Welcome to a journey with runes. Whether you are new to this path, or are seeking to deepen your knowledge, you’ll find magic and inspiration within the pages of A Guide to Reading the Runes.
Runes are a series of angular symbols that formed the writing system of the Germanic peoples of northern Europe. Typically, runes were carved into wood, stone, metal, and bone.
Alphabets are magical by nature: they inform and construct how we relate to the world and to each other. They create communion and add power and meaning to our lives. It is not hard to believe that the very symbols that could name the gods could also contain the powers to invoke them. Although all the runic alphabets can be used for divination and magical purposes, it is the oldest, the Elder Futhark, which is most commonly worked with and is the focus of this book.
The runes of the Elder Futhark are split into three rows of eight, called Ætts. Each Ætt expresses intrinsic meanings that permeate through the row.
The three Ætts are journeys, leading us through the fundamental experiences of life, death, and rebirth. From the primal powers of creation to the external and internal forces that impact our daily lives, the Ætts are guides and challengers that ultimately support the forging of our own unique paths. Each Ætt is associated with a specific deity, and the runes within an Ætt are connected with one another through shared themes and concepts.
You are invited to work with the runes in a variety of ways. You could meditate on the rune, intone and chant it, draw it, and connect with its many correspondences. The correspondences include the rune’s associated deities, elements, colors, animals, trees, plants, oils, and crystals and minerals (which also encompasses rocks, gems, and metals).
The runes contain a wealth of knowledge and wisdom but, ultimately, their meanings are open to interpretation, and I encourage you to venture on your own personal journey of runic exploration.
Discover more with A Guide to Reading the Runes by Laura Daligan. To get more great blog posts like this one - direct to your inbox – be sure to sign up to our mailing list here.