If you are starting out with Elder Futhark divination readings, you’re probably still getting to grips with their meanings. So if you’ve drawn the Nauthiz rune, you’re curious about what it means.
The Nauthiz rune is associated with needs and restrictions. It is the tenth symbol of the Elder Futhark alphabet. The Nauthiz sign is ruled under Hagal’s aett. The Nauthiz symbol is also related to survival and struggles.
That’s a brief idea of the Nauthiz symbol, but if you want to know more, keep reading. This guide will tell you everything you want to know about this rune symbol. You’ll also learn how to use it with divination and energy work.
Let’s get started.
What is the Nauthiz Rune?
Nauthiz is the tenth symbol of the Elder Futhark Runes. You pronounce it as now-theez.
The whole elder futhark alphabet is split into three lots of eight. A Norse deity rules over each set as an aettir (family).
Nauthiz is the second symbol of the second (Hagal’s) Aett. This set of runes is ruled by Heimdall, the Norse god of perception and foresight.
Hagal’s aett represents runes that encourage action with self. They bring about introspection and endurance. These runes help to navigate the hardships of being human and encourage us with the will to push forward.
The Nauthiz Rune represents struggles and times of need that make you resilient. You can choose to let the situation get you down or to grow by seeking solutions to survive.
In addition to Nauthiz, the other symbols in this Aettir include the:
What is the Meaning of the Nauthiz Rune?
In a general rune reading, Nauthiz symbolizes that you are suffering due to your needs not being met.
The translation means ‘Need.’ This is symbolic of the ‘need-fire,’ a communal fire that ancient Norse communities would light in times of extreme hardship or disaster. They did this to ward off evil spirits.
In modern times our behaviors have been explained in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. This theory explains that we cannot move forward without meeting our basic needs first.
Your circumstances are likely to restrict your ability to move forward. This may be a situation such as poverty, poor housing, no support, or poor health.
Nauthiz encourages you to find what strengths you have and use these to ease or free yourself from these restrictions.
Although Nauthiz appears as a negative rune, it is one of survival. It gives you a fighting spirit when all seems lost. Overall this will make you a stronger person.
Nauthiz is a highly loyal rune. It encourages you to persevere through the difficulties. Don’t take the easy road; you owe it to yourself to pull through.
Nauthiz Keywords:
- Need
- Scarcity
- Necessity
- Endurance
- Restriction
How to read the Nauthiz Rune
Rune divination starts with you having a question or intention in mind. Drawing the Nauthiz rune can bring answers to that which you seek guidance.
We’ve already discussed the general meaning of the Nauthiz rune. Yet, you may find this doesn’t really relate to your intention or question.
Nauthiz is not a chief rune for some intentions. On its own, it doesn’t always give the depth of answer you need.
When you’ve drawn a Nauthiz rune, it’s always better you get context from other runes. Often the order you read them will give you more details about the message of the Nauthiz.
On that note, the meanings in this guide are not set in stone. As a beginner, they may help you decipher the message’s meaning in your rune reading.
Use your own judgment and intuition to guide you through.
Can Nauthiz be reversed?
Traditionally Nauthiz is a rune that cannot be reversed. Although the Nauthiz rune doesn’t have a typical reverse (merkstave) position, it can ‘lie in opposition.’
Depending on the symbol on your rune, you may be able to tell the difference between an upright and a reversed Nauthiz.
A Nauthiz reversed or in opposition usually indicates a ‘murky’ rune message, which has a negative tone. This can also be reflected in some of the other runes cast.
If you choose to read Nauthiz in a merkstave position, it is generally considered not to have the opposite meaning of the upright position.
A negative Nauthiz reading can signal constraint and distress in which you see no way out. It’s chronic, and your perspective is that you are hopeless about the situation. You may also be acting entitled and confusing wants for needs.
Unlike an upright Nauthiz, you need to change your outlook on your situation. You are self-imposing restrictions by refusing to change your ways.
You may choose not to consider Nauthiz lying in opposition as a meaning. But, you could be missing an important message from the Divine.
