Runes

I use the runes mainly for divination, normally when asked to do a reading by someone.

I've never read any of Blums books, but have seen them in the shops. I started my own collection with Edred Thorssens earlier books, and have books by several others.

I've not got time to really go into any detail now, but I'll post some random thoughts on the runes later ... by that I just mean my own thoughts and theories on them.

Ok, here's my rather disjointed thoughts and views on the runes ... expect this to wander around like a Billy Connolly routine

We'll just start with divination, as that is where most people (to my knowledge) start out. Rather than repeating "to my knowledge" countless times, take everything here as just my thoughts and views.

There are a variety of different spreads can be done in runic divination, ranging from simple one rune and 3 rune (past, present, future) types, to ones involving the entire rune set, and a special casting cloth.

My particular favoured spread is Tyrs Arrow, a 7 rune spread that forms the Tiwaz rune itself (kinda).

One of the key things I tell people when I cast the runes is that what they show is not set in stone. "Always in motion is the future" as Yoda said. When I read, what I believe I get is the most likely outcome, given existing circumstances. The runes can show areas that can be influenced to strengthen or to change that outcome. Change the current circumstances, and you increase or lessen the chance of that given future occuring.

Does that make sense?

Some people use elaborate ceremony when reading. I don't. I simply kneel down where I am, and spread the runes face down on the floor. With my eyes closed I shuffle them around, so I can't know what any particular one is. I take a few moments to centre myself, them mentally say a few words about why I'm doing the reading (communing with my gods, if you will). I don't ask the person that I'm doing the reading for what their question is. This is a personal quirk of mine .. others may prefer to ask the subject.

Once I'm ready I pass my hand over the runes, and when I get a feeling from them, I pick that one. I draw the runes in sequence (normally 7 for my chosen spread), then arrange them in the proper layout. I turn them over, and explain to the person I'm doing the reading for the general meaning of each rune, the significance of the position in the spread, then give them an overall interpretation of the spread, and what I believe their question was. When they confirm the question, I can narrow down any specific stuff in the reading that may need clarification. I probably don't do readings more than once every few months.

Occasionally you get a reading that seems to make little sense (perhaps just a specific rune in a particular position that seems odd) but when the situation resolves, then it becomes very clear.

Each rune can have a variety of meanings. Raido (R) is a good one to illustrate this with ... its meaning is a journey, which can be physical, emotional, spiritual or what have you. The specific type of journey being refered to will be infered by the other runes than come up in the reading, and to some extent what feeling the reader gets. After a while, you get an idea for what is being told to you.

Now, when I do readings, I normally refer to about half a dozen different books. Although the meanings are broadly the same, different authors can sometimes focus on different aspects of the runes, or give greater or lesser importance to particular meanings. I find having a variety of sources to consult is very useful.

The reason that I started reading the runes goes back a good 10 years now. A friend of mine gave me a tarot reading, which was *very* accurate, and I decided I'd like to try that. I found a shop that had tarot decks, went in, wandered around but didn't find any that really appealed. They had more coming in the following week, so I decided to hold off till then. Following week came, went in, wandered around, still nothing particularly appealling. At the back of the shelf I came across a rune set .. book and runes, a beginners kit as it were. Something inside me just said "This is right". I picked those up, went off home with them, and have used them ever since.

If you feel that you're drawn to the runes, then trust your instincts. Oh, and if you have got a set already, dump the blank rune. Thats a recent invention. It has no place in the traditional rune set.

So ... questions?

Thaedydal wrote:

The same as those used in tarot the placement of the cards or runes in certain positions have a certain sigifier.

Like the 3 card/rune spread,
the first factors from the past on the matter,
the second where things are presently on the matter,
the third theoutcome or factors that will effect the matter.

Yep, thats about it. As I said, my prefered rune spread uses 7 runes. It would take a little while to go through the actual layout.

Thaedydal wrote:

I have found that there are very few people who do used them.

Tarot does seem a lot more popular, but the runes felt right to me.

Thaedydal wrote:

OK this has me sitting quiet frankly with my mouth open thinking dear gods above and below.
I know there is some disagreement about the blank rune but personally I'd as soon leave it out then I would the Death card when using tarot.
IT has it's place and meaning and is need as much as 0 is in maths.

The blank rune is also know as Odin's rune, or fate or Wryd.

I don't know that it does. I've seen the arguements in favour of using the blank rune as a symbol of mystery, but pertho does that just as well.

All that I've read has indicated the blank rune to be a recent addition, and its not one that I feel fits.

To each their own though.