Meaning: Communication, signals, inspiration, enthusiasm, speech, true vision, power of words. Stands for: The Asa-Gods, Ancestral God, Yggdrasil, ash Evil, malice, hatred, torment, spite, lies. Merkstave: Danger, defenselessness, compulsion, betrayal, dullness. Protection against adversaries. Instinctual will, vital eroticism, regenerative catalyst. Lust, brutality, rashness, callousness, violence. Merkstave: Weakness, obsession, misdirected force, domination by others. Meaning: Freedom, energy, action, courage, strength, tenacity, understanding, wisdom. Merkstave: Loss of personal property, esteem, or something that you put in effort to keep. Sign of hope and plenty, success and happiness. Luck, abundance, financial strength. Stands for: Cattle, domestic cattle, wealth In some cases, like Gebo and Isaz, the rune is symmetrical, so it’s normally considered a merkstave when the rune lands facing down. The second ætt is ruled over by Heimdall and the third and final ætt is ruled over by Tyr.Ī Merkstave is when a rune appears to be ‘upside down’ or facing down. The first ætt is ruled over by Frey and Freyja, the deities of fertility. It consists of 24 runes divided into three groups of eight, known as an ætt (singular of ættir), which are said to be ruled over by both a god and goddess. It was used by Germanic tribes and its inscriptions are found on artifacts like amulets, tools, weapons, from the 2nd to 8th centuries. The Elder Futhark is the older form of the runic alphabets.

The elder futhark runes meanings