Runes: Making, Using and Understanding By Amber Over the years there has been an upswing in the interest and use of Runes by many in the Pagan and non-Pagan communities; and there have been many books written on the subject. Some of these books are well researched and try to come as close to Nordic/Icelandic/Runic Tradition as possible (e.g., Futhark, by Edred Thorsson). Others take the basic Runic structure and blend it with other Traditions, some more successfully than others (The Rune Book, by Ralph Blum, and Rune Magic, by Donald Tyson are good examples of blends that work well). Others have gone so far as to rewrite the Runes to fit what they believe they should be (a San Francisco feminist, neo-Pagan (her words for herself) rewrote the Runes to be female instead of male, as she put it), again with varying success. Lastly, some have simply taken the Runes and written what they wanted, with little thought, research or feeling, creating a mish-mash of ideas and theory that has no substance, little meaning and little resemblance to Runes beyond the symbols themselves. Runes have been incorporated into both neo-Nazi movements and various Satanic groups. They have also found their way into the role playing games, fantasy books and the movies. J.R.R. Tolkien, based on his research, created both Elvish and Dwarvish runes that are used in both a written and magical way. The Viking with Tony Curtis, Kirk Douglas and Ernest Borgnine is the best of the movies to show how Runes were used, and they did a pretty good job. This is as it should be, right or wrong, for we all create our own traditions; and as we touch each other and learn from each other, we grow, add to and evolve our traditions. Using Runes in divination is one way to aid the self-awareness and growth process. As with the Tarot or the I Ching, Runes can be used to reach into the subconscious and draw it out into the light, to make a connection with the time stream and attempt to pick the best path or as a direct channel link to the Old Ones. It is not necessary to understand the culture that the Runes evolved from to use them. (This is true for the I Ching and the Tarot as well.) But it helps as times, because the meanings of the Runes are manifold—there are meanings on several different levels and perspectives. There is an attendant Numerology that is different, not based in modern math but rather in an older form. And to really complicate things, many of the Runes have an eerie resemblance to the modern theories of Quantum Physics. Introduction to the Runes The first step to using the Runes is to understand what they are and what they represent—and what they are not. There are several excellent books on the subject. I try to steer away from those that try to match the Runes to other forms, as if they are an outgrowth or a primitive form of something else. These things are probably all related in some fashion; but most languages share similar bases, yet that does not make them any less unique. So, too, are the Runes unique, and they deserve the kind of attention shown in the following books: Futhark, by Edred Thorsson, is an excellent handbook, with clear and concise explanations of the Runes and Runic Traditions. The research he did for this book is extensive and well grounded. The bibliography is excellent for both esoteric and mundane research. It is more for the ritual and magical aspects but can be used for divination. Thorsson also has a full series addressing Runes and Runic Traditions for those interested. Rune Magic, by Donald Tyson, is a well-done book on the Runes that gives excellent explanations that stay fairly Traditional, yet bring the Runes into the mainstream of the Craft. It is a good book to use if your main tradition is Wiccan, as it blends the two together. But at certain points it becomes a little uncertain, because the Wiccan and Nordic Traditions do not necessarily follow the same path. The Rune Book, by Ralph Blum, is a wonderful example of Runes reworked and blended with other philosophies. Mr. Blums Rune Book is a mixture of Tao, Judeo-Christian and a litened Runic Tradition, and is for divination and self-awareness. Some people find this book to be too New Age, but others swear by it. It is also found in almost any bookstore. The Leaves of Yggdrasil, by Freya Aswynn, is an excellent book in the same strong traditional vein as Futhark, but has a strong feminist slant. Ms. Aswynn writes from her own studies and experiences, and at time disagrees with Mr. Thorsson. This counterbalances the strong male theme in Futhark. If you are seriously interested in the Runic Traditions I recommend that you read a copy of the Edda Sagas or any good translation of the Icelandic Sagas. The Runes are alluded to in several of them and actually show how the Runes were used. While it is not necessary, I also recommend including a socio-anthropological book on the Norse/Germanic/Celtic culture. Magnus Magnuson wrote a book called The Vikings, which PBS turned into a good documentary. (Check your local library or collage.) Understanding the people that used and shaped the meanings of the Runes is always a good idea. Get several books, read them, put them away and then go back and reread them. Use a highlighter, mark the pages, write in the margins. If you want a neat, undamaged copy, buy two. (No disrespect intended.) Rune books should be well used. Find a system that is comfortable, understandable and strikes a cord within you. As in all things there is no true One Way and what I find comfortable and understandable, you may not. Making Your Runes Contrary to what some of the books will tell you, you do not have to make your own Runes in order to work with them. If you wish to make your Runes, by all means make them. It can be a wonderful, ecstatic experience. But if you do not have the time, the inclination, or the skills with the tools, find a set that