Earendel, the Radiant Star of the Dawn

Anglo-Saxon Runes

It is thought by some that what we know as the Anglo-Saxon Runes were brought into the British Isles by the Angles, Saxons and Jutes. The rune finds brought by these people are not surprisingly found almost exclusively within the borders of England.

The real questions are, from where, and why did they originate.

Anglo-Saxon historical texts tell us that Woden the All-Father hung on the World Tree, (Eormensyl) for nine days and nights, impaled upon his own spear, a sacrifice "himself to himself". Woden did this to gain knowledge of the runes, and also to gain nine charms. Woden sought this knowledge to be used as tools to aid in maintaining equilibrium and fending off chaos within the cosmos.

The runes are used in galdr, omens and divination. They can be used to create outcomes, predict outcomes and to protect, entice, prevent harm or heal.

The runes are simple in design; they are neat, short lines that run straight or at a slight angle, and made so by design. Germanic Heathens didn't have pen, pencil or parchment like we do today, so their form of writing was to carve runes upon objects made of materials such as stone or wood or bone. The more curve there was to a symbol, the harder it was to carve.

Surviving examples of runic symbols show inscriptions upon rocks, jewelry, crosses, urns and tombs just to name a few. These inscriptions can have mundane or magical purposes. The more magical side of runes is that they were more than likely used for the purpose of divination or giving an object, such as a farm tool or weapon, some form of power or strength, possibly from the inscriber's patron god.

They were a very important part of our ancestor's lives and are used today to protect, heal, strengthen, and foretell events yet to occur.

Below you will find an illustration of each rune, the old English portion of the Anglo Saxon rune poem for that rune, an English translation for each respective rune, and a brief summation of the primary rune characteristic.


	Feoh byþ frofur fira gehwylcum, sceal ðeah manna gehwylc miclum hyt dælan gif he wile for dryhtne domes hleotan. Cattle are compensation for everyone, though each man shall greatly share his if he will be awarded honors from his lord. Feoh : Cattle
	Ur byþ anmod ond oferhyrned, felafrecne deor feohteþ mid hornum, mære morstapa þæt is módig wuht. The aurochs is brave and has horns above, this very fierce animal fights with its horns, a great wanderer of the moors, it is a proud creature. Ur : Aurochs (Ox)

	þorn byþ ðearle scearp ðegna gehwylcum anfeng is yfel, ungemetum reþe, manna gehwelcum ðe him mid resteð. Thorn is exceedingly sharp for every servant seizing it is evil, and it is extremely harsh to each man who rests among it. Thorn : Thorn Tree

	Os byþ ordfruma ælere spræce, wisdomes wraþu ond witena frofur and eorla gehwam eadnys ond tohiht. The god is the creator of all language, wisdom's foundation and consolation of sages and every man's joy and trust. Os : A God

	Rád byþ on recyde rinca gehwylcum sefte ond swiþhwæt ðamðe sitteþ on ufan meare mægenheardum ofer milpaþas. The ride up to every man's hall is comfortable and very fast for he who sits high on a mighty horse over the miles. Rad : Ride

	Cen byþ cwicera gehwam cuþ on fyre, blac ond beorhtlic byrneþ oftust ðær hi æþelingas inne restaþ. The pine is a tree known by all for its flame, shining and brilliant it often burns where the people relax inside. Cen : Pine

	Gyfu gumena byþ gleng and herenys, wraþu and wyrþscipe and wræcna gehwam ar and ætwist ðe byþ oþra leas. A gift from others is an honor and praise, a help and of worth, and for sojourners everywhere a benefit and presence that is otherwise missing. Gyfu : Gift

	Wynn brúceþ þe can wana lýt, sáres and sorge, and him selfa hæfþ blæd and blysse and éac burga geniht. Joy possesses him who knows little want, illnesses and sorrows, and himself has prosperity and happiness and also a sufficient dwelling. Wynn : Joy

	Hagol biþ hwítost corna, hwyrft hit of heofones lyfte, wealcaþ hit windes scúra, weorþeþ hit tó wætere syððan. Hail is the whitest of seeds, its circling comes from the lofty sky, it tosses in the wind's shower, it then becomes water afterwards. Hagol : Hail

	Níed biþ nearu on bréostan, weorþeþ híe þeah oft níþa bearnum tó helpe and tó hæle gehwæþre, gif híe his hlystaþ æror. Need is oppressive on the heart, although it often befalls this affliction of men to help and to heal somewhat, if it is heard beforehand. Nied : Need

	Is byþ oferceald, ungemetum slidor, glisnaþ glæshlútor, gimmum gelícost, flór forste geworuht, fæger ansíene. Ice is extremely cold, very slippery, it glistens clear, like precious gems, a floor wrought by frost, fair thing seen. Is : Ice

	Géar biþ gumena hiht, þonne god læteþ, hálig heofones cyning, hrúsan sellan beorhte bléda beornum and þearfum. The year is mankind's joy, when the god bequeaths, ruler of the sacred sky, the earth offers splendid crops for the well-born and the poor. Gear : Harvest

	Éoh biþ útan unsméþe tréowe, heard hrúsan fæst, hierde fyres, wyrtruman underwreþed, wynn on éþle. On the outside, the yew is a rough tree, hard and secured in the earth, keeper of fires, sustained by deep roots, it is a pleasure to have on one's land. Eoh : Yew

