Norse Symbols and Runes
21 symbols · PDF / PNG / SVG · Commercial licence included
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21 symbols
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Vegvisir
Vegvísir belongs to nineteenth-century Icelandic magical tradition, where it was recorded as a wayfinding stave for keeping one's path through storms and unfamiliar conditions—not as a Viking compass.
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Valknut
Three interlocking triangles form an ancient Scandinavian motif whose exact meaning is unknown; modern interpretation often links it with Odin, death, warrior memory, and the afterlife, but none is securely attested.
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Mjolnir
Thor's hammer is both a mythic weapon and an archaeologically attested Viking-age pendant form, making Mjölnir one of the clearest Norse symbols of strength, protection, blessing, and religious identity.
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Helm of Awe
The Helm of Awe has two histories: a fear-inducing object in medieval Norse literature and, much later, a radial Icelandic magical stave used in protective contexts. The familiar graphic form belongs to the later tradition.
Yggdrasil
Yggdrasil is the world tree of medieval Norse cosmology, a vast living structure around which gods, beings, roots, and realms are organised. Modern symbolism draws from that image to express connection, endurance, ancestry, and balance.
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Fehu
Fehu begins with cattle and movable wealth rather than an abstract promise of riches. From that older vocabulary, modern readers draw themes of resources, prosperity, exchange, and the responsibility of putting wealth into motion.
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Uruz
Uruz is commonly linked with the aurochs through later rune tradition, giving modern readers a strong image of physical power, vitality, endurance, and the resilience needed to meet difficult conditions.
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Thurisaz
Later rune traditions connect this character with both thorn and dangerous giant-like force. Modern symbolism builds from that tension toward challenge, defence, danger, strength, and the need to recognise what can wound.
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Ansuz
Ansuz sits at the meeting point of divine and spoken language: its reconstructed name is linked with the gods, while later rune poetry develops themes of speech, wisdom, message, and inspired communication.
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Raido
Raido is one of the clearest movement runes: later name traditions point to riding, road, or journey. Modern readers extend that into travel, direction, rhythm, and the discipline of continuing along a chosen path.
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Kenaz
Kenaz is often read through the Old English image of a torch, giving modern symbolism a strong language of illumination, learning, craft, and creative ignition—but other later rune traditions preserve different meanings.
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Gebo
Gebo is best approached through the idea of a gift: something given creates a relationship between giver and receiver. Modern symbolism develops that exchange into reciprocity, generosity, partnership, love, and balanced commitment.
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Wunjo
Wunjo draws its strongest historical clue from Old English wynn, joy or delight. Its modern appeal lies in what grows around that feeling: harmony, comfort, celebration, peace, hope, and the sense of belonging somewhere gladly.
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Hagalaz
Hagalaz begins with hail: sudden, physical and beyond human control. Later rune poems preserve that weather image clearly, while modern symbolism asks what follows the storm—adaptation, courage, resilience, and difficult change.
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Naudiz
Naudiz names an uncomfortable reality: need places limits on choice. Later rune poems connect the rune with necessity and distress; modern symbolism turns toward the endurance, discipline, and resourcefulness required when circumstances cannot simply be wished away.
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Isaz
Isaz is rooted in one of the clearest rune-name traditions: ice. From that cold, suspended state come modern themes of stillness, pause, preservation, calm focus, and the clarity that can emerge when movement temporarily stops.
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Jera
Jera is anchored in the turning year and the good season. Its later name traditions make harvest and cyclical time historically meaningful, while modern symbolism finds patience, renewal, hope, and fruition in the truth that some outcomes can only ripen in season.
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Eiwaz
Eiwaz is traditionally connected with the yew, although its earliest name is not directly recorded. The tree's longevity and toughness have made the rune a modern symbol of endurance, resilience, transition, and the ability to remain intact through profound change.
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Perthro
Perthro resists a tidy definition. Its later Old English name is obscure and competing explanations remain unresolved, making mystery itself more historically honest than certainty; chance, fate, luck, and hidden outcomes belong mainly to modern interpretation.
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Algiz
Algiz is famous today as a protection rune, but that meaning is far less secure historically than its popularity suggests. Its original name is disputed; sanctuary, defence, courage, and warding belong chiefly to influential modern interpretation.
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Sowilo
Sowilo has a strong historical anchor in the sun: later Scandinavian and Old English rune names preserve that association. Modern symbolism draws from sunlight toward clarity, vitality, hope, strength, renewal, success, and forward direction.
About this collection
A researched set spanning early Germanic Elder Futhark runes, Viking-age Norse motifs, medieval mythology, and later Icelandic magical staves. Each symbol distinguishes documented historical evidence from modern meanings such as guidance, protection, strength, memory, resilience, and renewal.
Files & delivery
Includes a one-click collection pack plus access from every included symbol page.
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