Hi all,

I've just posted 3 new articles about Runes:

Runes - Symbols and Meanings
Runes are an ancient Nordic form of divination using the Futhark alphabet. This article shows the symbols for 24 runes, as well as their upright and reversed meanings.

Runes Quiz
Test your knowledge! This quiz is automatically scored for you. You can even try for BellaOnline's Hall of Fame!

Rune Reading - Circular Rune Spread
Runes, like cards or any other oracles, can be used within the context of spreads. Spreads are merely the layout of the questions that are asked when seeking guidance.

Do any of you use Runes? How accurate and insightful has it been for you, especially compared to other forms of divination?

I've been tempted to buy a Rune set, but haven't yet. For me, it would seem hard to "read"...more like you'd memorize the meanings. But then again, intuition works differntly for folks, so perhaps some get a stream of information from Runes. I really can't say, since I haven't tried it. I just can't imagine getting as much info from Runes as I do from Tarot, for example. Maybe I'm just extra visual. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Any comments about the articles? About different Runic systems?

Oh, great articles Janet! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I started learning about runes myself a few years ago, but had to stop studies on it for a while when I moved, and then had too much going on. Now that I've gotten my Saturdays off again, I'm hoping to have more time for them again.

I haven't really done much for readings with my runes yet, as I chose to just draw one a week and study it for the week, rather than using it as a reading until I get through them all... problem is, I hadn't gotten through them all when I stopped studying to "tend to life". I wanted to get to know them first, try to find the links they hold to my subconcious first. Like you said, they just are not as visual as a tarot or oracle card. I'm finding them to be very personal to me, but the studying is very important for me to integrate the symbol and the meanings into my own understanding of them. I can't just start reading them like I could tarot.

When I was studying runes, I also looked for evidence of the basic shape of whatever symbol I pulled for that week anywhere and everywhere, to help me associate with it better. I would also look for overall events in the week that I could plug the energies of the inherent meaning of the symbol into, see how it played out, see if I could find the basic meaning in *that* to find my own personal understandings of the symbols.

I didn't buy my set... I made them. My mom had small river pebbles hauled into her yard several years ago, so I went out and picked out the appropriate number of rocks plus about 5 extra, then went in the house and laid them all out, and looked at each one, and narrowed it down to 24 rocks to use. I then painted them all gold, and then used blood red to paint on the symbols. I then coated each rock with shiny sealant, and viola! It was a very awesome experience to make my own. I also want to make some with wood chips and a wood burner eventually. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Thanks, 'lyssa!

I had a whole post written to you a few days ago, and then lost it. I wasn't feeling so hot (got a cold), so I figured I'd re-post at a later time (which is now! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> )

You're golden runes sound absolutely gorgeous! I can see how making an oracle can "speak" to you...especially because of its personal nature. The way you are studying runes was how a lot of individuals "way back when" did it; in fact, some traditions required "readers" to study for years with a master before they could even begin to do readings. Take a rune, studying it, looking for signs and confirmations dealing with the symbol--excellent ways to learn a divinatory system. That works very well for Tarot, too.

Btw, I hope your Saturdays are proving to be restful and regenerative as you enter this new season in your life!

Hi Janet... I have been there right along with ya with this crud. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> Today is day 5 or 6 I think, I've started to lose count. Several of my co-workers have had it for 3 weeks so far... hope it doesn't last that long with me.

Yes, my runes are gorgeous, at least to me, lol... simply because I made them. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> Also, because I made them, I invested much more emotional attachment into them, so I am "biased" toward them, lol, like you mentioned, there's that personal nature, the personal energies I've infused them with. Yes, from what I've learned about "proper" studies of runes, that was how it "used to be done", and I wanted to try it and see if it helped. It's a long process however, but I think it is actually more worth doing than just memorizing and by some miracle gaining "instant gratification" of knowledge. That sort of behavior has never helped me find balance before. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> I'm learning a huge amount about myself in the process of having to "go with the flow" of this new way of studying.

Hey... is there a way to post pics of things on here? I could share what my runes look like...

