Runes – a form of writing – probably date back to the 2nd century AD. According to historians, runes were originally used to foretell the future and only later served as a script. Even so, they are known above all for their magical properties. The oldest known runic alphabet has 24 characters, divided into three groups of eight runes. Besides representing a particular sound, each rune carries a magical meaning and is assigned to a different god of Norse mythology. Runes express timeless ideas and hold a key to humanity’s search for enlightenment and knowledge.
For the runes to work as a divination tool, you need to ask precisely worded questions – ideally questions about a single issue. You also need to learn to interpret the layout of the magical symbols in a broad way. Rune reading is no simple matter, and runes are more often used for magical practice than for divination.
Runes were mostly painted on stones, and this is still done today, but in esoteric shops you will increasingly find runes in the form of cards.
Runes are read both upright and reversed. The stones or cards representing the past or the background of events should be read first. Two stones next to each other have complementary meanings: the forces they symbolise will act together and probably at the same time. To read the runes correctly, you need to relate them skilfully to the practical situations around you rather than interpret them in vague generalities. Here are the meanings of some of the runes:
Nyd/Nauthiz – necessity, need, food, security
Is/Isa – stagnation, a halt, delay
Eh/Ehwaz – journey, cooperation, trust, partnership
Man/Mannaz – experience, cooperation, community, help, relationships
Othel/Othila – belonging, community, family, unity, property
- Wyrd – the blank rune, the 25th rune in the set. It refers to fate and the unknown, and no god is its patron.
First published (Polish original): 12 December 2011. Written by astrologers and esoteric specialists working with our editorial team; edited and translated for HOROSCOP.SPACE. © All rights reserved.
