Ingwaz

Ingwaz, also called Ing or Inguz, is a rune from the ancient Germanic runic alphabets. In the traditional Elder Futhark, it is the 23rd rune and is associated with the phoneme ng. The name and symbolism derive from the Proto-Germanic root *Ingwaz, linked to the god Ingwaz (Old Norse Yngvi) and, more broadly, to ideas of fertility, offspring, and dynastic lineage.

The rune often represents a concept rather than a single concrete object. It is commonly interpreted as the seed or kernel of growth, signifying inward development, potential, and the capacity to bring plans to fruition. Ingwaz is also associated with completion and rest before a new phase, as well as with stability, unity, and harmonious relationships within a family or community.

In historical inscriptions and lore, Ingwaz is connected to fertility, harvest, and the growth of life, sometimes extending to the health and prosperity of a household or lineage. In modern practice, the rune is used in divination and neopagan contexts to symbolize growth, patient development, and the cultivation of resources and partnerships necessary for long-term success.

In typography and encoding, the rune is often written as ᛝ in Unicode. Variants exist across different runic traditions, but the core associations with ng-sound, fertility, and inward growth are common to most representations of Ingwaz.