Runes, Virtues and Human Needs

Resources from the 4009 lorebook. These are borrowed writings with authors unknown to us.
THE GERMANIC RUNES

(The Elder Futhark – 24 runes in three Rows of Eight)

1. FEHU: Wealth is a comfort to all men; yet must every man bestow it freely, if he wish to gain honour in the sight of the gods.

2. URUZ: The aurochs is proud and has great horns; it is a very savage beast and fights with its horns; a great ranger of the moors, it is a creature of mettle.

3. THURISAZ: The thorn is exceedingly sharp, an evil thing for any knight to touch, uncommonly severe on all who sit among them.

4. ANSUZ: The mouth is the source of all language, a pillar of wisdom and a comfort to wise men, a blessing and a joy to every knight.

5. RAIDHO: Riding seems easy to every warrior while he is indoors and very courageous to him who traverses the high-roads on the back of a stout horse.

6. KENAZ: The torch is known to every living man by its pale, bright flame; it always burns where princes sit within.

7. GEBO: Generosity brings credit and honour, which support one's dignity; it furnishes help and subsistence to all broken men who are devoid of aught else.

8. WUNJO: Bliss he enjoys who knows not suffering, sorrow nor anxiety, and has prosperity and happiness and a good enough house.

9. HAGALAZ: Hail is the whitest of grain; it is whirled from the vault of heaven and is tossed about by gusts of wind and then it melts into water.

10. NAUTHIZ: Trouble is oppressive to the heart; yet often it proves a source of help and salvation to the children of men, to everyone who heeds it betimes.

11. ISA: Ice is very cold and immeasurably slippery; it glistens as clear as glass and most like to gems; it is a floor wrought by the frost, fair to look upon.

12. JERA: Summer is a joy to men, when the gods suffer the earth to bring forth shining fruits for rich and poor alike.

13. EIHWAZ: The yew is a tree with rough bark, hard and fast in the earth, supported by its roots, a guardian of flame and a joy upon an estate.

14. PERTHRO: Peorth is a source of recreation and amusement to the great, where warriors sit blithely together in the banqueting-hall.

15. ALGIZ: The Elk-sedge is mostly to be found in a marsh; it grows in the water and makes a ghastly wound, covering with blood every warrior who touches it.

16. SOWILO: The sun is ever a joy in the hopes of seafarers when they journey away over the fishes' bath, until the courser of the deep bears them to land.

17. TIWAZ: Tiw is a guiding star; well does it keep faith with princes; it is ever on its course over the mists of night and never fails.

18. BERKANO: The poplar birch bears no fruit; yet without seed it brings forth suckers, for it is generated from its leaves. Splendid are its branches and gloriously adorned its lofty crown which reaches to the skies.

19. EHWAZ: The horse is a joy to princes in the presence of warriors. A steed in the pride of its hoofs, when rich men on horseback bandy words about it; and it is ever a source of comfort to the restless.

20. MANNAZ: The joyous man is dear to his kinsmen; yet every man is doomed to fail his fellow, since the gods by their decree will commit the vile carrion to the earth.

21. LAGUZ: The ocean seems interminable to men, if they venture on the rolling bark and the waves of the sea terrify them and the courser of the deep heed not its bridle.

22. INGWAZ: Ing was first seen by men among the East-Danes, till, followed by his chariot, he departed eastwards over the waves. So the Heardingas named the hero.

23. DAGAZ: Day, the glorious light, is beloved of men, a source of hope and happiness to rich and poor, and of service to all.

24. OTHALA: An estate is very dear to every man, if he can enjoy there in his house whatever is right and proper in constant prosperity.

TWELVE VIRTUES

Truth - Be honest and straightforward in all your dealings. Avoid deceit and deception.

Industriousness - Be productively engaged in life. Avoid laziness. Strive to accomplish good things.

Justice - Let equity and fairness be your hallmark. Treat others in accordance with what they deserve, and give each person a chance to show his or her best.

Courage - Fear is natural, but it can be overcome. Train yourself to do the things you fear, both physically and morally.

Generosity - An open hand and an open heart bring happiness to you and to others. The miserly are never happy.

Hospitality - In ancient times, travellers were greeted with food, drink, and a warm place by the fire. See that your guests never want.

Moderation - Enjoy all good things, but do not overindulge. No one admires a glutton or a person who cannot control his or her appetites.

Community - Cooperate with kin and friends, do your fair share, and remember your responsibilities to others. Consider what is good for the whole.

Self-Reliance – Whether as individual or group look to your own resources to provide for your needs and achieve your goals.

Steadfastness - Learn to persist, to endure in the face of adversity without discouragement. Do not be blown about by every changing wind.

Loyalty - Be steadfast in your commitment to others and to yourself. Have a true heart.

Wisdom - Learn from your experiences. Grow in the understanding of the world, and of the human heart. Comprehend as much of the universe as you can in the years available to you.

Nine Basic Human Needs

Security is the need to feel safe, to feel assured that they know what is going to happen, to know ahead of time what the plans are. What constitutes Security can be different for different people.

Adventure is the need for an adrenaline rush, to have new experiences, to travel, to have BIG experiences, to have drama in their life, to have a sense of anticipation about upcoming events.

Freedom is the need for independence and spontaneity. It is also the need to have choices and to feel in control of making those choices. In many people, Freedom might be combined with Adventure, since a person who has a need for Freedom might be willing to partake of more Adventures, than a person who has both Freedom and Security. Freedom does not care for plans or heavy structure. What constitutes Freedom for one person may be very different from another's need perception of Freedom.

Exchange is the need to trade information and knowledge with others, not just to mingle or socialize, but to deliver and receive something of value. That something of value may be information, conversation, communication, energy, friendship, services, money, gifts, love, justice, shared experiences. People with a need for exchange are concerned about the flow of energy in all types of relationships. They like to see things "moving" in some way that expresses balanced equality, integrity and an equal exchange.

Power. People with a need for Power need to be in a position of authority and responsibility. They need to explore Power, leadership and accomplishment. People with a need for Power tend to be good organizers and accept responsibility, setting an example of leadership.

Expansion is the need to build something, to add onto, to create an empire, to expand horizons, to go where no one has gone before.

Acceptance is the need to accept yourself and be accepted by others. This includes a feeling of belonging. People with a need for Acceptance are usually very easy-going and pleasant to have in a group.

Community. People with a need for Community like having people around. They are highly social and will express their enjoyment of gatherings. These are the best folks to put in charge of parties and company gatherings. They will seek out people and are able to maintain large numbers of relationships. The need for Community is different from the need for Exchange in that the need for Community does not require the exchange of anything.

Expression is the need to be artistic, to be seen, to be heard, to be felt. It is the need to express oneself through words, speech, actions, dress, art and self-creations of all types.

Compiled in October 2009 CE / 4009 HE