feels right in your hand and feels good to the senses. I bought my first set of Runes many years ago and I still use them for divination and personal readings. I also have several sets that I have made and I use them in a variety of ways. Whether you purchase or make your Runes, you need to consider what you are going to do use them for, and how you are going to use them. If you are going to cast them, they need to be durable. Consider your divination method; are you going to shake the Rune in a bag, stir the Runes, dump them on a cloth (on a table or on the ground) from several inches or several feet up? Also, consider what would happen if you dropped your bag of Runes (or a single Rune) on concrete from about waist level. If you are going to buy your Runes there are two things to consider: cost, and are they charged. Over the last ten years or so I have watched the cost of Runes go from fairly inexpensive to very expensive. I bought my first set, including the book and the bag, for $15. I have since seen sets of Runes, no book, no instructions, just a bag, from $10 to $200. I have seen sets made of pebbles from a stream or garden with the Runes painted on them. There was nothing notable about the stones, most were the same color—gray. (This person wanted $15 for that set.) I have also seen sets made of crystal and one set made of precious gems. Look at the many sets available, shop around. The set that is right for you may not be in your local store, it might be hanging out at the local Renaissance Fair or SCA (Society for Creative Anachronisms) War. I have even found sets at the junk stores. Dont settle for a set that you would not want to use because of its appearance. If you buy a set that is made of painted stones, check to see if the Runes are cut into the stone and then painted or if they are just painted on. If they are just painted on, the paint will chip and the Runes will have to be redone. The same goes for antler and bone. If you buy wood Runes check to see if the symbols are burned in and the wood been sealed. Untreated wood will absorb the oils from your hand, water will stain them, and any dirt on your hands will mix with the oils. This is not bad if you dont mind the comfortable used look. My favorite set has chocolate and ink stains on them. One of my friends who does Tarot would die if one of the cards got stained, yet she treats her Runes the same way. And lastly, if they break or they are stolen (it happens) are you going to be able to replace them? Some sets are one of a kind. (Remember the gem set?) Once you settle on a set, see if they have been charged. You dont want a set with someone elses imprint on them. You want to put your own imprint on them and really make them yours. For many people, including myself, making a set of Runes is very personal and we put a lot of energy into them. This is usually not intentional. Many take the time to clean the set after making it, but some do slip through. If you get a charged set and want to remove the charge, simply clean the set in the way you are most comfortable with, according to the material used. For stone, antler, bone, crystal, glass and nonporous ceramics, place them in a glass bowl and run clear water over them for anything from 2 to 24 hours. For material that water would ruin, buy or make a smudge stick and smudge the Runes two or three times over a couple of days, concentrating on the Runes as you do it. Once they are cleaned to your satisfaction, use them, enjoy them and treasure them. If you choose to make them, you can choose to use the method in one of the books or find your own way and style. Some go to the extreme and make them in the ancient traditional manner. They make the paints according to the old receipts, they hand carve the Runes with the described carving tool, they chant, they sing, they color the Runes just so, concentrating on each Rune throughout the whole process. This is a grand, wonderful, very ecstatic way to make Runes. I have made two sets like this and plan to do it again. But I did not always have the skills to do it the traditional way and there are many people like me, who do not have the skill. There are also many people who only want to use them for divination and not for ritual; and many who do not feel inclined or who lack the time for that much work. Testors paint, a dremel, oven baked clay and a toothpick, pen and ink, fabric art sets, whatever you can think of will work. A student in one of my classes took fabric art goop and all kinds of buttons, charms, old broaches, fake jewels and made a kind of art deco set. It was a direct link to herself and her spirit and has a wonderful feel. It also had a unique look to it as well. An inexpensive way to make a set of Runes is to go to a nearby stream (one that the Army Corps of Engineers has not cemented in) and hunt among the many stones for 24 stones that you like. Take them home, wash them, and examine them one at a time. Each stone will tell you which Rune it should be. A dremel is unnecessary, unless you want to inscribe the Runes. (Dremel is a trade name that has become generic, like xerox and kleenex. You can get a basic dremel from $25 to $45 at most hardware stores). Testors paints come in a huge array of colors and are not too expensive. A small bottle will last a long time and you can buy them at almost any Drug, Toy or Hobby store. Testors now makes a water based set as well, for easier clean up. Brushes are easy to come by and the Testors Basic Set has brushes included. You can paint the Runes in one color or you can use many different colors. Some books link the Runes to certain colors—if this suits you, use it. If not, make your own color code. In all, it takes about 2 hours to paint the Runes and begin the charging process. The most time is spent getting the stones. Another inexpensive way to make Runes is to get a foot of clothing rod dowel at