Self-navigation for spirited humans and sensitive heroes

Our ancestors were great believers in destiny (örlög and wyrd) and luck (hamingja). Runic astrology is the practice of listening and responding to the harmony of the universe: a continually evolving, complex ‘song’ created by the interaction of the earth, moon, planets and Sun within the runic wheel. This song is the energetic field in which we exist and in which our destiny and luck unfold.

Humans have always read their fate by the stars. 15 years ago I embarked on a personal odyssey to find a spiritual compass that spoke the language of my soul. In my birth runes and runic astrology I found that guidance system. I am incredibly proud to be able to share this work with you now: from meeting your personal Sun rune and understanding the workings of runic astrology through to connecting deeply with each of the planets through guided meditations, soul care practices and energetic work with your birth runes.

If you are new to runic astrology here is the way I would recommend you begin your journey:

Read through the basic principles below.
Start following the planetary movements with me via Middle Earth Readings.
Identify your Sun rune and begin working with it.

When you are ready you can deepen your practice in runic astrology with Sunna’s Star Wheel or undertake a journey into your birth runes through a private oracle session with me. For those of you looking for deep inner transformation my Birth Runes: Soul Journey programme is open to join. Take your time – this is the adventure of a lifetime.

In this moment, I claim my magic

In the hush, before first breath,
before the first cord is cut
Hear the song of the runes
Played upon the earth and within the stars
Chosen by the Nornir, woven by the Disir
To defend your heroic soul in this mad, mad world

Runic Astrology is the oracular art of reading the flow of wyrd through the movements of the Sun, Moon, planets and Earth through the runic wheel of the Elder Futhark. Like other astrological systems the wheel is formed along the ecliptic. Unlike other astrological systems the runes are not just symbols but sounds. This means that the vibrations of each celestial body combine with the vibrations of the rune through which they are travelling to form a unique song.

Using runic astrology you can discover which of the 24 runes in the Elder Futhark were most powerfully woven into your soul tapestry at the time of your birth. I work with 14 runes (see below) to create birth rune oracles for my clients. Their purpose is not to predict your fate but to call you to your heroic destiny. Runemal means ‘rune speech’ and, if you listen, they will speak. Amidst all the noise their song calls you home to yourself and their power strengthens you to make your biggest contribution in this lifetime.

This passage is about Helgi, a great hero whose name means ‘success’ or ‘dedicated to the gods’. His life was filled with heroic deeds and his song starts here, with the Norns stretching golden threads across the land and fixing them to the stars. His soul is literally woven into the world of Midgard (Earth).

Runic Astrology

The concepts of time, the cycles of nature, and the stars themselves are embedded deep within the runes. Every aspect of northern tradition culture, language, craftsmanship and husbandry speaks of a highly sophisticated understanding of the interplay between the seen and unseen worlds. The Eddas, Old Icelandic tales and other sources of our knowledge about the ancient mystery traditions of the north give tantalising hints at the existence of an astrological system unique to the northern peoples.

Runic astrology is the practice of reading the flow of wyrd through the interpretation of the movements of the planets through the runic wheel at any given moment in time.

Sadly, historical data does not provide a complete runic astrological system for us to pick up and use. There is no doubt, however that the northern peoples took a keen interest in fate and the movement of the stars. Five out of the 24 runes relate to time, space and starcraft. Archaeological finds including rune calendars and, of course, the Trundholm Sun Chariot, offer a tantalising glimpse of rituals, practices and time-mapping generated through careful observation of the skies.

My work is founded in the teachings of Nigel Pennick and Freya Aswynn. Pennick’s approach is thoughtful, well-considered and substantive. It treats the source material with respect and creativity. He drew on a huge variety of Germanic sources to arrive at his system which assigns the northern deities to the planets in our solar system and places the 24 runes of the Elder Futhark around the ecliptic.

The fabulous rune mistress Freya Aswynn intuitively and sensitively assigned the zodiac signs to the Halls of the northern Gods. I include the Halls of the Gods in all my birth runes reports but this work really deepens when you join the Birth Runes: Soul Journey programme. The programme includes a meditation for each Hall connecting you more powerfully to your birth rune.

