Introduction To Runes

This talk is a brief introduction to runes and their use in divination and the practice of magick. It provides a short history of runes, the different alphabets, and gives examples of how runes can be incorporated into a spiritual practice.

Transcript

Rooted in Norse and Germanic traditions,

Runes and runestones are used to this day for divination and magic.

The word rune means whisper or secret,

And runes are used for divination and answers to questions being asked.

So,

I'll start by saying that I will not be teaching the meanings of each individual rune in this talk,

Because that's quite extensive.

I will touch on a few of them,

But the main purpose of this talk is to cover the basics of what runes are and how they are used.

That said,

If your goal is to work with runes,

Then you will eventually wish to learn each of the runes and their associated meanings.

However,

I want to emphasize that calling upon each meaning by rote memory alone,

While certainly valuable,

Is but one component of rune magic.

It is just as important to spend time actually attuning to each of the runes and interpreting how they speak to you personally as well.

The most commonly known runic alphabets are the Elder Futhark,

The Younger Futhark,

And the Anglo-Saxon Futhork.

Many will choose a particular futhark,

Which means alphabet,

According to their personal tradition or path,

And some will use a combination of one or more.

Even those who haven't studied runes will likely partially recognize,

And might even be somewhat familiar with,

The Elder Futhark.

Once you have learned one futhark,

The others will be fairly simple to learn,

Due to some similarities.

I always suggest that those starting out begin with the Elder Futhark,

Because it is typically the easiest to find if you are looking to purchase a set of runes,

And it is the oldest form.

So we'll be working with just this futhark in this talk.

Some commonalities of all runes include their use in writing messages and inscriptions,

Divination and spellcasting,

Symbolism,

And associations with divine energy.

Runes have been in use since the first or second century.

Credited with discovering runes is the Norse god Odin,

Who is often referred to as the All-Father,

Because he is known for being an avid seeker of wisdom.

In fact,

It was his pursuit of knowledge that led him to runes,

The power they symbolize,

And the magic they possess.

According to Norse mythology,

Odin suspended himself upside down from the world tree for nine days and nine nights in order to attain the wisdom of the runes by demonstrating his fearlessness and fervor.

Fortunately,

We do not have to go to such lengths in order to learn and master runes.

The original Elder Futhark runes consisted of 24 symbols,

Each with its own name,

Meaning and message.

These 24 symbols are divided into three groups of eight,

Each known as an et.

The first is Freyr's et,

And these symbols all correspond to matters relating to basic human existence.

The second is Hagal's et,

And these correspond to matters that are unavoidable and often unexpected.

The third is Tyr's et,

And these symbols relate to both spiritual and human experiences that are beyond just basic human existence.

So now we'll take a brief look at different ways of working with runes.

Bind runes are simply two or more runes inscribed together in a linear attachment.

This is quite similar to sigils,

Which you might already be familiar with.

In both cases,

The purpose is to draw upon and combine the magic of the symbols in order to facilitate a working.

If you call to mind the symbol for Bluetooth,

This is basically what a bind rune looks like.

This is similar to combining ingredients in a recipe.

Imagine ginger,

Garlic,

And cayenne individually,

Then imagine them combined.

Runes are much more than letters.

Runes contain magic and power.

Because of this,

They should be written and handled with the utmost respect.

They are not toys or mere decorations,

And they should be taken quite seriously.

Because of this,

Runes can be used in spell work.

An example of this would be,

If I were to perform a working to elevate or enhance my personal power,

I might choose the rune Urus,

Which represents,

Among other things,

Strength.

To incorporate in that working,

I could do this by inscribing it on an object,

Placing it on my altar,

By meditating on it,

Or by writing it on a piece of paper,

Which I would insert into a spell bottle or burn in my cauldron with an offering of incense.

Hamalaknum is a healing modality of Saxon origin that calls upon runes and rune magic.

If you're familiar with Reiki,

It's quite similar to that in that it energetically aligns the body to be receptive to healing.

Another similarity is that,

Just as symbols are used in Reiki,

Runes are utilized in the Hamalaknum for the same purpose,

Which is the transfer of energy,

Healing energy.

You can make your own set of runes by using a set of polished stones and a permanent marker sourced from any discount store.

You can also use small pieces of wood and a wood burner.

Either way,

You will simply inscribe each rune yourself.

Some prefer making their own runes as opposed to purchasing them,

As this further attaches your personal energy to them.

Keep in mind that you will need to have 24 stones or pieces of wood if you will be using the Elder Futhar.

The use of runes in the practice of divination typically involves drawing or casting runes upon a cloth.

Having a cloth or a designated surface is important because,

As I mentioned earlier,

Runes are sacred and should be handled and placed respectfully.

Two of the simplest divination techniques are pulling a single rune for a yes or no question or pulling three for a past,

Present,

Future reading.

In this way,

Their use is quite similar to that of tarot cards.

Some practitioners,

Myself included,

Enjoy the practice of pulling a daily rune.

This is an especially beneficial practice when first starting out as it creates an opportunity for daily and regular study of or learning the runes.

Going back to a cloth or surface,

It's equally as important to store your runes properly.

Whatever container you choose can be as simple or ornate as you wish.

I have a box for mine,

But I seldom use it because I opt to keep mine with me in a drawstring bag so that I can carry them with me in my backpack wherever I go.

If you are able to do so,

I really recommend the practice of keeping the runes with you or at least having them readily accessible most of the time.

Again,

This is a very basic overview of runes.

Lists of the runes and their meanings are readily available,

And I encourage you to find one and study it and perhaps keep it with you so that you can continue developing your proficiency with runes whenever it's convenient for you.

May the addition of runes to your personal practice bring you much magic and many blessings.

Reviews

Thank you for this introduction to runes. I have a set although I never really understood how to listen to them. I’ll start with a daily tune and see what unfolds.