Viking Lore — Runes

Othala: (O: ancestral property) property, land, inheritance, home, permanence, legacy, synthesis, sense of belonging, homeland of birth, spiritual heritage, experience and fundamental values, aid in spiritual and physical journeys, source of safety, increase and abundance. Othala reversed or merkstave: lack of customary order, totalitarianism, slavery, poverty, homelessness, bad karma, prejudice, provincialism.

Jera: (J or Y: A year, a good harvest.) The results of earlier efforts are realized. A time of peace and happiness, fruitful season. It can break through stagnancy. Hopes and expectations of peace and prosperity. The promise of success earned. Life cycle, cyclical pattern of the universe. Everything changes, in its own time. Jera Merkstave (Jera cannot be reversed, but may lie in opposition): Sudden setback, reversals. A major change, repetition, bad timing, poverty, conflict. Jera literally means “year” and “harvest”. In a more symbolic way it is a rune of success, of good and fruitful season coming to your life....

Fehu (F: Domestic cattle, wealth.) Possessions won or earned, earned income, luck. Abundance, financial strength in the present or near future. Sign of hope and plenty, success and happiness. Social success. Energy, foresight, fertility, creation/destruction (becoming). Fehu Reversed or Merkstave: Loss of personal property, esteem, or something that you put in effort to keep. It indicates some sort of failure. Greed, burnout, atrophy, discord. Cowardice, stupidity, dullness, poverty, slavery, bondage. Fehu, or the Cattle, the symbol of wealth and prosperity. This rune is the first Futhark rune and also its last one. In a wider sense, Fehu can also mean...

Thurisaz: (TH: Thorn or a Giant.) Reactive force, directed force of destruction and defense, conflict. Instinctual will, vital eroticism, regenerative catalyst. A tendency toward change. Catharsis, purging, cleansing fire. Male sexuality, fertilization. (Thorr, the Thunder god, was of Giant stock.)Thurisaz Reversed or Merkstave: Danger, defenselessness, compulsion, betrayal, dullness. Evil, malice, hatred, torment, spite, lies. A bad man or woman. Thurisaz is a rune of self-control and discipline, qualities that you learn when you are overcoming yourself. You have to face and conquer something to become stronger or wiser. This rune can:– grant you protection in different situations– give you strength...