Late Winter 2500 R.E.

Heilsa!

Let me open this letter with a short bit of advice. I know you consider
yourself a cultured person and I know your thirst for knowledge and new
experiences... but be warned; the Runes are not a parlor trick invented
by man, they are not Tarot Cards or Dice, and they are real
metaphysical tools for divination and casting. The Rune staves are connected to
Germanic, Teutonic, and Celtic history since its beginning over 40, 000
years ago, since the beginning of their blood. They are a solid part of
not just their ethnic heritage, but their existence. To use them
haphazardly or without meditation and respect is degrading and they
will not reveal to you their secrets!

That said, what are the Runes? The Runes themselves are different than
their history. The word 'rune' comes from the Germanic and Celtic root
'runo', which literally means 'secret'. The Runes systematic use
surfaced archeologically in about 50 A.D. (the approximate time of the
Meldorf Brooch) to the present. However the actual framework and
metaphysical use of the Runes cannot be discussed purely historically
-- they are ahistorical.

The lore behind the Rune Staves can assist one in understanding the
Runes themselves. Imagine if you would the universe as a whole. Now allow
that universe to split in all directions, into a multiverse with nine
layers. This nine-fold universe is essential to the mythology of the North, as
well as unlocking the mystery of the Runes. The great god Odin is said
to be able to travel all these realms and communicate with the beings
that dwell within each. This multiverse not only represents the
external existence, but the self as well. Each level also represents your
conscience and unconscious forces. Using that example, or guide in
your mind's eye (called "hugauga" in old Norse), we can use the multiverse
nine layers to define ourselves and thus understand the runic forces
that flow through us. According to ancient legend Odin hung for nine days
and nine nights (notice the significance of the number nine) on The World
Tree (called 'Yggdrasill' the source of life.) to gain the wisdom of the
Runes. That wisdom he then imparted on mankind at the dawn of time.
Much priceless lore and knowledge have been lost since Odin brought the
Runes to us. The first Runes are known as the Futhark. The Elder Futhark was
the original unperverted and taintless runic system. The Eldest Futhark
is considered by most Vitkar (Rune Casters) and scholars to be the only
true runic system available to mankind today, I personally agree. Later
followed the Younger Futhark and Anglo Saxon Futhark, which while may
hold some arcane value is tainted by Christian influences.

The Runes themselves cannot be explained, in fact I cannot begin to
convey to you their power and meaning, I can only provide you with a
way to begin to understand them and you must explore their mystery on your
own. If you were to experience the universe (multiverse) like you would
a great symphony, hearing every individual note and chord which, working
together, creates the best master piece ever, you can begin to
conceptualize the Runes. Each Rune is like a musical note, each one
has a different sound or use, but each is as important as the next in the
grand scheme of things. As you begin to understand the esoteric meaning
behind each Rune and how they interconnect in the universe you will
understand what is called the Web of Wyrd. (I.e. the great symphony.)
If you could break everything down beyond is smallest defined unit,
beyond scientific quantification; you would find the mystical energy
that flows through all things. This is the runic force or streams of runic
power: The Cosmic energy that can be interpreted through runic
knowledge.

Understanding the Runes is a personal odyssey, but understanding their
relationship to the world around you and within you doesn't have to be.
Each of us, even you have what's called an 'Orlog' which literally
means 'primal layers' or 'fate'. Your unique Orlog is made up of your Nornic
aspects (Urdhr, Verdhandi, Skuld - Past, Present, & Future), not only
are you a factor in your personal fate, but your ancestry and what will be.
It is a complex concept, but I know you understand. Fate, is inescapable
even the gods themselves have one.

The Runes themselves cannot be simply defined as a music note; they
have a form, idea, and value. The form of a rune is the ideograph and
phonetic value. The idea is it's symbolic content. And its value is its dynamic
nature revealing its relationship with other rune staves. But for
simple understanding, lets look at the Runes as notes in a great symphony, and
you seek to understand your personal Orlog or 'score'. Using the runes
to understand your fate is called Divination. This is the most
historically common use of the Futhark. Historical accounts of Rune
Casting are recorded by Tacitus in Chapter 10 of the Germania (a report
about the Northland's culture to the Roman Empire. written about 98 A.D.)

