Hagal’s Runes: Meaning of Hagalaz to Sowilo

After Freyr’s family, the Futhark opens that of Hagal, master of hail, storm and ice. Its eight runes speak of the unexpected, patience, protection and victory.

Hagalaz, Naudhiz, Isa, Jera, Eihwaz, Perthro, Algiz and Sowilo: discover their meaning and message in love, at work and for your well-being.

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The meaning of Hagal’s 8 runes

For each rune, its nickname, its meaning and its reading:

ᚺ Hagalaz: foresight

The rune of the unexpected, it reminds you that life can change from one moment to the next: stay alert, learn from every situation and always keep a plan B.

This rune cannot be reversed: its reading depends on the runes around it.

ᚾ Naudhiz: balance

It symbolizes the search for balance between the material and the spiritual: thinking more of the soul, without forgetting the practical, helps you understand others and accept them as they are.

This rune cannot be reversed: its reading depends on the runes around it.

ᛁ Isa: clarity

Ice, in its two faces: it destroys and it preserves life. It invites you not to trust appearances and to think before acting.

This rune cannot be reversed: its reading depends on the runes around it.

ᛃ Jera: reward

A symbol of maturity, it shows that efforts always pay off in the end, and that we remain free to change our lives.

This rune cannot be reversed: its reading depends on the runes around it.

ᛇ Eihwaz: new beginnings

Linked to death and rebirth, it shows that life is made of small losses and fresh starts, to be welcomed without fear: with strength and perseverance, every obstacle can be overcome.

This rune cannot be reversed: its reading depends on the runes around it.

ᛈ Perthro: patience

The rune of mystery, it asks you to wait for the right moment, the one the Universe will choose to reveal what you want to know.

ᛉ Algiz: protection

Linked to maternal love, it gives the strength to commit to any project, and warns against temptations with irreversible consequences.

ᛊ Sowilo: victory

A symbol of energy and the sun’s rays, it announces that every obstacle can be overcome, even those that seem insurmountable, while reminding you that nothing stays still.

This rune cannot be reversed: its reading depends on the runes around it.

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Hagal, the family of hail

Hagal is the master of storm and ice. His family, the second of the Futhark, speaks of the forces of nature that are beyond us: hail, ice, the sun, but also the need, patience and protection that help us through them.

It follows Freyr’s family, turned towards prosperity, and comes before that of Tyr, god of justice. See the meaning of the 25 runes.

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Runes, from antiquity to the present day

Runes are not just mystical symbols: they are witnesses of history. The oldest inscriptions date from around 150 AD, carved on combs and belt buckles in Scandinavia. Runestones were later raised in memory of the dead or of great events.

According to Norse mythology, Odin hung for nine days and nine nights from Yggdrasil, the Tree of Life, and received the knowledge of the runes as a reward. The swords, shields and helmets of the Vikings, between 800 and 1100, show how present they were; the arrival of Christianity gradually made them give way to the Latin alphabet.

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How to draw one of Hagal’s runes?

Mix the runes in a bag, ask a precise question and think about your intention, then draw one rune for a simple answer. Runes are personal: you should be the only person to handle them.

In Hagal’s family, most runes cannot be reversed: only Perthro and Algiz have a reversed reading, which shows what is blocking rather than the opposite of their meaning.

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