Today, we continue our runic study journey by looking at Hagalaz (HAH-gah-laz), the Hail rune from the second ætt. Hagalaz (ᚺ) is associated with sudden, unavoidable, or disruptive change, but, despite its destructive nature, it is also a symbol of necessary transformation and renewal, much like the Tower in tarot.
As seen in my previous runic guides, today's post will include a deep dive into the runic poems, Hagalaz's cultural significance, its correspondences, how to work with it, its meaning in a spread, and its relationships with runes. Also included is a free printable for your Book of Shadows or Grimoire!
Hagalaz's Portrayal in the Rune Poems
Hagalaz (ᚺ) is the first rune in the second ætt, which belongs to Hel. This ætt is characterized by ordeal, disruption, and necessity. Where the first ætt establishes order and potential, the second ætt confronts the forces that break, constrain, and test that order. Hagalaz, being the first rune of the ætt, symbolizes the storm, the violent disruptor, that clears the path for the journey ahead. Like many of the runes I have discussed before, Hagalaz appears in all three runic poems, suggesting similar cultural meanings across the continent.
Icelandic Rune Poem Translation:
Hagall er kaldakorn Hagall - Hail
ok krapadrífa cold grain
ok snáka sótt. and shower of sleet
grando hildingr. and sickness of serpents.
Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem Translation:
Hægl bẏþ hƿitust corna; Hail is the whitest of grain;
hƿẏrft hit of heofones lẏfte, it is whirled from the vault of heaven.
ƿealcaþ hit ƿindes scura; and is tossed about by gusts of wind
ƿeorþeþ hit to ƿætere sẏððan. and then it melts into water.
Norwegian Rune Poem Translation:
Hagall er kaldastr korna; Hail is the coldest of grain;
Kristr skóp hæimenn forna. Christ created the world of old.
When we place the Icelandic, Anglo-Saxon, and Norwegian rune poems for Hagalaz side by side, a clear pattern emerges. Each poem defines hail not as an abstract symbol, but as a natural phenomenon that is cold, violent, and inevitable. Hagalaz is not moralized, negotiated with, or softened. It simply is.
First, all three poems identify hail as a form of grain. The Icelandic poem calls it “cold grain,” the Anglo-Saxon poem describes it as “the whitest of grain,” and the Norwegian poem names it “the coldest of grain.” This repeated metaphor is crucial. Grain is normally associated with nourishment, abundance, and life, yet hail is grain that cannot feed. It looks like sustenance, but instead destroys crops, breaks roofs, and injures livestock. Through this shared image, Hagalaz teaches that not all that resembles abundance is beneficial, and that nature contains forces that undo human plans without malice or intent.
It is important to note that hail is not just called grain, but "cold grain," a defining trait of hail. Cold halts growth, arrests movement, and preserves by freezing rather than nurturing. The Icelandic poem goes further, linking hail to “sickness of serpents,” a phrase often interpreted as illness, corruption, or the disturbance of chthonic forces. It is also possibly a reference to reptiles' inability to do much during freezing temperatures, as they derive their body heat from their environment. Serpents show up in plenty of the Sagas, where they threaten the very existence of our world. Either way, this connects Hagalaz not only to physical damage, but to systemic breakdown when something in the natural or spiritual order turns hostile or diseased.
Furthermore, each poem emphasizes movement from above to below. In the Anglo-Saxon poem, hail is “whirled from the vault of heaven” and “tossed about by gusts of wind.” The Norwegian poem frames hail as something brought into existence by divine creation itself. This suggests hail originates beyond human control and descends suddenly into the human world, positioning Hagalaz as a rune of external disruption with events sometimes arriving uninvited that cannot be bargained with.
Finally, the Anglo-Saxon poem alone notes that hail melts into water. This detail is subtle but essential. Hail is temporary. It does not remain solid forever. What begins as a destructive impact inevitably transforms, feeding rivers and soil once its violent form has passed. This does not redeem hail, but it contextualizes it. Hagalaz is not endless chaos; it is a phase of forceful transformation that alters the landscape before dissolving into something beneficial and transformative.
