An
Introduction to the
Rune of the Month
Please note that my Runework is based
upon that of Thor and Audrey Sheil, now back in print at
http://www.thortrains.com/UncleThors/ and
http://www.thortrains.com/bifrost/ordering.htm
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Welcome to the Rune-of-the-Month-Club, or Everything You Ever Wanted to
Know about Runes but were Afraid to Ask! (Boy, is my age showing!) This first
column is an introduction to runes, their history, and their use. I'm
including a useful but far from exhaustive bibliography as well. 25 more
installments will follow, one for each rune of the Elder Futhark plus a
wrap-up article. What the Hel's the Elder Futhark, you ask? Good point! Let us
begin:
Runes are the original alphabetical writing system of the Germanic peoples.
The runic alphabet is called a futhark. "Alphabet" comes from the names of A
and B in the Greek language. "Futhark" is derived from the first six letters
of the runic alphabet in its traditional order. (Th is one letter.) The
futhark's order is not typical of that of most alphabets. "Our" modified
Latin/Roman alphabet, the one used to write most European and many other
languages as well, is in the typical order (A, B, C, D....), going all the way
back to the original Phoenician prototype, which in turn was pieced together
from borrowed Egyptian hieroglyphs. The futhark's order was rearranged for
magickal purposes, and has remained constant, even though other futharks were
later developed by adding or deleting runes. The Anglo-Saxon Futhorc (the
phonetic value of the fourth rune changed from "a" to "o") added from four to
nine runes, depending on time and place, to the end of the futhark. The
Vikings used a number of versions of the Younger Futhark, which was reduced to
16 runes. The Elder Futhark is divided into three aettir (the singular is aett),
of eight runes each. These aettir (families) are retained in the Younger
Futhark, although each aett is shorter. There is a "fourth aett" of varying
length at the end of the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc. Most agree that the Elder
Futhark is the best for the purposes of magick and divination. While some
other alphabets have magickal uses (the Hebrew one in particular comes to
mind), the runes are unique in that they are a magickal and divinatory system
first and a writing system second.
To the question "What are the Runes?" many answers are possible. Steve
Wilson, a friend and teacher of mine, once answered that question with the words
"a part of the structure of the Universe." Pam C. has some excellent comments on
the nature of the Runes at the end of this article. I also plan on adding
comments from Runeworld list members (the list I helped start after the articles
were finished).
The runes in their mundane aspect were invented sometime before the beginning
of the Common Era. 2,100 - 2,200 years BP (before the present) is a good
ballpark figure. The prototype was one or more North Italian alphabets,
ultimately of Greek derivation. In their religious, magickal and metaphysical
aspects, runes were discovered by the chief Norse God, Odin, by hanging
himself as a sacrifice to himself for nine days and nights on Yggdrasil, the
World Tree, and wounding himself with a spear. Odin then shared the knowledge
he won with the other Gods and with Humankind.
Divination with runes is relatively easy. Get twenty-four roughly identical
small objects. Small stones are nice; so are little pieces of wood. You can
get them at craft stores. If you're broke, use beer-bottle caps or even pieces
of cardboard or paper. Pretty, nice rune sets are fine, but it's the rune
itself that counts. That, and your knowledge of the runes and wisdom and
experience in interpreting them. On each one, put a rune of the Elder Futhark
until you have the whole futhark. Put them in a bag (paper will do but cloth
is both more attractive and more durable) big enough to easily put your hand
in and manipulate the runes. Congratulations! You now have a rune set! Think
of an important question or situation you need guidance on. Call on Odin for
wisdom and guidance. Pick three runes; or if reading for someone else, have
the other person pick out the runes unless you're doing it over the phone.
You'll easily get the hang of it. Handle the runes until you come to one that
feels "right" or "different." The rune first is the past or cause. The second
is the present, or action to be taken. The third is the best possible or
currently most likely outcome. However, just because the runes say something,
that doesn't necessarily mean it is destined to happen. Norse Heathenism is
not a fatalistic or passive religion! We make our own Wyrd (more or less fate,
karma or destiny) to a considerable extent. If any of the three seems unclear,
pick two more, without putting the first three back in the bag. These two are
adjective runes, and their purpose should be clear to the grammatically
literate. For an ongoing situation, you may want to do another reading on it
in a week or two. Thanks to Odin afterwards is most appropriate.