the hardware store and cut it into 1/2 inch thick disks. Some hardware stores will cut the dowel for you—sometimes for free, sometimes for a nominal fee. You can paint the Runes, as with the stones, or burn them in. You may want to consider wood sealers, which come in a variety of wood stains. Use your imagination, intuition and spirit to make your Runes. The limits are set only by your materials and how you intend to use your Runes. Using Your Runes Once you have your Runes and one or two books, start by handling your Runes—feel the way they feel in your hands. Think about how they feel: are they soft, warm; or are they hard, cool? As you reread your books and learn in depth what each Rune represents and means (this is when several colors of highlighter come in handy), hold that Rune, look at it, study it, feel what it is. Try to get inside the Rune and try to get the Rune inside you. When you can draw the Runes one by one from the bag, in a random order, name the Rune and put it in its correct order you are ready to begin to read. While you can read without memorizing the order and names, it is much easier with that knowledge and you will not have to use the book so much. Reading with the Runes can be done several ways. You can pull one out of the bag, box or whatever you keep them in. You can use a variation on the patterns used for Tarot. Or, you can cast them onto a cloth with whatever pattern you wish on it. Over the years I have used and tried many methods—the casting cloth is the hardest to learn. It requires a high degree of intuition and concentration. I also found that if I am doing the reading for someone else they had a hard time understanding how I selected which Rune to start with. Using Blums methods or one based on the Celtic Cross of the Tarot is easier; it gives both you and the person you are reading for (the querent, which can be yourself) a clear starting and ending point. Remember: unlike Tarot, the querent draws or throws the Runes, and you do not set a Rune to represent the querent. All Runes represent all of us, both as individuals and as a group. The Casting Cloth The casting cloth is usually 2 to 4 feet square. I have seen them up to 5 feet square. It is made of almost any washable cloth you want to use. Washable is practical; silk, satin, and velvet can be used, and come in a washable form. You do not have to use a washable cloth, but remember: you are going to put this cloth on the ground and tables that have who knows what on them. You are going to spill coffee, coke, food, etc. all over it. Your hands will have oil on them and just everyday use will stain the cloth. Traditionally the casting cloth is either white (according to one tradition), or dark blue (according to another). It can be plain, or you can put the Runes around the edges (remember write right to left with Runes). The casting cloth is used whether you throw the Runes or draw them one at a time. Throwing the Runes Aswynns Method When throwing the Runes, I prefer the Eightfold Wheel in Freya Aswynns Leaves of Yggdrasil. To do this, lay out a circle as large as your cloth will allow. Label the top Higher Conscious; then, going sunwise, at each eighth of the circle put: Active Future, Future, Inactive Future, Unconscious, Inactive Past, Past, Active Past. HIGHER CONSCIOUS is what is in our intellect, that which connects us to the Gods and separates us from the animals. ACTIVE FUTURE is what is going on right now. This is where you are headed right at this minute. FUTURE is what may happen. In Runic Tradition time is subjective. If you stretch out your arm and swing it across your body, where your hand has been cannot be changed, where it is at this exact moment cannot be changed, but where it is going is changing all the time and can be changed at will. You make your own destiny through your actions or inactions. UNCONSCIOUS is your emotional levels. This is your primitive/primal level and connects to the forces of nature. INACTIVE PAST is what is past in your life that is no longer a force, but is an underlying factor. These are usually long past. PAST is just that, your past—the forces, things and deeds that shaped where you are now. ACTIVE PAST is the events and forces that are usually recent past and have a direct bearing on the questions you are asking. You can mark these on you casting cloth permanently or you can draw them in chalk and brush them out when you are done. When you cast Runes on to the cloth marked as above, you start with the top and work your way around sunwise. As I said, this method takes much intuition and concentration. This is not a method to use when you are in a hurry. It can take two or three hours to fully read. Blums Method This method calls for drawing three Runes and laying them out on the cloth in a certain order. You first concentrate on the question, then start drawing. Choose the first Rune and place it in the center of the cloth, face down. Choose take the second and place it face down to the right of the first. Choose the third Rune and lay it face down to the left. Then turn them all over. When you read this, the center Rune is the obstacle to overcome to get where you want to go. It represents what is causing you to need to ask the questions. The right Rune represents where you are now, and the left Rune represents where you will go if you overcome the obstacles. The Celtic Cross Method This is my favorite method. It is easy to use and easy for the querent to follow. You start with the central three Runes as in the Blum Method, but you continue with one Rune above, below and three to four Runes set to the right or left, one above the other in a column. The Rune above is the conscious influence on the question. The Rune below is the emotional influence underlining the question. The first (bottom) Rune in the column is the sign post, pointing how you might proceed; the second is a clearer