What are the runes to you?

Are the runes part of your personal, religious path, or even your philosophy? Are they essential for your magic(k)al practice? Are they a fun hobby? Maybe you really don't care about them, or see much use for them in this day and age? What are the runes to you as a Heathen?

The village I use to reside used Runes for event keeping. I found them Teenful to understand. and much prefer current writing.

Interesting! Which village, if you don't mind my asking? It'd be interesting to know which runes they used, and how.

Aldrnari said:

Interesting! Which village, if you don't mind my asking? It'd be interesting to know which runes they used, and how.

Click to expand...

Yoitsu. it no longer exists but twas in northern Germania. probably similar to Nordic in writing.. the runes namely used for the keeping of records of Harvest.

Err, after a quick google search it seems like "Yoitsu" is a fictional place...

I use the Nordic Runes for divination and symbolism. One of the main deities I work with is Odin, the god of wisdom who created the Runes through a sacrifice. So to me even meditation focused on the Runes are very much for wisdom.

SabahTheLoner said:

I use the Nordic Runes for divination and symbolism. One of the main deities I work with is Odin, the god of wisdom who created the Runes through a sacrifice. So to me even meditation focused on the Runes are very much for wisdom.

Click to expand...

Very cool! Curious, but which runes do you prefer? Elder FUTHARK, younger FUTHARK, or medieval? I'm assuming no FUTHORC, since you say Nordic.

Odin is an interesting and complex god, if not a bit grim. I'm reading Dr. Jackson Crawford's translation of the poetic Edda right now (it's really good, IMO), but I want to read more sagas after I finish it. Maybe his translation of the Saga of the Volsungs?

Aldrnari said:

Very cool! Curious, but which runes do you prefer? Elder FUTHARK, younger FUTHARK, or medieval? I'm assuming no FUTHORC, since you say Nordic.

Odin is an interesting and complex god, if not a bit grim. I'm reading Dr. Jackson Crawford's translation of the poetic Edda right now (it's really good, IMO), but I want to read more sagas after I finish it. Maybe his translation of the Saga of the Volsungs?

Click to expand...

I use the Elder Futhark with the blank rune addition. I’m not knowledgeable in Futhorc.
A lot of people read the Prose Edda in addition to the Poetic Edda.

SabahTheLoner said:

I use the Elder Futhark with the blank rune addition. I’m not knowledgeable in Futhorc.
A lot of people read the Prose Edda in addition to the Poetic Edda.

Click to expand...

Hmm, I just noticed on your profile that you are a lucifarian witch (pretty cool!). Do you incorporate galdr craft into your practice as well, if you dont mind my asking?

Aldrnari said:

Err, after a quick google search it seems like "Yoitsu" is a fictional place...

Click to expand...

And totally not related to Germanic culture in the slightest. Another roleplayer goes on ignore...

To your question, Aldrnari, I use both the Elder and Younger Futhark, though the Younger more commonly. I use them as both a means of writing (figure 1), and divination through a rune set that I hand-made (figure 2). In the (recent) past I have also carved runes to curse someone, as well as carving staves for a variety of uses.

Figure 1.



Figure 2.

Not really a heathen, more of a syncretist.
I've been getting back into runes quite a bit lately, but from two different approaches,
namely both by reading a couple scientific papers on them, and by trying to intuit what meanings I would personally associate with them (based on traditional lore, modern interpretations and purely shape/name-based associations).
From the scholarly approach I gathered that there is tons of stuff we simply don't know and will probably never know (e.g. the exact interpretations or even just correct readings of the rune poems). Actually I find this encourages me with focusing on a more spiritual approach to it as I know that my modern interpretation will always be just my personal view on it and needn't cling to any original version.

As for actual practice, I use a few of them in my personal notes as symbols since quite a while, but intend to broaden that method a bit. I haven't yet used them for any magick that goes beyond simple personal-motivation tricks.

I wouldn't put any more intrinsic "value" in them as in any other divinatory system or alphabet, except for the fact that they combine both. I have not really learnt any divinatory system so far, and the runes I already know, so this looks like a good choice (I'm a language historian, so they a part of my field, even if rather fringe territory).

Also, I like Odin. I'm not a polytheist, but I find the myths of him fairly inspirational.

@The Ragin Pagan: Those carved staves in the 2nd pic look pretty rad! A book on spiritual development which I've started kinda working through includes fashioning something like this also as a recommended practice. I haven't gotten around to it yet, though. I would however prefer using equal plates for each rune, if just making using them for divination a bit more independent on remembering how their plate looked/felt like.

