97+ Samuel
)eiser! 1944H+ 59.
'une <ore of the Eods : 155
e%actl# the same wa#! #et there are innate tendencies that are determined b#
liing metagenetic forms. &f course! another method! used b# the "ro"hets
of reealed religion! is that of dogma and coercion.
=or the indiidual who ma# wish to understand the inner or outer realit#
of a god or goddess! a "rocess of learning about the inner form and of lin$ing
that inner form with its e%ternal counter"art must be deelo"ed. This is a
form of communication with the diinit# and is a chief concern of religion.
The tas$ of the &dian runester goes somewhat be#ond this! as we shall see.
The Ereat Eods of i7sir
The arious Eermanic diinities relate to one another in a wa# that is
"rofound! archaic! and of great "otenc# in the understanding of dee"-leel
runelore. Table 1>.1 on "age 154 shows! in abbreiated form! the most
im"ortant structural as"ects of the oldest form of the Eermanic "antheon. 1t
amounts to a social structure of the "antheon and is essentiall# the (umeLilian
restoration with additional runic insights.Q &n the other hand! the
nonhuman elements of the multierse e%tend be#ond the realms of the 07sir
and .anir! and these worlds are re"resented in the "attern of ;ggdrasill
Grefer to figure 13.5 on "age 154H.
Again! these relationshi"s are to be found within indiidual "s#ches!
within the national "s#che of a "eo"leO the# hae their corres"ondences in
the obNectie multierse as well. To some e%tent these relationshi"s gie us
the internal structure of the minni-the "s#chic KstuffA with which one is
born. The d#namic interrelationshi"s between these liing inhabitants of this
"art of the "s#che are the starting "oints for the great m#ths. Through arious
wor$ings of a religious nature one ma# lin$ the elements of oneAs own
"s#che with those in the obNectie world of the m#thic tradition and become
in-formed b# them.
+. See 7dred Thorsson! =uthar$+ A Jandboo$ of 'une 9agic G;or$ *each! 97+ Samuel
)eiser! 1944H+ 59-43! and Eeorges (umeLil! Eods of the Ancient 2orthmen Ged. b# 7.
JaugenH G*er$ele#+ Uniersit# of California Cress! 195>H+ 1-44.
154 1 J1((72 <&'7
Table 1>.1. Structure of the Eermanic Cantheon
=unction 1
A. T9r *. &dhinn
The 0udge-8ing The 9agician-Criest
The 9easurer The S#nthesiLer
=unction 11
Thorr
The )arriorl(efender
*rea$er of *arriers
=unction 111
The .anir
1 1 1
1ngi-=re#r Gthe <ordH =re#Na Gthe <ad#H
The (iine Twins
1
The Croiders
1
=ertilit#! 7roticism! 9aterial )ell-*eing
&&J122
Although &dhinn will be discussed in de"th throughoutthis cha"ter! here we
will "ut this diinit# in the conte%t of the whole "antheon.
&dhinn is a god li$e no other. Je is the Alfadhir-the All-=ather. Je is
called this because he is the source of consciousness among the gods and
man$ind. Jis gift is the e%"anded human consciousness that allows the
'une <ore of the Eods : 159
s#nthesiLing self-conce"t to arise. 1t is for this reason that the actie &dian
does not so much see$ to worshi" an e%ternal god-form of&dhinn as he does
him-Self to embod# and to deelo" the Self-conce"t and consciousness
gien b# the god. )hereas other religious cults tum outward to the obNectie
manifestation of the "articular god!. the cult of &dhinn turns inward and
see$s a deification of the Self. The &dian does not worshi" his god-he
becomes his god.
*# his er# nature &dhinn s#nthesiLes eer#thing around him. Je
ma$es all things his own and uses them according to his will! while remaining
in an essential wa# a"art from outside things. 1n the histor# of Eermanic
m#th! this can be seen as the &dhinic archet#"e absorbs the T#ric as"ect and
ta$es u"on itself as"ects of the warrior and craftsman:farmer.
The essential &dhinic structure is threefold. The oldest name of this
tri"artite entit# is )odhanaL-)ilN&n-)ihaL G&2 &dhinn-.ili-.eH. The
meanings of these names show us how this tri"artite entit# of consciousness
wor$s. )odh-an-aL Gmaster of ins"iration Dwodh-PH is the e%"ansie allencom"assing
ecstatic and transfonnatie force at the root of consciousness
and enthusiasm. )ilNiin Gthe willH is the conscious a""lication of a desired
"lan consciousl# arried at! and )ihaL Gthe sacredH is the s"irit of se"aration
in an inde"endent sacred Ks"ace.K This se"aration between consciousness
and KnatureK Gthat outside consciousnessH must be effected before an#
transformations or Kwor$K can ta$e "lace. All three are necessar#O all three
should wor$ together as a whole.
Although &dhinn is first and foremost the god of s#nthetic consciousness!
this characteristic allowed him to assume the roles of the god of the
dead! of "oetr#! and of intellectual crafts of all $inds Gincluding runesH. This
latteras"ect made him the faorite of the elite bands of innoatie and aware
warriors and $ings.
7ssential to the &dhinic m#ster# is his manifold nature. Je is the whole
made u" of man# "arts. 1n the m#tholog# this is made clear not onl# b# his
tri"artite a""earances but also b# his man# Knic$namesK G&2 heitiH. 9ore
than a hundred of these hae been documented. A litan# of a substantial
number ofthem can be found in the KErfmnismalK Gsts. 45-55H. These range
from names meaning )or$er of 7il G&2 *oler$r to =ather of All G&2
AlfodhrH and eer# Bualit# in between. Cerha"s one of the names sums u"
this Bualit#-Si"all Gthe Changeable &neH! which indicates the ultimate
transformational character of the god. This diine case of Kmulti"le "ersonalitiesK
gies an indication as to wh# &dhinn is often misunderstood.
1ndeed! those who a""roach him from a non-&dian iew"oint will he
disa""ointed! confused! or destro#ed.
143 : J1((72 <&'7
*aldr
<o$i:Jodhr
<odhurr Jcanir:9irntr
.e
.iii
Jeimdallr
*raBi
=igure 1>.1. The eight great as"ects of &dhinn
1f the heiti were not enough to confuse the noninitiate! the greater
as"ects Gh#"ostasesH hae een confounded man# e%"erts. A h#"ostasis is an
as"ect of a god that seems to be an inde"endent god-form but on closer
inestigation is shown to be a "articularl# well-deelo"ed functional as"ect
of it. *ecause of his man#-sided character! 6dhinn is es"eciall# subNect to
this mode of understanding. =igure 1>.1 shows the eight great h#"ostases of
&dhinn. Some of these are dual in nature.
.iii and .e hae been discussed and will be e%"lained further in the
K6dhinn+ The Jidden Eod of the 'unesK section below+ The forms <6dhurr
and Jcenir are &dhinnAs counter"arts in the anthro"ogonic m#th re"orted b#
Snorri in his Crose 7dda. Jcenir also figures as a "artner with another god
named 9imir. )hen these two god-forms were gien as hostages to the
.anir at the conclusion of the =irst )ar! Jcenir! who was re"uted to be wise.
"roed to be Kem"t#-headedK unless adised b# 9fmir. This so angered the
.anir that the# cut off 9imirAs head and sent it bac$ to the l7sir. &dhinn is
said to "resere the head in order to learn hidden lore from it. At first glance
this m#th is baffling! es"eciall# when we see that Jcenir is otherwise
de"icted as a "owerful intellectual force. 1n the K.olus"aK he gies As$r and
7mbla odhr! and after 'agnaro$ he comes bac$ as the chief diiner of the
'une <ore of the Eods : 141
gods who can read the runestaes. *ut eer#thing becomes clear when
Jeenir:9imir are understood as as"ects of&dhinn. The fact that the# neer
reall# act inde"endentl# is one indication of this! but their names contain the
$e#. Jeenir is deried from the same root as hugr! and 9imir is related to the
same root as minni. Therefore! we hae figures related to &dhinn in the same
wa# as their Loomor"hic counter"arts Juginn and 9uninn! the raens of
&dhinn. These are the cognitie and reflectie functions of the god.
*ragi is the "oetic as"ect of the god and a name ta$en b# an ancient
s$ald who became identified with the elder god of "oetr#. *aldr is the #oung
warrior as"ect of&dhinn and also an as"ect that relates to the initiation of the
#oung warrior into the band of armed men. Jeimdallr is the guardian as"ect
of &dhinn. Je guards the 'ainbow *ridge G*ifrostH against the coming of
the rime-thurses! but he is also the as"ect that continuall# communicates
with man$ind. 1t is &dhinn! in the form of Jeimdallr and going b# the
nic$name 'igr! that becomes the "rogenator of human societ#. The m#ster#
of Jeimdallr is found in the 9-rune.
The most "uLLling h#"ostasis of all is that of <o$i. 1n <o$i! &dhinn
contains the seed of his own destruction but also a necessar# "art of the
"rocess of his rebirth and transformation in the new age. <o$i! as a name and
as a se"arate entit#! is a latecomer to the Eermanic "antheon and is reall#
found onl# in sources of 2orse origin. *ut in most res"ects the characteristics
of <o$i corres"ond to the Kdar$erK one of &dhinn as tbe sl#! deceitful!
"ererse god. 1n a wa#! <o$i is the obNectified shadow-self of &dhinn. *ut
he still wor$s together with his Kdar$ brother!K and it is een said that the#
become Kblood brothersK see K<o$asenna.K st. 9H. Actuall#! the# are of the
same Kblood.K
)here <o$i is most cons"icuous is in his role connected to 'agnar6$the
0udgment of the Eods. &nce one realiLes that the 'agnaro$ "rocess is
actuall# a model of transformation and that the central ttiadic figures of
&dhinn-*aldr-<o$i:J&dhr can be understood as internal forces! the true
meaning of the Kdar$ brotherK becomes clearer. The blind Jodhr Gwhose
name means KwarriorKH is guided b# the force of negation G<o$iH to $ill the
<ord of <ight! the bold *aldr Ganother name meaning KwarriorKH. *aldr is
sent to the dar$! still enclosure of Jel! informed b# the greatest of secrets
GrunesH that &dhinn whis"ered into his ear as he was on the "#re before being
sent Jel-ward. There he awaits 'agnaro$ to be reborn in the new age. <o$i
too is cast down and bound in the underworld as "unishment for his
murderous act. There he too awaits the Kfinal conflict.K This deed of the dar$
blood brother has set the "rocess toward 'agnaro$ in motion. )hen the final
14/: J1((72 <&'7
hour comes! &dhinn! with his hosts of .alholl and Asgardhr tum southward
to face <o$i and the forces ofJe1 and 9us"ellsheimr. The god of consciousness
has turned to face his shadow-self. Jeimdallr and <o$i $ill one another.
and &dhinn is swallowed b# the =enris-)olf Ga son of <o$iH . 1n tum! &dhinn
is aenged b# his son .fdharr! who $ills the )olf b# either s"litting him
o"en with a sword or ri""ing his Naws a"art. 'une wisdom tells us that this
means &dhinn too is Kreborn!K in a transformed state! into the new age. *ut
in what formQ Je is Jcenirmade whole! who will Khandle the blood-twigs.K
)ben iewed as a m#thic "aradigm of transformation! the 'agnaro$
"rocess ta$es on meanings that are "owerful anduseful in runewor$! andit
gies a dee"er understanding of the function of <o$i and of &dhinnAs Kdar$
side. K
*efore returning to &dhinnAs meaning and might! we should e%"lore
the wa#s that the &dian iews the other hol# gods of the 2orth.
