Runes

Farewell Song To Northland

As the years passed Wainamoinen
Recognized his waning powers,
Empty-handed, heavy-hearted,
Sang his farewell song to Northland,
To the people of Wainola;

Sang himself a boat of copper,
Beautiful his bark of magic;
At the helm sat the magician,
Sat the ancient wisdom-singer.

Westward, westward, sailed the hero
O’er the blue-back of the waters,
Singing as he left Wainola,
This his plaintive song and echo:

“Suns may rise and set in Suomi,
Rise and set for generations,
When the North will learn my teachings,
Will recall my wisdom-sayings,
Hungry for the true religion.
Then will Suomi need my coming,

Watch for me at dawn of morning,
That I may bring back the Sampo,

Bring anew the harp of joyance,
Bring again the golden moonlight,
Bring again the silver sunshine,
Peace and plenty to the Northland.”

~Kalevala / Rune 50 (John Martin Crawford translation)

Odin’s Rune Song

Rúnatal or Óðins Rune Song, Rúnatáls-þáttr-Óðins (stanzas 139-146) is a section of the Hávamál where Odin reveals the origins of the runes. In stanzas 139 and 140, Odin describes his sacrifice of himself to himself:

138.

I wot that I hung on the wind-tossed tree
all of nights nine,
wounded by spear, bespoken to Óthin,
bespoken myself to myself,
[upon that tree of which none telleth
from what roots it doth rise]

139.

Neither horn they upheld nor handed me bread;
I looked below me–
aloud I cried–
caught up the runes, caught them up wailing,
thence to the ground fell again.

140.

From the son of Bolthorn, Bestla’s father,
I mastered mighty songs nine,
and a drink I had, of the dearest mead,
got from out of Óthrærir.

141.

Then began I to grow and gain in insight,
to wax eke in wisdom:
One verse led on to another verse,
one poem led on to the other poem.

142.

Runes wilt thou find, and rightly read,
of wondrous weight,
of mighty magic,
which that dyed the dread God,
which that made the holy hosts,
and were etched by Óthin.

143.

Óthin among Æsir, for alfs, Dain,
Dvalin for the dwarfs,
Alsvith among etins, (but for earth-borne men)
wrought I some myself.

144.

Know’st how to write, know’st how to read,
know’st how to stain, how to understand,
know’st how to ask, know’st how to offer,
know’st how to supplicate, know’st how to sacrifice?

145.

‘Tis better unasked than offered overmuch;
for ay doth a gift look for gain;
’tis better unasked than offered overmuch:
thus did Óthin write ere the earth began,
when up he rose in after time.

146.

Those spells I know which the spouses of kings
wot not, nor earthly wight:
“Help” one is hight, with which holpen thou’lt be
in sorrow and care and sickness.

147.

That other I know which all will need
who leeches list to be:
(on the bark scratch them of bole in the woods
whose boughs bend to the east).

148.

That third I know, if my need be great
to fetter a foeman fell:
I can dull the swords of deadly foes,
that nor wiles nor weapons avail.

149

that fourth I know, if foemen have
fettered me hand and foot:
I chant a charm the chains to break,
so the fetters fly off my feet,
and off my hands the halter.

150.

That fifth I know, if from foemans’s hand
I see a spear sped into throng,
never so fast it flies but its flight I can stay,
once my eye lights on it.

151.

That sixth I know, if me someone wounds
with runes on gnarled root written,
or rouses my wrath by reckless speech:
him blights shall blast, not me.

152.

That seventh I know, if o’er sleepers’ heads
I behold a hall on fire:
however bright the blaze I can beat it down–
that mighty spell I can speak.

153.

That eighth I know which to all men is
needful, and good to know:
when hatred runs high, heroes among,
their strife I can settle full soon.

154.

That ninth I know: if need there be
to guard a ship in a gale,
the wind I can calm, and the waves also,
and wholly soothe the sea.

155.

