What are runes? Runes are the letters of the runic alphabet, a system of writing that was initially developed and used by Germanic people in the 1st or 2nd Century AD. Younger Futhark, also known as Scandinavian Runes, was used during the Viking Age before being Latinised in the Christian era.

Literacy in the Younger Futhark became widespread in Scandinavia, as witnessed by the great number of Runestones (some 3,000), sometimes inscribed with almost casual notes. During a phase from about 650 to 800, some inscriptions mixed the use of Elder and Younger Futhark runes.

The two most significant Danish Viking variants are “Elder Futhark” (roughly 150-800 AD) and “Younger Futhark” (800-1100 AD) which are so named from the first six letters of their alphabet.

The runes were symbols that sprang from the Well of Urd – the source of fate – and the Norns used these runes to carry that fate up the trunk and branches of Yggdrasil to the nine worlds amidst its boughs. The Norse and other Germanic peoples wrote with runes since at least the first century.

The runes were used to write things like significant names, places, spells and religious rituals. The runes within the Anglo-Saxon alphabet are made of combinations of straight lines so that they could easily be carved into wood or stone. Many runes have been found carved into stone, which are known as runestones.

Runes and staves were first brought to Iceland during the time when Iceland was discovered by Vikings. Those Viking settlers brought their ways of life and beliefs with them, which included their runes. So, it is fair to say that these runes are every bit as Icelandic as the people who first settled in Iceland!

In fact, the Vikings left behind a great number of documents in stone, wood, and metal, all written in the enigmatic symbols known as runes. They relied on these symbols not only for writing but also to tell fortunes, cast spells, and provide protection.

By 300 AD the runic alphabet was the only alphabet used in Scandinavia. However, it went out of use in middle Europe due to the popularity of the Latin alphabet, which had followed the expansion of Christianity.

In Norse lore, the god, Odin, impaled his heart with his own spear and hung on the world tree, Yggdrasil, for nine days and nights all to perceive the meaning of the runes. The runes were symbols that sprang from the Well of Urd – the source of fate – and the Norns used these runes to carry…

However, from this two somewhat different rune-rows were created, the Swedish-Norse and the Danish rune-rows. Since the two were so similar they are both classified as the Younger Futhork.

Runic Futharks. The Younger Futhark has only 16 runes, not because the language was becoming simpler but because it was becoming more complicated. Phonetically, the runes of the Younger Futhark were working double-duty to cover the changes that were differentiating the Norse tongues from that of other Germanic peoples.

Stands for: Sól – the Goddess of the Sun. Casting meaning: This rune stands for the Sun Goddess called Sól in Scandinavia and Barbet in Germany and the Netherlands. It is a rune that signifies directed action under spiritual control.