Old Slavic runes and their meanings

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

Today, many people are discovering the pagan culture of the ancient Slavs - Scythians, Lutiches, Drevlyans and other nationalities. Genuine interest in the traditions and beliefs of the ancestors is not accidental. The connection of people of that time with nature, the energies of the Earth was too strong, which allowed them to live in harmony with the outside world, which is so lacking in modern man.

Old Slavic runes are part of that culture. At one time they were very revered and were used not only as symbols of the alphabet, but also for protection.

The history of the appearance of Old Slavonic runes

Historians have not come to a consensus about the time of the appearance of the runic script among the Slavs, but agree that it is as ancient as the Celtic and Etruscan symbols.

For example, the famous German chronicler Titmar of Merseburg, who lived at the end of the 10th - beginning of the 11th century, mentions idols with incomprehensible signs on them when describing the Slavic temple in the lands of the Luticians. Surely he would recognize the Germanic or Scandinavian runes.

Similar images were described by Ibn El Nedim, an Arab writer who lived in the same period. He mentions the ancient pre-Cyrillic script, which he found on the gravestones of Slavic burials.

Thus, we can safely say that the most ancient alphabet of our distant ancestors were the Old Slavic runes. If you turn to archaeological finds, you can find out that the ancient masters put runic signs on household utensils. For example, a clay pot found near the village of Voiskovoe, on the Dnieper, contains an inscription of 12 words, for which 6 characters were used. The fact that 3 of them looked like Scandinavian runes suggests that the cultures of these peoples intersected.

The same symbols were found on cult objects from the ancient temple of Radegast, destroyed in the 11th century, belonging to the Polabian (B altic) Slavs.

It is impossible to perceive the Old Slavic runes (and their meaning is a direct confirmation of this) solely as signs of writing. Their influence on the life of the ancient pagans was enormous: these symbols were applied to the body, runic stones, dishes, livestock, idols and other objects important for life and beliefs.

Runic alphabet

This script has Etruscan and Celtic roots, as these peoples lived next door to the Slavs. In addition to the fact that runes were used for writing, there was a cult according to which these signs were considered sacred, since they were given to people by the gods. Tablets with runes, for example, were placed in burial places, and pebbles with signs applied to them servedamulets.

They were used not only in the times of paganism, but also after the adoption of Christianity by the Slavic peoples. For example, the rune Algiz was depicted in the temporal rings, since it was considered a strong protection against someone else's witchcraft and the evil eye. To increase its power, multiple images of this symbol could be applied.

To date, 18 runes are known: Peace, Chernobog, Rainbow, Alatyr, Krada, Need, Wind, Strength, Eat, Treba, Bereginya, Lelya, Oud, Rock, Opora, Dazhdbog, Perun and Istok.

Old Slavic runes and amulets with symbols applied to them carried a certain meaning and had power.

Runes are symbols of goodness

As is customary among almost all ancient peoples, the Slavs believed that good and evil forces ruled the world. Among their gods and goddesses, there are those who help people and take care of them, as well as those who inspire horror.

Old Slavic runes did not escape the same fate. Among them there are signs of goodness and protection, which include:

• Rune Peace symbolizes the Tree of life and the universe. It is also referred to the White God and the person who is his incarnation. The rune resembles a person with raised arms or a tree with two branches. Its center is the trunk of the World Tree or the human spine. The rune of Belbog also means family, world order and harmony. In Scandinavian mythology, he corresponds to the god Heimdall, who protects order and the world from chaos.
• Rainbow means a road that has no beginning or end. How to protect herused in travel for a favorable return, as well as for a positive end to some difficult business. The rune conveys a state on the road that is different from the usual fuss, as if a person is sliding through life between Order and Chaos.



• Among the ancient Slavs, the word “steal” meant fire, and the rune with that name indicated purification, the disclosure of their plans to the world. For magical purposes, it was used to embody intentions, to get rid of masks and superficial desires. She helped make dreams come true. The symbol of the sign was fire and the verb (“word”).
• Treba meant sacrifice, without which it is impossible to realize your desires. It was depicted as an arrow, which indicates that its main direction is purposefulness, like a warrior's desire for victory. It is impossible to reach new heights without sacrificing one's comfort and habits, and this sacrifice must be made by anyone who sets foot on a new Road.
• Rune of Strength meant the ability to change two worlds - the inner human and through him the outer. The symbol is a warrior, and the magical meaning is unity. A person who lost integrity and connection with nature, with the help of this rune, restored balance in consciousness and cleansed it. Warriors took it with them to return home with victory.
• Bereginya is a symbol of the Mother Goddess, who is in charge of all life on Earth and protects her children. On the one hand, it gives the souls coming into the world a new body, but on the other hand, it takes away life, so it can be calleda symbol of both life and death.

