Wunjo Rune: Complete Guide to Meaning & Magic

BY NICOLE LAU

Introduction to Wunjo (ᚹ)

Wunjo is the eighth and final rune of Freya's Aett in the Elder Futhark alphabet. Where the previous seven runes build individual capacity and relationship, Wunjo brings the culmination—joy, harmony, fulfillment, and the perfection of all that has come before. This is the rune of happiness, success, fellowship, and wishes fulfilled. Wunjo represents the moment when everything comes together in perfect harmony, when hard work bears fruit, when relationships flourish, and when the heart sings with pure joy. It teaches us that true happiness comes from alignment—with ourselves, with others, with our purpose, and with the divine.

Rune Shape & Symbolism

The Wunjo rune (ᚹ) resembles a banner or flag waving in victory, or a weathervane pointing toward favorable winds. It can also be seen as:

• A flag of triumph and celebration
• A weathervane showing favorable conditions
• A branch bearing fruit
• Arms raised in joy and victory
• The letter P (for perfection, peace, pleasure)

Pronunciation: "WUN-yo" or "VOON-yo"

Literal Meaning: Joy, bliss, perfection, harmony, glory, fellowship

Alternative Names: Wynn, Wyn, Winja

The Nature of Joy

In Norse culture, joy was not mere pleasure or entertainment—it was a state of harmony and rightness:

• Fellowship: Joy found in community and kinship
• Victory: Joy of success and achievement
• Harmony: Joy when all things are in balance
• Fulfillment: Joy when wishes are realized
• Peace: Joy in the absence of conflict

Wunjo is not superficial happiness—it is deep contentment that comes when life is aligned with its highest purpose.

Divinatory Meanings

Upright Position

When Wunjo appears upright in a reading, it signals:

• Joy & Happiness: Pure bliss, contentment, emotional fulfillment
• Success: Goals achieved, wishes fulfilled, victory
• Harmony: Everything in balance, peace, alignment
• Fellowship: Community, friendship, belonging, kinship
• Celebration: Time to rejoice, party, mark achievements
• Perfection: Things coming together perfectly
• Well-being: Health, prosperity, good fortune
• Favorable Conditions: The winds are at your back

Reversed/Merkstave Position

Wunjo reversed indicates:

• Sorrow: Sadness, grief, unhappiness
• Discord: Conflict, disharmony, things out of alignment
• Alienation: Isolation, loneliness, exclusion from community
• Delay: Success postponed, wishes unfulfilled
• Crisis: Breakdown before breakthrough
• False Joy: Superficial happiness masking deeper issues

Magical Correspondences

Deities

• Freya: Goddess of love, beauty, and joy
• Freyr: God of peace, prosperity, and pleasure
• Baldr: God of light, joy, purity, and beauty
• Iðunn: Goddess of youth, renewal, and the golden apples of immortality
• The Vanir: Gods of fertility, pleasure, and abundance

Elements

Air (joy, lightness, freedom) and Fire (celebration, warmth, vitality)

Colors

• Bright yellow (sunshine, happiness, joy)
• Gold (success, achievement, glory)
• Rainbow colors (harmony, diversity in unity)
• Sky blue (peace, serenity, favorable conditions)

Numbers

8 - As the eighth rune, Wunjo embodies the number eight: infinity, completion of the cycle, perfection, and the octave (return to the beginning at a higher level).

Astrological Associations

• Zodiac: Leo (joy, celebration, Sun-ruled) and Libra (harmony, balance)
• Planetary: Sun (joy, vitality, success) and Venus (pleasure, beauty, harmony)

Body Correspondences

• Heart (joy, love, contentment)
• Face (smile, expression of joy)
• Heart chakra (love, joy, harmony)
• Crown chakra (bliss, connection to divine)
• Endorphins (natural joy chemicals)

Herbs & Plants

• St. John's Wort (joy, light, happiness)
• Lemon balm (joy, peace, contentment)
• Chamomile (peace, harmony, relaxation)
• Lavender (peace, joy, serenity)
• Sunflower (joy, optimism, following the light)

Crystals & Stones

• Citrine (joy, success, abundance)
• Sunstone (joy, vitality, optimism)
• Yellow calcite (happiness, confidence)
• Clear quartz (clarity, perfection, harmony)
• Rainbow moonstone (harmony, joy, divine connection)

Magical Uses & Applications

Joy & Happiness

Wunjo is the premier rune for cultivating joy:

• Attracting happiness and contentment
• Lifting depression and sadness
• Creating joyful atmosphere in home or workspace
• Celebrating achievements and milestones
• Finding joy in everyday moments

Success & Achievement

Use Wunjo for:

• Bringing projects to successful completion
• Achieving goals and fulfilling wishes
• Victory in competitions or challenges
• Recognition and glory
• Manifesting desires

Harmony & Peace

Wunjo supports:

• Creating harmony in relationships
• Resolving conflicts peacefully
• Bringing all elements into balance
• Establishing peace in chaotic situations
• Aligning with divine will

Community & Fellowship

Wunjo facilitates:

• Building strong communities
• Creating fellowship and belonging
• Strengthening family bonds
• Finding your tribe
• Celebrating together

Working with Wunjo Energy

Best Times to Work with Wunjo

• Moon Phase: Full Moon (peak joy and fulfillment)
• Day of Week: Sunday (Sun's day—joy and success) or Friday (Venus/Freya—pleasure and harmony)
• Season: Summer (peak joy and abundance) or Midsummer (longest light)
• Time of Day: Noon (sun at zenith) or during celebrations

Wunjo Meditation Focus

When meditating on Wunjo, contemplate:

• What brings me true joy?
• Where am I in harmony? Where am I in discord?
• What wishes are ready to be fulfilled?
• How can I create more joy in my life and others' lives?
• What does success mean to me?

Wunjo in the Elder Futhark System

As the eighth and final rune of Freya's Aett, Wunjo represents the culmination and perfection of all that has come before:

1. Fehu: Wealth and potential
2. Uruz: Strength and form
3. Thurisaz: Protection and boundaries
4. Ansuz: Wisdom and communication
5. Raidho: Journey and rhythm
6. Kenaz: Knowledge and creativity
7. Gebo: Partnership and exchange
8. Wunjo: Joy, harmony, and fulfillment

Wunjo teaches that when all these elements are in place and in balance, the natural result is joy. It is not something we chase—it is what emerges when we are aligned.

The Perfection of the Aett

Freya's Aett tells a complete story:

• We begin with potential (Fehu)
• We give it form (Uruz)
• We protect it (Thurisaz)
• We give it meaning (Ansuz)
• We set it in motion (Raidho)
• We illuminate and refine it (Kenaz)
• We share it in partnership (Gebo)
• We experience the joy of completion (Wunjo)

Wunjo is the reward, the celebration, the "happily ever after" of the first cycle.

Key Takeaways

• Wunjo is the rune of joy, harmony, success, and fulfillment
• It represents the perfection that comes when all elements align
• Wunjo governs happiness, achievement, peace, and fellowship
• This rune teaches that joy is the natural result of living in alignment
• Work with Wunjo for happiness, success, harmony, and celebration
• Wunjo reminds us that we are meant to experience joy—it is our birthright

Next Steps in Your Wunjo Journey

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

• Wunjo Rune in Practice: Joy, Harmony & Success - Practical exercises, meditations, and rituals
• Wunjo Rune Deep Dive: Norse Mythology & Symbolism - Historical context, myths, and advanced applications

Begin your work with Wunjo by identifying one thing that brings you pure joy. Do that thing today. This is Wunjo—the simple, profound happiness of being alive and aligned.