Origins of Runes: Didja Know...

[Rick]

Did you know that the first Rune readings may have been done with 9 sticks of approximately equal length? You just cast them, & look for the Runic shapes. I made mine from 1/4 in. dowel rod. Sounds simple, but I found it a little mind-boggling (remember, Rune power is very primal & elemental-something about using this "primitive" method seemed to tap even deeper into that). Try it, & share your experiences.

[Ellegon]

I too have used divination sticks to do a reading and have found them to be quite useful and accurate. It is a great way to read for yourself and others when in a pinch...I have used this method when I did not have my rune-bag handy. At work, for instace, where I used 9 straws from the pop machine...lol. It worked great!

Excellent post, Rick!

Love and Light...

Elle )0(

[Rick]

...you're makin' me blush out loud... 8O

[Silver Venus]

Brilliant :D I can imagine that works very well and can be a little spooky! I'll give that a go tonight with some sticks I collected the other day ~ Now I know why I got them!
and ofcourse I'll report back tomorrow :)

[Lavender]

Do the sticks have to be the same length or does it matter how long they are? Sounds like a great idea to try.

[Lavender]

:bad: DUH! Should have read the post more clearly...Rick, you did say of equal length. :rolleyes:

[Silver Venus]

I did it last night!! :D and was gobsmacked at the results I got!!
I threw them all into the air at the same time and first they landed all very close together but in a distinct circle with one in the centre! Is? I nearly screamed! Then I threw again and got Fe and Gebo ~ I ask about the future ~ Looking good :p

Thanks that was really fun and Im going to keep them with my Runes!

[Rick]

To Wildchild: They don't have to be exactly the same length. In fact, they probably don't even have to be even close. But there's something about humans that makes us look for symmetry.

To Silver Venus: Ya know, I was striving for exactly that same word, & just couldn't come up with it... :eek: :rolleyes: :p :bigredgri
(If I didn't love you, I wouldn't tease you)

Seriously, the results are kinda "gobsmacking", aren't they? :)

[Silver Venus]

hehe :D
Love ya too Ricky baby! Dont you have that over in OKC? USA?
Gobsmacking is all the rage over here!

[Rick]

Girl, we just got horse-drawn streetcars & gaslights... :rolleyes: :) ...we do have Gobstoppers, that Gawd-Awful candy, tho'. :cool:

[Lavender]

Rick, can you recommend any good books on Runes? I have been using "Rune Power" by Kenneth Meadows. It's time to expand my horizons a bit here.

[Rick]

Well, let's see...

Authors I'd recommend on the subject of Runes...

Freya Aswynn: Leaves of Yggdrasil; Northern Mysteries & Magic; Principles of Runes
Edred Thorsson: Futhark; All of his works on the subject
Bernard King: All of his works on the subject
Jan Fries: Helrunar
Robert Ian Page: All of his works on the subject
Kveldulf Gundarssen: All of his works on the subject
I'm sure I'm forgetting a few good authors...

Authors I'd avoid on the subject of Runes...

Ralph Blum; Donald Tyson; P.M.H. Atwater
This list could go on all day...

[Lavender]

Thanks, Rick, I'll see if I can find any of these authors. Just curious, do you use just one set of runes? I see in Tarot, people usually have quite a few decks...that's understandable. I have a set I made last year from a maple branch. Someone recently gave me a nice piece of hazelwood. I kept thinking it would make a nice set of runes except that I have a set already....

[Silver Venus]

:D Thanks for the books Rick! ~ Out of the lot, which one would you say is an asbolute must?

& Wildchild ~ Id say what I always say ~ Just go with what you feel is right, there are no rules are they? (apart from Harm none..)Just the ones you make up yourself :) Your rune set sounds really nice and Im sure your next set will be gorgeous too :D

[Rick]

Well, let's see now...
Silver Venus-
Freya Aswynn's Principles of Runes is a good "all around" book, for beginner or advanced. Northern Mysteries & Magic is the revised version of Leaves of Yggdrasil; each contains information that the other doesn't. Leaves is out of print, but you can still find copies around.
Thorsson's Futhark is a "must have". I would start with that one, & collect his other works as you can.
Jan Fries' Helrunar is also a must, but can be a bit advanced.

Wildchild-
I went through several sets of Runes before I settled on the set I read with now. I know some folks that collect Rune sets. I usually have several sets on hand, at any given time. But I only read with my "stained" set. I have stopped buying them; my HoneyGirl will point out to me "How many sets of Runes do you need?" 'Course, I answer "All of them." :D

[Silver Venus]

Thanks sugar Ill get Freya Aswynn's Principles of Runes first I think!! See ya at the bar ;)

[widukind]

Uh, Rick, what exactly do you mean by "look for Runic shapes"? Do you mean see if any of the sticks are aligned so they look like Runes? Hmmm... okay.