The weekends are going rather well, thanks for asking. My first weekend (which was two weekends ago) I actually got 3 days off, because of President's Day, so that was extra nice. I decided to rearrange my entire livingroom around then, and we ran into a bunch of snares due to how we'd set it up originally, so I'm now waiting for my partner to finish building new additions before I can put things back together, but at least I know where I want it all to go, lol. All my books are on the floor, stacked every which way and back. <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> lol... Next week, I finally get to take my long awaited full week's vacation, and I plan to start getting craftwork started during that time, and get enough going that I can then continue working on that after work every night and weekends after the vacation is over. That is... if I ever see the light at the end of the Livingroom Rearrangement Tunnel, lol... I actually got away with incorporating a small area in for sacred space. We are in a very tiny little house, and I wasn't sure I'd be able to fit everything we both own into it, lol. So now, once it's all back in place, hopefully I'll have the space available, and won't be feeling like "putting it off" to re-establish a spiritual routine. I really need it. I can always tell when I've stopped or "dropped off" in the frequency of maintaining the connections of my path, how things just don't go as smoothly in my life. And I really miss the rune and tarot studies as well, so I'm rather excited about this "new season" as you called it... quite the fitting phrase if I do say so myself. I think it's rather interesting as well, spring is just around the corner, and my life is following right along with that, lol... for once I seem to be "in tune", lol!

'llysa

Hi 'lyssa!

Yes, you can definitely add images to your posts! The picture will need to "live" somewhere on the web, though, so you can link to it. Simply place the picture's URL in between an image code. Begin the URL with [*****] (put the word IMAGE in between those brackets) and then end the URL with [/*****] (replace the stars with IMAGE. Don't forget the forward slant!)

How's your vacation going thus far? I totally understand about books everywhere...my poor husband has to keep making--or buying-- bookcases for me! I just donated a bunch of books to my local library, actually.

Isn't being "in tune" a great feeling? It can be disconcerting to feel out of sorts, for sure!

As a Wyrdsister <img src="/images/graemlins/queen.gif" alt="" /> I can tell you that the runes never lie. My die-hard Norse and Asatru friends maintain that one must have a knowledge of Norse lore to effectively use the runes. I agree with this but I haven't exactly memorized the Havamal.

Runes actually are quite visual, once you become familiar with the symbols. Each has a specific resemblance to something connected to its meaning. Berkana is the easiest - B for birth. Perthro looks a bit like a puzzle piece, a piece in the game of life. Isa, the one that looks like a straight line, symbolizes ice and stagnation. The runes just require you to use your mind a bit differently for visualization than tarot. The Icelandic rune poems are not difficult to learn and can help tremendously with learning runic meaning:

"The first one thou taught me
Help it's called, and help it is
For people in sorrow and anguish.
Fehu"

Runes can be used for meditation and healing. The Norse also used them in magic. For instance, Tiwaz, the soldier's rune, was carved on the hilt of swords.

If you really must have pictures, there are a few good sets of rune cards out there. Silver Raven Wolf's has been the most recommended in my circle. I also like The Power of the Runes deck, which has some incredible artwork reflecting not only the meanings but also the god and goddess associations.

The runes are interdependent on each other in readings. Rather than reversed meanings, we determine the meanings based on the other runes that appear within the meaning. Some runes, such as Nauthiz, Isa and Gebo look the same up or down and can't be reversed anyway.

Most of us who use runes regularly believe in one system, the Elder Futhark. This is the system given to Odhinn during his shamanic death. The addition of a blank rune is rather irritating since there was no blank rune in the original Futhark. The blank rune is simply to replace a lost rune and is not a wild card. The runes are a religious practice for some, so attempts to change the system can be offensive.

I don't use any kind of reading as a form of fortune-telling. Rather, I use divination as a means of connecting with inner wisdom and guidance. The runes are a wonderful tool.

Hi Janet,

I also have used runes in my readings, I tend to view them as a Soul's journey of sorts - almost like the major arcana. I also find that when I use tarot, runes and other modes in one reading they reinforce the same or similar messages. [color:"pink"] [/color] As if to say "Did you Get the message?" <img src="/images/graemlins/computer.gif" alt="" />

Very neat, mysticempress11! I can certainly see how that would work. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I have a set of runes but I'm sorry to say I've never used them. Now that I read you can use them with the tarot card I'm going to have to learn to use them. <img src="/images/graemlins/rolling.gif" alt="" />

I have been planning on making my own. I just haven't found the time to. Plus, I've been lazy as of late. I have been very interested in Runes and seem a pull to them.