ᚨ · sound “a” · A god, the mouth
Ansuz (ᚨ) is rune 4 of the 24 runes of the Elder Futhark, in Freyr's aett. Its name means a god, the mouth.
A message arrives: advice, a teacher, a sudden insight or the right words at the right time. Listen carefully, and speak clearly.
Miscommunication, bad advice or manipulation. Words are misheard, twisted or held back. Check the source before you act on what you are told.
Listen for the signal inside the noise.
Ansuz means a god, in particular one of the Æsir, the family of gods that includes Odin. In some later rune poems the name is linked to the mouth and to speech, which fits Odin's role as a god of poetry and wisdom. In the Younger Futhark the rune was reshaped and its name became óss.
Ansuz is the rune of messages: a conversation, a piece of advice, a teacher, or a sudden clear idea. In a reading, ask where the message is coming from and whether it can be trusted. It is often a good sign for study, writing, negotiation and anything that depends on being understood.