Runes × Hexagrams: Gateway to Unified Symbol Theory

BY NICOLE LAU

The Language of Symbols

Before written language, before philosophy, humans encoded wisdom in symbols. The Norse carved Runes—angular marks that held magical power. The Chinese cast Hexagrams—patterns of broken and unbroken lines that revealed cosmic truth. These are not primitive superstitions. They are isomorphic symbolic encoding systems—different alphabets writing the same universal language of archetypal reality.

The Elder Futhark: 24 Runes

What are Runes?

Runes (Old Norse: rún, meaning "secret" or "mystery") are:

• Ancient Germanic alphabet used from ~150-800 CE
• Magical symbols each carrying specific meanings and powers
• Divination tools for accessing hidden knowledge
• Meditation glyphs for spiritual development

The Elder Futhark: 24 Runes in 3 Aettir

The Elder Futhark (oldest runic alphabet) contains 24 runes divided into three groups of eight called Aettir (singular: Aett, meaning "family" or "group"):

Freyr's Aett (First Eight):

1. ᚠ Fehu (Cattle, Wealth)
2. ᚢ Uruz (Aurochs, Strength)
3. ᚦ Thurisaz (Giant, Chaos)
4. ᚨ Ansuz (God, Wisdom)
5. ᚱ Raido (Journey, Wheel)
6. ᚲ Kenaz (Torch, Knowledge)
7. ᚷ Gebo (Gift, Exchange)
8. ᚹ Wunjo (Joy, Harmony)

Heimdall's Aett (Second Eight):

9. ᚺ Hagalaz (Hail, Disruption)
10. ᚾ Nauthiz (Need, Constraint)
11. ᛁ Isa (Ice, Stillness)
12. ᛃ Jera (Year, Harvest)
13. ᛇ Eihwaz (Yew, Death-Rebirth)
14. ᛈ Perthro (Dice Cup, Fate)
15. ᛉ Algiz (Elk, Protection)
16. ᛊ Sowilo (Sun, Victory)

Tyr's Aett (Third Eight):

17. ᛏ Tiwaz (Tyr, Justice)
18. ᛒ Berkano (Birch, Growth)
19. ᛖ Ehwaz (Horse, Partnership)
20. ᛗ Mannaz (Human, Self)
21. ᛚ Laguz (Water, Flow)
22. ᛜ Ingwaz (Ing, Fertility)
23. ᛞ Dagaz (Day, Breakthrough)
24. ᛟ Othala (Ancestral Property, Heritage)

The I Ching: 64 Hexagrams

What are Hexagrams?

Hexagrams (Gua 卦) are:

• Six-line symbols composed of broken (yin ⚋) and unbroken (yang ⚊) lines
• 64 total combinations (2⁶ = 64)
• Divination oracle revealing cosmic patterns and guidance
• Philosophical text encoding Taoist wisdom

The Structure: 8 Trigrams → 64 Hexagrams

Hexagrams are built from 8 basic trigrams (three-line symbols):

Trigram	Symbol	Name	Attribute	Element
☰	≡	Qian (Heaven)	Creative, strong	Metal
☷	☷	Kun (Earth)	Receptive, yielding	Earth
☳	☳	Zhen (Thunder)	Arousing, moving	Wood
☴	☴	Xun (Wind)	Gentle, penetrating	Wood
☵	☵	Kan (Water)	Abysmal, dangerous	Water
☲	☲	Li (Fire)	Clinging, bright	Fire
☶	☶	Gen (Mountain)	Keeping still	Earth
☱	☱	Dui (Lake)	Joyous, open	Metal

Each hexagram combines two trigrams (upper and lower), creating 8 × 8 = 64 hexagrams.

The Isomorphic Mapping: Symbolic Encoding Systems

Aspect	Runes	Hexagrams	Convergence
Total symbols	24 runes	64 hexagrams	Different granularity
Structure	3 Aettir × 8 runes	8 palaces × 8 hexagrams	Both use 8-fold grouping
Basic units	Single rune (angular line)	Trigram (3 lines) → Hexagram (6 lines)	Geometric symbols
Function	Divination, magic, meditation	Divination, philosophy, meditation	95%
Encoding	Archetypal concepts (wealth, strength, wisdom)	Cosmic situations (creative, receptive, difficulty)	92%

The 8-Fold Structure

Both systems use eight as a fundamental organizing number:

• Runes: 3 Aettir × 8 runes = 24 total
• Hexagrams: 8 trigrams, 8 palaces × 8 hexagrams = 64 total

Eight is the number of complete manifestation (2³ = 8, the cube, three-dimensional completion).

Symbolic Encoding: How Simple Marks Carry Complex Meaning

The Principle of Symbolic Compression

Both systems use minimal visual elements to encode maximal meaning:

Runes: Angular lines (easy to carve in wood/stone) encode entire concepts

• ᚠ Fehu (F): Two diagonal lines = Cattle = Wealth = Mobile property = Flow of resources

Hexagrams: Broken/unbroken lines encode cosmic situations

• ☰☰ Qian (Heaven over Heaven) = Pure yang = Creative force = Strength = Leadership

This is information compression—like how DNA uses four bases (A, T, G, C) to encode all life, runes and hexagrams use simple geometric elements to encode all archetypal reality.

Divination: Accessing Hidden Knowledge

Both systems are used for divination—consulting the oracle:

Runic Divination

• Runes carved on stones, wood, or bone
• Cast randomly or drawn from a bag
• Position and orientation (upright/reversed) interpreted
• Reveals hidden influences, guidance, warnings

I Ching Divination

• Hexagrams generated through yarrow stalks or coins
• Changing lines indicate transformation
• Judgment and line texts interpreted
• Reveals cosmic patterns, timing, advice

Same principle: Randomness is not random—it's the universe speaking through synchronicity.

Why Symbols? The Power of Archetypal Encoding

Beyond Language

Symbols transcend verbal language:

• Universal: A symbol can be understood across cultures
• Multivalent: One symbol carries multiple layers of meaning
• Numinous: Symbols connect to the unconscious, the sacred
• Transformative: Meditating on symbols changes consciousness

The Alphabet of Reality

Runes and hexagrams are not just writing systems. They are alphabets of reality itself—the fundamental patterns that structure existence:

• Just as DNA encodes biological life
• Just as mathematics encodes physical laws
• Runes and hexagrams encode archetypal patterns

Conclusion: One Reality, Many Symbols

Runes and Hexagrams are isomorphic symbolic encoding systems:

• 24 runes and 64 hexagrams = Different resolutions of the same archetypal alphabet
• 3 Aettir and 8 palaces = Different groupings of the same symbolic structure
• Divination and oracle = Different methods accessing the same cosmic wisdom

When you cast runes or consult the I Ching, you are not using two different systems. You are using two languages writing the same universal truth.

This is Constant Unification.

The reality is one. The symbols are many. The encoding converges.

ᚱ Series 6: Runes × Hexagrams | Article 1 of 8