A Complete Guide to Sowilo, the Sun Rune

Today, we continue our runic study journey by looking at Sowilo (SOH-wee-loh), the Sun rune from the second ætt. Sowilo (ᛊ, ᛋ) is associated with fire, energy, victory, success, illumination, and vitality. Being part of the second ætt makes it part of Heimdall's ætt, which is the ætt of nature, unexpected challenges, and transformation. 

As seen in my previous runic guides, today's post will include a deep dive into the runic poems, Sowilo'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!

Sowilo's Portrayal in the Rune Poems

Sowilo (ᛊ, ᛋ) is the final rune of the second ætt, making it the sixteenth rune in the Elder Futhark. Like Wunjo, which marks the end of the first ætt, Sowilo represents success and glory, but unlike Wunjo, it does not mark the end of the journey. Sowilo, being associated with the Sun, is associated with movement and therefore change and transformation. Sure, you have been successful and triumphant, but the universe is transient and ever-changing, and therefore, we must be too. You have won one battle, but there are more that lie ahead.

Sowilo, like most of the runes of the Elder Futhark, is found in all three runic poems, which helps us understand its meaning within the context of the runic alphabet as well as Nordic life.

Icelandic Rune Poem                                  Translation:

Sól er skýja skjöldr                                       Sun is the shield of the clouds

ok skínandi röðull                                         and shining ray

ok ísa aldrtregi.                                            and destroyer of ice.

rota siklingr.

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem                            Translation:

Sigel semannum sẏmble biþ on hihte           The sun is ever a joy in the hopes of seafarers

ðonne hi hine feriaþ ofer fisces beþ,            when they journey away over the fishes' bath,

oþ hi brimhengest bringeþ to lande.            until the courser of the deep bears them to land.

Norwegian Rune Poem                               Translation:

Sól er landa ljóme;                                       Sun is the light of the world;

lúti ek helgum dóme.                                   I bow to the divine decree.

All three rune poems refer to Sowilo as the sun, and all three present Sowilo in a positive light. In the Icelandic poem, the sun is the destroyer of ice, a reference to Isa, which is found earlier in the second ætt. Being the final rune of the second ætt, Sowilo represents triumph, in this case, over winter and its hardships. The second ætt heavily focuses on the cycles of the year, beginning with winter and ending with summer, so it only makes sense that it would be referred to as a "shining ray and destroyer of ice." The sun is what causes the shift from winter to summer, bringing with it new life, represented by Eihwaz, and the harvest, represented by Jera.

We see a similar theme in the Norwegian rune poem, where Sowilo is referred to as "the light of the world." In this case, the sun is viewed as the supreme source of illumination, bringing with it life and vitality. As such, Sowilo often reveals hidden truths, strengths, or other masked messages in a runic spread. However, referring to it as "divine decree" sets the sun apart from other life-giving earthly attributes, placing it as the supreme or ultimate life-giver and marking it as sacred. This isn't surprising considering the landscape in which the Norse lived. Long, harsh winters were often deadly, and the sun was what brought an end to these hardships, bringing with it nourishing foods and fairer weather. Like most cultures, the sun was a prominent figure within Nordic mythology, which I will discuss in more detail in the next section, Sowilo's Cultural Significance. Needless to say, it was reliable, a "shield" and "shining ray" against the darkness of winter.

The Anglo-Saxon poem, however, takes a slightly different approach to the sun's power, heavily focusing on its use as a navigational guide for seafarers as they "journey away over the fishes' bath." Summer was raiding season, meaning clans would embark on seafaring journeys to discover new lands, trade, and even raid coastal settlements. It should come as no surprise, then, that the Anglo-Saxon poem would refer to such journeys during the summer months and the sun's role in navigation. As such, Sowilo acts not only as a source of illumination and warmth, but also as a guide through difficult times.

Taking into account all three runic poems, we see that Sowilo is treasured not only as the Sun rune, but also for its ability to illuminate, bring warmth and energy, nourish new life, and bring success and victory. It is a "shiny ray" and "destroyer of ice," but also a "divine decree" and a "joy...[that] bears them to land." As in every culture around the world, the sun is viewed with reverence and honored as a driving force of life and strength.

