Futhark Rune tables in unicode for Vitkar magic, Hedge Magic and fun

As part of the all Ars Magica Open License in markdown project (and for my own interest in runes), I recreated (and corrected) the runes tables from Hedge Magic Revised with the correct unicode for all the runes. Having this available might be useful if you're working up some rune magic in electronic text at any point (or write a letter from norse faeries - I know I do haha).

The Older Futhark

The three aetts of the Elder Futhark are named after three gods, each one associated with the first letter in that aett. Freya was a Norse goddess of love and marriage, Heimdall was the god charged with guarding the rainbow bridge that leads from earth to Asgard, and Tyr was the god of justice and battle.

Freya's Aett

Letter Rune Name Meaning Effects
F Fehu "Wealth" Wealth, domesticated animals
U Uruz "Auroch" Endurance, the wild
Th Thurisaz "Ogre" Malice, shapeshifting
A Ansuz "Mouth" Communication, teaching
R Raido "Riding" Travel, knowledge
K Kauno "Pain" Fire, sores
G Gebo "Gift" Debt, sacrifice
W Wunjo "Joy" Emotion, intoxication

Heimdall's Aett

Letter Rune Name Meaning Effects
H Hagalaz "Hail" Weather, illness
N Naudiz "Need" Trouble, hardship
I Isa "Ice" Cold, stasis
J Jera "Year" Harvest, bounty
Y Ihwaz "Yew" Patience, the dead
P Perth "Cup" Chance, secrets
Z Algiz "Elk" Protection, the hunt
S Sowilo "Sun" Triumph, virtue

Tyr's Aett

Letter Rune Name Meaning Effects
T Tiwaz "Tyr" Justice, battle
B Berkanan "Birch" Health, youth
E Ehwaz "Horse" Speed, relationships
M Mannaz "Man" Cooperation, duty
L Laguz "Water" Ocean, ships
Ng Ingwaz "Lord" Family, security
D Dagaz "Day" Time, growth
O Othila "Inheritance" Lands, possessions

The Anglo-Saxon Futhorc

In England, the rune wizards extended their alphabet. Scholars agree that it included the first 28 runes, and the last five may also have been included depending on era and area. Magi are certain that none of these vitkir remain in the British Isles in the 1200s, all of them having been eliminated in the war against Damhan-Alladh centuries ago, though evidence of their magic may still remain.

Letter Rune Name Pronounced Meaning Elder Futhark
F Feoh FAY-oh "Wealth" Fehu
U Ur OOR "Auroch" Uruz
Th Thorn THORN "Thorn" Thurisaz
R Rad RAWD "Riding" Raido
C Cen CHEN "Torch" Kauno
Gy Gyfu GUY-voo "Gift" Gebo
W Wynn WIN "Joy" Wunjo
H Haegl HA-wull "Hail" Hagalaz
N Nyd NID "Need" Naudiz
I Is EES "Ice" Isa
J Ger YER "Year" Jera
Y Eoh EE-oh "Yew" Ihwaz
P Peordh POHR-th "Cup" Perth
X Eolhx OHLHK "Elk" Algiz
S Sigel SEE-wel "Sun" Sowilo
T Tir TEER "Star" Tiwaz
B Beorc BORK "Birch" Berkanan
E Eh EH "Horse" Ehwaz
M Mann MAHN "Man" Mannaz
L Lagu LAH-wuh "Water" Laguz
Ng Ing ING "Hero" Ingwaz
D Daeg DAY "Day" Dagaz
Oe Ethel EE-thell "Homeland" Othila
A Ac AWK "Oak"
Ae Aesc ASH "Ash"
Yr Yr YAHR "Bow"
Ea Ear EAR "Grave"
G Gar GAR "Spear"
K Calc KAHLK "Chalk"
Q Cweorth QUORTH "Fire twirl"
St Stan STAYN "Stone"
Or Ior OHR "Water monster"

The Younger Futhark

In Denmark and Germany, the Futhark began to develop over time, both as it was used to communicate and to work magic. Many of the names of the runes and their meanings changed as the language became condensed, and the runemasters eventually settled on a set of 16 runes instead of the original 24. Instead of three aetts made up of eight runes, in this system the first aett had only six runes and the other two had five. Missing are Gebo, Wunjo, Perth, Algiz, Ehwaz, Ingwaz, Dagz, and Othila. This variation came to be known as the Younger Futhark.

Letter Rune Name Pronounced Meaning Elder Futhark
F Fe FAY "Wealth" Fehu
U Ur OOR "Drizzle" Uruz
Th Thurs THURZ "Ogre" Thurisaz
A Ass AHSS "God" Ansuz
R Reidh RAYTH "Ride" Raido
K Kaun COWN "Sore" Kauno
H Hagall HAH-gall "Hail" Hagalaz
N Naudhr NOW-thur "Need" Naudiz
I Iss EES "Ice" Isa
A Ar AHR "Year" Jera
S Sol SOHL "Sun" Sowilo
T Tyr TEER "Tyr" Tiwaz
B Bjarkan BYAR-kahn "Birch" Berkanan
M Madhr mah-THUR "Man" Mannaz
L Logr lah-GHUR "Water" Laguz
Y Yr EAR "Yew" Ihwaz
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Fyi, Hedge Magic Revised is one of the reviewed books in the markdown project, and you can download it from there. All Official Open License Content in Markdown format on Github

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Cool! To my shame, I haven't even considered this option when I converted these tables.