Something Completely Different

Not Tarot, Exploring Runes

For quite some time now, I’ve been interested in learning how to use Runes, specifically the Elder Futhark, for purposes of divination and magick. Indeed, a long time ago I cut wooden blanks out of my cherry tree so that I could create my own set of Runes.

But, alas, I never managed to get around to it. I know myself well enough to know that the reason I never completed them is because I have just about zero ability with the creation of visual arts, and even less confidence in myself when it comes to those forms of creativity.

I didn’t do it, because I thought that they would look awful.

In a couple of days though, I head off to the Northwest Tarot Symposium, and I saw that one of the classes there will incorporate the use of Runes with Tarot.

That pushed me to finally completing my Rune set. I managed to get it done yesterday.

Rune Throw with my home crafted Runes.

That meant that this morning of course I had to do my first ever Rune throw!

As an aside:

Is ‘throw’ the right word for this? Is ‘cast’ better? I don’t know. Throw seems appropriate as I just took all the runes in hand and threw them onto the table then removed those that landed upside down and aligned the rest.

It isn’t currently my intention to read upside down Runes in a throw, because I believe them to symbolize non present energies, and it just wouldn’t make sense to read energies that aren’t present.

I also don’t intend on reading ‘reversals’ as I don’t think there is any historical basis at all for doing so with Runes.

Back to the story!

So, I did my first ever Rune throw. It’s pictured above.

Then I spent a great deal of time, and even more energy, interpreting it, as I have some ‘book knowledge’ of divination with the Runes, but absolutely zero experience working with them. It was a bit of a struggle, with consultation of reference texts.

But with lots of thinking, and lots of notetaking, and a bit of narrative I believe that I came up with a pretty solid, if much less than smooth, interpretation of the throw.

My question was simple:

What is my connection to the Runes?

Sorry, but another aside:

Even though I just finished them yesterday, I certainly have an energetic connection to this specific Rune set. The blanks were cut, by me, by hand, from a branch from my own cherry tree. I painted the Runes on the blanks by hand, and to finish them, I stained each of them by hand.

OK, back to the story again! Why do I keep going off on all these tangents?

Q:

What is my connection to the Runes?

A:

I’ve taken my very first steps towards actively moving forward with them. By crafting them, by learning about their esoteric uses, and indeed by using them for divination at this moment. (Tiwaz) But, as I learn to use them I must remember the importance of balance or equilibrium (Gebo) because that will allow me to develop a personal system that will serve me well moving forward (Raidho.)

I don’t like change, and that is perfectly illustrated by the fact that it took me just about forever to complete this Rune set. I was content learning about the use of the Runes, but put off finishing the crafting of my own Runes for as long as possible, only doing it when circumstances demanded it (Thurisaz.) But, embracing this change can lead me to a greater understanding of the Mysteries of this universe (Eihwaz.) And the practice of the Runes is in keeping with my own ancestry and heritage (Othala.)

Truly learning the use of the Runes will not be easy for me, it will take a great great deal of effort (Nauthiz) but I will find that they play well with my own generative energies, my intuitive and mystical self (Berkana.) Because of that, any time and effort that I expend in learning their use will be amply rewarded (Jera.)

So the use of the Runes can bring me one step closer to understanding. They can help me push aside one more veil that blinds us to the true nature of our existence (Kennaz.)

But, only time will tell if I’m willing to put in the work necessary to reap the benefits offered by a regular practice with the Runes (Isa.)

Enough about me.

I’m really curious about you!

Do you work with Runes?

If you do, do you incorporate them with Tarot somehow, or do you keep the two systems separate?

If you have experience with Runes, does my interpretation above make sense? Or am I completely hopeless with them and should I be encouraged to stick with what I actually know?

I hope you’ll share your thoughts, whatever they might be!