Exploring Rune Magick: Fehu
A rune is a secret, a mystery, offering knowing and awareness of self, others and the world we share. From Northern Magic: Rune Mysteries and Shamanism by Edred Thorsson:
The rune-staves are literally and symbolically the bridge between the inner tree of the soul and the outer tree of the world-both of which are modeled on the Yggdrasill pattern. (1)
And from Diana L. Paxson:
Runes you must seek and staves of counsel Most mighty staves Strongest staves That Fimbulthulr [Mighty Speaker] stained that the great gods fashioned That were graven and spelled by Hrópt [one who prays]. (“ Hávamál”: 141) (2)
It’s said that to understand runes, one must fully embrace their essence with diligent study. Odin received the wisdom of the runes while hanging upside down for nine days from Yggdrasil, the Norse tree of life. After all that, it’s the least an aspiring runemaster can do. Edred Thorsson quotes Odin’s journey from The Havamal in Futhark: A Handbook of Rune Magic:
I know, that I hung on the windy tree all of the nights nine, wounded by spear and given to Ódhinn; myself to myself, on that tree, which no man knows, from what roots it rises. They dealt me no bread nor drinking horn, I looked down, I took up the runes I took them screaming, I fell back from there. (3)
So with respect to Odin’s transformational experience, this begins my series on the Elder Futhark, its various interpretations and how each rune can be used in magick and divination. This is a personal quest, and one that will leave out all sorts of things other authors have included. That will confound and irritate some, but the authors I plan to quote from have done such amazing work, it’s in the best interest of all to read their work again and again. So, this series will be more about the understanding that I’ve gained over the years. I’ve been in love with runes for as long as I can remember. I love each shape and the power that resonates with them. There’s a Younger Futhark that has less runes, but I’ve never worked with them; however, I do plan to explore them next.
The Elder Futhark consists of twenty-four runes. A blank rune was added more recently, apparently to represent Wyrd, or the unknown. However, the Elder Futhark is broken down into three groups, called aetts, and a twenty-fifth rune definitely doesn’t fit. I’ve never used it, and evidently others who work with runes don’t use it either.
The aetts consist of eight runes each, named either for the first rune in the group (Fehu, Hagalaz, and Tiwaz), or for Norse deities (Freyja/Freyr, Hel, and Tyr). Tarot is similarly divided into three groupings. Interaction with self, the world and with others is the common theme. In Odin’s Gateways, Katie Gerrard tells us:
The first aett of the Elder Futhark is mostly associated with individuals; personal wealth, bravery, anger, wisdom, sacrifice, and joy. The second aett is associated more with the natural world; winter, spring, trees, and the sun. The third aett seems to be associated with abstract concepts; justice, motherhood, mankind, family, beginnings and endings.(4)
I shall begin with Fehu, the first rune of Freyja’s Aett. Traditional meanings of Fehu include cattle as transient or moveable wealth. It also represents productive creativity and life force. In magick, Fehu is used as a sending rune, used to increase magickal effect, whether used individually or as part of a bindrune. Thorsson emphasizes this as well in Futhark: A Handbook of Rune Magic, when he writes that Fehu “strengthens psychic powers”, and acts as a “channel for power transference or projection”. (5)
A rune of Elemental Fire, Fehu’s productive energy can be used to stimulate and quicken all magickal workings. It’s also useful to attract wealth and increase one’s status. I’ve used it in a bindrune to promote growth in my garden, hanging them in the greenhouses and garden spaces I have.
I found an interesting perspective on the relationship between Fehu and wealth in Tyriel’s, The Book of Rune Secrets. It suggests that how we express wealth can either unify or separate us.
Fehu challenges us to think differently about wealth, and about ownership and debt. Ownership could be viewed as a form of violence. It requires force on the fringes of any system that makes it central, and that force alienates rather than integrates, separates rather than unifies. In large systems, like nations, it causes war and poverty, so the violence of ownership is very real. (6)
Tyriel makes a valid point, one that we see playing out in the world today. Fehu’s power is catalytic, therefore care must be taken in its expression. Tyriel suggests that Fehu’s greatest power is in the actualization and growth of the individual:
The energy of Fehu flows from dependence on the herd toward independence as an individual. When we seek such independence, it is a movement both into ourselves and outward into the world. (7)
Fehu can be drawn or carved and consecrated with one’s intent. If fashioned into a talisman, Fehu can be carried or worn to foster creativity, wealth and success. It can also be drawn on anything that needs a little boost of creative energy, or to bring wealth. Fehu can be combined with other runes to stimulate their collective action. Below is the bindrune I created for the garden. The collective energies of Inguz, Uruz, Jera, and Wunjo are increased by the addition of Fehu in the center, providing impetus for growth and a successful harvest. A witch’s rune for harvest reinforces the energy on the reverse side.
When I cast Fehu in a runecasting, my initial thought is on finances, however the surrounding runes are always a factor. Fehu could simply be in its energy sending role, there to increase the effect of the other runes in the runecasting. If in the first position, I immediately wonder what Fehu’s up to. What is it trying to intensify? The remaining runes reveal that answer. But as always, a runecasting is an interactive blending of individual runic energies, and how each plays off of the other must be considered. Further insight can be gained by looking at which of the three aetts the runes fall in. If most or all of the runes fall in one aett, then I view that as the direction of the energy, towards self, other or the world at large. Additional runes can be drawn for further clarification if needed. There’s always more to learn in a runecasting.
We begin our journey in Fehu learning the value of wealth in all its expressions. We learn to stimulate our own process of creativity and growth by heeding its message. In my case, I had an extended growing season and a record harvest.
Next up..Uruz!
~Blessed be the runes!
References:
5. Thorsson, Edred (2012-07-01). Futhark: A Handbook of Rune Magic (Kindle Locations 521-524). Red Wheel Weiser. Kindle Edition.
7. Tyriel (2012-11-29). The Book of Rune Secrets (Kindle Locations 348-349). Rune Secrets Media. Kindle Edition.
If anyone intends to either quote something I've written, or intends to post any part of my work, including my videos, on any other site, please ask permission before doing so. Any reposting of my work without permission can be considered as copyright infringement, so please ask. And if I give permission, you MUST clearly reference my name as author and my website. No exceptions. The words an author writes are sacred. Unapproved use is not.
Thank you... Jan Erickson
