Berkano Rune: Complete Guide to Meaning & Magic

BY NICOLE LAU

Introduction to Berkano (ᛒ)

Berkano is the eighteenth rune of the Elder Futhark alphabet and the second symbol of Tyr's Aett. Where Tiwaz brought warrior justice, Berkano brings the nurturing feminine—birth, growth, motherhood, and the earth's fertility. This is the rune of the birch tree, the Great Mother, new beginnings, and gentle growth. Berkano represents the womb, creation, nurturing, and the understanding that all life begins in the feminine. It teaches us to nurture, to grow gently, to honor the mother, and to understand that creation is sacred.

Rune Shape & Symbolism

The Berkano rune (ᛒ) resembles the letter B or a pregnant belly. It can be seen as:

• A pregnant woman's belly (womb, creation)
• Breasts (nurturing, motherhood)
• The birch tree (growth, new beginnings)
• Two containers (holding, nurturing)
• The letter B for birth

Pronunciation: "BAIR-kah-no" or "BER-kah-no"

Literal Meaning: Birch tree, birth, growth, mother

Alternative Names: Beorc, Bjarka, Bjarkan

The Sacred Birch

The birch tree held profound significance:

• First Tree: Birch is first to grow in spring
• Pioneer: Grows where nothing else can
• Purification: Birch branches for cleansing
• Fertility: Associated with motherhood and birth
• New Beginnings: Symbol of fresh starts

Berkano embodies the birch's gentle, nurturing, pioneering energy.

Divinatory Meanings

Upright Position

When Berkano appears upright in a reading, it signals:

• Birth: New beginnings, creation, emergence
• Growth: Gentle development, nurturing progress
• Motherhood: Nurturing, caring, protecting
• Fertility: Creativity, abundance, fruitfulness
• Nurturing: Care, support, gentle guidance
• Healing: Gentle recovery, restoration
• The Feminine: Receptive, creative, nurturing energy
• New Beginnings: Fresh starts, clean slates

Reversed/Merkstave Position

Berkano reversed indicates:

• Blocked Growth: Stagnation, inability to develop
• Neglect: Not nurturing what needs care
• Smothering: Over-nurturing, helicopter parenting
• Infertility: Creative blocks, barrenness
• Abandonment: Lack of nurturing or support
• Miscarriage: Loss of new beginnings

Magical Correspondences

Deities

• Frigg: Mother goddess, protector of children
• Freyja: Goddess of fertility and love
• Nerthus: Earth mother goddess
• The Dísir: Female protective spirits

Elements

Earth (fertility, growth, nurturing)

Colors

• Green (growth, fertility, life)
• Soft pink (nurturing, gentle love)
• Earth brown (grounding, mother earth)
• White (birch bark, purity, new beginnings)

Numbers

18 - As the eighteenth rune, Berkano embodies nurturing creation and gentle growth.

Astrological Associations

• Zodiac: Cancer (mother, nurturing, home) and Taurus (earth, fertility, growth)
• Planetary: Moon (mother, feminine, cycles) and Venus (love, beauty, fertility)

Body Correspondences

• Womb (creation, birth)
• Breasts (nurturing, motherhood)
• Sacral chakra (creativity, fertility)
• Heart chakra (nurturing, love)

Herbs & Plants

• Birch (the sacred tree itself)
• Raspberry leaf (women's health, fertility)
• Rose (love, nurturing, beauty)
• Chamomile (gentle healing, mothering)
• Lady's mantle (women's herb, protection)

Crystals & Stones

• Rose quartz (nurturing love, gentle healing)
• Moonstone (feminine, fertility, cycles)
• Green aventurine (growth, fertility, abundance)
• Carnelian (creativity, fertility, vitality)
• Moss agate (growth, earth, nurturing)

Magical Uses & Applications

Birth & New Beginnings

Berkano is powerful for starting fresh:

• New projects and ventures
• Literal birth and childbirth
• Fresh starts and clean slates
• Beginning new phases of life

Growth & Development

Use Berkano for:

• Gentle, steady growth
• Nurturing projects and relationships
• Developing skills and abilities
• Supporting natural development

Fertility & Creativity

Berkano supports:

• Physical fertility and conception
• Creative fertility and inspiration
• Abundance and fruitfulness
• Bringing ideas to life

Nurturing & Healing

Berkano facilitates:

• Gentle healing and recovery
• Nurturing self and others
• Mothering and caretaking
• Creating safe, nurturing spaces

Working with Berkano Energy

Best Times to Work with Berkano

• Moon Phase: New Moon (new beginnings) or Waxing Moon (growth)
• Day of Week: Monday (Moon's day—feminine, nurturing) or Friday (Venus—love, fertility)
• Season: Spring (new growth, birth)
• Time of Day: Dawn (new beginnings) or Evening (nurturing, rest)

Berkano Meditation Focus

When meditating on Berkano, contemplate:

• What am I birthing or creating?
• What needs my nurturing care?
• How can I be more gentle with myself?
• What new beginning am I ready for?
• How can I honor the feminine within?

Berkano in the Elder Futhark System

As the eighteenth rune and second of Tyr's Aett, Berkano brings balance:

After Tiwaz's masculine warrior energy comes Berkano's feminine nurturing—the balance of creation. Warrior and mother, action and nurturing, yang and yin.

The Great Mother

Berkano represents the Mother archetype:

• Creates and births
• Nurtures and protects
• Heals and comforts
• Supports growth
• Loves unconditionally

This is Berkano—the eternal mother, the womb of creation.

Key Takeaways

• Berkano is the rune of birth, growth, and nurturing
• It represents the feminine, motherhood, and fertility
• Berkano governs new beginnings, gentle growth, and healing
• This rune teaches that creation is sacred and nurturing is powerful
• Work with Berkano for fertility, growth, and gentle healing
• Berkano reminds us to honor the mother and the feminine

Next Steps in Your Berkano Journey

This complete guide provides the foundation for understanding Berkano's meaning and magic. To deepen your practice, explore our companion articles:

• Berkano Rune in Practice: Birth, Growth & Nurturing - Practical exercises, meditations, and rituals
• Berkano Rune Deep Dive: Norse Mythology & Symbolism - Historical context, myths, and advanced applications

Begin your work with Berkano by nurturing something—a plant, a project, yourself. Feel the gentle power of the mother. This is Berkano.