Nauthiz For Love
Upright
A Nauthiz rune in a love intention can indicate unfulfilled needs.
This may be because you seek love and feel you need the intimacy and love of a partner. If you’re in a relationship, it can point to the lack of something, perhaps trust, intimacy, love, or desire.
Nauthiz can also indicate the need for loyalty to a partner during hardships. In the same perspective, your relationship will strengthen by supporting each other through the worst times.
In Opposition
A reverse Nauthiz in love can indicate an external pressure on your relationship. This may be a disproval of your choice of partner.
As a couple, you are restricting your relationship by being unwilling to compromise. Your egos are getting in the way, and each side feels they have it worse than the other. Moving forward is not possible until you come to a shared understanding.
Nauthiz for Family and Friends
Upright
When Nauthiz is drawn in matters of family and friends, it indicates that you feel a need for belonging.
There is a break in your connection with your support networks. Without these, you may be feeling a sense of loss and despair.
Nauthiz can also indicate a need for loyalty and support from friends and family. Now is the time to look around and see who has been there in your time of need.
In Opposition
A negative Nauthiz usually signals that your friends or family are holding you back from moving forward in life.
Don’t be hasty about getting rid of family or friends causing difficulties. You may not want to burn your bridges just yet. But, setting boundaries can help to maintain relationships without draining your energy.
Nauthiz for Health and wellbeing
Upright
Nauthiz drawn for health signals that you are experiencing or are about to experience a bout of poor health. As Nauthiz generally relates to bones and joints, this may be pain, inflammation, or a break.
These illnesses or injuries can prevent you from getting to work or school, effectively holding you back. This will likely deprive you of education or money for a short period.
Nauthiz can also indicate a lack of good health care to recover from a period of poor health.
In Opposition
Drawing a negative Nauthiz can signal that you feel your health is holding you back. You are likely to feel angry and frustrated that you can’t do things you previously could.
Continuing in a negative frame of mind is not beneficial to your recovery. You don’t need to view everything with a positive mindset. Use this time to make changes to your perspective.
Nauthiz in opposition, can often indicate that you need help with addictions such as smoking, alcohol or drug use.
Nauthiz For Money and finances
Upright
In money matters, Nauthiz can represent poverty and a lack of finances to cover things you need. You may struggle to cover your rent, mortgage, or grocery bills. Now is the time to cut back on non-essentials, so you aren’t left short.
Nauthiz often appears to show times of monetary hardship so that you can appreciate it when it’s in abundance.
In Opposition
A negative Nauthiz can relate to greed and a lack of appreciation for money. It is likely you have been focusing heavily on materialist things in an attempt to bring happiness into your life. You are not focusing on the right things, and it’s time to get back to basics.
Now is not the right time for significant investments or purchases. They will not offer you the reward you think they will.
Nauthiz for Career
Upright
When Nauthiz is drawn in career intention, it signals that you may lose your job. This will leave you without employment and any regular source of income.
It can also signal that your current career is not satisfying your needs. You are finding it a chore to do even the most basic of tasks.
Be patient and wait it out; right now may not be the best time to change your career path.
In Opposition
Nauthiz, in opposition, can indicate that you are resisting change in your job or career. If you are unwilling to go with the flow of change, then you’ll likely get left behind.
A negative Nauthiz can also indicate that you’re feeling that your role is impacting your freedom. You may be working too much and neglecting other fundamental areas of your life such as relationships, sleep, exercise, or diet.
Nauthiz for Personal development
Upright
Nauthiz is a rune of aiding personal development. Adversity is a catalyst for adaptation and growth. You need to dig deep and do some soul searching to pull yourself through the hard times.
This rune will teach you about self-reliance. No one is here to do the work for you. If you want things to change, do things differently or take a different perspective.
Put lofty ambitions on hold and use this time to face your fears. Take on the challenge, and you’ll become stronger on the other side.
In Opposition
Nauthiz, in opposition, can indicate a mind-set of resistance to change. You refuse to put in the work with any form of consistency.
You make excuses that things ‘never change,’ but the reality is that you want changes instantly. Your constant need for results and lack of patience is causing you resistance.
