Divination With Runes
Few practices of humankind have greater antiquity
than divination, a pratcice performed by
cultures throughout the world and by people
in every walk of life. An example in medieval
Iceland were the "spaewives," who traveled the
land foretelling people's futures.
The idea of knowing the unknown appeals to
people as much today as it has in the past.
Part of the unknown that rune divination seeks
to discover is within ourselves, which is why
runes and other divination systems can lead us
further on the road to self-exploration and growth.
A way to touch and communicate with the divine,
within and without, divination is the art of knowing
the unknown, whether in the form of future events,
influencing factors, signs, impressions, or messages.
People have employed almost every conceivable instrument
or phenomenon for the purposes of divination, from
oracles such as the one at the Temple of Apollo at Delphi,
to the tracks of animals and bird augury. Ancient shamans
cleverly fashioned the wisdom regarding the powers of the
world into divination systems and games as a means of
passing on information and sending coded messages from
one millennium to another.
Runes are one of the oldest divination systems we know.
The Roman historian Tacitus (98 C>E>) noted that Germanic
tribes cut slips from fruit-bearing trees. After inscribing
the slips with sigils (symbols), the runecaster would face
north, invoke specific gods and goddesses, and then cast
three to nine runes upon a white cloth. From the runes on the
cloth, the runecaster would take three of the slips and interpret
the divine messages revealed in them.
Contemporary rune divination gives tangible results that you
can see and appreciate. Like the runecasters of ancient times,
you, too, can learn how to cast and read runes. There are no
prerequisites for working with runes besides as open mind and
honest effort. Familiarity with other forms of divination is
not needed, as runes form a valid system of divination in their
own right, much like the Tarot or the I Ching. At the same time,
an expanded knowledge of other divination systems is always helpful,
and it is a good idea to experiment with different ones, choosing
those that work best in certain situations. But more important,
to really gain the optimum benefit from rune divination, you need
to study Northern mythology, work with the elements, and understand
the primary archetypes, focusing on the specific mythological
patterns of the Norse gods and goddesses. Like everything else, the
more you practice using the runes, the more proficient you will become.
One of the primary concepts to keep in mind when using runes is
the "wyrd," the inherent interconnectedness of all things. The wyrd
reflects the far-reaching implications of one's thoughts, feelings,
and actions. The best analogy is that of the spider's web. When
anything touches any part of the web, the vibrations affect the
entire structure and everything contained within it. Your every
breath, thought, feeling, action, dream-affects everything and
everyone around you, just as their thougts and actions affect you.
Make an effort to be mindful of this Oneness when working with
the runes.
As one of the most accurate and available methods of divination,
runes represent the whole in a unified way. Runic divination is
much like holding up a mirror to yourself or to the person for
whom you are doing a reading. Because of your intent, and the
fact that your mind is focused on a particular question when
you mix the runes, they order themselves to reflect the reality
of the questioner. As you pose a question, with your entire mind
focused on it, the runes that you pull are not actually random
selections but choices made through your intent. In this way,
rune readings work deeply with both the conscious and the
unconscious. In successful divination, you become a son or
daughter of the moment, the Goddess and the God, and as you
read you are divine!
Why consult the runes? There are two primary reasons:
1)You are facing a specific problem that you can't figure out,
and you are looking for clarity and guidance for future decisions.
2)You are trying to figure out what life is all about, examining
the path you are on and the influences that are going to come
into play in the future.
By consistently practicing divination, you gradually become
more sensitized to being in the right place at the right time,
making the appropriate choice and gesture. You become more attuned
to who and what you truly are. Because of this, you make decisions
that are correct for you and more positive for everyone else.
You can use runes for divination purposes in basically two ways:
1)rune readings based on specific rune layouts, and
2)ceremonial runecasting, the traditional method.
No matter which rune divination method you use, the purpose is to
awaken your intuition and your receptive abilities. At best, you
establish a channel of communication with the runes and the energies
they represent. As you do this, you allow them to speak and sing to
you. In this way, working with runic energies becomes an unfettering
of your natural abilities and a process of remembering.
The meanings of a rune can often be obscure. Your task is to
determine how the essence of the rune applies to the question being
asked. At first, it is best to stick with the accepted interpretations
of the runes, starting with the corresponding key words. Afterward,
through practice, meditation, and study you can go deeper into their
more expanded meanings and uses.
By tradition, there is always an exchange in rune divination between
the runecaster and the runes. At the very least, this exchange can be
your undivided attention and a receptive mind. Remember, a gift demands
a gift-as exemplified in the Gebo rune. A divine gift from the gods,
the runes are tools of sacred knowledge and wisdom.
Use them respectfully.
The Runes
Rune Interpretations
Spiritual Runes
Preparations For Rune Readings
How To Make A Rune Cloth
Rune Reading Checklist
Rune Readings
Rune Layouts
Ceremonial Runecasting
Rune Dreaming Techniques
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