Aldrnari said:

Hmm, I just noticed on your profile that you are a lucifarian witch (pretty cool!). Do you incorporate galdr craft into your practice as well, if you dont mind my asking?

Click to expand...

I don’t incorporate that specific craft in my practice. My main focus points are more based on ideas than traditions, so I use ideas, stories and symbols from multiple traditions. I create my own path based on the areas of life I want to develop, overcome and understand.

The Ragin Pagan said:

And totally not related to Germanic culture in the slightest. Another roleplayer goes on ignore...

To your question, Aldrnari, I use both the Elder and Younger Futhark, though the Younger more commonly. I use them as both a means of writing (figure 1), and divination through a rune set that I hand-made (figure 2). In the (recent) past I have also carved runes to curse someone, as well as carving staves for a variety of uses.

Figure 1.

View attachment 19584

Figure 2.

View attachment 19583

Click to expand...

Damn, seeing your book makes me want to continue working on mine. I need to get back into that... But now I have a drinking horn I just got that I need to work on.

Liu said:

Not really a heathen, more of a syncretist.
I've been getting back into runes quite a bit lately, but from two different approaches,
namely both by reading a couple scientific papers on them, and by trying to intuit what meanings I would personally associate with them (based on traditional lore, modern interpretations and purely shape/name-based associations).
From the scholarly approach I gathered that there is tons of stuff we simply don't know and will probably never know (e.g. the exact interpretations or even just correct readings of the rune poems). Actually I find this encourages me with focusing on a more spiritual approach to it as I know that my modern interpretation will always be just my personal view on it and needn't cling to any original version.

As for actual practice, I use a few of them in my personal notes as symbols since quite a while, but intend to broaden that method a bit. I haven't yet used them for any magick that goes beyond simple personal-motivation tricks.

I wouldn't put any more intrinsic "value" in them as in any other divinatory system or alphabet, except for the fact that they combine both. I have not really learnt any divinatory system so far, and the runes I already know, so this looks like a good choice (I'm a language historian, so they a part of my field, even if rather fringe territory).

Also, I like Odin. I'm not a polytheist, but I find the myths of him fairly inspirational.

@The Ragin Pagan: Those carved staves in the 2nd pic look pretty rad! A book on spiritual development which I've started kinda working through includes fashioning something like this also as a recommended practice. I haven't gotten around to it yet, though. I would however prefer using equal plates for each rune, if just making using them for divination a bit more independent on remembering how their plate looked/felt like.

Click to expand...

Very interesting stuff! I'd like to see links to those papers, if you have them. Also, I've made my own set just for my use, and I find Spare's alphabet of desire has some interesting techniques in giving your runes esoteric value (if you plan on making some yourself). As for the runes themselves (Odin's), my approach has been similar to yours. It makes for an effective practice when you can write your work in an alphabet that has a much deeper and esotericly empowered meaning.

SabahTheLoner said:

I don’t incorporate that specific craft in my practice. My main focus points are more based on ideas than traditions, so I use ideas, stories and symbols from multiple traditions. I create my own path based on the areas of life I want to develop, overcome and understand.

Click to expand...

IMO, that's the best way to practice. Take what works, discard what doesn't, and carve your own way through the world.

Aldrnari said:

Very interesting stuff! I'd like to see links to those papers, if you have them. Also, I've made my own set just for my use, and I find Spare's alphabet of desire has some interesting techniques in giving your runes esoteric value (if you plan on making some yourself). As for the runes themselves (Odin's), my approach has been similar to yours. It makes for an effective practice when you can write your work in an alphabet that has a much deeper and esotericly empowered meaning.

Click to expand...

Sure. The most helpful paper of those I know seems to be The Significance of The Rune-Names by Senra Selva.
Haven't finished reading it yet, though.

When I found that document, I also stumbled upon Texts and Contexts of the Oldest Runic Inscriptions by Tineke Looijenga, but I haven't even really started with it yet.

Regarding the anthropological backgrounds, I found Runes and Magic by Stephen Flowers quite helpful. The original version was his doctoral thesis, so it should be findable online (I know I once found it), but there are later, updated, versions. Actually borrowed one of the later versions from a university library.

Aldrnari said:

Are the runes part of your personal, religious path, or even your philosophy? Are they essential for your magic(k)al practice? Are they a fun hobby? Maybe you really don't care about them, or see much use for them in this day and age? What are the runes to you as a Heathen?

Click to expand...

When I first became a pagan I was quite eclectic and fascinated with all things Germanic, I used the runes, futhorc and elder futhark, for prognostication, spells, sigils and composing poetry. As I read more and started using a reconstructionist methodology I realised that most these things are more consistent of a western esoteric worldview rather that a Heathen worldview, so now my interest is academic.