Nauthiz for Spirituality
Upright
Drawing a Nauthiz rune can indicate a longing for spiritual connection. Your spiritual self has been neglected while you’ve focused on wants over needs.
It’s that feeling of being unfulfilled despite having all you need, physically, mentally, and emotionally.
It’s time to put your ego aside and adopt a stance of self-sacrifice and simplification. Let go of the excess that is holding you back spiritually.
In Opposition
A Nauthiz in opposition, can relate to spirituality causing restriction in your life. You may be holding yourself to unrealistic standards or acting piously.
Your judgment can be holding you back from creating deeper connections with others. Now is the time to look at yourself before making comments about others.
You are in control of your spiritual connections, and this should not be forced upon you by others.
Magical uses of the Nauthiz Rune
- Protection magic
- Negotiating circumstances
- Reflection of need
- Innovation and resourceful energy
- Love magic when seeking a partner
Nauthiz Rune Associations
The Nauthiz rune connects with many other universal energies. These may suggest ways to incorporate the Nauthiz energy into your divination work.
Nauthiz corresponds with the following.
| Animals | Moth, Spider, Crow |
| Archangel | Cameal |
| Body | Bones, arms |
| Colour | Dark Red/Black |
| Chakra | Root |
| Crystals | mahogany Obsidian, lapis lazuli |
| Element | Fire |
| God/Goddesses | Skuld |
| Half month | November 13th – November 28th |
| Herb | Snakeroot |
| Hour | 21.30-22.30 |
| Letter | N |
| Number | 10 |
| Ruling planet | Saturn |
| Tarot | Four of Pentacles |
| Tree | Beech |
| Zodiac | Capricorn |
Nauthiz Rune Poems
Anglo-Saxon Nauthiz Poem
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.
Norwegian Nauthiz Poem
Constraint gives scant choice;
a naked man is chilled by the frost.
Icelandic Nauthiz Poem
Constraint
grief of the bond-maid
and state of oppression
and toilsome work.
Nauthiz Galdr (Runic Chant)
Naudhiz naudhiz naudhiz Nnnnnnnnnnnnnn Nu na ni ne no Nudg nadh nidh nedh nodh Un an in an on Nnnnnnnnnnn
Rune Nauthiz Other Names
- Old Germanic name: Nauthiz, Naudis, Noicz
- Old Norwegian name: Nau
- Anglo-Saxon name: Nied, Nyd
- Old Celtic name: Nauths
- Old Icelandic name: Nau, Nauð
Final thoughts
Nauthiz is a rune of need and necessity. You are lacking at the moment but need to make the changes to get to where you want to be. Consistency and patience will get you there.
Nauthiz can be viewed as a negative rune depicting scarcity. Yet, going without can be viewed as a challenge to improve your life and avoid experiencing it again.
Nobody likes to go through hardships. Yet, growth comes when you reflect on what went wrong and then work to change it.
In opposition, Nauthiz reminds us that perspective is everything. You may not see a way out of the things restricting you. This may be the cause of distress, interference, or sheer ignorance.
Sometimes you need to step back, strip things back to basics, and evaluate what is needed. That excess may just be what is holding you back in life.
Use the Nauthiz rune to harness these energies into your life and divination work.
Just what I was needing to hear! Thank you for your time and effort to make this site and to help us all on our journies through life. Through this page I gained perspective and I will continue to use the energy around me to work harder and ensure that I am covering my basic needs and then from there I can move on and carry this weight with me throughout my life journey… Thank you and Skal Mi Bragas we shall not lose our ancestors’ wisdom and insight… I feel that this is particularly important in these times of such rapid change and I feel that those of us who have learned to live with the basics and from the bounty of this earth will be fine as long as we do not lose sight of traditions and the ‘old ways’ while we are seeing so many ‘new’ ways of doing things… This is truly the age of knowledge, but we must ensure that the important things are passed along as they were for hundreds of generations, now I see things being lost in such a short time for want of immediate gratification we can sacrifice what would be great time and opportunities to learn while we have this info at our fingertips… Let us remember the past, live in the present, and prepare for the future as best we can!