T;'
The essential m#steries of this god are embodied in the Trunethat is named
after him. T+9r is the god of Nustice and of self-sacrifice for the good of
societ#. This as"ect is illustrated b# the m#th in which the gods ca"ture the
=enris-)olf b# binding him with a fetter made of si% things that indicate
subtle m#steries! while T#r holds his GrightH hand in the Naws of the )olfas a
"ledge of troth. )hen =enrir finds he cannot esca"e! T#rAs hand is sacrificed
to the Naws of the son of <o$i Gthe )olfH. As a m#thicfigure! T#r retreats into
the realm of relatie inactiit# after this. Joweer! in religious "ractice
Ges"eciall# that connected to legal mattersH he remains a god of great
im"ortance. Tuesda# is named after him. 1n Eerman we hae (ienstag
which is deried from an older form (ings-tag! da# of the thing Glegal
assembl#H. So in one language we haethe godO in the other we hae the
instruction oer which he ruled.
As the oerall structure of the "s#chocosmological as"ects of the
"antheon shows! ideall# T#r and &dhinn should wor$ together in harmon#
as the left brain and right brain! res"ectiel#. 1n the "rocess of sha"ing or
creating an#thing! both forces are necessar#. The T#r as"ect la#s the "lans!
and the &dhinic as"ect "uts the "lans into actiou and ma$es them real. T#r is
the "lannerO &dhinn! the doer. The Eermanic soul is essentiall# one of action
and eternal motion. =or this reason the &dhinic as"ect was alwa#s at least
slightl# dominant in the "antheonO &dhinn is the high god and the All=ather.
&dhinnAs e%"ansie transformational essence led to his as"ect!
'une <ore of the Eods 114>
largel# s#nthesiLing that of T;r. 2owhere is this clearer than in the later
legendar# name of the 2orth Star! &dhinnAs 7#e. The 2orth Star is! of
course! "rimaril# identified with T#r Gsee the T-ruueH! but in a sense T#r
becomes the all-seeing e#e of &dhinn aloft on Jlidhs$Nalf! the Eate-Tower.
This is the e#e that sees all oer the worlds! whereas that which is "ledged in
9imirAs )ell is the e#e that sees KbeneathK all the worlds! into their dee"est
secrets GrunesH.
The latent antagonism between &dhinn and T#r is merel# that which
often occurs within s#stems com"osed of com"lementar# as"ects. An act of
will is needed to cause them to wor$ together harmoniousl#.
TJ&''
This god seems sim"le! #et he is com"le%. Ereat m#steries of Thorr are
contained in the TJ-rune. 7ssentiall#! Th6rr is the ancient god of war. 1n
later times! as &dhinn absorbed that function! he lost much of that attribute
among men. ;et we note that he retains it among the gods themseles. Je is
their defender and the one who e%ercises his brute strength and "ower of his
cosmic hammer! 9Nollnir! against the nonconscious or "reconscious forces
of 0otunheimr.
The 07sir-gods of ancestral consciousness and transformation-are
faced with the forces of nonconsciousness and entro"# "ressing in from the
east and south-out of Utgardhr. To o""ose these forces the gods need a
"ower er# similar to that of the thurses and etins but lo#al to them alone.
This is Thorr. Thorr does little Kthin$ingK for himselfO he follows the orders
gien b# the soereign gods. 'ealisticall# s"ea$ing! there is! of course!
su"erficial antagonism between the K)arriorK and the K)iLardK Gsee the
KJarbardhslNodhK in the Coetic 7ddaH! but ultimatel# the )arrior follows
the guidance of the )iLard. The )iLard rules b# wisdomO the )arrior rules
b# wea"ons. As long as &dhinn remains dominant! wisdom rules the
wea"on. 1t is Thcrr out of balance that leads to national catastro"he.
='7;0A
Althongh the Ktheolog#K of runic "ractice is dominated b# &dhinn as the
great runemaster! another figure-=re#Na-1ooms large in the "ractice of
Eermanic magic. She is een said to hae taught &dhinn a form of magic
$nown in &ld 2orse as seidhr Gshamanistic trance-inducing methodsH. 1n
man# wa#s =re#Na is the female counter"art of &dhinn. She is the magical
144 1 J1((72 <&'7
archet#"e for women inoled in magical "ursuits! as &dhinn is for men. 1n
her most basic as"ects! =re#Nais Kthe <ad#K Gthis is the literal meaning of her
nameH. Jer com"anion is her brother:loer =re#r! Kthe <ord.KJoweer! it
would be a large mista$e! as we hae alread# noted! to assume that=re#Na is
"rimaril# a fertilit# goddess. Among the .anir! it musl be remembered! she
is the one chiefl# concerned with the numinous. 1n her er# essence she
embodies a "rofound relationshi" to the &dian "athwa#s.
<i$e &dhinn! =re#Na is $nown b# man# names. Some e%am"les ofthese
are .anadfs Gthe Eoddess of the .anirH! .anabnidhr G*ride of the .anirH!
Jom G9istress of =la%H! Eefn Gthe EierH! S#r Gthe Sow-her solar as"ectH!
9ardoll Gthe Sea-brightH! and Eulleig GEold-Ereed#H. These names tell us
Buite a bit about the range of =re#NaAs functions and her "osition. She is of
great im"ortanceamong the .anir! "erha"s in man# "laces su"erior to her
brother. She is indeed connected with "ros"erit# and growth! and she gies
her gifts Gmaterial and numinousH to humans. 1n her cosmic as"ect she is
connected to the sun Gwhich is feminine in EermanicO see the S-runeH
through her image as the Kgolden sow.K The boar and sow are the animals of
=re#r and =re#Na! res"ectiel#. 1n Eerman# toda#! when the sun is er# hot!
the# still sa# (ie gelbe Sau brennt GThe #ellow sow is burningH. The lin$age
with gold is made on man# occasions! and on one leel this is a further
e%"ression of=re#NaAs ca"acit# as .anie deit# of "ros"erit# and well-being.
There is another leel that is made clear in the m#ster# of 0ehu.
1n the K.olus"aK we read how a certain sorceress named Eulleig came
to the i7sir from the .anir when those two grou"s of gods were at war. This
is =re#Na in another guise. )e $now this because! although =re#Na is later
found among the i7sir! she is not one of the .anir G=re#r! 2Nordhr! and
"erha"s also 8asirH who went oer to the i7sir as hostages as a "art of the
truce between the two diine races.
*efore we consider three of =re#NaAs m#ths in some detail! it might be
well to remember how much of her lore is lost. At one time there was a ast
bod# of m#thic and cultic material connected with the goddess! but "erha"s
because of the often erotic nature of her m#steries and m#ths the# were
es"eciall# singled out for eradication b# the mon$ish missionaries to the
north. 7en in normall# tolerant 1celand! her "oetr#-the mansongr Gloe
songH-was "rohibited. Unfortunatel# also! her cult could not recede into
the "rotectie confines ofthe chieftainAs hall. *ut some of it was saed b# the
s$aldAs art.
Jeidh
(uring the =irst )ar-the war between the i7sir Gfirst and second functionsH
and the Gthird functionH .anir-a sorceress named Eulleig came to the
'une <ore of the Eods : 145
l7sir! into &dhinnAs hall. The l7sir tried to $ill her b# "iercing her with
s"ears and burning her. *ut each time she was reborn. The third time she
transformed herself from Eulleig into Jeidh Gthe Shining &neH. This
Kthrice-bornK ala GseeressH is certainl# =re#Na! and it is in this form that she
became &dhinnAs teacher in the wa#s of seidhr. After her lore and her cult
had been assimilated into that of &dhinn and of the :7sir! the lore of seidhr
became an integral Gbut s"ecialiLedH field within runelore Gin the sense of
esoteric studiesH.
*risingamen
The nec$lace of the *risings is much more than a "rett# trin$et. 1t is the
all-encom"assing fourfold cosmic ring! under the control of the great goddess
=re#Na. 1t is the magical eBuialent of the 9idhgardh-Ser"ent that
girdles the entire cosmos. The Tale ofSorlitells us how =re#Na obtained this
magical tool b# s"ending a night with each of the four dwares-the
*risings Gdescendants of the Shining &nesH---who forged the nec$lace.
These four dwares ma# be the same as 2ordhri! Austri! Sudhri! and .estri!
who are stationed at the four cardinal directions of the world. 1t ma# hae
originall# been that she had se%ual relations with all four! simultaneousl# or
oer four nights. 1n an# eent! the result is the same+ =re#Na gains control
oer the fourfold c#cle of the cosmos and its generatie and regeneratie
"owers. The obNect is said to be worn either as a belt or as a nec$lace!
de"ending on how the goddess wished to use its "ower. At one "oint the
mischieous god <o$i stole the *risinga-men from =re#Na! and it was
restored to her onl# after it had been recoered b# the god Jeimdallr. )hat is
interesting here is that both <o$i and Jeimdallr are considered as"ects
Gh#"ostasesH of &dhinn-s-his dar$ and light sides if #ou will.
Search for &dhr
1t is said that =re#Na is married to a god named &dhr! who is none other than
&dh-inn himself. The name &dh-r sim"l# indicates the force of ecstas#! of
the magicall# ins"ired mind. To this! indeed! the goddess =re#Na is wedded!
and it too Gas with &dhinn himselfH is the chief aim of her striings. As &dhr
wandered! so =re#Na wandered after him! shedding tears of gold. 9an# hae
wanted to see in this mournful search a "arallel with the search of 1shtar for
TammuL. Joweer! the significance of this Sumerian:A$$adian m#th and
that of =re#NaAs search for &dhr is Buite different. =re#NaAs Buest has nothing
directl# to do with fertilit#-she is see$ing the Knuminous ins"irationK
embodied in the god.
7ach of these three m#ths indicates something of =re#NaAs "rimaril#
magical or numinous character. That fertilit#! wealth! well-being! and
146 1 J1((72 <&'7
eroticism grow out of this character is "erha"s secondar# but neertheless
essential.
Another im"ortant fact about =re#Na is that she receies one-half of all
those slain in battle! according to her choice! to go to her otherworldl#
stonghold called =ol$angr G=ield of the )arrior-bandH. The other half! of
course! goes to &dhinn.
<i$e &dhinn! =re#Na is a threefold diinit#. She! as no other goddess is
able to do! coers all three functions of the "antheon+ G1H she is a magical
figure! G/H she is a goddess of warriors! and G>H she is a .anic deit# with all
the "owers of that race of gods. She can bring things into being! can cause
them to become! and can cause them to "ass awa# toward new beginning.