	Peorþ biþ symble plega and hleahtor, wlancum þar wigan sittaþ on béorsele blíþe ætsamne. Gaming is always sport and laughter, where boastful they sit to make war in the banquet hall cheerfully together. Peorth : Gaming

	Eolh-secg eard hæfþ oftost on fenne, weaxe on wætere, wundaþ grimme, blóde breneð beorna gehwilcne þe him ænigne onfeng gedéð. The elk-sedge is native to the marsh, it grows in the water, it can wound cruelly, the blood of any man burns who in any way dares to seize it. Eolh-Secg : Elk-Sedge

	Sigel sæmannum simble biþ on hihte, þonne híe hine fériaþ ofer fisces bæþ, oþ híe brimhengest bringeþ tó lande. The sun for sailors is always hoped for, when they depart over the fishes' bath, until their ship carries them to land. Sigel : Sun

	Tir biþ tácna sum, healdeð tréowa wel wiþ æþelingas, á biþ on færylde, ofer nihta genipu næfre swíceþ . The north star is one signal, it holds faith well with nobles, it is always on track, throughout night's darkness it never deceives. Tir : The North Star

	Beorc biþ bléda léas, bereþ efne swá þéah tánas bútan túdor, biþ on telgum wlitig, héah on helme hrysted fægere, gehlóden léafum, lyfte getenge. The birch is without fruit, it bears even so, It bears shoots instead of fruit, its branches are beautiful, high in the tree tops decorated attractively, laden with foliage, lofty pressing. Beorc : Birch

	Éh biþ for eorlum æþelinga wynn, hors hófum wlanc, ðær him hæleþ ymbe, welege on wicgum, wrixlaþ spræce, and biþ unstyllum æfre frofur. The horse is for lords the joy of the aristocracy, horse hooves boastful, where around the hero, prosperous in respect to horses, it exchanges discourse, and its restlessness is ever a help. Eh : Horse

	Mann biþ on myrgþe his mágan léof, sceal þéah ánre gehwilc óðrum swícan, for þám dryhten wille dóme síne, þæt earme flæsc eorþan betæcan. A joyful person is beloved of his kin, shall though each one depart away, for moreover the lord wills his fate, the destitute flesh be delivered to the earth. Mann : Human

	Lagu biþ léodum langsum geþúht, gif híe sculun néþan on nacan tealtum, and híe sæýþa swíþe brégaþ, and sé brimhengest brídles ne gíemeð. The sea seems of endless length to people, if they must venture on unstable ships, and the sea waves terrify them exceedingly, and the ship does not heed its reins. Lagu : Sea or Water

	Ing wæs ærest mid Eastdenum gesewen secgun, oþ hé siððan eft ofer wæg gewát, wæn æfter ran, þus heardingas þone hæle nemdon. Ing was first seen among the East Danes it is said, until he later went back over the sea, his chariot following after, thus the brave men named that hero. Ing : The god Ingui

	Dæg biþ dryhtnes sond, déore mannum, mære metodes léoht, myrgþ and tóhiht, éadgum and earmum, eallum bryce. The day is the god's ambassador, beloved of men, the great god's light, mirth and also hope, prosperous and poor, all enjoy it. Dæg : Day

	Éthel byþ oferleof æghwylcum men, gif hé mót þær rihtes and gerisena on brúcan on bolde blædum oftost. The home is very dear to all people, If there they have the opportunity for justice and honesty while enjoying prosperity in the dwelling most often. Ethel : Home

	Ác biþ on eorþan ielda bearnum flæsces fódor, féreþ gelóme ofer ganotes bæþ. gársecg fandaþ hwæþer ác hæbbe æþele tréowe. The oak is on Earth for the children of men, meat-animal's fodder, it travels often over the gannet's bath. The sea tests whether the oak possesses noble truth. Ac : Oak

	Æsc biþ oferhéah, ieldum déore, stiþ on staþole, stede rihte hielt, þéah him feohtan on fíras manige. The ash is lofty, glorified by men, stiff in its trunk, it holds its position exactly, although it fights against many men. Æsc : Ash Tree

	Yr biþ æþelinga and eorla gehwæs wynn and weorþmynd, biþ on wicge fæger, fæstlíc on færelde, fyrdgeatwa sum. A bow is for noblemen and warriors everywhere joy and a mark of distinction, upon a fair horse, steadfast on its course, a part of the war-gear. Yr : Bow

	Ior biþ éafisc, and þéah a brúceþ, fódres on foldan, hafaþ fægerne eard, wætre beworpen, þær hé wynnum léofaþ. The beaver is a river fish, and though he resides there, he forages on land, he has a fair dwelling, water surrounding, that place he joyfully holds dear. Ior : Beaver

	Ear byþ egle eorla gehwilcun, þonn fæstlice flæsc onginneþ, hræw cólian, hrúsan ceosan blác to gebeddan; bléda gedréosaþ, wynna gewítaþ, wera geswícaþ. The ground is loathsome to all men, yet certainly the body will be set upon there, the corpse grows cold, the soil accepts its pale bedfellow; leaves fall, pleasures depart, men cease to be. Ear : Land, Ground