I need some info.

I've been thinking about starting to use runes. I was wondering if any of you out there had any advice or websites with some info. I'd be really grateful!

I have never really known much about runes... not sure if many people at all do unless they have nordic/celtic heritage probably.

But anyway I went googling just to see what I could find for you, and the first link I found is a pretty good one. Translate English letters into runes, and there is a pronounciation page, how to make them, etc etc... Now I'm getting sort of interested myself, although I have never been a fan of magick.

Link

Finally, a topic I know something about! What exactly would you like to know about Runes. At one point me and my friend would use runes for readings and whatnot, but I gradually realized how much of a bad idea it is to play with these type of things.

If you need info on Runes simply email me at: [email protected]

I promise to reply to you if you email me, I still have the book I used to first learn about runes.

like I said, please email me. I want to help you out, but Im not really able to go on this site often so email is better since I check it everyday.

I was wondering if any of you out there had any advice or websites with some info.

Sure thing. The runes are intimately tied to the mythology and spirituality of the Norse people of modern Scandinavia. According to legend, the king of the Norse gods, Odin, hung from the World Tree, Yggdrasil, for nine days and nine nights (the number nine being sacred to the Norse people), as a sacrifice to himself, to learn the mysteries of the runes and of the dead. Odin, as well as being king of the Norse pantheon, was also the god of hanged men and is sometimes referred to as the Gallows God.

In The Havamal, Odin declares that:

"I know that I hung on a windy tree
nights all nine,
wounded with a spear and given to Odin,
myself to myself,
on that tree of which no man knows from where its roots run

No bread did they give me nor a drink from a horn,
downwards I peered,
I took up the runes,
screaming I took them,
then I fell back from there".

- The Havamal 138-139

The most commonly used runes are those from the FUTHARK script, which derives its name from the first six runes in sequence (Fehu, Uruz, Thurisaz, Ansuz, Raido and Kenaz), much as the Alphabet takes its name from the first two letters, Alpha and Beta.

As for the origins of the runes themselves, debate still revolves around whether they evolved primarily as a means of divination or purely as an alphabetic script. Wikipedia has an excellent article dealing with many aspects of the runes, in both their alphabetic and divinistic aspects. You can read it here.

In magical terms, the runes were used for both divination and for purposes specific to each rune. This page has a decent enough rundown on the generally accepted meanings and uses for each rune in the FUTHARK script. They were often inscribed onto pendants or tools or weapons or some other such object to utilise their magical powers.

If you wish to use the runes, first examine your reasons for doing so. There are many forms of divination and all are widely available. What drew you to the runes specifically? After that, I would strongly suggest that you do some research into the mythology of the Norse people, since it is tied so intimately to the origins and functions of the runes. I have found that the best way to learn how to use an ancient technique is to examine how the people who first used it did so.

Best of luck. The runes can be a fascinating study and extremely rewarding, but they do take some work, as do all things worth learning. Let me know if you have any more questions.

[edit on 28/8/05 by Jeremiah25]

i personally have nothing with runes. but i've known someone who uses runes a lot and is very proficient with it. they're not easy to work with compared to tarot. but once you've learned it they're very usefull.

Thanks everyone. You've all been really helpful.