Old Slavic amulets, runes and their meaning in the life of the ancient pagans is an extremely interesting topic. These characters played a very important role. Belief in the external control of the destinies of people by the gods gave these signs a magical power that helped our ancestors withstand the threat of evil and chaos.

Runes are symbols of death

Regardless of the level of development of civilization and the beliefs of people, they have always been afraid of death. The uncertainty that lies behind it terrifies a person. The ancient Slavs had their own myths about the afterlife, and some of the runes are associated with death or fate, from which even the gods cannot hide.

Old Slavic runes and their meaning associated with evil or death:

• The rune of Chernobog is the antipode of the peace sign and means chaos and everything connected with it. Chernobog sought to violate the border of order, therefore he was constantly in confrontation with Belbog. Its prototype could be the god from the Scandinavian epic Loki. In magical terms, the rune means a shadow that seeks to cover the whole world with itself.



• Need represents the god of the world Navi Viy. It means the inevitability of death, and magically closes the true world, covering the human mind with a veil. In ancient Slavic legends, Viy had a terrible look, turning all living things into ashes. If during divination a rune of Viy fell out to a person, then big problems or death awaited him.
• Source means the stoppage of development, and its symbol is ice - a state of immobility. Among the people sheassociated with stagnation in business, problems and troubles.

Ancient Slavs conventionally divided runes into strong and weak ones and, depending on the situation, could enhance their effect by repeated repetition.

The most powerful amulets runes

Modern connoisseurs of runes do not fully understand all the nuances of their meanings, as was typical of the Old Slavonic shamans and sorcerers. In those days, faith in their power was very high among the people, so amulets with runic signs were especially popular.

They were made of stones, silver, wood or gold, runic symbols were embroidered on shirts, women wove ribbons with them into braids. The most popular were amulets, which depicted Old Slavic runes (photos of some of them are presented in the article), associated with we alth, prosperity, he alth and keeping the family hearth.

Among them, the strongest were:

• Rune Dazhdbog - symbolized among the ancient Slavs the good that they represented in the form of a cornucopia in the hands of Dazhdbog, which generously endows people with we alth, he alth, happiness, success and luck.
• Support meant the help of the Gods, the axis of the universe. Its symbol was a stake and a colo (circle) encircling the Tree of Life. One of the most powerful runes, as it had a connection with all the gods at once.



• Lelya was associated with the element of water and meant life, which awakens again and again. The goddess Lelya in the beliefs of the ancient Slavs was the daughter of Beregini and a symbol of spring. The symbol was used by those who wishedreveal your intuition and have knowledge that is beyond understanding.

To some extent, the modern descendants of the ancient Slavs adopted the traditions of their ancestors to use runes to protect against problems or to attract we alth, love or success into their lives. Some of them use amulets, and some make tattoos. Old Slavic runes are not a tribute to fashion, but a deep connection with the Family for those who were able to reveal it in themselves.

Protecting home, family and property

Knowing one's kind, honoring the memory of ancestors and the family were very important in the life of the ancient Slavs. They knew well where and from whom their family descended, and passed on this knowledge to subsequent generations. The rituals associated with burial, the birth of a person, were largely associated with natural energies that people used to repose the dead or protect newborns.

The ancient Slavs in this matter are very similar to the Chinese, who understood the importance of the correct flow and distribution of qi energy. Old Slavic runes, properly charged, had a magical property to harmonize the external and internal space. Some of them were used to protect the hearth, to protect family well-being, the birth of beautiful and he althy children, the possibility of procreation. These include:

• Rune Ud, which meant masculinity, fire and strength. She was associated with the god Yarovit (Yar, Yarilo). It harmonized male energy, which is important when a young man becomes a warrior, husband, father and breadwinner. If a woman wore a charm with the image of this sign, it attracted into her lifegrooms and helped to get rid of infertility.
• The amulet with the image of the rune of Dazhdbog protected the family hearth and family, and gave women he alth and guaranteed easy relief from the burden.
• Beregini's symbol helped pregnant women. Women embroidered it on their shirts and sundresses to protect themselves and the fetus from the evil eye.



