Occult Anglo-Saxon Runes?
Guido von List claimed to have received a magical Aryan alphabet in a vision.
Key words
- Rune: any of the letters of the ancient northern European alphabet
There are no deep mysteries hidden in the runes, we only use them for decorative purposes.
- Suited: right for someone or something
She seems to be ideally suited to the job.
- Occult: relating to magical powers and activities, such as those of witchcraft and astrology
She claims to have occult powers, given to her by some mysterious spirit.
- Aryan: relating to a group of people believed by German Socialists to be better than other groups
The Aryan race is a pseudo-scientific concept of race that emerged at the end of the 19th century.
- Pseudo-: pretended and not real
The Aryan race is a pseudo-scientific historical concept of race.
Read the article to find the answers
- What is the Futhorc?
- What was it replaced by?
- Where did the Armanen runes come from?
- Who used the Armanen runes?
Anglo-Saxon Runes
The oldest surviving runes, known as the Elder Futhark, date back to around the second century and are mostly found in southern Scandinavia. Just as the word "alphabet" comes from the Greek letters alpha (ἄλφα) and beta (βῆτα), the word futhark comes from the sounds made by its first six characters: F (ᚠ), U (ᚢ), TH (ᚦ), A (ᚨ), R (ᚱ), K (ᚲ).
In the seventh century, a new version of the runic alphabet began to emerge in England. This version of the Elder Futhark was better suited to the Anglo-Saxon language and was used to write Old English. This new alphabet became known as the Futhorc (ᚠᚢ ᚦ ᚩ ᚱ ᚳ) and was used until the Latin alphabet was introduced to England by Christian missionaries.
Guido von List
In 1908, an Austrian occultist named Guido von List published The Secret of the Runes, in which he claimed that runes held the key to ancient Aryan wisdom. According to List, these symbols contained magic accessible only to those who understood their true power. He claimed to have received a runic alphabet in a mystical vision during a period of temporary blindness. He called these 18 runes the Armanen runes and claimed that they were the original Aryan alphabet.
List's pseudo-historical runic system became central to his mystical ideology. He popularized the idea that these runes were ancient sacred symbols, though his interpretations were far from accurate. Nevertheless, his writings attracted followers in occult socialist circles, where runes were seen as a means of connecting to the mythical Aryan race.
Socialist Runes
The secretive Thule Society had a strong interest in mysticism and the occult, and used the work of people such as Guido von List to help found the German Workers' Party, which later became the National Socialist German Workers' Party.
The infamous SS (ᛋᛋ) logo of the German National Socialist Party features the Anglo-Saxon rune Sigel (ᛋ). The SS leadership, influenced by the Thule Society’s mystical ideas, believed that the rune held occult power. Guido von List mistakenly claimed that the Sigel rune represented victory, though it originally symbolized the sun and had no connection to the German word for victory – "Sieg."
List also promoted a notorious pseudo-runic version of the swastika, which does not appear in any authentic runic alphabet. Before being adopted by German Socialists, it was used in various cultures to symbolise life, the sun or regeneration.
In Germany and Austria it is now illegal to display the Sigel (ᛋ) and Odal (ᛟ) runes in public if they are used to promote National Socialism.
The Bluetooth Rune
A more positive, modern use of runes is the Bluetooth logo. A combination of two runes: Hagall (ᚼ) and Bjarkan (ᛒ), representing the initials 'H' and 'B'. These stand for Harald Bluetooth, a Viking king known for uniting Denmark and Norway. The logo reflects the goal of Bluetooth technology to connect people, just as Harald Bluetooth united different tribes.
Discussion questions
- Do you have any questions about any of the vocabulary or grammar in this article?
- What alphabet is used in your language?
- Do you believe that there is magic in letters and words?
- Is the occult popular with the leaders of your country?
- Do you trust people who claim to have visions?
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