This magical "ower is at the root of her fertilit# function. Ultimatel#! the
KmarriageK between =re#Naand&dhinn is a rather KmodemK one. =re#Na is
not the Kfeminine sideK of &dhinn Ghe carries that comfortable within
himself-t-or in his KdeilishK as"ect! <o$iHO nor is &dhinn the Kmasculine
sideK of the <ad#-she contains this as well. Cerha"s =re#r een originall#
grew out of =re#Na the wa# the masculine 2Nordhr grew out of the feminine
2erthus. 1n an# case! we are dealing with two indiiduated deities drawn
together b# a common "ur"ose. There are still a great man# m#steries to be
unraeled about this most "owerful of goddesses.
='7;'
&fall the gods! the one most inde"endent of&dhinn is =re#r! the &od ofThis
)orld G&2 eraldar godhH. (es"ite this inde"endence! or "erha"s because
of it! there is little conflict between the <ord and &dhinn. 1n fact! it seems
the# secretl# cons"ire with one another in man# regards. Through runic
inestigation we find that besides &dhinn it is =re#r who is best re"resented
in the ancient runelore. *# this fact the runesters of old ac$nowledge the
im"ortance of the <ord in the wor$ings of the world.
=re#r is notthe godAs actual name but a title. This is not unusual. *ut in
this case we "erha"s hae the actual name of the god in the name of the
2&-rune+ 1ngwaL. 1t is also "ossible that two gods are assimilated here! as
the originall# l7siric lng and the .anic =re#r. The m#steries of the god are
contained in the 2&-rune. ;ngi is also a great "rogenitor of ro#al houses
Ges"eciall# in SwedenHO the ;nglings are the greatest clan of the Siar
GSwedesH.
Although =re#r is sometimes connected to the imager# of war! he is
most often a figure of "eace! "ros"erit#! and "leasure. At 9idsummer the
'une <ore of the Eods! 145
2orse sacrificed to him for good harest and "eace G&2 til ars o$fridharH.
Another name of =re#r is "erha"s =r6dhi! who in the form of a legendar#
$ing ruled oer a golden age of "eace in the north called =r6dha fridhr
GCeace of =r6dhiH. 'unicall#! all of this "oints us in the direction of Nera
G#ounger name! arlo 'emember that for or the K&ld 2orwegian 'nne
'h#meK reads+ K1 sa# that =r6dhi was generous.K 1n =re#r! the <ord of the
)orld! we see the force ruling oer the organic "rocesses that bind together
the 0. and 2&Vrunes. The+ 3+ is the closed circle of the #ear! the c#cle of
gestation! and+ S! + is the d#namic o"ening of the #earl# c#cle at harest
when the fruit is born forth.
&dhinn and =re#r wor$ most harmonionsl# together in the .&isunga
Saga. ;et this coo"eration is largel# hidden from the uninitiated e#e. That
&dhinn is the diine "rogenitor ofthe .olsungs and that he and his agents are
res"onsible for the initiation of the members of this clan into the secrets of
the gods is well $nown and obious. *ut in his little-e%"ressed warrior
as"ect =re#r is also "resent in the greatest of the .6lsungs-Sigurdhr Gor
SiegfriedH the (ragon-Sla#er. 1n some ersions of his m#tb Sigurdhr is
raised b# hinds in the woods and is later identified as a hart Gwhich is his
animal-fetchH. 2ow =re#r is also closel# associated with this high-horned
beast! and after giing u" his sword to gain the faor of the etin-wife!
Eerdhr! he must fight with all that is left to him-the hom of a stag. This and
other hidden associations show us that =re#r and &dhinn could wor$
together in an inde"endent fashion to form great initiarcs-c-&dhirm as
"rogenitor and initiator# s"onsor and =re#r as earthl# "roider.
)ights
*esides the high gods-Alsir and .anir-there are a number of im"ortant
beings that inhabit other dewllings in other worlds within the branches
of ;ggdrasill. &dhinn actiel# and fruitfull# interacts with beings in all of
these worlds. &dhinn himself is! after all! a s#nthesis of the "ure streams of
thurs-force and god-consciousness Gsee cha"ter 13H! and his inherentl#
e%"ansie consciousness see$s wisdom in all realms and reNects nothing that
might be instrumental in effecting his will.
144 1 J1((72 <&'7
7<.7S
The eles G&2 alfarO sg.! dlfrH are a com"le% lot. The# dwell in G<NossNalfheimr
and are sometimes associated with =re#r. The word elf means Kthe
shining-white one.K These are entities of light Gnot alwa#s seen because
e%ceedingl# small in statureH that sometimes interact beneficiall# and sometimes
maliciousl# with humans. 7ssentiall#! the# are the collectie lightbodies
or KmindsK G&2 hugarH of the ancestors Gin their female forms the#
arecalled disir or dises or idesH thatcontinueto hae contactwiththe minds
of humans. The# hae much lore and wisdom to teach. The# are the mental
faculties of the ancestors that hae been reabsorbed into the cosmic organism.
()A'.7S
The dwares are also $nown in &ld 2orse as sart- or do$$-alfar! and the#
dwell KbelowK 9idhgardhr in Sartalfbeimr. These entities too hae much
lore to teach! but their main function is that of formulators. The# are the
sha"ers of sha"es that come into being in 9idhgardhr! es"eciall# those
sha"es ca"able of effecting the will of a great warrior or magician. That is
wh# the# are alwa#s said to be the forgers of magical wea"ons. The# also can
be considered the reabsorbed ancestral s$ills and crafts.
'1S7S-7T12S-TJU'S7S
The words most often translated sim"l# KgiantK are actuall# three different
words in the tradition. &ld 2orse risi GrisH is a true giant! an entit# of great
siLe and "erha"s een ultimatel# referring to the "rehistoric inhabitants of
the north. The# are often said to intermarr# with humans and to bear children
with them. 1n addition! the# are more often than not beneficent and often
beautiful to loo$ at. The etins G&2 Notnar! sg. N6tunnH are characteriLed b#
great strength and age! altbough siLe is not of "articular im"ortance. The#
can be ast as the worlds G;mirH or irtuall# microsco"ic Gthe name of a
certain beetle in &ld 2orse is Notunu%i Detin-o%PH. 7tins are astl# "otent
ageless entities who often contain the wisdom of the aeons through which
the# hae e%isted. 1nregard to the eternal KbattleK between the conscious and
nonconscious! the# are neutral. Thatis! some side with the 07sir and some
with the thurses. )hat is certain is that the# are. 7tins are noneoling
beings-the# are now as the# were in aeons "ast. 1t is for this reason that
&dhinn often engenders children with etin-wies. The forces of
'une <ore of the Eods : 149
nonconsciousness are embodied in the thurses G&2 thursar! sg.! thursH.
The# are! een in later tales! mar$ed b# their stu"idit#. Thurses too are of
great age Gsee cha"ter 13H! but the# are actiel# antagonistic toward the
forces of consciousness and see$ to destro# it through their rime-cold
entro"#. The Ksons of 9us"ellK-and their leader! Surt-who come out of
9us"ellsheimr to destro# cosmic order with fire also ma# be ascribed to this
grou"--the "olar o""osites of the rime-thurses. 1t is im"ossible! from a
&dian "oint of iew! to call these forces KeilKO the# are merel# nonconscious
natural forces of the mechanical or organic multierse that eternall#
see$ stasis.
The lore of all of the gods and all of the wights throughout the
multierse is to be mastered b# the &dian. Therefore! nothing lies outside his
interest! and no "ath is closed to him. *ut before the wa#s of other gods are
o"ened to the &dian! the dee" essence of the road shown b# the great god
must be fathomed.
&dhinn+ The Jidden Eod of the 'unes
&dhinn must be $nown foreer in his true nature as the omnideus! the
whale-god of inner being:transformation and timeless m#ster#. &dhinn
holds the hol# words to o"en the doors of the new dawn! but he will not gie
them awa#O we must win them b# our own wills. To do this the first ste" is the
discoer# of the character of his godhood.
)hat is meant b# the formulation K&dhinn+ Jidden Eod ofthe 'unesKQ
=irst of all! let us restate and e%"and the et#molog# of the name &dhinn. The
name occurs in most of the maNor Eermanic dialects G&JE )uotan! &7
)oden! as well as &2 &dhinni. The Eermanic form of the name would hae
been )odhanaL! which is Buite trans"arent in meaning. )&dh- is a term for
ecstatic! ins"ired numinous or mental actiit#O it is almost li$e a "h#siological
res"onse in the "s#cho"h#sical com"le% to a high leel of stimulation
"resent in such "henomena as ecstas#! enthusiasm! outflowings of "h#sical
"ower! and the feeling of awe in the "resence of the numinosum tremendum
Gthe terrif#ing as"ect of the KdiineKH. )&dhis first and foremost a magical
"ower conce"t. The element -an- regularl# indicates the Kmaster ofA whateer
conce"t it is attached to. G&ther e%am"les of this would be &ld 2orse
l
193 1 J1((72 <&'7
thNodh-inn! the master of the "eo"le GW $ingH! and &ld 2orse droit-inn! the
master of the warrior band. The grammatical ending -aL- is alread# familiar
to the readerfrom the runenames. 1n most cases this endingbecame an -r in
&ld 2orse! but following an -n- it changed to an -n as well. Also! the loss of
initial w- before a long 6 or1i is alread# $nownfromtherelationshi" between
&ld 2orse Urdhr and &ld 7nglish )#rd. Thus! &dhinn is Nust a regular
deelo"ment from )odhanaL.
The 9aster of 1ns"iration is onl# one of man# characteriLing names
GheitiH ascribed to this age-old and actuall# nameless! hidden god. The
esoteric nurnen or archet#"eof the m#steries is not hiddenb# a eil as such.
nor is it mainl# occulted b# its transcendence alone but rather b# its
omni"resence. That is the $e# to his man# names. )hat ma$es &dhinn
es"eciall# KoccultKis his intense "resence in "arado%ical formulations. Jis
co-eBual "resence as a binding force between o""osites is an essential
feature of his character! #et one that often baffles the human iew that tends
to understand things in a more dualistic-anal#tical wa#. *ut &dhinn com"rehends
through the whole entit# e%"ressed b# "olar constructs. &dhinn
sees with the whole e#e. This is the essence that hides him from our rational
GKtwo-e#edKH minds-he is the embodiment of the Ksu"rarational-all.K
&dhinn is a god because he seres Gand has sered for aeonsH as an
e%em"lar# model for the e%"ression! deelo"ment! and transformation of
humanconsciousness. This was for long ages institutionaliLed in a Knational
cultusK among the Eermanic "eo"les! with each tribe holding its s"ecial
ersions of em"hasis within a general traditional framewor$. &dhinn! b#
an# name! sered this function since the birth of 1ndo-7uro"ean humanit#.
and hence cannot be e%tinguished e%ce"t through the "h#sical destruction of
his "eo"le.
The runes are an integral "art of the &dhinic essence because it is
through them and b# them that he grows in "ower! becomes indestructible!
and is able to communicate multiersal m#steries to his human $indred.