indication of the problem; and the last Rune in the best possible outcome if all things fall into place. Which ever method you choose is the correct method for you. Interpreting the Runes The interpretations given in a reading will usually be by the book for the first few times, until you start to get to the feel of casting the Runes. After may years I seldom have to consult the book; but occasionally I need to see if what I am sensing is even close to what the Runes are supposed to mean. This is where instinct and intuition come in. You need to feel your way through. Do several more readings, try to pinpoint all the factors and work towards a solution. Be persistent and open; if you are the one asking, be brutally honest with yourself. If you are doing the reading for someone else, be gentle, but get them to face what is really the root of the problem. To do that they need to ask the right questions in the right order. That is the hardest part about working with Runes. Remember: Runes do not tell you the future, nor do they tell you what to do. Instead they tell you where you are, what is in your way, what may be influencing this blockage; and if you do all the right things in the right order, with a little luck you will get to a certain outcome. I have learned over the past 10 years of practice that how you ask the question is very important, what you ask is secondary. Here is a story about a friend who kept asking the wrong question in the wrong way: My friend asked me to do a reading for her. She was feeling troubled and adrift, and wanted to know what to do. I was agreeable. I got my Runes and my casting cloth, and we went through several castings, working out the feelings. Then she asked, What is my role in the Universe? She felt that she has a special purpose for being here and wanted to know what to do. The answer we got was to work on the obstacles and not to worry about the rest. Several weeks later she asked the same question, and again we got the same answer. A few weeks after that she again asked that question and we got what I can only describe as a lecture. She drew the three Runes from the bag that (by what they represented) said: wait, be patient, trust your self, and you dont need to know. When she finally asked what she needed to work on in order to find who she was, we got a reading that gave her the needed path. To this day she is still asking the second question and the sign posts are right where she needs them to be. The best way to ask the questions is to spend a little time thinking about what you need to know, not what you want to know. What you want to know or hear is seldom what you need. And sometimes what you need is not pleasant. Facing the Hard Truth, as Bob Seger says in one of his songs, is like walking a tightrope. We all walk it, and if we fall it hurts. Some of the most effective ways of asking questions are: 1) What is it I need to work on, to achieve [fill in the blank]? The Runes usually show what is blocking the querents way—by gently suggesting a rethinking of this end and why, or by a sterner warning of self-defeat from not facing the problem. 2) Ask for help with a troublesome problem (whether personal, financial, or spiritual) in terms of need rather than of want. The answers vary, but are directional, giving a possible road sign to the proper path. 3) Use the Runes for seeking answers to internal questions—the paths and worlds of our inner being. This can be the hardest because the path of improvement is not the yellow brick road. It is more like the Oregon Trail of the 1800s. It means facing your dark side, dealing with it and learning to cope with the fact it is there and will not go away. As you become more familiar with the Runes and their various meanings you will become aware of their different nuances. This is not a static system, it is alive and growing, changing as you grow and change. Runes with several layers of meanings have the ability to tell you several things at once. They may tell you things you do not want to hear, or may not understand at first, but they are not fixed in concrete. Using the Runes for inner searching and for self-awareness is similar to using the I Ching, or opening a book of philosophy or religion to a random page. While it can include readings when needed, drawing an individual Rune and meditation on it can lead to new levels of awareness. The following exercise has been very useful: Spend some time meditating and clearing your mind of noise. Once successful, form your question. Think upon it for a few minutes, and then draw a Rune. Study the Rune you have drawn and think on it in terms of the question you have asked. If you feel the need, draw up to two more Runes and study them. If you need to, have the book handy and consult it; then meditate on the Runes again, trying for the intuitive levels. I have another friend who draws a Rune from her bag each morning. This is a purely random drawing—she does not think on anything, she simply draws one. She uses that Rune to set the tone for the day. She swears it works and that it often gives her enough advanced notice to prevent a bad situation from becoming worse. It does not tell her future, but lets her reach into her Self, to remember that she needs to be aware of her actions and reactions throughout the day. I have tried this also, and find that it is a great way to gauge my feelings and emotions. It provides a sign post—in some cases a stop sign. I recommend trying this, especially if you are going through a rough patch. However you choose to work with the Runes, experiment and try several different methods. Work with different books and styles of Runes, study them. Try making your own Runes, let your creativity wander. Above all, remember: Runes are not static, as you grow so will they.
Posted on: Sat, 18 Oct 2014 12:11:32 +0000
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