That tenth I know, if night-hags sporting
I scan aloft in the sky:
I scare them with spells so they scatter abroad,
heedless of their hides,
heedless of their haunts.

156.

That eleventh I know, if I am to lead
old friends to the fray:
under buckler I chant that briskly they fare
hale and whole to battle,
hale and whole from battle:
hale where ever they are.

157.

That twelfth I know, if on tree I see
a hanged one hoisted on high:
thus I write and the runes I stain
that down he drops
and tells me his tale.

158.

That thirteenth I know if a thane’s son I shall
wet with holy water:
never will he fall, though the fray be hot,
nor sink down, wounded by sword.

159.

That fourteenth I know, if to folk I shall
sing and say of the Gods:
Æsir and alfs know I altogether–
of unlearned few have that lore.

160.

That know I fifteenth which Thjóthrærir sang,
the dwarf, before Delling’s door:
gave to Æsir strength, to alfs victory
by his song, and insight to Othin.

161.

That sixteenth I know, if I seek me some maid,
to work my will with her:
the white-armed woman’s heart I bewitch,
and toward me I turn her thoughts.

162.

That seventeenth I know, (if the slender maid’s love
I have, and hold her to me:
this I sing to her) that she hardly will
leave me for other man’s love.

163.

In this lore wilt thou, Loddfáfnir, be
unversed forever and ay:
thy weal were it, if this wisdom thine–
’tis helpful, if heeded,
’tis needful, if known.

164.

That eighteenth I know which to none I will tell,
neither maid nor man’s wife–
’tis best warded if but one know it:
this speak I last of my spells–
but only to her in whose arms I lie,
or else to my sister also.

165.

Now are Hár’s sayings spoken in Hár’s hall,
of help to the sons of men,
of harm to the sons of etins;
hail to whoever spoke them, hail to whoever knows them!
Gain they who grasp them,
happy they who heed them!

Abecedarium Chronarium

Of all the Rune Poems I found, this one is my favorite. Rune poems are a way to remember the sound, shape, and symbolism of each individual Rune. The following poem is a modern take on the old poems.

  • Fehu

Cows, like gold,
Flow from the king;
Generous with wealth,
Avoiding the wolf.

  • Uruz

Aurochs show strength,
Drive out the dross.
The cosmic cow
Brings the rains.

  • Thurisa

Thorns are sharp,
Painful to sit upon.
Giants bring illness,
Bad luck to women.

  • Ansuz

Mouth begins language,
A wise start for all.
The All-Father comes
From the opening-place.

  • Raido

Riding upon a horse,
Who carries you forth.
Worse for him than you,
But speedy for both.

  • Kano

Torch blazes in the hall
Where folk find rest;
It burns to the touch,
And dangerous for children.

  • Gebo

Gifts are the responsibility
of those who have much.
Generous folk are loved
and known by all.

  • Wunjo

Joy comes from freedom,
Which lightens the load.
The gift of the unknown:
Not knowing brings bliss.

  • Hagalaz

Hail is coldest of grains,
And death of serpents.
It beats the earth,
And melts into water.

  • Nauthiz

Need gives no choice,
Hard work is its cure.
Children who learn from it
Will grow wise as they age.

  • Isa

Ice is beautiful,
A sight to behold;
It is the roof of rivers,
And a danger to cross.

  • Jera

Year is the patience,
The harvest we reap
At the end of our toils.
A blessing on the folk.

  • Eihwaz

Yew, greenest of trees:
Upheld by deep roots
You guard the fire
And the bow bends in you.

  • Perth

Dice-cup is the piece
Bringing laughter to all:
The luck of the roll
Shows them their fate.

  • Algiz

Elk-sedge, sharp-tongued:
Protected by blades,
Growing in waters
At the edge of the land.

  • Sowelu

Sun, the highest hope,
That lights the land;
Victory over the ice.
Shining ray, sky shield.

  • Teiwaz

Tir is the north star,
Guiding the folk aright.
Truth and justice shine
Where his hand is placed.

