The Elder Futhark runes are one of if not the oldest form of the runic alphabets, used by ancient Germanic and Proto-Norse peoples long before the Viking Age. While the Vikings themselves actually switched to the “Younger Futhark” (a shorter alphabet), and the Anglo-Saxons expanded theirs into the “Futhorc,” the Elder Futhark is the set most commonly used for divination today.
Historically, runes were a practical writing system—used for everything from grave markers to mundane graffiti (like “So-and-so was here”). But there are also clear instances of them being used for magic or charms. In some cases, the way they were carved-written suggests the writer was venting or focusing intent, much like we do today. Cultures change, but human nature doesn’t.
Just for fun, I’ve created this page to give yourself oracle readings using Norse runes. Hover over each rune to see it’s meaning. Or get yourself a reading below.1
English Name: Flow
The characteristics of this Rune are water, intuition and the ebb and flow of emotions, relations and vocations. Particularly, it announces the satisfaction of emotional needs.
In spite of the fact that everything flows appropriately at this moment, it often signals the need to cleanse, revalue, reorganize, recenter. It indicates that the intuitive aspect of your nature is awake, and therefore Laguz advises you to harness it.