My work has evolved under the guidance of the goddess Frigg who is a seeress and the Queen of the sky-gods. Under her guidance I have added the Hearths of the Asyniur (the Handmaidens of Frigg) to my birth runes reports; each rune is associated with a Hearth (the equivalent of houses or mansions in Western astrology). These correspondences were gifted to me during a series of rituals with Frigg; I have found the Asyniur make wonderful teachers and guides in times of difficulty.

Join Sunna's Starwheel

13 moons of wyrd weaving with Sunna’s Starwheel. Harness the power of the lunar and solar cycles through the ancient magics of the runes. Includes a gentle soul care meditation delivered to your inbox each lunar cycle plus a written and audio guide to the energies of the month ahead.

Your packages also includes the Magin Rose birth runes self-calculation kit and guides to the northern tradition planets.

Wow. I am so impressed. Your content weaves so beautifully between knowledge and gnosis. This gentle process of dropping in is exquisitely crafted. It's all do clear, so well organized and presented to invite engagement at any level. I am overflowing with gratitude and again, so very impressed. Thank you.

Deanne McCoy

Sunna's Starwheel subscriber

Join me for Middle Earth Readings

Every week I come live into my private and free my private and free Hearthspace group to offer oracular readings based on the planetary movements for the week and give personal readings for participants. Middle Earth Readings takes place on a Monday at 11am London time.

You can also catch up on the latest broadcast below or on my YouTube channel.

As with other astrological systems runic astrology uses the ecliptic. Where the Babylonian Zodiac has 12 divisions and others have 36, the runic system has 24. For the geeks amongst you (hello fellow geeks!) this means that runic astrology has double the number of planetary movements compared to the Zodiac.

When you watch Middle Earth Readings you will note that I most frequently talk about the movements of the Sun, Odin’s Chariot (Mercury), Frigg’s Chariot (Venus) and Manni’s Chariot (Moon). This is because these celestial bodies are moving the most quickly through the runic wheel. These are the runes of the conscious mind. The other planets govern the subsconscious (Thor, Tyr, Loki) and collective consciousness (Urd, Aegir, Hela).

Catch up with Middle Earth Readings

How well do your inner mystic and inner magician play together?

25th July 2023

How well do your inner mystic and inner magician play together? We all have a little cupboard in the mind where we keep our regrets.…

Are you ready for an argument?

17th July 2023

Are you ready for an argument? You might not be now but with Frigg (Venus) entering retrograde later this week a good old spat may…

Runic astrology works on the basis that, when Odin sang the runes into manifestation, they were set in a great circle around Midgard (Middle Earth, the realm of man). Each rune has its own resonance and, as the Earth, Sun, Moon and planets orbit they bring their own resonant frequencies to the harmony of the runes. At any given point a unique song flows around us creating a powerful current of wyrd.

I call the planets the ‘chariots’ as archeological and textual evidence indicates this is how our ancestors saw them. Unlike the stars, the planets move across the sky, sometimes even seeming to go backwards in what we call ‘retrograde motion’. The chariots I work with are:

Sunna’s Chariot (also referred to as Sol’s Chariot) – the Sun
Manni’s Chariot – the Moon
Odin’s Chariot – Roman equivalent Mercury
Frigg’s Chariot – Roman equivalent Venus
Thor’s Chariot – Roman equivalent Jupiter
Tyr’s Chariot – Roman equivalent Mars
Loki’s Chariot – Roman equivalent Saturn
Urd’s Chariot – Roman equivalent Uranus
Aegir’s Chariot – Roman equivalent Neptune
Hela’s Chariot – Roman equivalent Pluto

Imagine that the universe is extending its hand to you. It’s saying “Dance with me.” You start to move in time. You sit with the energy of the runes that are present right now. You raise their energies, sing their song, trace them on your body, create their shapes with your hands, channel them within and without. You experiment with how your birth runes, and the runes of the moment interact together.

To my mind runic astrology is unique in that we are not just passive ‘listeners’. Runes are magical energies so we can work with them actively to maximise the impact of times when there is harmony and minimise impact when there is discord.

Your birth runes

The great vault of the sky over Midgard (earth) is forged from the skull of Ymir. When a child is born the Nornir and Disir stretch threads out across the land which fix in place aspects of that child’s ‘doom’ (both good and bad). Runic astrology works on the assumption that this is an analogy for the position of the stars and planets.

