Runes — from the old texts to your question
The 24 runes of the Elder Futhark. Their old images, modern readings, and an honest line between one and the other.
We begin with the rune poems — the oldest texts that explain the rune names. And then we look at what those images can say today.
The 24 Elder Futhark runes
- Fehu
- Uruz
- Thurisaz
- Ansuz
- Raidho
- Kenaz
- Gebo
- Wunjo
- Hagalaz
- Nauthiz
- Isa
- Jera
- Eihwaz
- Perthro
- Algiz
- Sowilo
- Tiwaz
- Berkano
- Ehwaz
- Mannaz
- Laguz
- Ingwaz
- Dagaz
- Othala
Fehu — wealth.
Isa — ice.
Raidho — the road.
Sowilo — the sun.
Behind every simple sign stands an old image — sometimes nothing like the modern «keyword» beside it. Open any rune and see what the poems left about it, how it is read today, and what question it can put to you.
Where do you want to start?
Find a rune
All 24 signs of the Elder Futhark.
The old meaning, «For you», the reversed reading and a question you can stay with.
Try a reading
One rune, three, five or a whole handful on a cloth.
With no single «right» ancient spread — and a clear account of what is old practice and what is modern.
Make sense of the strange
Do runes really work?
Did the Vikings use them?
What are the vegvísir, alu, galdr and the witches’ runes?
We gathered the questions people really ask and answered without fog.
Questions to start with
We begin where the words survived
Much has been written about runes. But the best place to begin is with what actually survived. Three medieval rune poems walk sign by sign and leave us the images tied to their names.
They do not hand us a ready system of divination. But they give something more interesting: the voices of people who knew these signs long before us.
Read here. Draw one there.
This site is for learning about the runes. Runa is for meeting one yourself. You come with a question. You go through a short ritual. You draw a rune and first see the sign itself. Then its old image, «For you» and the question it leaves you.
The rune of the day is free forever. The journal stays on your iPhone.