• Charms with the Alatyr sign were made to protect children from outside influence.

Here they are so interesting and multifaceted - Old Slavonic amulets, runes and their meaning. Tattoos with them are one of the most popular among modern people, since the well-being of the family is as important for them as it was for their ancient ancestors.

Runes from the evil eye and corruption

Old Slavic magicians knew how not only to use runes to create protective amulets, but also to make spells out of them. Superstitious people at all times are afraid of someone else's envy, damage and the evil eye. A properly made amulet can have not only protective functions, but also neutralize the negative sent to a person.

For example, sorcerers used to protect:

• The rune of Perun, which has a mighty power that can withstand chaos. This is a sign that can "localize" the mental impact on a person and eliminate its consequences. This rune was used only in times of real danger, since for the ancient Slavs it meant uncontrollable natural energy, powerful force without subordination to reason.



• The Rune of Power was used to return a person to a harmonious holistic state,if he was jinxed. The victim received strength from her in order to defeat evil.
• The Rune of the World gave the protection of the Family and the patronage of higher powers.

The ancient Slavs sincerely believed that their dead ancestors could protect them and help them in difficult times. The combination of powerful symbols in one drawing greatly increased its charge. You can do the same in our time, having studied the Old Slavonic runes and their meaning. A tattoo of several symbols will not only create powerful protection, but will also attract good luck or we alth.

Rune divination

Today you will find few people who could interpret runes as well as the sorcerers and magicians of antiquity did. One of the ways to find out your fate or just get advice on how to act in a given situation was fortune telling on Old Slavic runes.

Depending on how they fell out, which side the sign fell on, its meaning changed, and a good rune could turn out to be bad. Knowledgeable sorcerers of those times helped people avoid problems or warned them of possible danger. Modern magicians know only the basic meanings of runes in divination, for example:

• Rune Alatyr could mean the beginning of a new business or the upcoming road.
• The rainbow symbol meant a successful outcome of something.
• If during fortune-telling there was a Need, then a person was expected to have obstacles in business, ruin or even death.
• The rune of Krada foreshadowed that a person had to bring something to life, but for this he needed to clear his mind.
• When Power fell, it meantthat the person will find the right solution for their situation.
• The Rune Wind personified the creative essence of a person and indicated that time should be devoted to unlocking one's potential.

This is not all interpretations of the Old Slavonic runes, since even the sequence of their fallout could give new options for the development of events in the fate of a person. Sometimes they used Old Slavonic (runes) to search for treasures. Since the ancient pagans believed that the hidden treasures were protected by spells, they made conspiracies and special combinations of runes, which were supposed to not only lead the treasure hunter to the right place, but also save his life.

Tattoo runes

Today it is becoming fashionable to use Old Slavonic runes and their meaning in tattoos. Those who decide to use their protective power should be very careful, because without knowledge and faith in their power, it will - at best - be just a drawing on the skin, and at worst, the opposite effect may be obtained.

It was the faith of people that endowed the runes with power, because each of them was associated with a certain god, for example:

• The Rune Wind symbolized Veles, who transferred the souls of the dead to the kingdom of Marena.
• The sign of Beregini was associated with Makosha, the goddess of the earth and harvest.
• Rune Ud is Yarilo.

It was faith in these gods and goddesses that endowed the runes with powerful energy. The ancient Slavs painted them on the body as protection from dark forces or to attract good luck. Likewise today people should useOld Slavic runes. A tattoo, backed by knowledge of their meaning and belief in the ancient gods, will be a real talisman for its wearer.

How to make a rune-amulet

It makes no sense to buy a ready-made amulet, but if it is not possible to make it yourself, then you should at least properly charge the purchase. To do this, it must be washed in running clean water, then hold the candles over the fire, put in s alt for a day, and then fumigate with incense. So all 4 elements will give a talisman of their strength.

The next stage is the transfer of your energy to the amulet with a prayer to the god or goddess, which the rune symbolizes. Asking for help or protection endows him with mighty power.