Using the Elder Futhark Runes for Divination

Reading the Future Using an Ancient Set of Norse Symbols

Aug 14, 2009

Many people are familiar with tarot cards, but you can also read runes to divine elements of the past, present, and future.

The Elder Futhark is the set of Runes we'll be focusing on today, but there are also Anglo Saxon Runes and a later Germanic set known as the Younger Futhark. The Elder Futhark is the oldest of the Runic alphabets, used between 100 B.C.E. to 1600 C.E. Traditionally, those who follow a religious path that is based on the Germanic tribal beliefs, often known modernly as Asatru or Norse Tradition, believe that these symbols were divined by the father god Odin after he hung on the world tree Yggdrasil for nine days and nights.

Understanding the Runes

There are 24 symbols in the Elder Futhark, starting with Fehu and ending with Othala. The first step for those interested in using these runes is to study them and get a basic understanding of their meaning. While it's possible to do this using online resources, most websites only have a short description of each rune. Runes, Alphabet of Mystery is one of the best and most in-depth websites on the Elder Futhark.

It's recommended that an aspiring rune caster pick up one or more of the historically accurate books available. Futhark: A Handbook of Rune Magic by Edred Thorsson is a great place to start. It describes the origin of the Elder and Younger Futhark, their meanings, and even goes into other types of rune magic, such as bind runes and talismans.

The Complete Illustrated Guide to Runes by Nigel Pennick is also a good choice, and can be a little easier to understand for complete newcomers to pagan and occult information. Taking the time to study one rune each each day will ensure a good grasp on their meanings in less than a month. This makes divination with runes much easier and more meaningful.

Obtaining a Set of Runes

The next step is to buy or make a set of runes. There are many nice sets available, but making a customized set is very simple and can lead to a greater bond between the caster and the rune set. Start with 24 blank disks or tiles, of a small enough size that they can be stored in a bag and tossed into the air. There are various methods you can use to add the symbol:

Use an appropriate sealant if you have used a method that could wear off with time. Paper or card stock is not recommended, as runes are traditionally not used as a deck of cards. Modern rune sets often come with a blank rune, also known as an "uthark". The blank rune was invented in the 1980s, and has no historical meaning. It's a matter of personal choice if it should be used or not.

Reading Runes

Casting methods vary, as there is little to no historical documentation of the runes being used as a divination method. Most Norse Reconstructionists that use the runes in this way prefer to cast them. The caster focuses on their question or the issue they are consulting the runes about. A white cloth or piece of leather is put down to hold the runes. The caster mixes the runes in their bag, and either pulls out a handful and lets them fall onto the cloth, or shakes the bag over the cloth until the chosen number of runes has fallen.

The runes are then read. Those that are face down, showing no symbol, are ignored, and the runes that are showing are read by their proximity to each other. Pulling runes from the bag one at a time is also a common method, but does not allow for the same amount of chance as the tossed method does.

Like all forms of divination, practice makes perfect. The more time that is spent casting the runes, the better the understand of their meanings and how they interact in a reading. Using an ancient set of symbols for divination adds a historical aspect to divination, and can feel more genuine than some modern methods. The Futhark Runes also have many other uses, and many rune casters soon explore these other aspects of ancient Norse tradition.

The copyright of the article Using the Elder Futhark Runes for Divination in Reconstructionist Pagan Religions is owned by Jessica Kolifrath. Permission to republish Using the Elder Futhark Runes for Divination in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.