Magickal use of the runes is more complicated. Study the runes thoroughly, and
be very sure you understand what your own ethical system is, and that your
cause is just, before attempting anything more involved than, say, a basic
candle-burning spell for money with a green candle, three Fehu (the first rune
in the futhark) runes, and patchouli oil. Please note: the runes are not
entirely "safe." Remember the sorcerer's apprentice in Fantasia, played by
that arch-enemy of the Southern Baptists, Mickey Mouse! I'm not trying to
discourage folks from learning and using runic magick, nor am I trying to
instill superstitious fear in my readers, but I also owe it to you to make my
own position clear. Here goes: The idea that something can't harm you unless
you believe it can is simply false. An unpleasant truth is of more use than a
sugar-coated falsehood. What you'll be getting in this column is a basic
introduction to Norse Heathen runework, which is considerably different from
the New Age and Ceremonial Magick influenced types of runework. The runes
aren't all sweetness and light. One does not order Gods around. Some authors
would lead you to believe otherwise.
The only person I know who was trained in runic magick from an oral, mostly
hereditary tradition is my friend Thorr Sheil. More on him and his books
later. Some folks don't believe such traditions could have survived. I
personally don't care much one way or another. His material is very
down-to-earth and works extremely well. When I have something important to do
magick-wise, I call him and run up my phone bill instead of contact the "Big
Three" popular rune-book-writers via e-mail for virtually nothing. All three
of them are online, but Thorr Sheil isn't. The fact I call him for advice says
all I need to say about my respect for him as a rune wizard.
In any case, since few have a wizard/ess at hand, most of us must use books
for our primary source of information. The following are some excellent
sources of information. I will also be telling you about some not-so-good
sources. I'm not saying not to read them, I'm merely suggesting that you read
the good ones first and that when reading the rest, you should keep an eye
open for what's not worth incorporating into your own work. First, before you
get into the magickal and divinatory aspects of runes, learn about their
history. Don't put the cart before the horse! Runes: an Introduction by
Ralph W. V. Elliott is essential reading. Either the 1959 or 1989 editions
will do. I also highly recommend Runes and their Origins: Denmark and
Elsewhere by Erik Moltke and Anglo-Saxon Runes by John M. Kemble
(the latter first published way back in 1840, but still in print!). An
Introduction to English Runes by R.I. Page covers rune inscriptions in
England both of Anglo-Saxon and Viking origins. If your local library doesn't
have these, it can get them via interlibrary loan for a nominal fee.
Most of my own runework is based on that of Thorr and Audrey Sheil. I
especially recommend Volume III (Runes and Holy Signs) of The Road
to Bifrost. Shipping included, it'll run you $24.00, and I truly believe
it'll be the wisest investment in a magickal book you'll ever make. He and his
wife Audrey also have other, more advanced rune monographs to read later. All
of them are worth owning. Note: THE SHEIL'S WORKS ARE NOW BACK IN
PRINT:
http://www.thortrains.com/bifrost/ordering.htm
Now on to the "Big Three" writers on runes. I call them that because they seem
to be the ones held in highest esteem by most of the Germanic Heathen ( =
Germanic Pagan) community. Thorr and Audrey Sheil are very committed to
Heathenism as a household religion and aren't involved in, or even interested
in, organized Heathenry, and this, along with the fact that they publish their
own books (can't blame them myself, publishers, not writers, get most of the
profits) has had the result of making their books less known and less used
than they deserve to be. (Please note: the Sheil books are currently out of
print.)
By way of clarification, most of us Germanic Heathens are Norse/Viking Age
oriented, mainly because this is the best known and preserved form of our
religion. Others are Anglo-Saxon or German oriented. You need not be Heathen or
even Pagan to work with runes, although Heathens may expect somewhat better
results. Here are the "Big Three": Edred Thorsson's runic trilogy:
At the Well of Wyrd, Futhark, and Runelore are excellent.
They are published by Weiser. His other works are published by Llewellyn
(1-800-THE-MOON for a free catalogue). Also good and by Edred Thorsson: A
Book of Troth (his book on Heathen religion) and Northern Magic.
