Fehu (ᚠ)
Rune Name: Fehu (also Fé, Fe) Pronunciation: FAY-hoo / FEH-hoo Literal Meaning: Cattle / Wealth / Movable property Core Concepts: Wealth, abundance, prosperity, cattle as mobile riches, earned fortune, luck in material matters, giving & receiving, energy flow, primal fire, potential, possession
Position in the Rune Row: 1st rune of the Elder Futhark (the very first rune – the rune that begins the entire sequence) Phonetic Value: f (voiceless labiodental fricative)
Traditional Rune Poem (Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem – for “Feoh”):
Feoh byþ frōfur fīra gehwylcum; sceal ðēah manna gehwylc miclun hyt dǣlan gif hē wile for Drihtne dōmes hlēotan.
Translation (approximate):
Wealth is a comfort to every man; yet every man must share it freely if he wishes to gain glory from the Lord.
Modern Keywords & Themes Wealth • Abundance • Prosperity • Earned fortune • Mobile resources • Giving & receiving • Energy in motion • Primal fire • Potential • Possession • Luck in material matters • Generosity • Flow of resources • Cattle as ancient wealth
Key Divinatory Meanings
Upright / Direct
- Abundance, prosperity, or material gain is present or arriving
- Earned wealth through effort, skill, or wise management
- Time to invest, create, or circulate resources
- Generosity brings greater return — give freely
- Strong creative or financial potential ready to be realized
- Energy is flowing — move with it, don’t hoard
- Good luck in matters of money, business, or physical resources
- “Cattle multiply when well cared for and shared.”
Reversed / Merkstave / Shadow
- Blocked abundance, financial loss, or greed
- Hoarding, stinginess, or fear of loss
- Wealth obtained through unethical means or exploitation
- Energy stagnation — resources not flowing
- Over-attachment to material things
- Missed opportunities or wasted potential
- Giving too much / being taken advantage of
- Burnout from chasing money without balance
Magical & Ritual Uses
- Wealth & abundance magic
- One of the strongest runes for attracting prosperity - Carve Fehu on money boxes, wallets, business cards, or cash registers - Burn or bury Fehu in prosperity rituals (especially new moon)
- Manifestation & intention setting
- Excellent first rune in bindrunes for any material goal - Use with Jera for long-term harvest, or Wunjo for joyful wealth
- Energy circulation & generosity spells
- Invoke Fehu when giving offerings or tithing — multiplies return - Chant Fehu while circulating money/energy in spells
- Protection of possessions & livestock
- Historically carved on barns, stables, or tools - Bind with Algiz for protected wealth
- Creative fire & potential
- Fehu + Kenaz = inspired creation & manifestation - Use in rituals to ignite dormant potential or talent
Common Bindrunes & Combinations
- Fehu + Jera = fruitful harvest, long-term prosperity
- Fehu + Wunjo = joyful abundance, happy wealth
- Fehu + Sowilo = successful, shining prosperity
- Fehu + Gebo = generous giving & receiving, balanced exchange
- Fehu + Othala = protected family wealth, ancestral prosperity
Practical Magical Applications
- Draw Fehu on the bottom of wallets, cash registers, or business plans
- Whisper Fehu into money before spending or giving (to multiply return)
- Carve tiny Fehu on seeds before planting (literal or symbolic)
- Use as sigil on job applications, contracts, or investment papers
- Meditate with Fehu at the solar plexus for confidence in abundance
Cautionary Notes Fehu is the rune of movable wealth — it must flow. Hoarding or clinging creates blockage and eventual loss. Greed or unethical gain often backfires dramatically when working with Fehu. The rune teaches: abundance comes through circulation, generosity, and right relationship with resources.
Traditional Rune Poem (Old English Rune Poem – Feoh)
Feoh byþ frōfur fīra gehwylcum; sceal ðēah manna gehwylc miclun hyt dǣlan gif hē wile for Drihtne dōmes hlēotan.
(The poem stresses that wealth comforts but must be shared freely to gain true honor/glory.)