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Rune Piece 05 - The Futhark for Beginners

The purpose of this article is to help beginners get to grips with the basic arrangement of runes.

Runes are symbols (pictograms, or little pictures if you like) that were used by the ancients for

magic and later for writing. Their origin is shrouded in mystery, but they seem to have come from

Etruria, a kingdom in the land we now call Italy, and worked their way up through Germany toScandinavia, where they had their heyday during the first millennium (0-1000AD).

At first the runes were just used for divining and magic, but the people of Northern Europe started

to use them for writing messages as well. Each rune represents something in its magical sense, and

also represents a sound in its writing sense. The sounds usually match up with the magical meaning,

too. For example the rune Dagaz represents "Day" in rune magic, and it also represents the sound

"D" when it used for writing.

There are 24 runes in the full rune row or set which is known as theFuthark.

This is the Anglo-Saxon Futhark which was brought to Britain by Vikings and other early European

settlers. It's the Futhark featured in the Runemakerwebsite and is a little different from theElderFuthark, as the original rune row is called.

We use the word alphabetfor the set of letters we use every day. That word comes from the GreeknamesAlpha (letter A) andBeta (letter B). The rune set is called Futhark from the first six letters in

the rune row. These areFehu (F), Uruz(U), Thurisaz(Th),Ansuz(A),Raido (R) andKauno (K).

On the following page is a table of the runes of the basic Anglo-Saxon Futhorc, their meanings, andthe sounds they make.

For more information on the Futhark and how it developed over the centuries, check out the Oswald

the Runemakerwebsite. You will find details of runecasting sets, amulets and a range of other fine

rune wares, But there is wealth of information here for non-shoppers, too. There are articles on the

early history and development of runes, giving examples of runic monuments and Anglo-Saxon art

with some stunning pictures, and there is a complete section of the site that catalogues each rune

with its interpretation when used in runic divination.

http://www.runemaker.com/http://www.runemaker.com/http://www.runemaker.com/http://www.runemaker.com/http://www.runemaker.com/http://www.runemaker.com/

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Rune NameLetter

EquivalentSound

Fehu F F as in fat

Uruz U U as in under

Thurisaz Th Th compound consonant as in thin, or in weather

Ansuz A A as in add

Raido R R as in red

Kauno C (hard), K C as in cat; K as in king

Gebo G G as isgood; Gh as in loch

Wunjo W, V W as in wax; v as in van

Hagalaz H H as in hat

Naudiz N N as in now

Isa I (short) I as insit

Jera J, Y J as in jam; Y as inyap

Ihwaz I (long) I as insite, Y as instyle

Perth P P as inpot

Algiz Z Z as inzone. S as in cousin (or maybe rolling rrrr as in dialect)

Sowilo C (soft), S C as in nice; S assit

Tiwaz T T as in top

Berkanan B B as in bag

Ehwaz E E as in end

Mannaz M M as in man

Laguz L L as in let

Ingwaz Ng Ng compound consonant as infinger

Othila O O as in old, or in cot

Dagaz D D as in dog