# The Northumbrian Runes: Historical Analysis and Critical Context Based on the scholarship of RI Page (*An Introduction to English Runes*), Nigel Pennick (*Runic Lore and Legend: Wyrdstaves of Old Northumbria*), and Molly Khan's "Heathen at Heart" series on Patheos. --- ## Historical Context The runes have been used throughout the Germanic world since their invention in the Migration Age, and each place and time used different runes or used existing ones in different ways. The Younger Futhark, a runic set of only 16 letters, was used beginning in the 9th century in Nordic countries. The Norwegian and Icelandic Rune poems were created from the Younger Futhark. The Anglo-Saxon Futhorc began in Frisia as 26 runes, and then expanded to 29 runes with the Anglo-Saxons in Britain. We know these 29 from the Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem, recorded in the 7th century. The Northumbrian Runes are a set of 33, containing four additional runes said to have been recorded in Northumbria. However, according to RI Page, it is likely that these additional four runes are later inventions by rune enthusiasts, after the popular use of runes had declined. This does not make them unusable in modern practice, but practitioners should be aware that their meanings are largely speculative rather than historically documented. There is very little to go on when interpreting these runes in divination or for using them in magic. Nigel Pennick's *Runic Lore and Legend* is a collection of his own ideas largely unrelated to history. Most descriptions of the Northumbrian runes on the internet seem to derive from this book. --- ## ᛢ CWEORTH ### The Problem of Translation The translation given on most websites refers to a fire, especially a ritual fire. This very likely comes from Nigel Pennick's *Runic Lore and Legend*, where he gives the translation as "ritual fire" and posits it as an opposite of Nyd, the need fire. **There is absolutely no historical basis for this.** Pennick tries to justify it by linking Cweorth (which represents a "q" sound) to the Ogham letter Ceirt. This is questionable at best. Ceirt represents a "q" sound too, but also a "p" sound, making it just as likely to be related to the rune Peorth. Furthermore, Ceirt's meanings and translations also have nothing to do with fires, ritual or not. We have no translations of Cweorth; it seems to not actually be an Old English word. RI Page suggests that it was invented as a rhyme for the rune Peorth — in a typical Latin alphabet text, "p" would immediately precede "q". ### Possible Interpretations **Poetry, Creativity, or Scholarship** One could use the circumstances of the rune's creation to build a meaning. It could be linked to poetry or creativity. It could also be linked to scholarship and learning, because of its representation of a very Latin sound. Its connection with Rome could also give connotations of the foreign or exotic. **Ogham Connection — Plant-life** Looking at the Ogham letter Ceirt: it is cognate with the Latin "quercus" which translates to "oak", and also Welsh "perth" which means "bush". One could pick either of these meanings, or could go with a generic interpretation of "plant-life". **Gothic Alphabet — Millstone or Fruit Tree** The Gothic alphabet was created in the fourth century by Ulfilas. The "q" sound was named either "qairna" ("millstone") or "qairthra". "Millstone" could be associated with hard work, prosperity, and food making. The *Auraicept na n-Éces* (7th-12th century) glosses the Ogham letter Ceirt as "apple tree". It is possible that the "q" and "p" sounds had some association with fruit-bearing trees across the Germanic and Celtic world. This association with fruit-bearing trees gives us a connection with abundance, prosperity, and something delicious. It could also mean summer and harvest season. When Tacitus writes of divination tools used in the first century AD by Germanic tribes, he describes the cutting of lots specifically from a fruit-bearing tree. It is possible this had some mystic association we are no longer privy to. ### Summary Cweorth is largely an unknown. Whatever meaning feels right to you, stick with it and use it consistently and you should get results. The "ritual fire" interpretation popular online has no historical basis. --- ## ᛪ GAR ### The Spear Gar translates to "spear", and is likely closely related to the Gyfu (Gebo) rune. In early English, Gyfu could represent either a "j" or "g" sound. Gar may have been created to