Fehu

First Ætt – Freya's Ætt
Phonetic Value:  F
Pronounced:  Fay-hoo
Other names:  Feoh, Fe

Color:  Light Red
Herb:  Nettle
Gemstone:  Moss Agate
Tree:  Elder
Deities:  Freyja, Freyr, Njordh
Meaning:  Cattle or Wealth

Keywords: Possessions, fertility, wealth, luck, abundance. Also loss, greed, poverty.

When Interpreting Upright:  This is a rune of possessions, wealth, fertility, abundance and luck. It can stand for spiritual wealth and abundance or the more physical and mundane material possessions. When drawn, Fehu could be a warning of things to come or a boon. For example, if I were doing a reading on what to expect out of my new job and I pull out Fehu upright, I can expect that I will be successful and that possibly, my money troubles are over. When starting a new path, spiritual or not, this is a particularly good rune to pull. It shows that there will be growth and abundance.

Something to take into account when you've drawn this rune, as with many others, it can mean several things depending upon the spread you are using and the runes you pull with it. If Fehu is surrounded by runes of caution or darkness, it may mean that ahead of you is a time of poverty or simply that you should conserve that which you already have.

When Interpreting Merkstave (Reverse or Upside Down): When Fehu is merkstave, this is a caution to you. Being too materialistic blinds you to that which you truly need versus that which you only think you need. Having too much of one thing might mean you have too little of something else. This can merely be a warning to you that you are about to lose your wealth, spiritual or physical. Spiritually it might mean you need to take a closer look at your faith. There might be something in your future that could put your faith in danger of being lost. You could lose your job or perhaps lose your possessions in an accident. Take a close look at your life.

When using Fehu in spells and rituals, be sure to concentrate on which type of growth you'd like. If you want financial growth, personal, spiritual or physical, be sure to specify. You wouldn't want to suddenly have 3 hamsters instead of $300.

When gardening, put it on a the name marker or a stave, or stone and stick it in the earth next to your plant to help it grow. Write it in gold and stick it in your wallet or checkbook. Write it on the back of your business card. Give it as a gift to a newly married couple, though they may not thank you for it later! Again, be sure to concentrate and charge the rune with the appropriate quality.

Spells for prosperity, fertility and money work well with this rune.  Include it in your spell working for extra success.

Disclaimer: This is not the end-all only interpretation for runes of the Elder Futhark. This is a learning guide written by me for teaching purposes. Each rune guide is a compilation of information that I've put together over the years. It is, by far, not the only source for runic meanings and I encourage everyone to research the runes further. Find out what each rune means to you.