Bright Blessings, Witches and Witchlets! This is another installment in our Rune series where we’re delving into the Runes of the Elder Furthak. With each post, we’ll go over the meaning and interpretation of each focused Rune and show what each one looks like. Let us begin.
WHAT ARE RUNES?
Runes are the letters in a set of related alphabets known as runic alphabets. Runes were used to write various Germanic languages before the adoption of the Latin alphabet and for specialized purposes thereafter. In addition to representing a sound value (a phoneme), runes can be used to represent the concepts after which they are named (ideographs).
SOURCE
WHERE DO THEY COME FROM?
Runes have been found in places that hold root in Germanic-speaking countries like Iceland, Scandinavia, parts of England and Central Europe, Constantinople and anywhere the Vikings journeyed.
WHEN WAS THE RUNIC ALPHABET USED?
AD 150 is the earliest date that runic inscriptions have been recorded. With time, the Latin alphabet replaced these characters as those who utilized runes were subjected to the Christian Reformation. In Central Europe, this happened around AD 700 and in northern Europe, AD 1100.
USING RUNES FOR DIVINATION
Interestingly enough, using runes for divination is NOT an ancient practice used by the Vikings. There is no evidence to support this commonly-held belief. The closest thing we do have are a few Icelandic magickal texts that use runic symbology. Other than that, the utilization of runes for divination didn’t come about until the 17th century.
While runes may not have been used by the Vikings, this doesn’t mean this system of divination isn’t a viable one. I know plenty of witches – including myself – who cast runes and consult the messages found from the Divine.
THE ANSUZ RUNE
Today’s rune is ANSUZ and it is pronounced ‘ANN-suhz’. The literal interpretation of this rune is ‘Woden’ the Germanic chief God or ‘Odin’ – Anglo-Saxon form. The esoteric interpretation is ‘breath’ and ‘Ancestral Sovereign God’.
WHAT DOES THE ANSUZ RUNE LOOK LIKE?
It looks like an F, but with the two horizontal lines stroked down at an angle.
ANSUZ KEYWORDS:
- Odin
- Gods
- Reason
- Order
- Communication
- The Universe’s Voice
- Ancestors
- Spellwork
- Breath
When ANSUZ makes an appearance in a divination cast, it can signal:
- Divine inspiration
- Metamorphosis
- Wisdom
- Open communication
- Misunderstanding
- Being manipulated by others
- Boredom
- Delusion
The ANSUZ rune is said to govern speech, linguistics, and writing. It also has capabilities concerning the power of suggestion and hypnosis. Themes of communication including advice and networking with others, as well as trusting and listening to our inner voice is all aided by the ANSUZ rune.
Having the ANSUZ rune show up in a casting is a reminder that our inspiration can be traced directly to the Divine. Odin lavished the first persons with breath and it’s this breath that stimulated cognitive abilities. This gift of Odin resonates within the ANSUZ rune and reminds us that we have the ability to change and transform ourselves for the better.
IN CONCLUSION…
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of the Rune Series! The aim is to offer an introduction to each rune to give an idea of what they all mean and to encourage new casters to try their hand at this divinatory practice. Do you cast runes? Are you inspired to start? Let me know in the comments and, as always, Bright Blessings and Happy Crafting!