Natal astrology is present in most cultures, from ancient Egypt and the Mediterranean to ancient China and India.
While every culture has a different approach, they are all based on the belief that there is a relationship between the position of the celestial bodies above and what happens on the Earth below. Specifically, the celestial map at the moment of someone’s birth can influence their character and destiny.
We don’t know if the Vikings believed in this specific idea, but we know that they believed that elements of a person’s character were established at birth.
A person was born with a Hugr, which was their personality and character, and a Hamingja, which was their success, which was in part inherited from their family.
Moreover, the Norns, the Norse Fates, attended a person at birth and spun their life thread. From that moment, the moment of their death was already forecast. While death could not be avoided, this gave the person the freedom to live boldly until that time.
So clearly, the Vikings believed that the things that happened at birth had a great influence on the rest of a person’s life.
In response to these ideas and modern ideas about astrology, some current students of the Old Norse religion and followers of Heathenism have come up with their own Norse “astrology.”
It is related to astrology in that it depends on when you are born, but rather than focussing on the stars, it looks at the runes.
This makes sense within Norse ideology, as the Vikings believed that Odin learned the runes by hanging himself from Yggdrasil and watching the Norns for nine days and nights.
What he came back with were a set of runes that could describe everything in existence, and could also be used to work magic.
How Do Norse Birth Runes Work?
There are 24 runes used in this modern heathen system, and you receive two runes based on when you were born.
Your sun rune is based on the day of your birth and is analogous with your sun sign in astrology, and represents your ego and what motivates you.
Your birth hour rune is like your rising sign and describes the energy that you exude and how other people perceive you.
You can use the table below to find your two runes, looking up your birth date and hour.
Remember that most of Scandinavia is in Central European Time, which is GMT+1, so you might want to adjust.
You can find descriptions of what your birth runes say about you below.
Find Your Norse Birth Runes
| Rune | Symbol | Date | Hour |
| Eihwaz | ᛇ | 28/12-13/01 | 00:30-01:30 |
| Perthro | ᛈ | 13/01-28/01 | 01:30-02:30 |
| Algiz | ᛉ | 28/01-13/02 | 02:30-03:30 |
| Sowilo | ᛋ | 13/02-27/02 | 03:30-04:30 |
| Tiwaz | ᛏ | 27/02-14/03 | 04:30-05:30 |
| Berkano | ᛒ | 14/03-30/03 | 05:30-06:30 |
| Ehwaz | ᛖ | 30/03-14/04 | 06:30-07:30 |
| Mannaz | ᛗ | 14/04-29/04 | 07:30-08:30 |
| Laguz | ᛚ | 29/04-14/05 | 08:30-09:30 |
| Inguz | ᛝ | 14/05-29/05 | 09:30-10:30 |
| Dagaz | ᛞ | 29/05-14/06 | 10:30-11:30 |
| Othala | ᛟ | 14/06-29/06 | 11:30-12:30 |
| Fehu | ᚠ | 29/06-14/07 | 12:30-13:30 |
| Uruz | ᚢ | 14/07-29/07 | 13:30-14:30 |
| Thurisaz | ᚦ | 29/07-13/08 | 14:30-15:30 |
| Ansuz | ᚨ | 13/08-29/08 | 15:30-16:30 |
| Raidho | ᚱ | 29/08-13/09 | 16:30-17:30 |
| Kenaz | ᚲ | 13/09-28/09 | 17:30-18:30 |
| Gebo | ᚷ | 28/09-13/10 | 18:30-19:30 |
| Wunjo | ᚹ | 13/10-28/10 | 19:30-20:30 |
| Hagalaz | ᚺ | 28/10-13/11 | 20:30-21:30 |
| Nauthiz | ᚾ | 13/11-28/11 | 21:30-22:30 |
| Isa | ᛁ | 28/11-13/12 | 22:30-23:30 |
| Jera | ᛃ | 13/12-28/12 | 23:30-00:30 |
Norse Birth Rune Meanings
Below are the different meanings of the birth runes. You can find more information by researching the broader meaning of the runes. How they apply to you depends on whether they represent your solar rune or your birth hour rune.
| Eihwaz | a fearless nature and a tendency to think outside the box and do things differently |
| Perthro | a secretive nature and keeping your own counsel plus difficulty trusting others |
| Algiz | a naturally protective nature and instinctive leadership |
| Sowilo | a natural energy and positive nature that is contagious |
| Tiwaz | a logical nature and an ability to make difficult decisions |
| Berkano | a loving and family oriented nature and nurturing energy |
| Ehwaz | being a team player, loyal, and finding fulfillment through connections |
| Mannaz | a need for justice and fairness and an open mind |
| Laguz | intuition and psychic abilities and being led by emotions |
| Inguz | persistence and dedication but the ability to be overly focused on personal goals |
| Othala | strong independence, introversion, and the preference to do things for yourself |
| Dagaz | adaptability and the ability to transform to meet any situation or challenge |
| Fehu | fulfillment, luck, and wealth, representing great ambition satisfied through daring |
| Uruz | physical, spiritual, and emotional strength that act as a source of untamed potential |
| Thurisaz | a cautious and defensive nature and a person who actively protects themselves from the world around them |
| Ansuz | communication, the ability to learn from others, and to occupy the role of a teacher |
| Raidho | being a seeker and always on a journey of growth |
| Kenaz | a vital energy that lights up a room when it is present |
| Gebo | strong connections and being the glue in a community, plus the rewards of giving |
| Wunjo | enjoying life’s simple pleasures and finding balance and harmony within oneself |
| Hagalaz | a volatile nature and a short temper but a natural energy to get things done |
| Nauthiz | self-reliance, persistence, and the will to make things happen |
| Isa | clarity of purpose and a level of cold calculation |
| Jera | long term thinking and achieving through self-control and delayed satisfaction |
What Do the Runes Say About You?
It is fun and fascinating to learn a bit about your character by reading up about your Norse birth runes, but it is important to remember that they are a modern invention.
While the system is inspired by a deep knowledge of Norse religion and culture, this system did not exist in the Viking Age.
What did exist was the idea that you were born with a great destiny, and that the most important thing you can do with your life is learn what that destiny is, pursue it with all your energy, and meet the gods in Valhalla afterwards without regrets.
Find Your Norse Runes in the VKNG Store
Whether you are looking for your birth rune symbols or just other runes that feel meaningful, you can find rune pieces in the VKNG Store.
Choose a sterling silver pendant featuring your favorite rune, like this example of the Tiwaz rune. It was sacred to Tyr, god of war and justice. He may have been the most important Norse god before being usurped by Odin.
Looking for something more rustic? Check out our collection of hand-forged iron pendants featuring the runes, like this example with the Thurisaz rune.
These bracelets match natural gemstones with runic beads. Choose your favorite meaningful combination. This bracelet features Black Obsidian and Agate beads.
If you prefer precious metals, order your favorite rune in fine, handmade gold, like this Algiz example. This was the primary protection rune and is used to make Aegishjalmur, the Helm of Awe.
If you enjoy Viking hairstyles, go in another direction and order these hair and beard beads. Change your runes daily and embrace a seriously Viking look.