exclusively represent the "g" sound as these two sounds grew further apart. It can be seen carved on the Ruthwell Cross, and is also used in documents from the later runic period. Gar descends from the ancient proto-Germanic word *gaizaz, which in turn descends from the proto-Indo-European *ǵʰayso. These all carry the same sense: pointed stick, javelin, spear. The spear was probably one of humanity's first weapons, used both to hunt and to make war. ### Odin and the Spear Perhaps the most famous spear in Norse mythology is Gungnir, wielded by Odin. It was crafted by mastersmith dwarves, who also crafted Sif's hair and Freyr's magical boat. Odin and His spear are strongly associated. When Odin sacrificed Himself to Himself on the World Tree to obtain the runes, He was stabbed with a spear. The spear is strongly associated both with Odin and with the magic of the runes. In *The Runes of Sweden* by Sven Birger Fredrik Jansson: "The oldest known runic inscription from Sweden is found on a spearhead, recovered from a grave at Mos in the parish of Stenkyrka in Gotland." There are other inscriptions found on other spearheads, linking the runes and the spear again. Odin is a God of magic and knowledge, and also warfare and sacrifice. That these things would go hand in hand in the Germanic worldview is no surprise. ### Dual Nature Like the bow, another weapon found in the Anglo-Saxon futhorc, the spear has dual uses. In its capacity as a hunting weapon, the spear is a provider. It enables survival, and brings in a good meal. As a weapon of war, however, it is far more sinister. It can easily take the life of human beings; lives which in the Migration Age were often dedicated to Odin. This dual meaning of war and magic fits Gar well. --- ## ᛥ CALC ### Translation Options Calc takes the shape of an upside-down Algiz rune. It represents a hard "k" sound. It is found on relatively late runic inscriptions and is fairly rare even there. RI Page states that many of the possible translations for "calc" are loan-words in English, which makes it likely the rune was invented by a well-read scholar. **Chalk** The first possible translation is "chalk" from the Old English word "cealc" (which would have been "calc" in Northumbria). Chalk had many uses in Anglo-Saxon times, and was quarried all over England. The most famous use is as an artistic medium; the Uffington White Horse was carved out of the turf to reveal the white chalk surface beneath. The Anglo-Saxons called it "Hwiting-melu", literally "whitening powder". With its connection to the color white, one could also associate it with the elves. "Elf" may have originally meant "white one" (see Alaric Hall's *Elves in Anglo-Saxon England*). **Chalice** Another possible translation is "cup, or goblet" from Old English "calic". This is the usual translation given for Calc, possibly following Pennick's *Runic Lore and Legend*. Pennick takes it farther to suggest a ritual cup or goblet, even invoking the Grail myth as part of the web of the rune's meaning. "Calic" was a new and foreign word in Anglo-Saxon times, coming from the Old French. It was a word of the learned and higher-class, suggesting perhaps a fancier drinking vessel than a standard wood cup. There is nothing to suggest however, that it had any ritual or religious connotations. **Sandal** Gale Owen-Crocker in *Dress in Anglo-Saxon England* lists the word "calc" as referring to a sandal, probably a Roman footwear not worn in England at the time. She also states the word probably entered the language after the conversion to Christianity was underway. ### Recommended Approach The "chalk" interpretation is strongest historically — it is a stone native to England, with connections to the color white and the elves. However, any of the above interpretations would certainly be reasonable. --- ## ᛦ STAN ### The Stone Stan translates to "stone". It is the shape of two Pertho runes put together, or alternatively, an upside-down and rightside-up Ehwaz superimposed on one another. Stan is a native English word, coming from the proto-Germanic *stainaz. However, RI Page states that the Stan rune never appears engraved on a runestone. It is only found in manuscripts, which puts the date of its invention much later, post-conversion. Stan is supposed to represent the sound "st" found in the word stone; it was not exactly a linguistic necessity. ### Interpretive Possibilities **Recorded Knowledge** A majority of our surviving record of runes are engraved onto large rocks