&dhinn! the runes! and humanit# form a matri% in which the conscious!
unconscious and e%istence:none%istence meet.
To establish a traditional framewor$ for the e%"loration and emulation
of the &dhinic archet#"e! it is wise to read what was com"osed about
&dhinnAs eolution in the nights when his wa#s were an established! institutionaliLed
life-st#le! uncluttered b# centuries of interening ignorance.
=orthiswe mustconcentrate onthe sources of &dhinnAs wisdomand "ower
as outlined in "assages in &ld 2orse literature.
'une <ore of the Eods :191
The "rimar# &dhinic initiator# m#th is that of the self-sacrifice on
;ggdrasill described in the KJaamal!K stanLas 1>4 to 165. This "rocess
must be understood as ta$ing "lace in a realm be#ond time! in that immense
cosmogonic s"ace before the adent of the 2omic <aws Gsee the 2- and
C-runesH. The KbirthK of &dhinn and the )orld-Tree self-sacrifice are
essentiall# simultaneous-without it &dhinn is not &dhinn. 1n this "rocess
&dhinn gies his se!fto him-Se!fwhile hanging on ;ggdrasill Gthe steed of
;ggr D` &dhinnP! or the #ew-columnH. The subNect has turned u"on itself
and has successfull# made itselfthe obNect of its own wor$. &dhinn becomes
omniNectie. 1n this action &dhinn meets with the dar$ realm of Jel-the
unconscious-and merges with it while $ee"ing his wits. Thus! in a flash of
ins"iration he is infused with the entiret# of the runic "attern. *ecause
&dhinn is! b# his tri"artite essence! a conscious entit#! this "attern is
resha"ed b# his will into a communicable form. Through this central &dhinic
m#ster# the conscious is melded with the unconscious! the light with the
dar$! and it is made com"rehensible b# the su"raconscious essence of
&dhinn. The runes then begin to be formulated b# &dhinn into a metalanguage
contained in the runic s#stem! in "oetr#! and in natural language!
as Kone word leads to another! and one wor$ leads to another.K The seed of
&dhinn! his gift! is then the essence that ma$es this com"rehension "ossible
in his descendants+ conscious humanit#.
A com"le% source of &dhinnAs secret wisdom is found in 9frnir. As we
hae seen G"age 143H! 9imir is reall# the Kmemor#K as"ect of &dhinn and a
counter"art to the Jcenir as"ect. 9fmir belongs! een on the e%oteric leel!
to that generation of Kfirst i7sirK sometimes identified as a wise Ase!
sometimes as an etin. This twofold nature is due to the fact that 9fmir is to a
large e%tent the Kancestral memoriesK of &dhinn! whose ancestors are
among the thurses and etins! &dhinn deries wisdom from this as"ect in two
wa#s+ G1H from the seered head of 9imir and G/H from his e#e! which he has
hidden or "ledged to 9imirAs )ell.
=rom the m#th of the hostage e%change between the warring i7sir and
.anir Gsee "age 143H we learned that 9imirAs head was cut off b# the angr#
.anir because the# felt cheated that Jeenir G9frnirAs "artnerH was less
intelligent than he had been re"resented to be. &dhinn "resered this head in
herbs and s"o$e s"ells oer it to $ee" it alie. 1t is $e"t! with older wisdom!
at 9imirAs )ell. The consultation with the Khead of 9imirK is then a
magical image in which the self is shown to hae access to the minni as"ect.
*ut because it has been KseeredK due to mistrust of it b# noninitiates! it
reBuires magical acts of will to $ee" the channelsofcommunication o"ento
it. )hen &dhinn gets rede from 9imirAs head Gmemor#H! Jcenir GmindH is
informed! and thus another threefold "attern is com"leted as showu in figure
1>./. Ultimatel#! K9imirAs headK is a meta"hor that indicates the focusing
of consciousness in the minni-in the )ell of 9imir.
This )ell of 9imir is said to be under a root of ;ggdrasill Galso called
in &2 9fmameith D9frnirAs TreeNH that is oer 0otunheimr. 1norder to gain
and grow in wisdom! &dhinn desires to drin$ of the waters of this well! but
9imirAs head as$s of him one of his e#es-a "art of himself-as a "ledge or
sacrifice. &dhinn KhidesK his e#e downin thecolumn of ertical consciousness!
down in the de"ths. There his e#e remains actie! alwa#s able to see! to
Kdrin$ in!K the wisdom of all the worlds. Thus! &dhinn alwa#s has two
isions-c-one oer Kthis worldK Gfrom Jlidhs$NalfH and one in the Kother
worldsK Gfrom the )ell of 9imirH. 1t also might be "ointed out that Jeimdallr
also stores his h1N6dh Ghearing! or earH at this wellO thus! he G&dhinnH is
also able to hear in all the worlds.
1nthe m#th of 9imir! the &dian recogniLes the necessit# for access to
therealmof minni! the inherited storehouseofmagico-m#thic imager#! and
the necessit# for a s#nthesis of the arious "s#chic as"ects designated b# the
names 9imir and Jcenir. This is done through a magical act ofwill b# means
of a secret Ktechnolog#K whereb# the focal "oint GheadH of this storehouse is
obtained! "resered! andassimilated. &nee#e is focused downward intothe
well of Kw#rdK GimagesH! and the other is focused outward into the wide
worlds of words and wor$s. GAgain the functions of the bihemis"herical
brain seem indicated.H
&dhinn also gains $nowledge from sources outside himself. The main
source ofthis $ind is =re#Na. As we hae seen! the .anadis taught &dhinn the
arts of seidhr. There is eer# reason to beliee that this too$ "lace in some
19/ 0 J1((72 <&'7
Jcentr-. &dhinn
=igure 1>./. &dhinn-Jamir-9fmir com"le%
:
9imir
'une <ore of the Eods 1 09>
sort of se%ual initiator# conte%t in which certain secrets of what might toda#
be called Kse% magicK were originall# "assed from female initiates to males
and from male initiates to females. 1n m#th we see this reflected in the
magical marriages between a warrior and his al$#rie or between humans
and su"erhuman initiators. The K'unatals thattr &dhinsK Gsee "age 135H tells
us that the eighteenth secret G"robabl# here to be ascribed to the E-runeH is
s"o$en to no one Ke%ce"t her who embraces me or who is m# sister.K 1t is in
this cultic conte%t that &dhinn and =re#Na e%change occult secrets. The
techniBues of seidhr include trance induction for diinator# "ur"oses! sha"e
shifting Gwhich also can be done with galdrH! the de"riation of othersA
souls! creation of illusions! and other arts more or less shamanistic. These
techniBues were often used in aggressie magic! which in "art has led to its
being thought of as eil magic. *ut "erha"s another trait led to its re"utation
as being Kunmanl#KO that is the "ractice ofmen transforming themseles into
women in order to engender magical beings Goften harmful onesH through
se%ual sorcer#. 1n this fashion <o$i becomes the mother of the steed
Slei"nir.
Another of these Buests assumes an im"ortance second onl# to the
;ggdrasill rite+ the winning of the "oetic mead from the realm of the etins.
The "oetic mead had been created from the blood of 8asir! who was a
lio$ing being between the 17sir and .anir when the# made their truce. G1n
one ersion of the m#th he is sha"ed from the s"ittle of the two diine racesO
in another he is sim"l# one ofthe .anir sent as hostage Dsee the S$alds$a"armal
in the Crose 7dda! cha"ter 1PH. 1n an# case! 8asir was re"uted to be the
Kwisest of all beings!K but he is $illed b# some dwares! who ma$e the "oetic
mead from his blood. This liBuid-the essence of the ins"ired consciousness
of the i7sir and the organic unconscious of the .anir-i-eentuall# came into
the "ossession of the etins Gb# nature beings of the nonconscious realmH.
Therefore! the mead b# necessit# had to be won bac$ b# &dhinn Kb# hoo$ or
croo$.K This m#th is described both b# Snorri GS$alds$a"armal! cha"ter 1H
and in the KJaamalK Gsts. 134-113H. The "rocess b# which this is done is
most significant. 1n the guise of *iiler$r G)or$er of 7ilH and b# cunning
and oath-brea$ing! he gains access to the mountain GJnitbN&rg-$nitmountainH!
where an etin-wife! Eunnliidh! guards the mead. Je bores his
wa# into the mountain in the sha"e of a ser"ent and remains in the interior for
three nights! slee"ing with the etin! after which he gets to drin$ down the
mead in three gul"s from the three essels-c-&dhrcerir! Son! and *odhn-in
which the mead was held. Then he sha"e-shifts into an eagle and flies out of
the to" of the mountain and bac$ to Asgardhr! where he s"its out the mead
"nsiu 0!10od aAll fo 4U!UU!9a0 aAl< 3 7& 7D am4!d
aaoAt 2>a&1J : 1A61
'une <ore of the Eods :195
into three ats--thus returniug the mead to its rightful "lace among the l7sir
and humanit#. 1t is s"ecificall# stated that some of the mead dro""ed to the
earth when &dhinn flew awa#! and this an#one can drin$ Gif he or she
ha""ens u"on it be accidentH. Thus! it is called the Kfool-"oetAs share.K
This m#th is ital to the runic tradition. The sign of the 'une-Eildthree
interloc$ed drin$ing horns-is deried from this tale. 1t describes the
"ath of becoming! the "athwa# of transformational &dianism! and the
essential mission of the Eild+ to sere the larger conscious communit# of
gods and men.
=igure 1>.> gra"hicall# shows the "rocess of the rewinning of the
of the "oetic mead of ins"iration. 1n this "rocess we see the amoral force of
&dhinn! obe#ing onl# his higher laws of will and serice to the "ath of
becoming:consciousness! gain access to the hidden realm that conceals the
ill-gotten "ower b# transforming himself into a ser"ent. Je allies himself
with the underworldl# forces of dissolution to brea$ through the mountain
and to enable himself to traerse the e%ceedingl# narrowetin-wa#s of dense
realit#. Jere is hidden the significance of the ser"entine as"ect of the
&dhinic cult! well $nown from sna$e-bands on runestones and the famous
dragon shi"s of the .i$ings. )hile in the interior chamber with Eunnl6dh"erha"s
in conNunction with rites of se%ual sorcer# in which dar$ness and
light are wedded G$nit togetherO see the meaning of the name of the
mountainN-s-&dhinn consumes all the mead from the three ats. The static
force of the mead held b# the etins! but useless to them! is now reassimilated
to &dhinn who transforms himself into an eagle! the wide-ranging bird of
"re# that transmits the ecstatic force bac$ to the world of the l7sir! se"arate
from the world of men and under the control of consciousness. There the
mead is rearticulated into its threefold essence and returned to the three
essels+ G1H &dhrrerir Gthe e%citer of ins"iration! which is also a name of the
mead itselfH! G/H Son GatonementH! and G>H *odhn GcontainerH. The significance
in the number of these essels is in the threefold essence of the mead
itself. 2ormall#! this KtriessenceK of consciousness is onl# shared b# &dhinn
with the l7sir and with human initiates of his cult.