  • Berkana

Birch is the fertile one
Who grows when cut.
Branches reach skyward,
A strong crown of leaves.

  • Ehwaz

Horses, joy of princes,
Give rest to the folk.
Prideful, beautiful,
Sacred to the gods.

  • Mannaz

Man is joy to his fellow,
But one day he may fail.
Rejoice now in each other,
For the future is unknown.

  • Laguz

Water wells up from below,
Flows from the mountain,
Shines with bright gold;
Seek treasures within.

  • Inguz

Ing came from the east,
Hero and king to all.
Over the sea he traveled,
The world comes into bloom.

  • Dagaz

Day is given unto us,
Rich and poor alike:
Filled with mirth and song,
A boon to the pious.

  • Othila

Inheritance holds fast;
The ancestors bring forth
Wealth that never dies.
Joy and peace to the folk.

~ Michael J Dangler

Meditations on the Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem

Rune poems were created as mnemonic aids for remembering the rune symbols, their names, meanings and properties. There are a number of runic poems, and the meanings given vary slightly with each rendition and translation. This one is a modern meditation on the Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem.

  • Feoh: wealth

Wealth should flow,
constantly circulating
to promote the common good.
Sellers, buyers, investors, and the taxing authorities
portion out between them
the incomes of the folk.
Money sitting idle
causes only harm.

  • Ur: the wild ox

One must grab life’s challenges by the horn’s
to ride the waves of one’s wyrd.
Before such a powerful one
the world becomes one’s domain.

  • Thorn: the thorn

Computers crash
and planes fall out the skies.
That is the nature of things
and not always evil in intent.
Even good people sometimes cause
good people harm.

  • Os: language

The worlds came into being thru
the crashing sounds of fire and ice.
Sound and the maker sounds
the divine word is spoken.
Wisdom and tradition
give comfort to the folk
in times of great changes.

  • Rad: riding

When one sits in one’s home
everything looks so easy;
talk is easier than action.
To walk in another’s shoes
and do better,
that is a most difficult task.

  • Cen: the torch

The inner light which is never extinguished
brightens the dark weary world.
This body is a great hall;
the mind sits in the body’s high seat.
The call to faith
a torch carrying procession.

  • Gyfu: the gift

The giver and the giftee
form a circle of obligation.
As these are the bonds
which form true community.
Tho one can give too much
and receive that which one doesn’t want.

  • Wyn: joy

It is bliss to reach the state of happiness:
no suffering, no sorrows, great joy.
To have the necessities of life
and to be able to help others.
Even in a reversal of fortune
one who is truly free
can still find joy
in this world and in other realms.

  • Haegl: hail

Even a good life has its days.
As a hard rain good for the crops
turns to a hail storm that flattens them.
Even then the bad times don’t last;
even the thickest hail
melts away.

  • Nyd: need

Need is the manifestation of desire;
the bondage of will to the external object.
It can be oppressive
but it can also be the key to liberation.
In organizing with others
bonds of oppression can be broken.

  • Is: ice

Ice driven back by fire;
mists of crashing cosmic forces.
A space for the nine worlds was created
along with the body (ice)
and the energies (fire).

  • Ger: the year

The sky wolves have retreated;
Sunna warms the land below.
Freyr and Freya have
bestowed upon us a great bounty
for all the folk.

  • Eoh: the yew

Symbol of Yggdrasil
the yew is strong
and holds many worlds within its branches.
It offers much support
to those who grow it.

  • Peorth: the hall

In the shelter of the world tree
many great halls have been built.
So that all peoples can go
to be with their patron deity
according to the rules of their faith.
No one can be excluded from the protection of the Tree
save those who exclude themselves
by evil deeds.

  • Eolhx: a water plant that bites

Even a plant can cause harm
if used without caution;
danger lurks even in the safest place.

  • Sigel: the sun

Sunna is the goddess of hope.
She points out the way
and gives us the energy for life’s work.

