Traditional Runic Practices
Nine mighty songs I learned from the great
son of Bale-thorn, Bestla's sire
I drank a measure of the wondrous Mead,
with the Soulstirrer's drops I was showered.
Ere long I bare fruit, and throve full well,
I grew and waxed in wisdom;
word following word, I found me words,
deed following deed, I wrought deeds.
Hidden Runes shalt thou seek and interpreted signs,
many symbols of might and power,
by the great Singer painted, by the high Powers fashioned,
graved by the Utterer of gods.
For the gods graved Odin, for elves graved Dain,
Dvalin the Dallier for dwarfs,
All-wise for Jotuns, and I, of myself,
graved some for the sons of men.
Dost know how to write, dost know how to read,
dost know how to paint, dost know how to prove,
dost know how to ask, dost know how to offer,
dost know how to send, dost know how to spend?
The ancient Norse poem "Havamal" (translated by Olive Bray) is
from the Elder or Poetic Edda. Considered the words of Odin the
High One, this poem explains the purpose of eighteen different
runes in such a cryptic way that rune users still disagree about
the true meaning of the verses. What is clear in the verses is
that the only way to fully access the power of the runes is to
know how to write, read, paint (redden) and prove them, as well
as ask, offer, send, and spend them.
Runes belong to the Northern Tradition, which encompasses the Norse,
Germanic, and Celtic people. The first uses of runic symbols were for
magic and divination; they were, for example, carved on magical wands
called gandrs. The ancients carved runic letters into wood, stone, metal,
and bone, and used these sacred symbols as family marks and hex signs on
wooden caskets, grave markers, and grave stones, and as protective amulets
and talisman. The letters were also used as decorative and symbolic art.
Some sixth-century coins, for example, bear runic inscriptions.
Special writing boards, called vaxapjalds, were used for writing
runes. These boards, found at the Hopperstad stave church in Norway,
were written about in the sagas. The vaxapjald was a hand-held writing
board. One of its surfaces was covered in wax. The runes were cut into
the wax, but could erased by smoothing out the wax surface before writing
a new message on the board.
Before printing presses, runes were also carved on wooden calendars known
as rimstocks. Wooden rune staves were used on two kinds of "clog" almanacs.
Important days of the year, names of visitors, new births, and other vital
information were all cut into a flat, square almanac, which was hung next
to the fireplace.
Warriors cut the Tiwaz rune on their sword hilts, blades, and scabbards to
empower them. They invoked the Norse god of victory, Tyr, while cutting the
runes onto the sword's hilt and guard. Like swords, spears were sacred to Tyr
and also were given names. The runes were inlaid in spear mounts as well as
on shield heads. A warrior's weapons were considered divine gifts, and they
were buried alongside the warrior for his protection in the next world.
Eventually, the runic symbols were put to everyday use-in writing,
decoration, record-keeping, and business. They were used as a stamp
of ownership on personal property, such as houses, trade goods, wagons,
livestock, cutlery, and jewlry, and woven into tapestries and rugs. In
addition to being branded, clipped, or painted onto animals, runes were
cut into the beaks and feet of domestic birds such as geese and ducks.
Wooden runic tags were fastened onto sacks or painted on merchants'
goods to identify them. Other examples of objects that bear runic
descriptions are hair combs, saddle buckles, musical instruments, as
well as carts and boats.
The most widespread use of runes across Europe were as "hof" marks,
symbols for specific groups. These are still used today as trademarks
and family signs. By adding marks such as dots, small circles, or double
crosses next to the original mark, the personal marks, of other family
members could be created. This made it possible to identify individual
property within the family group. Unlike heraldry, personal marks were
not maintained by law, but were a matter of personal choice.
Buildings With Runes
Runes As Alphabets
Writing Runes
Secret Runes
Bindrunes
Rune Categories
The Runes
Elder Futhark's Three Aettir
Rune Interpretations
Divination With Runes
Rune Meditation Techniques
Rune Dreaming Techniques
The Magical Uses of Runes
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