The "ath of the ser"ent leads to wisdom G+ ` +H. 1n the monntain
enclosure G+ ` +H o""osites are wed G+ 9+H and ins"iration is gained G+ ` .H! to
be returned b# the flight of the eagle G+ i! +H to the enclosure of the gods and
initiates G+ ` +H! to be gien G+ I+H b# the great god to those in his band. 1n
this m#th we see wh# &dhinn is considered both the (righten of (ar$ness
and the <ord of <ight.
&dhinnAs wisdom is deried from three continuous sources+ G1H the
;ggdrasill sacrifice Gfor rune wisdomH! G/H 9imirAs )ell Gthe head of 9fmir
and the Khidden e#eKH! and G>H the "oetic mead G&dhrcerirH. The m#thic
196: J1((72 <&'7
"aradigms connected to these sources gie sha"e to the "rocess of the
acBuisition of runelore! rune wisdom! and runecraft. The# also sere as
"s#chic models that the runester follows in the &dhinic "attern. The KgodK
&dhinn is on one leel something se"arate from the "aradigm of Kthat which
com"rehends o""ositesK at the root of the &dhinic m#ster#. These as"ects
can be contained in the archet#"e conce"t Gif not in the strictest 0ungian
termsH. The arcbet#"e is not a "ersonified thing but rather an im"ersonal
"attern of action or "ure consciousness. As this "aradigm becomes more
conscious in the human being! a K"ersonificationK of that "attern begins to
emerge and to act as an e%em"lar# model of consciousness and behaior-a
Kgod.K =rom the &dian "oint of iew this is the "rocess of all gods and
goddesses.
Jere we want to concentrate on &dhinn the god as a "s#chic model for
the eolution of the runemaster! the role of the runes and their interaction
with and assimilation to this model! and wh# &dhinn must eer remain the
hidden god.
At the root of the &dhinic archet#"e is the conce"t of wholeness within
twofoldness. Jis origins show this Buite clearl#. Je is born of *&1T! son of
*uri Gof the race of "roto-godsH and *estla! daughter of the etin *6lthorn.
&dhinnthereforere"resents a s#nthesis ofthe "rimal G"reconsciousH entities
Gsee cha"ter 13H. The bridging function is something that he eentuall# can
gie to his human $indred.
=rom this twofoldness comes the great manifoldness GKall-nessKH that is
re"resented throughout the &dhinic literature b# his unlimited names and
sha"es. This manifold character is most formall# re"resented in &dhinnAs
all-"erasie number-three Gand its multi"lesH. &dhinn is again and again
re"resented in triads of as"ects! for e%am"le! &dhinn-.ili-.e! &dhinnJeenir-
<odhurr! &dhinn-Joenir-<o$i! and Jan- Gthe JighN-0afnharr Gthe
7Buall# JighH-Thridhi Gthe ThirdH. The oldest formulation of this t#"e is
certainl# &dhinn-.ili-.e! which dates from the common Eermanic "eriod.
)e can $now this because it was originall# an alliteratie formula. The
Eermanic forms of the names would hae been )&dhanaL! )ilNon! and
)ihaL. An e%amination of the dee"er leels of the formula will #ield much
of the hidden structure of &dhinn Gsee table 1>./H
wodhanaL should be clear enough b# now as that which integrates the
man#intoaconsciouswhole anddescribes thisentire "rocess Ghence!thisis
the most common name for the godH. )ilNon is the will that charges the
"rocess with a No#ful d#namism. The idea of No# is e%"ressed b# this root in
most of the ancient Eermanic dialects! including &ld 7nglish. This is the
'une <ore of the Eods : 195
Table 1>./. The Structure of the &dhinic Triad
2ame 9eaning 7ssence =unction
)odhanaL ins"iration wholeness integratie
)i:Non desire:No#:will d#namism transformational
)fhaL sacralit# se"aration se"aratie
"ower of conscious willed direction. )fhaL contains a root conce"t of
se"arateness! Kother-ness!K which is absolutel# essential to the threefold
wor$ing of the god as it wor$s in all of the worlds. This is bonnd u" with the
dichotom# of the Khol#K as e%"ressed in 1ndo-7uro"ean thonght. )fh- is that
terrif#ing and m#sterious as"ect Gthe numinosum or m#sterium
tremendumH-the doorwa# between the worlds through which all who
would transform themseles! gods or men! must "ass. )hen seen from the
outside! wihaL can be terrif#ing! but once the runester becomes wihaLO he
sees for the first time and is therefore often feared! resented! or een hated.
Therefore! the whole describes an eternal "rocess of eolution! of
transformation-the "ower to sha"e and resha"e. This "rocess is the inter"la#
between the two hales of the wholeO and &dhinn is the embodiment
and eentual conscious model of the oscillation between the fields of light
and dar$ through a continuous "rocess of se"aration from one field! merger
with the other! there to undergo transformation! followed b# reintegration
with the first field. Thus! the fields of dar$ness are sown with the seeds of
light! and the fields of light are sown with the seeds of dar$ness. All "olar
fields contain the seeds of their o""osites.
All of this is done b# means of a will! or consciousness! that is
fundamentall# se"arate from the "rocess itself. This is most eident in the
;ggdrasill initiation! where &dhinn binds together the realms of light and
dar$! life and death! conscious and unconscious. *ut he is not consumed b#
the "rocess-he ma$es use ofit. The other sources of &dhinic wisdom also
hae elements of this binding of "olar o""osites and ultimate utiliLation of
them b# the magical Self.
=or the modem runester this has man# lessons to teach. The true
essence of the lore is b# its er# nature im"ossible to e%"ress full# in
Kwords!K that is! in common natural language. *ut what can be said is that
194 1 J1((72 <&'7
&dhinnAs being teaches the wa# of the Kwhole-1!AA the Kall-self!K as well as
the Khigher self.K This higher self is a su"raconscious entit#! the Khol# selfA
or the magical ego of the runemaster. 1t can mingle with the natural! organic
cosmos. 1t can mingle with the non-natural! numinous realms. 1t does so!
howeer! in orderthatit ma# further its willed aims. 1t is the essence of the
wa# of the true see$er! neer resting! alwa#s searching in dar$ness and in
light! high and low! in life and in death. *ut the "rocess of s#nthesiLing the
"olar fields is not one of neutraliLation but of ma%imiLation-a boring
directl# through to the $ernel essences. &nl# in this wa# can the whole of the
"ower be $nown and used.
The runes "la#a central role in all of these &dhinic m#steries. 1t is
through them that &dhinn com"rehends these "rocesses! through them that
he formulates them so that he can master and eentuall# Gin "artH maui"ulate
them! andthrough this formulation thathe cancommunicate the m#steriesto
his human $ith and $in.
The Kcosmic runesK G&2 ginnrunarH are innate and eternal "atterns in
the substance of the multierse! indestructible and eer-growing along
eternal "atterns. The# cannot be full# com"rehended! howeer! because
when a "art of them is com"rehended GinternaliLed b# a conscious beingH!
the# at once grow be#ond that com"rehensionO this "rocess is also eternal.
&dhinn! li$e the modem theoretical "h#sicists who hae followed him!
$nows this well and $nows thathis search for totalit# is a neer-ending one.
;et he continues in his heroic struggle! as must his fellows. Those who find
this "ros"ect disheartening are not meant for the &dian "ath.
)hen &dhinn undertoo$ the ;ggdrasill wor$ing! the "rimal heroic
deed of consciousness was com"leted. The er# basic and elemental
s#stematic structure of the whole was atonce won andcom"rehended.These
runes! diided into bright runes G&2 heidhrunar# and mur$ runes G&2
m#r$runar! now "roide the road ma" for the unending e%"loration of the
multierse. The runes held b# &dhinn ma# be won b# humanit# through
following &dhinriAs e%am"le and b# assimilating! as he did! the "atterns of
his consciousness im"rinted with therunic s#stem. GThe&diandoes not see$
KunionK with &dhinn but see$s union onl# with that with which &dhiun
sought union-the Self.H
These runes re"resent totalit# in its sim"lest #et most whole form
com"rehensible to the human "s#cho"h#sical com"le%. *ut as &dhinn can
neer com"rehend all of the cosmic runes! so humans can rarel# full#
com"rehendall ofthe diine runes. Joweer! because we arethechildrenof
the All-=ather Gi.e.. conscious beingsH and hae receied his "rimal Gand
'une <ore of the Eods : 099
onl# KfreeKH gifts of consciousness Gsee cha"ter 13H we are able to ride the
runeroads with the A0sir. The runes are the road ma" b# which man can find
selfhood and the gods! and in tum the# "roide the wa# through which
&dhinn can chart the edges of un$nown time and s"ace.
1t should now be eident wh# &dhinn is the hidden god. As "o"ularl#
understood! the formulation Khidden godK indicates that un$nown and
un$nowable Kgod be#ond dualit#.K 2o other archet#"e wor$ing in the realm
of consciousness so "erfectl#re"resents the"ath to that state. The"rocesses
outlined aboe show how this god wor$sO essentiall#! its function cannot be
understood in the intel1ectual sense. 1t can be understood onl# through
e%"erience in magical wor$ings of the K&dhinic "arado%.K 7en when this
com"rehension ta$es"lace! and#ou begin to o"entherunic secrets! &dhinn
will stil1 remain a hidden god! for in actual e%"erience the intellect and the
words of human s"eech fail because the# are "henomena of onl# half of the
whole to which the e%"erience belongs.
A""endi% 1
'unic Tables
Table 1. The 7lder =uthar$
2umber Sha"e 9aNor .ariant Sha"es Chonetic .alueGsH
1 r r f
/ ` t@ h iH u
> f ` C th
4 t = r a
5 ` 1F ' ` r
6 G A; A 1K $
5 I g
4 ` C w
9 J 2J h
13 i- t f n
11 1 i
1/ ` !-03A&t` N
1> t t i:ei
14 h 9) C
15 t A.tA- -L - -'
16 R `U s
15 t t t
14 ` g ` b
19
9 n e
/3 9 m
/1 ` = 1
// K o Y r -ng
/> 2 2 d:dh
/4 +F 3
/3/ 1 ACC72(1I
Table 1. The 7lder =uthar$ GCont.H
2o. 2ame Translation of the 2ame
1 0ehu cattle! liestoc$ mone# GgoldH
/ uruL aurochs
> thurisaL thurs Gthe strong oneH
4 ansuL the Ase! soereign ancestral god
5 raidho wagon. chariot
6 $enaL:$aunaL torch:sore
5 geba gift
4 wunNo No#! "leasure
9 hagalaL hail GstoneH
13 nauthiL need
11 isa ice
1/ Nera #ear Ggood harestH
1> i GhHwaL #ew
14 "erthro lot cu"
15 elhaLlalgiL el$:"rotection
16 sowilo sun
15 tiwaL T#r! the s$# god
14 ber$ano birchG-goddessH
19 ehwaLtehwo horse:two horses
/3 mannaL man Ghuman beingH
/1 laguLl:au$aL waterllee$
// ingwaL lng! the earth god
/> dagaL da#
/4 athala ancestral "ro"ert#
'unic Tables 1 /3>
Table 1. The 7lder =uthar$ GCont.H
2o. 7soteric 1nter"retation of 2ame
1 d#namic "ower
/ "rimal. formatie and fertiliLing essence
> the brea$er of resistance GThorrH
4 soereign ancestral force G&dhinnH
5 ehicle of "ath of cosmic "ower
b contro@@ed energ#
5 e%changed force
4 harmon# of li$e forces
9 seed form and "rimal union
13 need-fire Gresistance:delieranceH
11 contraction Gmatter:antimatterH
1/ orbit Glife c#cleH
1> a%is Gtree of life:deathH
14 eolutionar# force
15 "rotectie and tutelar# numen
16 sun-wheel Gcr#stalliLed lightH
15 soereign order GT#rH
14 birch numen Gretainer:releaserH
19 twin eBuine gods GtrustH
/3 human order from diine ancestr#
/1 life energ# and organic growth
// gestation-container G;ngiH
/> twilight:dawn G"arado%H
/4 self-contained hereditar# "ower
/34 0 ACC72(1I
Table /. The Anglo-=risian =uthorc
2o. Sha"e Thames Sa% 9aNor .ariants =risian
1 1iA ` fA0 r r
/ 1@ n :@ 11
> ` f ` f
4 =A r r r
5 ' 8 1@ 1@@H
6 h h K- h
5 I I I
4 ` r ` r
9 f1 f+!N tJ2 iA@
13 1- i- t Ah i-
11 1 1 1 .