Of particular importance in Norse mythology are the chariots of Sunna (the sun) and Manni (the moon) which travel across the sky pursued by wolves – they will be devoured at Ragnarok, the end of the world. We do not know whether Odin found or created the runes, but the moment he brought them into the worlds their energies permeated all things. The sky vault was overlaid by the great wheel of the runes. The runic energies now sound and resonate as the celestial chase continues its near eternal dance across the sky.

I think of the solar, lunar, first thread and birth hour runes as your Hero Makers (see below). Once the sky wheel was in place what could be more logical than that Odin would work with Sunna, Manni and the Nornir to ensure its energies influenced the fates of men? Odin is continually seeking for heroes who will one day join him in the final battle and avert the terrible doom of Ragnarok. The Hero Makers encourage you to find and forge your own hero within.

Once your Hero Makers are set your personal Disir take up the threads. These are spirits attached to the house of Frigg. They watch the skies and draw down the energy of the constellations and planets into your soul tapestry. The runes they weave into your fate are known as the Soul Weavers.

Your ‘doom’ is not a set of fixed events set out for you from birth. Rather, it is a specific set of energies which express themselves through your character and events in your life.

Your Birth Runes Oracle

The Birth Runes Oracle package includes your personal birth runes report, a private debrief and connection session with me, your Sun Rune Awakening package and 3 months free membership of Sunna’s Starwheel. This is my recommended way to begin a deep and magical connection with your birth runes.

Every rune placement is so well explained, and each one is a potential portal into deeper study - I expect I could spend years exploring them, which is really exciting! I've known and followed Maggie's rune work for many years now and the birth rune charts really are her at her best. The runes were calculated and explained with precision and care, and her vast knowledge and years of research are obvious in the write up. My oracle revealed an overall pattern, all the threads of the tapestry skilfully and intuitively woven together in a beautiful piece of careful, healing storytelling. Just wonderful!

Kay Gillard

Reflecting on her Birth Runes report

The Hero Makers

The Hero Makers are the dominant energies in your birth runes. Sun speaks of purpose, Earth of skill, Moon of passion and your birth hour holds they key. Like a familiar chord they will sound over and over again through the course of your life. Your Hero Makers are:

Your Sun rune (Sunna’s Chariot) supports connection to your heroic self and soul purpose
Your Earth Rune (First Thread) supports your skiful warrior or practical purpose
Your Lunar rune (Manni’s Chariot) supports your passionare self and emotional purpose
Your Nornir’s gift (Birth Hour) is selected by the Nornir to help you activate the power of your birth runes

Birth runes do not dictate fate. They are opportunists seizing the moment and tipping the balance towards the design set in the stars at the moment of your birth. Knowing your birth runes will help you lean into those moments of opportunity for growth and self realisation. They will help you navigate your course through life through knowledge of your greatest power, hidden motivations and places of vulnerability.

Your Soul weavers

Your secondary birth runes are the Soul Weavers which are dictated by the motion of the planets through the runic wheel. They form a lovely additional layer to the primary birth runes and offer great rewards for astrologers who want to work within the northern tradition. Planetary correspondences:

Odin’s Chariot – Roman equivalent Mercury
Frigg’s Chariot – Roman equivalent Venus
Thor’s Chariot – Roman equivalent Jupiter
Tyr’s Chariot – Roman equivalent Mars
Loki’s Chariot – Roman equivalent Saturn
Urd’s Chariot – Roman equivalent Uranus
Aegir’s Chariot – Roman equivalent Neptune
Hela’s Chariot – Roman equivalent Pluto

The energies of your birth runes were fixed in place by a Disir circle formed for you and your birth mother. They will continue to protect and advise you throughout your life should you choose to work with them. The Nornir are more focused on collective destiny – they see how your purpose will fit best into the bigger picture.

Calculating your birth runes - the technical bit

If you want to calculate your birth runes I would highly recommend purchasing Sunna’s Starwheel which includes the Magin Rose birth runes self-calculation kit. The guide below gives an overview only. If the very thought of attempting the calculations chills you to the bone never fear; I offer a full calculation service alongside your birth runes report – this is a personal report with details about each of your birth runes. Each report is 23-24 pages taking you step by step through your 14 births runes and the associated Halls and Hearths.

