Bjarkan in old Norse, repersenting the viking rune letter B or P, and berkanan in proto-Germanic elder futhark refers to the birch-tree. The more common old Norse phrase for birch would be björk. The “long-branch” rune, mainly found in Denmark, is similar to a B, but with sharp corners. The “short-branch” rune, mostly found in Sweden and Norway, instead has two diagonal lines going from the center up towards the right.

Böðvarr sótti á fund Elg-Fróða, bróður síns.
Hann gerði umgerð at sverðinu af björk.

Bødvar went to the meeting with Elk-Frode, his brother.
He made a scabbard for the sword out of birch.

The birch held significant importance to the Vikings, both symbolically and in their daily lives, and this importance has been carried forward to current day Nordic culture. Its wood was used for building, crafting tools, and making writing materials, while the sap provided sweet nectar.

Symbolically, the birch represented fertility, renewal and purification. Birch is one of the first trees to break bud in the spring, it was a herald of the end of winter and the coming of new life, embodying the cycle of rebirth and rejuvenation. Birch has been attested several times in the old Norse literature as a symbol of fertility and birth. Even today birch twigs are used to decorate Nordic homes during spring holidays. The birch was also believed to have a purifying effect, for example in Finland people will still use a bunch of birch twigs (known as vihta or vasta) to whip their backs said to clean the skin and relax the muscles. This made the birch a powerful symbol of new beginnings and cleansing.

From this follows that Bjarkan serves as a powerful symbol of fertility and a talisman valuable for couples looking to conceive, pregnant persons and new parents.

In a broader sense it can also be a representation of the fertility of ideas, projects, and personal growth. Bjarkan taps into the natural cycle of birth, growth, and rebirth. It encourages us to embrace change positively, to cleanse ourselves of past burdens, and to open our hearts to love and protection.