This deck is my take on the Elder Futhark and Anglo-Saxon Runes, systems of divination that have been around for many centuries. Typically, Runes are found in the form of stones, dice, talismans, or other objects with carvings. When I first started to learn about Runes, I found it difficult to relate the Nordic symbol to the meaning. Because Runes are an alphabet, each symbol corresponds to a specific sound or letter. There is some crossover with Germanic English, but the runic symbols can also be confusing when taking English into account. What looks like an ”X” in Runes actually represents G or Gebo. 

To help myself better understand the meanings behind each Rune, I created Green Glyphs Runes. Each card has the runic symbol, the traditional name, and an image that encompasses the meaning of the symbol. Each Rune conveys a concept or feeling that was prevalent thousands of years ago and still remains relevant today. In this deck I have included the Elder Futhark Runes, a set of twenty-four runes split into three families or “Aetts” and the nine Anglo-Saxon Runes. The Anglo-Saxon runes were added on after the Elder Futhark but I think that they compliment the deck beautifully. In this introduction, I will go over the history of Runes, some common questions about Runes, and what to expect with this deck. 

It is said that Odin, the Norse god of war, god of poetry, and “The Inspired One” journeyed through the nine worlds to the World Tree until he arrived at the roots of the tree above the Well of Wyrd. It was there that he hung himself from the tree for nine days and nine nights until the Runes appeared before him. Odin then sacrificed his eye for the Runes and reached into the Well of Wyrd to bring the Runes into existence. 

The runic system that we are using in this deck likely began to form around the first century BC, yet similar symbols that are found in this system can also be traced back over 12,000 years to images scrawled on cave walls in Europe. There are three main runic systems still in use today: The Elder Futhark Runes, The Younger Futhark Runes, (which took some inspiration from the Elder Futhark but also omits several runes), and the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc.

The Elder Futhark Runes are the oldest runic alphabet and one of the most widely used today and will be what we are using here to begin. The Elder Futhark Runes were adapted from an alphabet, so the first 6 runes  in the sys.tem spell out the letters F-U-TH-A-R-K. F is represented by Fehu, U by Uruz, TH by Thurisaz, A by Ansuz, R by Raidho, and K by Kenaz. Below you will see the runic alphabet applied to modern day English.  

As with many forms of divination, the art of reading Runes was lost and regained over time. Some meanings were never truly uncovered, but by linking this system of Runes to other systems, scholars have been able to extrapolate meanings. Each book on Runes may vary slightly based on the authors’ interpretations and their own research. As always, it’s best to consult many guides when learning a new craft. In the back of this guide you’ll find a bibliography with some of the sources I used to learn about Runes. 

As Christianity swept across Northern Europe, Runes (and other forms of divination) fell back into the shadows. The Elder Futhark Runes then gained wider interest outside of Northern Europe in the nineteenth century, with heightened interest in forms of divination like Tarot and Lenormand. Unfortunately, in the twentieth century, Nazis appropriated several symbols from the Elder Futhark Runes and interpolated them into Nazi propaganda. 

As always, it is important to note the context of usage when these symbols appear elsewhere outside of the runic system. This is why I have chosen to acknowledge the darker side of the history of Runes and not gloss over it like many books I studied did.