Sowilo's Cultural Significance

The only verifiable use of Sowilo and the other numerous runes is that it was part of a writing system used by the Norse and other Germanic peoples. Sowilo represented the s sound in the Elder Futhark, its literal meaning being "sun." Surviving archaeological evidence shows Sowilo carved into stones, leather, arm rings, and even surviving wooden and bone staves or rune sticks. The Bryggen inscriptions, which were discovered in Bergen, Norway, are one of the most important runic finds of the twentieth century. The some 670 runic inscriptions found on mostly pine and some bone confirm, beyond a doubt, that runes were used to send everyday messages and even mark belongings. Some of the inscriptions are believed to be business letters, orders, and short religious inscriptions that may have been used as amulets.

Apart from the Bryggen inscriptions, we also see Sowilo featured prominently on runestones. Interestingly, while it does appear on navigational runestones, it is also very commonly found on stones to mark graves or in memorium of loved ones, such as the Jelling stones from the 10th century that were raised in memory of King Gorm the Old's wife, and later by his son in memory of his parents.

Jelling Stone

Another enlightening use of Sowilo is on silver arm rings or "hacksilver" found with the Galloway Hoard. The arm bands were found toward the surface of the hoard, having been hacked at each end and folded in half, showing that silver arm rings were used for commercial transactions. Most of the inscriptions are believed to mark who the hoard belongs to (the community) and what it contained, further supporting the fact that the runes were most often used to communicate and record important information.

Runic inscriptions on four arm-rings, found in the larger lower deposit of hacksilver in the Galloway Hoard.

Apart from its use in writing systems, Sowilo would have held significant cultural value as it represented one of the most revered elements, the Sun. In Norse cosmology, the Sun, known as Sól or Sunna, is described as riding across the heavens in a chariot pulled by horses while being chased by the great wolf, Sköll. Sköll is fated to eventually catch and devour Sól during Ragnarök, thus bringing an end to the world. However, not all is lost, as the world is said to be reborn, with Sól's daughter rising to take her place in the sky. 

Sól is mentioned throughout the Eddas with reverence and respect, as she is the bringer of life and the banisher of winter's harsh conditions. However, she is also known for her destructive nature. In Grímnismál, Odin references a shield by the name of Svalinn that is carried by Sól and says that if it were to fall from its frontal position, the earth "would burn up." Here we see that the Sun can be a destructive force, not just by burning up the land, but also by potentially causing heat sickness and death.

Unfortunately, Sowilo is another rune that was appropriated by the Nazis. In 1908, Austrian occultist Guido von List developed and published his own 18-rune alphabet he called the "Armanen Runes." His alphabet became part of various cultural movements to promote Germanic purity, including the Nazi movement just years after his death. von List reinterpreted the Sowilo rune as "Sig," meaning victory, which the Nazis doubled to turn into the infamous SS emblem used by the Schutzstaffel. The lightning bolts were supposed to communicate absolute power, dominance, and strength, and potentially acted as a battle cry: "Victory, Victory!" Neo-Nazi's continue to use the Sowilo rune, including in Thule-Seminars ' emblem, which combines Sowilo with Tiwaz.

SS Insignia

Thule-Seminar Emblem

As with all things, context matters. Sowilo is not a racist or hateful symbol; it's simply one that has been co-opted by hate groups. Using it in your magical practice does not mean you support or agree with these hate groups. However, it is important to recognize that Sowilo is a dog whistle, especially when tattooed on someone's body, so I would avoid such uses and be mindful of its presentation.

Sowilo'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: achievement, victory, illumination, good fortune, celebration, success, positive energy, abundance, fruition, warmth, clarity, vitality, triumph, growth, enlightenment
• Reversed Meaning: none
• Letter: S
• Element: Fire, Air
• Zodiac: Leo
• Planet: Sun
• Animal: hawk, eagle, falcon, golden pheasant
• Colors: yellow, gold, white, silver
• Deities: Sol, Baldr
• Plants: juniper, willow, sunflower, calendula, marigold, St. John's wort, mistletoe, goldenrod, saffron
• Crystals: ruby, diamond, citrine, amber, sunstone
  
  

How to Work with the Sowilo 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 Sowilo in your workings?

