4/29/2024 0 Comments Norse sigil of protectionThe Younger Futhark contains 16 runes reflecting changes in language and society during the Viking Age: ᛜ Inguz - Fertility, new beginnings, creativity ᛗ Mannaz - Relationships, society, friendship ᛊ Sowilo - Success, goals achieved, life force ᛉ Algiz - Protection, shielding, guardian ᛇ Eihwaz - Endings, transformation, yew tree ᚾ Nauthiz - Survival, endurance, adaptability ᚺ Hagalaz - Disruptive change, destruction ᚲ Kenaz - Vision, creativity, inspiration ᚱ Raidho - Journey, momentum, right timing ᚬ Ansuz - Wisdom, communication, Odin's blessing ᚦ Thurisaz - Conflict, overcome obstacles The names of the runes reveal their significance. The Elder Futhark contains 24 runes representing distinct sounds and concepts. After the start of the Viking Age in 793 CE, the Younger Futhark runic alphabet developed as a more streamlined writing system better suited for recording the Old Norse language. It had 24 letters divided into three groupings called aettir. The earliest runes belonged to the Elder Futhark, used from around 100-800 CE by Germanic tribes. Several versions of the runic alphabet emerged over centuries of use across Northern Europe. Odin's mythic discovery of the runes linked them to magic, prophecy, and the cosmic forces governing fate. Hanging upside-down from Yggdrasil, Odin received prophetic insights from the Well of Urd below, one of the "wells of fate" holding knowledge of destiny. This myth establishes the runes as a gift from Odin obtained through sacrifice. No bread did they give me nor a drink from a horn, downwards I peered I took up the runes, screaming I took them, then I fell back from there. "I know that I hung on a windy tree nine long nights, wounded with a spear, dedicated to Odin, myself to myself, on that tree of which no man knows from where its roots run." The Old Norse poem Havamal describes Odin's epic quest to obtain the runes: He reached down and grasped them, screaming in pain as their power flowed into him. At last, Odin perceived the runes scattered below him. He fasted and suffered this ordeal as a sacrifice to gain sacred knowledge. Seeking divine wisdom, Odin hung upside-down from the cosmic World Tree Yggdrasil for nine days and nights, pierced by his own spear. According to legend, the runes were discovered by Odin, chief among the Norse gods. Norse mythology provides an origin story for the runic alphabet which establishes its connection to magic. The Mythic Origins of Runes Link Them to Magic Let's explore the mythic origins and enduring meanings of these ancient symbols that continue to fascinate today. Despite centuries of suppression under Christianity, runes have undergone a modern renaissance among Pagans who use them for divination, protection, and spellcasting. Runes were not simply letters - they were symbols infused with a deep magic that could influence destiny itself. To the ancient Norse and Germanic peoples, runes represented the elemental forces that wove the very tapestry of fate. Runes hold an enduring mystical allure across 1500 years of history. Unlock the Ancient Secrets of Norse Runes: The Complete Guide to Viking Runes and Runic Alphabets
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