The runic half-months (your solar rune)

There are 24 runic half months which divide our calendar year into 24 equal parts. The dates below are from Nigel Pennick’s Runic Astrology; they are indicative only as the degrees fall on slightly different dates each year. There are no computer generated birth rune calculators out there but you can use a zodiac calculator to more accurately identify your birth runes. I like Astrolabe. I have included the zodiac sign and degrees on a zodiac birth chart that correspond to each rune so you can look it up for yourself.

Fehu: 29th June – 14th July 7.5-22.5 degrees Cancer
Uruz: 14th July – 29th July 22.5 degrees Cancer to 7.5 degrees Leo
Thurisaz: 29th July – 13th August. 7.5-22.5 degrees Leo.
Ansuz: 13th August – 29th August. 22.5 degrees Leo – 7.5 degrees Virgo
Raidho: 29th August – 13th September. 7.5-22.5 degrees Virgo.
Kenaz: 13th September – 28th September 22.5 degrees Virgo – 7.5 degrees Libra
Gebo: 28th September – 13th October 7.5-22.5 degrees Libra
Wunjo: 13th October – 28th October 22.5 degrees Libra – 7.5 degrees Scorpio
Hagalaz: 28th October – 13th November 7.5-22.5 degrees Scorpio
Nauthiz: 13th November – 28th November 22.5 degrees Scorpio – 7.5 degrees Sagittarius
Isa: 28th November – 13th December 7.5-22.5 degrees Sagittarius
Jera: 13th December – 28th December 22.5 degrees Sagittarius – 7.5 degrees Capricorn
Eihwaz: 28th December – 13th January 7.5-22.5 degrees Capricorn
Perthro: 13th January – 28th January 22.5 degrees Capricorn – 7.5 degrees Aquarius
Algiz: 28th January – 13th February 7.5-22.5 degrees Aquarius
Sowilo: 13th February – 27th February 22.5 degrees Aquarius – 7.5 degrees Pisces
Teiwaz: 27th February – 14th March 7.5-22.5 degrees Pisces
Berkano: 14th March – 30th March 22.5 degrees Pisces – 7.5 degrees Aries
Ehwaz: 30th March – 14th April 7.5-22.5 degrees Aries
Mannaz: 14th April – 29th April 22.5 degrees Aries – 7.5 degrees Taurus
Laguz: 29th April – 14th May 7.5-22.5 degrees Taurus
Ingwaz – 14th May – 29th May 22.5 degrees Taurus – 7.5 degrees Gemini
Othala – 29th May – 14th June 7.5-22.5 degrees Gemini
Dagaz – 14th June – 29th June 22.5 degrees Gemini – 7.5 degrees Cancer

How is the rune calendar calculated?

There are 24 runes and their transitions through the year are calculated based on the same motions of the stars as are the signs of the Zodiac. 12 of the runes reach their peak at the point that the Zodiac signs are transitioning and 12 reach their peak at the same time as the Zodiac sign. So, for example, in 2015 the Sun moves into Aries at 10.46 am on 21 March and the half-month of Berkano peaks at the same time; when Aries reaches its peak Berkano transitions to Ehwaz.

The table above provides the general dates for each rune-half month but reference to an astrological calendar for any given year is needed to ascertain exactly when the transition takes place. Each Zodiac sign has 30 degrees whilst each rune has 15 degrees. I have provided the exact number of degrees for each rune so you can look this up yourself.

The runic hours

The runic hours given below are based on a neat division of the day into 24 hours of 60 minutes duration each. This is actually only the case at the Spring and Autumn Equinoxes. At all other times the hours of dark and light are out of balance so, for example, at the Winter Solstice the 12 hours of darkness are significantly longer than the 12 hours of daylight. Your solar rune hour and your standard ‘GMT clock’ rune hour can therefore be different. People born close to the Spring and Autumn Equinox will get the most accurate readings from the birth hours method below – the greater the imbalance between the days of hour and night and the more likely it is that your birth hour rune will be different. After working with hundreds of people I have found that the accurately calculated solar hour (although complex to calculate) is more accurate. Please do feel free to use the clock hours given below, you will find the exact methodology in the Magin Rose birth runes self-calculation kit in Sunna’s Starwheel. All my birth runes report give your birth hour based on the actual motion of the Sun.

