Algiz Rune Meaning: Protection, Love and Reversed
Nov 7, 2026 · The Editors
The meaning of Algiz, the rune of protection: its shape and name, the elk and the sedge, upright and reversed meanings, Algiz in love and spiritual practice, and a note on how the symbol has been misused.
Algiz (ᛉ) is the fifteenth rune of the Elder Futhark, the oldest runic alphabet. It is the rune most associated with protection, and one of the most recognisable shapes in the set.
The shape
A vertical line with two branches rising from it, like a Y with a stem through the middle. It is read as:
- A hand raised in warding or greeting.
- The antlers of an elk.
- A person with arms raised to the sky.
- A sedge plant, with sharp leaves.
All four readings feed its meaning.
The name
Algiz is the reconstructed Proto-Germanic name, usually linked to the word for elk. In the later Anglo-Saxon rune poem it is eolh, "elk-sedge" — a marsh grass with razor-edged leaves that cuts the hand that grabs it carelessly. The poem describes it growing in the fen and drawing blood from anyone who seizes it.
Both readings point the same way: something that defends itself — the elk with its antlers, the grass with its blades.
In the Elder Futhark the rune stood for a z (or final r) sound.
Algiz upright meaning
- Protection — a shield over you and those you love.
- Defence — standing your ground.
- Instinct — trusting the warning feeling.
- Connection to something higher — the raised arms reaching up.
- Sanctuary — a safe place.
Algiz reversed meaning
In modern rune reading, a reversed or merkstave Algiz can mean:
- Vulnerability — defences down.
- Hidden danger — a threat you have not noticed.
- Ignoring your instincts.
- Being cut off from support.
As with all runes, reading reversals is a modern practice; the historical sources do not mention it.
Algiz in love
Upright, Algiz in love points to a protective, safe relationship — someone who has your back. It can also be a reminder to protect your own boundaries. Reversed, it may suggest you are leaving yourself exposed, or that something in a relationship needs a careful look.
Algiz in spiritual practice
Algiz is the rune most often drawn, carved or worn for protection in modern practice — over doorways, on charms, in the air with the hand. Some meditate in the "Algiz posture", standing with arms raised in the rune's shape.
A note on misuse
Like several runes, the Algiz shape was taken up in the 20th century by Nazi organisations, and in some contexts it is still used by extremist groups. Its ancient meaning has nothing to do with that use, and most people who use it today use it for protection and Norse heritage. Context matters, and it is worth being aware of.
Reading the runes
Algiz is one of 24. For the meaning of every rune and how to cast them, see Elder Futhark runes and their meanings — or start with the first rune, Fehu.
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