Rune Colors: Symbolic Meanings

BY NICOLE LAU

The Power of Color in Runic Practice

Color is not just decoration—it's magic. In traditional runic practice, the color used to paint or fill runes carries symbolic meaning and magical power. Red for blood and vitality, gold for wealth and success, white for purity and spirit, black for mystery and transformation—each color activates different energies and connects to different deities, elements, and purposes.

Understanding color symbolism allows you to enhance your runic work by choosing colors intentionally. Whether you're painting runes on wood, filling carved symbols, or simply choosing which colored stones to use, color matters.

Traditional Runic Colors

Historical Evidence

Archaeological finds show ancient runes were often colored:

• Red ochre — Most common, found on many runestones
• Blood — Used in ritual contexts (animal or self-sacrifice)
• Charcoal/soot — Black coloring for carved runes
• Natural pigments — Earth colors, plant dyes
• Gold leaf — For important inscriptions

The choice of color was intentional and meaningful, not random.

The Sacred Colors

RED — Blood, Life, Power

Symbolism:

• Blood, life force, vitality
• Power, strength, courage
• Protection, warding
• Sacrifice, offering
• Warrior energy, Mars
• Thor (red-bearded god)

Traditional uses:

• Most common color in historical runes
• Protection runes and talismans
• Warrior runes (Tiwaz, Thurisaz)
• Vitality and strength runes (Uruz, Sowilo)

Best for runes:

• ᚦ Thurisaz — Protection, Thor's power
• ᛏ Tiwaz — Warrior courage, sacrifice
• ᚢ Uruz — Strength, vitality
• ᚾ Nauthiz — Need-fire, survival

Magical applications:

• Protection spells
• Courage and strength work
• Vitality and health magic
• Warrior energy

GOLD/YELLOW — Wealth, Sun, Success

Symbolism:

• Wealth, prosperity, abundance
• The sun, solar energy
• Success, achievement, victory
• Divine light, illumination
• Freyr (god of prosperity)

Traditional uses:

• Wealth and prosperity runes
• Success and victory inscriptions
• Solar runes
• Important, valuable inscriptions

Best for runes:

• ᚠ Fehu — Wealth, abundance
• ᛊ Sowilo — Sun, success, victory
• ᛞ Dagaz — Dawn, breakthrough
• ᚹ Wunjo — Joy, fulfillment

Magical applications:

• Prosperity magic
• Success spells
• Solar energy work
• Manifestation

WHITE — Purity, Spirit, Clarity

Symbolism:

• Purity, innocence, cleansing
• Spirit, the divine, transcendence
• Clarity, truth, revelation
• Ice, snow, winter
• The moon, lunar energy

Traditional uses:

• Purification runes
• Spiritual work
• Ice runes
• Clarity and truth

Best for runes:

• ᛁ Isa — Ice, clarity, stillness
• ᛉ Algiz — Protection, spiritual connection
• ᚨ Ansuz — Divine communication, truth

Magical applications:

• Purification and cleansing
• Spiritual connection
• Clarity and truth work
• Ice magic

BLACK — Mystery, Power, Transformation

Symbolism:

• Mystery, the unknown, secrets
• The void, potential, Ginnungagap
• Transformation, death and rebirth
• Power, authority, command
• Odin (the wanderer in dark cloak)
• Night, darkness, the unconscious

Traditional uses:

• Powerful magic
• Transformation work
• Mystery and occult runes
• Binding and banishing

Best for runes:

• ᚺ Hagalaz — Destruction, transformation
• ᛇ Eihwaz — Death and rebirth
• ᛈ Perthro — Mystery, fate
• ᛟ Othala — Ancestral mysteries

Magical applications:

• Transformation magic
• Mystery work
• Banishing and binding
• Deep power work

BLUE — Wisdom, Water, Communication

Symbolism:

• Water, flow, emotions
• Wisdom, knowledge, learning
• Communication, eloquence
• The sky, air, breath
• Intuition, psychic ability
• Odin (god of wisdom)

Traditional uses:

• Wisdom and learning runes
• Communication magic
• Water runes
• Psychic development

Best for runes:

• ᛚ Laguz — Water, intuition, flow
• ᚨ Ansuz — Communication, wisdom
• ᛈ Perthro — Psychic ability, mystery