Understanding the forces that flow through you and the Wyrd around you
can give the Vitki (user of Runes) great power, enlightenment, and
understanding. An individual who seeks the wisdom of the runes must
first gain a basic understanding of what the runes are. We for all
intents and purposes have just established that. However I encourage
more study and personal exploration to deepen your understanding of the
runic existence! No simple letter will provide all the knowledge you need.

To use the Runes one must first have in their possession a Rune Lot.
Rune lots are a set of the Runes (in this case The Elder Futhark) for use
only in divination and casting. To cast the runes and divine the meaning of
a situation or the future is called 'to cast a lot'. (Thus the term 'lot
in life'.) The rune caster's hope is to reveal the hidden meaning behind
the forces at work, which cannot be avoided, but can at least be understood
and prepared for. Today the runes have become popularized, perverted,
and misused, nothing you buy in an occult shop or bookstore will assist
you in any serious rune work. To divine your personal runic influences
you must have a loaded set. Theoretically, a set of runes you've drawn
on pieces of notebook paper is far better than any fancy mass produced
stamped clay set you can order though a catalog. Why? Because you
expended your personal energy, imprinted, and loaded your essence (and
Orlog!) into those staves. They are attuned to your being and will
better serve you in honest matters of divination. Also, most popular
rune sets do not use the Elder Futhark, some just make up Runes!
Unfortunately most runic knowledge is lost, and some has been so bastardized they no
longer resemble anything like the original Futhark. Though some may
mean well, their knowledge came from a source that is not authentic. These
types of runes are ineffective and will taint your knowledge, and
possibly work against you. That said, let move on to creating your own
personal rune lot.

Because the Runes themselves are part of the Web of Wyrd, it is
understandable that it is only right that the rune staves are most
effective when cut, drawn, or painted onto natural materials.
Traditionally rune lots where made of wood, bone, and later metal. It's
a matter of personal preference, I personally found that wooden lots are
best. Historically the staves where cut (carved) into the lots, which
were anything from wooden coins to sticks about six inches long with a
diagonal cut at on end to reveal the stave. Tacitus describes the
latter in his writings, which is the style I use. Traditionally if your lots
are made of wood they must be cut from a living tree! There are many more
details as to time, Aett of the heaven, and other ritual aspects and
details to selecting your lots that we need not get into for now. You
may cut the runes using a knife, when used in rune work called a Ristir or
'rune carver' and color them with a simple paint brush or other
fashioned tool. When a stave is cut into the lot and loaded, it is colored.
Historically the Runes where reddened with the blood of the Vitkar. Now
a rich red ochre, fine-quality linseed oil and meditative concentration
can replace traditional blood. I found blood to be a more symbolic
sacrifice in efforts to gain wisdom, but personal preference and practicality may
take precedence here! No one technique is better than the other is; it is
the efforts of the Vitki that bring about the power of the runes.

Once the rune lots are cut and colored they are then considered loaded.
They are now called Taufar or 'talismans' and should be treated with
the most solemn respect. Wrapped in a dark cloth, bound with leather cord
and kept from direct sight until they're used again. Frequency of use is
also important when dealing with Rune Casting. One who constantly uses their
Runes like gambler nervously rolls his dice will ruin their
effectiveness. The Runes are only to be cast sparingly and in a serious
mindset making their message all that more meaningful each time. So why
all this ritual? Ritual is important to prepare the mind for it's task,
it's a form of a dance of concentration. A way to familiarize ourselves
through a learned regimen. Once you've comfortably prepared yourself,
by preparing these lots, and expending physical effort you mind better
accepts and opens to the thought that these lots actually hold the
power to divine. If you'd like to think about it as spiritual sentimentality,
physical and mental efforts expended in ritual often produce awesome
metaphysical results!

