What do you know about runes?

My friend gave me a set of runes. No book, nothing to explain what they are or how to use them. Other than a mention in Harry Potter, I hadn't heard of them. Are they like the I Ching, you toss them and somehow divine the future from how they land? This is probably one of the weirdest presents I've ever been given!

As forms of Neopaganism can be quite different and have distinctive origins, recognition and usage of runes can vary considerably.

As with Germanic paganism in general, the runes are a major element in Germanic neopaganism used for a wide variety of purposes in varying senses of reconstructionism, depending on the type of group. The more academic adherents of Germanic neopaganism eschew any use of runes outside of writing and magic.

New Agers and some Wiccans may also sometimes use runes under various (generally non-reconstructive) conditions, such as divination.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rune#Academic_study

I didn't know you spoke Academia! :P

That site will explain some. But you should have a book to go along with them.

You can cast one rune, or three, or five...and there are probably other variations.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runestone

Runes are very important in Scandinavian culture.
They are revered and well maintained.

I've seen many of them and they are impressive.

though doubtlessly related. These all look like big boulders. The ones I have are palm-sized stones.

:shrug:

Seriously though, runes are an archaic writing system. They have no more predictive powers than say, roman numerals. But they look cool.

That is, they don't really give predictions of the future, but can be helpful by giving a different, random perspective on/way of looking at any given problem. They do look cool, though.

:rofl:

They were my favorite divination tools. (I've gotten away from divination lately but have been meaning to get back into it.)

Runes are quite powerful because they work on several levels--as a writing system, as symbols, and providing insight into possible future events. You can "toss" them, as you said, or "pull" them one at a time from their bag--single runes for "instant insight" or several in spreads (a simple three-rune spread can represent past/present/future, or you can follow tarot spreads using the runes instead of cards). They're quite versatile and, if you take the time to learn what each rune represents, very insightful.

There are many books available to help you learn about the runes and how to divine with them--a quick perusal at Amazon can likely show you at least a dozen to choose from, if not more.

However, if you aren't interested in taking them seriously, I would strongly recommend giving them away (not selling them) to someone who would.

Maybe I'll put them up on freecycle and see if I get any takers.

I might be interested. Never mind that I already have three sets of my own (clay, quartz crystal, amethyst)! LOL! What are they made of? Composite, clay, river stones, etc?

Where did you get your quartz ones? I like runes and wanted to get some more.

I got a bunch of tumbled quartz stones and handpainted the runes on with gold paint. They're so pretty I hardly ever use them--if that makes any sense!
:rofl:

A friend gave me the amethyst set for my birthday a few years ago--she bought them, so I'd suspect clear quartz ones are commercially available too...

I was thinking about making some wooden ones, or new clay ones.

The friend who gave me the amethyst ones made a set of wooden ones for herself--had her husband slice a 2" diameter branch like you'd cut up a pepperoni! They looked great. I can't remember if she painted the runes on or used a dremel tool to etch them and then painted the grooves black. Either way would be cool, I think.

A long time ago I had the inclination to find enough flat, smooth, same-size river stones to make a set, but I never did. Perhaps I will get back to the river this summer and try again.

I think they would make beautiful runes.

Thanks for the hint on the wooden ones; I wasn't sure how I'd go about cutting, but that makes sense.

They're river stone-ish, but he told me he made them from a kit from Michael's Arts and Crafts, and they're very light weight, so I'm guessing they're made from some kind of synthetic material.

Your friend made them for you? Then I take it back--DON'T give them away. That's way too loaded. Just say thank you and keep them in a nice dark drawer or cabinet or something.

I'm easy. :)

:hi:

he was my first boyfriend in high school, some 30-odd years back. I think I broke his heart by breaking up with him, though I can't remember why I did. You think that affects their vibes in any discernibly negative way?

Can you clarify the timeline? He was your boyfriend in high school, but then he gave you the runes recently? Do I have that right?

We hooked back up on facebook, although I was hesitant to accept his friend request. But he was in town for a conference so we got together for dinner, and it was a nice reunion. To be clear, no romantic anything, he's happily married and it was just a platonic thing all around when we met the other night. We had this fb thing called a craft swap, where we make each other something and exchange the things. He gave me runes, i gave him double chocolate mint mocha cookies I made for him. :)

I think the runes therefore contain nothing but positive, loving vibes (in a friendship sort of way). The reason I said not to give them away is that if he made them, he made them with care and infused them with friendship/love just for you. So it wouldn't be right to give a handmade gift away.

I ended up getting a radio station in Cleveland.

Be careful you don't turn yourself into a halibut.

Always a possibility when working with new magic. Well, that an turning oneself into a toad.

:hide:

Good one!

I'm feeling particularly inspired today...

:rofl:

"Just like the rune?"

"Yes. Just like the rune."

It may be spelled "Sowelu" in your set; if memory serves, it is the rune of wholeness.

The irony, of course, is that, like most of Walker's characters, Suwelo is African American, and the runes are of Scandinavian origin.

of course, when I did it, I could feel the shapes. That way I was able to let go of Isa ("Ice"; blockage, shaped like a capital I sans serif) and pick another one.

Didn't help much, though.

And passing them used lots of skills.

Starts around 2:25 in on this clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7d2g3mgwiY&feature=related