Runes are an old Germanic letters in order, utilized for composing, divination and magic. They were utilized all through northern Europe, Scandinavia, the British Isles, and Iceland from around 100 B.C.E. to 1600 C.E. Runic engravings of awesome age have even been found in North America, supporting stories that the Vikings touched base in the Americas much sooner than Columbus.
Tacitus, in Chapter X of his Germania, describes a form of divination used by Germanic tribes: “To divination and casting of lots, they pay attention beyond any other people. Their method of casting lots is a simple one: they cut a branch from a fruit-bearing tree and divide it into small pieces which they mark with certain distinctive signs and scatter at random onto a white cloth. Then, the priest of the community if the lots are consulted publicly, or the father of the family if it is done privately, after invoking the gods and with eyes raised to heaven, picks up three pieces, one at a time, and interprets them according to the signs previously marked upon them.”
I’ve been working with Runes since 1994, when I was introduced to their use at a family reunion. I’m of Norse heritage. I believe that this is why I found a natural affinity to runes, although one certainly does not need to be Scandinavian to use them. Runes are an oracle from which one seeks advice. They work best if you detail your current circumstances and then ask a specific question. Rune readings are sometimes obscure. They hint toward answers, but you have to figure out the details. This is when the rune casters intuition becomes paramount. Sometimes the Runes “sing” to me, and their meaning becomes instantly clear.
Runic divination or “rune casting” is not “fortunetelling” in the sense that one actually sees the future. Instead, runes give one a means of analyzing the path that one is on and a likely outcome. The future is not fixed. It changes with everything one does. If one does not like the prediction, one can always change paths. Since ancient times, runes have been used for divination and magic, in addition to writing.
The word “rune” actually means mystery, secret or whisper. Each rune has esoteric meanings and properties associated with it, beyond its mundane meaning and phonetic value. Each translates into a word or a phrase signifying concepts important to the early peoples who used them, representing the forces of nature and mind. Each rune has a story attached to it, a relationship to a Norse God.
Odin, the Norse High God of the Aesir, hung from the world tree, Yggdrasil, impaled on his own spear, for nine days and nights in order to gain the knowledge of runes. When the runes appeared below him, he reached down and took them up, and the runic knowledge gave him power . He later passed on this knowledge to the Vanir goddess Freya. She, in turn, taught him the magic of seidr. Heimdall, the god who guarded the Rainbow Bridge, taught the runes to mankind.
Runic alphabets first appeared among German tribes in central and eastern Europe. Some runes symbols are likely to have been acquired from other alphabets, such as the Greek, Etruscan, and the Early Roman. The runes were made of straight lines to make the characters suitable for cutting into wood or stone. The earliest runic inscriptions on stone are dated to the late 3rd century AD, although it is probable that runic alphabets had been in use for some centuries before.
The Old Germanic Runic alphabet or “Elder Futhark” contains 24 runes. The first six runes of the alphabet spell out the word “FUTHARK”. As the runes spread northwards into Scandinavia, some rune symbols were dropped and the alphabet was reduced to only 16 runes.
Between 400 and 600 AD, three Germanic tribes, the Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes, invaded Britain. They brought the runes with them. The forms of several of the runes changed, notably the runes for A/O, C/K, H, J, S, and Ng. Also, changes in the language led to nine runes being added to the alphabet to compensate for the extra sounds, and several runes were given different corresponding letters.
This alphabet, expanded to 33 symbols, has become known as the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc. The rune names themselves have been passed down relatively intact. Although no manuscript exists listing the names of the older, Germanic runes, the Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian rune poems agree to such an extent that their common origin can be deduced. Here you can see number of Runic Scripts. The Runes are divided into three Aettir or groups of eight. D. J. Cooper discusses the significance of the Aettir in understanding the runes and using them in magic.
One who aspires to become adept with runes must have some knowledge of the mythology, history, and culture of ancient Europe and Scandinavia. The kenning of runelore is inextricably dependent upon these. Much of what you find here will merely point you in the right direction. The rest is up to you. Delve as lightly or as deeply as you wish. I hope you fall in love with runes as I have.
It is intriguing to note the variances in runic alphabets across different tribes, yet how did these variations affect their interpretations over time?
‘The connection between language and magical practices through runes highlights an intricate relationship between communication and belief systems.’
‘Runes singing’ is a captivating concept, suggesting that there is an intuitive aspect to their interpretation. How can intuition be effectively cultivated in modern practices?
‘Divination methods vary widely; however, do we have any contemporary parallels that reflect such ancient traditions?’
‘Indeed! Tarot cards come to mind, but it’s interesting how those also blend intuition with visual symbolism.’
‘Rune casting’ as a form of analysis rather than fortunetelling opens a new perspective on ancient practices. It would be fascinating to compare this with other divinatory systems.
The mention of Odin’s sacrifice to gain rune knowledge raises questions about the lengths individuals would go for wisdom in ancient societies.
The historical context provided regarding the runes is both enlightening and perplexing. One wonders how these symbols influenced the culture they were embedded in.
‘Mystery’ as a definition of ‘rune’ encapsulates much about human curiosity. What does this imply about our inherent need for understanding the unknown?