Nine Doors of Midgard is meant as a sequel to his runic trilogy, but in
my honest opinion it's a bit iffy and very heavily under the influence of
(non-Heathen) ceremonial magick. Under Edred Thorsson's legal name, (Dr.)
Stephen E. Flowers, his doctoral dissertation, Runes and Magic: Magical
Formulaic Elements in the Older Runic Tradition was printed by American
University Studies, Series 1: Germanic Languages and Literature, Vol. 53.
The publisher is Peter Lang of New York, Berne (Switzerland) and Frankfurt am
Main (Germany). You can readily obtain this learned, detailed, and fascinating
book from Interlibrary Loan for about a dollar (in the US and Canada anyway).
Kveldulf Gundarsson's work is in a similar vein to Thorsson's runic trilogy,
and is also published by Llewellyn. Teutonic Magic covers the runes very
well. His Teutonic Religion is the best readily available introduction to
contemporary Heathenism. (Update: both of Gundarsson's books are now out of
print!) Freya Aswynn's Leaves of Yggdrasil (recently republished with a
CD and some additional material as
Northern Mysteries and Magick) should probably be saved until after
you've read some of the works of the other two authors. It's a brilliantly
written book but by no means an easy read! It is also published by Llewellyn (www.llewellyn.com).
Here are some books that definitely should not be used as your main sources of
information and whose reading (if you read them) should be postponed until you
have a thorough grasp of basic runology: Norse Magic by DJ Conway (Llewellyn).
Bluntly, it isn't. Donald Tyson is worth reading, but: he has a ritual in
which the magician orders Thor, in the name of the "Nameless One," whom I
presume is Yahweh/Jehovah, to come serve him in his circle! I don't know
whether to laugh or cry! Ralph Blum's rune books are not worth much at all, as
far as I'm concerned, for several reasons. First of all: toss the blank rune.
Useless and redundant. Perthro/Perdra is the rune of Wyrd/Fate. Ansuz is
Odin's rune, more or less. Second, it doesn't matter whether the rune is
upside down, sideways or whatever. This is an obvious borrowing from Tarot.
Third, Blum has put into his books so much "New Agey" sweetness and light that
when something bad is coming, the runes try and try to warn you but they can't
get through the sweetness and light. I know this from personal experience.
What's good in his books is out of the Elliott book I previously mentioned and
others have had the same thing happen to them, too. Finally, Blum arbitrarily
rearranged the futhark although its order is magickally precise and has
remained stable for over two millennia (only the last two runes sometimes
switch position). Garbage in, garbage out. Nevertheless, on the plus side, I
must say that Blum's books and rune sets have had the marvelous effect of
introducing many thousands to runes, most of whom, hopefully, have gone on to
read better books about runes! Nigel Pennick is a popular writer. His
Practical Magic in the Northern Tradition
is great. Go ahead and read it if you like. His Runic Magic book is
interesting, but runic astrology, a concept he discusses at some length, is a
modern concoction. Much of the Northlands were too far North and too damn
cloudy for astrology to evolve! On top of that, in some places in Summer it
doesn't get dark for months! Please note that if I've panned your favorite
author, so what? I stand by my conclusions, but I don't claim infallibility.
Many other popular books on runic magick and divination have been written.
Thorsson, Gundarsson, and Aswynn's books all have bibliographies. This should
provide you many more references for further study. By the way, do not expect
to find any of these popular "how-to" books on Heathenism, runes and other
Norse magick on the shelves of your local library. Occult books disappear
pronto, although I don't know whether that is due to curious teenagers,
dishonest Pagans (plenty of those around unfortunately I've observed), :-(
self-appointed fundamentalist Christian censors, or a combination of all
three! Book-stealing is low. Photocopy if you must, but don't steal. You may
be able to find the scholarly books on runes, although a university library is
more likely to have them than a public library. While interlibrary loan can
get you the scholarly works, I wouldn't count on them being able to get you
the "how-to" books. Start saving your pennies!
Feel free to email me and
describe your own work and the conclusions you've reached! I hope this series
will prove informative and enjoyable, but most of all it will inspire you to
read about and work with runes on your own!
