As I have come to accept my role as a Shaman, Úlfhé∂inn, and Norse magic worker, I have discovered the power of the Nordic runes that my great-grandmother taught me. This understanding allows me to understand the influential energies that enter our aura and alter our trajectory through this lifetime, as well as needed alterations to our life’s trajectory. These energies cause an emotional shift that can manipulate our minds interpretation of what our eyes see, our ears hear, even what our skin feels. Understanding them is critical to helping us clear our minds of these influences to obtain or maintain a better mental health space.

One of the greatest tools that have provided a vehicle to transport the messages from the deities to the common human was “the runes”. These runes were originally, a Germanic alphabet used for early writing.

A rune is a letter in a set of related alphabets known as runic alphabets native to the Germanic peoples. Runes were used to write Germanic languages (with some exceptions) before they adopted the Latin alphabet, and for specialised purposes thereafter. In addition to representing a sound value (a phoneme), runes can be used to represent the concepts after which they are named (ideographs). Scholars refer to instances of the latter as Begriffsrunen (‘concept runes’). The Scandinavian variants are also known as fuþark, or futhark; this name is derived from the first six letters of the script, ⟨ᚠ⟩, ⟨ᚢ⟩, ⟨ᚦ⟩, ⟨ᚨ⟩/⟨ᚬ⟩, ⟨ᚱ⟩, and ⟨ᚲ⟩/⟨ᚴ⟩, corresponding to the Latin letters ⟨f⟩, ⟨u⟩, ⟨þ⟩/⟨th⟩, ⟨a⟩, ⟨r⟩, and ⟨k⟩. The Anglo-Saxon variant is known as futhorc, or fuþorc, due to changes in Old English of the sounds represented by the fourth letter, ⟨ᚨ⟩/⟨ᚩ⟩. -Wikipedia

However, Runes were so much more. Each Rune produced a sound, thereby creating an energy source that was compiled with other sounds, or letters, to form words. These words were then constructed into sentences used to convey thoughts and ideas outside of the mind using the vocal talents of the individual. This energy was then transmitted and received, by one or more individuals who then processed the energy in such a way as to interpret the energy received. Included in this energy was the energy of the sender’s emotional state, thereby adding inflections to the tones and/or word choices.

This energy transference became known as communications.

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Understanding the use of the Runes

The “Runes” are essentially no different than any other communications medium used, whether they be tarot cards, dousing rods, or anything else. The runes are simply a tool at which the gods can communicate with us.

Here’s how it works scientifically.
Firstly, we must place a question in our mind. By concentrating our physical mind on a particular question, we draw the focus of the energy within our spiritual mind to reach out into the spiritual realm for further communications. Remember, whenever our physical form questions something, our spiritual mind reaches out to the remainder of the realm to inquire about the same thing. Then, a rune tile is pulled randomly from the bag without seeing the rune. As we pull the rune stone from the bag, we are employing the science of “random chance” or “quantum randomness”. However, this is not really random chance at all, we are spiritually nudged (sometimes unconsciously) to gravitate toward a particular tile to pull. The tile is then placed on the board or cloth face down. Keeping the question in our mind, by keeping the rune tiles face down on the cloth we are continually offering the gods to change the value on the tile up to the moment we turn the tile over and experience what is written there. There are several layouts that can display a relationship between the displayed runes in certain orders.

There are three primary layouts that I use when casting the Runes.

1. “The Fates” is a three (3) tile casting which provides a “working knowledge” about my life’s experiences. The tiles are laid out horizontally in front of you with the first tile placed to the right, and the final tile placed to the left. The rune to the far left speaks to us about the energy surrounding the question itself, whether it be for intellectual purposes, or situational awareness. The middle tile displays what the universe understands as the challenge that has caused this question. The tile to the right offers us an idea as to a solution, or path of travel. One needs to remember when interpreting the runes before you, each rune has an energy of its own, but still relies on the interactivity with the other runes when cast as a layout like this.
2. “The Winds” is a four (4) tile casting which provides a larger view of a situation and provides the wisdom from the gods about the influences that have affected you, and will effect you on your journey through this physical life. I was taught that a plus sign is created with the rune tiles for this casting. The first tile is placed toward the top of the plus sign, then the second goes directly below it. The third rune tile is place to the left at the midway point between tiles 1 and 2. The final tile is placed to the right, exactly opposite of tile number 3. When reading “The Winds”, remember we are considering what influences have affected, or will affect our life’s path. The first rune to be considered will be the one in the top position, and this reflects the influences you have had leading up to this point in your journey. These past influences will have shaped your current thought process, and your emotional state, so they are an important piece of information to have. The second rune to be turned over will be the bottom one, and this reflects your current influences. These people, places, and things that are currently shaping your emotional state and thought process. It is important to understand these influences, as they may otherwise cloud our understanding and we would not know why. The third rune turned over will be the tile to the left, and this reflects the future influences that may alter your life’s trajectory. However, even if the rune is inverted and seems more negative in nature, these are only influences that “can” affect you. Remember you have a choice as to what you allow and what you don’t. Finally, the fourth rune will be the tile to the right, and this reflects that which needs to remain the same. This means that these are the current values necessary to deny those future influences that we don’t want, or that makes us who we are.
3. “Dragon’s Foot” is a five (5) tile casting and I like to use this one when I need to understand how I should proceed within my life’s existence. This layout is identical to “The Winds”, except with the added tile in the center. There are many reasons that I use this one, but primarily this is a “life’s direction” casting, instead of the influences battle associated with “The Winds”. Once the stones are turned over, the middle (horizontal) rune tiles represent the past, present, and future. The represents how the gods are interpreting your past, present, and future. Chances are pretty high that you may not agree with this representation, however, I’d like you to seriously consider how an “outsider” might interpret your life. Keeping in mind that the Fate Verdandi (youngest of the sisters) sews a tapestry of your life’s responses. Not your accomplishments, but the way you responded to the things that have happened. After considering that past, present, and future, the fourth tile to be turned over is the bottom one, and it represents that within your life that you must learn to accept. I would bet this may seem a little hard to swallow sometimes, which is why it’s a life question, and not a life sentence. The fifth rune tile to be turned is the top one, and it represents that which could come to your aid in your journey.

NOTES:

1. When rune tiles are inverted, their energies change. They may represent something totally different than when right-side up. If, during your casting, most of the runes are either inverted, or ambivalent, this indicates that you have some lessons to learn within this chapter of your life. You should pay close attention to the experiences you are having, and your responses to them.
2. Within most modern tile collections, is a blank tile. This is on purpose. According to what I’ve been taught, this is called “Ó∂inn’s Rune” and it represents a necessity for us to intrinsically reflect to call upon Ó∂inn himself for guidance in this aspect of the casting. When one receives this tile, I was taught to focus on the question with all my concentration, and the replacement rune would be given to me by Ó∂inn through a vision in my mind.
3. Finally, remember that the revelations of the rune’s energy will be interpreted differently by every individual who reads them. For the energy received via your sensory input will be different based on a myriad of factors, like your emotional state during the reading (especially given you are emotional invested in the outcome), and the influences of your past and present may also play a part in your interpretations.