1/ a t at t
1> !f 1 F 1
14 ` t+ h `
15 t t r r
16 A1 @K A1 ` AiA A1
15 r t lA
14 ` ` * 4
19 9 9 9t+1
/3 2 Ci tRSl 9*l1
/1 lA lA n
// I I 1@ HG
/> C4 2 9 tRSl
/4 9. lA ' 0G
/5 r 1AKA
/6 C C
/5 10 1+@ !riA n
/4 A1K T ATA r
/9 XA t :_..
>3 0A i A1K
>1 ` !:!U
>/ t+1
>> HG
Table /. The Anglo-=risian =uthorc GCont.H
'unic Tables : /35
2o. Chonetic .alues &ld 7nglish 2ame Translation of 2ame
1 f feoh cattle! wealth
/ u iir wild o%
> th:dh thorn thorn
4 a 6s a god Gor mouthH
5 r rad GaH ride
6 cleh cen torch
5 g DN:LhP g#fu gift
4 w w#nn 0&#
9 h haegl hail
l& n n#d need. distress
11 1 1S ice
1/ # geT #ear
1> eo eoh #ew
14 " "eordh dice bo%
15 % eolh% el$slsedge reed
16 s sigel sun
15 t tir Tiw:sign or glor#
14 b beorc birch:"olar
19 e eh horse
/3 m mann man Ghuman beingH
/1 1 lagu sea
// ng ing the god 1ng
/> d dag da#
/4 e la#P ce ethel ancestral "ro"ert#
/5 a iic oa$
/6 ae cesc ash
/5 # .r gold decoration:bow
/4 ea ear earth-grae
/9 eolio ior ser"ent
>3 B GcHweordh fire-twirl
>1 $ calc chal$:chalice
>/ st stan stone
>> g gar s"ear
/36 1 ACC72(1I
Table >. The ;ounger Cuthar$
2umber Sha"e Eerle 9aNor .ariants Chonetic .alue
1 fA iK r f
/ ` h ufc:
> C C ( th:dh
4 ` `
AK t `
5 ' ' ` 1 r
6 # ; ;A< $:g:ng
5 t t t a h
4 i- i- f n
9 1 1 i:e
13 ` d #K a
11 ` r0 h l s
1/ t t 1 tld:nd
1> S 4 t ` b:":rnb
14 r Af A1KtAr t m
15 ` ` 1
16 ` 1 1 -'
Table >. The ;ounger =uthar$ GCont.H
'unic Tables 1 /35
11
2o. &ld 2orse 2ame Translation of 2ame
1 fe cattle! mone#! gold
/ urGrH driLLling rain:slag:aurochs
> thurs thurs CAgiantKH
4 4ss GtheH god G` &dhinnH
5 reidh a ride. riding:ehicle:thundercla"
6 $aun a sore
5 hagall hail Ga s"ecial rune nameH
4 naudhGrH need! bondage! fetters
9 iss 1ce
13 dr GgoodH #ear! harest
11 s61 sun
1/ T.r the god T#r
1> bNar$an birchG-goddessH Ga s"ecial rune nameH
14 madhr man. human
1S logr sea! waterfall GliBuidH
16 #r #ew! bow of #ew wood
/34 : ACC72(1I
Table >. The ;ounger =uthar$ GCont.H
2o. 7soteric 1nter"retation of 2ame
1 d#namic "ower
/ fertiliLing essence
> brea$er of resistance
4 "ower of the word! soereign force
5 s"iritual "ath or Nourne#
6 internal! magical fire or "roNection
5 ice seed Dann
4 need-fire! slaer#:freedom
9 contraction "rima materia
13 blooming forth into manifestation
11 sun-wheel:cr#stalliLed light
1/ soereign heaenl# order
1> gestation:birth! instrument of the birch nurnen
14 human order of diine ancestr#! "ower to connect realms
15 life energ# and organic growth
16 telluric "ower
`
'unic Tables f /39
Table 4. The Annanen =uthor$
2o. Sha"e 2ame 9eaning
1 ` fa Crimal fire! change. resha"ing. banishing of
distress. sending generatie "rinci"le! "rimal
s"irit
/ ` ur 7ternit#. consistenc#! "h#siciansA rune. luc$!
`
telluric magnetism! "rimal soul
> thorn Action. will to action. eolutionar# "ower.
goal setting! rune of &d-magnetic transference
4 A1 os *reath! s"iritual well-being! word. radiating
ad-magnetic "ower
5 ` rit Crimal law! rightness. adice. rescue! rh#thm
6 r $a Eeneration. "ower. art. abilit#! "ro"agation
5 X hagal All-enclosure! s"iritual leadershi"!
"rotectieness. harmon#
4 1- not The unaoidable! K$arma!K com"ulsion of fate
9 1 is 7go! will! actiit#! "ersonal "ower.
banishing. consciousness of s"iritual "ower.
control of self and others
13 ` ar Sun! wisdom. beaut#! irtue! fame.
well-being. "rotection from s"ecters!
leadershi"
11 l-t sig Solar "ower. ictor#. success! $nowledge!
realiLation. "ower to actualiLe
1/ t 1#r Cower. success! wisdom! generation!
awa$ening. rebirth in the s"irit
1> ` bar *ecoming! birth. concealment. song
14 r- laf Crimal law! life! e%"erience of life. loe!
"rimal water! water and ocean rune
/13 1 ACC72(1I
Table 4. The Annanen =uthor$ GCont.H
2o. Sha"e 2ame 9eaning
15 r man 9an-rune. increase. fullness. health. magic.
s"irit! god-man. the masculine "rinci"le in the
cosmos! da#-consciousness
16 !1-. #r )oman-rune. instinct! greed. "assion! matter.
delusion. confusion! death. destruction. the
negatie feminine "rinci"le in the cosmos!
night consciousness
15 dA eh 9arriage. lasting loe. law. Nustice. ho"e.
duration. rune of troth and of the dual GtwinH
souls
14 ` gibor Eod-rune. god-all! cosmic consciousness.
wedding together of "owers. the generatie
and rece"tie! sacred marriage. gier and the
gift! fulfillment
A""endi% 11
Cronunciation of &ld 2orse
The "honetic alues "roided below are those of reconstructed &ld
2orse Sas it would hae been s"o$en in the .i$ing AgeH.
The consonants b! d! f! 1! m! 1! and are Nust as in modem 7nglish.
a as in KartisticK
11 as in KfatherK
e as in KmenK
e as in a# in Kba#K
i as in itK
as ee in KfeetK
o as in KomitK
6 as in KoreK
GH as in KnotK
NLN "ronounced same as 3
u as in K"utK
U as in KruleK
re as ai in KhairK
ce as u in KslurK
# as u in Eerman Jutte Gi with rounded li"sH
# as u in Eerman Tur Gee with rounded li"sH
au as au in KhouseK
ei as a# in K9a#!K or as i in KmineK
e# "ronounced same as ei
g alwa#s hard as in KgoK
ng as in KlongK
h same as 7nglish! e%ce"t before consonants! then as wh in KwhereK
N alwa#s as # in K#earK
" as in 7nglish! e%ce"t before t! then this "leluster is "ronounced it
r trilled r
s alwa#s oiceless as in KsingK
th oiceless th as in KthinK
dh oiced th as in KtheK
rl "ronounced dl
rn "ronounced dn
nn "ronounced dn after long owels and di"hthongs
Elossar#
l7sir+ sg.! AssO genitie "l.! Asa Gused as a "refi% to denote that the god or
goddess is Kof the l7sirKH. &2. 'ace of gods corres"onding to the
functions of magic! law! and war.
G'11+ "l.. antir. &2. =amil# or genus! used both as a name for the threefold
diisions of the futhar$ and the eight diisions of the heaens. Also
means a grou" or diision of eight.
airt+ Scots dialect word. See G'11.
bind rune+ Two or more runestaes su"erim"osed on one another! sometimes
used to form galdrastafir.
7dda+ &2. )ord of uncertain origin! used as the title of ancientmanuscri"ts
dealing with m#tholog#. The 7lder or Coetic 7dda is a collection of
"oems com"osed between 433 and 1/53 C.7.O the ;ounger or Crose
7dda was written b# Snorri Sturluson in 1/// C.7. as a codification of
the m#tholog# of Asatru for the s$alds.
erilaL+ "l.! eriloL. See 7rulian.
7rulian+ 9ember of the ancient gild of runesmasters who formed an intertribal
networ$ of initiates in the Eermanic m#steries.
etin+ (eelo"ed from &7 eaten and &2Notunn. A t#"e of KgiantK $nown for
its strength. Also a generic name for KgiantK Gin &2 0otunheimr! etc.H.
etin-wife+ A female etin ta$en in magical marriage.
fetch+ See f#lgNa.
fetch-wife+ The fetch in female form. See also al$#rNa.
formali+ "l.! formalar! &2. =ormulaic s"eeches used to load action with
magical intent.
f#lgNa+ "l.! f#lgNur. &2 A numinous being attached to eer# indiidual!
which is the re"ositor# of all "ast action and which accordingl# affects
the "ersonAs lifeO the "ersonal diinit#. .isualiLed as a contrase%ual
entit#! an animal! or an abstract sha"e.
galdr+ "l.! galdrar. &2. &riginall# KincantationK Gthe erb gala is used also
for Kto crowKHO later meant magic in general but es"eciall# erbal
magic.
galdrastafr+ "1.! galdrastaftr. &2. <iterall# Kstae of incantations.K A
magic sign of arious t#"es! made u" of bind runes and:or "ictogra"hs
and:or ideogra"hs.