The following insightful and poetically beautiful quote is from Pam C.,
a fellow student of Thorr and Audrey Sheil, posted of course with her kind
permission:
"...to know a thing's "name" gives us power over it (according to magickal
tradition), but there lies the mystery. What is meant by a name is to know a
thing to the core, to understand how it thinks and feels and reacts. Only then
do you know its "name" regardless of what it prefers to be called. It is the
occult name, the hidden name that is most important. And so it is with Runes.
They are more like living things than not. Each has a personality with many
facets, and a polar opposite. They are more known than learned. Introduced, than
taught. Therefore, is this a clue as to runes being magickal potencies?"
Please note that further comments by Pam appear at the end of the "Suggested
'Field Trips' for Runic Study" article, and also at the end of the following
"Rune-of-the-Month Club" articles: Fehu, Thurisaz, Ansuz, Hagalaz, Isa, and
Perthro. Pam C. is the only person I know who can make Hagalaz, Isa, and even
Thurisaz sound poetic!
Answers to "What is a Rune?" from Runeworld "founding" listmembers, late July
Y2K (the list didn't make it; I killed it in disgust due to it being wrecked by
a certain obsessive, socially obnoxious Heathen runester, who knows who he is
:-)
Note from Jordsvin: If you are looking for a Rune list, I recommend Vitki
list on egroups.com. Or, search under "Runes" on egroups.com and you'll come up
with plenty.
From Courtney: A gift from Odin filled with Mystery.
From Dane: The Runes, when considered singly, are symbolic
representations of primal formative and/or ordering forces that have shaped and
driven the universes, both manifest and unmanifest, since their beginning.
Collectively, they form a three dimensional map of the universes that, with
study, can illustrate the complex interplay and relationships of these forces to
each other, to the universes, and to our manifest lives.
Most of the Runes (possibly all of them) have a direct relationship to something
physical. In turn, the shape or use or effect of that physical object relates to
the principle or energy embodied in that Rune. Further, the principle or energy
being described is instrumental in defining the shape and/or effect of the
physical object, therefore creating a closed loop that can be approached either
inductively or deductively.
Runes are not a belief system so much as they are a system of thought. They form
a structural framework which, when overlayed upon the universes, provide us with
a means to understanding, and allow us to navigate through the seeming chaos.
From Aluric: While the forms of the runes were obviously derived from N.
Ital./Etruscan models, there doesn't seem to be the kind of slavish imitation
common in the development of language. The runic figure 'X' for instance, is the
'G' rune, while the 'P' is 'W' (pronounced 'v'.) The word 'runo' or 'runa' meand
'mystery' in half a dozen N. European languages.
The Teutons, our Elder kin had a very sophisticated 'psycho-cosmology'. I
believe the runes were created w/ 2 purposes: A) To facilitate mundane
communication and B) To act as a kind of 'shorthand' for the forces that drive
the hu-man mind/soul/body complex, and the uni/multiverse--structured exactly
the same, and following the same rules of order.
From Sandra: A Rune is a written symbol similar to a letter. They are
often inscribed on stones of similar appearance. These are called Rune Stones.
Rune Stones originated in Scandinavia, where they were used as objects of
divination, to counsel about the future and play an important role in Norse
mythology. Each rune has it's own special meaning, and can be interpreted to
foretell future events and help the user master their destiny. Runes were used
for writing.
From Brock: Several very good models of the etymology of the word "rune"
have already been presented, so I wont make an attempt to rehash that. I see the
runes as being the keys to opening one's perception of reality.
When I think of a rune in my own personal work, I think of an inherent quality,
power, or essence of a particular type related to that symbol. These phonetic
characters have meaning to me because I use them today, here and now in rune
divination and personal ritual work.
The meanings themselves are derived from historical meanings. We should see to
it though that we take those meanings into modern contexts and strive to find
how they relate to the world today.
From Inish: I think a rune is an symbol for part of the "ways things are"
or the "order of the multiverse" (for lack of better terms), which speaks on
many levels with both immediate and occult meanings.
Thanks folks for your comments!
all works used by permission of the authors
last modified
08/14/2007