Don't Know Which Rune to Use? Complete Guide
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BY NICOLE LAU
24 runes. Ancient Norse wisdom. Infinite possibilities. Which rune do you need? This complete guide to the Elder Futhark shows you how to choose, use, and work with runes for divination, magic, and guidance.
What Are Runes?
Runes are the ancient Norse alphabet used for writing, divination, and magic. The Elder Futhark (oldest runic alphabet) has 24 runes, each with:
- A letter/sound
- A meaning/concept
- A magical power
- Divinatory significance
How to Choose Which Rune to Use
For Divination: Draw Randomly
Don't chooseβlet the runes choose you. Draw one (or three) from a bag and interpret the message.
For Magic: Choose by Intention
Pick the rune that matches your goal:
- Protection: Algiz, Thurisaz
- Prosperity: Fehu, Jera
- Love: Gebo, Wunjo
- Strength: Uruz, Sowilo
- Wisdom: Ansuz, Kenaz
The 24 Elder Futhark Runes
Fehu (α ) - Wealth, Abundance
Use for: Money, prosperity, new beginnings
Meaning: Cattle, moveable wealth, abundance flowing
Uruz (α’) - Strength, Vitality
Use for: Physical strength, health, primal power
Meaning: Aurochs (wild ox), raw power, vitality
Thurisaz (α¦) - Protection, Defense
Use for: Protection from enemies, breaking through obstacles
Meaning: Thorn, giant, defensive power
Ansuz (α¨) - Wisdom, Communication
Use for: Divine wisdom, communication, inspiration
Meaning: Odin, divine breath, ancestral wisdom
Raidho (α±) - Journey, Movement
Use for: Travel, life journey, right action
Meaning: Wagon, journey, cosmic order
Kenaz (α²) - Knowledge, Illumination
Use for: Learning, creativity, inner fire
Meaning: Torch, knowledge, controlled fire
Gebo (α·) - Gift, Partnership
Use for: Love, partnership, sacred exchange
Meaning: Gift, balance, reciprocity
Wunjo (αΉ) - Joy, Harmony
Use for: Happiness, harmony, well-being
Meaning: Joy, perfection, fellowship
Hagalaz (αΊ) - Disruption, Change
Use for: Breaking patterns, necessary destruction
Meaning: Hail, uncontrolled forces, transformation
Nauthiz (αΎ) - Need, Resistance
Use for: Overcoming obstacles, necessity, constraint
Meaning: Need, friction, resistance builds strength
Isa (α) - Ice, Stillness
Use for: Stopping, freezing situations, stillness
Meaning: Ice, stasis, concentration
Jera (α) - Harvest, Cycles
Use for: Reaping rewards, natural cycles, patience
Meaning: Year, harvest, right timing
Eihwaz (α) - Endurance, Defense
Use for: Endurance, protection, connection to ancestors
Meaning: Yew tree, death/rebirth, resilience
Perthro (α) - Mystery, Fate
Use for: Divination, hidden knowledge, fate
Meaning: Dice cup, mystery, wyrd (fate)
Algiz (α) - Protection, Connection
Use for: Divine protection, spiritual connection
Meaning: Elk, protection, higher self
Sowilo (α) - Sun, Success
Use for: Victory, success, life force
Meaning: Sun, wholeness, life energy
Tiwaz (α) - Victory, Justice
Use for: Justice, victory, honor
Meaning: Tyr (god of war), sacrifice, righteousness
Berkano (α) - Growth, Fertility
Use for: New beginnings, fertility, nurturing
Meaning: Birch, growth, feminine power
Ehwaz (α) - Movement, Partnership
Use for: Progress, teamwork, trust
Meaning: Horse, movement, partnership
Mannaz (α) - Humanity, Self
Use for: Self-awareness, community, human potential
Meaning: Human, self, divine structure
Laguz (α) - Water, Flow
Use for: Intuition, emotions, flow
Meaning: Water, lake, unconscious
Ingwaz (α) - Fertility, Potential
Use for: Gestation, potential, internal growth
Meaning: Ing (fertility god), seed, potential
Dagaz (α) - Dawn, Breakthrough
Use for: Breakthrough, awakening, transformation
Meaning: Day, dawn, enlightenment
Othala (α) - Heritage, Home
Use for: Ancestral power, home, inheritance
Meaning: Ancestral property, heritage, belonging
How to Use Runes
1. Rune Casting (Divination)
Draw 1-3 runes for guidance. Interpret their meanings for your question.
2. Rune Magic (Bind Runes)
Combine multiple runes into one symbol for specific intentions.
3. Rune Meditation
Gaze at a rune, chant its name, absorb its energy.
4. Rune Journaling
Use the Elder Futhark Runes Journal to track your rune work.
Your Rune Toolkit
- Elder Futhark Tapestry | 24 Norse Runes Wall Hanging - Study and meditate on all 24 runes
- Elder Futhark Runes Journal - Record your rune readings and insights
- Norse Rune Magic Candle - Enhance your rune rituals
Quick Rune Selection Guide
Need protection? β Algiz, Thurisaz
Want money? β Fehu, Jera
Seeking love? β Gebo, Wunjo
Need strength? β Uruz, Sowilo
Want wisdom? β Ansuz, Kenaz
Facing change? β Dagaz, Hagalaz
Need clarity? β Kenaz, Ansuz
Want success? β Sowilo, Tiwaz
Start Your Rune Practice
You don't need to memorize all 24 runes immediately. Start with:
- Get the Elder Futhark Tapestry to see all runes daily
- Draw one rune each morning for guidance
- Journal in your Runes Journal
- Learn one rune per week deeply
- Build relationship with the runes over time
The runes are not just symbols. They're living forces. Work with them, and they'll work with you. For those drawn to deepen their connection with these ancient symbols, the 30-Day Tarot Practice Workbook offers a structured approach to daily divination, while the The 52-Week Tarot Journey invites a full year of dedicated reflection and ritual. And for those seeking to align with the lunar currents that shape our inner tides, 13 New Moon Rituals provides a beautiful complement to the cycle of rune work.
