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What is the order of the runes?

The 24 runes of the Elder Futhark are traditionally divided into three groups known as Aetts. The position of a rune both within its Aett and the Futhark as a whole is highly significant. The accepted order of the Futhark is

1st Aett

2nd Aett

3rd Aett

With respect to the last two runes, Dagaz (Daeg) and Othala (Ethel) there are historical and literary sources which support either of these being the final rune. It is possible then that it was equally acceptable for either to be last depending on circumstance.

Either

or

Though for some runic scholars there is almost a divine importance in the patterns created by the ordering of the runes in this way, this does not stop many modern authors proposing alternative orders. For example, Ralph Blum has a Futhark running from Teiwaz (Tir) to the Blank Rune. For some this verges on the sacrilegious, but given the complex inter-relationships of the runes, it may be that there are other possible orders which could further illuminate our understanding of them. However most modern authors currently who suggest different orders for the runes have little real comprehension of the complex nature and unity of the traditional order. Hence they attempt to break rules without understanding them and thus little real credibility can be given to their efforts.