Ást — The Icelandic Bindrune for Love & the Heart
Ást (pronounced ow-st) is the Icelandic word for love. As a bindrune, it is the love rune of the Alrun collection — a symbol not only of romantic love but of deep connection: to the people who matter, to what you care about, and to yourself.
Shop Love Jewellery, blankets and wool capesWhat is a Love Rune?
A love rune is a runic symbol associated with love, connection, and the heart. In the Elder Futhark tradition, several runes carry love-adjacent meanings — most notably Gebo (gift, partnership) and Wunjo (joy, harmony). In the Icelandic bindrune tradition, Love is the dedicated love rune: a symbol whose name is literally the word for heart, and whose meaning is the full range of what love means in a life.
Unlike a single rune, Love is a bindrune — a symbol formed by combining multiple runes into one unified mark, each contributing a layer of meaning. The result is a symbol that holds more than any single rune could: love as feeling, love as choice, love as something you carry.
If you are looking for a love rune symbol to wear, give, or carry — Hjarta is it.
The Meaning of Hjarta
In Icelandic, hjarta means heart — both the organ and the seat of feeling. The bindrune draws on this double meaning:
- Love — romantic, familial, and the love you have for what you care about
- Courage — in Norse tradition, the heart was also the seat of bravery; to have hjarta was to have heart in both senses
- Connection — the bonds that give a life meaning
- Sincerity — to speak from the hjarta was to speak truly
Hjarta is one of the most given Alrun symbols — chosen for partners, for close friends, for family members, and for anyone you want to remind: I see you. I'm with you. You matter.
Looking for a Love Rune Symbol?
Ást is the Alrun love rune — the symbol you reach for when you want to say something about love that ordinary gifts can't quite carry. It is chosen for:
- Partners and spouses — a meaningful alternative to conventional jewellery
- Weddings and anniversaries — a symbol that grows with the relationship
- Close friends — to mark a bond that goes beyond the ordinary
- Self — as a reminder to lead from the heart, to stay open
- Loss and grief — a way of honouring love that continues after someone is gone
Love is available as a pendant, bracelet, earrings, and dog tag — each handcrafted in sterling silver or 14k gold-plated silver.
Love Runes in Norse & Icelandic Tradition
The use of runic symbols in matters of love is ancient. Norse sagas describe runes carved for love, for binding, and for connection — some as charms to win affection, others as lasting symbols of devotion. The Icelandic magical tradition preserved several runic symbols associated with love and protection and various galdrastafir (carved magical symbols) used to strengthen bonds.
Hjarta draws on this tradition. The Icelandic word for heart has been central to expressions of love, courage, and sincerity for centuries. Where other love symbols rely on universal iconography (the shape of a heart), Hjarta goes deeper — to the language and the tradition that gave that symbol its meaning in northern Europe.
Hjarta and Ást — Two Love Bindrunes
The Alrun collection includes two bindrunes associated with love, each capturing a different dimension of it:
- Hjarta (Heart) — the love rune in its broadest sense: love as feeling, connection, and courage. The symbol of the heart. For anyone, for any love.
- Ást (Devoted Love) — ást is the Icelandic word for deep, devoted love — the kind that is constant over time. More intimate, more specific. For committed partnerships and long bonds.
Many people choose Hjarta as the more universal love symbol, and Ást when they want to speak to a specific, lasting devotion. Some choose both.
Love Rune — Frequently Asked Questions
What is a love rune?
A love rune is a runic symbol associated with love, the heart, and deep connection. In the Elder Futhark (the ancient Norse runic alphabet), several runes carry love-related meanings. In the Alrun Icelandic bindrune tradition, Ást is the dedicated love rune — its name is the Icelandic word for heart, and it is the symbol most directly associated with love in the collection.
What is the Norse rune for love?
In the Elder Futhark, Gebo (the rune of gift and exchange) is most associated with love and partnership. Wunjo (joy) is also connected to love's happiness. In the Alrun Icelandic bindrune tradition, Ást is the Norse love rune, a bindrune specifically created to represent love, the heart, and deep connection, drawing on the Icelandic word Ást.
What does the love rune symbol look like?
The Ást bindrune is a symbol formed by the letters AST and combining them to have this exquisite bindrune. It is distinctive and clean enough to wear as jewellery while carrying clear symbolic weight. You can see the full symbol on any Ást product page, or browse all Love pieces here.
What is a bind rune for love?
A bind rune for love is a single symbol created by combining two or more runes whose meanings relate to love, connection, or the heart. The Alrun Ást bindrune is exactly this — a love bind rune designed within the Icelandic tradition, named for the Icelandic word for love. Learn more about Ást here.
What is the Icelandic symbol for love?
The Icelandic word for love is ást, and the word for heart is hjarta. Both are represented in the Alrun bindrune collection as individual symbols. Hjarta is the broader love and heart symbol; Ást speaks specifically to devoted, deep love. Together they represent the two main dimensions of love in Icelandic, the feeling and the commitment.
What is a love rune used for?
Love runes are worn as personal symbols of connection — a daily reminder of who or what you love, or an expression of the love you carry for yourself. They are given as meaningful gifts between partners, friends, and family members, particularly at weddings, anniversaries, births, and other milestones. In the Norse tradition, love runes were also used as symbols of devotion and protection — a way of saying: I carry this person with me.
What is the rune for love and protection?
In Norse tradition, love and protection are deeply connected — to love someone is to protect them. The Hjarta bindrune carries both: it is a love rune rooted in the Norse understanding of heart as both feeling and courage. Those specifically seeking a protection element often pair Hjarta with the Magn (strength) bindrune.
Can I wear a love rune as jewellery?
Yes, wearing a love rune as jewellery is one of the most personal ways to carry its meaning. Alrun crafts Hjarta in sterling silver and 14k gold-plated silver as pendants, bracelets, earrings, and dog tags. Each piece is made to be worn daily, a quiet, constant presence. See all Hjarta jewellery here.