  • Tir: a star

Tyr is the way.
He is the sky father
who guides us
thru life winding paths,
never abandons us
to darkness.

  • Beorc: the birch

Your green leaves bloom early
giving us knowledge
that Spring has come again.

  • Eh: the horse

Embodiment of godly power
thought the body of the horse
people share its might.

  • Man: the human being

Be happy in life.
Bring happiness to your friends
and relations.
Yet be aware that death is always waiting.

  • Lagu: the sea

The sea is the cauldron of chaos;
creative matrix,
playground of Ran,
from which human beings came.

  • Ing: the god of fertility

He moves across the lands;
visiting his farmer friends
giving gifts of great bounty.

Ethel: native land

One loves the land they live upon
sharing in its rights and duties.
Thus the land protects its friends
if its friends respect it.

  • Daeg: the day

We shine in the light of the deities.
Tho day is followed by night;
life by death,
we know that after night comes a new day.
So death is followed by new life
in whatever way that arises.

  • Ac: the oak

The daughter of the great tree
she provides us and animals
with food and shelter.

  • Aesc: the ash

Like the mighty ash
may we have the power
to withstand the attacks
of our enemies

  • Yr: the bow

Getting on a jet
I fly straight as an arrow
to my destination.

  • Iar: a sea creature

The world serpent has us all
in its grip;
lord of eternity
the cycle of birth and death.

  • Ear: the clay

Death is the end of all.
Even the most powerful
and wealthy people
are seized in the end.
Yet don’t despair,
for life goes on
and so do all which die
come back to some form of life.

Abcedarium Nordmanicum

There is yet another rune poem, the Abcedarium Nordmanicum, discovered in a manuscript written in the 9th century, written in high and low German. This is sometimes referred to as the “Old Swiss Rune Poem”. It relates to the Younger Futhark.

 

Fee first,
Aurochs after,
Thurs the third stave,
The Åse is above him,
Wheel is written last,
Then cleaves cancre;
Hail has need;
Ice, year, and sun.
Tiu, birch and man in the middle;
Water the bright,
Yew holds all.

The Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem

Rune poems were created as mnemonic aids for remembering the rune symbols, their names, meanings and properties. There are a number of them, and the meanings given vary slightly with each rendition and translation. This comes from the Anglo-Saxon tradition, and has been rendered in modern English.

  • Feoh

Wealth is a comfort to all men;
yet must every man bestow it freely,
if he wish to gain honour in the sight of the Lord.

  • Ur

The aurochs is proud and has great horns;
it is a very savage beast and fights with its horns;
a great ranger of the moors, it is a creature of mettle.

  • Thorn

The thorn is exceedingly sharp,
an evil thing for any knight to touch,
uncommonly severe on all who sit among them.

  • Os

The mouth is the source of all language,
a pillar of wisdom and a comfort to wise men,
a blessing and a joy to every knight.

  • Rad

Riding seems easy to every warrior while he is indoors
and very courageous to him who traverses the high-roads
on the back of a stout horse.

  • Cen

The torch is known to every living man by its pale, bright flame;
it always burns where princes sit within.

  • Gyfu

Generosity brings credit and honour, which support one’s dignity;
it furnishes help and subsistence
to all broken men who are devoid of aught else.

  • Wynn

Bliss he enjoys who knows not suffering, sorrow nor anxiety,
and has prosperity and happiness and a good enough house.

  • Haegl

Hail is the whitest of grain;
it is whirled from the vault of heaven
and is tossed about by gusts of wind
and then it melts into water.

  • Nyd

Trouble is oppressive to the heart;
yet often it proves a source of help and salvation
to the children of men, to everyone who heeds it betimes.

  • Is

Ice is very cold and immeasurably slippery;
it glistens as clear as glass and most like to gems;
it is a floor wrought by the frost, fair to look upon.

  • Ger

Summer is a joy to men, when God, the holy King of Heaven,
suffers the earth to bring forth shining fruits
for rich and poor alike.

