The arrow pointed at the sky — the rune of the god Tyr, of justice and the courage that will not bend.
Tiwaz (ᛏ) looks like an arrow rising, straight and without hesitation, toward the top. That's no accident: it is the rune of the god Tyr, the most just of the Norse gods, the one who embodies honour, courage and justice. When you draw it, it speaks to you of doing what is right — even when it's hard, even when it costs. Tiwaz carries earned victory, the kind you win through effort and integrity, never through cunning. It asks for nerve and a little sacrifice, but it promises a success you can be proud of. On this page, you'll discover its true meaning, its reversed version, its keywords, what it says about love and work, and its message in a reading.
Tiwaz is the seventeenth rune of the Elder Futhark, and it bears the name of Tyr — a god so ancient that in some traditions he even precedes Odin. Tyr is the god of justice, law and just war. His most famous myth says a great deal: to bind the monstrous wolf Fenrir, the gods had to trick him, and Tyr agreed to place his hand in the wolf's jaws as a pledge of good faith. When the trickery was discovered, Fenrir bit off his hand. Tyr lost his hand, but saved the world. That is the spirit of Tiwaz: the just sacrifice, honour that comes before comfort.
The rune therefore speaks of moral courage as much as bravery. It invites you to keep your word, to defend what is right, to act with uprightness even when no one is watching. Tiwaz is also a rune of victory — but a victory that is earned, won with honour, not stolen. Its arrow shape evokes determination: aiming at a target and not veering off. When it appears, it asks of you one simple and demanding thing: do what is right, and see it through to the end.
Upright, Tiwaz is a rune of strength and honourable success. It heralds that your courage and perseverance are about to be rewarded. If you are waging a just fight — a project, a cause, a difficult but necessary decision — the rune confirms that you are in the right and that victory is within your reach, as long as you hold firm.
It also calls for integrity. Tiwaz reminds you to act with uprightness, to tell the truth, to honour your commitments. It is a rune of just leadership: it signals that you can take the helm, but in service of something greater than your own interest. Finally, it speaks of determination: the time has come to aim clearly and stick to it. Don't scatter yourself, don't give in to the easy way. Tiwaz rewards those who hold their course with honour — and the pride you feel at the end of that road is well worth the effort it asked of you.
Reversed, Tiwaz shows the arrow pointing downward: the energy falls back. It then evokes injustice — a situation where you feel wronged, where the rules aren't respected, where merit goes unrecognised. It can also reflect a loss of motivation: the fire that carried you runs out of breath, and you no longer quite know why you're fighting.
Tiwaz reversed sometimes warns against failure — especially the kind that comes from bad choices, from compromises with your integrity, or from a fight waged for the wrong reasons. It invites you to ask yourself honestly: am I fighting for the right cause? Am I still acting with uprightness, or have I bent somewhere?
Fairness, law, doing what is right, truth.
Integrity, keeping your word, uprightness, loyalty.
Bravery, determination, holding your course, aiming true.
Honourable success, effort rewarded, a just triumph.
Giving up something for the common good, responsibility, duty.
Just authority, guiding, serving something greater than yourself.
In love, Tiwaz is the rune of loyalty and clear commitment. It favours bonds built on respect, honesty and a word kept. In a couple, it points to a solid love, where each person knows where they stand, with no games or ambiguity. In a new meeting, it asks for sincerity: Tiwaz doesn't like half-truths. If the bond is going through a trial, the rune reminds you that courage and honesty are worth more than the comfort of silence. Reversed, it can signal an imbalance, a sense of injustice, or a commitment running out of breath that needs to be clarified.
At work, Tiwaz is an excellent omen for anyone moving forward with uprightness. It heralds an earned success, won through effort and perseverance — not through shortcuts. It favours just leadership, recognition of your merit, and victory in a competition or a negotiation carried out honestly. If you're hesitating to defend a position, Tiwaz tells you to hold firm. Reversed, it warns against injustice at work, demotivation or a project bogging down: the moment to reposition yourself, or to turn down a fight that isn't worth it.
When Tiwaz appears in your reading, it hands you a moral compass. Here's what it comes to tell you:
Tiwaz doesn't promise ease, but pride. It reminds you that the victories that truly count are the ones you win without betraying who you are.
✦ Draw your runes with WoolyTiwaz is the rune of the god Tyr: it carries justice, honour, courage and earned victory. It speaks of doing what is right, even when it demands a sacrifice.
Reversed, Tiwaz evokes injustice, loss of motivation, energy draining away and failure. It invites you to recover your integrity and to stop fighting for the wrong causes.
Yes, when honesty is there. Tiwaz favours loyalty, clear commitment and mutual respect. It asks for sincerity and fairness in the bond.
Earned success, just leadership, results won through effort. Tiwaz confirms that perseverance and integrity are about to be rewarded.
Tyr is the Norse god of justice and just war. He sacrificed his hand to bind the wolf Fenrir: the Tiwaz rune embodies that courage and sacrifice for the common good.
For reflection and entertainment. The meaning of runes is a tool for self-knowledge, not a diagnosis ✦