Younger Futhark · Týr's Ætt
Bjarkan
“Birch twig / Birch goddess” · sound B · BYAR-kahn
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What Bjarkan means
New beginnings, fertility, the first tree to grow after the ice retreats — resilience and gentle strength
In the older 24-rune Elder Futhark, Bjarkan corresponds to Berkano.
Bjarkan in the rune poems
The Norwegian and Icelandic rune poems are the medieval testimony to the sixteen Younger Futhark runes — the oldest verse describing each stave by name.
Bjarkan er laufgrønstr líma; / Loki bar flærða tíma.
“Birch is the greenest-leaved branch; Loki brought the luck of deception.”
Bjarkan er laufgat lim / ok lítit tré / ok ungsamligr viðr.
“Birch is a leafy branch / and a little tree / and a youthful wood.”