1. Use Sowilo in spells or rituals focused on success, confidence, vitality, and achieving goals.
2. Meditate on Sowilo to understand your purpose, strengthen self-confidence, and reconnect with the light that guides you forward.
3. Carry or wear the Sowilo rune to encourage optimism, personal power, and resilience during difficult times.
4. Include Sowilo in rituals during midsummer, sunrise observances, or moments when you seek clarity and renewed inspiration.
5. Draw the Sowilo rune in sunlight, sand, or with incense smoke to bless your workings with illumination, success, and protection.
6. Sit with the rune during times of uncertainty to cultivate faith in your abilities and trust in the direction your life is taking.
7. Sleep with Sowilo beneath your pillow to invite dreams that reveal your strengths, illuminate hidden opportunities, or offer guidance on your path.
8. Chant Sowilo to raise energy for victory magic, especially when overcoming obstacles or pursuing something that requires courage and perseverance.
9. Use Sowilo in healing magic aimed at restoring vitality, renewing motivation, or supporting recovery after burnout or exhaustion.
10. Incorporate Sowilo into shadow work focused on self-worth, overcoming fear, and healing beliefs that keep you from embracing your own power.
11. Draw Sowilo on paper and write a goal, dream, or intention beneath it, then place it beneath a candle, crystal, or altar object to empower the work with solar energy.
12. Journal with Sowilo to explore where you are being called to step into your strengths, claim your victories, or shine more authentically.
13. Use in spells and rituals centered on leadership, ambition, recognition, or achieving long-term aspirations.
14. Place Sowilo on charms, talismans, or protective objects to attract good fortune, guidance, and strength in times of challenge.
15. Trace Sowilo over yourself before important conversations, journeys, or endeavors to invoke courage, confidence, and success.

Sowilo's Meaning in Rune Spread

What does it mean if Sowilo appears in a rune spread? Sowilo holds various meanings depending on its position and relation to other runes in the spread.

Below are some examples of how to interpret Sowilo when it's next to or near other runes:

• Next to Fehu suggests prosperity, success, or resources gained through confidence, right action, and sustained effort.
• Near Uruz indicates renewed vitality, strength, and the courage to overcome challenges through resilience and determination.
• Paired with Raidho points to journeys aligned with purpose, forward movement, or success achieved by following the right path.
• In proximity to Wunjo, it suggests joy, fulfillment, and victories that bring lasting happiness and peace.
• Near Isa indicates delayed success, the need for patience, or light waiting beneath a period of stillness and stagnation.
• In proximity to Mannaz suggests personal growth through self-awareness, leadership, or discovering your place within a larger community.
• Combined with Eihwaz indicates endurance during times of change, emphasizing inner strength and trust through periods of transformation.

Sowilo's Relationships with Other Runes

Sowilo generally interacts with other runes in an illuminating and empowering way, as seen in the previous section. Where some runes introduce uncertainty, stagnation, or hardship, Sowilo often sheds light on their deeper purpose, emphasizing clarity, vitality, and the possibility of success. When Sowilo appears alongside other runes, it frequently strengthens their positive qualities or reveals the direction in which their energies are meant to unfold.

When found with runes associated with prosperity or fulfillment, such as Fehu or Jera, Sowilo often points to rewards that are becoming visible after periods of effort and patience. Success, abundance, or recognition may be approaching, particularly when one's actions are aligned with long-term goals. Near runes of movement, such as Raidho, or partnership, such as Ehwaz, Sowilo highlights progress through purposeful action and cooperation, suggesting that the right path becomes clearer through shared effort and steady forward momentum.

Despite its association with the sun, victory, and wholeness, Sowilo is not limited to easy or favorable meanings. Too much sunlight can scorch as easily as it can nourish, and unchecked confidence can become pride or overconfidence. In some contexts, Sowilo may point to excessive ambition, burnout, or a need to temper one's desires with humility and self-awareness. When paired with more challenging runes such as Hagalaz, Nauthiz, or Isa, Sowilo does not necessarily remove hardship but instead reveals how adversity can become a source of strength, wisdom, or eventual transformation.

Ultimately, Sowilo teaches us to trust in the return of light, even when circumstances remain uncertain. Its presence among other runes reminds us that clarity, victory, and wholeness are not always immediate gifts but qualities cultivated through perseverance, right action, and the willingness to continue moving toward the light.

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Sowilo is the perfect rune to begin working with during Summer, as outlined in my post Runes for the Bright Season, as it is the Sun rune. You can't get more on the nose than that. No matter how you choose to work with Sowilo in your own practice, it is sure to bring strength, illumination, and success to your life. 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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