Magical applications:

• Wisdom and learning
• Communication spells
• Intuition development
• Water magic

GREEN — Growth, Healing, Fertility

Symbolism:

• Growth, fertility, abundance
• Healing, health, vitality
• Nature, earth, plants
• Renewal, regeneration
• Freya (goddess of fertility)

Traditional uses:

• Fertility and growth runes
• Healing magic
• Nature connection
• Abundance work

Best for runes:

• ᛒ Berkano — Birth, growth, healing
• ᛃ Jera — Harvest, fertility, cycles
• ᛜ Ingwaz — Fertility, gestation

Magical applications:

• Healing spells
• Fertility magic
• Growth and abundance
• Nature work

BROWN — Earth, Grounding, Ancestors

Symbolism:

• Earth, soil, grounding
• Stability, foundation, roots
• Ancestors, heritage, tradition
• The material world
• Natural, unadorned power

Traditional uses:

• Grounding runes
• Ancestral work
• Earth magic
• Natural, unpainted runes

Best for runes:

• ᚢ Uruz — Earth strength
• ᛟ Othala — Ancestral land, heritage
• ᚠ Fehu — Material wealth

Magical applications:

• Grounding and stability
• Ancestral connection
• Earth magic
• Material manifestation

Choosing Colors for Your Runes

By Purpose

• Protection — Red or white
• Prosperity — Gold or green
• Healing — Green or white
• Wisdom — Blue or white
• Transformation — Black or red
• Communication — Blue or white
• Grounding — Brown or black

By Element

• Fire — Red, gold, orange
• Ice/Water — White, blue, silver
• Earth — Brown, green, black
• Air — White, blue, yellow

By Deity

• Odin — Blue (wisdom), black (mystery), gray
• Thor — Red (power), silver (Mjolnir)
• Freyr — Gold (prosperity), green (fertility)
• Freya — Green (love), gold (beauty)
• Tyr — Red (sacrifice), silver (justice)

Practical Application

Painting Runes

Materials:

• Acrylic paint (durable, available in all colors)
• Natural pigments (traditional, earth-based)
• Markers (convenient, less traditional)

Method:

1. Carve or draw the rune
2. Choose color based on purpose
3. Paint carefully with intention
4. Let dry completely
5. Seal if needed

Filling Carved Runes

For runes carved in wood or stone:

1. Carve the rune
2. Fill the groove with paint
3. Wipe excess from surface
4. Color remains in carved lines

Choosing Colored Stones

If buying pre-made rune sets:

• Red stones (carnelian, red jasper) — Power, vitality
• Gold stones (tiger's eye, citrine) — Prosperity, success
• White stones (quartz, moonstone) — Clarity, spirit
• Black stones (obsidian, onyx) — Mystery, power
• Blue stones (lapis, sodalite) — Wisdom, communication
• Green stones (aventurine, jade) — Growth, healing

To Color or Not to Color?

Arguments for Coloring

• Traditional practice (red ochre common)
• Adds magical intention
• Makes runes more visible
• Connects to specific energies
• Beautiful and meaningful

Arguments for Natural

• Also traditional (many runes uncolored)
• The material itself carries power
• Simpler, more minimalist
• Wood or stone energy unaltered
• Equally valid approach

The Answer

Both are valid. Choose based on:

• Your preference and intuition
• The specific purpose
• Traditional vs. personal practice
• What feels right to you

Color Combinations

Two-Color Runes

Some practitioners use two colors:

• Red and gold — Power and prosperity
• Black and white — Balance of opposites
• Blue and silver — Wisdom and moon

Rainbow Runes

Each rune in a different color based on its meaning—creates a vibrant, personalized set.

Conclusion: Color as Magic

Color is not decoration but intention made visible. When you choose red for a protection rune, you're invoking the power of blood and Thor. When you choose gold for a prosperity rune, you're calling in solar abundance and Freyr's blessing.

Whether you paint all your runes one color, use different colors for different purposes, or leave them natural, make the choice consciously and intentionally. Color is magic. Use it wisely.

Red for power and protection.
Gold for wealth and success.
White for purity and spirit.
Black for mystery and transformation.
Blue for wisdom and flow.
Green for growth and healing.
Brown for earth and ancestors.
Choose your colors with intention.
Paint your magic into being.