The Rune Lots are then cast upon a Casting Cloth, often the very same
cloth they are carefully wrapped and stored with. This cloth is not
necessary, but it assists the Vitki in understanding the nature of
where the lots fall and their meaning. Position can play a major role in the
meaning of a rune cast. Where the runes fall, how do they lay in
relationship to one another, and whether or not they are
'Bright-staves' (upright), 'Murk-staves' (upside down), and of course if they are
inverse or backward. These meanings will become more apparent as you choose to
learn more about runic divination. For now suffice it to say that there
is no 'good' and 'bad' runic signs, they are simply revealing the
particular runic forces at work and how they relate to each other. The
cloth will be divided into nine parts, you may simply envision the
borders in your Hugauga or actually embroider them onto it, these
represent the nine worlds or 'layers' of the multiverse (within and
without). As one casts the runes onto the cloth you will see each lot
knows it's place and will find it. Read them as they lay, even if off
the cloth itself. (That too may have great meaning!) Where do they rest?
How is their meaning effected by their position? What about in relationship
to other runes? There are many factors that each individual Vitkar must
learn to read and understand.

The nine divisions on the casting cloth are the same as the nine worlds
of the multiverse. They are Midhgardhr, Asgardhr, Hel, Ljossalfheimer,
and Svartalfheimir, which make up the subjective or physiological state
of, or influences on the person. Those of Ljossalfheimer and
Svartalfheimir are more 'personal', while those of Asgardhr and Hel are
more 'transpersonal'. Niflheimr, Muspellsheimr, Vanaheimr and
Jotunheimr (which these eight layers all together form Midhgardhr, our world. i.e.
consciousness or 'reality') clarify the state of the objective universe
and how it effects the person in question. Note that in the center,
Midhgardhr is where all potentialities are manifested.

The individual meanings of these realms on the cloth are not entirely
clear to every Vitki, however I can provide only a rudimentary
interpretation:

1. Asgardhr: Higher influence. Nature of relationship with the divinities.
The veiled branches of the question. Matters of honor, positive
(active) influences from the past states of existence.
('incarnations')--Orlog!

2. Ljossalfheimer: Mental influences. Family Matters. Messages of Huginn
(Odin's Raven translated the name means 'Thought') -- directions in
which you should plan. What will help you. Paths to help you realize
influences from Asgardhr.

3. Midhgardhr: The way people come together to manifest themselves in
life. The outcome in life. Ego consciousness.

4. Svartalfheimir: Creative emotional influences. Money matters. Messages
from Muninn (Odin's Raven translated the name means 'Memory') --
things you should reflect on. Paths to realize influences from Hel.

5. Hel: Hidden or suppressed instinctual desires. Nature of automatic
functions of behaviors. The hidden root of the question. The hidden
root of the question. Negative (passive, restrictive) influences
from past states of existence -- Orlog!

6. Muspellsheimr: State of vital energies, that which vitalizes you.
Active influences from the outside. Things tending toward activity.

7. Niflheimr: That which resists you. Passive or restrictive influences
from the outside. Things tending toward dormancy.

8. Vanaheimr: Promotes growth. Erotic relationships. Persons of the
opposite sex. Balancing influences. Forces of continuity, structure, and
well-being.

9. Jotunheimr: That which confuses you. That which may be left to chance.
Things that might test you. Forces pressing for change. Realm of
crisis.

These are simple interpretations, bear in mind that your personal lot
will reveal things that I have never personally encountered before.
Rune Casting is a very, very personal art and spiritual practice. Study,
time, effort, reflection, and meditation are the key to unlocking the mystery
of your runes! Remember: Wisdom can only be gained through sacrifice
and study!

The design for the Casting Cloth, its divisions, as well as the Elder
Futhark Runes and their basic meaning are provided along with this
letter. Remember that one need not be an Asatruar to believe in the
power of the Runes, the runes live within you. All you have to do is open
your mind, learn to focus, and see!

Click here to get a comprehensive understanding of the meanings of the runes.

If you have any more questions or seek more guidance I am always here
to do Odin's work.

Vertu sael! (Be blessed!)

Godi Frank Coleman

The Michigan Association of Asatruar & Odinists c/o Godi Frank Coleman P.O. Box 129 Birch Run, MI 48415

(USA)

Reprinted with the kind permission of Godi Frank Coleman, this work is © 2002 and may not be reproduced or used in any other way, other than for personal study, without the permission of Godi Frank Coleman. Opinions on these pages are not necessarily those of Heathen Europe. Click here to return to index page.