The runes are a very important part of heathenry in the sense that they are the great mysteries of Heathenry.  There are many ways that the Runes can be influential and useful in our daily lives as heathens.  The most powerful of which is to use them as a way to focus our maegns and power to a desired effect.  The might and maegns of the folk can be used to affect the world around us through focus and action.  From the Rune poems, scholars have discerned the concepts and "meanings" associated with each rune.  These really aren't meanings, as the runes are not a finite system.  The word rune literally translates to "mystery", and the concepts associated with each rune makes specific narrow definitions impossible.  They are more than can be expressed within the limits of our language.  They are however an extremely good tool to use to focus our intentions and affect the world around us.   Below is a chart we compiled with some basic concepts for each rune to act as a quick reference guide to understanding the runes.  Please remember that a picture or a quick reference guide is not the answer, one must invest time and energy reading the available works on the runes as well as meditating on them and working with them in one's own life...