That's not to say I don't use magic, I use spoken charms, curses, amulets and read local omens; these things are amply supported in the surviving corpus and in low mythology.

Here is my resource list:
Books:

• R.I. Page: Runes and Runic Inscriptions: Collected Essays on Anglo-Saxon and Viking Runes.
• R. I. Page: An introduction to English runes.
• Richard L. Morris: Runic and Mediterranean Epigraphy
• Tineke-Looijeng: Texts and Contexts of Old Runic Inscritions
• Marie Stoklund: Runes and Their Secrets: Studies in Runology
• M.McCloud and B Mees: Runic Amulets
• S. Plowright: The Rune Primer: A Down-to-Earth Guide to the Runes
• Stephen Pollington: Rudiments of Runelore
• M. P. B. Boydell. Runes: A Handbook.
• D. Taggart: How Thor Lost His Thunder- discusses Thor in relation to runic inscriptions.
• M. Findell: Runes

ARTICLES:
Futhark Journal
Futhark: International Journal of Runic Studies :: Issues
The Runic Inscriptions from Vatnahverfi and the Evidence of Communication
An Error Occurred Setting Your User Cookie
North Etruscan Thesis: Origin of Runes
http://journals.lub.lu.se/index.php/anf/article/viewFile/11611/10638
The Anglo Saxon Rune Poem
The Meanings of the Runes - Norse Mythology for Smart People
Sequence in the Elder Futhark
Sequence in the older futhark
Literacy in the Germanic Iron Age
Runes: Literacy in the Germanic Iron Age
Nazi use of the Norse Runes
Nazi use of Norse runes
Theories of Antiquities of the Runes
Theories of the Antiquity of Runes
To what extent does the Old English Rune Poem in fact obscure the meanings of the runes it attempts to explain.
To what extent does the Rune Poem in fact obscure the meanings of the runes it appears to explain
The Old English Rune Poem – Semantics, Structure, and Symmetry (Journal of Indo-European Studies, 2006
The Old English Rune Poem – Semantics, Structure, and Symmetry (Journal of Indo-European Studies, 2006)

Internet Resources:
Medievalist.Net
• Runes Archives - Medievalists.net
Gamla runinskrifter - collection of rune inscription by location.
http://www.christerhamp.se/runor/gamla/index.html
Norse Mythology Blog
https://norse-mythology.org/runes/the-meanings-of-the-runes/
• Dr Jackson Crawford’s Old Norse Channel - YouTube :
• Rune Poem Translations
http://www.runewebvitki.com/rune-poems
• Development of the Norwegian Runes
http://www.arild-hauge.com/enruner.htm
Omniglot
https://www.omniglot.com/writing/runic.htm
Viking Answer Lady
http://www.vikinganswerlady.com/callig.shtml

Enjoy.

I have a set I made myself. The runes to me are symbols that represent spirits or for lack of a better word, rune vaettir. I use them in spell work, galdr and warding. I tend not to use them for divination. I use tarot and a black mirror for that.

I use them primarily on objects and my body as magically active means of warding my health and spiritual tools. I'd like to get into using them for augury as well, but I have a lot of other things going on there (drum journeys, dream sights) that I'd rather wait with that.

I've been thinking on the runes a lot lately. Namely following sentiments that the runes are sacred and handed down to us by Odin.

They're not. The Futharks (Elder, Younger, Anglo-Saxon) are systems of writing. They've been given esoteric meaning based on poems made to name and remember them, and some like the Tyr/Tiwaz rune are associated with gods, but using them as letters is hardly blasphemous or disrespectful.

Most importantly, they are not the runes that Odin grasped after his ritual on Yggdrasil. Those runes have never been named, and they have never been given to us for us to carve ourselves. We don't know what they look like, only what they do from the segment in the Hávamál where Odin is bragging about his skills. Hávamál s. 147 even explicitly states that men do not know them.

1. A call for help
2. Leechcraft (Healing?)
3. Fetters and proof against weapons
4. Fetter-breaker
5. Arrow-stopper
6. Poison-root
7. Fire-quencher
8. Peace
9. Sea-tamer
10. Witch-banisher
11. Protection in battle
12. Necromancy
13. Protection of a Thane
14. Names of the gods
15. Unknown: related to Delling. (According to Müllenhoff, s.161 was the original conclusion to the poem)
16. Influence of lust
17. Influence of loyalty

Hávamál s.164 makes mention that men will seek these runesongs in vain. There's no way for us to know them. These are the runes that Odin made himself, as mentioned in s.144. This also mentions runes of the æsir, the alfar, the jotnar, and mankind. The Futharks are our runes.