Uruz - The Meanings of the Runes
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Uruz, the second letter in the Elder Futhark alphabet, directly translates to "aurochs", a now extinct wild ox. The rune itself even appears somewhat like an upside-down pair of horns. While some sources differ in regards to the original interpretation, most historians agree on the Germanic interpretation of "a wild member of the cattle family"--more on this in a moment. Like Fehu, it is a manifestation of productive energy, and Uruz carries a duality in pairing with Fehu. Fehu, meaning domesticated, tamed cattle.
This rune is often connected to physical strength, physical health and healing, endurance and stamina, vitality, courage, and the warrior spirit. Upon examination of the context in which "uruz" was used in different regions, it wasn't always used to mean "aurochs", hence the differing interpretations. For instance, in a Norwegian rune poem it meant "slag", a biproduct of smelting metal. Additionally, in some Icelandic literature, it was used to mean "rain" or "drizzle". In this context, it was rain that came at the wrong time. So considering all three interpretations, they all have one thing in common: each uses uruz to describe a wild, natural energy that came into manifestation.
Uruz is a primal earth force that breaks down old forms and builds new ones. It's also the productive application of aggressive energy--one thing is destroyed in order to change it for the better. In Norse creation mythology, both slag and rain came together and hardened into a rime. A cow then licked that rime away, revealing the first god. Uruz is the transformation that takes place when two opposing forces come together. Chaos lead to creation, which lead to order. That order is dependent upon dualities and opposites.
For example, this rune is connected to the god Thor, a mighty warrior who battles chaos and uses thunderstorms to do so. A god of order uses chaos in order to defeat chaos.
Summary
Direct translation: Aurochs
Symbolizes: Physical strength, wild energy, physical health and healing, endurance and stamina, vitality, courage, and the warrior spirit, change and manifestation.
Features to note: A manifestation of productive energy--destruction for positive transformation. This is a rune of duality: the joining of two opposing forces for the sake of creation, order out of chaos.
Resources (paid links):
Taking Up the Runes by Diana L. Paxson
Runes for Beginners by Lisa Chamberlain
Comments