Wealth & Prosperity
Fehu, the rune of cattle and gold, stands at the beginning of the Futhark and speaks of movable wealth that grows through diligence and good sense. It reminds us that prosperity only unfolds its true value in sharing and flowing – hoarded gold grows cold. Today it invites you to notice with gratitude what gives you abundance, and to pass it on generously.
The name literally means ‘cattle’ – and thus movable property, wealth, gold. In an age when prosperity was measured in cattle, Fehu was simply the rune of wealth. It is linguistically related to the German word ‘Vieh’ (livestock) and the English ‘fee’.
The Old English rune poem says: ‘Wealth is a comfort to all; yet everyone must share it freely if they wish to gain honour in the sight of the Lord.’ The Old Norse poems stress the other side: money often sows discord among kin.
As the first rune, Fehu opens the Futhark and even gave it its name (F-U-Th-A-R-K). It stands at the start of many runic rows on bracteates and stones.
The old poems already warn: wealth is a blessing only when it is shared rather than hoarded – a strikingly modern thought.