Eermanic+ G1H The "roto-language s"o$en b# the Eermanic "eo"les before
the arious dialects Ge.g.! 7nglish! Eerman! Eothic! ScandinaianH
deelo"edO also a collectie term for the languages belonging to this
1
111
E<&SSA'; :/1>
grou". G/H A collectie term for all "eo"les descended from the
Eermanic-s"ea$ing grou" Ge.g.! the 7nglish! the Eermans! the ScandinaiansH.
2orse or 2ordic is a subgrou" of Eermanic and refers onl#
to the Scandinaian branch of the Eermanic heritage.
Eothic+ (esignation of a now e%tinct Eermanic language and "eo"le who
s"o$e it. <asts"ea$ers $nownin theCrimean intheeighteenth centur#.
hamingNa+ "1.! hamingNur. &2. 9obile magical force rather li$e the mana
and manitu of other traditions. &ften defined as Kluc$!K Ksha"e-shifting
"ower!K and Kguardian s"irit.K
hamr+ &2. The "lastic image-forming substance that surrounds each indiidual!
ma$ing the "h#sical form. 1t ma# be collected and reformed
b# magical "ower GhamingNaH according to will GhugrH.
hugr+ &2. A "ortion of the "s#cho"h#sical com"le% corres"onding to the
conscious mind and the facult# of cognition.
metagenetics+ Conce"t of characteristics of structures! that might at first
seem to be Ks"iritual!K inherited along genetic lines. Termmadecurrent
b# Ste"hen A. 9c2allen.
minni+ &2. The facult# of Kmemor#KO the images stored in the dee" mind
from aeons "ast.
multierse+ A term descri"tie of the man# states of being GworldsH that
constitute the Kunierse.K
niding+ (eelo"ed from &2 nidh GinsultH and nidhingr Ga ile wretchH. Used
in the conte%t of cursing b# the use of satirical or insulting "oetr#.
2om+ "1.! 2omirGor 7nglish 2omsH. &2. &ne of the three com"le% cosmic
beings in female form that embod#themechanical "rocessof causeand
effect and sere as a matri% for eolutionar# force.
numen+ adN.! numinous. <iing! non"h#sical! or magical as"ects within the
cosmic order! not necessaril# meant in the animistic senseO that which
"arta$es of s"iritual "ower.
&dian+ A technical term for the Ktheolog#K of the 7rulian. (istinguished
from the &dinist b# the fact that the &dian does not worshi" &dhinn but
see$s to emulate his "attern of self-transformation.
&ld 7nglish+ The language s"o$en b# the Anglo-Sa%on tribes in southern
*ritain from about 453 to 1133 C.7. Also $nown as Anglo-Sa%on.
&ld 2orse+ The language s"o$en b# )est Scandinaians Gin 2orwa#!
1celand! and "arts of *ritainH in the .i$ing Age Gca. 433--1133 C.7.H.
Also language of the 7ddas and of s$aldic "oetr#.
runecraft+ The use of rune s$ill Gesoteric $nowledgeH for causing changes in
the obNectie enironment.
runelore+ A general term for esoteric teachings.
rune s$ill+ 1ntellectual $nowledge of runelore.
/140E<&SSA';
runestae+ The "h#sical sha"e of a runic character.
runester+ =rom &2 r#nstr! Kone most s$illed in runes.K Eeneral term for one
inoled in dee"-leel rune s$ill.
rune wisdom+ Abilit# to a""l# rune s$ill to dee"-leel isions of the world
and its wor$ingsO runic "hiloso"h#.
runewor$+ The use of rune s$ill for causing changes or deelo"ment in the
subNectie unierseO self-deelo"mental wor$.
s$ald+ &2 term for a "oet who com"oses highl# formal! originall# magical
erse.
s$aldcraft+ The magical force of "oetr#O erbal magic GgaldrH. Also! the
KscienceK of fol$ et#molog# in which magical! su"rarational associations
are made between words based on sounds.
tall# lore+ 7soteric stud# of number s#mbolism.
thurs+ =rom &2 thurs. A giant characteriLed b# great strength and age! for
e%am"le! the rime-thurses or frost-giants.
al$#rNa+ "1.! al$#rNur. &2. KChooser of the =allenK Gi.e.! the slainH.
Crotectie al$#rNa-li$e numinous Bualities that become attached to
certain "ersons who attractthemO a lin$ing force between men andgods
Ges"eciall# &dhinnH!
.anir+ sg.! .an. &2. The race of gods corres"onding to the fertilit#!
"ros"erit#! eroticism functions.
)orld+ G1H The entire cosmos or unierse. G/H &ne of the nine leels of being
or "lanes of e%istence that ma$e u" the ordered cosmos.
;ggdrasill+ &2. The cosmic tree of nine worlds or "lanes of the multierse.
-
*ibliogra"h#
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1944.
*alLli! 0ohannes. Euido on <ist+ (er )iederentdec$er uralter arischer
)eischeit. .ienna+ Euido-on-<ist-Eesellschaft! 1915.
*aum! Caul =.! trans.! ed. Anglo-Sa%on 'iddles of the 7%eter *oo$.
(urham! 2C+ (u$e Uniersit# Cress! 196>.
*lachetta! )alther. (as *uch der deutschen SinnLeichen. *erlin<ichterfelde+
)idu$indi*oss! 1941.
*ugge! So"hus. 2orges 1nds$rifter med de aldre 'uner. Christiana+ *rogger!
1935-191>.
Caesar! 0ulius. The ConBuest of Eaul. Translated b# S. A. Jandford.
Jarmondsworth! U8+ Cenguin! 1951.
7llis! Jilda '. The 'oad to Jel. Cambridge+ Cambridge Uniersit# Cress!
194>.
7llis (aidson! Jilda '. Eods and 9#ths of2orthern 7uro"e. Jarrnondsworth!
U8+ Cenguin! 1964.
(eroleL! 'ene. 'unica 9anuscri"ta. *rugge+ 'iN$s-Uniersiteit te Ehent!
1954.
(ic$ens! *ruce. 'unic and Jeroic Coems of the &ld Teutonic Ceo"les.
Cambridge+ Cambridge Uniersit# Cress! 1915.
(umeLil! Eeorges. Eods of the Ancient 2orthmen. 7dited b# 7. Jaugen.
*er$ele#! CA+ Uniersit# of California Cress! 195>.
(iiwel! 8laus. 'unen$unde. Sammlung 9etLler 5/. Stuttgart+ 1. *. 9etLler!
1964! 194>.
7c$hardt! 8arl August. 1rdische Unsterblich$eit+ Eermanischer Elaube an
die )iederer$or"erung in der Si""e. )eimar+ *ohlau! 19>5.
7liade! 9ircea. The 9#th of the 7ternal 'eturn or! Cosmos and Jistor#.
Translated b# ). '. Tras$. *ollingen Series 46. Crinceton! 20+
Crinceton Uniersit# Cress! 1951.
TTTT.Shamanism+ Archaic TechniBues of7cstas#. Translated b# ). '.
Tras$. *ollingen Series 56. Crinceton! 20+ Crinceton Uniersit#
Cress! 1951.
7lliott! 'al"h. 'unes! an 1ntroduction. 9anchester+ 9anchester Uniersit#
Cress! 1959.
=o%! (enton! and Jermann Calsson! trans. EreuirAs Saga. Toronto+ Uniersit#
of Toronto Cress! 1954.
Eorsleben! 'udolf 0ohn. (ie Joch-Feitder 9enschheit. <ei"Lig+ 8oehler
\ Amelang! 19>3.
/16: *1*<1&E'ACJ;
Erimm! 0acob. Teutonic 9#tholog#. Translated b# S. Stall#brass. 4 ols.
2ew ;or$+ (oer! 1966.
Eronbech! .ilhelm. The Culture ofthe Teutons. <ondon+ &%ford Uniersit#
Cress! 19>1.
Jartmann! =ranL. K'eiew+ Euido on <ist. (ie *ilderschrift der ArioEermanen+
Ario-Eermanische Jierogl#"hi$.K 2eue <otusbhuen
0ahrgang 1913! "". >53-51.
Jauc$! 8arl. Eoldbra$teaten aus Sieern! 9unich+ =in$! 1953.
Jollander! <ee 9.! trans. The Coetic 7dda. Austin! TI+ Uniersit# of
Te%as Cress! 196/.
0ones! Ew#n! trans. The .atndalersA Saga. Crinceton! 20+ Crinceton Uniersit#
Cress! 1944.
0ung! C. E. K)otanK in Collected )or$s! ol. 13. Translated b# '. =. C.
Jull. Crinceton! 20+ Crinceton Uniersit# Cress! "". 159-19>.
8ershaw! 2ora! ed.! trans. Stories and *allads ofthe =ar Cast. Cambridge+
Cambridge Uniersit# Cress! 19/1. tSorlathattr! "". 4>-55.H
8rause! )olfgang. )as man in 'unen ritLte. Jalle:Salle+ 2ieme#er! 19>5.
TTTT. 'uneninschriften im dlteren =uthar$ Jalle:Saale+ 2ieme#er!
19>5.
TTTT. 'uneninscriften im alteren =uthar$. / ols. Eottingen+ .andehoec$
\ 'u"recht! 1966.
8ummer! Siegfried Adolf. (ie heilige 'unenmacht. Jamburg+ Uranus.erlag!
19>/.
TTTT. 'unen-9agie. (resden+ Eartmann! 19>4:>5.
<ist! Euido on. (as Eeheimnis der 'unen. .ienna+ Euide-on-<istEesellschaft!
191/.
TTTT. (ie 'eligion der Ario-Eermanen in ihrer 7soteri$ und 7%oteri$.
*erlin-<ichterfelde+ Euido-on-<ist .erlag! 1913.
9arb#! =riedrich *ernhard. 9arb#-'unen-*ucherei! 4 ols. Stuttgart+
9arb#-.erlag! 19>1-19>5.
9arstrander! C. 0. S. K&m runene og runenaenes o"rinde1se.K 2ordis$
Tids$riftfor S"rogidens$ab! 1 G19/4H! "". 1--(5.
9a#er! '. 9. K'uncnstudien.K *eitriige Lur Eeschichte der deutschen
S"rache und <iteratur! /1 G1496H! "". 16/-144.
9olt$e! 7ri$. 'uneme i (anmar$ og (eres &"rindelse. Co"enhagen+
=orum! 1956.
9orris! )illiam! and 7irf$ur 9agnusson! trans.! ed. The olsunga Saga.
2ew ;or$+ Collier *oo$s! 196/.
9uch! 'udolf. (ie Eermania des Tacitus. >rd ed. Jeidelberg+ Carl )inter!
1965.
!....
*1*<1&E'ACJ; :/15
2ec$el! Eusta GedH. 7dda+ (ie <ieder des Code% 'egius nebst erwandten
(en$mdlern. Jeidelberg+ Carl )inter! 196/.
Cage! '. 1. An 1ntroduction to 7nglish 'unes. <ondon+ 9ethuen! 195>.
Calsson! Jermann! and Caul 7dwards! trans. 7gilAs Saga. 9iddlese%! U8+
Cenguin! 1956.
