What are the Runes and how can we work with them.

You probably know, at least vaguely, what they look like. You might know that some uses them for divination. You might even know the names and meaning of a few of them. But, being stated in the Eddas, found all around Scandinavia on stones, tools, weapons and jewelry, there might be a bit more about them than divination. There is so much to learn about them, and so many ways to work with them. I might be far from a Rune master, but I sure do love them and love working with them since the day I started. The path is different for each one of us, but one thing is sure, it will be very interesting and very rewarding if you are willing to go deeper in the knowledge of the Runes.


The Runic Alphabets in History

The first runic alphabet, the Elder Futhark, first appeared around CE 150 and was used to write various Germanic language before the adoption of the Latin alphabet, but kept being used even after that for more specialized purposes. The Elder Futhark kept being used until about CE 800, were it got replaced by the Younger Futhark until around CE 1100. In the meantime, CE 400 to 1100, born from the Elder Futhark, came the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc. The Youger Futhark later evolved into the Medieval runes (1100-1500) which evolve to the Dalecarlian runes.

But while a lot of artifacts found during those periods bears the name of their crafter, there is also inscriptions that have yet to be translated, and some common combinations of Runes, such as “alu”, “gibu auja” or “fff” seems to indicate that the Runes were probably used for magical purpose too. Also, Björketorp Runestone, dated around CE 600, says “I, master of the runes(?) conceal here runes of power. Incessantly (plagued by) maleficence, (doomed to) insidious death (is) he who breaks this (monument). I prophesy destruction / prophecy of destruction. ” That exact same phrase was also found on another runestone, Stentoften runestone, along with what seems to describe a sacrifice for the year good harvest.


Even though some texts seems to indicate that the Runes were also used for divination, we have yet to find anything on how they were used for such purpose at that time.


The knowledge of the Runes

I ween that I hung on the windy tree,

Hung there for nights full nine;

With the spear I was wounded, and offered I was
To Odin, myself to myself,

On the tree that none may ever know

What root beneath it runs.

None made me happy with loaf or horn,

And there below I looked;

I took up the Runes, shrieking I took them,

And forthwith back I fell.

It is through Odin that the knowledge of the Runes came to men. In search of wisdom, He went to the World-Tree, Yggdrasil, and hung himself for nine days and nine nights. In addition, he also starved himself and stabbed himself with His own spear, shedding His own blood. His sacrifice gave him the knowledge of the Runes.

The first thing to know about the Runes, is that they are more than just letters, more than concepts also. They are entities, with different kind of energy, with different purposes. They are very much alive, and can have different meanings depending on the situation, the context, or even the person reading them. This is why working with the Runes take a lot of time and a lot of practice.

Rune readings

Divination is probably the most well known use of the Runes, beside as an alphabets. Once you worked on each one of the Runes, getting used to them and what they mean, it pretty much works just like the Tarot. Of course, the different spread will be a little different, and what you can get from a reading will be a bit different too. You can't tell the future with the Runes. They can tell you things about what has been, what is becoming, and what can become. They will tell you about your past, or about how you came into the current situation. They will they will tell you about the current situation, where you are now. And they will tell you about what will mostly be the outcome, given the current aspect of the situation, and follow some advice that they have to give you.

Most of all, reading the Runes is a great way to learn about yourself, to open your eyes of thing that you might now see at that moment, or put the spotlight on details that you might not have been giving enough attention to, but that you should work with.

Bindrunes and Talismans

A talisman is an object charged with energy, most of the time for a specific purpose. The object will be worn on or be placed into a location where the effects are needed. Of course, like any kind of magickal work you could do, you can never expect it to work alone. It also needs your effort to change your situation and better your life. But sometime, a little magick can help. It is possible to use the Runes to make a talismans, invoking their energy to achieve a specific goal by carving them into the object, or by staining the object. It can be an actual tool, a jewel, a piece of wood or even a piece of paper. But usually, when the talisman was accomplished his goal, it should be disposed of by being burned or buried.

Carving or staining the Runes one after another (if you need more than one) is a way to do it, but it is also possible to create what we call Bindrunes. Like the name states it, it is created by binding multiple Runes together, letting them amplify or direct their individual energy for a specific purpose. For example, Berkana is a good Rune for general healing. We can combine it with Uruz, which is a Rune of grounding and consciousness and restoration of the self. We can also add Sowelo, which is good to restore energy and vitality. Combined together, they can make a great healing bindrune. We can also combine Berkana with Hagalaz to heal deep buried pain.

Galdr

The word Galdr comes from the Old Norse verb “gala”, which means “to crow, to cry, to scream”. Basically, it is a chanting or a singing filled with energy and conducted by energy itself, taking form into our world through sounds. It is not meant to sound good, but to connect with us an with the world, giving us visions or feelings. Galdr is not only about the Runes, but is a good way to work and to connect with them. After centering and grounding yourself, one would concentrate on a Rune, and start chanting its name, and let the energy of the Rune control the note and the pitch of your voice. Eventually, chanting the name of the Rune might be too restraining, so it would switch to raw and primal sound.

It might be a bit embarrassing at first, since we are so used to listening to melodies, but Galdr isn't meant to be a melody. Galdr is meant to manifest an energy. The more you do it, the easier it becomes, and the Rune will start to communicate with you through images, smells, feelings and emotions. With more practice, you can even start to do some work that way, like healing, or bringing good luck.