Runestones

Each individual rune is thought to be a "symbolic storehouse" and a "magical talisman" having its own unique set of meanings.

For these reasons, their use has evolved throughout the ages, and they are seen being commonly used today for;

• divination
• decision making
• communication

As the runes spread throughout Europe by the Anglo Saxons, the runic alphabet which was quite varied in number depending upon geographical location, finally became settled into a basic alphabet of 24 Runes called the FuThark.

The word FUThARK originates from the sounds of the six letters. The 24 Runic signs are arranged into three families comprising 8 runes each. These individual families are called Aett (singular) or Aettir (plural) Each family or Aett is ruled over by its own particular spirit or Norse God. Respectively these entities are:

• Freya & Frey - Goddess and God of fertility and increase
• Heindall - The watcher and the keeper of the Rainbow Bridge to the Heavens
• Tyr - War leader and spirit of the just

The sequence of signs in each Aett has meaning as does each rune within it. Each individual rune is thought to be a "symbolic storehouse" and a "magical talisman" having its own unique set of meanings connecting a variety of things including: feelings, experiences, spirits, objects, creatures and archetypal processes.

Almost like the makeup of an inner reality their movements in any given situation are said to be indicative of how "Wynd" or fate is operating in an individual's affairs. The meanings of the runes are however quite fluid. Although old texts do give sets of associations for the signs there is still quite an amount that is left up to the interpretation and intuition of the individual using them.

How to Cast Runes

Runes are cast ideally on an East-West axis or facing the sun. A white cloth is laid down and used to determine the shoat or direction of the casting. From here the focus should lie with the pressing question. The runes should then be drawn or cast from either a box or leather pouch where they should normally be kept. After casting the stones onto the cloth the ones which have fallen the right side up are read and depending upon whether the rune is reversed or not will have a bearing upon its meaning and the reading as a whole. Click here to read about the meanings and interpretations of each rune stone.An alternative to casting the rune stones .....

Pick a rune stone randomly for a day reading; you can also do what is known as a 3 rune spread. Some feel that the day rune is a good way to get an answer to a single question.

The 3 Rune Spread is used for asking broader questions whereas the single rune can be drawn on a daily basis.