  • Eoh

The yew is a tree with rough bark,
hard and fast in the earth, supported by its roots,
a guardian of flame and a joy upon an estate.

  • Peordh

Peorth is a source of recreation and amusement to the great,
where warriors sit blithely together in the banqueting-hall.

  • Eolh

The Eolh-sedge is mostly to be found in a marsh;
it grows in the water and makes a ghastly wound,
covering with blood every warrior who touches it.

  • Sigel

The sun is ever a joy in the hopes of seafarers
when they journey away over the fishes’ bath,
until the courser of the deep bears them to land.

  • Tir

Tir is a guiding star; well does it keep faith with princes;
it is ever on its course over the mists of night and never fails.

  • Beorc

The poplar bears no fruit; yet without seed it brings forth suckers,
for it is generated from its leaves.
Splendid are its branches and gloriously adorned
its lofty crown which reaches to the skies.

  • Eh

The horse is a joy to princes in the presence of warriors.
A steed in the pride of its hoofs,
when rich men on horseback bandy words about it;
and it is ever a source of comfort to the restless.

  • Mann

The joyous man is dear to his kinsmen;
yet every man is doomed to fail his fellow,
since the Lord by his decree will commit the vile carrion to the earth.

  • Lagu

The ocean seems interminable to men,
if they venture on the rolling bark
and the waves of the sea terrify them
and the courser of the deep heed not its bridle.

  • Ing

Ing was first seen by men among the East-Danes,
till, followed by his chariot,
he departed eastwards over the waves.
So the Heardingas named the hero.

  • Ethel

An estate is very dear to every man,
if he can enjoy there in his house
whatever is right and proper in constant prosperity.

  • Dæg

Day, the glorious light of the Creator, is sent by the Lord;
it is beloved of men, a source of hope and happiness to rich and poor,
and of service to all.

  • Ac

The oak fattens the flesh of pigs for the children of men.
Often it traverses the gannet’s bath,
and the ocean proves whether the oak keeps faith
in honourable fashion.

  • Æsc

The ash is exceedingly high and precious to men.
With its sturdy trunk it offers a stubborn resistance,
though attacked by many a man.

  • Yr

Yr is a source of joy and honour to every prince and knight;
it looks well on a horse and is a reliable equipment for a journey.

  • Ior

Iar is a river fish and yet it always feeds on land;
it has a fair abode encompassed by water, where it lives in happiness.

  • Ear

The grave is horrible to every knight,
when the corpse quickly begins to cool
and is laid in the bosom of the dark earth.
Prosperity declines, happiness passes away
and covenants are broken.

From : Runic and Heroic Poems, by Bruce Dickins.

The Icelandic Rune Poem

Rune poems were created as mnemonic aids for remembering the rune symbols, their names, meanings and properties. This one has been rendered in modern English.

  • – Wealth

Source of discord among kinsmen
and fire of the sea
and path of the serpent.

  • Úr – Shower

Lamentation of the clouds
and ruin of the hay-harvest
and abomination of the shepherd.

  • Thurs – Giant

Torture of women
and cliff-dweller
and husband of a giantess.

  • Óss – God

Aged Gautr
and prince of Ásgardr
and lord of Vallhalla.

  • Reid – Riding

Joy of the horsemen
and speedy journey
and toil of the steed.

  • Kaun – Ulcer

Disease fatal to children
and painful spot
and abode of mortification.

  • Hagall – Hail

Cold grain
and shower of sleet
and sickness of serpents.

  • Naud – Constraint

Grief of the bond-maid
and state of oppression
and toilsome work.

  • Iss – Ice

Bark of rivers
and roof of the wave
and destruction of the doomed.

  • Ár – Plenty

Boon to men
and good summer
and thriving crops.

  • Sól – Sun

Shield of the clouds
and shining ray
and destroyer of ice.

  • Tyr  – Tyr (The God)

God with one hand
and leavings of the wolf
and prince of temples.

  • Bjarken – Birch

Leafy twig
and little tree
and fresh young shrub.