Taken together, these shared elements teach us that Hagalaz represents inevitable disruption, the kind that arrives from beyond human will, strips away fragile structures, and reveals what can and cannot endure. It is grain that cannot nourish, cold that halts life, and impact that precedes transformation. Hagalaz does not promise renewal the gentle way Jera does. Instead, it promises truth through fracture and violence. What comes after depends on what survives the storm.
Hagalaz's Cultural Significance
Like all the runes, the simplest and most historically certain fact is that Hagalaz was part of a writing system used by the Norse and other Germanic peoples. Hagalaz was the name of the rune representing the h sound in the Elder Futhark, its literal meaning being "hail." And like other runes, Hagalaz was widely carved into objects, including stones, weapons, and pendants, where some scholars believe it was used to enhance the object's properties, likely to bring strength.
Two of the best examples of this include the Kragehul spear-shaft and X13 in the Vindeleve Hoard. The Kragehul spear shaft was found in Funen, Denmark, in 1877 and is believed to date from the Migration Period (300-700CE). Upon this staff is a runic inscription that says something along the lines of "...hail I dedicate to the spear." Scholars have interpreted this inscription in many different ways, but most agree that it is a dedication to hail. This could have been to enhance the weapon's force, implying an appeal to the raw, destructive power that is associated with hail.
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| The Kragehul lance shaft. Drawn by Stephens in 1884. |
More recently, in 2020, a large number of gold disks called bracteates were uncovered near Jelling, Denmark, among which was bracteate X13. X13 depicts a head with a tiara and long braid upon a horse with a swastika and a runic inscription. This inscription is believed to say "iz Wōd[a]nas weraz" or "He is Wodan/Odin's man," making it the earliest known reference to Odin. Hagalaz is present on the bracteate, but the runic text focuses less on Hagalaz's symbolic meaning and more on aspects of Proto-Norse belief and power. This further supports Hagalaz's use in written language.
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| Detail of X13 with head, horse, torques, runic inscription, and swastika |
Before moving on, however, I would like to address the use of the swastika on this piece. I know it is outside the purview of the Hagalaz rune, but because they appear alongside each other, I believe it is important to briefly discuss its meaning before it was commendeered as a hate symbol by the Nazis. The swastika was originally a symbol of well-being, power, and protection, and was used across multiple cultures for similar purposes. In Norse mythology, it was strongly associated with Thor and his hammer, Mjolnir, again, symbols of strength. Hitler was obsessed with the "Aryan race," which he frequently equated with Nordic people. It is no surprise, therefore, that he twisted Norse mythology and symbols to support his hateful ideology. Now back to our original topic.
A more important question to ask, however, is why the Norse felt the need to name hail as a rune at all. While we cannot be certain, it is likely because hail embodied one of the most feared and unavailable forces shaping their lives: destructive weather. For agrarian societies in Scandinavia and northern Europe, hail could spell catastrophe for entire societies. Norse culture often emphasized endurance, resilience, and honor in facing hardship, so it is no surprise that one of their greatest fears would be named specifically. Needless to say, Hagalaz, like all the runes, was a crucial part of Norse society.
Hagalaz's Correspondences
It should be noted that general correspondences are not mentioned in any Nordic text. Instead, these are a best guess based on experiences from both myself and others. In fact, most of these are of modern invention, pulling inspiration from Wicca. As with all correspondence lists, you can add and subtract based on your experiences.
- Upright Meaning: disruption, upheaval, crisis, catalyst, change, transformation, destruction, awakening, inner chaos, setbacks
- Reversed Meaning: None
- Letter: H
- Element: Water
- Zodiac: Aquarius
- Planet: Jupiter
- Animal: black stork, otter, snake, praying mantis, dolphin
- Colors: light blue, indigo, grey, green, black
- Deities: Ymir, Urd, Hel
- Plants: ash, briony, cypress, yew, hops, henbane, lily of the valley
- Crystals: onyx, lapis lazuli, agate, clear quartz, opal, moonstone
How to Work with the Hagalaz Rune
Incorporating runes into your magical practice can be incredibly rewarding and bring new energies to spells and rituals. But how exactly can you use Hagalaz in your workings?
- Meditate on Hagalaz to understand destruction, disruption, and the forces that break what is no longer sustainable.