called runestones. In this way, Stan could represent recorded knowledge. It could also represent stability and the preservation of knowledge in the face of the march of time. The runestones also represent attaining a certain level of craftsmanship. Inscribing a message would be time-consuming and labor-intensive work. **Holy Places and Altars** The Norse word "horgr" means an altar site, possibly made of a pile of stones. In the Poetic Edda, Freyja speaks of one of Her worshippers: "He made me a high altar of heaped-up stones: the gathered rocks have grown all bloody" (translation from Andy Orchard). The Old English cognate for this is "hearg", which survives today as the word "harrow". Stan could be associated with holy places and worship of the Gods and other spirits. **Bones of the Earth** There is an argument for associating Stan with the "bones" of a person or place; the basic structure that holds it up. This is based on the story of the giant Ymir's dismemberment which created the world. His bones are used to make the mountains and stones, the bones of the earth. Mountains are often associated with Jotuns in the Eddas, wild places that go untamed by the Gods. Stan could also be associated with Skadhi, who was known for Her love of the mountains. Skadhi went so far as to leave Her husband Njordh because She missed them. Stan the Stone, with stone's wide range of meanings and applications, is a more ambiguous rune than some others. --- ## Additional Anglo-Saxon Futhorc Runes (29 Total Base) The five runes below are part of the 29-rune Anglo-Saxon Futhorc but are not among the four debated "Northumbrian" additions. They appear in the Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem and have more established historical attestation. ### ᛡ AC (Oak) The oak is sacred to Thor and represents the mightiest of trees. In Anglo-Saxon tradition, oak groves were places of worship. The oak withstands storms and endures through centuries, embodying steadfast strength. **Divinatory Meanings:** - *Upright:* Strength, endurance, protection, connection to ancient wisdom, stability - *Inverted:* Weakness, instability, lack of protection, disconnection from roots **Magical Applications:** Strength and endurance, Protection magic, Connecting with Thor, Grounding and stability **Correspondences:** Tree: Oak | Stone: Moss agate | Color: Deep brown, green | Element: Earth ### ᚫ AESC (Ash) Yggdrasil, the World Tree, is an ash. Odin hung from Yggdrasil for nine nights to gain the runes. The ash connects all nine worlds and serves as the axis of the cosmos. The first man, Ask, was created from an ash tree. **Divinatory Meanings:** - *Upright:* Connection to cosmic wisdom, ancestral knowledge, journey between worlds - *Inverted:* Disconnection, lack of purpose, spiritual confusion **Magical Applications:** World tree meditation, Ancestor work, Spiritual journeys, Wisdom seeking **Correspondences:** Tree: Ash | Stone: Clear quartz | Color: Light green, purple | Element: Air ### ᛠ YR (Yew Bow) Yew wood was prized for bow-making. The yew tree connects to death and rebirth (its berries are poisonous, yet it is among the longest-lived trees). This rune speaks to the skill of the archer and the precision needed in both hunting and life. **Divinatory Meanings:** - *Upright:* Skill, precision, focused intention, craftsmanship, success through ability - *Inverted:* Lack of skill, missed targets, scattered energy, poor craftsmanship **Magical Applications:** Skill enhancement, Focus and precision, Hunting magic, Craft blessing **Correspondences:** Tree: Yew | Stone: Flint, obsidian | Color: Dark green, brown | Element: Fire (arrow), Earth (bow) ### ᛣ IOR (Beaver/Serpent) The beaver is a master builder, creating dams and lodges with remarkable skill. Alternatively associated with the serpent/dragon, representing wisdom and transformation. Both interpretations suggest adaptability and skilled construction. **Divinatory Meanings:** - *Upright:* Adaptability, building, resourcefulness, clever defense - *Inverted:* Rigidity, destruction, lack of resources, vulnerability **Magical Applications:** Adaptation magic, Building projects, Defense through cleverness, Shape-shifting **Correspondences:** Animal: Beaver, Serpent | Stone: Serpentine | Color: Brown, green | Element: Water ### ᛤ EAR (Earth/Grave) Ear represents the grave and the return to earth. This is not death as punishment but as natural completion — the body returning to the earth from which it came. All things