  • Madr – Man

Delight of man
and augmentation of the earth
and adorner of ships.

  • Lögr – Water

Eddying stream
and broad geyser
and land of the fish.

  • Yr – Yew

Bent bow
and brittle iron
and giant of the arrow.

From: Runic and Heroic Poems by Bruce Dickins

The Old Norse Rune Poem

Rune poems were created as mnemonic aids for remembering the rune symbols, their names, meanings and properties. Here is a very old Runic poem:

  • Fe 

Wealth is a source of discord among kinsmen;
the wolf lives in the forest.

  • Ur 

Dross comes from bad iron;
the reindeer often races over the frozen snow.

  • Thurs 

Giant causes anguish to women;
misfortune makes few men cheerful.

  • As 

Estuary is the way of most journeys;
but a scabbard is of swords.

  • Reidh 

Riding is said to be the worst thing for horses;
Reginn forged the finest sword.

  • Kaun 

Ulcer is fatal to children;
death makes a corpse pale.

  • Hagall  

Hail is the coldest of grain;
Christ created the world of old.

  • Naudhr 

Constraint gives scant choice;
a naked man is chilled by the frost.

  • Isa 

Ice we call the broad bridge;
the blind man must be led.

  • Ar 

Plenty is a boon to men;
I say that Frodi was generous.

  • Sol 

Sun is the light of the world;
I bow to the divine decree.

  • Tyr 

Tyr is a one-handed god;
often has the smith to blow.

  • Bjarkan 

Birch has the greenest leaves of any shrub;
Loki was fortunate in his deceit.

  • Madhr  

Man is an augmentation of the dust;
great is the claw of the hawk.

  • Logr

A waterfall is a River which falls from a mountain-side;
but ornaments are of gold.

  • Yr

Yew is the greenest of trees in winter;
it is wont to crackle when it burns.

From: Runic and Heroic Poems by Bruce Dickins

The Runes of Power

From the “Poetic” Edda, one of the primary written sources for Norse mythology, here is one translation of the Havamàl which speaks about the runes and runic power.

Do you know, how to carve them?
Do you know, how to read them?
Do you know, how to color them?
Do you know, how to understand them?
Do you know, how to pray?
Do you know, how to sacrifice?
Do you know, how to send?
Do you know, how to discard?

Better not to pray at all,
than to sacrifice too much.
A gift requires a gift in return.
Better not to send at all,
than to counteract too much.

Thus carved Thund before time,
when he rose, when he returned.

The Havamàl

The Havamàl is part of the Elder or “Poetic” Edda, which is one of the primary written sources for Norse mythology. This excerpt from the W. H. Auden and P. B. Taylor translation of the Havamàl contains Odin’s telling of how he obtained the runes and runic power.

Wounded I hung on a wind-swept gallows
For nine long nights,
Pierced by a spear, pledged to Odin,
Offered, myself to myself
The wisest know not from whence spring
The roots of that ancient rood.
They gave me no bread,
They gave me no mead,
I looked down;
With a loud cry
I took up runes;
From that tree I fell.

Nine lays of power
I learned from the famous Bolthor, Bestla’ s father:
He poured me a draught of precious mead,
Mixed with magic Odrerir.

Waxed and throve well;
Word from word gave words to me,
Deed from deed gave deeds to me.

Runes you will find, and readable staves,
Very strong staves,
Very stout staves,
Staves that Bolthor stained,
Made by mighty powers,
Graven by the prophetic God.

For the Gods by Odin, for the Elves by Dain,
By Dvalin, too, for the Dwarves,
By Asvid for the hateful Giants,
And some I carved myself:
Thund, before man was made, scratched them,
Who rose first, fell thereafter.

Know how to cut them,
know how to read them,
Know how to stain them,
know how to prove them,
Know how to evoke them,
know how to score them,
Know how to send them,
know how to send them.

Better not to ask than to over-pledge
As a gift that demands a gift.
Better not to send
Than to slay too many.

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