Ireland's OWN: Pagan Culture

Pagan Culture

Runes
Early Germanic tribes of northern Europe were first to develop runes, but the Scandinavians soon adopted the symbols for their own use.
Predating the first century CE, Runes are the sacred symbols of the Teutonic people and were used by the village Shamans for divination and magick. The word "Rune" means, simply, "secret" or "mystery". The oldest and most familiar runic system comes from the Germanic tribes known as Elder Futhark; the name "Futhark" is derived from the first six letters of the runic alphabet. Consisting of 24 runes, each glyph of the Elder Futhark is named for an animal, object, emotion or, occasionally, a god. It is a divinatory system closely associated with the earth. The traditional Germanic Futhark is divided into three families of eight, or aett, named for the Norse gods, Freyr, Hagal and Tyr. Runes are typically used as an oracle, a means of finding guidance from the Higher Self. However, they can be used as a piece of amulet jewelry, carved or written in sets (rune scripts) and charged, or utilised in a spell for a specific outcome.

The following are Runic symbols that can be used for marking objects used for magic.* Each is listed with its name, its symbolic meaning and what it represents if marked on a item used for magic.

As. The God (for Wisdom)

Beorc. Birch (for The Goddess)

Daeg. Dawn/Dusk (for working between the Worlds)

Eh. Horse (for Trust and Guide in the Otherworld)

Ken. Wood (for Light to Guide the Spirit)

Lagu. Water (for Psychic Growth and Intution)

Haegal. Hail (for Shadows)

Is. Ice (for Secretiveness/Ice World)

Odal. Earth (for the Underworld)

Eoh. Yew (for Passage to New Life/Rebirth)

Rad. Wheel (for Path to What is Sought)

Elhaz. Elk (for the Horned God)

Tyr. Arrow (for Victory)

Thorn. Giant (for Protection)

See also: Ogham Symbols for Magickal Use

*From Green Witchcraft II by Ann Moura (Aoumiel). Llewellyn Publications, 2001.

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	As. The God (for Wisdom)
	Beorc. Birch (for The Goddess)
	Daeg. Dawn/Dusk (for working between the Worlds)
	Eh. Horse (for Trust and Guide in the Otherworld)
	Ken. Wood (for Light to Guide the Spirit)
	Lagu. Water (for Psychic Growth and Intution)
	Haegal. Hail (for Shadows)
	Is. Ice (for Secretiveness/Ice World)
	Odal. Earth (for the Underworld)
	Eoh. Yew (for Passage to New Life/Rebirth)
	Rad. Wheel (for Path to What is Sought)
	Elhaz. Elk (for the Horned God)
	Tyr. Arrow (for Victory)
	Thorn. Giant (for Protection)