Pronunciation: OO-rooz

Alternative names: Ur, Urz, Urox

Translation: aurochs (wild ox)

Sound: “U” as in “rune” (“oo”)

Associated Concepts and Interpretations

Challenge

Confidence

Courage

Creative forces

Earth

Endurance

Energy

Health/vitality

Initiation/rites of passage

Potential (wild or untamed)

Power

Primordial

Rain/drizzle

Slag/dross

Spirit (as in “fighting spirit”)

Strength

Stubbornness/tenacity

Testing limits/trials/trial by ordeal

Transformation in liminal space

Associated Rune Poems

(as translated by Bruce Dickins, 1915; public domain)

A number of interpretations are derived from the various runic poems and those associated with this rune (where available) are included below for further consideration.

Norwegian: 
ᚢ Úr er af illu jarne;
opt løypr ræinn á hjarne
ᚢ Ur
Dross comes from bad iron;
the reindeer often races over the frozen snow
Icelandic:
ᚢ Úr er skýja grátr
   ok skára þverrir
   ok hirðis hatr.
   umbre vísi

   Úr - Shower
   Lamentation of the clouds
   and ruin of the hay-harvest
   and abomination of the shepherd
Anglo-Saxon:
ᚢ Ur byþ anmod ond oferhyrned,
   felafrecne deor, feohteþ mid hornum
   mære morstapa; þæt is modig wuht
Ur 
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

last updated: 16 dec 2021

A list of references is available.

Audio associated with this rune is a creation of the author’s and is released to the public domain. Back-linking and attribution are appreciated, but not required, for use.