Runeseries - 1. ᚠ Fehu, The Rune of Beginnings, Value, and Moving Abundance
ᚠ Fehu, The Rune of Beginnings, Value, and Moving Abundance
Fehu is the first rune of the Elder Futhark and thus the starting point of every runic journey. It stands for possessions, prosperity, and abundance, but not in the sense of static wealth. Fehu describes values that are in motion. Something that can be used, shared, increased, or also lost.
As the first rune, Fehu always marks a beginning. A moment in which potential exists, but responsibility determines what will emerge from it.
The Sound and Basic Form of Fehu
The phonetic value of Fehu is F. Short, direct, and powerful. The sound represents energy pushing outward. An impulse that does not hide, but wants to become visible.
The shape of the rune is often compared to horns or branching forms. Historically, Fehu is associated with livestock, as cattle were the most important form of wealth in early Nordic societies. They represented food, labor, trade value, and social status at the same time.
Fehu therefore does not symbolize money in the modern sense, but value that is alive and constantly changing.
Historical Meaning and Cultural Context
In the Nordic world, possessions were never abstract. Wealth meant responsibility. Those who owned livestock had to care for it. Those who owned land had to cultivate it. Those who accumulated resources without using them wisely risked losing everything.
Fehu reminds us of exactly this. Prosperity is not a fixed state, but a process. It arises through action, care, and conscious handling.
This perspective clearly distinguishes Fehu from later ideas of wealth as mere accumulation.
Fehu as the Rune of Beginnings
As the first rune, Fehu always carries the energy of a new beginning. It represents the moment when something is brought into the world. An idea, a project, a decision.
However, Fehu is not a promise of success. It simply shows the presence of potential. Whether this potential leads to growth or loss depends entirely on how it is handled.
In this sense, Fehu is honest. It rewards effort and awareness and punishes waste.
Modern Interpretation of Fehu
Today, Fehu is often hastily equated with money. In a modern and reflective interpretation, however, it stands for all forms of value.
- Time and attention
- Skills and knowledge
- Relationships and trust
- Material resources
Fehu does not ask how much you possess, but how consciously you deal with it. It challenges you to keep resources in motion, to use them wisely, and not to cling to them out of fear.
Fehu in Everyday Life and as a Personal Symbol
When worn as a symbol or consciously contemplated, Fehu reminds us that growth arises from action. It stands for personal responsibility, initiative, and the courage to begin.
Fehu suits those who build, create, or start anew. It is a rune for doers, not for those who wait.
At the same time, it calls for balance. Those who only take and do not care will lose. Those who share and invest will multiply.
Fehu is the rune of living value. It stands for abundance in motion, the power of beginnings, and the responsibility to handle resources consciously.
As the first rune of the Futhark, it sets the tone for all that follows. Nothing comes into being without effort. Nothing remains without care. Fehu reminds us that true prosperity always begins with action.