end, and in ending, feed new beginnings. **Divinatory Meanings:** - *Upright:* Necessary ending, return to source, natural death, completion - *Inverted:* Unnatural endings, resistance to change, stagnation **Magical Applications:** Death/rebirth work, Letting go, Earth connection, Ancestral work **Correspondences:** Element: Earth | Stone: Hematite | Color: Black, dark brown | Direction: Below --- ## Practical Guidance for Working with Northumbrian Runes 1. **Acknowledge the uncertainty** — Unlike the Elder Futhark, these runes lack deep historical attestation for their divinatory meanings 2. **Choose your interpretations consistently** — Whatever meaning feels right to you, use it consistently and you should get results 3. **Consider historical context** — The meanings proposed by Pennick are popular but not historically grounded; use critical judgment 4. **Draw on related traditions** — Ogham connections, Gothic alphabet, and etymological research can illuminate possible meanings 5. **Create your own rune sets** — Northumbrian rune sets can be difficult to find commercially; crafting your own is a valid and traditional approach --- ## SOLLE (Sun at Zenith) ### A Distinct Solar Rune The Solle rune is recognized in the Russian esoteric runic tradition as a distinct solar symbol that differs from Sowilo (Sol) in both meaning and application. While Sowilo expresses the driving force and might of the sun, Solle embodies the living presence of the sun itself - its warmth, its nurturing light, and its role as the source of all growth and renewal. The name derives from the same Proto-Germanic root as Sowilo (*sowilō/*saewelō), but the tradition distinguishes the two as separate runic forces. ### Source and Context The primary source for the Solle rune in this tradition is the Russian esoteric compilation "The Big Book of Runes. Self-study. 90 main spreads." This text describes Solle as corresponding to the sun at its zenith, emphasizing intuition, healing, spiritual integration, and rebirth. The rune is associated with the culminating point of evolution, where transition to infinity becomes possible. ### Key Interpretive Distinctions **Solle vs. Sowilo:** - Sowilo is the expression of solar power - the lightning bolt, the will to victory, the flash of insight - Solle is the embodiment of the sun itself - the steady warmth, the nurturing growth, the healer light - Sowilo is active and forceful; Solle is integrative and intuitive - Sowilo corresponds to the warrior aspect of solar energy; Solle to the healer and nurturer aspect - Where Sowilo strikes, Solle illuminates; where Sowilo demands action, Solle invites integration ### Symbolic Meaning The Solle rune form resembles a diamond or rotated square with radiating lines, symbolizing sunlight descending to earth. Its shape specifically represents the sun at its zenith - the moment when sunlight falls directly downward, carrying maximum illumination and the greatest potential for growth and transformation. **Core associations:** - Solar disk, sun at zenith - Intuition and access to higher planes of consciousness - Rebirth and gradual growth (as opposed to Sowilo sudden force) - Spiritual integration and understanding of life deeper meaning - Healing - can be drawn on the body of the sick ### Reversed Position In the reversed position, Solle is associated with sunset - the fading of light and the onset of darkness. However, this is framed as cyclical rather than terminal: the sun will rise again. The key teaching is impermanence and resilience: the darkness is temporary, and one should maintain clarity and extract wisdom from the experience. The surrounding runes clarify whether the coming night will be mild or severe. ### Practical Application Solle is particularly used for: - Healing work (drawing the rune on the body) - Marking the end of a life phase and transition to a new level - Spiritual integration - understanding the deeper meaning of existence - Enhancing intuition during moments when higher guidance is needed ### Historical Note The Solle rune as a distinct symbol separate from Sowilo does not have ancient historical attestation. It appears in modern esoteric runic traditions, particularly those developed in the Russian-speaking world. Practitioners should be aware of this context, just as with the debated Northumbrian runes. However, its interpretive framework provides a useful complement to Sowilo, enriching the solar dimension of runic practice with a gentler, more integrative energy.