Sa%o Erammaticus. The Jistor# ofthe (anes! ol 1 ! translated and edited b#
Ceter =isher and J. '. 7llis (aidson. Suffol$! U8+ *o#dell \
*rewer! 1959.
Schneider! 8arl. (ie germanischen 'unennamen. 9eisenheim+ Anton
Jain! 1956.
S"ies berger! 8arl. 'unene%erLietienfiir0edermann. =reiburg+ *auer! 1956.
TTTT. 'unenmagie. *erlin+ '. Schi$ows$i! 1955.
Sturluson! Snorri. The Crose 7dda. Translated b# A. E. *rodeur. 2ew
;or$+ American Scandinaian =oundation! 19/9.
TTTT. Jeims$ringla. Translated b# <ee 9. Jollander. Austin+ Uniersit#
of Te%as Cress! 196/.
Tacitus! Cornelius. The Agricola and the Eermania. Translated b# J.
9attingl#. 9iddlese%! U8+ Cenguin! 1953.
Thorsson! 7dred. =uthar$+ A Jandboo$ of'une 9agic. ;or$ *each! 97+
Samuel )eiser! 1944.
TTTT. trans.! ed. The 1celandic Ealdrab6$+ A 16th Centur# Erimoire.
Austin+ The 'une-Eild! 1945.
Tol$ien! Chisto"her! trans.! ed. Jerarar saga o$ Jeidhre$s $onungs+ The
Sage of8ing Jeidre$ the )ise. <ondon+ Thomas 2elson \ Sons!
1963.
Tu""er! =rederic$ GedH. The 'iddles of the 7%eter *oo$. *oston+ Einn!
1913.
Turille-Cetre! 7. &. E. 9#th and 'eligion ofthe 2orth. 2ew ;or$+ Jolt!
'inehart and )inston! 1964.
.ries! 0an de. Altgermanishe 'eligionsgeschichte . / ols. *erlin+ de. Eru#ter!
1956-1955.
)immer! <. =. A. (ie 'unenschrift. *erlin+ )eidemann! 1445.
1nde% com"iled b# 8eith 9cBua#
1nde%
Abecedarium 2ordmanicum! 13>
135
air Grunic elementH! 149-15>
Anglo-=risian =uthar$! //! /6-/5!
/34-/35
ansuL! 115-114
Armanen =ulbor$! 64! /39-/13
Armanen &rden! 6>! 65-64
Asgardhr! 15>-155
Aisir GEermanic "antheonH! 155145
Aitt diisions! />! >/! 45-49! 1>51>5!
143-141! 145-149
Audhumla! 116! 14>
*a1dr! 141
bauta stones! 19-//! >5->4!44
ber$ano! 1/4-1/9
*ifrost! 1/6! 155! 141
bind runes! 41
lbe bod#! 164
bracteates! 16-15
*risingamen! 145
*ureus! 0obannes! 54-56
ChristianiLation of Scandinaia!
45-45
Code% 'unicus! 51
Common 2ordic =uthar$! >3->1
Creation 9#th! 14>-146
dagaL! 1>>-1>4
(ahmsdorf blade! 15
(anish =uthar$! >>
lbe dead and undead! 19-/3
(otted =ulbar$! 46-45
dwares! 145! 144
earth Grunic elementH! 149-15>
ecstas#! 164
7gilAs Saga! /1!43-41!93
ehwaL! 1/9-1>3
eihwaL!1/4-1/5
7lder =uthar$! 11-//! 44! /31-/3>
elhaL! 1/6-1/5
eles! 144
7nglish =ulbar$! />-/6
etins! 144-149! 19>
7%eter *oo$ riddles! /5
fehu! 115
fetch! 1/6! 1/9! 153
fire Grunic elementH! 149-15>
fol$ traditions! 56-54
=raternitas Saturni! 65
=re#Na! 14>-144! 19/-19>
and fehu! 115
and &dhr! 145-146
=re#r! 4/-4>! 115! 1/6! 146-145
=rigg! 115
=risian runes! /6-/5
funerar# rites! 19-/3
=uthar$
Anglo-=risian! //! /6-/5! /34-
/35
Armanen! /39-/13
Common 2ordic! >3->1
(anish!>>
(otted! 46-45
7lder! 11-//!44!/31-/3>
7nglish! />-/6
Jalsinga! >4
--A
=uthar$
'o$!>4
;ounger! >3! 49! /36-/34
gebo!119-1/3
Eermania GTacitusH! 15! 54
Eermanic languages! /1-//
Einnungaga"!14>-145
ErettirAs saga! 4/
Erimm brothers! 59
Eri"sholm stone! >5->4
hagalaL!1/1-1//
hail! 1/1! 146
Jalsinga =uthar$! >4
Jeidenhauser! 55
Jeidh! 144-145
Jeimdallr!141-14/
Jel! 15>- 155
he% signs! 55-54
Jodr!141-14/
Joenir. See &dhinic triad
horses! /3-/1! /5! 41-4/!1/9. See
also Slei"nir
Juginn and 9uninn! 1>3! 169! 141
ice Grunic elementH! 149-15>
1ngarr Gm#thic heroH! >5->4
ingwaL! 1>/-1>>
iron Grunic elementH! 149-15>
is-runes! 49-93
isa! 1/>
Nera! 1/4
0otunheimr! 15>-155
0udgement of the Eods G'agnaro$H!
141-14/
0ungian "s#cholog#! 15/-15>
8abbalism! 55
/19: 'U27<&'7
8al1eb# stone! 19-/3
$enaL! 119
$in-fetch! 1>4
8asir! 19>
8inneb# amulet! 43-41
8#ler Stone! 1/
laguL!1>1-1>/
<indholm amulet! 164
<ist! Euido .on! 63-65
<N6ssalfheimr! 15>-155
<&dhu1T. See &dhinic triad
<o$i! 141! 19>
luc$! 153
magic! 59-45. See also runic
formulasO runic inscri"tions
9agnus! 0ohannes! 54
mannaL! 1>3- 1>1
9ead of 1ns"iration! 19/-195
9edieal runes! 45-51
9e1dorf brooch! 5! 11
memor#! 169. See also Juginn and
9uninn
9idhgardhr! 1>4! 15>-155
9fmir! 143! 191-19/
9fmirAs )ell! 191! 195
mind! 169. See also Juginn and
9uninn
mistil Gmagical formulaH! >9-43
9orb# stone! 44-49
9uninn and Juginn. See Juginn
and9uninn
9us"ellsheimr! 145! 15>-155
2ational Socialists! 64-65
nauthiL! 1//-1/>
2ec$lace of the *risings! 145
2iflheimr! 145! 15>-155
2ordic =uthar$! >3->1
12(7I ://3
the 2oms! 54! 1/>! 1/5
2orth Star! 1/5! 14>
numerolog#! 16! 159-165
&dhinic cult! >6
&dhinic "ath! 135! 149-199
&dhinic triad! 115! 119! 159-141
and creation m#th! 145
and ital breath! 169
&dhinn! 115! 154-14/! 149-199
and =re#Na! 145-146
and =re#r! 146-145
and &dhr! 145-146
and the Coetic 9ead! 19>-195
and ital breath! 169
in the Coetic 7ddas! 134-139
initiation! 135-136! 144! 191
names! 13! 159! 149
&dhinn! Joenir! <6dhU1T. See
&dhinic triad
&dhinn! .iii! .e. See &dhinic triad
&dhr! 145-146
&ld 7nglish 'une Coem! />! 94-99
&ld 1celandic 'une Coem! 131-13>
&ld 2orwegian 'une 'h#me! 133-
131
3r!og! 54! 1/5
&seberg burial shi"! >9-43
othala! 1>4-1>5
"erthro! 1/5
Certrossa ring! 15-14
"ictogra"hic stones! /3-/1
Coetic 7ddas! 135-139. See also
7gilAs SagaO ErettirAs Saga
Coetic 9ead! 19/-195
"s#cho"h#sical com"le%! 165-15/
'agnaro$ G0udgement of the EodsH!
141-14/
raidho! 114
'ainbow *ridge! 1/6! 155! 141
rises GbeingsH! 144-149
roc$ carings! 14-19
'6$ =uthar$! >4
'une Euild! 69! 11>! 195
rune Gthe wordH! >-5!11>-114
runecasting! 55-54
runemaster formula! 15! 19!/4!56
runic al"habet! 6-13
<atiniLation of! 45! 51
runic codes! 45-91
runic d#ads! 144-149
runic elements! 149-15>
runic formulas.
futhar$!54
ideogra"hic! 55
natural language sendings! 5/
number! 55
See also magicO runic
inscri"tions
runemaster! 15! 19!/4!56
word formula sendings! 5>
runic inscri"tions.
caring and coloring! 41-44!
43! 4>-44
earliest e%am"les! 11-1>
7nglish! //-/6
=risian! //! /6-/5
funerar# uses! 19-/3
Jeidenhauser! 55
9edieal! 44-51
on bracteates! 16-15
on broaches! 1/! 15
on rings! 15-14
on roc$ faces! 14-19
on s"earheads! 14-15
Cenns#lania (utch! 55
See also magicO runic formulas
'unic manuscri"ts! 51
.......
11
runic numerolog#! 16! 159-165
runic origins
historical! 6-13
&dhinnic initiation! 13! 191
runic reial! 5>-65! 65-69
Armanen &rden! 6>! 65-64
contem"orar# "eriod! 65-69
8abbalistic influences! 54-55
'omantic "eriod! 56-63
.on <ist! Euido! 63-65
salt Grunic elementH! 149-15>
Sar$ind bone! 49-53
sha"e shifting! 164! 153
Sieern bracteate! 15
Slei"nir! 1/9! 19>
Snoldele stone! >5->6
soul! 165-164! 153
sowilo! 1/5
S"iesberger! 8arl! 65! 64
stae names! 1>4-1>9
stae sha"es! 1>5
stae Gthe wordH! 4/-4>
storgoticism! 54! 56
Str6 stone! >6->5
Sartalfheimr! 15>-155
Thorr! 116! 14>
Thorrson! 7dred
inolement with runes! 64-64
thurisaL! 116-115
//1 1 12(7I
thurses! 144-149
tiwaL! 1/5-1/4
T#r! 1/4! 155! 14/-14>
the undead! 19-/3
uruL! 116
.anaheimr! 15>-155
.anir! 143! 191
.eerlese brooch! 15-16
[See! &dhinic triad
.eb1ungsnes roc$ caring! 19
enom Grunic elementH! 149-15>
.i$ing age runes! /9-44
.i1i. See &dhinic triad
ital breath! 169
.on <ist! Euido! 63-65
water Grunic elementH! 149-15>
wights! 145-149
wunNo! 1/3-1/1
w#rd! 1/5! 19/
#east Grunic elementH! 149-15>
;ggdrasill! 15>-155
and &dhinic initiation! 13! 135!
191! 195
;rnir! 1 4>-146
;ngarr Gm#thic heroH! >5->4
;ounger =uthar$! >3! 49!/36-/34