Methinks I need to brush up on my Runes, I haven't used them for a while... I still know how to carve them all, but have forgotten their meanings... shucks ! :(

Oh well...

Brightest Blessings and thanks for the informative post!

Widukind

[Rick]

Originally posted by widukind
Uh, Rick, what exactly do you mean by "look for Runic shapes"? Do you mean see if any of the sticks are aligned so they look like Runes? Hmmm... okay.

Widukind

Yes. Kinda makes me think of looking for shapes in clouds. :)

[widukind]

Kay, thanks!

Brightest Blessings!

Widukind

[Ankou]

Just a quick comment about the 9 sticks for rune castings. This is a great way to do a reading if you don't happen to have your rune set with you and need (or want) to do a casting. The great thing about this way is that you can "double" the powers and meanings of the runes when you toss them. What you are looking for when the sticks land is the shape of a rune created by two or more sticks. Since there are no pre-determined runes you can get the same rune more than once and therefore making it's power in the reading that much greater.


Also if I may suggest if someone is going to make their own rune sticks that you should try to use some sticks from a tree. They work better than smoother surfaces because when the sticks land on top of each other they won't roll off and you'll find that you get a better mix of rune symbols.

[Ellegon]

Ankou,

Thats a great point that u make and I use natural branches when i don't have my rune-bag handy. I am glad you made that point!

Elle )0(

PS>>> Mol, I love the new look of the site...green is my fav color...awesome.

[mark krauss]

Runesinger are you refering to witan wands? I think I saw that in one of Bucklands books once.

[Rick]

Originally posted by mark krauss
Runesinger are you refering to witan wands? I think I saw that in one of Bucklands books once.

I have no idea... what's a "witan"?

[mark krauss]

I'm no expert on the runes. The witan wands according to Buckland were divination tools used by early anglo saxons. Witan is an anglo saxon word for wise one.

[Dria El]

Originally posted by mark krauss
I'm no expert on the runes. The witan wands according to Buckland were divination tools used by early anglo saxons. Witan is an anglo saxon word for wise one.

If I remember correctly (and if I'm correct in the book I think you're talking about), it was published by Llewellyn and proven to be BS. It ended up coming out that it was a book about Wicca but they changed the name to Witta in order to make money (or some such BS). But, I could be wrong. You might want to bring it up in the Books forum to make sure I'm not blowing smoke. :)

[mol]

Originally posted by Rick
Did you know that the first Rune readings may have been done with 9 sticks of approximately equal length? You just cast them, & look for the Runic shapes. I made mine from 1/4 in. dowel rod. Sounds simple, but I found it a little mind-boggling (remember, Rune power is very primal & elemental-something about using this "primitive" method seemed to tap even deeper into that). Try it, & share your experiences.

Excellent post! I will have to try this...

Of course, I am still have a problem with picking up my Runes. Something just keeps telling me...not yet.

FYI: I have never really used Runes. For divination...most of the time I would use mathematics. ;)

[Semele]

Originally posted by mol


Excellent post! I will have to try this...

Of course, I am still have a problem with picking up my Runes. Something just keeps telling me...not yet.

FYI: I have never really used Runes. For divination...most of the time I would use mathematics. ;)

Only a true nerd would be brave enough to use mathmatics....YUK!!!!

ones and zeros baby!!

[Lavender]

Originally posted by mol
...For divination...most of the time I would use mathematics. ;)

Hmmm,

should I ask?

better not...

[Rick]

...ask, Wildchild. Inquiring minds want to know.

[Lavender]

Ok, how do you use mathematics for divination?

[Silver Venus]

Id say Numerology, but then Id like to ask that question too ;)

[Faolan]

can anyone give me a website that gives you a list of the runes and what they mean? I've never done this kind of thing before

[Dagda Moon~Lily]

Try this! :D

http://www.runeschool.org/lessons/08_meanings.htm

[Rick]

Originally posted by Faolan
can anyone give me a website that gives you a list of the runes and what they mean? I've never done this kind of thing before

http://www.irminsul.org

has a lot of Rune links.

Good Luck, & Happy Runing!

[Flar's Freyja]

Bump

[Rick]

Bump

[Russ Welch]

Originally posted by mark krauss
Runesinger are you refering to witan wands? I think I saw that in one of Bucklands books once.

"Buckland"???? WAHAHAHAHhhahahahahahahah