23:30-00:30 – Jera
00:30-01:30 – Eihwaz
01:30-02:30 – Perthro
02:30-03:30 – Algiz
03:30-04:30 – Sowilo
04:30-05:30 – Teiwaz
05:30-06:30 – Berkano
06:30-07:30 – Ehwaz
07:30-08:30 – Mannaz
08:30 – 09:30 Laguz
09:30-10:30 – Inguz
10:30-11:30 – Dagaz
11:30-12:30 – Othala
12:30-13:30 – Fehu
13:30-14:30 – Uruz
14:30-15:30 – Thurisaz
15:30 – 16:30 – Ansuz
16:30-17:30 – Raidho
17:30-18:30 – Kenaz
18:30-19:30 – Gebo
19:30-20:30 – Wunjo
20:30-21:30 – Hagalaz
21:30-22:30 – Nauthiz
22:30-23:30 – Isa

Birth Runes: Soul Journey

The northern lands are calling to their heroes – will you answer? Your birth runes revealed, self-study modules for each planet, hearth, hall and aspect of runic astrology, plus monthly group coaching from Maggie. This package includes your Birth Runes Oracle and a year’s membership to Sunna’s Starwheel.

An entry point for every stage of readiness

Yggdrasil’s Path

Click on the place name to reveal more about it

Midgard

Middle-enclosure. Home of Man. Thor-protected, serpent-belted. Green jewel held between sky and sea. Revolving between ice and fire. Bridge-between the worlds. Many-layered. Ancient home of elves and dwarves. Gates long closed wait to be opened.

Alfheim

Light-elf home. Ljósálfheimr. Abode of elves and home of light. Its people are said to be fairer to look upon than the Sun. Gifted to the earth God Freyr. Iridescent, fleeting, bejeweled, enchanted and intoxicating. Defying time, immune to logic, tricking death itself into a peaceful slumber.

Urd's Well - The Well of Wyrd

rd’s Well - first of the great wells. Home of the Nornir, the 3 and the many. Both above and below. Cradled in the roots of the tree to offer healing; nestled on the edges of Asgard to offer wisdom. Not a world, but a way in: to journey, to explore, to fare forth and to know what is known is but the beginning...

Vanaheim

Vanir-home. Power of earth. Seat of wisdom. Fertile, fecund, fruitful. Treasure-home, nature’s glory. Magic woven into land and tree, rock and stone, air and water. Unafraid to bleed, unafraid to love, unafraid to die. Fountain of gold, fountain of life, cycle of rebirth.

Muspelheim

Fire-home. Red-hot, white-rage, gold-love. Endless dance. Destruction and creation. Sparks fly from the heart of fire into the inky black womb of Ginnungagap. Stars are born here to light the worlds. Beginning and ending. Surtr holds his sword high waiting to strike.

Nifelheim

Mist home, ice-realm. Endless expanse. Sleep blooming as tendrils of frost painting a landscape wrapped in mist. Stilling the heart-beat of time itself. Hrim-thursar, the ice giants, keep a watchful vigil over the silence, whispering to one another through the cracks.

Jotunheim

Giant home. Built after the fall of the ancient ones. Land woven of valleys and mountains. Cliff-edge, thunder-home, swathed in forest, clad in snow. Dwelling place of shape-shifters, wisdom-keepers, giants, trolls and land-wights. Untamed wilderness on the eternal edge.

Swartalfheim

Dark elves and dwarves dwell in this place of secrets. Twilight, starlight, moonlight dimming. Beneath the endless, darkening forests of the swart-alfar lies Nidavellir the cavernous hall of the dvergar: wrought of treasures so fine, so bright that the Sun herself has no need to light the way.

Helheim

Hela’s home. Dwelling-of the dead. Peaceful sanctuary of rest. In-gathering, soul-healing, way-finding. Protected by high walls and fierce guardians. Edged by eyes, found at tree’s root. Come to find peace and healing; if these are not on in your heart then stay away.

Asgard

Enclosure of the Aesir. Seat of the Gods. Eagle’s rest. Rainbow’s end. Encircled by the ice-less water of the Ilfing. Set in the middle of the world. There dwelt the gods and their kindred; and many tidings and tales of it have come to pass both on earth and aloft. There the Allfather sat in the high-seat there, he looked out over the whole world and saw every man's acts, and knew all things which he saw.