Uruz Rune Meaning
ᚢ · sound "u" · Freyr's ætt · name means aurochs, the great wild ox
strength, vitality, endurance, untamed energy
Upright meaning
Uruz is raw, steady strength, the kind that comes from the body and from plain persistence rather than from clever plans. It invites you to notice where you are stronger than you think, and to use that strength with some care.
Reversed (merkstave)
Reversed, Uruz can reflect feeling drained, or strength turned clumsy, pushing where patience would serve better. Treat it as a cue to rest and gather yourself before the next effort.
Lore
The name is usually reconstructed as the word for the aurochs, the huge wild ox of European forests that died out in the 1600s. All three rune poems cover it, but in different ways: the Anglo-Saxon poem describes the fierce, great-horned aurochs, the Old Norwegian reads its name as slag from poor iron, and the Old Icelandic as drizzling rain.