- Use in spells or rituals to break harmful patterns, cycles, habits, or spiritual stagnation.
- Carry or wear the Hagalaz rune to build resilience, endurance, and acceptance during periods of upheaval.
- Chant Hagalaz to raise energy for banishing, clearing, or disrupting unwanted influences.
- Draw Hagalaz on paper and write what must be released beneath it, then tear or burn the paper to enact sacred destruction.
- Use Hagalaz in protection magic where boundaries are enforced through consequence rather than concealment.
- Sleep with Hagalaz under your pillow to invite dreams that reveal uncomfortable truths or necessary endings.
- Include Hagalaz in rituals during storms, cold weather, or seasonal transitions to align with natural forces.
- Draw the Hagalaz rune in chalk, ash, or water at thresholds to mark endings and irreversible change.
- Journal with Hagalaz to explore what in your life is unstable, false, or overdue for collapse.
- Incorporate Hagalaz into shadow work to confront loss, grief, and transformation without spiritual bypassing.
- Place Hagalaz on wards or sigils meant to deter, disrupt, or repel intrusion.
- Use in spells and rituals focused on radical truth, reality-breaking insight, and enforced clarity.
- Sit with the rune during times of disruption without asking for resolution, practicing endurance instead.
- Offer cold water, stone, ice, or time spent in discomfort as devotional acts to deepen your bond with Hagalaz.
Hagalaz's Meaning in Rune Spread
Below are some examples of how to interpret Hagalaz when it's next to or near other runes:
- Next to Nauthiz suggests unavoidable hardship or necessity forcing a sudden break with the current situation.
- Near Isa indicates frozen progress following disruption, stagnation after collapse, or damage that cannot be immediately repaired.
- In proximity to Jera suggests destruction that clears the way for a new cycle, though results may take time to emerge.
- Paired with Perthro points to sudden change caused by chance, fate, or hidden influences coming to light.
- Near Eihwaz indicates endurance and resilience during upheaval, emphasizing survival over control.
- Combined with Algiz suggests protection through firm boundaries rather than avoidance of conflict.
- In proximity to Sowilo suggests clarity, truth, or insight gained only after disruption has passed.
- Near Raido suggests plans, movement, or direction being interrupted or forcibly redirected.
- Paired with Kenaz indicates painful revelations or insight revealed through crisis or loss.
Hagalaz's Relationships with Other Runes
Hagalaz is not a rune that works gently with others. Its presence alters the meaning of nearby runes by introducing disruption, external pressure, and forces beyond personal control. When Hagalaz appears alongside other runes, it often signals that their influence will be tested, interrupted, or reshaped rather than expressed smoothly. When found with Jera or Fehu, it can indicate that plans, rewards, or abundance may be interrupted or delayed. Growth may be fragile, resources may be lost, or progress could be temporarily destroyed by forces beyond your control. Near runes like Raido or Ehwaz, Hagalaz can suggest sudden changes in direction or travel, or that movement and forward momentum are being blocked or redirected.
Despite its association with disruption, Hagalaz is not inherently negative. Instead, it reminds us that upheaval is part of life, and that destruction often precedes necessary transformation. While it may feel uncomfortable or chaotic, Hagalaz encourages reflection and resilience, asking us to adapt to circumstances rather than resist them. Sometimes what is being broken is a structure or habit that would have caused greater harm if left unchecked.
Hagalaz also emphasizes endurance and learning through experience. Even when paired with runes like Kenaz, Sowilo, or Algiz, which represent clarity, illumination, or protection, its influence suggests that insight, success, or safety come only after facing challenges and surviving disruption. Hagalaz teaches that reality cannot always be controlled, but what survives the storm is stronger, wiser, and better prepared for what comes next.
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Hagalaz is the destructive force that clears the path for the future to unfold. Sure, it comes without warning and often causes great chaos and hurt, but with it comes the nurturing fertility of water, of a clear path forward. Below you will find a printable, cheat sheet that includes a summary of all important information that you can incorporate into your Book of Shadows or Grimoire.
Click the image below to download your free cheat sheet for your Book of Shadows or Grimoire.
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