Magical runes – myth, magic and faith

For the Vikings, runes were more than just letters. They were living symbols – charged with power, sacredness and mystery. The runes could be used for writing, divination, protection or harm , and their power was closely intertwined with Norse mythology and Odin himself.

In this post, we dive into the magical dimension of runes : their origin, use, and significance in Viking beliefs.

The divine origin of the runes

According to Hávamál , a poem from the Poetic Edda, it is Odin who discovers the runes. He hangs himself for nine nights in the world tree Yggdrasil , pierced by his own spear, without food or drink – a sacrifice to himself in order to gain knowledge:

“Nine nights I hung,
wounded by spears,
sacrificed to Odin,
devoted to myself,
on the tree that no one knows
from what roots it grows.”

When Odin finally “sees” the runes, he picks them up – the signs of power and wisdom . So it was not humans who invented the runes – they were revealed as a divine truth.

Runic magic in the world of the Vikings

The runes could be used for magic, spells and protection . The Edda mentions several different types of magical runes:

• Victory runes (sigrúnar) – were carved on swords or weapons to bring victory in battle.
• Medicine runes (læknirúnar) – used to heal wounds and illnesses.
• Protective runes (bjarg-rúnar) – were carved on amulets to bring happiness, peace or security.
• Love runes (ástarúnar) – to win someone's love.
• Curse runes (bölrúnar) – used to curse or take revenge.

Runic magic was not just about the symbols themselves – the words and the voice were equally important. The runes were “brought to life” through galdr , magical songs or incantations spoken aloud.

Runes as protection and symbols

Finds show that runes were carved on jewelry, weapons, ships, doors, and stones to provide protection. Some amulets bore inscriptions such as “alu” or “laukaz” – words whose exact meaning is unknown but which are believed to have magical powers.

Runes could be carved on weapons to control fate in battle . A runic inscription on a sword, for example, may have been a way to “charge” it with courage, strength, and victory.

Even grave goods and memorial stones could carry magical symbols – not only to honor the dead, but to help the soul on its path to the next world.

Runes and Odin – the price of wisdom

Odin is not only the discoverer of the runes, but also the master of runic magic . He learned how runes could be used to:

• Calm storms
• Turning battles
• Raise the dead
• Talking to spirits
• Give the gift of speech

The runes became a tool for knowledge, control and power – a path between the world of the gods and the world of humans.

That is why Odin is sometimes called “the one who knows the runes” – not just because he knew their forms, but because he understood their essence .

Runes in myth and everyday life

Although much of runic magic is described in mythology, archaeological finds show that belief in the power of runes existed in everyday life .

Example:

• On a bone comb from Ribe is the word “raþ” (advice) – perhaps as a symbol of good luck.
• On the Björketorp Stone in Blekinge there is a warning:

“Whoever breaks this stone will be visited by evil.”
A clear example of a curse carved in stone .

Runes could therefore both protect and threaten – depending on who carved them and why.

Runes as energy

Each rune in the futhark had its own name, sound and symbolic value . They could be interpreted much like tarot cards or rune casting in modern times – each sign carried an energy:

To understand the runes was thus to understand the forces of life . They were keys to both the inner and outer worlds.

The dual nature of the runes

The runes were both sacred and dangerous . They could heal or destroy, protect or curse. This made them a balance between language and magic , between thought and faith.

For the Vikings, writing runes was an act of power – each carving on stone or wood was an invitation to fate itself to listen.

Runes as a gateway to the invisible

Runic magic shows that the Vikings saw the world as alive and animated . The runes were not just symbols – they were tools for influencing reality .

When we see a rune today, we may see a beautiful sign. For the Vikings, it was a concentrate of power – carved wisdom, born of blood, spirit and stone.